“We ran the biggest exhibition of slots, systems and interactive games in our history”

How do you rate Bally’s recent participation in G2E? 
G2E 2013 was a great success for us, the best we have had. We were labeled as “Best at Show” by several publications, analysts and investors (JNK Securities, Eilers, Alan Woinski of The Gaming Industry Weekly Report, among others). We put on the biggest exhibition of slots, systems and interactive games in our history. We received visitors from across the world, especially Latin America.

Some of the highlights were: our Pro Wave cabinet, a huge hit  with customers; our receipt of  three Gaming and Technology Awards: 1) Best Slot Product (Pro Wave Cabinet), 2) Best Consumer-Service Technology (DM Tournaments Bonus Tournaments),; and 3) Best Productivity-Enhancement Technology (Service Tracking Manager); more than 600 customers participated in our dinners and events; over 595 customers visited our private area of innovation and more than 85 analysts and investors participated in our pre-G2E launch party. All this is  testimony of our innovation and customer commitment, to help operators generate more income, margins and operation efficiencies every day.

What is your opinion of the event at a general level?
The participation at the conference was up 5% on last year, which indicates the operators’ interest in new games, themes, technology, products and ideas that help them obtain more winnings. We have also seen that our competitors performed impressively, which indicates a more mature event than in previous years.

Definitely, the level of demand is higher with regard to innovation and quality of the show, and that is very good for the industry.

What products are already available in Latin America or will be available in the short-term?
All the products presented at Bally’s booth will be available in the short term, after corresponding regulatory approvals. Among them, Pro Wave cabinet was the one with the highest demand and will start to be presented at casino floors during December. Other games, such as Michael Jackson 2, multigame and several High5 games are already available.

According to conversations with your colleagues and operators at the booth, how do you see the industry shaping up next year?
The global industry is slowly picking up momentum, becoming more and more competitive, and, as we see it, the key will be the innovation and technological development. Equally, we have to consider the growing importance of online gaming and the operators’ need to enter into the interactive sector in order to have a differential service tool, presenting a number of choices to the players.

In terms of Latin America, all the markets have been growing and consolidating from the technological and regulatory point of view year after year, which is a symbol of maturity. In Argentina, we have had several importation related problems, but it is a model we must adapt in a way that all the parties may achieve the desired goal.

How are you preparing for SAGSE? Will all the products presented at G2E be shown at SAGSE, too?
We have prepared hard for our  SAGSE participation for several months now. We will present a selection of the best products exhibited at G2E, as it is impossible to bring them all due to space issues. Among others, we will include Michael Jackson “Wanna be starting something”, Titanic, new progressives, the new Monte Carlo, new High5 games and Quick Hits themes. As regards  iInteractive games and Systems, we will have one of the most important exhibitions in recent years.

Have you set yourselves any particular goal for the rest of the year? 
Yes, to keep on working hard and in a smart way with our customers, to be the partners of choice in the industry, to make a strong investment in innovation so we can be the technological leader and continue consolidating our products in the different Latin American markets. Bally is enjoying its best ever phase both globally and regionally right now, owing to the strengths of our team, our products and our customer support.