 It is best known for housing one of the first casinos of Chile ; a casino operated in the building between 1917 and 1931 . After 1931 all casinos , except the newly opened Casino de Viña del Mar , were declared illegal . The building has also been used as a post office , a store selling imported goods , a hotel , a discotheque , and a bar . There were two attempts by the local government to purchase the building ; the first time in 1982 failed while the second in 1995 succeeded . The former casino was declared a National Monument of Chile along with the Agustín Ross Park in February 1988 . 
