China cracks down on web gaming
CHINA: A coalition of government departments in China has launched a crackdown on internet gambling.
Beijing, Shanghai, Guangdong and Zhejiang will be the areas most heavily policed, in a bid to 'purify the cyber environment.'
Local government departments will be asked to strictly monitor online gaming operators.
China's police busted a total of 347,000 gambling cases in 2006 and seized US$445m. The need for gambling restrictions in China
became news in January 2005 after a senior government official lost over $30,000 in public funds during trips to a North Korean casino.
By the end of 2005, a draft bill that would amend the criminal law by increasing the maximum prison term for casino operators
from three years to 10 years was submitted to the National People's Congress Standing Committee for a first hearing.
In March 2006, a new law banned Chinese citizens younger than 18 from internet cafés, discos and karaoke bars, and prohibited government staff from running entertainment venues.
Gambling was outlawed on the mainland in 1949 when New China was founded. However, casino gambling is legal in Macau, a small territory on the southern coast of China, and remote gambling may soon be.
Gamblingcompliance.com reports that the Macau Gaming Commission has set out policy plans for a new remote licensing regime open to all applicants.
According to the report, Jorge Oliveira, Macau's Commissioner for Gaming, outlined at the Pacific Congress on Igaming new proposals designed to meet online operator's demands for a licensing jurisdiction in the region.
"These are not features that have yet been passed, but we intend to regulate everyone, anyone who accepts bets, including betting exchanges, will be regulated, and the regime will be open to all," Oliveira said.
Online gambling is currently prohibited in Macau, but a full-scale review of the region's gaming laws is expected to begin next month.
Feathers ruffled over CAP decision
UK: British culture secretary Tessa Jowell is facing a possible revolt in Parliament over the Casino Advisory Panel's decision to award the UK's first supercasino to Manchester.
Around 100 MPs have signed a Commons motion backing Blackpool's bid for the regional casino, stating that the decision to award the licence to Manchester be examined by Parliament.
The Daily Mail newspaper reported that Jowell was "considering the arguments for appointing an ad hoc committee of MPs to look again at the issue," although the Department for Culture, Media and Sport insisted that it remained “strongly minded” to support Manchester.
Jowell is due to put the Casino Advisory Panel's recommendations before Parliament next month. The final decision must be approved by votes in both Houses of Parliament.
Uthingo attacks Gidani investigation
SOUTH AFRICA: National lottery operator Uthingo has accused Trade Minister Mandisi Mpahlwa of not satisfying himself that the investigation into the probity of new lottery operator Gidani was properly undertaken.
Uthingo's advocate, Jeremy Gauntlett SC, told the Pretoria High Court this week that the minister relied on a security clearance from the National Intelligence Agency on Gidani, a reliance Gauntlett referred to as an unauthorised delegation of duties by Mpahlwa.
The Lotteries Act said that in considering whether to grant the licence, the minister should take into account whether any person to manage the business was a fit and proper person to do so.
Optimism shines through in IMA poll
GERMANY: In an independent poll conducted during the IMA fair last month, more than 50 per cent of visitors said they expect a
slight to strong upturn for the industry in future, while 51.8 per cent of those surveyed described their own business as doing 'very well' or 'well.'
According to Reed Exhibitions, which organises the trade show, more than half of visitors came to IMA with concrete investment projects. “Certainly, the new Gambling Ordinance that has been in force since mid-2006 was one reason for the high level of orders,” said IMA boss Petra Lassahn.
“After one year without an IMA, visitors could see a large variety of new machines from the categories of gambling and
amusement machines, touchscreen games, driving simulators or sports games machines such as billiards, darts and kiddie rides,” Lassahn continued.
“With these novelties the exhibitors scored a great success with visitors. The possibility to see new products and trends was one of the main reasons for coming to the fair and a majority of visitors (59 per cent) said their expectations in this respect had been fulfilled.”
The move to Düsseldorf proved the right decision. After several years of stagnation, IMA recorded a considerable rise in visitor numbers again. A total of 8,384 trade visitors were welcomed in Düsseldorf, compared to the 6,560 visitors in 2005.
Almost 40 per cent of visitors (39.8 per cent) from Germany travelled more than 300km to the fair, more than 30 per cent between 100 and 300km (32.8 per cent).
Sun International earnings up 23 per cent
SOUTH AFRICA: Sun International has reported a rise in both revenue and profit for the first half of fiscal 2007, bolstered by a strong performance across most of the leisure and gambling group's business units.
Revenue for the Sandton-based firm totalled US$475.7m, up 15 per cent on the first half of fiscal 2006. Improved margins resulted in a 23 per cent increase in EBITDA to $167.9m
Looking ahead, Sun International CEO, David Coutts-Trotter, said that strong growth in casino revenue should continue into the second half of the year, while the group’s hotels and resorts should benefit from the ongoing growth in inbound tourism.
Source: IGI
Tuesday, February 27, 2007
Friday, February 23, 2007
Phishing Scam On Gambling Site,UK Supercasino Terms + More News
Ladbrokes FY profit up 86.5%
UK: Ladbrokes has reported a near doubling of profits for 2006, as the UK bookmaker continues to expand its geographic presence and bolster its online operations.
The firm saw revenue jump 6.8 per cent year-on-year to £970m, while gross win topped £1bn, compared to £918m in 2006.
Net earnings totalled £617.2m for the 12 months ended December 31, 2006, an 86.5 per cent increase on the £331m reported in 2006.
Commenting on the results Ladbrokes CEO Christopher Bell said: “We can look back on a significant year of achievement at home and internationally and we are pleased to post a record profit performance.
“We began the year by selling the hotel division, delivering one of the biggest returns to shareholders on record and announcing our consultancy in China.
“Along the way we have expanded our online business, invested in our retail estate by launching Ladbrokes Xtra and commenced rollout of the latest FOBTs.”
Ladbrokes also confirmed it will bid to operate the regional casino in Manchester, and is interested in operating several of the 16 new small and large casinos to be awarded under the 2005 Gambling Act.
Boom time for Spanish gaming market
SPAIN: A new report claims that the Spanish gaming market could be worth €39bn by 2010.
Research and Markets' paper, The Spanish Gambling Market - a Key Region for Future Growth, also predicts that that a 240 per cent increase in the country's online sector would boost its value to €4.2bn by 2010.
The recent liberalisation of Spanish gambling laws has seen bookmaker William Hill enter the market and Spain's lottery sector is currently one of the largest in the world.
UK Government releases terms for supercasino
UK: The British government has laid out plans for how the decisions on who is to run Britain's new casinos should be made.
The Casino Advisory Panel, which last month announced that Manchester would be the site for the UK's first supercasino, has picked 17 local authorities to hand out licences to operators in their areas.
Culture Secretary Tessa Jowell is set to put the CAP proposals to parliament for a vote.
The Department of Culture Media and Sport envisages a two-stage process with the views of local people taken into consideration before licences are awarded.
Plans would also include measures to protect children and potential gambling addicts, as well as preventing any new casino from becoming a crime hotspot.
PartyPoker: gone phishing
GIBRALTAR: Users of the PartyPoker website are being warned of a 'phishing' attack targeting in the form of spam emails.
Emails purporting to have come form the popular gaming site warn of news about ‘legislation’ affecting online poker players, and ask users to log-in using a compromised link.
“Dear poker player, information for US and all over the world based customers on the passing of the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act of 2006. On September 30, 2006, the United States Congress passed The Safe Port Act,” reads the email.
“That measure also contained certain provisions known as the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act of 2006. On October 2, 2006, PartyGaming made an announcement regarding the impact the act would have on business when, as expected, it is signed into law.'
The email includes a link which leads to a well-designed but fake PartyPoker log-in page, which asks users for account details.
This would allow the phishers to use account holders' money or transfer funds to other accounts.
Intralot wins legal protection for Turkish betting deal
TURKEY: Intralot has announced that the Turkish Parliament has unanimously approved a piece of legislation which removes the legal obstacles of previous legal framework regarding the organisation and operation of the Turkish state body Spor Toto.
The new law assures Intralot's continuation of the operation of the betting game Iddaa and the contract of its subsidiary Inteltek with Spor Toto, until a new operator is selected through a tender process, which will be launched by Spor Toto.
The legislation is subject to the approval of the President of the Turkish Republic.
ICE training school to appear at DEAL 2007
DUBAI: The ICE Technical Training Service School will be offered at this year's DEAL trade show in Dubai. The training will be held on Tuesday, April 24. The four-hour session will be held at the Dubai World Centre, meeting at the booth of US-based amusement machine supplier ICE (Hall 1, A68) at 11am. There will also be ‘hands on’ training, followed by a short efficiency test and ICE certification of those technicians taking part. This school will be presented by Jon Pierpoint, master technician of ICE. For more information, email ICE sales representative Gene brogowski
Amuse UK takes a break
UK: ATE, organiser of the Amuse UK exhibition, has announced that Amuse UK has taken a break for 2007. However, it will be back in 2008.
The decision is understood to have been taken following extensive discussions across the industry involving BACTA, exhibitors and visitors over the last six months.
Karen Cooke, head of exhibitions for Amuse UK, commented: "Given that we recognise many manufacturers and distributors are currently facing very difficult trading conditions, we don't believe that operators and retailers are ready yet to flock back to another Blackpool show in sufficient numbers to merit the investment required from all parties.
"Therefore, in conjunction with extensive industry consultation, the decision has been taken to send Amuse on a one-year holiday." However, Cooke continued: "Rest assured, though, that we are in the early stages of planning next year's event."
When making their travel arrangements for Amuse UK next year, industry professionals based in the south-east of England or in Ireland can book with a number of low fares airlines, which operates scheduled flights to Blackpool Airport from London, Dublin and Belfast City.
Clarion ATE confirmed dates for the 2008 event, to be held again at Norbeck Castle, Blackpool, on April 16 and 17.
Source: IGI
UK: Ladbrokes has reported a near doubling of profits for 2006, as the UK bookmaker continues to expand its geographic presence and bolster its online operations.
The firm saw revenue jump 6.8 per cent year-on-year to £970m, while gross win topped £1bn, compared to £918m in 2006.
Net earnings totalled £617.2m for the 12 months ended December 31, 2006, an 86.5 per cent increase on the £331m reported in 2006.
Commenting on the results Ladbrokes CEO Christopher Bell said: “We can look back on a significant year of achievement at home and internationally and we are pleased to post a record profit performance.
“We began the year by selling the hotel division, delivering one of the biggest returns to shareholders on record and announcing our consultancy in China.
“Along the way we have expanded our online business, invested in our retail estate by launching Ladbrokes Xtra and commenced rollout of the latest FOBTs.”
Ladbrokes also confirmed it will bid to operate the regional casino in Manchester, and is interested in operating several of the 16 new small and large casinos to be awarded under the 2005 Gambling Act.
Boom time for Spanish gaming market
SPAIN: A new report claims that the Spanish gaming market could be worth €39bn by 2010.
Research and Markets' paper, The Spanish Gambling Market - a Key Region for Future Growth, also predicts that that a 240 per cent increase in the country's online sector would boost its value to €4.2bn by 2010.
The recent liberalisation of Spanish gambling laws has seen bookmaker William Hill enter the market and Spain's lottery sector is currently one of the largest in the world.
UK Government releases terms for supercasino
UK: The British government has laid out plans for how the decisions on who is to run Britain's new casinos should be made.
The Casino Advisory Panel, which last month announced that Manchester would be the site for the UK's first supercasino, has picked 17 local authorities to hand out licences to operators in their areas.
Culture Secretary Tessa Jowell is set to put the CAP proposals to parliament for a vote.
The Department of Culture Media and Sport envisages a two-stage process with the views of local people taken into consideration before licences are awarded.
Plans would also include measures to protect children and potential gambling addicts, as well as preventing any new casino from becoming a crime hotspot.
PartyPoker: gone phishing
GIBRALTAR: Users of the PartyPoker website are being warned of a 'phishing' attack targeting in the form of spam emails.
Emails purporting to have come form the popular gaming site warn of news about ‘legislation’ affecting online poker players, and ask users to log-in using a compromised link.
“Dear poker player, information for US and all over the world based customers on the passing of the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act of 2006. On September 30, 2006, the United States Congress passed The Safe Port Act,” reads the email.
“That measure also contained certain provisions known as the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act of 2006. On October 2, 2006, PartyGaming made an announcement regarding the impact the act would have on business when, as expected, it is signed into law.'
The email includes a link which leads to a well-designed but fake PartyPoker log-in page, which asks users for account details.
This would allow the phishers to use account holders' money or transfer funds to other accounts.
Intralot wins legal protection for Turkish betting deal
TURKEY: Intralot has announced that the Turkish Parliament has unanimously approved a piece of legislation which removes the legal obstacles of previous legal framework regarding the organisation and operation of the Turkish state body Spor Toto.
The new law assures Intralot's continuation of the operation of the betting game Iddaa and the contract of its subsidiary Inteltek with Spor Toto, until a new operator is selected through a tender process, which will be launched by Spor Toto.
The legislation is subject to the approval of the President of the Turkish Republic.
ICE training school to appear at DEAL 2007
DUBAI: The ICE Technical Training Service School will be offered at this year's DEAL trade show in Dubai. The training will be held on Tuesday, April 24. The four-hour session will be held at the Dubai World Centre, meeting at the booth of US-based amusement machine supplier ICE (Hall 1, A68) at 11am. There will also be ‘hands on’ training, followed by a short efficiency test and ICE certification of those technicians taking part. This school will be presented by Jon Pierpoint, master technician of ICE. For more information, email ICE sales representative Gene brogowski
Amuse UK takes a break
UK: ATE, organiser of the Amuse UK exhibition, has announced that Amuse UK has taken a break for 2007. However, it will be back in 2008.
The decision is understood to have been taken following extensive discussions across the industry involving BACTA, exhibitors and visitors over the last six months.
Karen Cooke, head of exhibitions for Amuse UK, commented: "Given that we recognise many manufacturers and distributors are currently facing very difficult trading conditions, we don't believe that operators and retailers are ready yet to flock back to another Blackpool show in sufficient numbers to merit the investment required from all parties.
"Therefore, in conjunction with extensive industry consultation, the decision has been taken to send Amuse on a one-year holiday." However, Cooke continued: "Rest assured, though, that we are in the early stages of planning next year's event."
When making their travel arrangements for Amuse UK next year, industry professionals based in the south-east of England or in Ireland can book with a number of low fares airlines, which operates scheduled flights to Blackpool Airport from London, Dublin and Belfast City.
Clarion ATE confirmed dates for the 2008 event, to be held again at Norbeck Castle, Blackpool, on April 16 and 17.
Source: IGI
Barcrest Makes Move,Ice Growth,ATEI Views Continue + More News
Barcrest sales boss makes Inspired move
UK: Barcrest Group has announced that Barry Knowles will be leaving the company to become gaming director at Inspired Gaming Group.
As a result, Nik Novak has been appointed Barcrest’s director of UK sales. Knowles will continue to work for Barcrest Group over the next few weeks, handing over to Novak and his team. He will join his new colleagues at Inspired once the hand-over is complete.
Jim O'Halleran, Inspired Gaming Group CEO, UK and Ireland, said: "I am delighted with Barry's decision to join the Inspired Group. He will take on specific responsibility within Leisure Link for our casino, bingo and arcade customers.”
Lee Berridge, Barcrest’s managing director, added: “Barry has been a great servant of Barcrest and we all wish him well. Nik is a highly experienced professional and I am confident that he and his team will perform an outstanding job for us in the future.”
EAS changes dates for 2008
EUROPE: The Euro Attractions Show - a travelling annual event principally aimed at amusement parks and fairground operators - has moved its date by one day to try to avoid a direct clash with the London ATEI next year.
The EAS, which is co-hosted by the EAASI European trade association of ride manufacturers and the big IAAPA US-based association, will now be held from January 23-25 instead of the previously announced January 22-24, which are the ATEI dates.
In a press release, EAS said that the show will be held at the Acropolis Congress and Exhibition Center in Nice, France. The 2007 show, at which the dates clash was announced, was held January 30-February 1 in Seville, Spain, and 7,400 visitors from 65 countries attended.
When the clash was announced several exhibitors - there were 15 showing coin-operated machines - said that they would be unable to attend the show in 2008. The new dates are not likely to assist that situation, but it may now be that some visitors will be able to take in both shows.
Densitron management buyout complete
UK: Densitron Gaming has undergone a successful management buyout, resulting in a company focused exclusively on the gaming industry.
The company, which is involved in the design and production of industrial computer boards for gaming applications, will continue to be run by the same management, with all the staff and locations remaining in place.
Newcastle, UK-based Densitron said it has now greatly improved its financial footing to continue its growth and allow for greater business expansion. The company’s financial backing is now with a successful and growing UK venture capital firm, Northern Enterprise Limited.
eBet stretches to Latin America
AUSTRALIA: Australian company eBet, which develops and markets a range of networked solutions for gaming machines and recently acquired Octavian International of the UK, has entered a new segment of the gaming market via an exclusive distribution agreement for the Latin American market with Octavian.
The agreement is for the production, sale and placement of Maverick 1000 game kits and has pre-sales commitments of over US$10m. The Maverick delivers the latest in gaming technology, is substantially less expensive than existing machines and little more than the cost of a pre-owned machine. It achieves the price advantage through an innovative flat-pack design that enables for local assembly, which significantly lowers import tariffs payable.
Easily upgradeable to allow customers to achieve maximum returns for years to come, the Maverick 1000 establishes a path for server-based gaming and is also suitable for VLT, AWP and bingo markets. Existing customers in over 30 countries will be able to access Octavian’s extensive suite of downloadable games and wide-area jackpots that have already proven popular in many European jurisdictions.
ICE flow continues with exponential growth
UK: London’s International Casino Exhibition made it seven years of continuous growth as organiser Clarion ATE announced a record attendance for the international B2B event held from January 23-25.
Participation was up by a robust 22.7 per cent year-on-year to reach an all-time high of 12,023, comprising 9,662 ICE-dedicated casino industry professionals and a further 2,361 registered for the remote gaming offshoot, ICEi.
The response from casino executives was such that last year’s total attendance of 9,799 was exceeded by the head count taken at lunchtime of day two. Cross-over figures also reveal a further 6,842 buyers from the co-located ATEI (soft gaming expo) visited ICE 2007, raising the gross attendance to 18,865.
International and UK-based visitor levels both grew, with the non-UK contingent up 25.5 per cent to 7,232, equating to 60.2 per cent of the total. UK visitor numbers rose by 16.3 per cent to 4,675.
Underlining its status as the most international B2B casino event in the calendar, ICE/ICEi 2007 attracted visitors from 110 international jurisdictions, compared with 102 at the 2006 show; received the first ever visitors from the Aland Islands, Angola, Paraguay and San Marino; and welcomed back its first visitors from Zambia since 1998.
The total number of territories represented at ICE/ICEi since 1995 now stands at 166. Attendance levels rose across more than 80 countries with 53 new national records set.
Peter Rusbridge, CEO of show organiser Clarion ATE, commented: “While the figures make great reading, and the growth enjoyed by ICE has been exponential, I maintain that the real measure of an event like this lies in its ability to bring the buyers of casino equipment together with the providers of goods and services.”
BACTA Bikers propose momentous meet
EUROPE: A meeting between nations in peace at a wartime monument is being proposed by the BACTA Bikers, a group of motorcycle enthusiasts from the industry who are renowned for raising charitable donations for long-haul bike rides.
They want to meet up with fellow bikers from the industry in the Netherlands and Germany and suggest that the meeting should be held at the famous Arnhem Bridge in the Netherlands, which was the scene of a bloody battle at the end of the Second World War. It was the subject of the famous movie A Bridge Too Far.
Dutch and German readers can contact the BACTA Bikers via Dave Orton
Mixed views continue to roll in over ATEI
UK: Contrasting views were reached on the London ATEI from two exhibitors who were moved upstairs to the balcony area this year - and one who refused to go at all.
Positive was Vincent Van der Wege of Belgian company VdW, which supplies pusher machines and novelty games. "It has been an excellent show," he said. "I am very happy to be up here on the balcony. The attendance has been great and we will be back next year."
On the other hand there was Jose Saus, who was on hand with his kiddie rides for Industrias Falgas of Spain. At the Seville Euro Attractions Show which followed ATEI a few days later, he asked us to publish his views: "I did not want to move upstairs at ATEI. I am not happy with it.
The costs were, bluntly, outrageous. I was charged €1,650 for power alone to my stand. Here in Seville for the same amount of power I am charged €150. Next year? I won't be in London."
Opposite the Falgas stand in Seville was Diana Marketing, also based in Spain, whose British managing director, Adrian Buckley, has been a regular at ATEI for years with his electronic darts game. He said: "I didn't even go to the London show this year. We had no stand because we refused to move upstairs - we didn't like the position or the price."
Buckley went to the Düsseldorf IMA show instead, he said, where he was "well satisfied" with the results and would return there next January.
Jacobs appointed as BMI VP
US: Industry veteran Paul Jacobs has joined BMI Gaming as executive vice president of business development.
Jacobs has many years' experience in the international coin-op amusement industry with companies which include Universal, Capcom, Data East and SNK. BMI Gaming is a major gaming superstore with the largest website of its kind with content spanning 750 pages; it is a commercial arcade gaming site and recently acquired the distribution line of the famous Spanish kiddie ride manufacturer Recreativos Falgas.
The company also has a huge coin-op game showroom, with over 150 games in a working display in Boca Raton, Florida. The company is planning to open other gaming superstores throughout North America.
NMi signs up to Italy
ITALY: The Dutch NMi testing laboratory has been approved as a supplier of testing procedures for Italy.
The AAMS in Rome signed the authorisation two weeks ago and NMi is now the second lab to sign up to the new accord. No more than five laboratories are to be approved for Italian AWPs.
Gala Coral acquires dozens of Pagebet outlets
UK: Gala Coral has acquired 44 betting shops from Pagebet, based in the north-east and Yorkshire.
Pagebet retains ownership of just 15 shops, its telephone betting and its UK and European odds-setting businesses.
The Coral estate now stands at 1,548 shops.
Source: IGI
UK: Barcrest Group has announced that Barry Knowles will be leaving the company to become gaming director at Inspired Gaming Group.
As a result, Nik Novak has been appointed Barcrest’s director of UK sales. Knowles will continue to work for Barcrest Group over the next few weeks, handing over to Novak and his team. He will join his new colleagues at Inspired once the hand-over is complete.
Jim O'Halleran, Inspired Gaming Group CEO, UK and Ireland, said: "I am delighted with Barry's decision to join the Inspired Group. He will take on specific responsibility within Leisure Link for our casino, bingo and arcade customers.”
Lee Berridge, Barcrest’s managing director, added: “Barry has been a great servant of Barcrest and we all wish him well. Nik is a highly experienced professional and I am confident that he and his team will perform an outstanding job for us in the future.”
EAS changes dates for 2008
EUROPE: The Euro Attractions Show - a travelling annual event principally aimed at amusement parks and fairground operators - has moved its date by one day to try to avoid a direct clash with the London ATEI next year.
The EAS, which is co-hosted by the EAASI European trade association of ride manufacturers and the big IAAPA US-based association, will now be held from January 23-25 instead of the previously announced January 22-24, which are the ATEI dates.
In a press release, EAS said that the show will be held at the Acropolis Congress and Exhibition Center in Nice, France. The 2007 show, at which the dates clash was announced, was held January 30-February 1 in Seville, Spain, and 7,400 visitors from 65 countries attended.
When the clash was announced several exhibitors - there were 15 showing coin-operated machines - said that they would be unable to attend the show in 2008. The new dates are not likely to assist that situation, but it may now be that some visitors will be able to take in both shows.
Densitron management buyout complete
UK: Densitron Gaming has undergone a successful management buyout, resulting in a company focused exclusively on the gaming industry.
The company, which is involved in the design and production of industrial computer boards for gaming applications, will continue to be run by the same management, with all the staff and locations remaining in place.
Newcastle, UK-based Densitron said it has now greatly improved its financial footing to continue its growth and allow for greater business expansion. The company’s financial backing is now with a successful and growing UK venture capital firm, Northern Enterprise Limited.
eBet stretches to Latin America
AUSTRALIA: Australian company eBet, which develops and markets a range of networked solutions for gaming machines and recently acquired Octavian International of the UK, has entered a new segment of the gaming market via an exclusive distribution agreement for the Latin American market with Octavian.
The agreement is for the production, sale and placement of Maverick 1000 game kits and has pre-sales commitments of over US$10m. The Maverick delivers the latest in gaming technology, is substantially less expensive than existing machines and little more than the cost of a pre-owned machine. It achieves the price advantage through an innovative flat-pack design that enables for local assembly, which significantly lowers import tariffs payable.
Easily upgradeable to allow customers to achieve maximum returns for years to come, the Maverick 1000 establishes a path for server-based gaming and is also suitable for VLT, AWP and bingo markets. Existing customers in over 30 countries will be able to access Octavian’s extensive suite of downloadable games and wide-area jackpots that have already proven popular in many European jurisdictions.
ICE flow continues with exponential growth
UK: London’s International Casino Exhibition made it seven years of continuous growth as organiser Clarion ATE announced a record attendance for the international B2B event held from January 23-25.
Participation was up by a robust 22.7 per cent year-on-year to reach an all-time high of 12,023, comprising 9,662 ICE-dedicated casino industry professionals and a further 2,361 registered for the remote gaming offshoot, ICEi.
The response from casino executives was such that last year’s total attendance of 9,799 was exceeded by the head count taken at lunchtime of day two. Cross-over figures also reveal a further 6,842 buyers from the co-located ATEI (soft gaming expo) visited ICE 2007, raising the gross attendance to 18,865.
International and UK-based visitor levels both grew, with the non-UK contingent up 25.5 per cent to 7,232, equating to 60.2 per cent of the total. UK visitor numbers rose by 16.3 per cent to 4,675.
Underlining its status as the most international B2B casino event in the calendar, ICE/ICEi 2007 attracted visitors from 110 international jurisdictions, compared with 102 at the 2006 show; received the first ever visitors from the Aland Islands, Angola, Paraguay and San Marino; and welcomed back its first visitors from Zambia since 1998.
The total number of territories represented at ICE/ICEi since 1995 now stands at 166. Attendance levels rose across more than 80 countries with 53 new national records set.
Peter Rusbridge, CEO of show organiser Clarion ATE, commented: “While the figures make great reading, and the growth enjoyed by ICE has been exponential, I maintain that the real measure of an event like this lies in its ability to bring the buyers of casino equipment together with the providers of goods and services.”
BACTA Bikers propose momentous meet
EUROPE: A meeting between nations in peace at a wartime monument is being proposed by the BACTA Bikers, a group of motorcycle enthusiasts from the industry who are renowned for raising charitable donations for long-haul bike rides.
They want to meet up with fellow bikers from the industry in the Netherlands and Germany and suggest that the meeting should be held at the famous Arnhem Bridge in the Netherlands, which was the scene of a bloody battle at the end of the Second World War. It was the subject of the famous movie A Bridge Too Far.
Dutch and German readers can contact the BACTA Bikers via Dave Orton
Mixed views continue to roll in over ATEI
UK: Contrasting views were reached on the London ATEI from two exhibitors who were moved upstairs to the balcony area this year - and one who refused to go at all.
Positive was Vincent Van der Wege of Belgian company VdW, which supplies pusher machines and novelty games. "It has been an excellent show," he said. "I am very happy to be up here on the balcony. The attendance has been great and we will be back next year."
On the other hand there was Jose Saus, who was on hand with his kiddie rides for Industrias Falgas of Spain. At the Seville Euro Attractions Show which followed ATEI a few days later, he asked us to publish his views: "I did not want to move upstairs at ATEI. I am not happy with it.
The costs were, bluntly, outrageous. I was charged €1,650 for power alone to my stand. Here in Seville for the same amount of power I am charged €150. Next year? I won't be in London."
Opposite the Falgas stand in Seville was Diana Marketing, also based in Spain, whose British managing director, Adrian Buckley, has been a regular at ATEI for years with his electronic darts game. He said: "I didn't even go to the London show this year. We had no stand because we refused to move upstairs - we didn't like the position or the price."
Buckley went to the Düsseldorf IMA show instead, he said, where he was "well satisfied" with the results and would return there next January.
Jacobs appointed as BMI VP
US: Industry veteran Paul Jacobs has joined BMI Gaming as executive vice president of business development.
Jacobs has many years' experience in the international coin-op amusement industry with companies which include Universal, Capcom, Data East and SNK. BMI Gaming is a major gaming superstore with the largest website of its kind with content spanning 750 pages; it is a commercial arcade gaming site and recently acquired the distribution line of the famous Spanish kiddie ride manufacturer Recreativos Falgas.
The company also has a huge coin-op game showroom, with over 150 games in a working display in Boca Raton, Florida. The company is planning to open other gaming superstores throughout North America.
NMi signs up to Italy
ITALY: The Dutch NMi testing laboratory has been approved as a supplier of testing procedures for Italy.
The AAMS in Rome signed the authorisation two weeks ago and NMi is now the second lab to sign up to the new accord. No more than five laboratories are to be approved for Italian AWPs.
Gala Coral acquires dozens of Pagebet outlets
UK: Gala Coral has acquired 44 betting shops from Pagebet, based in the north-east and Yorkshire.
Pagebet retains ownership of just 15 shops, its telephone betting and its UK and European odds-setting businesses.
The Coral estate now stands at 1,548 shops.
Source: IGI
Huge slip-up for CFA + More News
Huge slip-up for CFA
EGYPT: A disaster unfolded this week for exhibitors at the Cairo Fun and Amusement Exhibition, which was held at Nasser City, Cairo.
The show was due to open on Tuesday and run for four days. At noon on Tuesday, however, the huge exhibition hall was still being cleaned and visitors and exhibitors had been locked out, according to Frank Ballouz, international vice president for Merit, who was attending as a visitor.
"Someone eventually turned up and promised the 20 or so people who were there that it would be open in three hours. There was no chance of that happening. I returned the next day and found half-a-dozen exhibitors, including one from Germany and one from Italy, and hardly any people. It was a disaster from start to finish!"
The CFA-Expo organisers had previously promised on their website that over 100 booths would be at the show. We also understand that arrangements for shipping in equipment under bond failed, machines were stuck in customs who apparently had no idea how to release show equipment for the duration of an event and then allow them out again without the 70 per cent import duty.
Polish lottery giant eyes video terminal market
POLAND: Intensive efforts are being made to introduce video lottery terminals to the Polish market by lottery operator Totalizator Sportowy.
This is the organisation’s response to the rising popularity of AWPs in Poland. Last year, AWP operators reported profits of PLN1.35bn, which is more than the lottery makes.
The Greek Intralot, which already owns the Polish bookmaking company Totolotek Toto-Mix, is interested in co-operation with TS in the video lottery business.
The firm is already preparing a tender and it is estimated that it could have to spend about PLN300m on the technical infrastructure.
The competition for Intralot will probably include two other foreign giants - Scientific Games and GTech.
Rank to shutter nine Mecca bingo halls
UK: Rank Group will close nine of its Mecca Bingo clubs in England and Wales in preparation for the smoking ban that comes into effect in July.
The nine clubs are in Fulham, Islington, Kingston-upon-Hull, Liverpool, Reading, Sheffield, Swansea, Welling and Wolverhampton.
Rank owns the freeholds of five of the clubs to be closed, while four are operated on a leasehold basis. A number of the freehold properties will be sold, allowing the group to redeploy capital into assets with potential for higher growth and stronger returns.
It is not anticipated that the closures will have a material effect on Rank's profits in 2007.
The club closures will take place following a period of consultation with the 230 employees who work at the clubs. Where practicable, they will be offered positions elsewhere within the business.
Rank will still remain the second-largest bingo club operator in the UK, with 103 Mecca Bingo clubs in England, Wales and Scotland.
Unlimited payout machines threatening SA bingo halls
SOUTH AFRICA: New casino-type gaming terminals located in bingo halls in the South African province of Gauteng have been mushrooming in an unregulated way, posing a threat to the limited payout machine industry.
Unlike limited payout machines, these casino-style terminals have no limits on stakes or winnings and jackpots are permitted, Limited Payout Machine Association chairman Elias Mphande told the National Council of Provinces’ select committee on economic and foreign affairs.
He said the new bingo gaming terminals mimicked the games of chance typically found in casinos and used bingo as a guise. They were unregulated by any law and fell outside the government’s policy framework for the gambling industry.
The association called for a moratorium on the issuing of bingo licences until the law had been changed to regulate them.
ATEI broken-down by VdW Jnr
UK: In a previous editorial contribution to this column, Belgian pusher manufacturer Vincent van der Wege, of VdW was quoted as being “very happy” with the move upstairs at Earls Court. Now his son, Laurent, has expanded on the comments.
"I have been reading with interest the debate on the changes at ATEI. A lot may be said about the organisation inside and outside of Earls Court. I can summarise the good and the bad.
"Starting with the bad: first floor access during build-up and breakdown gave us headaches; to park our lorry we paid £270 instead of the £90 in 2006 for the same number of days and the lorry was 150m away from the entrance for unloading; we only got power on the Monday at 3:00pm, which was too late; we had to move all of our heavy equipment by hand on the ramp to the elevator - so it was fortunate that it did not rain!
“Furthermore, access and pricing MUST be revised next year; I must have been blind but I didn't see any location where we could pick up the show catalogue when passing the entrance; the show remains awfully expensive.
"On the other hand, there has been a lot of fuss about the new floor plan, but it did at least give a clear view of what was shown where. However, leaving some amusement equipment mixed with gaming downstairs confused some visitors and some downstairs exhibitors missing amusement visitors who were mostly upstairs.
“The flow of visitors was well regulated, allowing a clear distinction between the amusement visitor and the gaming visitor; the clear distinction works both ways from a visitor's perspective and that of the exhibitor; When it comes to an overall reaction during and after the show, VdW tends to be satisfied."
He added: "While initially we didn't like being pushed upstairs, we finally had the right visitors in the right place. Making a clear distinction between amusement and gaming worked for us."
LAI appoints new marketing manager
US: Leisure and Allied Industries subsidiary, LAI Games USA, a leader in the interactive entertainment and redemption game industry, has announced the appointment of Chris Kinney to the position of marketing manager.
Kinney will be responsible for developing and implementing strategic marketing and communication objectives helping to grow market awareness and increase sales in the US market.
"I am delighted to join LAI Games USA and look forward to furthering our marketing efforts in the states," said Kinney. "I chose to join this organisation because of its reputation for building quality games and providing excellent support to their operators.”
A graduate of Texas Tech University, Kinney brings more than eight years of marketing leadership and experience to LAI Games USA.
"Chris adds a tremendous depth of marketing knowledge and creativity to our organisation,” stated general manager Alan Freimuth. “His experience in cultivating marketing programmes will be an asset as we build our brand in the US market.”
Temple, Stott mountain climb raises £57,000
UK: A few months ago UK industry personalities Kevin Temple and Quentin Stott climbed Mount Kilimanjaro, punctuating a year-long effort to raise money for Meningitis UK in memory of Quentin’s son, Dylan.
“Our original target was £25,000,” said Stott. “However, by the time we left for the climb, pledges totalled £35,000.
“Upon returning though, the sponsorship didn’t stop and our final total was £57,000. My wife Surj, Kevin and I would like to say a massive thank you to everyone who supported us. We have been overwhelmed.”
Progame looks to UK market
TAIWAN: Progame Electronics of Taiwan, a manufacturer of pinball machines for over 20 years, wishes to increase its presence in the UK.
“We are looking for a distributor with a profound knowledge of the market to share profits from the expansion,” said the company’s Martin Joseph.
Programe offers a range of machines of different sizes, with one, five or six balls. Some are combined with an LED machine.
Screenprint Plus: old dog, new tricks
UK: From its humble roots in a back-street print house, Screenprint Plus has positioned itself as a market leader of design and print to the gaming industry, and its latest success includes offering a comprehensive video graphics/animation service.
Screenprint’s origins date back to 1929, and the company has been wholly owned by managing director Ian McCreadie since 1992.
Jackie Wilson, the company’s sales director, explained that the secret to its success can be attributed to several factors, including “staff commitment and continuous investment in R&D.”
Over recent months, Screenprint has expanded its graphics resource to include two new highly acclaimed designers, both of whom cut their teeth working for Barcrest Games.
Wilson said that the talent offered by these two new members of the team had already secured the company several new accounts at home and in the European market.
Source: IGI
EGYPT: A disaster unfolded this week for exhibitors at the Cairo Fun and Amusement Exhibition, which was held at Nasser City, Cairo.
The show was due to open on Tuesday and run for four days. At noon on Tuesday, however, the huge exhibition hall was still being cleaned and visitors and exhibitors had been locked out, according to Frank Ballouz, international vice president for Merit, who was attending as a visitor.
"Someone eventually turned up and promised the 20 or so people who were there that it would be open in three hours. There was no chance of that happening. I returned the next day and found half-a-dozen exhibitors, including one from Germany and one from Italy, and hardly any people. It was a disaster from start to finish!"
The CFA-Expo organisers had previously promised on their website that over 100 booths would be at the show. We also understand that arrangements for shipping in equipment under bond failed, machines were stuck in customs who apparently had no idea how to release show equipment for the duration of an event and then allow them out again without the 70 per cent import duty.
Polish lottery giant eyes video terminal market
POLAND: Intensive efforts are being made to introduce video lottery terminals to the Polish market by lottery operator Totalizator Sportowy.
This is the organisation’s response to the rising popularity of AWPs in Poland. Last year, AWP operators reported profits of PLN1.35bn, which is more than the lottery makes.
The Greek Intralot, which already owns the Polish bookmaking company Totolotek Toto-Mix, is interested in co-operation with TS in the video lottery business.
The firm is already preparing a tender and it is estimated that it could have to spend about PLN300m on the technical infrastructure.
The competition for Intralot will probably include two other foreign giants - Scientific Games and GTech.
Rank to shutter nine Mecca bingo halls
UK: Rank Group will close nine of its Mecca Bingo clubs in England and Wales in preparation for the smoking ban that comes into effect in July.
The nine clubs are in Fulham, Islington, Kingston-upon-Hull, Liverpool, Reading, Sheffield, Swansea, Welling and Wolverhampton.
Rank owns the freeholds of five of the clubs to be closed, while four are operated on a leasehold basis. A number of the freehold properties will be sold, allowing the group to redeploy capital into assets with potential for higher growth and stronger returns.
It is not anticipated that the closures will have a material effect on Rank's profits in 2007.
The club closures will take place following a period of consultation with the 230 employees who work at the clubs. Where practicable, they will be offered positions elsewhere within the business.
Rank will still remain the second-largest bingo club operator in the UK, with 103 Mecca Bingo clubs in England, Wales and Scotland.
Unlimited payout machines threatening SA bingo halls
SOUTH AFRICA: New casino-type gaming terminals located in bingo halls in the South African province of Gauteng have been mushrooming in an unregulated way, posing a threat to the limited payout machine industry.
Unlike limited payout machines, these casino-style terminals have no limits on stakes or winnings and jackpots are permitted, Limited Payout Machine Association chairman Elias Mphande told the National Council of Provinces’ select committee on economic and foreign affairs.
He said the new bingo gaming terminals mimicked the games of chance typically found in casinos and used bingo as a guise. They were unregulated by any law and fell outside the government’s policy framework for the gambling industry.
The association called for a moratorium on the issuing of bingo licences until the law had been changed to regulate them.
ATEI broken-down by VdW Jnr
UK: In a previous editorial contribution to this column, Belgian pusher manufacturer Vincent van der Wege, of VdW was quoted as being “very happy” with the move upstairs at Earls Court. Now his son, Laurent, has expanded on the comments.
"I have been reading with interest the debate on the changes at ATEI. A lot may be said about the organisation inside and outside of Earls Court. I can summarise the good and the bad.
"Starting with the bad: first floor access during build-up and breakdown gave us headaches; to park our lorry we paid £270 instead of the £90 in 2006 for the same number of days and the lorry was 150m away from the entrance for unloading; we only got power on the Monday at 3:00pm, which was too late; we had to move all of our heavy equipment by hand on the ramp to the elevator - so it was fortunate that it did not rain!
“Furthermore, access and pricing MUST be revised next year; I must have been blind but I didn't see any location where we could pick up the show catalogue when passing the entrance; the show remains awfully expensive.
"On the other hand, there has been a lot of fuss about the new floor plan, but it did at least give a clear view of what was shown where. However, leaving some amusement equipment mixed with gaming downstairs confused some visitors and some downstairs exhibitors missing amusement visitors who were mostly upstairs.
“The flow of visitors was well regulated, allowing a clear distinction between the amusement visitor and the gaming visitor; the clear distinction works both ways from a visitor's perspective and that of the exhibitor; When it comes to an overall reaction during and after the show, VdW tends to be satisfied."
He added: "While initially we didn't like being pushed upstairs, we finally had the right visitors in the right place. Making a clear distinction between amusement and gaming worked for us."
LAI appoints new marketing manager
US: Leisure and Allied Industries subsidiary, LAI Games USA, a leader in the interactive entertainment and redemption game industry, has announced the appointment of Chris Kinney to the position of marketing manager.
Kinney will be responsible for developing and implementing strategic marketing and communication objectives helping to grow market awareness and increase sales in the US market.
"I am delighted to join LAI Games USA and look forward to furthering our marketing efforts in the states," said Kinney. "I chose to join this organisation because of its reputation for building quality games and providing excellent support to their operators.”
A graduate of Texas Tech University, Kinney brings more than eight years of marketing leadership and experience to LAI Games USA.
"Chris adds a tremendous depth of marketing knowledge and creativity to our organisation,” stated general manager Alan Freimuth. “His experience in cultivating marketing programmes will be an asset as we build our brand in the US market.”
Temple, Stott mountain climb raises £57,000
UK: A few months ago UK industry personalities Kevin Temple and Quentin Stott climbed Mount Kilimanjaro, punctuating a year-long effort to raise money for Meningitis UK in memory of Quentin’s son, Dylan.
“Our original target was £25,000,” said Stott. “However, by the time we left for the climb, pledges totalled £35,000.
“Upon returning though, the sponsorship didn’t stop and our final total was £57,000. My wife Surj, Kevin and I would like to say a massive thank you to everyone who supported us. We have been overwhelmed.”
Progame looks to UK market
TAIWAN: Progame Electronics of Taiwan, a manufacturer of pinball machines for over 20 years, wishes to increase its presence in the UK.
“We are looking for a distributor with a profound knowledge of the market to share profits from the expansion,” said the company’s Martin Joseph.
Programe offers a range of machines of different sizes, with one, five or six balls. Some are combined with an LED machine.
Screenprint Plus: old dog, new tricks
UK: From its humble roots in a back-street print house, Screenprint Plus has positioned itself as a market leader of design and print to the gaming industry, and its latest success includes offering a comprehensive video graphics/animation service.
Screenprint’s origins date back to 1929, and the company has been wholly owned by managing director Ian McCreadie since 1992.
Jackie Wilson, the company’s sales director, explained that the secret to its success can be attributed to several factors, including “staff commitment and continuous investment in R&D.”
Over recent months, Screenprint has expanded its graphics resource to include two new highly acclaimed designers, both of whom cut their teeth working for Barcrest Games.
Wilson said that the talent offered by these two new members of the team had already secured the company several new accounts at home and in the European market.
Source: IGI
Friday, February 02, 2007
Chips are down for Blackpool, Mazooma sales boss disappointed with London show
EAS ‘08 'dates clash'
EUROPE: A significant date-clash in trade shows is set for January 2008.
The European Amusement Show, which is run annually at different locations around Europe and is strongly influenced by the IAAPA organisation, will be held in Nice in 2008 from January 22-24 - exactly the same dates as the London ATEI.
The dates were announced by IAAPA during this year's show, held from Tuesday to Thursday last week in Seville, Spain. The organisation was surprised when it released the dates and InterGame pointed out the clash, but after consultations responded that the dates were fixed and could not be altered in any way.
While the EAS is principally a show for amusement parks and travelling fairs, there is a strong cross-over. In Seville, coin machine companies exhibiting included Recreativos Presas, Recreativos Falgas, Elaut, Motoi, Triotech, EBES, Tecmel, Golden Dragon, Billares Sam, VID Distribuciones, VdW, Sacoa, Bob's Space Racers, Diana Marketing and others. Many of them said that they would have considerable problems with the date-clash.
And it was not all coin-op companies which expressed misgivings. Philippe Reverchon of the famous French bumper cars manufacturer Reverchon, said: "I would have to exhibit in London and not in Nice... I meet all of the British travelling showmen at ATEI and they are too important to me. I signed up three sets of cars last week in London; what have I signed here? Nothing... some inquiries, it is true, but the fact is that London is more important to me."
Eurocoin awarded Slot Tickets accolade
US: Slot Tickets, the Memphis-based thermal ticket manufacturing firm, has awarded Eurocoin with its Distributor of the Year Award for 2006.
Company founder Tom Mitchell presented the award to Eurocoin sales director Colin Veitch at the International Casino Exhibition last week.
“Our partnership with Eurocoin has been nothing short of outstanding,” Mitchell commented. “The Eurocoin sales team has tremendous market knowledge, and really understands the casino currency business.”
Chips are down for Blackpool
UK: Blackpool Council has admitted to being “surprised and disappointed” at losing out in the race for the licence for the UK's first regional casino, declaring the decision to award the licence to nearby Manchester a “missed opportunity.”
Steve Weaver, CEO of Blackpool Council, said: "We are surprised and hugely disappointed by the panel's recommendation. The decision that the panel is proposing is an enormous missed opportunity for Blackpool to become a world-class resort destination.
"A regional casino would be a catalyst for substantial change in Blackpool,” he continued. “We are also the people's choice nationally, having received well over twice as much support nationally as any other location.
“Our ability to deliver our vision of the 'New Blackpool' will be severely constrained without a regional casino but we will continue to pursue the improvements we have already started with, the new sea wall, tramway, shopping centre and development sites that will put us in a good position to take advantage of a regional casino when we do get a licence."
Ritzio, Unicum to strengthen ties
RUSSIA: A major alliance is being formed in Russia between two of the biggest names in the market.
InterGame understands that an agreement has been reached - although not officially announced - between Oleg Boyko’s Ritzio Group and Boris Belotserkovsky’s Unicum to merge some of their businesses.
Ritzio has a huge 60,000-machine operation, either directly owned or managed, plus R&D and sales and marketing organisations, while Unicum has been one of Russia’s leading distributors and machine manufacturers for some years.
The two principals already have joint businesses, but the latest deal will tie them even more closely.
At Unicum, Belotserkovsky is president, chairman and sole shareholder, while at Ritzio, Boyko has a number of companies which are significant players in the market, including Smart Games, the manufacturer and distributor.
We understand that Boyko and Belotserkovsky are pooling parts of their sales and marketing and R& D businesses, but the manufacturing interests of Smart and Unicum are at this stage not affected.
However, between their two distribution companies, they represent the biggest names in the international market, including WMS, Bally, Atronic, Ainsworth, Aristocrat and Konami. The exercise, we understand, will reduce costs and will combine the inventive skills of the two businesses to give a greater access to the international market.
Jukebox industry makes way for Cubyte
UK: A new digital jukebox hit the market at the London ATEI, in the form of Cubyte, shown on the stand of Games Workshop.
Jukebox industry veteran Doug Hession is behind the new box in conjunction with engineer Dean Hutchinson. They have formed Sound Sense Electronics, based at Ferrybridge, Yorkshire, UK, to produce the new box.
GLI becomes first testing lab for Comma 6
ITALY: GLI is the first testing laboratory for the new Italian Comma 6 market sector, the company has announced.
During the London show GLI reported that this had been confirmed by the Italian AAMS authorities a few days ahead of the exhibition.
Bell Fruit MD speaks out on ATEI
UK: Bell Fruit’s managing director, John Austen, with a big stand right on the dividing line between the ATEI and ICE shows, was scathing about the “curtain” which showed the demarcation between the twin events. But, apart from that, he said that he was “reasonably happy” with the 2007 show.
“There have been a lot of video games on the ground floor in previous years which this year have been moved upstairs. A lot of visitors have moved upstairs with them, so while it may have seemed that the new layout was showing fewer visitors to the ground floor, I have to say that many of them would not have been interested in gambling machines and therefore were not interesting to me!
“The show seemed quiet, but that was another effect of taking the driving and shooting games upstairs - a plus point for the new layout. Having had a more specifically-targeted sector for gambling devices on the ground floor has worked. We need to look more carefully at how the stands are designed and how they are laid out. This year it has been a little like a jumble sale, but with some ‘tweaking’ we should be able to get it right.”
South Africa boosts LPM numbers
SOUTH AFRICA: The first limited payout machines to go into the South African province of KwaZulu-Natal began operating in December.
Around 150 games were installed, the forerunners of 4,000 which will eventually be permitted into the region.
KwaZulu-Natal is the fourth province to introduce LPMs, which may have a top payout of ZAR500.
Mazooma sales boss disappointed with London show
UK: Mazooma’s Andrew Murden was not-so enthusiastic about the new layout for the ATEI show in London. The curtain which divided the ICE show from the ATEI, he said, indicated that those in the limited payout machine sector “are in economy class."
He said: “I think that the flow of visitors is badly affected by the change in the layout. There are fewer people in the aisles and there is no razzamatazz as a result. I think that we are in danger of losing contact with the customers.
“There are also too many kids signing in too easily. Overall, I am unhappy with this development. I think that ATEI should be ATEI with all of us in together, limited payout machines and amusement machines on one floor. If that means it needs to be somewhere else at another time, then so be it.”
TAB awards announced
AUSTRIA: Now in its second year, the TAB Austria Awards Dinner is becoming an event during ATEI in London to which many would like to go.
This year it was held at the Novotel, at Hammersmith, just a short way from the exhibition venue, Earls Court.
The Best Online Performance was between Bally Wulff of Germany, New Games of France and Norditalia Ricambi of Italy, with New Games the winner.
The Best Technical Performance was won by Dalgent of Croatia, with Leisure Tech of Dubai and Splin of Belgium as runners-up.
The Best Marketing Programme was won by Norditalia Ricambi of Italy, with New Games of France and Funlab of Turkey as runners-up.
The Best Overall Performance was won by C&P of Switzerland, with Leisure Tech of Dubai and Auto Centre of Greece as runners-up.
Global VR heralds move into casino business
US: Global VR, the touchscreen games manufacturer which made its name with tournament golf games, has entered the casino industry after a development agreement with Bally Gaming. Global has restructured parts of its business to take advantage of opportunities in other sectors.
The changes at the company see Mehdi Eghbal appointed vice president of national accounts and international business development, assisted by Bob Dekett as vice president of business development for Asia-Pacific. Completing the senior management for the international business is Julian Goicoa as managing director Europe. Goicoa is best known as the former managing director of Gaelco, the video games producer, based in Barcelona, Spain.
Global has produced a string of new games in the past year, completed the acquisition of assets of UltraCade Technologies and entered into an agreement to buy Tsunami Visual Technologies, a deal which should be completed soon.
Source: IGI
EUROPE: A significant date-clash in trade shows is set for January 2008.
The European Amusement Show, which is run annually at different locations around Europe and is strongly influenced by the IAAPA organisation, will be held in Nice in 2008 from January 22-24 - exactly the same dates as the London ATEI.
The dates were announced by IAAPA during this year's show, held from Tuesday to Thursday last week in Seville, Spain. The organisation was surprised when it released the dates and InterGame pointed out the clash, but after consultations responded that the dates were fixed and could not be altered in any way.
While the EAS is principally a show for amusement parks and travelling fairs, there is a strong cross-over. In Seville, coin machine companies exhibiting included Recreativos Presas, Recreativos Falgas, Elaut, Motoi, Triotech, EBES, Tecmel, Golden Dragon, Billares Sam, VID Distribuciones, VdW, Sacoa, Bob's Space Racers, Diana Marketing and others. Many of them said that they would have considerable problems with the date-clash.
And it was not all coin-op companies which expressed misgivings. Philippe Reverchon of the famous French bumper cars manufacturer Reverchon, said: "I would have to exhibit in London and not in Nice... I meet all of the British travelling showmen at ATEI and they are too important to me. I signed up three sets of cars last week in London; what have I signed here? Nothing... some inquiries, it is true, but the fact is that London is more important to me."
Eurocoin awarded Slot Tickets accolade
US: Slot Tickets, the Memphis-based thermal ticket manufacturing firm, has awarded Eurocoin with its Distributor of the Year Award for 2006.
Company founder Tom Mitchell presented the award to Eurocoin sales director Colin Veitch at the International Casino Exhibition last week.
“Our partnership with Eurocoin has been nothing short of outstanding,” Mitchell commented. “The Eurocoin sales team has tremendous market knowledge, and really understands the casino currency business.”
Chips are down for Blackpool
UK: Blackpool Council has admitted to being “surprised and disappointed” at losing out in the race for the licence for the UK's first regional casino, declaring the decision to award the licence to nearby Manchester a “missed opportunity.”
Steve Weaver, CEO of Blackpool Council, said: "We are surprised and hugely disappointed by the panel's recommendation. The decision that the panel is proposing is an enormous missed opportunity for Blackpool to become a world-class resort destination.
"A regional casino would be a catalyst for substantial change in Blackpool,” he continued. “We are also the people's choice nationally, having received well over twice as much support nationally as any other location.
“Our ability to deliver our vision of the 'New Blackpool' will be severely constrained without a regional casino but we will continue to pursue the improvements we have already started with, the new sea wall, tramway, shopping centre and development sites that will put us in a good position to take advantage of a regional casino when we do get a licence."
Ritzio, Unicum to strengthen ties
RUSSIA: A major alliance is being formed in Russia between two of the biggest names in the market.
InterGame understands that an agreement has been reached - although not officially announced - between Oleg Boyko’s Ritzio Group and Boris Belotserkovsky’s Unicum to merge some of their businesses.
Ritzio has a huge 60,000-machine operation, either directly owned or managed, plus R&D and sales and marketing organisations, while Unicum has been one of Russia’s leading distributors and machine manufacturers for some years.
The two principals already have joint businesses, but the latest deal will tie them even more closely.
At Unicum, Belotserkovsky is president, chairman and sole shareholder, while at Ritzio, Boyko has a number of companies which are significant players in the market, including Smart Games, the manufacturer and distributor.
We understand that Boyko and Belotserkovsky are pooling parts of their sales and marketing and R& D businesses, but the manufacturing interests of Smart and Unicum are at this stage not affected.
However, between their two distribution companies, they represent the biggest names in the international market, including WMS, Bally, Atronic, Ainsworth, Aristocrat and Konami. The exercise, we understand, will reduce costs and will combine the inventive skills of the two businesses to give a greater access to the international market.
Jukebox industry makes way for Cubyte
UK: A new digital jukebox hit the market at the London ATEI, in the form of Cubyte, shown on the stand of Games Workshop.
Jukebox industry veteran Doug Hession is behind the new box in conjunction with engineer Dean Hutchinson. They have formed Sound Sense Electronics, based at Ferrybridge, Yorkshire, UK, to produce the new box.
GLI becomes first testing lab for Comma 6
ITALY: GLI is the first testing laboratory for the new Italian Comma 6 market sector, the company has announced.
During the London show GLI reported that this had been confirmed by the Italian AAMS authorities a few days ahead of the exhibition.
Bell Fruit MD speaks out on ATEI
UK: Bell Fruit’s managing director, John Austen, with a big stand right on the dividing line between the ATEI and ICE shows, was scathing about the “curtain” which showed the demarcation between the twin events. But, apart from that, he said that he was “reasonably happy” with the 2007 show.
“There have been a lot of video games on the ground floor in previous years which this year have been moved upstairs. A lot of visitors have moved upstairs with them, so while it may have seemed that the new layout was showing fewer visitors to the ground floor, I have to say that many of them would not have been interested in gambling machines and therefore were not interesting to me!
“The show seemed quiet, but that was another effect of taking the driving and shooting games upstairs - a plus point for the new layout. Having had a more specifically-targeted sector for gambling devices on the ground floor has worked. We need to look more carefully at how the stands are designed and how they are laid out. This year it has been a little like a jumble sale, but with some ‘tweaking’ we should be able to get it right.”
South Africa boosts LPM numbers
SOUTH AFRICA: The first limited payout machines to go into the South African province of KwaZulu-Natal began operating in December.
Around 150 games were installed, the forerunners of 4,000 which will eventually be permitted into the region.
KwaZulu-Natal is the fourth province to introduce LPMs, which may have a top payout of ZAR500.
Mazooma sales boss disappointed with London show
UK: Mazooma’s Andrew Murden was not-so enthusiastic about the new layout for the ATEI show in London. The curtain which divided the ICE show from the ATEI, he said, indicated that those in the limited payout machine sector “are in economy class."
He said: “I think that the flow of visitors is badly affected by the change in the layout. There are fewer people in the aisles and there is no razzamatazz as a result. I think that we are in danger of losing contact with the customers.
“There are also too many kids signing in too easily. Overall, I am unhappy with this development. I think that ATEI should be ATEI with all of us in together, limited payout machines and amusement machines on one floor. If that means it needs to be somewhere else at another time, then so be it.”
TAB awards announced
AUSTRIA: Now in its second year, the TAB Austria Awards Dinner is becoming an event during ATEI in London to which many would like to go.
This year it was held at the Novotel, at Hammersmith, just a short way from the exhibition venue, Earls Court.
The Best Online Performance was between Bally Wulff of Germany, New Games of France and Norditalia Ricambi of Italy, with New Games the winner.
The Best Technical Performance was won by Dalgent of Croatia, with Leisure Tech of Dubai and Splin of Belgium as runners-up.
The Best Marketing Programme was won by Norditalia Ricambi of Italy, with New Games of France and Funlab of Turkey as runners-up.
The Best Overall Performance was won by C&P of Switzerland, with Leisure Tech of Dubai and Auto Centre of Greece as runners-up.
Global VR heralds move into casino business
US: Global VR, the touchscreen games manufacturer which made its name with tournament golf games, has entered the casino industry after a development agreement with Bally Gaming. Global has restructured parts of its business to take advantage of opportunities in other sectors.
The changes at the company see Mehdi Eghbal appointed vice president of national accounts and international business development, assisted by Bob Dekett as vice president of business development for Asia-Pacific. Completing the senior management for the international business is Julian Goicoa as managing director Europe. Goicoa is best known as the former managing director of Gaelco, the video games producer, based in Barcelona, Spain.
Global has produced a string of new games in the past year, completed the acquisition of assets of UltraCade Technologies and entered into an agreement to buy Tsunami Visual Technologies, a deal which should be completed soon.
Source: IGI
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