Wire SOUTH AMERICA
Chile - Four directors and Chairman resign Chilean casino operator Enjoy has confirmed that its Chairman Javier Martínez Seguí will leave his position on the company's Board of Directors and resign after 40 years at the company along with four directors.
The resignations, which will be effective from April 28 with Lucas Marulanda López, Mauricio Salgar Hurtado, Ugo Posada Zabala and Nicolás Bañados Lyon all leaving the company, come at a controversial time for the operator following claims of a conflict of interest between President Sebastián Piñera and casino operator Enjoy, following claims made in an investigative documentary aired on national TV.
The Comptroller of the Republic of Chile has confirmed he will now investigate the claim. The three companies investigated will be the asset managers BTG Pactual, Moneda Asset and Altis, companies that manage the President's assets through blind trusts, two of whom have interests in Enjoy. A congressional committee found that two entities that manage some of Pinera’s money also have investments in Enjoy casino. Chilean journalist Alejandra Matus then suggested on national TV that President Piñera favoured Enjoy casinos during licence awards and decision made during the pandemic to extend deadlines to fulfil operating permits.
Mr. Martínez said: “Enjoy will always be part of my life, of my biography, but today is the time to make room for new leaders as new shareholders join the company and give a necessary new air. We must set a course that allows this brand to maintain the leadership that it has always had.”
LatAm - EveryMatrix appoints EveryMatrix has appointed Staffan Cnattingius as its new Director of Business Development for Latin America markets. The iGaming veteran will oversee the company’s
expansion in Latin America and manage the commercial efforts as a part of the Global Sales team.
LatAm - Playson agrees Virtualsoft deal Playson has partnered with platform provider Virtualsoft in a move that continues its LatAm expansion.
Under the agreement, Playson’s collection of titles will be integrated with Virtualsoft’s continental operator partners, such as Doradobet, including titles such as Hand of Gold, Solar Temple and Wolf Power: Hold and Win.
Blanka Homor, Sales Director at Playson, said: “We are delighted to maintain our impressive LatAm growth by completing this agreement with Virtualsoft, a key player within one of the industry’s most exciting regions. We look forward to working alongside our new partner and have no doubt that this deal will help it to continue the success it has enjoyed to date.”
Jose Luis Osorio, Head of New Business at Virtualsoft, said: “Playson’s product suite has reached a consistently high standard over the years, and recent enhancements make its offering even more exciting. For that reason, we are thrilled to be teaming up with the supplier and feel confident that our relationship will be extremely fruitful for both parties.”
P6 WIRE / PULSE / INSIGHT / REPORTS
Buenos Aires workers protest saying 'bingo does not cause infection' after bingo halls remain closed in the province.
ARGENTINA OPERATIONS Buenos Aires Bingo Workers Protest
Te Gaming Workers Union (ALEARA) staged a protest in Mar del Plata, since gaming workers felt 'discriminated against' with other hospitality venues operating under minimum capacity guidelines.
Most of the casinos, slot halls and bingo halls in Buenos Aires have been forced to shut again as coronavirus infections rise with some workers taking to the streets to protest saying 'bingo does not cause infection.'
Chief of Staff, Carlos Bianco, said: "Te Ministry of Health has raised the updated report of municipalities, indicating the status of the COVID-19 pandemic in Buenos Aires territory, and the situation of each district, making it appropriate to approve the list of municipalities included in the different phases of the established system."
Te Gaming Workers Union (ALEARA) staged a protest in Mar del Plata, since gaming workers felt 'discriminated against' with other hospitality venues operating under minimum capacity guidelines. Union Delegate Germán Martínez said of the instruction to close: "We have not taken it very well because we feel that the activity is being discriminated against again. Tere are places that have a minimum capacity, but the only one that is going to be closed is the
bingo and the casino. Terefore, there is a suspension of approximately 800 workers. We will present notes to the mayor of General Pueyrredon letting them know about this situation of feeling discriminated against and that the protocols are being complied with, as well as presenting it to Santiago Cafiero, the Governor and Carlos Bianco."
"We saw this last year and it will not be for only 15 days: we were the first to close and the last to open," he added. "Tere is a study that they have not shown on what bingo is the largest producer of contagions. It is the only activity closed today in the province of Buenos Aires."
Te union said: "Despite being in Phase 3 and the protocols with which gambling and gastronomic activities are developed, we could well continue working until 23 or until 20, like the shops. However, and despite all the security measures that we have, our business closes completely and not partially as happens with others where contact with others is constant. Gaming machines offer an individual past time."
Mexico Betsson signs partnership with Big Bola
Betsson Group and Big Bola Casinos have agreed to partner together for online gaming operations in Mexico. Te partners plan to launch the gaming operator’s flagship brand, Betsson, by the end of the year. Upon launch, Betsson Mexico will offer casino, live casino, and localised sportsbook with a range of sports, markets and ways of betting, such as money line, parley, and teaser bets.
“Tis is yet another expansion into the LatAm region which we see so much potential in," commented Jesper Svensson, CEO of Betsson operations. “As we have done in Brazil, Colombia, and the Province of Buenos Aires in Argentina, we are teaming up with a local partner that lives and breathes the local culture.
“We are really excited to start this collaboration with Big Bola as we believe they are well suited to help us understand the market better and ensure that our offering not only fits the Mexican culture but also earns the public’s trust.
"Our vision is to provide the best customer experience in the industry and I’m confident that we will manage to replicate this success in Mexico too."
Emilio Quiros, Director of Operations for Big Bola, added: “We are happy that Betsson Group has chosen to partner with us for their operations in Mexico. We believe that our market expertise and their knowledge and experience about online gaming will result in an outstanding product for Mexico.”
Chile
Troubled Chilean operator Enjoy has confirmed that shares held by the Martinez family and the Advent fund, up until this point majority shareholders, will be diluted to a minimum while the creditors will convert part of their debts into shares and will account for 90 per cent of the future ownership structure.
Whilst this will be formalised in May, a number of resignations were announced on April 8 with April 29, the next shareholders' meeting the date that a new board of directors will be appointed. Tree of the majority shareholders will put forward their nominations. Euroamérica, will put forward Henry Comber, its executive director, and Jorge Lesser, who is also the director of the financial company. Moneda will nominate Uruguayan economist Aldo Lema. Penta will put forward external director: Jaime Maluk Valencia.
Some of the independent directors who were already at Enjoy will be kept on including Ana María Orellana and Fernando Rioseco. "It is a good team, renewed with external directors and professionals, plus independent directors who know the company," said an Enjoy spokesperson.
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