José Miguel Chueca, Operations Chief of LabCert

PERU LEADS IN HOMOLOGATION


At less than half a mile from Lima’s ‘Strip’ - Avenida La Marina with its slot machine palaces – is the Pontifica Catholic University of Peru and within its grounds is the office of José Miguel Chueca Santamaría, Operations Chief for the University’s certification laboratory LABCERT. This Peruvian laboratory deals with the homologation of slot machines and other electronic products used by the gaming industry throughout Peru and South America, as well as certifying equipment used in other industries.

CC. How long has the laboratory been in operation?

For the casinos since 2000 when it received the formal authorization from the Ministry. Before that we worked with MITINCI [the Ministry of Industry, Tourism, Integration and International Commerce], which is now known as MINCETUR, in the revision of gaming regulations from the technical point of view. This was our first introduction into the sector, and from our work we became a recognized authority on the subject. We were licensed as a certification laboratory on 8 May 2000, renewed in 2003 and again this year.

CC. When we met you once in Puerto Rico you told us that the decision to go in for laboratory certification was made ‘by a couple of madmen’ – was it really like that?

It was like that. It was the madness of a couple of people with an academic quest to ensure the protection of the end-user of gaming equipment. Protection of the consumer, in this case the players, led us to get involved with more than gaming regulations for casinos and into controls. It was madness but we had the invaluable assistance of the University that, with its prestige and reputation, gave us the keys to open many doors.

CC. : Definitely – because in South America the country with the best gaming regulations, clearest and most explicit, is Peru. It is good to see that it is Peru that has become the leader in certification matters, with the only laboratory in the region.

Exactly, and we are proud of it. Up to a point it is incredible that on a regional level, from Antarctica to the doors of the United States, we are the first and only laboratory, and that in such a vast territory Peru is recognized as the country to watch and learn from on regulation laws. We are the point of reference particularly on technical matters, and others consult us and frequently base their laws on the experience we have gained. So it is good to know that we are the best.

CC. On the basis of this, what is your relationship with other certification laboratories around the world? For instance, Gaming Laboratories International (GLI) is one of the foremost and has subsidiaries or licensed laboratories in many cities. What sort of relationship do you have with them?

In the case of GLI we have a harmonious technical relationship. We do not share data but we know that they follow the same technological track and I am sure that they know we play the same tune. In the case of APPLUS, which used to be LGAI, in Spain we have a much closer relationship, perhaps because of our Latin and Hispanic roots. They have visited us here on more than one occasion and we exchange views and technical experiences. As we are both members of ALAJA (the Latin American Gaming Association) we have continual contact in our search for one technical standard for all Latin America, about which we can talk to all the countries. To know that in Argentina, Colombia, Venezuela, Chile or wherever one goes the requirements are the same, or 99% equal, and that we are one technical unit.

CC. We understand that certification from this University is accepted in various other Latin American jurisdictions.

That is correct. It is accepted in Argentina, Venezuela and Panama. I mention these countries because, lamentably, these are the only ones that I consider to have clear and specific laws that require some kind of technical certification. The other countries, although they are on their way towards doing so and, as I said before, looking at Peru for guidance, have yet to put legal technical requirements into force.

CC. What about your relationship with manufacturers?

It is very good. We work with practically all the major manufacturers in the world, with their technical departments. Since we started in 2000 our work has increased little by little and I think we completely satisfy their expectations when they seek us out to homologate their products. Initially we only worked for Peru but as we grew we were used by Argentina and, later, by Venezuela and Panama. The feeling I have is that with the confidence in us that these countries have shown we will continue to grow.

CC. Exactly, because from this point of view there exists the possibility that the principal manufacturers of the world will recognize that certification from the University can be used in other non-hispanic jurisdictions, in reverse of what happened with GLI.

Correct, correct. This is exactly what is happening. Without mentioning particular names, in order not to offend the rest, when we started to receive accreditation outside Peru the response was immediate. We began in the University to accredit our work in the new jurisdictions, not only Hispanic but also beyond. One thing that helped us is the fact that we are part of the University, not a business but a place of study, and we are not here for the money. Therefore our outlook and ideas are different from any commercial enterprise.

CC. As there is a Catholic University in Chile, is there a possibility that you could open a laboratory there?

Yes, there would be no problem. It is one of the University’s principles to share technical knowledge and receive it in return, a constant interchange that should exist throughout the academic community. Our doors are open to everyone and everything and I can tell you that we already have an agreement with the University of La Plata in Argentina. At the moment Chile does not have the regulations to require machine certification, but when it does the University in Chile is interested in having a laboratory and we will be happy to help in any way we can.

CC. You have been operating in the gaming field for six years, how do you see the next four or five?

Promising, very promising. Recently we have been examining the productivity of the laboratory since it started and in reality it has had and should have tremendous growth. Much more than we anticipated and we have done things right. We are on the right track and future growth will depend a lot on what regulations governments decide upon in the countries around us, and things that happen in the region. If tighter regulations start to appear then we will be here and will keep growing technologically. In the short term I see an important constant renewal, necessary because of the new technologies manufacturers are using in their products. If you compare what we were certifying just a couple of years ago to what we do today, its an impressive leap.

CC. So can we say that you will continue to attend events such as this in the future?

Of course. Since 2000 we have been present at every significant event in the region and the United States, including the exhibitions in Las Vegas, Buenos Aires and Puerto Rico and more recently the shows that have opened in Peru, Panama and Colombia. If a technical event appears that is relevant to the theme of casinos and our area of expertise then we will be there. Our reach depends on these activities.

CC. Do you think that you have a certain responsibility to organize academic events to inform the sector at international level?

Yes. From our position in the region we have continual contact with countries such as Colombia and we offer training programmes for inspectors and technical personnel, for evaluators, for anyone who could need it. As a University we are fortunate that we do not always have to arrange the event but are invited to attend in a consultative capacity.

CC. So, a slot machine certified by LabCert is accepted everywhere?

I can say that technically we are a step ahead of the rest and that we have the best standard and quality of requirements for slot machines in Peru. A machine that has been certified by us, or any of the other laboratories accredited by Peru, has the same security and transparency as any that operate in Las Vegas, Monte Carlo or elsewhere, has world-class standards.

CC. Well, we are glad to have this confirmation, because globally there are few countries as well regulated as Peru, and obviously the work done by the laboratory of the Pontifica Catholic University of Peru is fundamental in the process.

Definitely. The part played by the University is very important and I believe that to have a consultant organization with in-depth knowledge at hand is a big advantage for the Peruvian state, something not available to our neighbours at least in the short term.


As we left LabCert we couldn’t help but notice the carefully tended roses and the allotment with cotton plants next to the office. For all the state-of-the-art technology at casinos, the rural and human side is always present in Latin America.