To begin, we wanted to know about the main activities and priorities of AIEJA (Association of Permit Holders, Operators and Suppliers of the Entertainment and Gambling Industry in Mexico) these days. Its president Miguel Ángel Ochoa explained to us that “for the first time a woman,  Dr. Claudia Sheinbaum, will lead this country. She will begin her administration on October 1, 2024. And from this reality, three immediate priorities will emerge: 1) manage a new bill on games and raffles, negotiated with the government incoming and pushed by him in Congress; 2) Adapt the reform to the Regulation that prevents, in its current state, the importation of gaming machines for casinos and the renewal of permits in force at the end of the same; and 3) Get in touch with who will be the next General Director of Gaming, Regulator of our sector, as soon as he is appointed, in order to measure his profile, his precise assignment and the general policy that the new government will follow with respect to gaming. . These are the main priorities of the Association nowadays.”

Then, we sought to investigate the evolution of the entertainment industry in Mexico this year and what AIEJA's role has been in that process and Ochoa told us that "I would define the last year as a year on standby." Because, unfortunately, there is no real state policy regarding gambling, when a government ends its term, as is the case now with President Andrés Manuel López Obrador, the activity is paralyzed while waiting for the next one. However, even so, we maintain dialogue and communication with the General Directorate of Games, with the Ministry of Economy, with local and federal Congresses, in order to keep the Industry active, working and proposing” and added “AIEJA continues to promote "the attraction of foreign investments and our efforts have focused, above all, on the changes that we should generate in the legal field, with the aim of providing greater legal certainty to national and, mainly, foreign investors."

GAT Caribe in Cancun

What expectations do you have for the next edition of GAT Caribe in Cancun and what does it mean for AIEJA to be a strategic ally in the event?

I want to use this space to reiterate public congratulations to José Aníbal for the initiative of organizing his GAT Expo in Mexico, which, until recently, was focused almost exclusively on the Colombian market and, more recently, on the Dominican Republic. Here, in the northernmost part of the Latin American subcontinent, there is also an important expectation. It should be noted that, in Mexico, the last exhibition with stands of Industry companies took place 12 years ago, in 2012. After more than a decade without an expo, they will resume with the Cancun event. The novelty for us is that we will link it with the third Ordinary Assembly of AIEJA, the last of the year, which is normally attended by more than 70 associates, including permit holders, operators and suppliers of the Industry. And by being allies with GAT Expo, it means that we will support each other so that our respective events are successful and we can close the year with a good taste in our mouths.

What initiatives or projects will AIEJA present during GAT Caribe that are of special interest to the industry?

GAT Caribe will take place at the end of November. And obviously, by this date, we will have greater clarity regarding the policy of the new Mexican government, we will know the authorities that have to do with our sector in the federal government, particularly in the Ministry of the Interior, the Ministry of Economy and the Ministry of Treasury and Public Credit. And from there, many of the issues that we consider priority will be discussed, always aimed at seeking to strengthen the legal security that foreign investments deserve. In addition, we will continue promoting to Latin America and the world the investment alternatives that our market could offer, both in terms of supplies, machines and other technological elements, as well as in the online gaming vertical.

Speaking in the long term, how do you perceive the future of the gaming industry in Mexico and what strategies is AIEJA implementing to face current challenges?

Although there is a good degree of uncertainty, as I mentioned previously, we perceive sustained growth in the industry that has not stopped. Interest in the Mexican market is growing, as I have witnessed when I attend or participate in international events to which I am invited, both in the Americas, the Caribbean, and Europe. And I am convinced that, far from decreasing, this interest will gradually grow, as we strengthen legal certainty. The gaming industry scenario in Mexico has enormous potential.

How important is international collaboration in events like GAT Caribe for AIEJA and what alliances are you currently promoting? 

The AIEJA has become, in one way or another, the benchmark for the gaming industry in Mexico. And this despite the fact that there is another association and that there are authorities that regulate the sector. In effect, the other association has not had an active participation in the international market and the Mexican authorities are, at least in this six-year term, hiding from international events. So our intention is, together with GAT Expo and other event promotion organizations, to generate a stable and growing participation of the national Industry, transmitting security, peace, tranquility and harmony to place the Mexican market as one of the very attractive scenarios for the next six years; from now to 2030, as the first goal.

Online gaming and new technologies

We know that online gaming will have a prominent place at the GAT Caribe Cancún fair this November. What could you tell us about it?

Online gaming has had great growth and consolidation in the Latin American market and, particularly in Mexico. Our country has one of the most competitive and solid economies in emerging markets. Likewise, the high coverage of smartphones and internet access has boosted electronic commerce in Mexico. Mexicans have more confidence in digital transactions every day. This context also explains the exponential growth of online gaming in Mexico. In addition, operators, who comply with Mexican regulations, adopt the best practices and technology of our industry to provide a better training experience to their users. Therefore, it is not surprising that online gaming occupies a prominent place in what will be the successful GAT Cancun 2024 event. Mexico is one of the most attractive markets for the online gaming aspect, currently.

What are the most notable innovations in the online gaming industry that will be present at GAT Caribe and how do you think they will impact the Mexican market?

The GAT Cancún 2024 event brings together actors who offer solid and innovative options to strengthen online gaming. Tools to consolidate the daily operation of betting websites, to mitigate fraud, to provide better payment experiences and increasingly innovative games. The Mexican online gaming industry will have access to these innovations; and, in turn, will provide knowledge of the situation and needs of the Mexican market to exhibitors.

What opportunities and challenges do you think the adoption of new technologies, such as artificial intelligence, in the casino and online gaming sector presents?

New technologies provide instruments to offer better experiences to users of both verticals of gambling, which will allow us to reach segments of the population that have not had access to our offers of valuable entertainment. Likewise, this type of technological tools provide the player with greater security and certainty in the protection of their information and in the game itself.  However, it is necessary to carry out actions that allow the gaming ecosystem in Mexico to understand the practical and daily use of these technologies for operation in both aspects. For example, how they help mitigate fraud, how they provide better options and experiences in deposits and prize collection, and in the development of new business models that allow the player base to expand. 

Finally, we can point out that the greatest challenge for these new technologies is that they can provide concrete success stories that are replicable to the reality of Mexico and Latin America.

How do you think these emerging trends will influence the user experience and competitiveness of gaming operators in Mexico?

We believe that these trends and innovations will drive increasingly personalized experiences, based on the tastes of players. Likewise, they will help them have information for more rewarding decisions when placing their bets. Likewise, we observe that these tools should also be fundamental to develop instruments that help provide early warnings in relation to compulsive gambling. Therefore, we can conclude that these technological trends, in Mexico and Latin America, represent an opportunity for our markets to maintain their growth and consolidation and continue attracting new players and investments to the region.

Finally, what initiatives or strategies is the AIEJA promoting to support Mexican operators in the integration of these new trends into their platforms?

The AIEJA maintains permanent actions to learn about and come into contact with new technological trends. The AIEJA's participation in discussion panels, fairs, expos and conventions aims to meet and guide companies that develop new technologies and business models to enter the Mexican market and impact the growth and consolidation of the industry in our country. . Particularly, in this year 2024, the Commission on New Technological Trends was formed in the AIEJA to strengthen the Gaming Industry, chaired by Axel Antillón, from WA Technology, whose central task is to present to the members of the AIEJA new technological tools that can be implemented in the daily operation of physical and online gaming casinos.