Exclusive interview with Ricardo Regner, VP of Sales and Operations – Latin America, Scientific Games

“The Colombian market shows willingness to invest in new products and technologies”

2016-04-25
Reading time 2:12 min
During the recent FADJA show, we sat down with Scientific Games' Ricardo Regner to discuss the current state of gaming in Colombia. “When speaking with operators at FADJA, one thing became apparent: they were interested in sealing big deals -something that did not use to happen in the past-,” he said.

Based on your recent participation in FADJA 2016, how would you describe the current levels of investment from operators in Colombia?

We were surprised to see such a high volume of people coming to our booth. When speaking with operators, one thing became apparent: they were interested in sealing big deals at FADJA -something that did not use to happen in the past-. Not only did we perceive a high interest in our products, but also a positive overall environment. The Colombian market is certainly showing willingness to invest in new products and technologies, which obviously makes us enthusiastic about the future.

We see sports betting and onling gaming as complemetary offerings which do not represent a threat to our business

Are you seeing a return from investments after the stabilization of the Colombian currency?

Yes. In any case, I believe it is our obligation as gaming manufacturers and providers to adapt our product offering to market conditions, regardless of the country.

It is no surprise that some products are more expensive than others, hence they cannot be massively launched. At this year's FADJA, for instance, we presented our brand new Dualos cabinet which offers a cost-effective option for those operators looking to stay competitive in the market. It is a product that can be easily adapted to any market in the region.

A great number of operators believe that the requirements set by Coljuegos have led to the closure of small gaming halls, whereas big and medium-sized floors have benefited from new regulations. What are your thoughts on this?

The truth is not many of the machines in Colombia can meet the requirements specified by Coljuegos, and we know how difficult it can be for some operators to purchase new products. These factors have undoubtedly contributed to the reshaping of the market. I personally believe there will soon be room for alternative options -such as offering refurbished machines-, which will open new doors for those businesses most affected by the current changes in regulation

Did you get the chance to meet with operators from Panama and Peru during FADJA? What are your forthcoming plans for those markets?

I can't disclose any information at the moment, but I can assure you that we will soon be making big announcements. Both Colombian attendees and operators from the wider Latin American region were very pleased to see our compelling proposition.

How has the rise of sports betting and online gaming impacted the Colombian market?

We see sports betting and onling gaming as complemetary offerings which do not represent a threat to our business. Colombia is one of the first Latin American markets to have regulated online gaming and, as a response to its continued growth, we decided to bring specialists from our Interactive division to FADJA this year. The overall reaction to our solutions was fantastic, with operators seeking to know more about our products and how to implement them.

Enter the world of Scientific Games.

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