A group of workers of the 18 casinos closed by the Quito City Council demanded an audience with President Rafael Correa last week. The operation was performed Saturday 15th. Workers concentrated in the surroundings of the Ministry of the Coast.

There, the employees of the firm Invermun SA protested for the closure of gambling venues and the loss of their jobs. According to the company, in the 18 casinos closed there are 2,000 people working, plus other 5,000 that have indirect jobs.

Manuel Suárez, Counsel for the Defense of the trade union of casino employees, assured that legal measures will be presented before the Ecuadorian Committee of Human and Trade Union Rights (Cedhus).

Francisco Zambrano, Secretary of Cedhus, affirmed that they are in talks with Police Council of Guayas. “We are waiting for an answer, but gambling halls are closed despite owners presented their licenses”.

Besides, representatives of Invermun, that gathers 34 venues to the Coast under the chain Money&Money, also rejected the seizure of the slots. “They are violating the rights of a company that has been working for more than nine years in the country”, commented Álex Rosemberg, president of Invermun.

The General Manager of the company, Víctor Lescano, explained that the gaming halls, on top of the authorization of the Council, have the authorization of Guayaquil Council and the Group of Firemen. “With this closure they are collaborating to the growth of a gaming monopoly in the games of chance business,” he said.

María Augusta Díaz, President of the National Association of Owners and Managers of Casinos (Anpasju), added that the closure goes against the legal security. That’s why they will present a proposal to the Ministry of Tourism to clear the operating rules of the casinos.