“Konami’s Concerto Collection is reaching record placements”

What are your expectations for SAGSE Buenos Aires 2017?

Our expectations for SAGSE are to connect with casino customers in the region, get a deeper understanding of their needs and goals for the future, and give first-hand access to experience the latest games. In total, we’ll be featuring more than 120 different game themes, backed by proven math, creative animation, and top play mechanics. Konami games resonate especially well in local player markets which make up a lot of the surrounding regions, and we’ll be paying close attention to what the observations have been from operators.

What products will you bring to the show this year?

Konami’s 2017 SAGSE display will be the global premiere of our expanded multi-game Concerto SeleXion lineup, now reaching single screen Concerto Crescent and Concerto Stack, in addition to upright and Slant. Since its debut, SeleXion multi-game has been Konami’s most popular gaming product internationally for its leading game change speed, dependable hardware, and top game content. During SAGSE 2017, that technology is reaching more game cabinets than ever, and for the first time, players can enjoy a mix of Konami’s newest portrait-oriented games together in one machine. Our latest game themes—including Dragon Fury, China Shores Great Stacks, Mayan Chief Great Stacks, Lotus Land Deluxe Wild, and more—can be combined on one 43-inch HD screen, with the option to add a standalone or linked progressive. And of course it also supports diverse configuration options for multiple languages, denominations, and currencies. So we’re very excited to see Concerto Crescent and Stack added to our SeleXion lineup, to give players the newest Konami single screen game releases in one cabinet.

Guests can also expect to see a great mix of Konami’s latest standalone and linked progressive game releases. One of which is a series called Cai Lai Si Ji, which has seen excellent results for customers worldwide. It is a 4-level standalone progressive with Asian-themed art elements and a large mega jackpot. The series has a number of custom base game themes to choose from, including Winning Animals, Wealth of Dynasty, and Power of Riches. We will also be presenting a linked bonus game called Smash Smash Festival. It features an entirely new mechanic that increases the number of mystery prizes in a winner-takes-all prize pool instead of traditional progressive jackpot meters. When the Smash Time bonus triggers, players get to experience the excitement of smashing open a mix of surprising piñata prizes and then celebrating the final grand tally.

How would you describe the state of the industry in Latin America?

In the past few years the gaming industry in Latin America has grown significantly. In order to keep up with player requests, Latin America casinos are delivering many of the newest products you see in casino worldwide. Several operators have achieved such an advanced sophistication in their business that I would say they are on the leading edge of the industry.

What are your key areas of focus to ensure business growth in the Americas? What are your goals for next year?

Konami’s core growth continues to be powered by a focus on research & development. Our energy and investment is on product R&D, in order to deliver leading entertainment for players and top performance for operators. As our proven Concerto Collection reaches record placements, Konami is committed to supporting the market with a vast library of game themes and creative content across our core video lineup.

Are you planning to invest in Brazil if gambling legislation is approved?

We plan to continue monitoring the situation surrounding Brazil so our organization can be ready in case that market opens in the future. It would definitely be an interesting development considering the nation’s sheer size. In every country that we reach, Konami’s interest is to uphold accountability and responsible legislation. Should new jurisdictions emerge in the coming months or years, Konami stands ready to support those markets with the products and technology they need to succeed.