We are writing these lines as we head to Las Vegas for what they say will be the largest G2E in history, where the American Gaming Association (AGA) and Reed Exhibitions, organisers of the event, will present an expanded list of networking opportunities to offer attendees many unique and valuable opportunities to make serious business contacts and share knowledge and experiences.
G2E is the leading expo and conference for the entertainment and gaming industry, taking place from September 30 to October 2 at the Sands Expo and Convention Center in Las Vegas. On Wednesday, October 1 at 12:45, in the Latin America gaming salon Booth #6540, executives of the Latin American gaming industry are invited to network and make business contacts in this annual event sponsored by Aristocrat and Konami.
And while penning this, we’ve just got news that the last casino licence in Chile has been awarded to Spanish operators EGASA and their Casino Luckia Arica project, which we report fully in the next item. We wish them good luck in this venture; and also to you all heading for Las Vegas. See you there!
Cheers,
Ricki.
CHILE – EGASA is awarded casino license
Within the framework of the 2014 Process to grant Permission for the Operation of a casino licence in Chile, and after considering all results according to the application of the methodology of technical appraisals of the projects, which includes the evaluation by the regulators, Superintendence of Casinos, as well as the final decision by the Regional Government and Municipality of Arica, the Superintendence of Casinos (SCJ) decided to grant an operating permit to the company Casino Luckia Arica S.A. (Corporación Empresarial EGASA S.L.).
The project in Arica will have an investment of US$37 million, and according to the programme presented by Casino Luckia Arica S.A, the company must begin the operation of the casino within a period of 24 months, and complete development of all work on facilities and installations for the integrated project within 36 months.
The casino will feature 350 slot machines, 12 gaming tables and 60 bingo positions, restaurants, bar, cafe, lounge, foreign currency services, as well as shows and events. The project will also build an 80 room 5-Star Hotel, which includes spa-gym, two swimming pools, a business centre, restaurant and bar; exhibition hall, Convention Center, plus other facilities and parking lots.
Pursuant to the Casino Law No 19.995, Casino Luckia Arica S.A. must pay a specific gaming tax of 20% of the gross gaming revenue, of which half will go to the municipality of Arica, and the other half to the Regional Government of Arica and Parinacota, for financing local development projects.
NICARAGUA – Government prepares to amend casino law
Up until now casino control in Nicaragua has been under INTUR, the country’s Institute of Tourism, as established by the July 2011 Casino Law No. 766. At the beginning of last month, the government presented a draft bill proposing to modify the law and place casino control under the Ministry of the Exchequer. Lawmakers consider that as the casino business involves considerable monetary movement then the oversight of gaming operations should rest with the Exchequer in cooperation with the country’s financial analysis department, the UAF.
The draft bill also proposes to create a Casino Control Council to approve and modify lists of games and the rules by which they are played as well as supervise the collection of gaming taxes and resolve disputes between operators and regulators. It is intended that the Council should meet at least once every three months.
As the final arbiter of the gaming industry, the Exchequer will have the power to authorise, amend or cancel gaming licences and operating permits. It will also be able to confiscate and hold slot machines, table games, betting and wagering equipment seized as a consequence of administrative failures, legal infractions, debt or when ordered by a judge.
Another amendment in the new law will create an Office of Casinos and Gaming Halls, which will supervise and control the importation and manufacture of all gambling equipment. The Office will appoint gaming inspectors and will have the power to close establishments that do not have the correct permits either temporarily or permanently. It will keep a register of all licences and permits, numbers of slot machines, gaming tables and other gambling games in Nicaragua. These statistics will be sent each month to the tax office, the DGI.
E-gaming books success in Latin America
Czech company E-gaming has booked success in Latin America where in August it dispatched a quantity of slot machines, which are already being tested in some of the best Mexican casinos. Reports indicate that revenues of E-gaming’s VLTs are making above average income on machines. In fact some 200 more machines have arrived in Mexico and installation of those is planned in the coming days and weeks. Mexican players have accepted well the E-gaming platform and development is under way to add new games to the library in order to satisfy most players.
E-gaming has big plans in Latin America, where some other machines have arrived in Panama where installation is planned in some leading casinos. Also, negotiations are on-going in a couple of other Latin American markets.
In the Czech Republic E-gaming is preparing to launch their own online gaming platform with live games, poker and video slot machines. This gaming platform will be offered in several countries where E-gaming plans to work together with good local partners as they are in Mexico and Panama, and other countries very soon.
GLI’s Latin American Roundtable draws Regulators from 16 countries
Gaming and Lottery regulators as well as State Lotteries from 16 countries across Latin America and the Caribbean gathered earlier this month for Gaming Laboratories International’s (GLI®) Latin American Regulators Roundtable. The educational event was held in Lima, Peru and was the most successful Roundtable GLI has yet produced in the region.
In total, 53 representatives from across Latin America and the Caribbean were in attendance. Countries represented included Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Guyana, Honduras, Jamaica, Mexico, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, St. Lucia, Trinidad and Tobago and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
Regulators were enriched by a program covering the most relevant and pressing issues, presented by thought-leaders and experts from across the region and around the world. Topics included gaming and lottery license processes for land-based and iGaming operations; fraud, money-laundering and player protection; sports betting operations and their procurement processes; lottery profitability, risk management and growth challenges; interactive delivery systems; monitoring and control systems; and responsible gaming.
Attendees also enjoyed an onsite demonstration of the DGJCMT Peru Regulators’ Data Center, as well as an onsite demonstration of client server systems, as well as monitoring and control systems in a gaming hall in Lima.
Manuel San Roman Benavente [above], General Director of Casinos and Slot Machines, Peru Regulator, said, “My special recognition to Gaming Laboratories International for the remarkable high attendance at the Regulators Roundtable. We have been honored and proud to be the host for this important event. It is necessary to recognize the efforts of the representatives from the 16 countries that attended and provided their experiences and expertise, which have enriched the development of the conference. The atmosphere of fraternity which prevailed at the Roundtable has shown us that our problems are common, and that solutions may also be common. I hope that the closeness that has arisen between us does not get lost, that it becomes stronger with a continuous exchange of information and experience, where it is up to GLI to offer the necessary platform to ensure opinions are shared by all.”
The two-day educational event was presented through GLI’s world-renowned GLI University® and was presented free of charge to regulators. Later this year, GLI will produce its Argentinean Regulator’s Seminar, which takes place November 10th in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
