Empire Row, ATEI Disappointment + More

AGI 'disappointed' by Clarion

THE biggest standholder at either the ATEI or ICE shows at Earls Court, is less than impressed with the new owners of the show.
Jens Halle, managing director of Austrian Gaming Industries, a division of Novomatic, which had a huge booth in the ICE show, told e-coin-op: "I was surprised and disappointed that no-one from the hierarchy at Clarion Events came on to the booth to introduce themselves. I would have thought that this would be only polite to the largest investor in their newly-acquired trade show."

Tony Valente dies

TONY Valente, a substantial operator of machines in Kent until he sold out his Tankerton Automatics at Whitstable, to BLMS in the early 1990s, has died, aged 79.
Valente, who had retired to Marbella, died suddenly on February 4. He is survived by his wife Mimi and three sons, Tony, Peter and Paul, who own and operate Quality Automatics Ltd.
The funeral is on February 23.

Astra plans move

ASTRA Games, the UK subsidiary company of Novomatic in Austria, is to move into a new factory five times the size of its current premises at Bridgend, Mid-Glamorgan, Wales.
Novomatic President Johan Graf told e-coin-op that his strategy for the UK was ‘very important for one of the most sophisticated future markets in Europe.’
Graf said that the further development of the company - and of its casino machine development company, Novo Gaming UK - relied upon suitable premises to house its staff and its production facilities.

Astra managing director Neil Chinn confirmed that the purchase of suitable premises close to the current factory in Bridgend had now been completed.

"We are drawing up plans for the move, but first we will seek some planning permissions,” he said. “The work on the factory, which is only a mile from the present headquarters, will not be completed until the summer and we hope to be installed by September."

Gala snaps up Leo, Rank eyeing Stanley?

UK operator Gala has agreed to pay £14.5m for the Leo Casino in Liverpool, taking its total number of British casinos to 31.
Neil Goulden, Gala's chief executive, said: "Casinos like Leo rarely become available. We are well placed to develop the business by adding operational, management, marketing and promotional skills to an already successful operation."
Rumours are also circulating that Rank, which recently sold off its Deluxe Media business for £430m, is set to make an offer in excess of 900p a share for rival Stanley.

Thirteen hoping for casino luck

A GMB report has identified 13 UK towns and cities with schemes in the pipeline to secure approval for the 17 new casino licences to be issued under the Gambling Act 2005. The reports also identify the would-be developers for each scheme and their casino partners.

The areas are Blackpool (there are reports of 22 approaches by casino operators and developers), Birmingham (with two schemes), Cardiff, Coventry, Glasgow (three schemes), Liverpool, Leeds, London (three schemes), Manchester (two schemes), Middlesbrough, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Salford, and Sunderland.

GMB, the union for casino workers, wants to see schemes approved which have proven regeneration impacts and the casinos run by operators with a proven track record of creating well-paid quality jobs and treating their workforce with dignity.

Paul Kenny, GMB acting general secretary said: "One licence for the major casino is not enough. The government should be bold and go for a minimum of four as these offer fantastic potential for regeneration with real quality jobs."

The GMB's message to the US casino giants thinking they may be able to import Wal-Mart or Mac type jobs paying the minimum wage and poor conditions is that that will not wash here. “If that is part of their plans they can stay away from the UK,” it says.

PartyGaming set to end Empire row

EMPIRE Online looks set for a large payout from its rival PartyGaming in a poker room legal row.

Empire had an arrangement allowing its members to play in PartyGaming's more popular poker rooms under a skin agreement - but PartyGaming reneged on the deal in October.
Empire sued for damages, claiming breach of contract and alleging PartyGaming made subsequent attempts to poach Empire customers.

Empire says it is in 'advanced negotiations' to end litigation, with indications that PartyGaming may buy out the skin operation in a transaction for a fee of around £114m.

Source: eCoinOp UK