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Latino America
Ricki Chavez Munoz reports on what’s happening in South America
As we leave Mexico City, which had exhibitors at ELA 2012 showcasing great products, we get going towards Lima to participate in CIJUEGO PERU 2012. We look forward to many innovations to feature alongside the III International Gaming Congress at the brand new Westin Hotel & Convention Center in chic San Isidro, on 6&7 June.
We´ll just say a few words on the great effort by ELA 2012 organizers and all exhibitors, and that this had a just reward for the operators visiting the show, who were not influenced by a small group of operators calling for a boycott. As has been widely reported, there are two operators’ groups in Mexico.
Up to last year, the Mexican event enjoyed the full support of the Asociación de Permisionarios de Juegos y Sorteos (APJSAC). However, as news got around that ELA had also invited the Asociación de Permisionarios, Operadores y Proveedores de la Industria del Entretenimiento y Juego de Apuesta en México (AIEJA) to participate in the event, some of the members of the former group decided to withdraw their support from ELA in view of the participation of the latter, keeping away from the show.
During the two-day event, visitors were sympathetic to ELA, which far from feeling the slight showed reasonable visitor footprint over both days, in addition to gaining the support of all visitors to the event who were aware of the problems caused by the missing operators.
There is no doubt that an element of pride and dominance has reared its ugly face in certain elements of the Mexican gaming industry, as it remains operating under outdated 1947 legislation that added a politically concocted Regulations in 2004, as only some unsavoury politicians can do in this country. The difference a fully regulated jurisdiction makes to an industry can be appreciated by the support offered to an industry event, as shown in the item below by all operator organizations in Peru.
It is our belief that such gross attitude and infantile temper tantrums, as happened at ELA 2012, are a consequence of the way in which casino operating permits were issued in Mexico. These were based on political favours at the cost of open competition in an atmosphere tinged by incidences of corruption and sectarian influence in some parts of Secretaria de Gobernacion (Segob), which is the casino regulator in the country. As has been demonstrated, Segob is a poor supervisor and controller of the Mexican casinos, and the high cost paid by the industry and the Mexican people for such inefficiency had its worst nightmare in the Casino Royale tragedy in Monterrey, last year.
Casino Associations support CIJUEGO PERU 2012
The Peruvian event has ensured the participation of the regulators at the Direccion de Casinos in the Industry Ministry to feature a Forum-workshop, which will enable ample delegate interaction to debate all aspects of gaming regulation in the country.
Global industry leaders, International Game Technology (IGT), also participating as CIJUEGO PERU 2012 sponsor, will present an expert to speak on server based gaming. While Guido Bravo from the local Catholic University will lead a group on Business Coaching, amongst other important speakers at the event.
As well as IGT, Spielo International, and Gaming Laboratories International (GLI) have added their brand to the event as sponsors, and other companies that will take part in the expo are: Feral Electronics, Heal Technology, EGT, Evolution Games, Novomatic Admiral, IGem, Casino Technology, Amatic, Aristocrat, DRGT, Starlight, Ainsworth, Lintek, J. Evans, Kupidon, Expert Games, Crane Solutions, Intervision Gaming, Inversiones Lappa, DLV, Rio Claro, Seslin Andamiro, GTS and Bally Technologies.
All local industry associations, SONAJA, APEJA, ASONAIT and COT will host the II Summit of Latin American Gaming Associations. This year, the Summit has invited all associations in the region and will dedicate some hours in the afternoon of both event days to debate on the full scope of Business Social Responsibility, where industry operators will focus on their ability to support projects of social responsibility within their areas of influence.
Uruguay Government to extend Conrad licence
Caesars Entertainment Corp., announced in early May that the Uruguay Government has agreed to extend their casino operating licence, due to expire in 2016, for the Conrad Punta Del Este Resort & Casino, in the Punta del Este resort city on the country´s Atlantic coast, until the year 2036.
Since opening in 1997, the Conrad has been a significant contributor to the growth and development of Uruguay as a focus of international visitors and large scale conferences. The complex employs more than 2,000 people and this makes the Conrad one of the largest employers in Uruguay´s private sector.
Enjoy opens new casino in Castro
Chile´s leading casino operator, Enjoy, opened its new casino property in Castro city, in the south of the country, called Enjoy Chiloe, on Tuesday 08 May, after the local Casino regulators issued the licence for the seventeenth casino in the country´s new industry.
Enjoy has invested US $38.7 million in their new casino and has obtained a 15-year licence for Enjoy Chiloe casino, which has 230 slots, 19 table games and 72 bingo positions. The property also boasts a restaurant, three bars, a cafeteria and lounge. In this first stage of development, the complex has not completed building of other facilities that include a 4-star hotel.
IGT and Codere debut first IGT Cloud deployment in Mexico
International Game Technology (IGT) the global leader in driving technology innovations in the gaming industry, and Codere, the leading gaming operator in Latin America, have announced the deployment of the first cloud-based gaming systems solution in Latin America, at Codere’s Gonzalitos Gaming Hall in Mexico.
“The IGT Cloud is an exciting new way for us to deliver additional enhanced experiences to our clients,” said Felipe Ludeña, Codere’s chief information officer. “IGT Cloud gives us unprecedented analytical insight to our business as well as the ability to take action on that insight by providing the right content to the right players at the right time.”
Codere’s Gonzalitos Gaming Hall is the largest implementation of a cloud-based systems solution, with five-times more machines than the next largest deployment being powered by the IGT Cloud based solution. The size of this particular cloud deployment, when compared to any other location, demonstrates the scalability of IGT’s Cloud based systems solution.
“We are excited that Codere has partnered with us,” said Chris Satchell, IGT chief technology officer. “As they continue to pave the way for the future of gaming in Latin America, they will be able to deliver differentiated and enhanced gaming experiences to their players, while maximizing the return on their investment.”
This deployment enables Codere to make data driven adjustments to the mix of available themes and optimize the placement of games on their floor. The data driven approach offered by IGT Cloud will enable them to optimize their floor by making timely decisions based upon player behavior.
Important news for SAGSE PANAMA 2012 visitors and exhibitors
The Panamanian airline Copa Airlines once again shows its support for SAGSE-Gaming Panama, to take place on June 27&28. Visitors and exhibitors of this international expo can now officially enjoy a 15% discount on their flight tickets when traveling to SAGSE from throughout the Americas. This is the largest agreement ever achieved by an exhibition. The travel period can be from 22 June to 3 July, using the coupon code C4025 at the Copa Website, or Copa Air offices in your country.
In Hospitality SAGSE Panama has also signed another agreement with the Hotel Casino “El Panama”, with great rates and benefits during your stay for SAGSE. This makes Panama not only in the heart of the Americas, but reaffirms its position as a hub with the most non-stop flights for casinos in the gaming industry. SAGSE Panama, from Mexico to Peru - Gaming all in the best place.
Those wishing to learn more about how to participate or have any questions can contact SAGSE offices in Buenos Aires by phone (+5411) 4805-4623/ 4791, or via e-mail: alan@monografie.com At. Alan Burak. Register now at: www.sagsepanama.com
