"We believe that the result of this exhibition is successful for the entire region"

To start the talk, Ochoa Sánchez reviewed the activity carried out by AIEJA:

"Our company represents some of the permit holders of casinos authorized by SEGOB, operators and suppliers of the industry, from manufacturers to those who make gaming tables, training of dealers and croupiers. Our function is a representation of a general nature, that is, we do not represent the individual interests of any member. The most important issues are those that have to do with the federal government, whether the Secretary of the Interior, which is the regulator; the Ministry of Finance, which is the one that taxes us; the Ministry of Tourism, to encourage the growth of the sector; the Ministry of Health, for the issue of authorization to smoke in a part of the rooms and the prevention of gambling; that is, all the secretariats, including the issue of security. And we also have a representation before the legislative power, specifically before the Chamber of Deputies and Senators, and before the Judicial Power, which is when there is some controversy with the Mexican Court. "

"We also have representation before the authorities of the states and municipalities, which is how the national territory is divided geographically, where most of the casinos are concentrated. We are not in the whole country, but we are in a good part of the states of Mexico. Then also before collateral bodies, such as Associations, Chambers of Commerce. We are also the spokespersons of the Mexican industry sector before the media. We also have the representation of the industry at a national and international level".

"We have a very active life. Our association, whose highest governing body is the assembly, has commissions, for example, for the subject of a new game law, or for a fiscal issue, or the subject of media, or government relations. The assemblies are integrated by the partners themselves in an honorary way, and they have a very active life, which allows me as president to have a permanent contact with my associates ".

"Today AIEJA represents more than 40 partners who are permit holders, suppliers, operators, manufacturers, and we have a great communication with the federal government authorities, specifically with the regulatory authority, to give it a development and a change of image to the sector, that unfortunately has been greatly damaged by American films that speak ill of him. We try to communicate with the most important journalists in Mexico and also internationally."

How do you see the Mexican market with respect to the gaming industry?

It is very incipient; very new. The regulation was approved in 2004 and permits began to be issued from 2006 and 2007, so it is an industry that is less than 11 years old and that has already lived through everything: the casino fire in Monterrey, which It was terrible for the sector, revocations of permits by the federal authority, closure of many illegal casinos (which is fine, of course). In spite of everything, the industry is growing, it is very strong and consolidated and we see it with a great future of expansion. This is an election year for Mexico, within 2 months we have a new presidential election, then it will depend on who wins and what vision the industry has if we can continue to grow. We have a great expectation that in the next 10 years the industry can not only double but even triple or more, because the political, geographical, even climatological conditions of Mexico are very favorable, especially in an environment of approach to the largest economy of the world, which is that of the United States.

How do you see the realization of this type of events in Mexico?

Mexico was somewhat isolated from this type of activity. The most it had was an event called ELA, which was an exhibition of machines that was made from 2008 to 2012, and then stopped. There was no activity. Really everyone moved by their side or had to go to international activities. There was a circumstantial event that was the Ibero-American Summit of Regulators, which was held in Mexico City in 2016. There the sector was very active, and last year we already had a national game convention, taking advantage of the information base of 2016, we did very well. This year we have postponed it for February or March of next year, given that the current government is ending in November and the new government enters in December. Currently there is a great activity, in the middle of this theme that is the headquarters of Caribbean Gaming, which is organized in Puerto Rico, in Aruba, Jamaica, and that comes to Mexico, aroused great concern. Many came not to expose but to see, to know. But surely they will be added as exhibitors next year that will again be the venue here, and should go very well to the Caribbean Gaming Show for the coming year, which is in Cancun. When Elizabeth Leiva raised the issue we saw it with great interest, we support it with everything and we believe that the result of this exhibition is being quite successful not only for the Mexican part but for the whole region, even with the presence of Latin America, of Europe, of Asia, and that is important.

What is your opinion about online gambling and sports betting for Mexico?

There we are very behind. Mexico has not updated its legislation regarding online gambling. Today 60% of online sports betting in Mexico is not controlled by the Mexican government; only 40% through strong groups such as Caliente, Play City. So I think that there the government has to take a step forward to regulate it, control it, have a base of tax collection, generate jobs in the country, control the ages of the players, etc. In that sense, I believe that there is a very important challenge for the authorities of both the government in office and the next government. The future of Mexico on the legal issue will have to approve new legislation, which does not exist, as in the case of online gambling, the clarification of the live game and the regulation of the manufacturers. I believe that they are the three great challenges that the authority has. And obviously, order the fiscal issue, because Mexico is unsettled on this issue. We need to order that issue and that is what we are working on. With a new law and a regulation of the tax issue, the industry must go forward.

Is the Mexican regulator doing anything to get on with all these changes?

The current regulator, who just changed it (there was a change of Secretary of the Interior in January), has a small margin, it is ten months, and during that time it is up to him to control the security of the electoral issue, he is worried about the issue, he has entrusted us studies and we are collaborating in the guidelines, even reviewing the fiscal issue. We can not achieve a transcendent reform because political time does not allow it, but a reform that gives viability to a more accurate path in the coming years.

Does the regulator change with the change of government?

Surely yes. When the new federal government arrives, the new president is likely to appoint a new regulator. That is a danger perhaps for our country because in the past six years there were 6 regulators; in that already go 3, and in Peru, the regulator is 11 years old, almost 12, which gives enormous stability to the game in Peru. In Mexico there must be someone more stable, who also does not designate the president but the congress, and not only be in the Ministry of the Interior, which is a regulatory body and has to do with security, but in economy and tourism, that would have to do more with promotion of investment and the attraction of tourism for our country.

What are the objectives for IEJA this year?

Consolidate the sector, help the SEGOB in these two issues, the issue of making the accounts more clear in tax matters and in terms of definition of granting permits and their regulation, and maintain a much more realistic image for the media of our gaming sector. Also be in contact with who will be the president of the republic, elected in July, and his transition team to inform him of what we are doing, so as not to start from scratch when he assumes.