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Latino America - English version
Ricki Chavez Munoz brings the news back from Latino America in his English-language monthly column
We were in Mexico last month to visit ELA 2010, which was representative of the immense potential of the gaming sector in this country, which has been reported below in a study by heavy hitting global financial consultants KMPG. In the July/August edition of CI Americano, you’ll be able to read everything on the great Mexican event.
Also in Americano you’ll be able to read the spot on commentaries from reputable Mexican operators, government officials and gaming suppliers who met at the Marriott Hotel in an event organized by local company BG, following the example of TCS John Huxley at the Palm in Las Vegas, last November. BG organized a forum at the chic Mexico City hotel, where we were told in no uncertain terms that casino operation in Mexico was possible. Yes we can!
As we get on our way for the sixth edition of SAGSE Gaming Panama during 23-24 June, Monografie S.A., the company that has been dedicated to organizing gaming industry events for more than 20 years, has also told us that there is an industry invitation to the official inauguration of the brand new Princess Casino at the Four Points Sheraton Hotel in Panama City, as this event will coincide with the SAGSE event. See you all there.
Cheers,
Ricki.
PGS 2010 sustained growth for 8 years
Peru Gaming Show 2010 is celebrating eight years at a steady step, and being committed to its country one more time: an established market in Latin America, a leader in regulation, technological upgrading and developing a gaming industry in the best environment for growth investments. The Show shall open its doors at Lima’s brand new Jockey Club Convention Center on 11 and 12 August. The organizers make the following points:
In an exclusive interview, Elizabeth Leiva, organizer of the event, said: “PGS in its eight years as usual, will bring new proposals, new attractions and increase the level of participation with strong alliances achieved through these months of hard work.
This year, and for the eighth consecutive years, professional from the international gaming industry will visit Peru to celebrate real sustained growth backed by sound gaming legislation to meet thousands of operators and industry decision makers, not only from this great country, but from Ecuador, Colombia, Bolivia, Chile, Argentina, Uruguay and Paraguay, and in Brazil.
“Join and show the world how important our industry is. How proud we are of our country, our people, and our trade fair. Come to Peru Gaming Show. PGS is a fair show. Peru is a fair country. The world will notice the change! The crisis is passing; let’s step into the future at the new Jockey Club Convention Center with 10,000 m2 expo areas.
“On, August 11 and 12, Peru Gaming Show will be the best host, in the company of the leading gaming firms. We will welcome you with our traditional generous hospitality and in good taste, where our achievements are only through hard work because we do it with passion!”
Mexico gaming sector to reach US $4.6 million
Global consulting and auditing firm KPMG has published a report titled: Online gaming: A gamble or a sure bet”, where gaming operators, media, software developers and investors could benefit with billion dollar revenue from income in the industry if the forecast governments easying on online gaming regulations prove true.
KPMG confirms that the online market sector would grow by 42% in 2012 reaching US $30 million from a US $21 billion base in 2008. as far as Mexico is concerned, KPMG sees this country as a potentially market where legislation in 2006 granted 200 permits and enabled the opening of online operations and gaming halls throughout the country, with the potential to reach US $4,6 billion.
Panama revenue goes up by 12.25%
Panama’s Gaming Control Board (JCJ) has reported revenue for April at US$3.68 million from casino, slots, racing, sport betting and bingo, showing an increase of 12.25% over March 2010 with US $2.28 million.
According to JCJ numbers, growth in the industry and contributions to the State has been sustained through the past few years, with slots in April reporting income at US $1.8 million, while casino games totalled US $1.4 million. There are 14 casinos, 29 slots operations, 11 racing and sports betting operations and 1 bingo in Panama.
Buenos Aires legislation proposes licensing changes
Representative Jorge Macri has presented a legislation project to the Buenos Aires province two-tier Congress to set up a Gaming Commission to enable the Province to control the gaming sector in its jurisdiction. According to the project, the provincial government should have the right to license bingos, grant permits to slots operations, reissue permits and transfer of gaming halls, within the Buenos Aires province.
The commission would also be able to observe or reject licences granted or about to be granted, approve third party operations; and to bring legal action on matters of irregularities on licensing, unauthorized transfers, and increment of new slot machines. At present licensing matters in local jurisdictions is in the hands of provincial lottery administrations.
Casino Law approval in Puerto Rico
The House of Representatives approved, last May, a bill to set the regulations to allow a casino on the old Roosevelt Roads military base on the coast in Ceiba, some 50 kilometres from the Puerto Rican capital San Juan, after its conversion into an innovative entertainment centre. If this legislative project is passed by the Senate, the establishment of similar casino resorts throughout the island would make possible casino, slot machine and video lottery development in all municipalities that wish to host such projects.
The new law includes an amendment put forward by the Department of Economic and Commercial Development (DDEC), which proposes a scale of taxation dependent on the amount invested. For example, a fixed tax rate of 25% would be levied on a development where US$500 million has been invested, 15% on a US$750 million investment, 10% on US$1 billion, down to 8% where US$1.25 billion or more has been invested. Any project must include three elements: a world class hotel of 4-star minimum; commercial and recreational facilities; and tourist attractions such as casinos.
The proposed law is not without opposition from legislators and community leaders. Whereas the original proposal was for Ceiba, gaming establishments are now being proposed throughout Puerto Rico. For some this is a step too far as the majority of players at present casino operations, permitted in 5-star hotels and tourist areas, are locals and not tourists. The new law would also remove the cap on amounts wagered and leave the number of slot machines at any casino to the discretion of the Tourism Company, the gaming regulator in Puerto Rico.
Rao Ferrari: “SAGSE Buenos Aires is the only and great international expo”
In an exclusive interview with Antonio Rao Ferrari, president of the Chamber of Gaming Industry of Argentina (CAIJA), Luciana Rinaldi, our correspondent in South America, confirmed that Magia, a gaming expo that had ran for 2 years almost simultaneously with SAGSE Buenos Aries, would not run again.
Rao Ferrari said: “The Magia expo will cease to be a competitor of SAGSE. we do not have immediate plans to organize an expo on the level of the last two events, but I don’t discount the possibility of making alliances. However, these are projects for Magia to organize in our principal office, a long way from being competitors because we have reached an agreement with Monografie (SAGSE Buenos Aires organizers), to promote our members products. But i don’t know whether it will be in the form of a trade show or business exhibits, o member’s workshops. Afterwards there could be many alliances and agreements that right now they are not available to me, and these are the news for you. And conclusively, I would like to confirm that in Argentina SAGSE Buenos Aires is the only and great international expo”.
SAGSE Buenos Aires 2010 will take place on 29-30 September and 1 October at the Centro Costa Salguero exhibition centre in Buenos Aires.
