“The industry in Colombia is really forward thinking”

What was the outcome of the 2016 FADJA show?

Inspired had its biggest Fadja to date and we showcased more cabinets than ever before. Both pro and elite models of Optimus were on show, along with Machete and Inceptor – all of which featured Inspired’s market-leading games, including the chart-topping Goddess of the Amazon and international success story, Diamond Goddess.

We also showcased all new Rush Football Live, along with a wide selection of offerings from our world-leading Virtual Sports team. Virtual Sports will be a key launch for us in 2016, with the product now in its final phases of certification in Colombia.

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I would attribute the thriving success of the gaming industry in Colombia to the government’s commitment to regulating the market, making it a safe and legal environment in which to operate

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How is your company positioned in Colombia and the wider Latin American region?

Colombia is a big focus for us at the moment. As regulations change, and new opportunities arise, Inspired and Algazara will work together to deploy our cabinets and games ever more widely. Inspired is an expanding global business, and with that we’re always looking at new markets and opportunities to broaden our footprint.

What is it that makes the Colombian market so attractive and thriving?

I would attribute the thriving success of the gaming industry in Colombia to the government’s commitment to regulating the market, making it a safe and legal environment in which to operate. Inspired is committed to doing business only in regulated markets, and Colombia’s laws and player protection policies, therefore, make it an attractive place to operate. The industry as a whole in Colombia is really forward thinking, meaning it’s open to all of the new and exciting innovations which we have to offer – plus it’s a fantastic country to visit!

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The opportunity to expand into Brazil when the time is right will, of course, be an exciting one for Inspired, but it will be dependent on the communication and practice of strictly endorsed regulations

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What would be the impact of legalizing gambling in Brazil on neighboring countries? Will there still be business potential in the rest of the region if Brazil finally legalizes gambling?

Of course there will still be business potential across the LatAm region if gambling is legalized in Brazil. Colombian residents are still going to want to have access to fantastic entertainment products in their own country, as are Peruvians, Argentinians and so on. Each individual market operates in a way which reflects specific consumer and operator requirements, and there will still be the opportunity to move into these emerging markets and sustain business in existing ones as and when the time is right. There may well be a short-term impact on revenues in neighboring countries as Brazilian consumers less frequently take their business outside of their own country, but I believe that this will balance out as the tourism market continues to thrive in LatAm, and regulatory changes enable operators to offer a broader range of products to a new generation of players.

Would the opening up of the Brazilian market be good news for you? What will be your plans for that market if Brazil legalizes gambling? Are you undertaking any new projects in LatAm you'd like to share with our readers?

The opportunity to expand into Brazil when the time is right will, of course, be an exciting one for Inspired, but it will be dependent on the communication and practice of strictly endorsed regulations. There will undoubtedly be opportunities for VLT, Virtual Sports, and Casino products as and when changes in legislation come into practice, which will, of course, be a gradual process. Its an exciting time for Inspired in LatAm, and given the success and growth of our business in Colombia, it is very likely that we will be looking to undertake new projects in the region in the future.

For more information, visit Inspired's website.