Argentina: Casino Club signed an important co-operation agreement with IGT

What does this agreement with IGT consist in and which is the importance for the company?

Ricardo Benedicto: This agreement, basically, consists in a financial assistance from IGT for a series of projects that we have and, on the other hand, Casino Club assumes a series of commitments. The most important one consists in the acquisition of the 70% of the necessary equipment to IGT for the next 5 years, which means the acquisition of 7,000 IGT machines in that period of time. On top of that, it will acquire magement and ticket-in ticket-out systems, not only for the new installatioms but also to expand that payment system to all our machines in the interior of the country.

This agreement has a superlative importance for Casino Club, because it allows us to make projects for the future together with IGT, which is a worldwide leading company in the slots manufacturing as well as in casino systems.

Why have you chosen IGT?

Ricardo Benedicto: Basically due to the quality of the equipments and systems they offer, and obviously because of the quality of the games. We have a relationship that has been growing as years go by, which make us consider that we are their strategic partners in Argentina.

Miguel Mikasinovic: From our view, Casino Club is not only a big operator in Argentina and Latin American, but also one of the ten biggest worldwide operators outside US; this way, the fact of having a strategic association with them is very significant for us, not only to help them grow in Argentina but also because we expect them to join us in other Latin American projects.

It is fundamental for us, because Casino Club gaming halls are almost our showroom. It means that, due to the quality of the development, the quantity of public and the way in which it is handled, it is important than we have a great participation in their gaming venues. Here in Buenos Aires, for example, in Palermo horse race track, when we have European visitors, we have brought them specifically here, as well as Asian people and Portuguese clients that came to see how does an operation of this kind operate, so for us it is not only an honor but a privilege to have the possibility to assist them.

The importance of this agreement also had to do with the visit of T. J Matthews, CEO of he firm, to Argentina, for the signing of the agreement ...

Miguel Mikasinovic: Exactly. It shows the importance of this agreement: Our CEO came to Argentina not only to do that but also to be in direct contact and sign the operation.

Ricardo Benedicto: I would like to remark that part of this agreement plans the installation of a percentage of machines in our most important operations.

Miguel Mikasinovic: Yes, it will be the part related to special games which has no one else in the market. Its aim is to bring a difference to the customer. Altough for IGT are clients equal, obviously there are customers like Casino Club that have a certain privilege, and we support them with special games than we do not normally distribute outside US.