“This year we have witnessed an important orientation towards regulation and control”

From what you could percieve from the company, Which has been the performance of the industry during 2010?
Each market has its own behaviour, product of its evolution, maturation and regulation.
In general, this year we have witnessed an important orientation towards regulation and control. The Latin American trend has been to orientate the government activity towards a more awareness and control of the gaming industry. This phenomenon generates more adequate norms of competitivity that allow the entrance of new players attracted by the legal security of the industry.

Which are the main problems that affect your sector? Which would be the potential solutions?
As long as new regulations are in force, many of the issues that we had to face as a company start dilluting thanks to serious public policies implemented by local lotteries.
Therefore, I understand that the illegal copy of software or the imitation of certain products can be one of the greatest challenges for the regulator in the years to come.

Within the markets where you operate, Which is the one that registered a better growth and why?
Unlike previous years, and as it had happened in Chile before, during 2010 we have not seen a massive growth of any market in particular. Nowadays, we are in front of a growth in professionalism and not so much in size. The maturation of many of the Southern markets have boosted operators towards the search of more efficiency in their business, based in more professionalism. It generates an even more demanding market that chooses its products smartly, in order to comprise expertise, mathematics, prformance and efficiency in time.

However, if we had to choose a punctual market with an exponential growth, I would say that Mexico has experimented a strong increment in the gambling sector, together with a maturation regarding regulation and organization of the sector.

What product of the catalogue of the firm has generated more sales level during 2010?
Aristocrat counts with a wide range of products adapted to the people needs. That’s why new cabinets -Viridian 19" and Viridian WS- as well as traditional ones -MK IV- count with their own market niche which boosts them to success. While a market demands a product, other markets require other characteristics. Our premium advantage is to be able to count with products designed for all operators.

Which is the country with more growth margin facing 2011 and why?
The opening of Brazil is desired and would be the market chosen by 2011. The potential of the country with regards to gaming capital is projected in an exponential way and eclipses other regional markets. We trust gaming regulation will bring more tax incomes for the government, which will results in improvements for the social welfare and will abolish illegal gaming, which does not benefit anyone.

In your opinion, Which is the main legislative and regulatory change registered in Latin America this year?
All the changes at a legislative level are important, because the industry must adequate to them, and many times it means a great movement of capital or human resources. Countries such as  Colombia, Peru, Ecuador and Bolivia have witnessed big legislative changes that operators and manufacturers must attend and we must collaborate so the sector takes advantage of the new legislation.

What opportunities or disadvantages do the mentioned changes generate to the company?
Every crisis may be an opportunity if one knows how to manage it on time. Aristocrat seeks to anticipate to the facts in order to plan the best way to take advantage of the resources. It is a matter of combining strategy, vision and flexibility in order to deal with difficulties and comply with the legal norms that appear, which is key for the industry.

What do you expect for 2011?
The challenge for the following year will be, as always, to bring the best quality in our products, with the highest standards in performance, together with a top customized service. At the same time, we will seek to accompany the evolution of the Mexican market with products according to its needs and we will expect possible changes in the Brazilian market.