Organized by the Puerto Rico Gaming Commission and with significant institutional, business, and governmental participation, the meeting concluded with a joint statement from the attending regulators.
Puerto Rico.- More than 130 attendees gathered in San Juan on May 13, 14, and 15 to celebrate the 8th Ibero-American Gaming Summit. Key players in the gaming sector discussed the state of the industry in Ibero-America, taxation in the gaming industry, regulatory challenges due to technological advancements, experiences of countries that have regulated online gaming, among other topics.
As in previous editions, the four thematic axes around which the event's programming revolved were: regulation, internationalization, opportunities, and innovation, in addition to topics proposed by the regulators from the different attending countries.
The industry (operators, manufacturers, and associations) thus had the opportunity to debate with the following represented countries; Panama, Paraguay, Portugal, Puerto Rico, Peru, Ecuador, Colombia, Chile, Paraná in Brazil, and Buenos Aires in Argentina:
The regulators from these 10 Ibero-American countries participating in this edition of the Summit reaffirmed their commitment, support, and interest in generating and strengthening communication among all sector actors, as well as discussing the current situation of the industry and exchanging ideas and experiences with the aim of strengthening relationships between gaming companies and government entities.
In this meeting, the Summit once again had a dynamic format, with more than 25 speakers addressing the most relevant topics for the sector from an Ibero-American perspective. Throughout various roundtables and presentations, the more than 150 participants had the opportunity to share experiences and present success stories from the perspectives of each of their countries.
The forum was inaugurated with a speech by Omar Marrero, Secretary of the State Department of Puerto Rico who highlighted “We have gone through earthquakes, hurricanes, a pandemic, the fiscal crisis… Puerto Rico is at a turning point, crises allow us to seize opportunities. For tourism, the gaming industry is essential and therefore record figures have been achieved in Puerto Rico”.
On the other hand, Juan Carlos Santaella Marchán, Acting Director of the Puerto Rico Gaming Commission, added in his welcome address “Gaming in all its forms has been part of the history and culture of our Ibero-American nations for centuries and has evolved to adapt to the changing demands and technologies of our modern society. With this evolution come challenges and responsibilities, as regulators of the gaming industry we must be aware of our impact on society and work together to promote a safe, responsible, and transparent gaming environment”.
He then added: “This Summit is the opportunity to discuss crucial issues such as regulation, technological innovation, corporate social responsibility, and public-private collaboration. Through the exchange of ideas and collaboration, we can find creative and effective solutions that benefit all stakeholders: from operators and manufacturers to regulators, consumers, and society at large”.
According to some of the regulators present, like Manuel Sánchez, Executive Secretary of the Gaming Control Board of Panama, it was mentioned that it is necessary to eliminate the stigmas that accompany the sector, as it is a regulated activity that boosts the economy. He indicated that “One of the greatest achievements in his administration was having regulated online games, making sports in Panama more attractive through the sponsorship of such Operators. Online games have contributed to job creation, for influencers, as well as sports journalists, and to the income of the Panamanian state. Panama is an example of regulation for the world.”
On the other hand, the regulator from Colombia, Marco Emilio Hincapié, president of Coljuegos highlighted “During the Summit, we proposed to strengthen regional work through the creation of a Latin American Commission of Regulators of Games of Chance and Luck. This, with the aim of advancing in regulation taking into account both the normative particularities of each country, as well as the challenges faced by the industry. We also took advantage of this important meeting to propose the creation of an Ibero-American Lottery that allows us to obtain regional resources to combat the impact of climate change. We thank the organizers of the Summit for the invitation, and we reiterate our commitment to continue working and sharing experiences in the regulation of games of chance and luck”.
See also: The Senate of Puerto Rico approved the new regulation of gambling machines
Industry representatives such as Cirsa or GLI wanted to highlight their connection with this event, Carlos Duelo, Director of Institutional Relations of Cirsa commented: “For us, the Summit offers the opportunity to share a fantastic time with the regulators of the different countries in which we have a presence and to discuss our activity in a relaxed and cordial manner”.
Karen Sierra-Hughes emphasized: “As sponsors of the Summit since its first edition, we are very satisfied with the event that has exceeded our expectations. A recognition for the regulators and representatives of the industry who met to generate an open transparent dialogue to continue building a successful and sustainable industry”.
