“In SAGSE, Bally’s products were brilliantly received”

What products did you present in SAGSE?
We had the chance to showcase several of the same products we debuted in Las Vegas at G2E. It is very important for us that our regional customers are able to see the wide range of innovation Bally currently offers. 

Specifically, we showcased a variety of Alpha 2 Pro Series cabinets:  V22/22, V32 and thePro Curve, all with the latest game releases. We also displayed some of our top Premium games such as Michael Jackson King of Pop, Pawn Stars, NASCAR, Cash Wizard Tiki Magic, among others. All the machines feature the iDeck and the latest Play Mechanics (U-Shoot, U-Play, U-Win, etc)

Which are the main features of Michael Jackson King of Pop and Pawn Stars?
Michael Jackson King of Pop is a machine presented on the Pro Series V32/22 cabinet. The game offers bonuses with top hits like Billie Jean, Beat it and Smooth Criminal. A spin on the Platinum disc using Bally’s U-Spin play mechanic enables players to obtain credits, multipliers, and the chance to enter the bonus. The bonuses are amazing because they feature videos of his biggest hits on the large screen and, when combined with the Pro Series surround-sound chair, create a thrilling player experience.

Pawn Stars is a machine that is still in its English version, and is very similar to Michael Jackson King of Pop: based on your bonus feature the player goes into a bonus (round) with each featuring one of the Pawn Stars. In the negotiation round, you’re able to sell an antique and determine if you would like to take the initial offer or “call” an expert for a chance to double the win or lose it all. The game follows the format of the show, which in the region is called “El precio de la Historia”

What was the feedback from visitors in SAGSE?
It is incredible receiving such great customer feedback on all of our products. The Alpha 2 Pro Series has had an amazing reception in the market, not only due to the hardware but for the results our games are bringing. Thousands of these machines are already installed in the region and results continue to please operators.

When could these machines be installed in Argentina?
We believe we’ll be able to deliver our first shipment of Michael Jackson King of Pop games by the end of the year, maybe within the first months of 2013.  They will first deploy into the casinos of Buenos Aires and then the rest of the country.

What was your experience of the three-day SAGSE event?
SAGSE is always an expo that is very important to us. Argentina represents an enormous market for the entire region and, due to the time that Bally has conducted business in the country, Argentina is a very mature market. SAGSE allows us the opportunity to get together with clients outside of Buenos Aires. We also saw clients from Peru, Columbia, Chile and Uruguay. It is an excellent opportunity to see operators, friends, and people that we have not seen in a while.

How did you see the Latin American market and Argentina, specifically?
It was a very peculiar year. It was very special due to the restrictions to imports into Argentina. Chile is also in a transition process with the litigation of the municipal casinos. Peru is a market that has a very good legal frame. Colombia is undergoing a process of regulation, which implies strong work on the part of the manufacturers and operators to begin things properly.

It was a year filled with changes, but with a great acceptance of our products.

Was 2012 a positive year for Bally?
Absolutely, particularly as Bally is in a product launch boom. We’ve made a strong investment in hardware in recent years and then followed with a strong investment in software. We have signed branding agreements with big registered trademarks, and are seeing strong performance.

What are your plans for next year?
I understand that Argentina will be on the right track, and we will place the full force (of our efforts) in the region with an aggressive sales strategy so that each casino floor has Bally machines.

We will keep on positioning Bally Technologies as the best slots and systems manufacturer, with a strong commitment to deliver the latest innovations.