What is your evaluation on the company’s participation at G2E Las Vegas? What was the feedback you had from visitors to your booth about your most innovative solutions?
I’ll speak first for Aristocrat and then I’ll speak for myself, because last recent edition of G2E has been fantastic. For Aristocrat, once again, it’s been a pleasure to have welcomed customers from all over Latin America. We’ve seen executives at our booth from the Caribbean to South America. From my personal perspective, based on my experience in previous shows, it has also been a fantastic edition. Throughout my career in Aristocrat, I’ve worked in Australia, Asia and now in Latin America. I even spent a couple of years in Europe. And I can say that G2E 2023 has really been the first show in the last 4 years where I’ve seen a wonderful, increased representation from all regions.
How much do you think you can grow in the USA after the recent launch of the NFL-themed slot machines?
I’m excited about our agreement with the NFL and the products of that brand that we have already launched, which were very praised by attendees in our booth in Vegas. I have felt a lot of energy. First of all, I’m an NFL fan. Second, for the company, it’s a one of a kind moment, a real milestone. I think it’s a very innovative partnership, and also challenging to think differently about game development. These new NFL slots provide players with the possibility to pick their favorite teams. Ut was also a challenge for the NFL as a brand, and how it applies to this vertical. So absolutely it has been a win-win situation.
Don’t you think it’s like the perfect combination that attracts casino players and sports betting fans alike in the same machine?
I’m not so sure about that. Not all sports betting fans are enthusiastic of trying slot machines. But what I do know is that the NFL is a very large organization in the USA, and even bigger globally, with a lot of recognition abroad. Can’t assure this crossover will work for all sports betting fans, but I’m sure it will do for the NFL fans.
Can you please explain more about what are the for-sale products and how this business unit has been increasing over the last years?
We have a number of commercial models around LatAm and abroad, but we also have our for sale model in which a customer can purchase a slot machine, take a title and enjoy that machine on their casino floor. We’ve expanded our for sale lineup for Latin America in particular, to include linked progressive products. At this moment, we have standalone products without link progressives, but we also have a line of progressives made specifically for Latin America.
Let’s talk about LatAm. Which LatAm markets you specifically see as most promising for your company, in terms of having more space to grow and to install products there?
We can take a macro view of the LatAm region, and I think there’s a huge opportunity across the market. Our casino floors share in Latin America is higher than the one of other regions. Of course, there are lots of things to consider: the betting levels, the jackpot levels, the gameplay styles, and the entertainment factor. We have collected all of that info in LatAm so we can develop specific games for that market. We are very much focused on building solutions to respond the specific demands of all Latin American operators.
In times of strong competition, regulatory requests, compliance around responsible gaming and sustainability, demands from new audiences and more, how are you planning to, for one side, leverage the opportunities the markets bring, but, at the same time, trying to continue with the commitment you show with clients and players?
I like the word ‘opportunities’ that you have used. Where there are challenges, there are also opportunities. As a leading company, we really embrace any of those challenges in terms of our global responsibility. We have a strong commitment with key issues like compliance, sustainability and promoting a work environment that is increasingly diverse and inclusive. We have corporate social responsibility programs which establish us as the frontrunner in these spaces, because we strongly invest in those areas. We believe that the gaming industry as a whole must be more sustainable, so we will continue working to achieve those goals, and take advantage of the opportunities that arise.