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Latino America
Ricki Chavez Munoz reports on what’s happening in South America
The new G2E Las Vegas in the Sands Convention Center at the Sands Resort Hotel & Casino was an almighty triumph for the American Gaming Association (AGA) and Reed Exhibitions, organizers of this great show. All visitors were given VIP treatment and the Latin American delegates were celebrated with a lot of class and distinction, as they used to be in the days of Porfirio Rubirosa.
Without doubt, this G2E has raised the expectations barrier for all the events in the industry, because the visitors and more than 400 exhibiting companies that convened in Las Vegas for this new edition of the largest gaming show in the world had near personal attention. There was an army of guides explaining the way and pointing people in the right direction through the public areas of both 5-star hotels The Venetian and the Palazzo, and when the visitors arrived at the expo venue they found all corridors with the names of Las Vegas streets for ease of orientation. What luxury!
As we make our way to Buenos Aires to take part in Latin America’s supreme industry event, we are sure that there is something new in hand, as is the trade mark of the perennial innovator Giorgio Gennari, president of Monografie S.A., SAGSE organizers. And this time it is his brainchild the SAGSE Fast Pass: an exclusive expo pass sponsored by industry companies for ease and speedy of access to the event, practically without queues. The passes are issued through an exclusive agreement with hospitality site Catedralesdeljuego.
As usual, SAGSE is full of promise to help development of the regional industry, which is a bit shaken after the problems in Mexico, where there is a new restriction on the opening of new casinos, as we report below, and the casino closures in Ecuador and Venezuela.
In SAGSE Buenos Aires we shall be represented for the first time by Maria Eugenia Crivellini, Casino International Americano marketing manager, as well as yours truly. See you there!
Cheers,
Ricki.
MEXICO – Nuevo León passed law reforms against new casinos
The Congress of Nueva Leon state in Mexico has approved by a majority reforms to the Urban Development Law which prohibits the issue of new business premises ground use permits for the installation of casinos. Effectively, the reforms say that the prohibition covers “the use of premises for the construction and building of casinos, betting centres, lotteries, gaming houses and similar businesses”.
In Nuevo Leon, as in all Mexico states, gaming licences granted by the Secretaria de Gobernacion must obtain local permits for premises ground use like the one prohibited by the Nueva Leon Congress, which was unanimously approved by four parliamentary parties, under the direction of representative Hector Morales Rivera, president of the Urban Development Commission.
This is the first legislation reform passed in Mexico that prohibits the expansion of casinos in the country, and the Congress of Nuevo Leon state has acted after the local criminal drug cartel attack on Monterrey’s Casino Royale, which left 52 dead. The attack was the result of criminals against the casino owners who refused to pay protection money.
PERU - Will Internet control replace SUCTR?
Peru’s Council of Ministers has approved a bill to amend the law for the exploitation of casino games and slot machines. José Luis Silva Martinot, the Minister for Foreign Trade and Tourism, made the announcement that now the bill would be presented to Congress.
Silva said that the proposed law seeks to formalize the information from casino and slots operations under supervision via Internet to enable greater tax collection from these businesses. “There exist some 800 locations operating slot machines and by formalizing the information it is expected to increase tax collection significantly.” He added, “In this manner it will be possible to instantly keep track of the quantities of money being gambled and the number of operations.”
The previous law, enacted in July 2002, established a unified system of real time control (SUCTR), which has been postponed until July next year. This gave all casinos and slots businesses one year to implement a computerized system connected in real time to a central computer that in turn is interconnected with the tax office SUNAT and with the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Tourism.
As yet there is no information about the intended form of the amendment to the law. However, it is anticipated that the plan for information to be sent via Internet by the supervisors at gambling venues could replace the present plan to install a data centre to receive the information from interconnected casinos and slots operations.
COLOMBIA – FADJA 2012 gets ready for its 14th edition
With six months to go to its opening date, the Andean Gaming Expo – FADJA 2012 has announced that it is on its way to get ready for its 14th edition at its home base in the International Business and Expo Center Corferias in Bogota, Colombia, during 11-12 April.
Following the Free Trade Treaty signed with the USA that has strengthened Colombia’s stability on political and judicial terms, there is an excellent business climate in the country, which benefits from a strategic geographical position in the region for all Latin American businessmen associated with the gaming industry. As far as Colombia is concerned, there has been for a number of years an increase in foreign investments in the local gaming industry, with local representation of international companies in the country.
In the early days of stand commercialization, FADJA 2012 has already managed to confirm some of the major industry leaders and brands, such as: Ainsworth, CN Cortar, ICT, El Espartano, WMS Gaming, Gold Club, Novomatic, Money Controls, Suzo Happ, PMV Inspired Gaming Group, Merkur, R. Franco, Fecoljuegos, Feceazar, Acoja, Camazar, DIAN, BM Concept, Virtual Step, Arka Group, amongst other distinguished firms.
Peru Gaming Show getting ready for 2012
After the success obtained in 2011, THE PERU GAMING SHOW is working hard to provide an even better presentation next year at the Jockey Exhibition Center, August 16 and 17, 2012. As told by the show organizers, Mr. Joe Lopez, CEO and Mr. Ruben Solórzano, GM, together with their staff - THE PERU GAMING SHOW 2012 promises to be the meeting place for Peruvian operators, manufacturers and suppliers to the gaming market, as well as secondary businesses necessary for the successful operation of slot rooms and casinos.
“We’ll be presenting new things for the country’s operators who are always our greatest concern; there will be new companies who have already expressed their interest in participating in The PERU GAMING SHOW 2012 as well as repeat companies from this year who were very pleased with the show’s outcome”, added the CEO of Affiliated Marketing Group, organizers of the event. “PERU GAMING SHOW 2012 will also present the Second Edition of The Latin America Gaming Conference with first class speakers on interesting topics requested and suggested by surveys made to operators and attendants in 2011. We believe this new edition will again be a success when based on this year’s experience.”
