“We are aware of the importance of SAGSE for this market”

How was the three-day show?
Very good. We liked being here after several years without our own booth. In some editions we exhibited at the TCS John Huxley booth. We had a positive performance. We had a lot of visitors. Unfortunately, the non-automatic import license (DJAI in Spanish) is the biggest problem we have in Argentina to bring our cards. The customers want them and recognize them as the best, but at Copag we cannot do much. We want a change, and we expect it to happen soon. However, we are very happy with our performance at SAGSE.

Have you received visits from customers of other markets?
Yes, from Uruguay, Chile and Paraguay. We came to be close with them because we recognize the importance of SAGSE in this market.

Has the flow of sales to neighboring countries increased due to the problems with Argentina?
It continues to remain stable. Two years ago, there were casino closures in Ecuador and Venezuela- a situation that occurred all of a sudden, and we think that the market was a bit stalled, but we can’t say that it was the problem. There is a worldwide crisis and there are studies indicating that people gamble less, while other research indicates that they play more, so I think is something cyclical.

How do you see Chile? It is the youngest casino market and continue to expand...
Chile is growing considerably. It is a very organized country that is handling the casino issue very well. We have talked with a customer that was granted a tender process to open a casino there and Copag has a homologation in Chile. It means, we are official providers and we can sell there.

What is your analysis of Mexico and the new regulation planned?

Many customers demand quotations and ask us how to import, but as the new law has not been sanctioned yet, we can’t say anything. As is our custom, we will remain on the sidelines until the market is regulated. I hope there is a resolution by the end of the year. In that case, we will enter the Mexican market. If not, we will keep on waiting, such as we are doing in Argentina, with our best products.

All the companies are waiting for Brazil to open its market. Do you think it is possible?
Everything is s, but I don’t think it will happen in the near future. There are prejudices in Brazil with regards to gambling, but it is also true that we have not imagined having legal poker rooms. Poker has grown considerably an we have very good players. They have positioned poker as a sport and not as a game of chance. That’s why it has managed to install itself in society

However, there are still many problems with casinos. A big sector thinks they can cause gambling problems in vulnerable sectors. We know it is not true but I don’t think it will change in the next 10 years. I hope I am wrong, because it is a market with more than 200 million people.