We met during PGS 2016, in Lima, Peru, Jessica Luna, IGT Senior Sales Director, who has a vast knowledge on Latin American gaming and a career that spans Spielo and Gtech. Ricki Chavez-Muñoz, International Editor, spoke to Jessica Luna, industry leader, for developments by IGT in Peru and regional countries.
RCM: A global leader in the industry, IGT has extensive presence in LatAm and has been the first company to set foot in the region─ particularly in Peru, back in 1993. Now we see that, in addition to the installation of slots, IGT is deploying system solutions like System2GO, which has been implemented at Pepe Carrión’s Casino Gana Gana in Miraflores. Are there any plans for other similar installations in Peru or at regional level?
Jessica Luna: IGT’s systems presence in Peru dates back many years and includes a variety of industry-leading systems solutions. Recently, IGT’s System2Go product has been gaining momentum in markets around the world, including Peru. The scalability and the web-based infrastructure of this system solution make System2Go an ideal CSM for customers who operate multiple, small-to-mid-sized casinos. Because we believe that so many of the region’s operators can benefit from this, and other IGT systems solutions, we continue to familiarize our customers with our products and spotlight them at events such as trade shows and IGT’s summer Road Show series.
RCM: Peru is a market that is particularly keen on slot tournaments and, indeed, we have been introduced to the tournament solution Spin Ferno at PGS 2016. What was the response to this first automated technology system at the event?
Jessica Luna: IGT’s Spin Ferno tournament solution continues to impress trade show and event attendees in markets around the world. The energy that a Spin Ferno tournament brings to any event is palpable. The popularity of the S3000 cabinet, coupled with excitement of the tournament environment continues to engage operators and players alike. Operators appreciate having the ability to host single or multi-site tournaments, and the ease with which they can change the cabinets from coin-in, to tournament mode. Players love Spin Ferno’s turnkey registration, lights, energy, game themes and player experience. At the Peru Gaming Show, we were delighted to introduce another product in our TournXtreme portfolio, Ultimate X Poker Tournament. Video poker has long been a cornerstone to IGT’s success and we’re amplifying that experience by adding a tournament offering to the most popular video poker theme of all time.
RCM: IGT’s Party Time! video slots were received with great enthusiasm at PGS 2016. Which game titles were launched within this segment of progressive slots?
Jessica Luna: IGT’s “new and improved” Party Time! Video Slots continues to be met with customer enthusiasm in markets around the world. The theme is one of IGT’s most popular multi-level progressives and our customers are as excited about it, as the players are. Presently, we have a couple versions of the new Party Time! game – each including a mix of four legacy titles such as Wolf Run, Enchanted Unicorn, Cleopatra and Trailer Park Party. All versions of the game share the same, iconic bonus event staring Tipsy the twirling pink elephant. We put the new Party Time! game on our CrystalDual cabinet, so the superior theme is matched with a superior hardware solution.
RCM: In these months, no other events have been scheduled for the region. Is IGT planning to hold private events in LatAm, before G2E and SAGSE Buenos Aires?
Jessica Luna: IGT has a full schedule of customer events scheduled between now and the end of the year. Regular customer communication is a pillar of our Customer First approach and as such, we make sure to bring our leading products directly to our customers. We will participate in SAGSE Costa Rica, host our Peru Showroom, and also host our intimate Showroom concept in Mexico, Puerto Rico, Peru and Chile.
RCM: Are there plans for any new IGT product launch before G2E, in September?
Jessica Luna: With a product portfolio as large as IGT’s, we are constantly introducing new gaming solutions to our customers throughout Latin America. Between now and G2E, IGT will release a variety of new premium and core titles in international markets. We plan to expand the number of TRUE 3D products that are available in the market and introduce much-anticipated themes such as Jurassic Park, Wheel of Fortune and Sherlock Holmes. Additionally, we will introduce multi-level progressives Egyptian Empire and San Xing Bao Xi, and multi-game packages such as The Winning Combination Special Edition. On the Core side, our customers can look forward to new themes on the S3000, CrystalDual and AXXIS 23/23 cabinets.
