Lotería de Córdoba’s revenue from the last 10 months has decreased by 31.4% when compared to the same period in 2019, according to official figures. The contribution from the Argentinian lottery to the state has been three times smaller than what it had initially expected at the beginning of 2020.

The authorities anticipated that the lottery would bring in around $14m to the state. However, between December 2019 and September 2020, it has only received $5.7m. Expenses from casinos managed by the Lotería upset the net revenue, according to Radio Mitre.

Currently, the Lotería is in charge of nine of the 10 casinos in the province. In 2019, they collected $5.1m in net revenue, although expenses totalled $10.2m, which include salaries, rentals and more. They’re also likely to finish 2020 with worse results, as the lockdown and the mandatory closure since March 13 has prevented casinos from operating.

Even though they don’t have a confirmed return date, and that the province’s gambling sector has demanded the approval of a sanitary protocol, it is estimated that Córdoba will allow the reopening of some betting rooms in December, when the tourism sector receives the green light to resume activities.

In case these facilities get the approval, casinos must implement the use of transparent screens between slot machines, which would be the only thing allowed inside those rooms. The casinos will open with a reduced capacity and the use of masks will be mandatory.

If the province reactivates the sector in December, Lotería de Córdoba will be able to mitigate some of the consequences that it has suffered in the last few months, but won’t be enough to provide some relief to the lottery industry or finish the year on a good note.