SAGSE Buenos Aires: crisis scenario hitting the games of chance sector in Argentina

No criticism can be made of Monografie, SAGSE organizer, which this year increased its efforts with the aim to offer a top-level event, in which local and international companies can find that which they have always had: a professional business space, where they have the oportunity to connect with the most representative regional operators.

However, this year, the absence of several top-level international companies was felt; spaces were reduced, with the same being true of the product offer of other important companies, which put the show in an embarrassing situation that, in essence, faces the Argentine industry: to withstand the onslaught of the current situation. However, it is important to note the presence of IGT, Aristocrat, Konami, DLV, Every Matrix, BetConstruct, JCM, Betradar, Copag and Belatra, among other top-level manufacturers.  

Despite that, operators showed their unconditional support for the show, and the halls of Costa Salguero Exhibition Center received a great number of public visitors. In fact, several exhibitors took note of this, assuring that, although the show looked smaller with regard to booths and names, the quantity and quality of contacts made covered the expectations for an exhibition like SAGSE, enabling a promising future and a direct recovery for the local industry.

One of the highlights was SAGSE University, a new training course organized by Monografie, which received a full house and as well as positive feedback from the public. In addition,, there was a  full schedule of “mini-events”, such as CSR talks organized by the Entretenerse group and the intensive training organized by JCM for the GGW event, which will be held today at the show.  

“It is a year where the whole industry will be able to carry on, working together for the future,” said Alan Burak, SAGSE Show Manager. “The games of chance market is active, with an important present and a promising future, and we can see that clearly,” he added.

As such, SAGSE Buenos Aires experienced an intense first day, which enabled the organizers to set a trend for several important factors. The first one is that the local games of chance operation still has a lot of potential, because its members returned to SAGSE hungry for products, services and professional training. The second one is that the measures taken at a national level to limit importation has damaged international manufacturers considerably. Some of them decided to be present in SAGSE this year in an austere manner, and others decided not to participate at all.

Finally, there was a consensus among all the participants of the event (exhibitors, operators and regulators) in considering that it is a phenomenon that has to do with the political situation, which no doubt overshadowed the huge efforts from organizers. However, due to the size and volume of the local games of chance industry in future editions, SAGSE may recover the success and convening power that it has had during its 22 years of history.