Casino operators confirm lawsuit against Andorra

Four European companies have confirmed a lawsuit against the government for favouring Jocs SA in a recent casino licensing process.

Andorra.- The bidding process for a casino in Andorra la Vella has lit a huge controversy after regional company Jocs SA won the licence. On the losing side, several companies protested but four of them have just confirmed a lawsuit against the Principality of Andorra over the adjudication.

Casinos Austria, Genting Group, Partouche France and Grupo CIRSA have confirmed they’ve already announced a combined lawsuit against the government as they assure they have identified multiple requirements for the process that Jocs couldn’t fulfil as a winning party.

The group had already challenged the decision to award the lone gaming licence to Jocs SA and urged Andorra’s executive and Gaming Control Board (CRAJ) to reverse the decision as they referred to a number of ‘grave tender process indiscretions’ favouring the winner.

However, as CRAJ asked for a month to review the tender process, the companies demand to remove Jocs from its review as they consider it has corrupted and interfered with the original bid process.

The lawsuit is expected to be sanctioned sometime by January 4-7th and states that the government risks “facing demands of damages and prejudices which will be both economic and reputational for the principality.”