What you won’t be able to see in the review of the Buenos Aires show, which we feature in this edition dedicated to the magnificent Latin American event, is the result of a selective survey amongst the principal foreign companies that exhibited in Argentina. All in all, the majority of the firms had great results and will return next year.

Just as we were closing this issue, we received news that SAGSE 2007 registered a record 7,245 visitors to the three-day event, with foreign visitors at 16.5%, mainly from countries like Uruguay, Brazil, Colombia, Peru, USA, Chile and Paraguay.

As we make our way to Las Vegas for G2E 2007 in mid November, we hope to meet many friends from the industry in the warm desert Nevada climate, well away from the forthcoming European winter. Before Christmas we’ll just keep away from Europe and spend quality and working time between lovely Cartagena, Guayaquil, Lima, Miami and Tampa. What a life!

Cheers,

Ricki.

COLOMBIA CONTINUES RAPID GROWTH

The Colombian Minister of Commerce, Industry and Tourism, Luis Guillermo Plata, made a presentation to foreign investors in Madrid during a visit to the Spanish capital in mid September, assuring them that the South American country can offer a new economic tool that will give a 20-year safeguard to investments. The combination of individual company free zone and legally binding contract, signed by the government of Colombia, will ensure that the investment conditions will be respected over the 20-year term, whatever changes in government and tax regulations occur.

Plata explained that the transformation of Colombia over the last few years, especially in mechanisms to allow European investment to be made more easily and with more guarantees, had led to the rapid growth of the tourism sector, with Spanish companies investing in hotels and casinos in the country.

With tourist growth of over 135% in five years, Colombia is seeking to emulate this growth in other sectors. In 2002 there were around 550,000 visitor arrivals and it is estimated that 1.3 million tourists will have entered the country in 2007. There is already a 30-year company tax break for the construction of hotels.

The individual company free zones promised by the Minister can be set up anywhere in Colombia for a minimum investment of US$16 million and direct employment generated for 500 jobs. Taxation is at 15%, compared to 33% in the rest of Colombia, and the free zones enjoy all the usual benefits such as the importation of machinery and raw materials duty free and sales tax exemption.

SAGSE 2007: SBG – THE GREAT DEBATE

During the second days of conferences in SAGSE 2007 in Buenos Aires in October, representatives of four leading manufacturers of gaming machines and systems took part in the discussion ‘Server-Based Gaming: The future at hand’. Also present was Avron Gross, executive president of the UK’s Betstone. Sebastian Salat of WMS Gaming, Sebastain Callieri of IGT Latin America, Enric Barba of Unidesa Gaming and Systems, and John Connelly of Bally Technologies represented the manufacturers.

The debate over server-based gaming is taking prominence in the global gaming industry as the next technological advance for casinos. The ability to use one slot machine to play games from various manufacturers without having to buy a new machine when a game goes out of fashion or is unproductive for the operator undoubtedly has its attractions.

It would seem a gift from the gods for operators, with equipment viable for five, eight or even ten years without further investment in gaming machines. However, nothing is that simple, especially when dealing with new technology.

Following the immaculate presentations from the panel, each with all the relevant information at their fingertips, came the questions from the gaming public present at the conference. There was too little time to address these in full but a major concern was the security of the new systems and the reliability of the manufacturers in respect of operator statistics.

Of course the operators had every right to be concerned about some of the claims made by some of the panel members but, as Sebastian Salat pointed out, the manufacturers represented at EY! Encuentro Yogonet 07, were all solid companies with sound stock market track record. On the matter whether casinos would be at the mercy of manufacturers on information technology, Sebastian Callieri assured operators that it is the casinos that control the statistics and not the manufacturers who sell the systems.

However, it should be emphasized that whilst these systems are, in the words of Avram Gross, ready and waiting for installation in every casino, operators must ensure that these instant server-based games are fully backed by regulatory approval. Callieri commented that IGT server-based products have acquired homologation by GLI and been approved by the Nevada Gaming Commission.

DECEMBER DEBUT FOR CASINO DOMINICUS

The gaming industry is booming in the Dominican Republic and a new addition to the casino scene will open in December. It is the project of a management team with long-term experience in the Latin American gaming market, and around 150 people will be employed by Casino Dominicus, which targets both the local and tourist markets. SSG Dominicus LLC, a US limited company, and its wholly owned Dominican subsidiary Surcadia Empresarial S.A. will operate the high-stakes casino on the southeast coast of the island of Hispaniola.

Affiliate company Silver Slipper Gaming LLC has recently opened a new casino in Lakeshore, Mississippi with over 1,000 slot machines and 35 table games. Casino Dominicus will offer all new slot machines complete with ticket-in ticket-out (TITO) technology, race and sportbooks, and 23 table games. There is also a 1,000-seat theatre for performances from top international and local entertainers, and a chic disco bar where popular local bands will play. Three restaurants will give a choice of fine dining or informal fare.

Casino Dominicus will offer Las Vegas-style gaming with a Caribbean twist, featuring the exclusive Players Club and the highest limits in the nation. The casino’s 23 table games feature: Blackjack, Roulette, Caribbean Stud Poker, Three Card Poker, Texas Hold ‘Em Poker, Mini Baccarat, and Craps. Situated between La Romana and Bayahibe, surrounded by turquoise water, pure white sand and lush gardens, Casino Dominicus is set to be a player’s dreamland.

GLI SIGNS DEAL WITH UNLP IN ARGENTINA

In mid August, during the last expo in Lima, Peru, Bill Treger, GLI Business Development Manager, had mentioned the proximity of the Argentine deal between Gaming Laboratories International (GLI) and Universidad Nacional de La Plata (UNLP) to set up GLI South America. At the last SAGSE expo, in the GLI stand, Christie Eickelman, GLI Marketing Vice President was able to confirm this, as we met Francisco Javier Diaz, Director of Research into New Technologies for UNLP.

The new partnership will utilize GLI’s extensive operating knowledge and UNLP’s deep technological capabilities and outstanding reputation for integrity. The new GLI South America will offer both gaming device and system testing services and independent field inspection services.

GLI Vice President and co-founder Paul Magno said: “GLI is extremely pleased to be working with UNLP. This is a perfect fit in many ways – technological capabilities and commitment to integrity being at the forefront. UNLP has an outstanding reputation, and we are thrilled to have them as part of the GLI family as we continue to expand our services around the globe.”

UNLP Director Javier Diaz said: “Since 2002, UNLP has continuously been working in topics related to control of slot machines and online systems. The work we have been performing is interdisciplinary and involves working with information rated to hardware, software, communications, systems, database and processes, particularly as they relate to computer technology safety and technological auditing. This agreement with GLI is seen as a great advance, allowing us to get the highest international level of information and training for our professionals and technicians and to allow us to work with certifications and standards with worldwide validity.”

The agreement benefits Argentina by providing increased testing technology and advanced regulation to the gaming industry and by creating jobs. The agreement also allows GLI to serve the South American markets better than ever because GLI will now have native Spanish speakers ready to work with both regulators and manufacturers.

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