Para la versión en español del programa de la conferencia, ingrese aquí.
BingoWorld 2008 kicks off with an expanded second edition of Bingo Mexico, which debuted to a full house in 2007. Co-presented with
Harrison & Montoya Associates, Bingo Mexico & Americas will focus on some of the world’s most vibrant and fastest growing bingo markets. With speakers from around the region and simultaneous translation in English and Spanish, Bingo Mexico & Americas promises to be a uniquely international educational and networking event.
Admission to Bingo Mexico is not included in the
standard BingoWorld conference registration. Check the registration
page for more details.
Bingo Mexico & Americas
Conference Agenda
Current as of February 26th; subject to change
All Sessions sponsored by 
1:00 p.m. – 1:30 p.m.
Opening Keynote Address
Licenciado Ezequiel González Matus, former Director General of Gaming in the Ministry of Interior of Mexico from 2004 to 2006
1:30 p.m. – 2:15 p.m.
Class II Gaming in Mexico: A Political and Regulatory Overview
The gaming machine market in Mexico’s bingo and parimutuel facilities continues to grow, with operators and suppliers in the market reporting strong results through 2007. The market remains divided between operators that are restricting themselves to Class II devices that, they feel, conform to existing Mexican law, and a thriving business in Class III slots that many licensed operators claim to be illegal. The new Administration of Felipe Calderon presented a fiscal reform plan last summer that included a 20% tax on gaming. Although this was deemed too high by operators, the willingness to tax gaming directly was seen by many observers as a potentially important step toward regulatory clarity in the market. This session will examine the current state of Mexican gaming law and regulations and evaluate the prospects for a more defined operating environment in the coming year.
Moderator: Charles Harrison (Moreira), Chief Executive Officer, SSG Dominicus LLC
Speakers: Carlos E. Jiménez Vilches, Director General, Bingames Entertainment Mexico, S.A.; Martin Sanchez, Former Director of Gaming in Mexico; Robb Vecchio, Vice President-International, Video Gaming Technologies,
Inc.
2:15 p.m. - 2:30 p.m. Networking break
2:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.
Bingo in the Americas: By the Numbers
Throughout the Americas, bingo is a thriving industry, from the base of South America to Mexico and the Caribbean. Bingo in the region is marked by several huge markets, such as Colombia and Brazil, which at one point had 1,800 halls and employed 120,000 people, several big-name operators with roots in the casino business and no shortage of regulatory uncertainty. This session will outline the size and scope of bingo in the Americas, in its traditional paper, electronic and Class II forms, and identify which markets to watch going forward.
Moderator: Charles Anderer, Senior Events Manager, Gaming, BNP Media
Speakers: David Delgado, Vice President International Sales and Marketing, Arrow International Inc.; Mario Escarcega, Attorney; Gary Loebig, Executive Vice President of Sales, Multimedia Games, Inc.; Karen Marcela Sierra-Hughes, Gaming Development Representative, Gaming Laboratories International
3:30 p.m. – 3:45 p.m. Networking break
3:45 p.m. – 4:45 p.m.
The Games They Play
Bingo in Mexico, Central and South America is a faster-paced and more energetic game than in North America. Operators often run 90-number games instead of 75-number games common in the U.S., but the latter is popular at smaller halls and charitable establishments throughout the region. Cards are also priced and purchased differently, with players in the region typically buying single game cards or sheets rather than an entire session. Understanding player tastes in a region that stretches from Mexico to Argentina is a challenge, but worth it not only for success in the region, but in North America as well, where the fastest growing segments of the population hails from south of the border.
Moderator: James Rutherford, International Editor, International Gaming & Wagering Business
Speakers: Pedro Brisson, Executive Director, National University of La Plata,
Argentina; Eduardo Jimenez Gonzalez, Gaming Attorney and Former Ambassador; Antonio Martinez, Director General, Zitro Global; Gustavo Ranucci, Vice President, Argentine Association of Bingo Halls
