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Latino America
Ricki Chavez Munoz reports on what's happening in South America
We’re just about to close this edition, when we received an email from Joe López, CEO Affiliated Marketing Group, organizers of last month’s New Peru Gaming Show 2011, which surpassed forecasts with excellent results.
In his email, Joe said to be very happy with the outcome of the trade show, adding that 2012 will be much better: “I have received several suggestions for improving the show, but nothing that could be defined as negative. Many exhibitors have already committed for our 2012 event and based on their current results, have requested larger spaces. The next event will be held on August 16 and 17, 2012, at the same place, Jockey Exhibition Center.”
As the event developed, we had the temerity of saying to Joe that next year’s event would grow by at least 20% in expo space. We’re are glad to see that both expositors and visitors were full of praise for the AMG team, and that the Peru event gets well positioned in the market place.
Finishing this dispatch we’ll be doing the same at Casino International Americano, September/October edition, which has some very interesting items on the Las Vegas Show G2E, on October 4-6. This year, the expo organizers have made a great effort to attract Latin American visitors extending VIP invites to all professionals in the region, as it well should be.
As you may read below, real global industry growth is steady in Latin America, which is something we’ve been beating the drum on for near on ten years. See you in Las Vegas!
Cheers,
Ricki.
Latin America leads global market growth
In line with current trends in gaming industry development in Latin America, the next SAGSE Gaming & Amusement Buenos Aires 2011, on November 9-11 at the Costa Salguero Expo Center. Alan Burak, Show Manager of the Argentine event said they “anticipate more than 9000 visitors from around the world”.
Burak stated: “We have confirmed the presence of operators from: Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belarus, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, China, Colombia, Korea, Costa Rica, Curacao, Ecuador, ILC, USA, USA, France, England, Israel, Italy , Mexico, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Poland, Czech Republic, Russia, ILC, Switzerland, Taiwan, Ukraine, Uruguay and Venezuela. They all come in search of equipment for the projects above mentioned.”
Burak said that the gaming market trend in Latin America shows growth and is optimist of further development. Such comments confirm that regional economic indicators, in most of the countries, stay ahead of the ups and downs of first world economics and the volatile tendency of the dollar or euro. Burak added that investment in Argentina casino hotels “is expected to exceed US$2500 million next year”. However, this sum does not include multimillion dollar investments in hotel entertainment projects in Peru or Mexico where casinos open up at a tortilla’s turn.
As the region with more casinos and regulated gaming in the world, Latin America keeps on growing faster per gaming unit and gaming equipment sales, and global slot machines, games and system leading suppliers are according the region the importance it deserves with new hotel casinos being built in the Argentinean cities of Formosa, Gualeguaychu, Mar Del Plata, Maipu, Paso de la Patria, La Roca and Cippoletti, Obera, Corrientes and Posadas, among other cities.
In Uruguay some US $160 million is being invested on the reconstruction of legendary Hotel Carrasco in Montevideo, as well as in properties in cities like Rivera, Salto and Treinta y Tres. There is also major refurnishing work at hotels like Conrad and Nogaro in Punta del Este, Park Hotel in Montevideo and in Paysandu.
While in Chile, there has been new investment in Casinos with Hotels in excess of US $980 million in properties such as Monticello Grand Casino, Arica City Center, Punta Arenas, Pucon Antofagasta, Copiapo, Calama and Osorno and Coquimbo, where companies like Grupo Enjoy, Salguero Hotels, Dreams, and others build new casinos or improve current properties.
Burak, concluded: “We will experience a very positive scenario that will generate more than 80,000 legitimate jobs plus its exponential factor in regional economies, tourism, health, education, etc. The region has a positive future. These projects have a strong impact in terms of employment and in many cases cover the lack of hotel capacity of cities of the interior that now has a new touristic attraction,” and reminded everyone that “SAGSE expo is the largest and most important in Latin America. See you at SAGSE!”
Peru regulators approve Octavian’s MyACP online solution
Following the official homologation of the casino management system MyACP, Octavian announced the signing of an exclusive distribution agreement for Peru with AF&J Electronics, headed by managing directors Fredy Gamarra and Alfonso De La Cuba.
The latest developments in the Peruvian gaming market call for comprehensive casino management systems to be implemented in all gaming operations nationwide. By ultimately putting every single machine in operation under governmental control, the authorities are taking the final step towards a thoroughly regulated gaming market. The transition period has already commenced and Octavian is right there in the market with the ideal product solution: Accounting Control Progressives System – MyACP.
Fabian Grous, President of Octavian de Argentina, explained: “Our casino management system MyACP met all necessary requirements in order to be officially certified and homologated by MINCETUR. The homologation was obtained on August 11 and announced by Manuel San Roman Benevante, Slots and Casinos General Director of the Ministry for Foreign Trade and Tourism, during the opening conference of the ‘The New Peru Gaming Show’. The agreement with AF&J shows our commitment to a close cooperation with our customers in order to provide the best service and support for their casino management requirements”.
The homologation now enables Peruvian operators to use the MyACP system in their gaming operations as a comprehensive management and reporting tool that fully complies with the new regulatory framework that will be valid as of 2012 for the Peruvian gaming market. MyACP is only the third system to be granted full official homologation through MINCETUR and as such enjoys a very privileged position in this new market segment.
Fredy Gamarra, Managing Director AF&J Electronics, looks back on a vast experience in the gaming and tourism industry. He said: “The recent developments in the Peruvian gaming market call for products that combine high levels of quality, flexibility and reliability. Many private operators as well as governmental organizations all over the world have chosen the MyACP system for their casino management purposes and trust its controlling, reporting and operational functionalities. Not only does this international success prove the reliable and flexible performance of the system, but also the top quality service and support provided by the Octavian support team.”
President of Ecuador clarifies casino closure situation
In a recent television interview, President Rafael Correa of Ecuador commented on the speculation concerning casino closures. The President received popular support in a referendum earlier this year for his proposed plan to close all gambling operations, including those holding gambling licences. In the interview by RTS Chanel he said, “Those legal casinos are being given a time – we are talking of one or two years – to close down gradually, taking care of their employees.”
On Wednesday last week, the authorities commenced with closing those gaming halls operating under ‘recursos de amparo’ (protection of constitutional rights) obtained from the courts and granted by remote provincial judges who have been accused of corruption. In effect, it was these operations deemed illegal that led to Ecuador’s referendum on the question of allowing casinos in the country – a referendum which turned out badly for the country’s gaming industry.
Correa has announced a retraining and relocation plan for casino workers as well as help for those losing their jobs. He said the government would do all it could to support the workers at both legal and illegal establishments. The Association of Casinos and Bingos (Ascabi) has suggested a 5-year period of grace to allow operators to recoup investments of some US$180 million, or the payment of compensation. Ascabi Vice-president Jorge Castro states that around 32,000 people are employed by the licensed casinos in Ecuador’s 5-star hotels.
