In the vibrant gaming industry in Chile, Francisco Leiva’s figure emerges as a key reference. A trained industrial civil engineer, his professional journey spans 35 years, from his beginnings in the public sector to his prominent role as Superintendent of Casinos, and more recently as Corporate Manager of Strategic Development at Marina del Sol. His entry into this industry, marked by challenges and significant achievements, reflects his commitment to progress and innovation. In this interview, Francisco shares his vision, experience, and accumulated wisdom over the years.

Could you tell us a bit about your career, professional trajectory, and path to where you are today; What motivated you to enter the Gaming industry?

I am an industrial civil engineer, and my career started in the public sector 35 years ago. Initially, I worked at the Ministry of Health and then at the Ministry of Finance, where I was involved in the drafting and legislative processing of various bills, such as the anti-money laundering law and the gaming casinos law.

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Given my work in the legislative process of the gaming casinos bill, after its enactment in February 2005, President Ricardo Lagos appointed me as the first Superintendent of Casinos to implement the law. It was a significant professional and personal challenge as it involved bringing an industry that was far behind similar developed countries as Chile up to date.

During your time as Superintendent of Casinos in Chile, what were the most challenging tasks you undertook, and what would you say was your legacy in the gaming industry?

The main challenge was implementing the new gaming casinos law, which involved setting up the Superintendency, hiring staff, and preparing all conditions for private investors to apply for new casino operation permits. This led to 52 projects being submitted for the 18 available casino permits, with investments exceeding US$ 755 million at the time. Foreign investment accounted for 55%, and national investment for 45%.

The result was the construction of 18 new casinos along with complementary facilities such as hotels, convention centers, restaurants, and other leisure facilities that turned these areas into tourist attractions in the cities where they were built.

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Undoubtedly, the main challenge was meeting the tender requirements within a tight timeframe. We managed to have a competitive process with operators from around the world, radically changing Chile’s gaming casinos industry.

The legacy was transforming the gaming casinos industry from seven municipal casinos to a modern industry with 24 top-level casinos and facilities.

What significant lessons have you learned throughout your career? And what message would you like to leave for future generations?

One lesson is that ambitious goals can only be achieved through dedication and by building motivated teams with clear objectives. It’s impossible to do it alone in tasks like these.

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I believe the message is to work with honesty, dedication, and without losing sight of the task entrusted to you.

Knowing you personally, not just professionally, what activity inspires you or helps you achieve balance in your life?

Since I was a child, I have been passionate about playing tennis, and I have tried to maintain this passion even as a senior player. In this sense, I think engaging in sports helps maintain a healthy mind and body, which is essential to counter the stress that comes with demanding and complex work.

Similarly, one cannot neglect family life, as they are the ones who will ultimately support you in difficult times.

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In summary, the only way, although not easy, is to harmonize work demands with a balanced life.

Finally, what is your opinion on hosting such an important international event in your country? And in a way, being one of the hosts to such important international personalities.

It is very important for the country to host such events that allow interaction among different actors in the gaming industry. It facilitates the exchange of experiences and networking, allowing the industry to continue developing. It is also important for public authorities, especially regulatory ones, to participate so they can understand the industry’s reality and see where the industry is heading given technological and cultural changes.

Francisco Leiva’s story in the gaming industry in Chile is an inspiring testimony of determination and success. From his crucial role in implementing the gaming casinos law to his contribution to the industry’s growth and modernization, his legacy endures as a beacon of positive change. Beyond his professional achievements, Francisco reminds us of the importance of balancing work and personal life, as well as the need to stay focused on values such as honesty and dedication. His optimism and commitment to the future of the gaming industry in Chile are a reminder that success is achieved through effort, teamwork, and a clear vision.

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CGS Events, an American company with over 20 years of experience and a history of collaboration with governments across various territories in Latin America and the Caribbean, known for its distinguished track record in organizing events within the gaming industry, has recently announced a complete overhaul of its image and structure. This marks a milestone in the provision of professional sector meetings with innovations like Gaming Insights, XPO 360 and CGS Xperience at various convention centers across Latin America, thereby paving the way for new participants and expanding the market offering.

It announces its next event, CGS Santiago, which will be held on May 29 and 30 at Espacio Riesco, a renowned convention center in the capital of the country. This fourth edition in the southern country promises to be broader and more inclusive than ever, positioning itself as a crucial forum for discussing the imminent regulation of the sector in Chile.

CGS Santiago will offer two days filled with knowledge, with more hours dedicated to conferences, discussion panels and parallel activities. Participants will enjoy the experience of a space dedicated to the presentation of new products, services and solutions for the gaming industry.

The event will also provide excellent networking opportunities including a welcome cocktail, a gala dinner and the CGS Awards ceremony where the outstanding achievements of key market players will be recognized. The guest list includes regulators, tax experts, cybersecurity specialists, FinTechs, marketing agencies, representatives from casinos, lotteries, iGaming and certification laboratories among others.

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This year, the event will also include the Chat and Wine segment, sponsored by the prestigious Brazilian company Pay4Fun, designed to foster dialogue while attendees enjoy an excellent selection of national wines.

With these new proposals, CGS Events positions itself as a benchmark in creating meeting and dialogue platforms in the gaming industry in Latin America and the Caribbean as well as redefining the way professionals and companies in the sector connect and explore future opportunities in an evolving market.

For more information about CGS Santiago and other events, visit the website: www. CGSEvents. io and access details about the CGS Santiago event.

Launch provides sports bettors with exciting new content and raises horse racing awareness

SIS Content Services, part of Sports Information Services (SIS) Group, the leading content supplier of 24/7 live betting services, has agreed a landmark deal with long-time operator partner Bet365 to deliver its global horse racing content to bettors in Colorado, bringing fixed-odds horse racing wagering to a licensed sports betting platform for the first time in the United States.

The approval of horse racing fixed-odds wagering on Colorado sportsbooks will aid the sport attracting a wider range of casual bettors, who will be offered the same type of betting as all other sports. It represents positive news for a range of Colorado stakeholders including Bally’s Arapahoe Park and the Colorado Horsemen’s Association as a portion of turnover is directed to Colorado horse racing.

Boasting round-the-clock betting opportunities, SIS Group provides a comprehensive horse racing portfolio of nearly 140 international and domestic racetracks. The upcoming highlights include the Saudi Cup Day on February 24 where top American horses will compete for US$33.5 million in purses and then travel to the Dubai World Cup meeting on March 24 to vie for US$30.5 million in purses. Along with coverage of the world’s richest horse races, year-round racing is available from 14 countries including Ireland, Australia, Chile, Argentina, Uruguay and the United States.

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SIS Group delivers sportsbooks an end-to-end horse racing solution including live-streamed video with betting triggers, race day data and an extensive range of markets and odds prices to provide seamless betting experiences.

“The launch of fixed-odds horse racing betting on Colorado sportsbooks puts horse racing on equal footing with other sports and hopefully attracts a new fan base and revenue for our racetrack partners,” the Vice-President for SIS Content Services, Michele Fischer, said. “This is a great first step in expanding the horse racing audience and I commend the Colorado horse racing stakeholders, Colorado Division of Gaming and Bet365 for their vision and support. Horse racing provides sportsbooks with exciting year-round 24/7 content throughout the world. It will take time in the United States but I expect that more sports wagering operators and states will include horse racing on their sports catalogs.”

“We are thrilled to be able to put horse racing on Colorado sportsbooks for fixed-odds wagering,” the Operations and Racing Executive Director for Bally’s Arapahoe Park, Shannon Ruston, said. “Working with SIS Group, we crafted a commercial framework that benefits local racing while giving sportsbooks access to thousands of races. Our belief is that this development will secure a better future not only for Bally’s Arapahoe Park but also for the racing ecosystem as a whole in Colorado.”

“We are committed to ensuring that horse racing in Colorado is economically viable for the participating owners and trainers, who are the backbone of the sport,” the President of the Colorado Horsemen’s Association, Kim Oliver, said. “Fixed-odds betting will produce a new revenue stream and exposure for horse racing. This launch represents a pivotal moment for our group.”

“The introduction of fixed-odds horse racing betting is sure to have a positive impact in Colorado,” read a statement from Bet365. “We have seen the popularity of fixed-odds betting in horse racing in other markets and, as sports betting becomes more ingrained across the United States, it will certainly provide a boost to engagement.”

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