“The gaming industry in Colombia is coming out of a pause period”

In his role as operator, he talked about the current situation of Colombia and the position of his gambling venues.

As operators, What new products and trends do you expect to find at FADJA 2012?
An event is always the ideal place to see the market innovations, especially in technology. We do not have any expectation on a specific product. Simply we want to be informed about the market novelties this year and see what fits with our needs.     

Are you seeking to incorporate new machines and systems to your casinos?
At this moment, our gambling halls offer one of the best collections of state-of-the-art machines. However, we are always open to the implementation of new proposals and games. FADJA is one of the best regional shows.

In what stage is the installation of Feral online system?
We have it totally operational in three of our four venues. The following step will be the implementation in Carnevale, Bogota. The response of the player has been immediate, generating an important increment both in visits and in the time of permanence in the venue. The way to orient promotions with bonuses and progressives for customers identified as the best players turns into one of the main strenghts of the system. It has allowed us to redirect our marketing strategy, distributing jackpots in a fairer and more real way. You play more, you win more.

How are the venues operated by Legendary Gaming positioned in Colombia?
We have two of our most important venues in Medellin:
-Casino Allegre: Due to its wide and comfortable installations, it has become the poker reference in the city.  It offers attractive monthly tournaments. The latest one was carried out Saturday, 17 March, with jackpots of us$ 28,417.16 and places to participate in LAPT in Viña del Mar.
 
-Casino Portofino: It is located in La Strada, one of the most exclusive shopping centers. Its attractive shows and the high-quality of its service make it the best alternative for people looking for game, fun and comfort.

In the City of Pereira we have Casino Carnevale, a venue affiliated to the Chess Federation. There, we offer the best collection of latest-generation machines integrated to the Feral system, on top of weekly tournaments of science-spots. It is no doubt the leading gambling venue in this beautiful city.

In Bogota, we have recently inaugurated a gambling venue in the center: Casino Carnevale. It will soon offer the advantages of the online system. Its theme proposal makes the difference and is a good attraction focus in the rest of the venues of the sector.

In which way will the closure of casinos in Ecuador have influence on the Colombian casino market? 
The gaming industry in Colombia is coming out of a pause period, due to the liquidation of ETESA and the beginning of COLJUEGOS as a regulatory entity. We are sure that this process will bring an important boost to the sector. On the other hand, the political conjuncture, not only from Ecuador but also from Venezuela, puts Colombia in a privileged position.

What does the agreement with LAPT represent for the company?
We mainly remark the confidence that they have deposited in us, by a brand with such prestige and responsibility such as the Latin American Poker Tour, with whom we have signed an agreement to carry out the LAPT in Casino Allegre the next three years. The results obtained in 2011, making the tournament in Medellin the best success and  convening power, raises the expectation of the participants to the upcoming event, to be held August 7-12. It forces us to prepare very well and be ready to offer an event which reflects the high level that poker is living in Colombia.

Which are the main goals for this year?
We are oriented to consolidate our operations, spreading the advantages of the online system of Feral in our machine areas and, on that base, to be recognized not only as gaming halls with a top-quality service but also with a high level of technology. In our table game areas, we want to continue being acknowledged as the poker reference in the country.