I have placed the order of the countries, as I arrived to each in turn. However, if I have to place the countries in a real gaming business order, then Colombia looms ahead because it has gaming legislation to promote the industry, and new Tourist regulations to promote hotel building with whacking tax breaks. Panama, of course, doesn’t lag too far behind, and although a small country, is enjoying phenomenal growth in residential and tourism building, where a new Trump tower will also come with a casino.

In Bogota, we were fortunate to meet Carlos Quintero, a dynamic industry leader who as president of Unidelca has turned it into the biggest operator in the country with 48 properties in most cities in the country. An incredible marketing stroke from the Unidelca boss has created gaming brands for diverse segments in the industry, such as: Caribe, Condado, Havana and Real Game.

Unidelca operates more than 5,300 gaming devices using the latest technology, and has created more than 1,600 direct jobs in Colombia. And, if I am not mistaken, the Colombian leader’s “Red de la Fortuna” is the only wide area progressive jackpot system in Latin America, linking all its properties and paying millionaire prizes to its patrons.

Señor Quintero also told us about his most ambitious project to date for the City of Medellin. The La Playa project deserves a feature all of its own and we promise to give it the space it deserves in our G2E issue, next month, pictures and all. As far as Peru goes, well, there is some hope here, if some of the ideas put forward in the piece below come to fruition. So far, however, there is a toothless Gaming Commission unable to contain illegal and grey area gambling in the country.

Meanwhile, on October 11-23, we shall be back on our way down South of the Border, in Buenos Aires, where the organizers have promised the Mother of all the Sagses! At Latin America’s premier event, the belles of the ball shall be the winners of the Chile casino licences, who as special guests, are sure to be wooed by the very best the international gaming industry can provide for their new casinos. See you there!

Cheers, Ricki.

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