Manchester wins UK casino race
UK: The Casino Advisory Panel has chosen Manchester to receive the first regional casino licence in the UK, beating near neighbours and favourites Blackpool and the Millennium Dome in Greenwich, London.
The Panel has also recommended that the areas in which the eight large casinos should be licensed are Great Yarmouth; Kingston-upon-Hull; Leeds; Middlesbrough; Milton Keynes; Newham; Solihull and Southampton.
Licences for small casinos will be granted in Bath and North East Somerset; Dumfries and Galloway; East Lindsey; Luton; Scarborough; Swansea; Torbay and Wolverhampton.
In making its recommendations, the panel decided that "Blackpool's proposal would represent the best test of social impact for the regional casino because most of the social effects would be exported.
"While it is clear that Blackpool is in need of regeneration, in our view the regeneration benefits of the proposal before us are unproven and more limited geographically than other proposals," said the panel.
"If we thought it would fulfil all that is claimed for it, that is to turn round the fortunes of Blackpool, it could be a winner. But we do not think that a regional casino on its own would effect the transformation sought locally, nor optimise the wider regeneration through regional and national economic growth. While we note that willingness to license is high, in the round we do not regard this as the best proposal before us."
Greenwich's bid was overlooked due to the proposal suffering from "uncertain additionality as regards regeneration benefits in general" and the proposal was deemed "unconvincing as to offering the best possible location in which to test social impact."
Manchester's "key role in the regeneration of the north of England" was cited as the main driver behind the decision to award the licence. "Manchester has a catchment area for a casino second only to that of London, and it is an area in need of regeneration at least as much as any of the others we observed - indeed, the city has the greatest need in terms of multiple deprivation of all the proposals before us," said the panel.
Howe named as Quicksilver operations director
UK: Andrew Howe has been appointed operations director at Quicksilver, the largest chain of adult gaming centres in the UK.
A qualified lawyer, Howe has been eight years in the leisure industry and will take over the day-to-day running of the 201 centres in 154 towns and cities across the UK.
Online gaming ads face UK regulations
UK: Online gambling companies based outside Europe will have to apply to the UK government if they want to advertise their products in the country after the new Gambling Act comes into play on September 1, according to a report in the Financial Times newspaper.
While online operators face new, more stringent regulations, a ban on casinos, betting shops and other gambling operators advertising on television in the UK has been relaxed by the government.
Capital Gaming calls in administrators
UK: Capital Gaming closed its doors two days ahead of the London ICE and ATEI shows last week.
The Cardiff-based manufacturer of automated multiplayer casino games had grown out of the ashes of one of the pioneers in that sector, Coinmaster, four years ago.
However, the company had been subjected to severe pressure from the very competitive marketplace, and although it had significantly reduced its borrowing, InterGaming understands that the banks called in administrators, who subsequently closed the doors and made 17 staff redundant.
Astra enters Belgian market
BELGIUM: The first product for Belgium produced by UK machine manufacturer Astra Games went on display on the booth of new distributor Seeben at the London show.
Fortune Dice is a video dice game, conforming to the Belgian laws which demand a ‘live’ game. It has been homologated after having been on test for two months, with, says the company, excellent results.
Bally VP speaks out against show calendar
US: Vice president of sales for Bally Technologies, Gavin Isaacs, sounded a note of concern at the polarising of the major international trade shows into a short calendar time-span, when he spoke with InterGaming at the London ICE show.
“This event at Earls Court is our major shop window for the European casino market,” he said. “This is how we market our games in Europe, but it leads me to be concerned at the way the calendar is showing the big events all so close together.”
He said that with London in January, the SAGSE South American show in November and the major G2E now moving to November too, then the three biggest shows of the year for his company were concentrated into three months.
Bell Fruit, Mazooma ‘not for sale’
UK: Bell Fruit and Mazooma are “not for sale,” was the message which came across clearly from the managing director of the machine makers’ parent company, Danoptra, speaking with InterGame during the London ATEI.
Derek Lloyd, recently installed by the company’s venture capital owners, was able to release figures for the group’s performance during the 2005 financial year and talk a little about his immediate objectives.
There had been some speculation in the UK financial press about the plans to sell off one of the divisions of Danoptra, Leisure Connection, which specialises in health clubs.
Coupled with the opening of negotiations on the further financing of the group with the banks, it led to talk of problems and sell-offs.
Lloyd, however, quickly quashed these rumours, pointing out that it was normal practice for venture capital companies to both renegotiate their financing and also to sell off parts of the business after a three-to-five-year span.
“We have no intention of selling Bell Fruit and the other machine-making businesses for the moment,” he said. “Obviously anything is for sale if the price is right, but we are not actively seeking a buyer.”
Lloyd said that also applied to the operating division, where Gamestec is currently the second largest machine company in the country.
Industrial Lorenzo opens US branch
US: Spanish manufacturer and distributor of components Industrial Lorenzo of Barcelona, has opened a US office.
The company, which specialises in buttons for amusement and gaming machines among other parts, has appointed Louie Rummenigge to head up Industrias Lorenzo Corporation.
The company is based at Itasca, Illinois, close to Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport.
CMI, SGE sign new agreement
GERMANY: A new alliance has been forged by Germany’s Cash Management International and Service Gaming Europe of Glasgow, UK.
CMI’s Birgit Boettcher said that the company was now co-operating with SGE to handle the company’s multi-cash terminals in Britain and Ireland.
Incoming Merit CEO present at ATEI
US: An opportunity to introduce Merit’s new CEO and president, Mike Maas, to the international community, came during the London ATEI.
The company organised a breakfast meeting at which Maas spoke to distributors, customers and trade press, outlining some of the immediate objectives of the company.
Representatives from Australia, New Zealand, Germany, France, the UK, Cyprus, the US and heads of department from the company’s Philadelphia headquarters, were all assembled for the meeting.
Source: IGI
Wednesday, January 31, 2007
Tuesday, January 30, 2007
Manchester Wins Super-Casino Race (BBC News)
Manchester has been chosen as the surprise location of Britain's first Las Vegas-style super-casino.
The decision is a blow for Blackpool and London's former Millennium Dome which were the bookmakers' favourites.
The licence will allow Manchester to build a venue for up to 1,250 unlimited-jackpot gaming machines.
Licences for smaller casinos were granted to Great Yarmouth, Hull, Leeds, Middlesbrough, Milton Keynes, Newham, Solihull and Southampton.
The Casino Advisory Panel also granted licences for the smallest type of casino to Bath and North East Somerset, Dumfries and Galloway, East Lindsey, Luton, Scarborough, Swansea, Torbay and Wolverhampton.
Manchester was a 16-1 outsider at the bookmakers to be selected as a test-bed for the UK's first regional "resort" casino.
'Regeneration'
There has been speculation that more super-casino licences might be awarded in future by ministers.
But the BBC understands that Culture Secretary Tessa Jowell will tell MPs later that there will definitely be no more awarded this Parliament.
Stephen Crow, chairman of the independent Casino Advisory Panel, said Manchester had been chosen because of its "very thorough consultation" with the local community and "the way it dealt with questions of problem gambling".
"Manchester has a catchments area for a casino second only to that of London, and it is an area in need of regeneration at least as much as any of the others we observed.
"Indeed, the city has the greatest need in terms of multiple deprivation of all the proposals that were before us," Prof Crow said in a statement.
He told BBC News 24 political rows surrounding the bid process "did not take any part in our consideration".
And he was confident the panel's decision was "watertight" if it came to a legal challenge from any of the losing bidders.
Vote
Downing Street said Ms Jowell will make a Commons statement on the panel's decision at 1530 GMT.
"Tessa Jowell has to make up her mind whether to accept the panel's decision and then it goes to the House to vote on," the Prime Minister's official spokesman said.
A spokeswoman for Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott, who was embroiled in controversy over close links with billionaire Millennium Dome owner Philip Anschutz, said he would not be commenting.
"It's not his area of responsibility any more," she added.
Doug Garrett, chief executive of ReBlackpool, the urban regeneration company that worked on the town's bid, said the decision was a "smack in the face for Blackpool".
"It is tragic. It is very difficult to see how they have drawn their conclusions," said Mr Garrett.
Previous assessment had put Manchester at the bottom of the seven bidders, and all local government bodies and regeneration agencies in the region backed Blackpool, not Manchester, added Mr Garrett.
"It is a very strange decision, we need to look into the rationale. Manchester has come from nowhere. It was a real, real dark horse," he said.
Dome 'disappointed'
Councillor Richard Leese, Leader of Manchester City Council, said: "This is fantastic news for Manchester, and the region.
"Manchester has an unrivalled track record in the delivery of major regeneration schemes so we are confident we have the expertise to deliver a world-class venue, creating thousands of new jobs for local people."
A spokesman for Dome bidders AEG said: "We are very disappointed that the London Borough of Greenwich has not been recommended as the location for the first regional casino.
"We are taking time to examine the findings in full and considering our position."
Manchester's bid organisers said it would regenerate a poor area of east of the City, promising a £265m investment and 2,700 direct and indirect jobs in one of the most deprived parts of the country.
The casino would be based at Sportcity in the Beswick area of Manchester, close to the City of Manchester Stadium, now used by Manchester City FC and built for the Commonwealth Games.
The proposed site will also contain an entertainment complex with a range of facilities such as a multi-purpose arena, a swimming pool, an urban sports venue, restaurants, bars, a nightclub and a hotel.
Source: BBC News
The decision is a blow for Blackpool and London's former Millennium Dome which were the bookmakers' favourites.
The licence will allow Manchester to build a venue for up to 1,250 unlimited-jackpot gaming machines.
Licences for smaller casinos were granted to Great Yarmouth, Hull, Leeds, Middlesbrough, Milton Keynes, Newham, Solihull and Southampton.
The Casino Advisory Panel also granted licences for the smallest type of casino to Bath and North East Somerset, Dumfries and Galloway, East Lindsey, Luton, Scarborough, Swansea, Torbay and Wolverhampton.
Manchester was a 16-1 outsider at the bookmakers to be selected as a test-bed for the UK's first regional "resort" casino.
'Regeneration'
There has been speculation that more super-casino licences might be awarded in future by ministers.
But the BBC understands that Culture Secretary Tessa Jowell will tell MPs later that there will definitely be no more awarded this Parliament.
Stephen Crow, chairman of the independent Casino Advisory Panel, said Manchester had been chosen because of its "very thorough consultation" with the local community and "the way it dealt with questions of problem gambling".
"Manchester has a catchments area for a casino second only to that of London, and it is an area in need of regeneration at least as much as any of the others we observed.
"Indeed, the city has the greatest need in terms of multiple deprivation of all the proposals that were before us," Prof Crow said in a statement.
He told BBC News 24 political rows surrounding the bid process "did not take any part in our consideration".
And he was confident the panel's decision was "watertight" if it came to a legal challenge from any of the losing bidders.
Vote
Downing Street said Ms Jowell will make a Commons statement on the panel's decision at 1530 GMT.
"Tessa Jowell has to make up her mind whether to accept the panel's decision and then it goes to the House to vote on," the Prime Minister's official spokesman said.
A spokeswoman for Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott, who was embroiled in controversy over close links with billionaire Millennium Dome owner Philip Anschutz, said he would not be commenting.
"It's not his area of responsibility any more," she added.
Doug Garrett, chief executive of ReBlackpool, the urban regeneration company that worked on the town's bid, said the decision was a "smack in the face for Blackpool".
"It is tragic. It is very difficult to see how they have drawn their conclusions," said Mr Garrett.
Previous assessment had put Manchester at the bottom of the seven bidders, and all local government bodies and regeneration agencies in the region backed Blackpool, not Manchester, added Mr Garrett.
"It is a very strange decision, we need to look into the rationale. Manchester has come from nowhere. It was a real, real dark horse," he said.
Dome 'disappointed'
Councillor Richard Leese, Leader of Manchester City Council, said: "This is fantastic news for Manchester, and the region.
"Manchester has an unrivalled track record in the delivery of major regeneration schemes so we are confident we have the expertise to deliver a world-class venue, creating thousands of new jobs for local people."
A spokesman for Dome bidders AEG said: "We are very disappointed that the London Borough of Greenwich has not been recommended as the location for the first regional casino.
"We are taking time to examine the findings in full and considering our position."
Manchester's bid organisers said it would regenerate a poor area of east of the City, promising a £265m investment and 2,700 direct and indirect jobs in one of the most deprived parts of the country.
The casino would be based at Sportcity in the Beswick area of Manchester, close to the City of Manchester Stadium, now used by Manchester City FC and built for the Commonwealth Games.
The proposed site will also contain an entertainment complex with a range of facilities such as a multi-purpose arena, a swimming pool, an urban sports venue, restaurants, bars, a nightclub and a hotel.
Source: BBC News
Monday, January 29, 2007
Camelot Confident, ATEI Mixed Reception + More News!
SBG boosts Inspired results
UK: The Inspired Gaming Group, operator of the largest server-based gaming network in the UK, has reported positive annual financial results - its first since becoming AIM listed.
Group turnover for the 53 weeks ending September 30, 2006 were £171.1m, up 5.2 per cent from the same period a year earlier. A strong increase in its SBG business saw machine management revenues up 22 per cent and software sales up 69.2 per cent.
Group EBITDA was £21m, up from £19.2m for the same period previously. Strong SBG performance countered difficult trading conditions as a result of, among other things, the hot weather last year.
2006 was an "eventful year" for the group, said Inspired chairman Russell Hoyle, noting the AIM admission and increased rollout of server-based product particularly. New year business has also started strongly, with the renewal of its service contract with Gala Coral.
Mixed reception to London show layout
UK: The newly-redesigned ATEI/ICE show layouts were given a mixed reception as the show closed last night. As exhibitors streamed away from the show, the initial reactions varied between condemnatory to admiration.
It may take some time for views to form more conclusively, but the bottom line would appear to be that the show continues to attract large numbers of machine operators both in the street market and in international casinos.
The dedication of the downstairs at Earls Court into all gaming machines, resulted in complaints from many long-serving supporters of the show who were moved upstairs. The effect, however, was to make for a much less noisy ATEI, but the traffic pattern was definitely adversely affected.
Some of the upstairs-located companies reported perfectly satisfactory results while others were very unhappy. Universally condemned was the 'curtain' which separated ATEI from ICE.
Danoptra posts financial results
UK: Britain's second largest machine group, Danoptra, has filed figures for the financial year ended September 30, 2005.
They show good performances by manufacturers Bell Fruit Group and Mazooma against a weaker performance by the big machine operating sector at Gamestec which is, in terms of number of units in operation, second in the country.
Danoptra earnings before interest and tax was £10.7m (2004: £11.8m) on sales up to £201.9m from £191.5m in 2004. A large non-cash charge of £61.4m for goodwill impairment plus other non-cash and exceptional items produced a loss after tax of £82m.
The company said that the trading environment remained difficult in 2006 and the group is in talks with its finance providers. "These discussions are on-going and positive and Danoptra's shareholder remains very supportive."
New CEO Derek Lloyd said that the current financial year had started well and the group was ahead in all divisions.
Van Lishout exits Elaut, forms new company
BELGIUM: Herman van Lishout has left Elaut Group, where he was international sales manager, to form his own company, Gamebel, based at Bornem, Belgium.
He will devote most of his activities to promoting the multiplayer games of Gold Club of Slovenia with which he has an exclusive contract. Van Lishout had been at Elaut, the major crane games and multiplayer machine manufacturer, for over 12 years.
M&B appoints suppliers
UK: One of Britain's major breweries machine divisions has appointed no fewer than five smaller, independent, AWP operating companies as nominated suppliers to its locations.
M and B announced that South East Leisure, Premier Automatics, Septre, Claremont Automatics and Town and Country, had all joined the ranks of suppliers from whom its locations may take their payout machines.
Valiant launches at ATEI
UK: New company Valiant Leisure received a 'fantastic' response when it launched at ATEI this week.
The company, developed to identify and fill gaps in the coin-operated market, has come up with a new concept in children's entertainment with a coin-operated, interactive, prize-every-time machine.
Head of commercial development, Simon Le Jeune, was enthusiastic about the company's future and the response received at the show. He said: "We are dedicated to designing and manufacturing innovative machines and would like to thank everyone from the cleaners to the car park staff for making this launch possible."
Big Buck Hunter celebrates 5,000
US: The 5,000th Big Buck Hunter Pro - the game jointly developed by Play Mechanix, Betson and Raw Thrills - has now been shipped.
Introduced at the 2005 IAAPA show, the game has been received well by both operators and family entertainment centre owners worldwide over the past year and a half.
"With the much anticipated all-new tournament feature ready to launch in summer 2007, the popularity and earnings potential will soar even higher," a statement from Play Mechanix said.
ATEI gets the Xtra Factor
UK: Steve Brookstein, winner of the UK TV programme the X Factor, was on hand to help Crown Direct promote the new X Factor booth at ATEI this week.
The booth allows the user to select from a library of 250 karaoke tracks and perform and record the track within a sound proof booth.
Brookstein, the first person to win the X Factor in the UK, said: "I wouldn't be supporting this if I didn't think it was a good product. I have had a go myself and think it is a great way to encourage kids to start singing. It is something new and different and will be around for a long time."
Ladbrokes in deal with Sponsio
UK: Ladbrokes the bookmakers has bought its Scandinavian online gaming partner Sponsio in a deal worth up to £40m.
Under the terms of the deal, the UK betting firm said it would pay £36m for Sponsio plus an extra £4m if the company hits growth targets. Ladbrokes said the deal was part of its European growth strategy and would bolster its position in the Nordic region.
IGT records four per cent rise
US: International Game Technology has reported a rise in net income to US$121m for the company's fiscal first quarter ending December 31, 2006, compared with $120.6m a year ago.
The slot machine manufacturer's revenue for the quarter rose four per cent to over $642m, from $616.2m a year ago.
Camelot confident of retaining Lotto licence
UK: Lottery chief Dianne Thompson says she feels confident of Camelot's bid to secure the new UK National Lottery licence and that its proposal could not have been better.
In a recent interview with the Times newspaper, Thompson also refuted claims that the lottery process was a foregone conclusion, saying that it was a 'fair fight,' adding that the company had big plans for the future of the lottery should Camelot win.
Camelot currently faces competition from Australia's Tattersall's and Mumbai-based Sugal and Damani, while there has also been interest shown by Greek lottery operator Intralot.
Source: IGI
UK: The Inspired Gaming Group, operator of the largest server-based gaming network in the UK, has reported positive annual financial results - its first since becoming AIM listed.
Group turnover for the 53 weeks ending September 30, 2006 were £171.1m, up 5.2 per cent from the same period a year earlier. A strong increase in its SBG business saw machine management revenues up 22 per cent and software sales up 69.2 per cent.
Group EBITDA was £21m, up from £19.2m for the same period previously. Strong SBG performance countered difficult trading conditions as a result of, among other things, the hot weather last year.
2006 was an "eventful year" for the group, said Inspired chairman Russell Hoyle, noting the AIM admission and increased rollout of server-based product particularly. New year business has also started strongly, with the renewal of its service contract with Gala Coral.
Mixed reception to London show layout
UK: The newly-redesigned ATEI/ICE show layouts were given a mixed reception as the show closed last night. As exhibitors streamed away from the show, the initial reactions varied between condemnatory to admiration.
It may take some time for views to form more conclusively, but the bottom line would appear to be that the show continues to attract large numbers of machine operators both in the street market and in international casinos.
The dedication of the downstairs at Earls Court into all gaming machines, resulted in complaints from many long-serving supporters of the show who were moved upstairs. The effect, however, was to make for a much less noisy ATEI, but the traffic pattern was definitely adversely affected.
Some of the upstairs-located companies reported perfectly satisfactory results while others were very unhappy. Universally condemned was the 'curtain' which separated ATEI from ICE.
Danoptra posts financial results
UK: Britain's second largest machine group, Danoptra, has filed figures for the financial year ended September 30, 2005.
They show good performances by manufacturers Bell Fruit Group and Mazooma against a weaker performance by the big machine operating sector at Gamestec which is, in terms of number of units in operation, second in the country.
Danoptra earnings before interest and tax was £10.7m (2004: £11.8m) on sales up to £201.9m from £191.5m in 2004. A large non-cash charge of £61.4m for goodwill impairment plus other non-cash and exceptional items produced a loss after tax of £82m.
The company said that the trading environment remained difficult in 2006 and the group is in talks with its finance providers. "These discussions are on-going and positive and Danoptra's shareholder remains very supportive."
New CEO Derek Lloyd said that the current financial year had started well and the group was ahead in all divisions.
Van Lishout exits Elaut, forms new company
BELGIUM: Herman van Lishout has left Elaut Group, where he was international sales manager, to form his own company, Gamebel, based at Bornem, Belgium.
He will devote most of his activities to promoting the multiplayer games of Gold Club of Slovenia with which he has an exclusive contract. Van Lishout had been at Elaut, the major crane games and multiplayer machine manufacturer, for over 12 years.
M&B appoints suppliers
UK: One of Britain's major breweries machine divisions has appointed no fewer than five smaller, independent, AWP operating companies as nominated suppliers to its locations.
M and B announced that South East Leisure, Premier Automatics, Septre, Claremont Automatics and Town and Country, had all joined the ranks of suppliers from whom its locations may take their payout machines.
Valiant launches at ATEI
UK: New company Valiant Leisure received a 'fantastic' response when it launched at ATEI this week.
The company, developed to identify and fill gaps in the coin-operated market, has come up with a new concept in children's entertainment with a coin-operated, interactive, prize-every-time machine.
Head of commercial development, Simon Le Jeune, was enthusiastic about the company's future and the response received at the show. He said: "We are dedicated to designing and manufacturing innovative machines and would like to thank everyone from the cleaners to the car park staff for making this launch possible."
Big Buck Hunter celebrates 5,000
US: The 5,000th Big Buck Hunter Pro - the game jointly developed by Play Mechanix, Betson and Raw Thrills - has now been shipped.
Introduced at the 2005 IAAPA show, the game has been received well by both operators and family entertainment centre owners worldwide over the past year and a half.
"With the much anticipated all-new tournament feature ready to launch in summer 2007, the popularity and earnings potential will soar even higher," a statement from Play Mechanix said.
ATEI gets the Xtra Factor
UK: Steve Brookstein, winner of the UK TV programme the X Factor, was on hand to help Crown Direct promote the new X Factor booth at ATEI this week.
The booth allows the user to select from a library of 250 karaoke tracks and perform and record the track within a sound proof booth.
Brookstein, the first person to win the X Factor in the UK, said: "I wouldn't be supporting this if I didn't think it was a good product. I have had a go myself and think it is a great way to encourage kids to start singing. It is something new and different and will be around for a long time."
Ladbrokes in deal with Sponsio
UK: Ladbrokes the bookmakers has bought its Scandinavian online gaming partner Sponsio in a deal worth up to £40m.
Under the terms of the deal, the UK betting firm said it would pay £36m for Sponsio plus an extra £4m if the company hits growth targets. Ladbrokes said the deal was part of its European growth strategy and would bolster its position in the Nordic region.
IGT records four per cent rise
US: International Game Technology has reported a rise in net income to US$121m for the company's fiscal first quarter ending December 31, 2006, compared with $120.6m a year ago.
The slot machine manufacturer's revenue for the quarter rose four per cent to over $642m, from $616.2m a year ago.
Camelot confident of retaining Lotto licence
UK: Lottery chief Dianne Thompson says she feels confident of Camelot's bid to secure the new UK National Lottery licence and that its proposal could not have been better.
In a recent interview with the Times newspaper, Thompson also refuted claims that the lottery process was a foregone conclusion, saying that it was a 'fair fight,' adding that the company had big plans for the future of the lottery should Camelot win.
Camelot currently faces competition from Australia's Tattersall's and Mumbai-based Sugal and Damani, while there has also been interest shown by Greek lottery operator Intralot.
Source: IGI
Thursday, January 25, 2007
Free Updates From Gamesoft, Astra Gain ISO 9001 + More
Gamesoft announces free updates deal
UK: Gamesoft of the UK has announced this week that anyone buying a Power Games machine between now and September 2007 will receive free game updates.
More specifically, the firm has announced that it will provide operators who purchase a Power Games machine from ATEI onwards a free update for its Firecracker and Monkey Business Classic games changing them from £2 stake, £500 jackpot games to £1/£500 games in time for the introduction of the new B3 (replacing Section 16 and 21) category on September 1, 2007.
Additionally, when customers receive their free B3 updates they will also find free updates from £25 to £35 for their AWP games, Firestorm, Monkey Madness and Multi Win Poker.
The firm's Robert Taylor said: "Our customers are looking for reassurance that the machines they are buying now won't require expensive updating in September. This announcement means that come September all the customer has to decide is whether they want to operate the machine as a B3 or a £35 Category C and it won't have cost them a penny."
Ainsworth set to unveil CEO
AUSTRALIA: Sources in Australia inform us that as the ICE show opens in London this week the new CEO of Ainsworth Game Technologies will be unveiled.
We understand that he is to be Danny Gladstone, from outside of the gaming industry. He will replace David Creasy who recently left the company to pursue personal interests.
Ace launches 10-game compendium
UK: Ace Coin Entertainments will be showing a 10-game compendium of games at ATEI in its acclaimed Dream Play cabinet.
"The Dream Play cabinet and multigame platform is effectively future proofed," Phil Thomas of Ace said. "Hardware is ready for the September watershed and we have guaranteed all buyers that where the Act comes in we will adjust software free of charge.
"Operators who commit to Dream Play games now will be able to operate games to the current guidelines beyond September and this may well give them advantages as we have yet to see the finalisation of the 240 regulations. If I were still operating I would definitely be looking out for products with the built-in flexibility of Dream Play. Ten games for the price of one is undoubtedly an attention catching offer."
Germany hails IMA success
GERMANY: The IMA show in Düsseldorf was an unparalleled success last week. The show, held from Tuesday to Thursday, saw 8,000 visitors, mostly from Germany, operators keen to take advantage of the new German AWP laws.
There was a sprinkling of foreigners, mostly Dutch and Austrian, but a surprising low-key presence of British and Spanish representatives of the big AWP producers.
They had been expected to show up in considerable numbers to size up the prospects of the German industry for their export machines. Most, apparently, felt that without alliances with the big German manufacturers, penetration of the market would be too difficult as German operators tend to buy from local branches of the Gauselmann Group, Löwen or Bally Wulff.
Yet the small Austrian AWP maker, Webak, managed to get a machine through the PTB testing organisation, line up half-a-dozen independent German distributors and fill its order books for the next three months.
From the UK perspective, there were a couple of machines from Barcrest at the IMA show and we understand that Bell-Fruit has a German AWP under development.
The Dutch were visible in the form of JVH machines on the Bally Wulff stand, but there was no visible sign of the extensive export divisions of both Unidesa and Franco in Spain.
French smoking ban bites
FRANCE: Smoking is now banned in offices and other public buildings in France. Twelve months after the introduction of that ban - in January 2008 - will come the second half of the measure... banning smoking in bars, cafés, restaurants, hotels and casinos.
The French coin machine industry, for long complaining about the absence of AWP machines while every country around has them, fears this will further depress machine incomes.
Danoptra sparks industry rumours
UK: News that Danoptra is to sell off its Leisure Connection health clubs business was heralded by speculation in the national press that the company was having difficulty re-negotiating its financial backing.
This has been stoutly repudiated by the company which refers to the talks with bankers as normal procedure and as a venture capital company it was in any case pledged to sell off its component parts in three-to-five years.
That's about now - hence the Leisure Connection sale. The question for the industry is what is going to happen to the rest of the business, the Gamestec machine operation and, of course, the manufacturing sector with Bell-Fruit, Mazooma, QPS and Crompton.
The latest rumours suggest that Australian slots maker Aristocrat is in the market - as it was a few years ago when it chased Maygay but failed to reach an agreement. Also named is Barcrest via its IGT ownership, but that is unlikely for monopoly reasons.
At the same time, the Gauselmann Group has been mentioned in gossip. Up to a couple of years ago it held 40 per cent of the machine operations, but sold it off to Danoptra. Finally the other name which has been mentioned is WMS, the US slots maker which so far has no AWP alliance but is thought to want one.
Multiplayers poised for Germany?
GERMANY: Talk at the German show was the prospects of an automated multiplayer roulette game getting into the German street market.
Merkur already has its Glücksrad (Lucky Wheel) approved by the PTB, but has a roulette product ready to go if approval for the use of this type of game is granted - so do a whole range of other producers.
Astra granted ISO 9001
ITALY: Astra Games will today announce that it has been granted ISO 9001.
This is particularly appropriate for the company can now by-pass the usual route of working through a distributor to get a machine approved for the big Italian AWP market.
Benelux Show set to return
NETHERLANDS: Suzo is planning another of its in-house trade shows, which it names the Benelux Show, drawing exhibitors into its Dutch offices from both the Netherlands and Belgium.
The show will be on October 1 at the Oud Beijerland headquarters and Suzo will be joined by fellow Dutch companies Janshen-Hahnraths, JVH, Elam, Eurocoin, REAC, Delta, Signs4U, Idea, AWA and Orion, two from Belgium in GAA and Elaut and one from Germany in Hess.
Cashpoint secures Italy licence
AUSTRIA: Vienna-based sports betting company Cashpoint has obtained licences to open shops and install betting terminals in Italy.
The licences all apply to areas in the north of the country and will enable Cashpoint to operate around 200 machines in about 100 locations.
Source: IGI
UK: Gamesoft of the UK has announced this week that anyone buying a Power Games machine between now and September 2007 will receive free game updates.
More specifically, the firm has announced that it will provide operators who purchase a Power Games machine from ATEI onwards a free update for its Firecracker and Monkey Business Classic games changing them from £2 stake, £500 jackpot games to £1/£500 games in time for the introduction of the new B3 (replacing Section 16 and 21) category on September 1, 2007.
Additionally, when customers receive their free B3 updates they will also find free updates from £25 to £35 for their AWP games, Firestorm, Monkey Madness and Multi Win Poker.
The firm's Robert Taylor said: "Our customers are looking for reassurance that the machines they are buying now won't require expensive updating in September. This announcement means that come September all the customer has to decide is whether they want to operate the machine as a B3 or a £35 Category C and it won't have cost them a penny."
Ainsworth set to unveil CEO
AUSTRALIA: Sources in Australia inform us that as the ICE show opens in London this week the new CEO of Ainsworth Game Technologies will be unveiled.
We understand that he is to be Danny Gladstone, from outside of the gaming industry. He will replace David Creasy who recently left the company to pursue personal interests.
Ace launches 10-game compendium
UK: Ace Coin Entertainments will be showing a 10-game compendium of games at ATEI in its acclaimed Dream Play cabinet.
"The Dream Play cabinet and multigame platform is effectively future proofed," Phil Thomas of Ace said. "Hardware is ready for the September watershed and we have guaranteed all buyers that where the Act comes in we will adjust software free of charge.
"Operators who commit to Dream Play games now will be able to operate games to the current guidelines beyond September and this may well give them advantages as we have yet to see the finalisation of the 240 regulations. If I were still operating I would definitely be looking out for products with the built-in flexibility of Dream Play. Ten games for the price of one is undoubtedly an attention catching offer."
Germany hails IMA success
GERMANY: The IMA show in Düsseldorf was an unparalleled success last week. The show, held from Tuesday to Thursday, saw 8,000 visitors, mostly from Germany, operators keen to take advantage of the new German AWP laws.
There was a sprinkling of foreigners, mostly Dutch and Austrian, but a surprising low-key presence of British and Spanish representatives of the big AWP producers.
They had been expected to show up in considerable numbers to size up the prospects of the German industry for their export machines. Most, apparently, felt that without alliances with the big German manufacturers, penetration of the market would be too difficult as German operators tend to buy from local branches of the Gauselmann Group, Löwen or Bally Wulff.
Yet the small Austrian AWP maker, Webak, managed to get a machine through the PTB testing organisation, line up half-a-dozen independent German distributors and fill its order books for the next three months.
From the UK perspective, there were a couple of machines from Barcrest at the IMA show and we understand that Bell-Fruit has a German AWP under development.
The Dutch were visible in the form of JVH machines on the Bally Wulff stand, but there was no visible sign of the extensive export divisions of both Unidesa and Franco in Spain.
French smoking ban bites
FRANCE: Smoking is now banned in offices and other public buildings in France. Twelve months after the introduction of that ban - in January 2008 - will come the second half of the measure... banning smoking in bars, cafés, restaurants, hotels and casinos.
The French coin machine industry, for long complaining about the absence of AWP machines while every country around has them, fears this will further depress machine incomes.
Danoptra sparks industry rumours
UK: News that Danoptra is to sell off its Leisure Connection health clubs business was heralded by speculation in the national press that the company was having difficulty re-negotiating its financial backing.
This has been stoutly repudiated by the company which refers to the talks with bankers as normal procedure and as a venture capital company it was in any case pledged to sell off its component parts in three-to-five years.
That's about now - hence the Leisure Connection sale. The question for the industry is what is going to happen to the rest of the business, the Gamestec machine operation and, of course, the manufacturing sector with Bell-Fruit, Mazooma, QPS and Crompton.
The latest rumours suggest that Australian slots maker Aristocrat is in the market - as it was a few years ago when it chased Maygay but failed to reach an agreement. Also named is Barcrest via its IGT ownership, but that is unlikely for monopoly reasons.
At the same time, the Gauselmann Group has been mentioned in gossip. Up to a couple of years ago it held 40 per cent of the machine operations, but sold it off to Danoptra. Finally the other name which has been mentioned is WMS, the US slots maker which so far has no AWP alliance but is thought to want one.
Multiplayers poised for Germany?
GERMANY: Talk at the German show was the prospects of an automated multiplayer roulette game getting into the German street market.
Merkur already has its Glücksrad (Lucky Wheel) approved by the PTB, but has a roulette product ready to go if approval for the use of this type of game is granted - so do a whole range of other producers.
Astra granted ISO 9001
ITALY: Astra Games will today announce that it has been granted ISO 9001.
This is particularly appropriate for the company can now by-pass the usual route of working through a distributor to get a machine approved for the big Italian AWP market.
Benelux Show set to return
NETHERLANDS: Suzo is planning another of its in-house trade shows, which it names the Benelux Show, drawing exhibitors into its Dutch offices from both the Netherlands and Belgium.
The show will be on October 1 at the Oud Beijerland headquarters and Suzo will be joined by fellow Dutch companies Janshen-Hahnraths, JVH, Elam, Eurocoin, REAC, Delta, Signs4U, Idea, AWA and Orion, two from Belgium in GAA and Elaut and one from Germany in Hess.
Cashpoint secures Italy licence
AUSTRIA: Vienna-based sports betting company Cashpoint has obtained licences to open shops and install betting terminals in Italy.
The licences all apply to areas in the north of the country and will enable Cashpoint to operate around 200 machines in about 100 locations.
Source: IGI
Wednesday, January 10, 2007
Lowe Quits Role at Merit / Green Light for Euro Gaming + More News!
Lloyd denies Danoptra troubles
UK: Britain's second largest machine operating company, Danoptra, is renegotiating its banking facilities, triggering speculation in the national press at the weekend that it is in some trouble. However, according to the company's new managing director, Derek Lloyd, this is far from the truth.
The leisure conglomerate has reportedly applied to its three banks - RBS, HBOS and HSBC - for a revision of its loan facilities prior to Christmas. Danoptra is the parent of operator Gamestec and manufacturers Bell-Fruit and Mazooma, while it also has Leisure Connection, the health club business.
Danoptra is itself owned by Cognetas, a private equity house which had a three-to-five-year plan for the group in the first place. First for disposal was due to be Leisure Connection, but over the weekend this was interpreted as the first of a succession of panic measures.
Lloyd, however, has been at pains to assure the group's staff that the exit strategy being sought for Leisure Connection is no more than was originally planned. The company has accepted that the performance of the group in 2006 was significantly less than hoped for, but that is an industry-wide issue.
The gaming divisions had made a promising start to the New Year, due to improvements in business practices and stronger management controls. Lloyd quoted positive trends within the industry as indicative of a brighter future for the company's gaming businesses, especially the incoming changes in the law which will permit sharing the cashbox and the opportunity to “communicate with potential players.”
Logan quits presidential roles at Merit, Rowe
US: Dave Logan has resigned as president of Merit, the US producer of touchscreen games, and Rowe, the jukebox manufacturer, both owned by the Harbour Group. He will remain a consultant to both companies.
The new president is Mike Maas, who joins the companies today. Logan is reported to be pursuing other interests.
During the past few years Merit has seen significant progress, winning several manufacturing awards for new products, which include the Force platform, the Radion, eVo and Ion platforms. Rowe, meanwhile, has entered the broadband-connected digital jukebox business.
Maas is a former executive at Microsoft and IBM. At Microsoft he was general manager responsible for the company's marketing programmes for enterprise accounts across the US. Previously he was a vice president at IBM Corporation.
Ladbrokes, Cirsa form Spanish JV
UK: British bookmaker Ladbrokes and slot machine company Cirsa Slot have established a 50-50 joint venture company to develop a sports betting business in Spain.
Ladbrokes said the joint venture would soon apply for some of the new five-year betting licences being offered in Madrid, which started opening up its gambling market last month.
The venture will also seek to acquire betting licences in other areas of Spain which are also considering regulation.
"Sports betting is set to become an increasingly mainstream activity in Spain," said Cirsa Slot director Pablo Alcala.
Tab gets clear with new, larger touchscreen
AUSTRIA: Tab, the producer of high-quality touchscreen games from Austria, has added a 42ins touchscreen display to its Virtual Pinball game.
The pinball game was launched in 2003 and has been extensively used for international tournaments. The new display will be launched at the London ATEI.
Tab is also set to launch a new game for Virtual Pinball at the show, Arcanoid II, which can be played with buttons, trackball or by using the touchscreen.
The pinball hardware now has two action, two strategy and three different pinball games available.
European Gaming given green light on Talarius bid
UK: The board of UK adult gaming centre operator Talarius has announced that shareholders have approved the recommended acquisition of the company by European Gaming, a joint venture company controlled by Tattersall’s and Macquarie.
European Gaming launched a £137.2m bid for Talarius, the largest adult gaming centre in the UK, in late November, but later in the year lifted the offer by 10 pence a share, raising the value to £142.3m.
European Gaming was formed by Tattersall’s and Australia's largest investment bank last November to pursue opportunities in the European gaming sector.
SAE creates New Business Division
EUROPE: Sega Amusements Europe has created a new division. The New Business Division, based in London, is to be headed by Alan Smith, who has worked as a consultant for the group for over a year, concentrating on the Dinosaur King title.
The new division will grow the card game business among children, with merchandise and the launch of the UFO Catcher crane into Europe, which has seen sales of hundreds of thousands in Japan.
The division, which will also seek new licences, is part of SAE's five-year expansion plan, the first phase of which was internal restructuring and the moving back in-house of spares distribution.
Smith comes from the toy industry where he was involved in sales, promotion and licensing, working for companies such as Tomy, Hasbro and The Coca-Cola Company.
Electrocoin signals ATEI stand relocation
UK: Electrocoin has relocated to a new central position on the ground floor at ATEI this year, giving the company flexibility to accommodate the wide range of new games it is bringing to the market.
On show will be the worldwide debut of Taito’s Chase HQ 2 as well as Incredible Technologies’ latest edition of Silver Strike Bowling, 2007 Bowler's Club, and the 2007 version of Golden Tee Live, with its new courses and tournament options.
The latest category C machine - Bar X Diamond 7, with a £35 jackpot - is proving to be a winning formula for the company, and Kevin Weir of Electrocoin said: “The changes to stakes and prizes was a long time coming and then with the added problem of short-term inflated licence duty, we anticipated a slow start with our new models. However, the response to Bar X Diamond 7 has proved all of us wrong.”
Electrocoin will also be showing Magic Bar, Sapphire 7 and Magic O in Category C, along with Magic 7 Slot and Take Your Pick in Category B. A range of machines and games from Aruze, Stern Pinball and Funworld will also be on display.
TouchTunes appoints new CEO
US: Art Matin has been appointed president and CEO at TouchTunes Music Corporation of Montreal, Canada.
Matin is a former global business manager for IBM Corporation and senior executive of a number of companies in the technology business. He succeeds John Perrachon, who remains on the TouchTunes Board.
TouchTunes is a major digital jukebox company in North America. In 2003 it had an installed base of 7,300 boxes, and this figure grew to 23,000 by the end of 2006.
UDC to pull out all the stops at Dubai show
MIDDLE EAST: United Distributing Company is planning to take its biggest stand ever at the Dubai show in April this year.
The London-based company is sending two containers of high-quality refurbished and redemption games out to the show for a 22sq.m stand.
"There are only four major players in the Middle East," said the company's Mark Horwood. "We deal with all of them, but there are many smaller companies out there who we see at the show."
Source: IGI
UK: Britain's second largest machine operating company, Danoptra, is renegotiating its banking facilities, triggering speculation in the national press at the weekend that it is in some trouble. However, according to the company's new managing director, Derek Lloyd, this is far from the truth.
The leisure conglomerate has reportedly applied to its three banks - RBS, HBOS and HSBC - for a revision of its loan facilities prior to Christmas. Danoptra is the parent of operator Gamestec and manufacturers Bell-Fruit and Mazooma, while it also has Leisure Connection, the health club business.
Danoptra is itself owned by Cognetas, a private equity house which had a three-to-five-year plan for the group in the first place. First for disposal was due to be Leisure Connection, but over the weekend this was interpreted as the first of a succession of panic measures.
Lloyd, however, has been at pains to assure the group's staff that the exit strategy being sought for Leisure Connection is no more than was originally planned. The company has accepted that the performance of the group in 2006 was significantly less than hoped for, but that is an industry-wide issue.
The gaming divisions had made a promising start to the New Year, due to improvements in business practices and stronger management controls. Lloyd quoted positive trends within the industry as indicative of a brighter future for the company's gaming businesses, especially the incoming changes in the law which will permit sharing the cashbox and the opportunity to “communicate with potential players.”
Logan quits presidential roles at Merit, Rowe
US: Dave Logan has resigned as president of Merit, the US producer of touchscreen games, and Rowe, the jukebox manufacturer, both owned by the Harbour Group. He will remain a consultant to both companies.
The new president is Mike Maas, who joins the companies today. Logan is reported to be pursuing other interests.
During the past few years Merit has seen significant progress, winning several manufacturing awards for new products, which include the Force platform, the Radion, eVo and Ion platforms. Rowe, meanwhile, has entered the broadband-connected digital jukebox business.
Maas is a former executive at Microsoft and IBM. At Microsoft he was general manager responsible for the company's marketing programmes for enterprise accounts across the US. Previously he was a vice president at IBM Corporation.
Ladbrokes, Cirsa form Spanish JV
UK: British bookmaker Ladbrokes and slot machine company Cirsa Slot have established a 50-50 joint venture company to develop a sports betting business in Spain.
Ladbrokes said the joint venture would soon apply for some of the new five-year betting licences being offered in Madrid, which started opening up its gambling market last month.
The venture will also seek to acquire betting licences in other areas of Spain which are also considering regulation.
"Sports betting is set to become an increasingly mainstream activity in Spain," said Cirsa Slot director Pablo Alcala.
Tab gets clear with new, larger touchscreen
AUSTRIA: Tab, the producer of high-quality touchscreen games from Austria, has added a 42ins touchscreen display to its Virtual Pinball game.
The pinball game was launched in 2003 and has been extensively used for international tournaments. The new display will be launched at the London ATEI.
Tab is also set to launch a new game for Virtual Pinball at the show, Arcanoid II, which can be played with buttons, trackball or by using the touchscreen.
The pinball hardware now has two action, two strategy and three different pinball games available.
European Gaming given green light on Talarius bid
UK: The board of UK adult gaming centre operator Talarius has announced that shareholders have approved the recommended acquisition of the company by European Gaming, a joint venture company controlled by Tattersall’s and Macquarie.
European Gaming launched a £137.2m bid for Talarius, the largest adult gaming centre in the UK, in late November, but later in the year lifted the offer by 10 pence a share, raising the value to £142.3m.
European Gaming was formed by Tattersall’s and Australia's largest investment bank last November to pursue opportunities in the European gaming sector.
SAE creates New Business Division
EUROPE: Sega Amusements Europe has created a new division. The New Business Division, based in London, is to be headed by Alan Smith, who has worked as a consultant for the group for over a year, concentrating on the Dinosaur King title.
The new division will grow the card game business among children, with merchandise and the launch of the UFO Catcher crane into Europe, which has seen sales of hundreds of thousands in Japan.
The division, which will also seek new licences, is part of SAE's five-year expansion plan, the first phase of which was internal restructuring and the moving back in-house of spares distribution.
Smith comes from the toy industry where he was involved in sales, promotion and licensing, working for companies such as Tomy, Hasbro and The Coca-Cola Company.
Electrocoin signals ATEI stand relocation
UK: Electrocoin has relocated to a new central position on the ground floor at ATEI this year, giving the company flexibility to accommodate the wide range of new games it is bringing to the market.
On show will be the worldwide debut of Taito’s Chase HQ 2 as well as Incredible Technologies’ latest edition of Silver Strike Bowling, 2007 Bowler's Club, and the 2007 version of Golden Tee Live, with its new courses and tournament options.
The latest category C machine - Bar X Diamond 7, with a £35 jackpot - is proving to be a winning formula for the company, and Kevin Weir of Electrocoin said: “The changes to stakes and prizes was a long time coming and then with the added problem of short-term inflated licence duty, we anticipated a slow start with our new models. However, the response to Bar X Diamond 7 has proved all of us wrong.”
Electrocoin will also be showing Magic Bar, Sapphire 7 and Magic O in Category C, along with Magic 7 Slot and Take Your Pick in Category B. A range of machines and games from Aruze, Stern Pinball and Funworld will also be on display.
TouchTunes appoints new CEO
US: Art Matin has been appointed president and CEO at TouchTunes Music Corporation of Montreal, Canada.
Matin is a former global business manager for IBM Corporation and senior executive of a number of companies in the technology business. He succeeds John Perrachon, who remains on the TouchTunes Board.
TouchTunes is a major digital jukebox company in North America. In 2003 it had an installed base of 7,300 boxes, and this figure grew to 23,000 by the end of 2006.
UDC to pull out all the stops at Dubai show
MIDDLE EAST: United Distributing Company is planning to take its biggest stand ever at the Dubai show in April this year.
The London-based company is sending two containers of high-quality refurbished and redemption games out to the show for a 22sq.m stand.
"There are only four major players in the Middle East," said the company's Mark Horwood. "We deal with all of them, but there are many smaller companies out there who we see at the show."
Source: IGI
Sunday, January 07, 2007
Corrie Fans Paid Out + More News
Gambling Commission now receiving licence applications
UK: The British Gambling Commission is now receiving applications for operating licences and personal licences.
"Anyone who wishes to provide facilities for gambling, or to manufacture supply, install, repair or adapt a gaming machine or gambling software from September 1, 2007, is required to hold a licence authorising the specific activity to be undertaken," the commission stated.
The commission said that anyone wishing to provide facilities for betting, gaming or participating in a lottery will require a licence. Such facilities may be provided remotely (via the internet or telephone) or on premises (including on course).
There are three categories of licence - operating, personal and premises - and some businesses may need all three kinds. The commission issues operating licences and personal licences, while premises licences are issued by local authorities.
Click here for more details.
Intralot eyes National Lottery licence
GREECE: Greek Lottery operator Intralot is expected to announce it will enter the race for the UK's National Lottery licence after working on the bid with Ladbrokes, although the betting firm is now understood to have pulled out of the project.
Indian lottery operator Sugal and Damani has already confirmed it will fight for the licence, prompting what is considered to be the biggest competition since the lottery started in 1994.
Banks saddle up for Tote selling plate
UK: The UK government has invited investment banks to pitch for the mandate to auction state-owned bookmaker, the Tote.
The Telegraph newspaper reports that the Department of Culture, Media and Sport sent letters before the New Year asking to meet the banks, which include Citigroup, Deutsche Bank and Lazards to discuss the sales.
French casino industry in turmoil over pay dispute
FRANCE: Casino owners and employees in France face a stand-off after unions called the country's croupiers out on strike over an unresolved dispute regarding pay and new regulations which allow casinos to add electronic versions of poker and roulette games.
France's 17,000 casino workers have stated that more profits should be coming to them. After wage negotiations broke down, they went on strike on New Year's Eve - one of the busiest nights of the year. Casino operators are offering a two per cent pay rise, but the unions want to see this figure increased to five per cent.
The unions are also concerned about proposed changes in French law that will authorise electronic versions of games such as blackjack, and which they fear could result in the loss of up to 3,500 jobs.
RLMS, Amutec form distribution agreement
UK: Gaming and amusement machine distributor RLMS Sales has announced an exclusive contract with kiddie ride manufacturer Amutec. Under the agreement, RLMS will sell Amutec’s distinctive range of products throughout the UK.
“The new deal reflects our continued commitment to providing the best possible service and products to our customers and a new line of Amutec machines will also be making an appearance on our stand at ATEI 2007," said RLMS managing director Phil Boulton.
RLMS Sales was already familiar with Amutec as the company’s Chris Bell was previously Amutec’s sales manager and is currently developing RLMS’ machine distribution for the coastal and amusement sectors.
Nigel Collins, managing director of Amutec, said: “We made the decision to concentrate on our significant operation, Kiddies Rides (UK), and we believe that we have created a perfect partnership with RLMS, who will be handling our distribution.”
Boulton added: “We are significantly expanding our range of equipment with particular emphasis on the coastal market. To add such a quality product range as Amutec to our portfolio is fantastic and I look forward to working with Nigel and his brother Howard for many years to come.”
Orrick takes up AGI appointment
AUSTRIA: Austrian Gaming Industries, the wholly owned subsidiary of the Novomatic Group of Companies, has announced that David Orrick has joined the team to head up the firm’s communications and business development activities.
Orrick is a 13-year veteran of the gaming industry and a former award-winning industry journalist. He is a widely travelled and well-known figure with considerable experience of market development and gaming licence acquisition.
AGI managing director Jens Halle said: “I am extremely pleased to welcome David Orrick to the Novomatic family. He brings to AGI a wealth of international experience and professionalism and will be a valuable asset to the company at a time when many new markets are opening and new relationships are being formed.
“His appointment adds a new dimension to our team and I am certain that the results will be highly beneficial,” concluded Halle.
BACTA fundraiser to top £500,000
UK: The British Amusement Catering Trade Association (BACTA), said industry revellers are on course to have raised £500,000 for good causes in a decade.
Organisers of the BACTA Charity Masked Ball said: “Every year the industry has excelled itself and dug deep, even when trading conditions have been unsympathetic.”
The event, which for decades has served as the traditional finale to ATEI, is this year being held in the Nine King's Suite at London's Royal Lancaster Hotel.
The change of venue has enabled BACTA to forecast an enhanced charitable contribution for 2007, a fact which the association's vice president Nick Harding is keen to underline: "Our industry has deservedly earned a reputation for being among the most generous in Britain.
“The BACTA Ball is our most important fundraiser of the year and I am delighted to say that the fantastic deal we have struck with The Royal Lancaster will mean even greater sums going to the organisations that we support and which care for the vulnerable and less fortunate in society,” Harding concluded.
Tickets for the 77th BACTA Charity Masked Ball, which is being held on Thursday, January 25 at 7pm, are priced £145 inclusive of VAT and are available from Linda Malcolm, tel: +44 20 7726 9826, or email: lindam@bacta.org.uk.
Funworld to launch new terminals at ATEI
AUSTRIA: Funworld of Austria is preparing to launch its new PRO Generation Photo Play terminals, System 2007 software and an entirely new trade fair concept at London’s ATEI 2007.
Marco Huter, Funworld’s chief sales officer, said: “We wish to provide visitors with an open communications platform by which to inform them of our product innovations in detail. We have created a separate area on the stand in which customers have the opportunity to obtain detailed information on the new innovations.”
Another feature of the stand will be a barcode promotion, held daily, that will give visitors a chance to win a System 2007 package. Barcodes, which are distributed on the stand, can be converted at two Photo Play Racer PROs
This is to promote Funworld’s new promotions concept. A 2D barcode is held before the Photo Play terminal’s camera lens. The terminal’s software recognises the code and the player obtains saved credits for free games or information such as special tips.
William Hill to pay off Corrie fans
UK: William Hill has lost nearly £20,000 after taking bets on who the murderer in popular British television programme Coronation Street would be, despite the killer already being revealed in the storyline.
A spokesperson for the UK bookmaker said that it would pay out the winnings and return losers' money, after acknowledging that it opened the book without knowing that scriptwriters hadn't made it a "who shot JR Ewing"-style cliff-hanger.
Source: IGI
UK: The British Gambling Commission is now receiving applications for operating licences and personal licences.
"Anyone who wishes to provide facilities for gambling, or to manufacture supply, install, repair or adapt a gaming machine or gambling software from September 1, 2007, is required to hold a licence authorising the specific activity to be undertaken," the commission stated.
The commission said that anyone wishing to provide facilities for betting, gaming or participating in a lottery will require a licence. Such facilities may be provided remotely (via the internet or telephone) or on premises (including on course).
There are three categories of licence - operating, personal and premises - and some businesses may need all three kinds. The commission issues operating licences and personal licences, while premises licences are issued by local authorities.
Click here for more details.
Intralot eyes National Lottery licence
GREECE: Greek Lottery operator Intralot is expected to announce it will enter the race for the UK's National Lottery licence after working on the bid with Ladbrokes, although the betting firm is now understood to have pulled out of the project.
Indian lottery operator Sugal and Damani has already confirmed it will fight for the licence, prompting what is considered to be the biggest competition since the lottery started in 1994.
Banks saddle up for Tote selling plate
UK: The UK government has invited investment banks to pitch for the mandate to auction state-owned bookmaker, the Tote.
The Telegraph newspaper reports that the Department of Culture, Media and Sport sent letters before the New Year asking to meet the banks, which include Citigroup, Deutsche Bank and Lazards to discuss the sales.
French casino industry in turmoil over pay dispute
FRANCE: Casino owners and employees in France face a stand-off after unions called the country's croupiers out on strike over an unresolved dispute regarding pay and new regulations which allow casinos to add electronic versions of poker and roulette games.
France's 17,000 casino workers have stated that more profits should be coming to them. After wage negotiations broke down, they went on strike on New Year's Eve - one of the busiest nights of the year. Casino operators are offering a two per cent pay rise, but the unions want to see this figure increased to five per cent.
The unions are also concerned about proposed changes in French law that will authorise electronic versions of games such as blackjack, and which they fear could result in the loss of up to 3,500 jobs.
RLMS, Amutec form distribution agreement
UK: Gaming and amusement machine distributor RLMS Sales has announced an exclusive contract with kiddie ride manufacturer Amutec. Under the agreement, RLMS will sell Amutec’s distinctive range of products throughout the UK.
“The new deal reflects our continued commitment to providing the best possible service and products to our customers and a new line of Amutec machines will also be making an appearance on our stand at ATEI 2007," said RLMS managing director Phil Boulton.
RLMS Sales was already familiar with Amutec as the company’s Chris Bell was previously Amutec’s sales manager and is currently developing RLMS’ machine distribution for the coastal and amusement sectors.
Nigel Collins, managing director of Amutec, said: “We made the decision to concentrate on our significant operation, Kiddies Rides (UK), and we believe that we have created a perfect partnership with RLMS, who will be handling our distribution.”
Boulton added: “We are significantly expanding our range of equipment with particular emphasis on the coastal market. To add such a quality product range as Amutec to our portfolio is fantastic and I look forward to working with Nigel and his brother Howard for many years to come.”
Orrick takes up AGI appointment
AUSTRIA: Austrian Gaming Industries, the wholly owned subsidiary of the Novomatic Group of Companies, has announced that David Orrick has joined the team to head up the firm’s communications and business development activities.
Orrick is a 13-year veteran of the gaming industry and a former award-winning industry journalist. He is a widely travelled and well-known figure with considerable experience of market development and gaming licence acquisition.
AGI managing director Jens Halle said: “I am extremely pleased to welcome David Orrick to the Novomatic family. He brings to AGI a wealth of international experience and professionalism and will be a valuable asset to the company at a time when many new markets are opening and new relationships are being formed.
“His appointment adds a new dimension to our team and I am certain that the results will be highly beneficial,” concluded Halle.
BACTA fundraiser to top £500,000
UK: The British Amusement Catering Trade Association (BACTA), said industry revellers are on course to have raised £500,000 for good causes in a decade.
Organisers of the BACTA Charity Masked Ball said: “Every year the industry has excelled itself and dug deep, even when trading conditions have been unsympathetic.”
The event, which for decades has served as the traditional finale to ATEI, is this year being held in the Nine King's Suite at London's Royal Lancaster Hotel.
The change of venue has enabled BACTA to forecast an enhanced charitable contribution for 2007, a fact which the association's vice president Nick Harding is keen to underline: "Our industry has deservedly earned a reputation for being among the most generous in Britain.
“The BACTA Ball is our most important fundraiser of the year and I am delighted to say that the fantastic deal we have struck with The Royal Lancaster will mean even greater sums going to the organisations that we support and which care for the vulnerable and less fortunate in society,” Harding concluded.
Tickets for the 77th BACTA Charity Masked Ball, which is being held on Thursday, January 25 at 7pm, are priced £145 inclusive of VAT and are available from Linda Malcolm, tel: +44 20 7726 9826, or email: lindam@bacta.org.uk.
Funworld to launch new terminals at ATEI
AUSTRIA: Funworld of Austria is preparing to launch its new PRO Generation Photo Play terminals, System 2007 software and an entirely new trade fair concept at London’s ATEI 2007.
Marco Huter, Funworld’s chief sales officer, said: “We wish to provide visitors with an open communications platform by which to inform them of our product innovations in detail. We have created a separate area on the stand in which customers have the opportunity to obtain detailed information on the new innovations.”
Another feature of the stand will be a barcode promotion, held daily, that will give visitors a chance to win a System 2007 package. Barcodes, which are distributed on the stand, can be converted at two Photo Play Racer PROs
This is to promote Funworld’s new promotions concept. A 2D barcode is held before the Photo Play terminal’s camera lens. The terminal’s software recognises the code and the player obtains saved credits for free games or information such as special tips.
William Hill to pay off Corrie fans
UK: William Hill has lost nearly £20,000 after taking bets on who the murderer in popular British television programme Coronation Street would be, despite the killer already being revealed in the storyline.
A spokesperson for the UK bookmaker said that it would pay out the winnings and return losers' money, after acknowledging that it opened the book without knowing that scriptwriters hadn't made it a "who shot JR Ewing"-style cliff-hanger.
Source: IGI
Tuesday, January 02, 2007
Quicksilver offer, Stanley loses Chief Exec + More News!
Consortium ups Quicksilver offer
UK: The Australian consortium bidding for the 200-location chain of the Talarius-owned Quicksilver adult gaming centres in the UK, has increased its takeover offer.
European Gaming, a newly-formed subsidiary of Tattersall's, the Australian gaming group, and bank Macquarie, has pushed up its bid from 270p to 280p per share. The increased cash offer represents a 36.2 per cent premium on the closing price of 205.6p for the three months ended October 31, 2006.
The Talarius board has recommended shareholders to accept the offer. InterGame understands that a condition of the sale is that all of the current executive board members remain with the company.
Ho family debate rages on
MACAU: In an increasingly bitter family dispute, Winnie Ho, sister of gambling mogul Stanley Ho, has offered to buy her brother out of the company which controls 16 of the 23 casinos in Macau.
Ms Ho claims that the company, Sociedade de Turismo e Diversoes de Macau, owes her around US$386m in dividends for the past five years. Ms Ho, who controls about eight per cent of the company, has filed more than 30 lawsuits against her brother.
Brady, Incredible Tech strike new deal
US: In a move to offer more sales and service opportunities in the south and south-east of the US, Brady Distributing will once again be carrying the full line of Incredible Technologies products.
“Our games will be in-stock at all four Brady Distributing sales offices in Charlotte, Memphis, Miami and Orlando,” said Don Pesceone, Incredible Technologies' vice president of sales.
According to Jon Brady, vice president of amusement game sales at Brady, training the Brady sales team is a top priority.
Stanley Leisure CEO to step down
UK: British casino operator Stanley Leisure is to lose its chief executive.
Bob Wiper, who has held the post for the past eight years, is to step down from his role at the company.
Stanley was acquired by the Malaysian gambling giant Genting in October of last year.
Bay-Tek co-founder passes away
US: One of the founders of US redemption games specialist Bay-Tek has died.
Robert Ward died on December 14 in hospital. He was one of four original partners in Bay-Tek Games.
Sanken shifts production
UK: Sanken Power Systems (UK), a major supplier of power supplies to the amusement and gaming industry, is moving its factory in South Wales on January 22.
The new premises are at Pencoed Technology Park, Bridgend, Mid-Glamorgan, Wales, CF35 5HY. Tel: +44 1656 869 100.
Golden Tee 2007 details announced
US: Incredible Technologies has announced plans for its 2007 Golden Tee World Championships.
The finals, held previously in Orlando, move to the Rio Casino in Las Vegas from March 25-27.
The competition pits a 16-player international team against a US team. The international ranks will come from South Africa, the UK, Australia and Canada.
In the four previous tournaments, the internationals have won once and the US team three times.
Comestero signs new security lock deal
ITALY: Comestero Group, the Italy-based manufacturer and distributor of payment system solutions, has struck a deal with Giussani Serrature, a producer of security locks.
Under the agreement, Comestero will distribute a wide range of locks through its distribution network, which covers more than 80 countries.
Betson names new sales manager
US: Richard Zayas-Bazan has been promoted to national sales manager for Betson Imperial Parts and Service Company in the US.
Zayas-Bazan joined Betson Enterprises in 1997 to work on customer service in the parts department. The company is owned by parent company H Betti Industries.
Ladbrokes, William Hill enter Italian market
UK: British bookmakers Ladbrokes and William Hill have been awarded licences for sports and horse betting over the internet and the phone in Italy.
Both companies are also understood to have won new licences for horse racing and sports betting at betting centres throughout the European country as well as at franchises in venues such as bars, cafés and newsagents.
Ladbrokes' licences include 33 for horse racing, 58 for sports betting at betting centres and 51 for franchises.
Meanwhile, William Hill said its proposed joint venture with Codere has been granted 20 concessions to operate horse racing betting shops and seven concessions to operate sports betting shops.
Source: IGI
UK: The Australian consortium bidding for the 200-location chain of the Talarius-owned Quicksilver adult gaming centres in the UK, has increased its takeover offer.
European Gaming, a newly-formed subsidiary of Tattersall's, the Australian gaming group, and bank Macquarie, has pushed up its bid from 270p to 280p per share. The increased cash offer represents a 36.2 per cent premium on the closing price of 205.6p for the three months ended October 31, 2006.
The Talarius board has recommended shareholders to accept the offer. InterGame understands that a condition of the sale is that all of the current executive board members remain with the company.
Ho family debate rages on
MACAU: In an increasingly bitter family dispute, Winnie Ho, sister of gambling mogul Stanley Ho, has offered to buy her brother out of the company which controls 16 of the 23 casinos in Macau.
Ms Ho claims that the company, Sociedade de Turismo e Diversoes de Macau, owes her around US$386m in dividends for the past five years. Ms Ho, who controls about eight per cent of the company, has filed more than 30 lawsuits against her brother.
Brady, Incredible Tech strike new deal
US: In a move to offer more sales and service opportunities in the south and south-east of the US, Brady Distributing will once again be carrying the full line of Incredible Technologies products.
“Our games will be in-stock at all four Brady Distributing sales offices in Charlotte, Memphis, Miami and Orlando,” said Don Pesceone, Incredible Technologies' vice president of sales.
According to Jon Brady, vice president of amusement game sales at Brady, training the Brady sales team is a top priority.
Stanley Leisure CEO to step down
UK: British casino operator Stanley Leisure is to lose its chief executive.
Bob Wiper, who has held the post for the past eight years, is to step down from his role at the company.
Stanley was acquired by the Malaysian gambling giant Genting in October of last year.
Bay-Tek co-founder passes away
US: One of the founders of US redemption games specialist Bay-Tek has died.
Robert Ward died on December 14 in hospital. He was one of four original partners in Bay-Tek Games.
Sanken shifts production
UK: Sanken Power Systems (UK), a major supplier of power supplies to the amusement and gaming industry, is moving its factory in South Wales on January 22.
The new premises are at Pencoed Technology Park, Bridgend, Mid-Glamorgan, Wales, CF35 5HY. Tel: +44 1656 869 100.
Golden Tee 2007 details announced
US: Incredible Technologies has announced plans for its 2007 Golden Tee World Championships.
The finals, held previously in Orlando, move to the Rio Casino in Las Vegas from March 25-27.
The competition pits a 16-player international team against a US team. The international ranks will come from South Africa, the UK, Australia and Canada.
In the four previous tournaments, the internationals have won once and the US team three times.
Comestero signs new security lock deal
ITALY: Comestero Group, the Italy-based manufacturer and distributor of payment system solutions, has struck a deal with Giussani Serrature, a producer of security locks.
Under the agreement, Comestero will distribute a wide range of locks through its distribution network, which covers more than 80 countries.
Betson names new sales manager
US: Richard Zayas-Bazan has been promoted to national sales manager for Betson Imperial Parts and Service Company in the US.
Zayas-Bazan joined Betson Enterprises in 1997 to work on customer service in the parts department. The company is owned by parent company H Betti Industries.
Ladbrokes, William Hill enter Italian market
UK: British bookmakers Ladbrokes and William Hill have been awarded licences for sports and horse betting over the internet and the phone in Italy.
Both companies are also understood to have won new licences for horse racing and sports betting at betting centres throughout the European country as well as at franchises in venues such as bars, cafés and newsagents.
Ladbrokes' licences include 33 for horse racing, 58 for sports betting at betting centres and 51 for franchises.
Meanwhile, William Hill said its proposed joint venture with Codere has been granted 20 concessions to operate horse racing betting shops and seven concessions to operate sports betting shops.
Source: IGI
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