Mauritius State Casino Draws Six Potential Buyers, Staff Demand Guarantees

The government’s plan to privatize state‑run casinos has reached a critical stage, with six bidders now competing to take over the venues managed by the State Investment Corporation (SIC).

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Five of the offers come from international investors, while one is from a Mauritian operator. Although no final decision has been made, unions are already pressing for firm guarantees on jobs, unpaid wages, seniority recognition, and protection of existing rights, according to local news outlet Lexpress.

Last Friday, representatives of the Casino Employees Union and the Grand‑Baie casino met with SIC management to hear the first official details of the divestment process. The message was clear: the state will no longer provide financial support to casinos whose losses are considered unsustainable.

The international tender, which closed on 17 August, attracted strong interest, and PricewaterhouseCoopers has been appointed as transaction adviser to oversee the evaluation of bids. That review is expected to conclude on 30 September, giving SIC a clearer picture of which candidates could move forward.

Former casino model “clearly flawed,” government says

The government has made it clear that the state‑run casino system cannot continue in its current form. Prime Minister Navin Ramgoolam described the model as “clearly flawed,” pointing to overstaffing, high wage bills, and the repeated need for public funds to keep operations afloat.

Between 2015 and 2025, the State Investment Corporation injected Rs 1.3 billion to sustain the casinos, yet losses kept mounting.

Figures presented in the National Assembly last May showed the scale of the problem. Casinos under the SIC recorded Rs 272 million in losses for the year ending June 2025, followed by another Rs 121 million in the second half of that year. Over a decade, the cumulative deficit reached Rs 1.9 billion.

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With finances deemed unsustainable, the government has moved to disengage from casino operations altogether. PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) was appointed in February 2026 to oversee the privatization process, with the task of finding a buyer while also managing the social impact on employees.

Employees rights to play key role in negotiations

As the privatization process moves forward, the focus has shifted to protecting casino workers. Union representatives insist that any handover must follow section 16 of the Workers’ Rights Act, which governs the transfer of undertakings.

To secure this, they are pushing for a compromise agreement to be signed before a buyer is chosen. The aim is to safeguard jobs for those who want to continue under the new operator, while ensuring fair compensation for those who decide not to.

Reeaz Chuttoo, one of the casino negotiators, made the union’s position clear, We have asked the SIC to come up with a proposal so that, whoever the buyer is, those interested can keep their jobs. It is not normal that Mauritians with years of experience are pushed aside in favor of people who do not know this profession.”

His remarks match the concerns of CEU negotiators Ashvin Gudday and Sharvin Sanassee, who have called for transparency and ongoing dialogue with employees throughout the process. The State Investment Corporation says it has taken note of all the demands made by the unions.

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