The Gaming Control Authority signed a new contract with Recumet company.
Bolivia.- The Gaming Control Authority (AJ) has entered into a new agreement with the Metal Recovery Company Bolivia (RECUMET) for the destruction of 639 gaming devices that were seized in various operations nationwide.
This is a process carried out by the AJ in compliance with current regulations to eliminate illegality while protecting the environment.
The executive director of the AJ, Dr. Marco Antonio Sánchez Vaca, highlighted the importance of this strategic alliance with RECUMET, a company that, according to the official, has the experience and resources necessary to ensure responsible and environmentally safe destruction. “With this new agreement, we are taking a further step in our fight against illegal gambling, which harms Bolivian families and promotes gambling addiction,” stated Sánchez.
Since 2016, the AJ has managed to destroy 20,172 illegal gaming devices, which pose a danger to society by not having the proper authorization or controls to prevent addiction.
Furthermore, Sánchez added: “The owners of these machines are only looking to profit illicitly, they do not care about the integrity of the participants, as uncontrolled gambling generates addiction.”
Santa Cruz continues to be the department with the highest presence of illegal gambling. So far this year, 237 gaming devices have been seized, representing 65 percent of the 362 machines confiscated nationwide.
In light of this situation, the AJ explained that it has redoubled efforts to combat illegality and has made available to the public the website www.aj.gob.bo for the filing of complaints, which can be anonymous.
Tomás Mieles, Business Development Manager of Merkur Gaming, shares his impressions on the company's attendance at G2E Las Vegas.
Exclusive interview.- In an exclusive interview with Focus Gaming News, Tomás Mieles, business development manager of Merkur Gaming, reflects on the company's presence at G2E Las Vegas, highlighting the new and innovative products presented and the strategic alliances that enhanced Merkur's offering on the global stage.
How was your experience at G2E Las Vegas this year, and what were the main takeaways from the event for Merkur Gaming?
The Global Gaming Expo is always a special place to meet with our clients, always eager to learn about the latest from the world of Merkur Gaming. Once again, it has been an unforgettable experience. For the first time, we welcomed our strategic partners, Gaming Arts and Spintec, to our booth.
Merkur Gaming has built its reputation on the basis of innovation and offering exceptional gaming content. Could you share with us any insights into the innovations or product developments that were presented at G2E?
Our product display focused mainly on the popular Linked Progressive Jackpot systems. With "Link Wave" and "Clash Link", we introduced two linked progressives that immediately became major attractions at the fair. Additionally, we showcased our content to G2E visitors in the "Mod Ex" cabinet, which stood out among other cabinets at the fair, mainly for its unprecedented modularity and exceptional flexibility, allowing free configuration of the monitor, base, and body according to player preferences and customer needs.
Given Merkur Gaming's experience in adapting to diverse markets, how do you tailor your product offerings to meet the unique gaming habits of different regions, especially in emerging markets?
Our products are highly flexible to adapt to different markets with specific cultures and gaming habits. They are fully customizable to meet specific customer needs, allowing them to optimally serve the needs of our clients, especially in emerging markets. A key component in this is our local product managers and our headquarters product managers, who study each operation to provide the most suitable configurations.
Latin America is often considered a growing market with significant potential. What is the current strategy or future plans of Merkur Gaming to expand its presence in the LatAm region?
Latin America has always been a rapidly evolving market and continues to play a key role for us. There is a very competitive landscape of offerings, so a continuous optimization process is essential. Merkur Gaming's radar is constantly searching for opportunities wherever the law allows doing business. Brazil, for example, is one of the regions we have been looking forward to for a long time and is very interesting.
With a strong emphasis on localized game content, how do you focus on game development for the Latin American market? Are there any specific features or trends you are focusing on to resonate with players in the region?
In Latin America, gaming is considered a form of entertainment, and an attractive environment is always desired for it. Our development and product management teams take care of understanding the dynamics of the Latin American market to discover, learn, and implement new successful methods and mechanics.
With the gaming industry evolving rapidly, what trends are you seeing that will shape the future of gaming, and how is Merkur Gaming positioning itself to stay at the forefront?
For some years now, what drives the gaming landscape are online games and sports betting. There are both well-established markets and continuously new markets adopting online regulation. It is up to us, both in the land-based and online sectors, to develop attractive omnichannel solutions for players and markets. Achieving long-term success depends on the creation of forward-looking technological solutions that cater to varied preferences, age groups, and leisure interests. Merkur Gaming tries to keep pace with this challenge.
The quality and customer service are pillars of Merkur Gaming's identity. How do you continue to innovate in terms of engagement and customer experience on gaming machines?
