Chile Investigates Collusion Case
In Chile, the National Economic Prosecutor — or FNE — has carried out raids on homes of casino executives to further investigate whether collusion took place within their dealings. The main concern of FNE is that particular executives may have colluded to cheat others in the industry, which in turn limits free market competition in Chile. The FNE is keen to gather whether such deceit took place and to what extent.
Chile’s National Economic Prosecutor (FNE) is investigation possible collusion between the country’s top casinos. Markus Winkler/Unsplash
FNE raids explained
To begin their investigation, FNE initiated raids targeting owners and other executive members of particular, powerful casinos in Chile. In the raids at these parties’ homes, computers and other personal information devices like phones were taken. The local news outlet Diario Financiero confirmed this was the case, reporting based on information from Chile’s Investigative Police (PDI). PDI carried out the raids for FNE.
The targeted executives include those from Chile’s biggest casino brands: Dreams, Marina del Sol, and Enjoy. An anonymous source speaking from the side of the casino executives spoke to Diario Financiero, stating that the companies are in the dark about why such an investigation would take place at this time. The source said that they are cooperating fully and calmly, though they do not understand the Prosecutor’s Office’s goal.
It is true that FNE has not shared much information about their aims in the investigation yet, or what sparked it at this moment. FNE has given no official statement on the raids, but the representatives from the casinos in question have requested further information. From all accounts, the case is still strictly confidential, so very little information has been shared with the casinos so far.
Dreams and Enjoy attempt to merge
It is possible that the case is directly connected to the possible merger between Dreams and Enjoy, two of the largest casino chains in Chile. The two companies have expressed their intentions to merge and aimed to do so by 2023. They have already started the process which would see them controlling 58% of Chile’s casino industry, if they are successful.
The merger has come under scrutiny by many in Chile. The main concern about their attempt is that it may constitute a monopoly on casinos in the country. To address this concern, FNE has been closely inspecting the situation since early May 2022. FNE started their investigation of the merger in May, and announced in June that it would move on to a second phase of analysis.
What FNE is looking at is what the effects may be of the companies merging. They want to make sure that competition in the casino industry in Chile would not be severely reduced, and that other competitors would still have a chance to offer their services to players in the country.
So far, FNE has detected some possible risks for other market operators. Thus, the organization will continue investigating the merger — alongside the question of possible collusion — to determine if a merger would be fully legal and fair for all involved. For them, the gaming options available to citizens is of utmost importance, and this could be under threat if competition is reduced.
Dreams has been doing battles of its own. In July, the casino came out strongly against online bookmakers, arguing that those who operate online without proper licensing do not contribute to tax income in Chile and thus create unfair conditions for casinos which do contribute. Dreams’ legal representatives are fighting to make sure that online betting services cannot advertise their wares unless they are properly licensed, like all other casinos in the country.
