Buenos Aires Province Awards 20-Year Concession for Casino Sasso to UTHGRA-Yukon Joint Venture
Buenos Aires Province awarded a 20-year concession for Casino Sasso to the UTHGRA-Yukon Technology joint venture via Resolution No. 1324-IPLYCMGGP-2026. The operator secures 61% of EGM profits after scoring 64 technical points. Only four of seven tendered casinos received bids, underscoring selective investor interest in upgrades.
SCCG Take — The award stabilizes a major venue but reveals limits in attracting bids province-wide due to refurbishment costs. Regulators face pressure to align modernization targets with feasible operator commitments.
The government of Buenos Aires Province has awarded a 20-year concession for Casino Anexo I at Mar del Plata’s Hotel Sasso to a joint venture between tourism workers’ union UTHGRA and Yukon Technology S.A. The award, formalised through Resolution No. 1324-IPLYCMGGP-2026 of the Provincial Institute of Lotería y Casinos (IPLyC), covers operation and maintenance of electronic gaming machines, gaming control systems, and refurbishment of the casino facilities. As reported by G3 Newswire, the casino had operated under temporary extensions since 2019 after an unsuccessful tender process. The agreement includes an option for a further one-year extension at the regulator’s discretion.
Joint Venture Profit Share and Operational Terms
The successful consortium, UTHGRA – Yukon Technology S.A., achieved 64 points in the technical evaluation. It will receive 61 per cent of the monthly profits generated by electronic gaming machines. The provincial government will receive the remaining 39 per cent. The final allocation is a reduction from the consortium’s initial proposal of 65.9 per cent.
The agreement covers complementary services associated with gaming operations, with financial arrangements to be determined later. IPLyC has approved the operator’s security plan. The number of police officers required at the venue will be set in the final contract.
Provincial Tender Results and Next Steps
This award follows a public tender launched in April 2025 covering seven provincial casinos, including the Sasso and Hermitage in Mar del Plata, along with venues in Necochea, Miramar, Tandil, Mar de Ajó and Sierra de la Ventana. The tender sought long-term investment in casino infrastructure, modernisation of slot machine fleets, and improvements to gaming facilities. Only four venues attracted bids: Sasso, Hermitage, Miramar and Tandil. The remaining three received no offers, reportedly because of the investment required to upgrade their buildings.
Casino Sasso was previously operated by Boldt S.A. under extended permits. In January 2025, the venue temporarily closed for approximately 20 days following a dispute over security service payments, affecting around 30 employees. The new concession follows the separate award of the Hermitage casino to a consortium led by Boldt. For UTHGRA, led by Luis Barrionuevo, the agreement marks entry into casino operations in a key tourism destination. The concession remains subject to formal contract signing to establish the commencement date and detailed obligations.
Reporting: G3 Newswire
Generated by SCCG’s automated editorial system from published source reporting. SCCG Management holds editorial responsibility.
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