The operator says changing documentary standards discourage competition after five of seven tenders decided in 2026 ended without an award
The dispute adds to concerns about the ability of Chile’s casino tender system to attract and retain bidders. Dreams argues that its proposal was eliminated before its commercial merits could be considered, while the regulator maintains that mandatory requirements were not met.
Dreams issued a statement criticising the Superintendencia de Casinos de Juego (SCJ) after the regulator ended the evaluation of both bids for the Puerto Varas operating permit and declared the processes unsuccessful.
The casino group currently operates the Puerto Varas venue through Inversiones y Turismo Puerto Varas S.A. It said it did not agree with the criteria used to exclude its technical offer.
Dreams disputes documentary objections
According to Dreams, the observations concerned documentation rather than the proposed casino project. The company said its economic offer was not opened because the bid was eliminated during the preliminary review.
Dreams argued that the documents in question had been requested from public bodies within the required period but were issued late. It said they were added to the file as soon as they became available and that their contents were favourable.
The operator also claimed that the SCJ requested corporate information already held in public records and known to the authority through Dreams’ more than 15 years as a regulated operator.
Dreams, casino operator
“A standard that changes from one process to another, applied without an opportunity for clarification, does not protect the public interest: it discourages competition.”
Dreams said the other bidder was also excluded for documentary reasons. It added that five of the seven casino tenders decided during 2026 had ended without an award, a situation it believes requires a broader review of how the processes are designed and managed.
The five-of-seven figure forms part of Dreams’ public statement and was not included in the SCJ’s announcement about Puerto Varas.
SCJ says applicants failed to meet requirements
The SCJ’s Resolutive Council ended the evaluations of the technical offers submitted by Inversiones y Turismo Puerto Varas S.A. and Sociedad Quiquilhue S.A., which is linked to Corporación Meier.
The decisions were formalised through Exempt Resolutions Nos. 821 and 822. The regulator said neither applicant had fully complied with the legal and regulatory requirements established in the technical tender rules.
Under the applicable rules, failure to meet those requirements is an express reason for ending the technical evaluation without awarding the permit.
The SCJ consequently declared both processes unsuccessful and confirmed that it will launch a new tender for Puerto Varas under Law No. 19,995 and its implementing regulations. New special conditions will be established for the technical terms.
Dreams confirmed that it will continue operating the existing Puerto Varas casino while the replacement process moves forward. The company also intends to submit a bid in the new competition.
