Operators launch legal challenges against Andorran tender outcome

Five major operators which were unsuccessful in their bids for Andorra’s sole casino licence have launched a legal challenge against the decision.

At the beginning of January, Casinos Austria, Genting, Partouche, and Cirsa separately filed lawsuits calling for the Andorran Gaming Control Board’s (CRAJ) decision to award the microstate’s sole casino licence to local firm Jocs SA in June 2018, to be nullified.

Following this, on the 14 January it was reported that Barrière and its bidding partner Andorran firm Lleure 3D had also taken legal action, which calls for the “urgent suspension” of the licence adjudication process.

The companies allege that Jocs has not proved it has leased the land where it hopes to build its casino venue, and points out that Genting’s bid was previously disqualified during the tender for this reason. Their complaint also questions the viability of certain aspects of Jocs’ architectural plan for the project and suggests the company has not obtained the relevant planning permission in order to realise them.

Prior to the litigation, the Andorran government had earlier dismissed appeals against the outcome of the licence tender made by the five operators following a review. 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.