Three New Members Join AGEM
The Association of Gaming Equipment Manufacturers (AGEM) 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 83 members. The new AGEM members are: Ceronix Inc., based in Auburn, Calif., a leader in the development and manufacturing of color video display monitors, LCD replacement kits and digital information displays for the gaming and kiosk markets; Lightning Gaming Inc., based in Philadelphia, which designs, develops and markets premier, fully automated electronic poker tables and innovative slot products under the brands Lightning Poker™ and Lightning Slots™; and SCA Gaming, based in Las Vegas with corporate headquarters in Dallas, a leader in marketing and gaming promotions that has worked with more than 360 casinos to date on more than 3,000 promotions that have paid nearly $100 million to lucky winners. For more information, visit www.agem.org.
IGT Provides Total Solution to ARIA Resort & Casino
The casino floor of the new ARIA Resort & Casino will feature a powerful combination of International Game Technology’s (IGT) server-based network, which incorporates the award-winning Service Window, sbX™ Floor Manager and Media Manager; the IGT Advantage® casino management system; and 970 IGT AVP® machines with 3-D Multi-Layer Display (MLD®) technology. This complete solution (AVP, 3-D, Multi-Game) is now known as IGT DynamiX™. IGT expects that its sbX system and Service Window will be available on all of IGT’s machines and will be interoperable with WMS’ machines on ARIA’s gaming floor upon opening. “Interoperability testing will continue with other game vendors anticipated to come on line with sbX in the future. We will ensure other vendors can migrate their games as soon as they are able to,” said Rich Schneider, IGT’s executive vice president of gaming products. ARIA Resort & Casino, slated to open Dec. 16, 2009, is part of CityCenter, the mixed-use, urban resort destination owned jointly by MGM MIRAGE and Infinity World Development Corp., a subsidiary of Dubai World. For more information, visit www.igt.com.
Bally Enters Agreement with SJM Macau
Bally Technologies Inc. has entered an agreement with Sociedade de Jogos de Macau S.A. (SJM), Macau’s largest multi-casino operator, to provide a broad range of casino management, table management and bonusing products. The agreement follows Bally’s successful systems implementation at SJM’s new L’Arc Macau Casino Resort, which opened in late September. Under the terms of the new three-year master purchase and license agreement, Bally will provide comprehensive technology solutions to SJM’s new Oceanus casino, which is slated to open in December 2009, as well as SJM’s slot lounges at the Yat Yuen Canidrome and the Macau Jockey Club, which will implement the Bally solutions by May 30, 2010. In addition to these four properties, the new agreement provides SJM with the option to expand Bally’s technology solutions at any time to any of its 16 other properties throughout the Macau Peninsula and Taipa Island.
Greektown, The Fine Point Group Implement Bally Solutions
The Greektown Casino-Hotel in Detroit, a $350 million casino property managed by The Fine Point Group, has installed Bally Business Intelligence (BI) for data analytics and visual analysis of gaming floor performance, player and game interaction, and player behavior. Bally’s award-winning BI enables Greektown to achieve a comprehensive and detailed understanding of their patrons, as well as their 2,500 slot and 72 table game casino floor. For more information, visit www.ballytech.com.
Executive Management Changes at Pinnacle
Daniel Lee has resigned as chairman, CEO and director of Pinnacle Entertainment Inc. Richard Goeglein has been named interim nonexecutive chairman, and John Giovenco has been named interim CEO. Goeglein and Giovenco, both board members, will oversee the company’s operations while the board conducts an executive search for a new president and CEO. For more information, visit www.pnkinc.com.
Radical Blue Gaming Offers Student Tools
Radical Blue Gaming, a developer of software applications for the Gaming Standards Association’s protocols, is offering free copies of their tools to casinos and other interested parties that want to better understand the potential of the Game to System (G2S) protocol. This offer includes student versions of RadBlue’s G2S host simulator (RGS), EGM simulator (RST) and Protocol Analyzer (RPA)—perfect for learning about G2S before it arrives in the casino. Developed for the G2S Certified Engineer courses offered by GSA University, the student versions are functionally identical to the production versions except the tools communicate only with each other. For more information, visit www.radblue.com.
Aristocrat, Churchill Downs Create Kentucky Derby Slot
And they’re off! Aristocrat Technologies Inc. and Churchill Downs Inc. (CDI) have entered into a licensing agreement to create the world’s first Kentucky Derby-themed slot machine. The pairing brings together two of the strongest brands in entertainment to create a product that will have slot players racing toward casinos to try their luck at a “Run for the Roses.” The Kentucky Derby, annually staged on the first Saturday in May at legendary Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky., is the world’s premier horse race and America’s original, extravagant and glamorous springtime sports party. Now, the excitement and tradition of “The Greatest Two Minutes in Sports” will be captured in Aristocrat’s new Kentucky Derby™ RFX™ stepper slot game. For more information, visit www.aristocratgaming.com.
SPIELO Selects TransAct for Italy VLTs
TransAct Technologies Inc.’s Epic 950® printer was selected exclusively by SPIELO Manufacturing a wholly-owned subsidiary of Lottomatica Group, to be installed in all of its new Comma 6b server-based video lottery terminals (VLTs) in Italy. Approximately $1 million of printers will ship in 2009, most during the fourth quarter, and a projected additional $2 million are expected to ship 2010, with the printers being installed inside SPIELO’s VLTs to be shipped to Lottomatica and other Italian VLT concessionaires. ”We are pleased with another exclusive win for the Epic 950, enhancing its reputation as the most sought-after printer on a global scale,” said Bart C. Shuldman, chairman, president and CEO of TransAct. For more information, visit www.transact-tech.com.
GameLogic Integrates with Facebook
GameLogic Inc. has integrated with popular social networking site Facebook for its PlayAway™, PlayerVantage™ and New Play™ suite of products. These programs extend GameLogic’s Internet player/database marketing platform to the rapidly growing world of social media. GameLogic brings its industry-leading turnkey approach to interactive marketing to deliver a rich social media tool, complete with personalized club portals, games, tournaments and promotions directly into Facebook. With this technology, Facebook can easily become the foundation for a much richer and meaningful player engagement with point balances, marketing calendars, coupon awards, sponsored games/tournaments and more. In addition to existing players, gaming operators will be able to leverage the viral nature of social networking to attract prospective new club members in a personalized, engaging way. For more information, visit www.gamelogic.com.
Pechanga’s IT Wins Award
Pechanga Resort & Casino’s IT department was presented with the Tribal Technology Leadership Award at the 10th Annual TribalNet Conference held in Las Vegas in October. The award is given to an IT department or leader who has demonstrated leadership in successful nation and business building through the effective use of technology. Through strong cooperation and teamwork, Pechanga has been able implement successful programs that have helped them grow from a small IT department to one that has the power and drive to be an example in this unique industry. For more information, visit www.tribalnetonline.com.
WMS Receives Top Award for Interoperability
WMS Gaming Inc., a subsidiary of WMS Industries Inc., was awarded the 2009 Gaming Industry Product Interoperability Award by Gaming & Leisure Magazine. WMS is the first recipient of the award, which honors WMS’ commitment to full industry interoperability as embodied by its WAGE-NET® networked gaming system. First introduced in 2006, WMS’ WAGE-NET networked gaming solution is a suite of platform technologies and system applications that are based on open architecture using industry standard communication protocols developed by the Gaming Standards Association and that are designed to be fully interoperable with other similarly developed systems. Brian R. Gamache, chairman and CEO of WMS, commented, “We are honored to be recognized by industry leaders for our commitment to, and development of, a fully interoperable solution for networked gaming, particularly at a time when networked gaming is becoming a reality.” For more information, visit www.wms.com.
Magic City Casino Selects FutureLogic
FutureLogic Inc.’s GEN2 printers have been selected as the exclusive TITO printers for the first 700 slot machines to be installed at Magic City Casino. A new multi-entertainment gaming facility in Miami, Magic City Casino selected the GEN2 printers based on FutureLogic’s reputation for providing technologically advanced products and exceptional customer service and support. FutureLogic boasts the industry’s most decorated TITO gaming printers, with the GEN2 printer and GEN2 Universal™ printers winning 10 industry awards in the past six years. The GEN2 family of printers features ITH® (Intelligent Ticket Handling) technology to eliminate torn, smeared or crumpled tickets and offers 50 percent more standard paper capacity than other gaming printers. For more information, visit www.futurelogicinc.com.
Cannery Converts Slot Floor for JCM ICB®
When the new Eastside Cannery Casino Hotel debuted last year, it opened with 100 percent of its slot floor operating with JCM Global’s award-winning Universal Bill Acceptor (UBA®) and Intelligent Cash Box (ICB®). Now, based on incredible success at its sister property, the Cannery Casino & Hotel in North Las Vegas has converted its slot floor to be 100 percent ICB. The casino was already operating with 100 percent JCM bill validators, and now JCM’s proprietary ICB system has been installed on the casino’s 1,900 gaming devices.
JCM Global, United Coin Sign Exclusive Agreement
JCM Global and United Coin Machine Company have entered into an exclusive purchasing agreement. Under the agreement, United Coin will exclusively provide JCM bill validator equipment in its products and specify JCM validation equipment on all orders for gaming devices placed with manufacturers. United Coin currently serves more than 600 customers across Nevada, including bars, casinos, and convenience, drug and grocery stores. “We are thrilled to be working with United Coin. Like JCM, United Coin has proven themselves as leaders in their field and have created innovative solutions for their customers,” said Mark Henderson, JCM vice president of global sales.
Hard Rock Las Vegas Selects iVIZION™
JCM Global’s new and revolutionary iVIZION™ is already changing the way the gaming industry sees bill validiation. The Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Las Vegas has caught the “vizion,” and has selected iVIZION as the exclusive bill validator for the casino. JCM’s iVIZION will displace a competitor’s product in all 700 slot machines in the existing casino and in the property’s expansion. The result will be the first 100 percent iVIZION installation. JCM Global VP of Sales Mark Henderson said, “Just one day after introducing iVIZION to the gaming industry, we are thrilled to announce that the Hard Rock has caught the ‘vizion.’ Earning the trust of this high-profile property is a huge win for JCM.” For more information, visit www.jcmglobal.com.