Casinos in Puerto Rico To Suffer as ‘Curfew’ Arrives in Capital

Although in that location is a consensus among merchants and casinos inwards Puerto Rico that the US soil has to cut down crime, they have got conflicting opinions around whether San Juan’s new Public Order Code (POC) testament tackle the problem of violence that exists in the majuscule city. Where there’s no run afoul is on the burden it testament get on cassino revenue.

The government activity of San Juan is implementing a young ordinance that testament commute the night life of the city. It became natural law this yesteryear Tuesday and testament come in into forcefulness inwards San Juan this November.

The goal of the POC is reportedly to do the streets safer for everyone past reducing alcohol consumption after sure hours and limiting movement on the streets at night. However, as the leader of a retailers association pointed out, the municipality itself commissioned a study that concluded that crimes in San Juan occur mostly during the daylight or before midnight.

The POC implements a forbidding on the sale of alcoholic beverages from Monday to Friday after 1:00 am, piece Saturday and Sunday, and federal holidays that return on a Monday, let an additional hour. In addition, and more importantly for casinos, it cuts cancelled the opening of social movement of any mortal – including tourists – at dawn.

A Direct Threat to Businesses

This decision directly threatens the city’s casinos and hotels since a large component part of their activities are carried out during these hours. The gambling venues on a regular basis receive tourists and visitors who rest inwards other hotels and add up to play, and the curfew places restrictions on their freedom of movement.

The Sheraton Hotel, for example, houses Casino Metro, I of the to the highest degree pop casinos inwards the area. Casino Metro GM Ismael Lope Felix de Vega Carpio said inwards a statement that 90% of the casino’s business concern comes from gamblers staying at other properties. The curfew trumps the casino’s 24/7 operating license.

The same tin can follow found with Casino del Mar at the La Concha Resort. Its manager, Sigfrido de Jesus, pointed out that 80% of the customers are locals and 20% are tourists.

However, the young municipal ordinance describes a guest of a hotel as an individual registered inwards the hotel with an assigned room. This is different than that of Puerto Rico’s official definition, which covers any soul who is on the premises of a lodging validation for play and to enjoy amenities such as restaurants, swimming pools, bars, and casinos.

This disconnect between the ii definitions could leading to confusion and foiling among tourists, both house servant and international. At the really least, it will potential do some of the people visiting San Juan unwilling to stair out of their hotel rooms.

A Blow to the Economy

The confinement on inebriant sales extends beyond liquor. In the absolute majority of cases, booze and food sales lead paw in hand. A fall inward intoxicant sales substance a pearl inward solid food sales, which leads to a correct in employ and a slower economy.

Some organizations such as the Restaurant Association of Puerto Rico (ASORE, for its Spanish acronym) and the United Retailers Center have got voiced concerns, as well. They fright that the POC will suffer the economy and touch job creation.

Data from the Bureau of Employment Statistics from cobbler's last year showed that at that place were some 11,300 establishments in all types of industries in San Juan. This was a 6% step-up over the number from 2020.

Last year, the identification number of workers inward drinking establishments such as bars and lounges reached 1,336 end-to-end Puerto Rico, of which well-nigh 381 worked inwards the capital letter city. Over the yesteryear Captain Hicks years, the identification number of employees in these establishments in San Juan has grown by or so 150%, but the unexampled find could bear on the enter inward the opposite direction.

When San Juan was preparing the POC, it sought-after(a) feedback from hospitality companies and groups the likes of ASORE. They all soft the same vexation nigh the economic impact the changes will produce, but the city’s government decided to move forward, anyway.

ASORE had proposed allowing the sale of drinks until later and exempting food businesses that run 24 hours a day from the ban, as long as intoxicant was served to accompany food. It’s a mensurate that some locations of Puerto Rico implemented during the COVID-19 pandemic, but it appears San Juan’s leading now has a different agenda.

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