Andorran authorities reject operators tender appeal

The authorities in Andorra have rejected an appeal by five major operators against the decision to award the microstate’s sole casino licence to local firm Jocs SA at the end of June.

With 100 percent of the capital for the project coming from Andorra, the company plans to build a casino in the capital, Andorra la Vella.
Following a review, the Andorran government has dismissed the appeals against the outcome of the licence tender made by Casinos Austria, Genting, Partouche, Barrière and Cirsa. In a statement, the government said that it has responded to “practically all the aspects alleged by the appellants” in their complaints and had decided not to admit them.
It added that while it had scrutinised the points awarded in certain categories during the tender, it would not alter the final outcome or the scoring.
Of the five complaints, four requested that the licence decision be “completely nullified”, with the appellants threatening legal action if the government failed to address what they characterised as “serious irregularities” in the handling of the tender.
Despite the controversy, Jocs has yet to receive the casino licence, with the Andorran Gaming Control Board (CRAJ) citing the “complexity of the process” and invoking an extension clause in the country’s gaming regulations which grants the regulator an additional six month window in which to issue it. This extension is due to expire on 18 January.