Could you briefly sum up your career in the gaming sector?
Before answering your question, I must tell you that I come from a family that has been involved with the gaming industry for more than 40 years. So, since I was a teen, I have always been interested in learning more about the fascinating world of casinos. About 4 years ago, the Casino Magic board of directors added me to the Management Committee, which has been an incredible experience. Through my work on the Committee, I learned a lot about gambling and worked with very talented and knowledgeable people. This inspired me to continue growing in the sector.
How would you define the comprehensive proposal of the casino, both in the land-based and the online segments?
In Casino Magic, our vision is to promote meeting spaces and, to achieve this, we are always looking to enhance our offerings. We understood that the Internet should be part of our ecosystem and that people needed a space in that cyber world. We are proud to say that we were not wrong. Nowadays, one in three clients chooses our online proposal. We have one of the most complete online gaming portfolios in the country, including slot games, bingo and poker. Likewise, we were the first online casino in Argentina to add the sports betting service. We believe this will continue to progress as new technologies emerge, such as the Metaverse, Esports, VR, etc. In summary, at Casino Magic, we are committed to providing unique entertainment experiences for our clients, being a reference in the community of Neuquen (Argentina) and striving every day to continue satisfying their needs in an integral way.
In the City of Buenos Aires, due to its dimension and number of inhabitants, maybe this trend is not so frequent, but in the interior of Argentina, casinos have become spaces for socialization, rather than gambling centers themselves. People go to eat and drink, watch shows and have a good time with family and friends. How do you return the confidence of your visitors? In which way you complement the gaming offer with other activities?
We are focused on promoting spaces for people to meet, and one of the ways we do it is through our extensive weekly schedule of shows. We start on Mondays with a night of tango, a space through which prominent figures have participated in. On Tuesdays, we offer a fun karaoke night where the public has the opportunity to become a star. On Wednesdays, it is the turn of salsa and bachata, with live bands, both local and international. On Thursdays, we propose a night that combines different arts, such as magic, music and humor. On Fridays and Saturdays, we present live shows, and on Sundays, we close the week with folklore musicians from the region. We believe that this variety of shows allows our visitors to take advantage of a magnificent meeting and entertainment place that adapts to their preferences. In this sense, we will maintain our commitment to provide quality options for our customers.
What are the challenges of an operator in 2023, after the pandemic: recover the income numbers of 2019, retain and add new players, a technological evolution, as well as in the diversity of content, or the security of people and systems?
All these topics are part of our plans, as happens on the rest of the industry. The focus continues to be on the client (internal and external), on transforming ourselves digitally and also on developing our human capital and working on communication. We are convinced of the quality of service we deliver. We have come a long way, but we continue working to improve day by day, increasing the range of services and enhancing the experience of our customers. Regarding technological security, our website is extremely reliable. We comply with all data security procedures. Therefore, our customers are protected and benefit from a high-quality gaming experience.
What value does the development of a responsible gaming policy have for your company, and how does the casino implement it?
Responsible gaming is one of our main concerns in order to provide a safe and healthy environment for our customers. The companies which are part of the group have a Responsible Gaming Program that has been in development for more than 15 years. We are the pioneers in this matter at a national level. Today, we have a wide range of tools to detect and help problem gamblers, including a toll-free 0-800 hotline and a WhatsApp line. Furthermore, we are pleased to share that we have launched a specific website dedicated to responsible gaming. Users will be able to find there some valuable information and resources on this topic. In short, at our company, we take social responsibility very seriously, and we are committed to promoting a safe and responsible gaming for all of our clients.
In September 2023, the casino will host relevant G&M Events Mercosur Summit. What can you advance on this gathering, and what other projects the company plans for the rest of the year?
We are very happy that the event can be held in our house, and also because of the participation of many land-based and online operators from all over the world. We are convinced that these experiences, such as the second edition of the G&M Events Mercosur Summit, are the key for the sector to grow, prosper and remain strong in the future. In addition, we want the participation not only of those executives who are directly related to the industry, but also of those who are not. We will address cross-cutting issues to the different activities of gaming, which we believe will be very interesting for all attendees. We hope to see many of your readers there, and we look forward to sharing experiences and learning with our peers in a relaxed and cordial atmosphere.