As we go to press we are on our way to Las Vegas where we shall be well represented at G2E 2012. We’ll be 7 communicators from Datateam Busines Media and 3 industry titles, Casino International Americano, Euroslot, and this humble servant. This gaming B2B division of Datateam Publishing Limited is almost ten per cent of the business based south of London in the county of Kent.
The numbers in the Las Vegas team reflect the success of Americano, which is already amongst the leading Spanish language titles in Latin America, and now the company is working on a new project to serve the Asian region, as it consolidates an industry world leader. The development in our B2B gaming work is the vision of Parvez Kayani, CEO, our “Yul Brynner”, as he leads his pack of “wanna” be magnificent onto greater things to come!
Then we’ll be on our way to Argentina, where this year’s SAGSE Buenos Aires 2012, on 13-15 November, promises great business with all the global industry leaders and also the presentation of the “Golden Eagle,” another genial creation of Giorgio Gennari, Presidente de Monografie, organizors of the event.
Four gaming executives have already received the award in June at SAGSE Panama: Jens Halle, Antonio Sabaj, Alejandro Saraintaris y Eduardo Aching. The “Golden Eagle,” in recognition of lifetime achievement, is intended for gaming personalities. A new and ambitious project from the organizers of SAGSE is to identify the 50 most prestigious managers, executives and/or outstanding individuals working in Latin America, to be awarded with this “Lifetime Achievement Award.”
Cheers,
Ricki.
SCJ starts action against illegal casinos
Last month, SCJ sent out an official letter to all municipalities in Chile setting out the basis upon which skill machines must be determined before they license such gaming devices for operation in games halls, according to the current law that regulates the licensing of such devices.
During the last few years games halls have opened up and down the country, operating so called skill machines licensed by local municipalities without the knowledge to determine whether they are indeed arcade type gaming devices or amusement machines used for limited pay gambling. In Chile many unscrupulous operators cheat and dazzle the authorities operating slot machines under the guise of skill games in pseudo slots halls, called casinos payaso (clown).
According to the Casino Law of 2005, gambling devices exploitation is illegal in Chile, unless granted a permit through special legislation or government acts, such as lotteries, horse racing and casinos. In the specific case of slot machines, their operation outside licensed casinos is illegal except those authorized by Law 19.995 of 2005, or the older municipal casinos legislation.
Government of Buenos Aires Province to control online betting
Buenos Aires Province governor, Daniel Scioli, confirmed the termination of the concession held by local company Boldt for the control of online gaming in the capital region of Argentina. The current contract runs out in November this year. Scioli also announced that Grupo Bapro president, Santiago Montoya will take charge of controlling online gaming in Buenos Aires, using a system already functioning in Chile.
While the new system is being designed, Jorge Rodriguez, president of Buenos Aires’s Instituto Provincial de Lotería y Casinos has started a series of meetings with technicians from the University of La Plata. It is hoped this will speed up the system that will control betting from some 3,750 lottery retailers in the province.
The contract that controls online gaming in Buenos Aires province has a current yearly value of around US$1 million for Boldt subsidiary Boldt Gaming S.A., which has had the contract since 1993. Boldt paid the Buenos Aires province 5.25% of gaming turnover estimated at US$325.7 million per annum.
IGT celebrated 10,000 slots in Mexico
In honour of the installation of 10,000 video slot machines in Mexico, International Game Technology (IGT) hosted a seminar on business strategies and emerging trends in the gaming industry for its Mexican customers. It was held on 29 August, at Hacienda de los Morales, in Mexico City.
Toni Martinez, IGT area vice president, Latin America, said: “IGT’s continued commitment to this important market can been seen across the country as we place our 10,000th IGT game in Mexico. We also are excited to offer an informative seminar, giving our customers the latest news on trends, strategies and best practices in the industry.”
The seminar highlighted how IGT is dedicated to its Customer First principle, emphasizing that a deep understanding of operators’ daily demands allows the Company to provide the many solutions Mexican casino operators need to drive success on their casino floors. The event also included discussions on IGT’s MegaJackpots product launches, IGT Systems and sbX® solutions in the gaming industry; as well as future global gaming trends with key personnel from IGT.
