H.H. Robertson Introduces New System, Signs Contracts
John Michlovic" alt=""/>H.H. Robertson Floor Systems has introduced the Power/Data Post, a new product that facilitates the activation of electrical services to workstations. “Prior to this product, modern workstations — or ‘cube farms’ as they are sometimes referred to — had to utilize partitions that contained wire raceways, electrical distribution harnesses, and other related wire and cable equipment in and around the partitions,” said John Michlovic, national marketing and technical manager of H.H. Robertson. “Not only was this unsightly, but it was also expensive in terms of equipment cost and any type of changes or service had to be done after hours or involved interruption of services to adjacent workers.” The Power/Data Post is constructed of 20-guage galvanized steel, is available in three colors, and comes in either hexagonal or octagonal shapes to accommodate four-, five- and six-foot partition heights. It fits directly over any floor-based electrical outlet, including floor boxes, poke-through outlets, cellular floor outlet boxes, core-drilled aftersets or access floor openings.
In other news, H.H. Robertson Floor Systems has been chosen to install its major in-floor wire distribution system for three new casino projects: Kickapoo Casino in Oklahoma, Argosy Casino in Indiana, and The Meadows Racetrack & Casino in western Pennsylvania near Pittsburgh. For more information, visit www.hhrobertson.com.
TableMAX Names Crystal CEO
TableMAX Holdings LLC has named gaming industry veteran Stephen Crystal as its chief executive officer. Crystal will lead, build the executive team and position the company for a rapid expansion in development and distribution. Crystal began his relationship with TableMAX when he was hired as a consultant to advise the company on business strategy in June 2007. He brings an extensive background in gaming technology development and operations to TableMAX. Crystal served as president and chief marketing officer for Las Vegas Gaming Inc.; was co-founder, vice chair and president of Barrick Gaming; and was in private law practice, representing numerous gaming companies in projects and transactions. For more information, visit www.tablemax.com.
Harrah’s Selects Bally Technologies to Provide Systems
Bally Technologies Inc. has announced that Harrah’s Entertainment Inc. has extended its domestic relationship with Bally to provide key casino slot and gaming management and marketing systems for Harrah’s international operations. The transaction is subject to Harrah’s corporate approvals, execution of definitive agreements, and receipt of required regulatory approvals. Bally is developing more games and systems technology specifically for international markets and has recently opened new sales and support offices in Spain and South Africa, with a Mexico City office slated to open this spring. “We’re pleased to be extending our relationship with Bally Technologies as we pursue an aggressive global growth strategy,” said Tim Stanley, Harrah’s Entertainment chief information officer and senior vice president of innovation and gaming. “Bally has been a provider of choice in supplying the operational, accounting and management systems that support our industry-leading Total Rewards™ capabilities, which enhance our guests’ experience through interactive entertainment offerings. Under this new agreement, Bally will also become a key software supplier for our casino and gaming management systems at our current and planned international operations.” For more information, visit www.ballytech.com or www.harrahs.com.
Bally Unveils New iVIEW™ Display
Bally Technologies Inc. unveiled its new iVIEW™ Display Manage™ (DM) at its annual Systems User Conference in Las Vegas in February. The new technology will allow gaming operators to present systems content on the displays of all manufacturers’ gaming machines through the iVIEW processor rather than the game processor, which would require separate regulatory approvals and complex development and integration efforts. With Bally’s iVIEW DM, gaming operators will be able to create picture-in-picture capability on the iVIEW display, the main game display, the second game display, or any game display associated with the device. “In recent years, significant innovation on gaming floors has come from the associated systems attached to the games,” said Bally Vice President of Advanced Development Bryan Kelly. “By taking this approach, we will be able to continue this trend and bring innovation at a faster rate and with less complexity than by going through the game CPU, as is being suggested by some manufacturers.” For more information, visit www.ballytech.com.
Aristocrat Licenses Certicom Cryptography
Certicom Corp. has announced that Aristocrat Technologies Inc. has licensed the Game Guardian SBG™ (server-based gaming) security platform to protect its next-generation casino systems. Aristocrat will use Certicom’s Game Guardian SBG to secure and authenticate connections between gaming machines. The Game Guardian SBG platform will be incorporated into Aristocrat’s gaming solutions, which will allow the company to perform security operations and complex authentication tasks among users, applications, machines and backend servers. By implementing Game Guardian’s technology, Aristocrat can easily submit software upgrades to existing casinos without deploying new hardware or an entirely new infrastructure. “At Aristocrat, we have a reputation for outstanding performance, customer support and brand equity,” said Gareth Phillips, Aristocrat chief technology officer. “By embedding Certicom’s Game Guardian platform into our next generation solutions, we can provide our customers with the most market-focused, dynamic and secure gaming experience possible. This powerful combination will help Aristocrat maintain its stature as a leading provider of casino products throughout the world.” For more information, visit www.aristocratgaming.com or www.certicom.com.
FutureLogic Renews South American Distribution Agreement
FutureLogic Inc. has renewed its distribution agreement with Suzo Americas SRL a distributor of components and systems for the gaming, casino and vending industries. Under an agreement initiated in 2005, Suzo Americas sells and provides service for FutureLogic’s TITO printers throughout South America and Central America. Over the past three years, Suzo Americas has helped establish the largest installed base of thermal gaming printers in the region, including the major gaming centers in Argentina, Chile, Panama and Peru. “With new licensing and new casinos set to open in 2008 and beyond, we expect Suzo Americas will continue to grow our share of the ticket-in/ticket-out market in South and Central America,” said John Edmunds, FutureLogic vice president of international sales and marketing. For more information, visit www.futurelogic-inc.com.
Agilysys Acquires Eatec Corporation
Agilysys Inc. has acquired Eatec Corp., a privately held developer and marketer of inventory and procurement software. Eatec’s software, EatecNetX, is an open architecture-based inventory and procurement management system, providing customers with the data and information necessary to increase sales, reduce product costs, improve back-office productivity and increase profitability. Eatec customers include well-known restaurants, hotels, stadiums and entertainment venues in North America and around the world, as well as many public service institutions. EatecNetX’s core functions include purchasing, inventory, recipe, forecasting, production and sales analysis. Additionally, the solution offers catering, restaurant, concessions, manufacturing, retail/merchandising and airline catering modules in one integrated solution. “This acquisition further enhances our position as a leading inventory and procurement solution provider to the hospitality and foodservice markets,” said Arthur Rhein, chair, president and chief executive officer of Agilysys. “Similar to our previous acquisitions of Visual One Systems and InfoGenesis, the Eatec acquisition complements and expands our offerings, allowing us to better serve our customers.” For more information, visit www.agilysys.com.
Prater Named AGEM Executive Director
The Association of Gaming Equipment Manufacturers (AGEM) has announced the appointment of respected gaming industry veteran and marketing professional Marcus Prater as the organization’s new executive director. AGEM appointed Prater to guide the organization following Jack Bulavsky’s successful run as executive director. Prater most recently served as senior vice president of marketing for Bally Technologies. “AGEM is very pleased to have Marcus Prater join our organization and take over as executive director,” said Brooke Dunn, president of AGEM and senior vice president of Shuffle Master Inc. “Marcus brings a long history of success in the gaming industry to AGEM, and his marketing experience and knowledge of the issues relevant for suppliers will help take the organization to the next level. It’s also important to thank Jack Bulavsky for his years of service during AGEM’s formidable years.” For more information, visit www.agem.org.
Elite Casino Products Joins AGEM
Elite Casino Products Inc. (ECP) has joined the Association of Gaming Equipment Manufacturers. Elite Casino Products is a manufacturer of electro-mechanical assemblies specializing in gaming applications. The company’s standard product line includes slot machine cabinets, slot bases, top-boxes and marquees. A full-service contract manufacturer, ECP assists clients from concept development to production with innovative engineering design and custom assemblies for various gaming products. For more information, visit www.epc-usa.com or www.agem.org.
Global Cash Access to Acquire Certegy
Global Cash Access Inc. (GCA) has executed an agreement to acquire Certegy Gaming Services Inc. (CGS), formerly known as Game Financial, from Fidelity National Transaction Services Inc. At the closing of the acquisition, GCA will acquire all of CGS’ issued shares of stock for a purchase price of $25 million, and CGS will become a wholly owned GCA subsidiary. In addition, GCA will replace CGS’ cash currently held in CGS’ ATMs and cages located at its customer premises. GCA will gain approximately 100 new employees as a result of the acquisition. The closing was scheduled for the end of March, subject to customary and other closing conditions. For more information, visit www.globalcashaccess.com.
Global Cash Access Names Chief Financial Officer
Global Cash Access Inc. has named George W. Gresham executive vice president and chief financial officer. The announcement was made by GCA Chief Executive Officer Scott H. Betts, who also served as the company’s interim chief financial officer prior to Gresham’s appointment. Gresham most recently served as chief financial officer, chief administrative officer and executive vice president of EFD|eFunds Corp. During his tenure with EFD|eFunds, he was responsible for all facets of financial management, including financial controls and reporting, domestic and international taxation, financial planning, treasury, and investor relations. “We’re excited to have George join our executive management team,” Betts said. “He is a seasoned financial executive whose expertise and experience uniquely match our needs and objectives. George has a strong understanding of the payments industry and its competitive nature. In addition, his extensive work and leadership in a public company setting will serve us well; he has a proven track record in situations in which performance management is key. I’m confident that he will be a great asset as we work to achieve our growth targets.” For more information, visit www.globalcashaccess.com.
Olson-Reyes Awarded Bronze Quill
Bally Technologies Corporate Communications Director Laura Olson-Reyes was recognized with a Bronze Quill Award Feb. 26 at the International Association of Business Communicators (IABC) annual awards ceremony at the Four Seasons Hotel in Las Vegas. Olson-Reyes won the award for outstanding feature writing for her article in the June 2007 issue of Casino Enterprise Management magazine, “One of Our Own Speaks Out.” IABC’s annual Bronze Quill Awards is the longest-running and most prestigious program of its kind in Nevada. It is a statewide competition that offers professional communicators an opportunity to have their work evaluated by expert out-of-market judges to see how it compares with their peers. The program also promotes professional growth and is a hallmark of excellence in business communication. For more information, visit www.iabclasvegas.com.
Gary Platt Ships Units
Gary Platt Manufacturing shipped 774 Sierra Style X-Tended Play chairs to Sac & Fox Casino in Powhattan, Kan. The new seats have a satin chrome understructure and Cashmere Ebony upholstery. The company also shipped 250 Sierra Style X-Tended Play chairs to Wind River Casino in Riverton, Wyo. The casino also received the new bench seat, which provides seating for two. “We are very excited to receive this bench-style seat,” said Wind River Casino CEO Jim Conrad. Imperial Palace in Biloxi, Miss., received 285 Barona-style chairs with custom upholstery and polished black understructures. The shipment completed the casino’s entire floor, with all seating being manufactured by Gary Platt. For more information, visit www.garyplatt.com.
Star Wars™ Progressive Slot has First Asia Installation
IGT Asia has announced the launch of Asia’s first Star Wars™ progressive slot at the Almond Slot Club in Manila, the Philippines. The launch, which took place Feb. 12, coincided with a VIP opening of the property. The arrival of Star Wars characters created excitement outside the property in the middle of Chinatown. The 240-machine Almond Slot Club features other popular IGT linked games, such as Party Time!®, and classic games like Great Escapes™. The club also offers a large variety of IGT Trimline™ Video Slots, a selection of IGT spinning-reel slots, and IGT Game King® Poker games. John Gomes, managing director of IGT Asia, was present at the launch and said, “Star Wars video slots have been a solid performer across Europe, Africa and the Americas, and we are excited to launch them in Asia with Elixir Gaming Technology. We look forward to helping them expand their business in the future.” For more information, visit www.igt.com.
CDI Announces CasinoCAD® Sales
Casino Data Imaging (CDI) has announced that Four Winds Casino and Lumière Place have licensed CDI’s CasinoCAD® v4 Business Intelligence program. Four Winds Casino in New Buffalo, Mich., is CDI’s sixth installation in Michigan. Located in St. Louis, the recently opened Lumière Place becomes CDI’s fourth installation in Missouri. “The selection of CasinoCAD by Four Winds Casino and Lumière Place are great validations of CDI’s technology direction,” said George Levine, CDI corporate spokesman. “Our software and support are designed so casino operators have the flexibility to chart their own course for analysis. CasinoCAD and CasinoCAD Enterprise enables casinos to increase profitability, productivity and market share by focusing on relevant key performance indicators (KPIs) and specific strategic objectives. These KPIs remove the distracting data and processes, and allow an organization to target information that quickly enables an action-oriented environment. We are very excited to be partnering with these premier properties.” For additional information, visit www.casinodataimaging.com.
Sycuan Announces Acting General Manager
The Sycuan tribal council has announced that Casino General Manager Steve Penhall has resigned to accept a similar position at Pechanga Resort and Casino. Sheila Howe, Sycuan Casino director of gaming operations, has been named acting general manager. “On behalf of the entire tribal council, I would like to congratulate Steve on his new position and thank him for his dedication and service to Sycuan for the past five years,” said Tribal Chair Daniel Tucker. “Steve worked hard to enhance employee training programs, while at the same time consistently providing a uniquely positive experience for our customers. We wish him well in his new position.” Howe has been director of gaming operations for the past five years and will act as general manager for the duration of Sycuan’s candidate search. Prior to joining Sycuan, she served in positions of increasing responsibility in various casinos in Nevada and Colorado. For more information, visit www.sycuan.com.
GPI Completes $4.6 Million Chip and Plaque Sale
Gaming Partners International Corp. has announced the completed delivery of more than 2 million Bourgogne et Grasset® gaming chips and 25,000 plaques for the opening of MGM Grand Macau. The multimillion-dollar order represents one of the largest orders for GPI thus far in the Macau gaming region. The casino, owned by MGM Grand Paradise Limited, a 50/50 joint venture between MGM Mirage and Pansy Ho Chiu-king, opened Dec. 18, 2007, with 345 table games on a waterfront site on the Macau peninsula. “GPI is dedicated to supplying our clients with high quality and high security products. We have been working very closely with the MGM team over the last few months,” said GPI Manager of International Sales & Marketing Christophe Leparoux. “We strongly believe that beyond the intrinsic quality and sophistication of the products, the flexibility and overall service offered by this direct contact between the customers and a long-established manufacturer is key to a successful partnership, particularly in an extremely demanding and challenging market such as Macau.” For more information, visit www.gpigaming.com.
Madow Named President of Seminole Hard Rock
Philip Madow has been named president of the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood, Fla. Madow will oversee operations at South Florida’s largest casino and entertainment complex, leading a team of more than 2,000 employees. Madow has more than 27 years of experience in casino and hotel executive administration and management, including food and beverage management, service, training and preparation. He was most recently with the Pala Casino Spa and Resort in Pala, Calif., where he held the position of senior vice president and general manager for three years. Madow was the executive vice president for Barrick Gaming Corp. in downtown Las Vegas, and he also served as vice president of hotel operations, director of operations and administration, acting general manager/director of operations, and president/general manager at Four Queens Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas. His educational background is in hotel and restaurant administration with schooling from Ohio University and University of Nevada, Las Vegas. For more information, visit www.seminolehardrockhollywood.com.
Smallman Joins LVGI
Las Vegas Gaming Inc. announced that Bingo technology leader Steve Smallman has joined LVGI as senior vice president and general manager of LVGI’s Bingo strategic business unit. Smallman bring extensive experience in the electronic Bingo industry to LVGI, having held several vice presidential titles at Bingo Technologies Corp., GameTech International and Blue Dog Inc. “Steve is widely recognized as an industry leader in electronic Bingo technologies,” said LVGI President and CEO Jon Berkley. “Bringing Steve on board to manage the LVGI Bingo business unit will help us continue on our path as a leading gaming technology development company and a distributor of emerging gaming technologies. Further progress in Bingo technologies is an integral component to our continued growth and further enhancement of the offerings in PlayerVision™ and other associated product groups.” For more information, visit www.lvgi.com.