So far this year, the Government of the State of Michoacán has dismantled more than 1,800 illegal machines.
Mexico.- In a coordinated operation, personnel from the Attorney General's Office (FGE) and the Public Security Secretariat (SSP) confiscated 118 slot machines in the municipality of Maravatío, which were operating outside the law.
After intelligence work and field investigations carried out by the Specialized Unit for Combating Kidnapping (UECS), evidence was gathered on possible criminal acts, in nine properties located in various parts of the municipality of Maravatío, Michoacán state, which led to requests for search and raid warrants.
During the operations, 118 slot machines were located and secured, which were allegedly installed under coercion by members of criminal cells involved in extortion crimes. The Public Prosecutor's agent ordered the securing of six properties as well as the secured objects, to continue with the investigation.
According to the Government of Michoacán, "the collaboration between the Civil Guard, the Attorney General's Office (FGE), and the National Anti-Kidnapping Coordination (Conase) was key to the fulfillment of these judicial mandates."
See also: Michoacán, Mexico, advances with its strategy against illegal gambling
In an exclusive interview with Focus Gaming News, the Sales Leader for LatAm and Southern Europe of the company explained the plans for the upcoming SBC Summit 2024, the impact of the company's latest releases, and future plans.
Exclusive interview.- Michele Stefanelli, Sales Leader for LatAm and Southern Europe of Play’n GO, gave an exclusive interview to Focus Gaming News in which he previewed the company's plans for SBC Summit 2024. He also delved into the public reception of the launch of “Rich Wilde and the Tome of Insanity”, the growth of Play’n GO Music, and the next steps the company will take.
How is the company preparing for SBC Summit 2024 and what are the expectations for the event?
This year we will send a small and focused team to SBC Lisbon. We are excited about the show! As always, we look forward to meeting clients, both old and new, and exploring ways to work together. We are always looking to acquire new business and are trying to catch up with our clients.
One of the company's latest releases, “Rich Wilde and the Tome of Insanity”, has become a huge success. Did you expect this? What do you think are the keys that made this game so special?
We had high hopes for “Rich Wilde and the Tome of Insanity”, and it's good to see those hopes come to fruition. The game has been a huge success and, in the first week of its release, had the best metrics of any game we've launched in nearly 10 years.
What makes a game successful is not so easy to understand; if it were, our job would be much easier! However, at Play’n GO we believe that certain elements make up the general formula for a successful game. With Rich Wilde and the Tome of Insanity, we had the model for a strong game that already existed in its predecessor, Rich Wilde and the Tome of Madness. For this sequel, we wanted to honor the original game while also developing the story to keep players interested. We are proud of the mechanics, graphics, soundtrack, and everything that goes into creating a game like Tome of Insanity. It's nice when it pays off!
Play’n GO has recently presented its Sustainability Report. How important is it for the company to have a sustainable approach in the gaming industry?
We believe that the only realistic future for our industry is a sustainable one. On a macro level, we only have one planet, so we are exploring ways to reduce our carbon emissions and aim to achieve carbon neutrality by 2030. We are on track to achieve this goal, which is important for everyone at Play’n GO.
On a more micro-industrial level, we believe in the need to first sell ourselves as an entertainment industry. We are aware that we want bonus buy games to be completely banned, believing they are a predatory and harmful product for players. We actively call for regulation and taxes in all markets. We firmly believe that this is the best path to a solid future for our industry.
Is Play’n GO working on new deals to continue growing in different markets?
We have the publicly stated goal of wanting to be active in all regulated markets around the world. Recently, we launched Betway in South Africa and are looking for opportunities to grow across the continent. We are always open to new business in all the regulated markets we operate in.
See also: Play’n GO adds a new chapter to the “Joker” slot series with “Mirror Joker”
Play’n GO Music was launched in December. What has been its reception so far?
Excellent! Collaborating with everyone on the MoneyGram Haas F1 Team has been fun and earlier this month we collaborated with Canadian EDM artist Humansion to produce a single for that team that has been very well received. Of course, as with any new brand, it takes time to establish, but we have a very strong parent brand in Play’n GO and we are excited about what Play’n GO Music will produce next.
What are the main challenges for the rest of the year?
