President of Ortiz Gaming sure company's products will be "the star" at G2E

Maurilio Silva is the President of Ortiz Gaming. In an exclusive talk with Yogonet, Mr. Silva said the company will be featuring "new products for every market" at the Las Vegas show.

2016-09-12

United States

Reading time 2:56 min

Maurilio Silva is the President of Ortiz Gaming. In an exclusive talk with Yogonet, Mr. Silva said the company will be featuring "new products for every market" at the Las Vegas show.

What will be the highlights of the 2016 G2E Vegas and why?

New New New; that is the mantra for G2E this year. G2E is a global event, and we will have New products for every market. We have spent millions in research and development this year, and the show floor will reflect that. We will have products for land-based, interactive and even some cool new hybrids. For this years G2E the products will be the star.

What are operators most concerned about these days?

This market is ever changing and is going through some re-landscaping with the recent advancements in technology. Operators must continue to worry about their bottom line in an developing environment. Operators want innovative products players will respond to, from a company they can trust. We have listened to the industry, operators and players, and put a premium on developing products to meet the needs and demands of the industry as a whole. We want to alleviate concern through forward movement of innovation.

The gambling industry in the U.S. is going through a period of transition shaped by a range of factors, some of which have their roots within the country, while others are related to the natural affairs of the international scenario. How would you describe the current state of gambling? What does the future have in store for the sector?

The gambling industry in the U.S. has never been stronger or larger. It has never generated the kind of revenue it is generating today.

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Much of the U.S. gaming regulatory environment has been shaped by historical events and industry mistakes; resulting in regulatory systems which are slow and sometimes hesitant to adopt new technologies

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But it has also resulted in a gaming industry with strong, steady, maturing growth. Rather, the future is bright for a maturing industry going through the natural order of development. Ortiz Gaming is one of the very few companies with the knowledge, skills, philosophy, and nimbleness to adapt to this maturation.

In a recent interview granted to Yogonet, a Pennsylvania official who's pushing to legalize online gambling in the Keystone State, said: “Sometime in the future, I see the U.S. being similar to Europe”. In your opinion, why is it taking so long for the U.S. to allow for gambling expansion in all its forms?

Gaming in the United States has, at best, a dubious history as a business. As an industry, gaming in the USA is relatively new: it was not until 1968 that it was legal for a corporation to own a casino; 1979 before gaming existed in the USA anywhere outside of Nevada; 1988 before the first “legal” Indian casino existed; and well into the 21st century before independent laboratory, testing became a universal standard.

These American historical complexities have regulatory entities looking to successful models, like Europe, to mirror; ensuring forward movement is made with strength and certainty. Complicating things is the USA’s dichotomy between Federal law and State law, gambling is regulated by the States and consequently, legalization in the USA requires tackling these issues in 50 separate state legislatures.

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In the future I agree that we may see an industry modeled after Europe here in the U.S. but it will take time

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Considering that non-gaming has, over the last years, become an effective revenue driver for casinos, what are the main challenges facing the industry?

The assertion that non-gaming is an effective revenue driver for casinos is unique to the region, demographics and types of casinos. Challenges facing the industry are not about competing with the sales figures for hot dogs and popcorn; the challenges in front of our industry are all about remaining focused on the customer: all constituencies of that term.

Our customers are, of course, the players of games who very clearly drive the market; but our customers are also the casino operators themselves. Our company’s customers are also our own team and employees. Together, these three pillars for the core of our success. The challenge for us, and for any good company, is to balance those pillars while focusing on the players’ drive.