Operator News
Mexico – ELA to be held in Mexico following gaming reforms
By Phil - 15 December 2014
The Latin American Gaming Exhibition “Exposición Latinoamericana de Juegos de Azar” (ELA) will once again be held in Mexico, according to a press release published last Friday by organisers Expoazar SA.
According to the statement, although there is no definite date yet, “the expo will probably be held in May 2016,” although the venue of the meeting has yet to decided.
However, it is believed that the event could be held either in Mexico City, or in tourist hotspot Cancun. The expo will, according to the statement, be viable once again due to Mexico’s new gaming act which will, “completely change the prospects of the industry for the better,” as it gives the “green light for live play and is a perfect location for big business.” Earlier this year the organisers of the event launched an online survey to probe views on the feasibility of staging the fair for 2014 or even postpone it until 2015.
The last event was held in May in 2012 but the conference has not been held since due to low number of exhibitors and visitors as many operators began to leave the Mexican market due to lack of a clear legal framework in which to operate, amidst concerns of growing corruption and lack of transparency in the industry. It is believed that Mexico’s new Gaming act, which was approved recently by Mexico’s Chamber of Deputies, will usher in a new era in the gaming market and open the market up to foreign investment.
Although reform is a step in the right direction for the industry the new act has yet to be passed before the Senate due to more pressing matters such as electoral and anti corruption reforms. Indeed it is looking increasingly unlikely that the new act will be passed by the Senate during this parliamentary session which ends today (December 15).
If passed by the Senate, the new act will also enforce a number of player protection measures including the obligation on operators to report all bets which exceed 30,000 pesos (around US$ 2,000) to the Treasury, a measure which is designed to curb gambling addiction.
The new law also puts an end to the so called “umbrella” licences whereby operators have been able to operate a number of slot parlours and sports betting shops under a single licence. Instead, each casino or gaming establishment will be issued a single licence per gaming establishment.
