Mendoza Legislates Overhaul of Provincial Gaming Regulator

Mendoza’s provincial government has enacted a new law requiring a full restructuring of the Instituto Provincial de Juegos y Casinos (IPJyC), the body that oversees gaming and casinos in the region. The regulator is given one year to revamp its organizational structure, functions, and job classifications as part of the overhaul.

The legislation aims to bring the institute to financial equilibrium and secure its long-term viability, aligning with a broader modernization drive by the provincial executive. To facilitate the changes, certain budget restrictions are temporarily suspended, and the government is authorized to inject funds necessary to keep operations running during the reorganization period.

A framework for affected employees is included. Staff may opt into a voluntary retirement scheme offering compensation at 120% of the statutory severance payment. Alternately, workers can be reassigned within the provincial public administration or, if that is not feasible, terminated with the legally mandated severance. Health coverage under the OSEP provincial plan will continue for terminated employees and their families under terms specified in the law.

The measure follows a restructuring bill introduced by the provincial government in May, which warned that underperforming casino halls could face closure. At that time, officials noted that live table games were covering less than 30% of their operating costs, making them the segment most at risk, and stressed the goal of redirecting resources toward public services such as healthcare.

Treasury and Finance Minister Víctor Fayad commented on the process: "Naturally, when the State stops fulfilling certain functions or certain units stop making sense, the Public Employee Statute clearly establishes what to do in those situations."