Gary Platt Supplies for Cadillac Jack’s Games
Cadillac Jack came on board with Gary Platt Manufacturing to supply the Sierra X-Tended Play seats for all of the Cadillac Jack participation games. Gary Platt is very excited to be associated with this leading supplier of innovative games and systems. The first major shipment of 200 chairs was delivered in June. Gary Platt Manufacturing also shipped more than 200 Gazelle-style chairs upholstered in black marble to Soaring Eagle Casino in Mt. Pleasant, Mich., through its distributor Gitchi Gaming. For more information, visit www.garyplatt.com.
WMS Launches MONOPOLY™ Sweepstakes, Promotion
WMS has launched another Instant Win and Sweepstakes promotion, Take a Spin Through MONOPOLY™ Town. This promotion allows players of all demographics to educate themselves on WMS’ five latest MONOPOLY products, including the all-new MONOPOLY Grand Hotel® Big Event®, while getting a chance at 4,800 Instant Win prizes. Throughout the promotion, players can “spin the reels” five times a day for their chance to win one of 50 daily prizes, with each spin also earning them an entry into the grand prize sweepstakes. Two $5,000 grand prizes await. Rob Bone, VP of marketing at WMS, said, “The Internet is the ideal medium to reach players to inform and educate them on WMS games before they visit casinos … It is clear from our research that active gamblers are using the online environment more and more, and we’ve seen tremendous player traffic on our past promotions.” Take a Spin Through MONOPOLY Town can be accessed at http://wms.eprize.net/monopolytown/.
WMS Opens Casino Evolved™ Advanced Technology Lab
WMS Gaming Inc. has opened the Casino Evolved Advanced Technology Lab (CEATL) at its technology campus in Chicago. The CEATL is a dynamic collaborative research and development laboratory focused on advancing the development of products that highlight WMS’ leadership in evolving the casino slot floor to a networked environment for the benefit of casino operators and their customers. The new technology lab will be used to debut new, innovative technologies and applications that demonstrate how a networked gaming environment enables casino operators to increase top-line performance by consistently engaging slot players on the casino floor, while improving efficiencies and returns on capital. Orrin J. Edidin, president of WMS, said: “Opening the CEATL represents a significant milestone for WMS and our customers, as it clearly demonstrates the real-world benefits of networked gaming. Simultaneously, it serves as a platform for the future evolution of products and services that will allow entertaining gaming content to be enabled on new platforms and in new mediums.” WMS’ Central Game Controller™ and FreedomPort™ technologies are key technology features of the lab. The CEATL also features WMS’ Account Based Wagering technology and GamEdge™. For more information, visit www.wms.com.
GTECH/SPIELO G2S Protocol Extension is Gaming Industry First
GTECH Corporation and its subsidiary SPIELO Manufacturing ULC have created the gaming industry’s first Game to System (G2S) protocol extension designed specifically for the distributed gaming market. The Gaming Standards Association (GSA) has approved a new storage class extension to identify available download space. The extension is designed for the lower bandwidth of the dial-up networks that typically support distributed-market electronic gaming machines (EGMs). As the leading solutions provider to the government-sponsored distributed gaming market, GTECH/SPIELO is acutely aware of the market’s unique needs and is committed to meeting those requirements. Using this open protocol, distributed market operators will now be able to migrate to new technology, such as client/server games, while maintaining today’s games well into the future. “We are actively upholding standards initiatives to ensure the G2S protocols are comprehensive and support all gaming environments, and our product alignments demonstrate that commitment,” said Victor Duarte, GTECH vice president of gaming solutions and SPIELO president and CEO. GSA President Peter DeRaedt said, “Working together, GSA member companies from across the industry spectrum have created something very powerful and exciting in G2S, and we are thrilled to see the continuing application of the G2S protocol around the world.” For more information, visit www.gtech.com.
Diamond Game Releases New Platform and Cabinets
Diamond Game has unveiled its new Blue Diamond game platform and cabinets. The new platform completes Diamond Game’s transformation into a full-service game provider. Multifaceted by design, the Blue Diamond game platform offers games in Class III, Class II-Bingo, Class II-Pull Tab and other customized formats. Diamond Game’s new Blue Diamond platform is being released in conjunction with its all-new “Gem” cabinet. The custom-designed cabinet is uniquely available with a vertical trio of 22-inch high-definition LCD screens, an ergonomically designed button panel, and 2.1 surround stereo sound. Jim Breslo, president of Diamond Game, explained, “The three stacked LCDs allow us to now feature a progressive display, cross-monitor animation, a more dynamic user interface and an overall more exciting-game playing experience.” Along with the release of this new game platform and cabinet, Diamond Game is also expanding its game library. Breslo said: “The No. 1 priority is to develop new games that players love and want to play over and over. The first titles our new team has created have met with great initial success and we expect that trend to continue as the year goes on.” For more information, visit www.diamondgame.com.
Dutton Resigns from N.M. Gaming Control Board
Don Dutton has released the following statement regarding his resignation from the New Mexico Gaming Control Board: “The reasons for my resignation are many and not important. What is important is the wonderful people whom I have met as a result of being a gaming commissioner. Legal gaming is an exciting industry. In many ways it is as old as mankind and as new as the latest IT systems. It is entertainment for many, an addiction to some and a financial source to governments. Those and other reasons are why sound, reasonable regulation is necessary to maximize the good and to minimize the harm. Thanks to each of you for sharing your experiences and knowledge. And most of all, thank you for your friendships . … I look forward to seeing you at future gaming events.” Dutton’s updated contact information is: Don E. Dutton, PO Box 5068, Ruidoso, N.M., 88355.
Bally Makes Executive Appointments
Bally Technologies Inc. has named Walt Eisele as vice president of strategic technology, Derik Mooberry as vice president of North American game sales, and Rob Jackson as vice president of system sales – Western North America. “We are excited that Walt will be heading up our strategic technology initiatives,” said Richard Haddrill, Bally’s CEO. “Walt possesses the perfect combination of gaming and systems technical expertise that we need to take our award-winning and world-class systems and games technologies to the next level of customer-driven quality and innovation.” In his new role, Eisele will direct the implementation of new technologies, with an emphasis on the integration of games and systems and new systems-based gaming products, and have oversight of Bally’s Innovation Lab in Northern California.
Mooberry previously served eight years as Bally’s vice president, system sales – Western North America. In his new position, he will be responsible for all of Bally’s video and reel-spinning gaming machine sales throughout North America. “Derik is a gaming industry and Bally Technologies sales veteran who is highly respected throughout our industry,” said Gavin Isaacs, Bally’s COO. “In his previous position, Derik developed strong relationships with a number of Bally’s largest systems customers and therefore keenly understands the importance of delivering on our customer-centric philosophy in all that we do.”
Succeeding Mooberry is Jackson, who served as Bally’s director of regional systems sales since 2004. “Rob has consistently demonstrated his commitment to serving the needs of our customers and is the ideal choice to take over leadership of our western regional sales team,” said Ramesh Srinivasan, Bally’s executive vice president, systems. For more information, visit www.ballytech.com.
Eclipse Receives ISO 17025 Accreditation
Independent testing laboratory Eclipse Compliance Testing, a division of Nick Farley & Associates Inc., has received ISO 17025 accreditation from the American Association for Laboratory Accreditation (A2LA) for Information Technology Testing, further establishing its position as a technically competent lab in the marketplace. The accreditation granted by A2LA encompasses software and hardware tests on electronic gaming devices, including lottery and server-based systems. Janice Farley, vice president of Eclipse, commented: “We are very excited to receive this accreditation from one of the world’s foremost laboratory accreditation bodies. Although many of the methods we employ in our testing processes were already in place, this journey brought our team even closer as they worked collaboratively to apply the principles of ISO.” The A2LA accreditation was awarded June 1, 2009. For more information, visit www.eclipsetesting.com.
Six Companies Join GSA
The Gaming Standards Association (GSA) continues to expand its global reach and influence through its free and open protocols, and now six more companies have joined GSA’s large global membership. Tech Results of Las Vegas and the Global Gaming Research Center of Macau have joined as Gold Members. Joining as Silver members are the Western Canada Lottery Corporation, California-based Oracle, and Zest Gaming SpA of Italy. De Vocht Expert Services of Belgium is GSA’s newest Advisory Member. In addition to the new members, current GSA member company BCLC of British Columbia has upgraded its membership to Gold. GSA President Peter DeRaedt said: “The growth in membership demonstrates the acceleration of adoption of GSA standards in the gaming industry. We continue to welcome our new members from around the globe to GSA. Our membership diversity underscores the wide-reaching impact and flexibility of our work and our standards.” For more information, visit www.gamingstandards.com.
Tom Joins IGT
Eric Tom is joining International Game Technology (IGT) as its new executive vice president of sales and marketing for North America, including Canada and Mexico, subject to his obtaining appropriate regulatory approvals. Tom has more than 20 years of experience in executive-level sales and marketing-related positions with large corporations operating in the U.S., Europe and Asia. “Eric’s vast experience managing varied and complex product distribution and marketing models will add a new dimension to our management team with an eye toward providing a more effective, responsive and relationship-focused customer experience,” said Patti S. Hart, IGT’s CEO and president. For more information, visit www.igt.com.
Jeude Named Konami’s Sr. Director of Manufacturing
Konami Gaming Inc. has named Ted Jeude as senior director of manufacturing and supply chain. He will focus on implementing supply chain and lean manufacturing techniques to support Konami’s growth. Jeude brings more than 30 years of manufacturing and global value chain management experience to Konami. His demonstrated expertise includes global supply chain management, enterprise resource planning, and corporate operations. Jeude was previously the director of operations for FoxConn Assembly LLC and spent more than 17 years with Compaq. For more information, visit www.konamigaming.com.
Three New Members Join AGEM
The Association of Gaming Equipment Manufacturers’ (AGEM) board of directors has approved the membership applications of three new companies, bringing the trade group comprised of the world’s leading gaming suppliers to a total of 76 members. The new AGEM members are: CMYK Creative, based in Las Vegas, a full-service design and marketing firm providing a wide range of services and solutions; Cybertec Gaming Systems, based in Oklahoma City, a new company focusing on software development and the refurbishment of gaming machines; and Howard & Howard, founded in 1869, a full-service law firm with a national and international practice that provides specialized legal services to businesses and business owners from its multiple office locations, including Las Vegas. For more information, visit www.AGEM.org.