Aristocrat Hails Successful Spanish Debut
Aristocrat Technologies Europe has seen a highly successful debut appearance at September’s FER-Interazar. The leading global provider of gaming solutions used the Madrid show as a launch pad for its new range of Type B and B+ games for the Spanish street market. “Our games and dedicated cabinet, designed to appeal to a broad range of players, were very well received by key Iberian operators and media professionals alike,” explained Aristocrat Europe’s Marketing Director Marc Campman. “The show provided us with a perfect platform to gain excellent brand exposure across the Spanish market, and we were in the enviable position of providing content utilizing some of the best performing Aristocrat titles from Europe and around the world.” For more information, visit www.aristocrat.com.au.
Eclipse Receives Award
Eclipse Compliance Testing has been selected for the 2008 Best of Cleveland Award in the laboratories category by the U.S. Local Business Association (USLBA). The USLBA Best of Local Business award program recognizes outstanding local businesses throughout the country. Each year, the USLBA identifies companies it believes have achieved exceptional marketing success in their local community and business category. These are local companies that enhance the positive image of small business through service to their customers and community. For more information, visit www.eclipsetesting.com.
AGEM Announces Three New Members
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 56 members. The new AGEM members are: Aruze Gaming America, with headquarters in Tokyo and U.S. operations based in Las Vegas, is a manufacturer and distributor of hybrid LCD high-resolution reel and video slot and poker games and multi-terminal gaming devices; Global Cash Access, based in Las Vegas, is a leading provider of cash access systems and related marketing services to the gaming industry; KSK Digital Printing, with locations in Las Vegas, Cleveland and Detroit, specializes in slot machine glass, reel strips, slot toppers, casino backlits, and interior casino signage. For more information, visit www.agem.org.
Seminole Hard Rock Appoints Ford as VP of Finance
Mark Ford has joined the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino as vice president of finance. In this capacity, he oversees a team responsible for financial operations of the hotel and casino including accounting, budgeting, financial reporting, casino credit, casino cage, procurement and warehouse and receiving. Prior to joining the Seminole Hard Rock, Ford worked for Foxwoods Resort Casino in Ledyard, Conn., for 15 years with various responsibilities ranging from vice president of finance to executive director of finance and financial controller to director of operational accounting. For more information, visit www.seminolehardrock.com.
NIGC Approves Class II MICS, Technical Standards
The National Indian Gaming Commission (NIGC) brought to conclusion its long-standing regulatory effort to bring greater clarity and integrity to the electronic play of Class II, or bingo and bingo-like tribal gaming, by approving two final regulations, Class II Minimum Internal Control Standards (MICS) and Technical Standards for Class II games. The MICS for that equipment address the physical and communications security of the inter-connected equipment, and the control of the money and operational systems—or how the systems are operated. The technical standards for such electronic gaming pertain to the certification of the equipment used for that play, and ensure the games and systems operate properly and are resistant to tampering—or how the equipment and systems are built. For more information, visit www.nigc.gov.
FutureLogic Partners with Cannery Casino Resorts
Cannery Casino Resorts (CCR) has selected FutureLogic as a preferred technology partner. Cannery Casino Resorts based its selection on a preference for FutureLogic’s state-of-the-art GEN2 Universal™ printer technology and on the printer manufacturers’ outstanding customer service. Cannery Casino Resorts currently has FutureLogic GEN2 Universal printers installed in more than 7,200 games spanning four properties in Las Vegas, Washington and Pennsylvania. For more information, visit www.futurelogic-inc.com or www.cannerycasinos.com.
Lionel Sawyer & Collins Attorneys Honored
More than half of Lionel Sawyer & Collins shareholders have been selected for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America 2009 and the firm has been ranked in the top tier of U.S. law firms in the area of gaming law. Best Lawyers, one of the preeminent legal referral guides in the U.S., selected 22 of Lionel Sawyer & Collins attorneys for inclusion in its 2009 listings, which gives the firm the distinction of having the greatest number of attorneys listed of all Nevada law firms included in the guide. In addition to being acknowledged as a top U.S. law firm for gaming law, Lionel Sawyer & Collins is also top ranked in Nevada for the following practice areas: administrative law, appellate law, commercial litigation, energy law, franchise law, gaming law, health care law, information technology law, and real estate law. For more information, visit www.lionelsawyer.com.
Lionel Sawyer & Collins Attorneys Honored
More than half of Lionel Sawyer & Collins shareholders have been selected for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America 2009 and the firm has been ranked in the top tier of U.S. law firms in the area of gaming law. Best Lawyers, one of the preeminent legal referral guides in the U.S., selected 22 of Lionel Sawyer & Collins attorneys for inclusion in its 2009 listings, which gives the firm the distinction of having the greatest number of attorneys listed of all Nevada law firms included in the guide. In addition to being acknowledged as a top U.S. law firm for gaming law, Lionel Sawyer & Collins is also top ranked in Nevada for the following practice areas: administrative law, appellate law, commercial litigation, energy law, franchise law, gaming law, health care law, information technology law, and real estate law. For more information, visit www.lionelsawyer.com.
Bally Signs Agreement with Pringsa Corp.
Bally Technologies has signed an agreement with leading Mexico gaming operator Pringsa to be the exclusive, enterprise-wide casino management system provider for Pringsa’s 36 gaming locations throughout Mexico. Pringsa, one of Mexico’s largest license holders, is jointly owned by CIRSA, a global company with an extensive presence in gaming, and a private Mexican investment group. For more information, visit www.ballytech.com.
G.A. Wright Releases Gaming Trends Report G.A. Wright Marketing Inc. has just released Gaming Trends '08. The report, compiled from numerous national sources related to gaming, is a comprehensive overview of the industry and offers insight on a wide rane of topics, including the industry's growth in emerging markets, casinos and the value of building a marketing database. For more information, visit www.gawrightcasinomarketing.com.
Hollywood Casino Installs Rainmaker Revolution
Rainmaker Group announced the 494-room Hollywood Casino in Tunica, Miss., successfully installed the revolution product suite to optimize rates, occupancy and profitability and create greater operating efficiency. “The Rainmaker Revolution Product Suite enables Hollywood Casino Tunica to optimize total customer profitability based on demand forecasting and competitive factors and helps us fill the hotel with our most profitable customers,” said Rodney Devine, director of hotel operations. “The system also trims 40 to 50 man-hours a week off our previously manual processes for setting rates, coordinating reservations and creating marketing strategy.” Devine said the revolution system is fully interfaced to the hotel’s Agilysys PMS which allows the casino’s player hosts to book reservations with optimized rates directly from call-in inquiries to capture more bookings and increase occupancy. For more information, visit www.therainmakergroupinc.com.
FutureLogic Reaches Milestone
FutureLogic Inc. shipped its one millionth gaming printer. Beginning with the introduction of the very first TITO printer in 1999, the PSA-66-ST, FutureLogic now has printers installed in more than 40 countries across the Americas, Europe, Africa, Asia and Australia. FutureLogic printers are also approved and specified by more than 40 EGMs and have won 10 industry awards in the past five years, holding the distinction of the industry's most decorated gaming printer. "We are thrilled to announce that FutureLogic has shipped to date one million gaming printers," said Eric Meyerhofer, CEO and Co-CTO of FutureLogic. "We would especially like to thank our loyal customers and outstanding business partners for helping us achieve this noteworthy milestone. As the global leader in printer technologies, our customers know that they can rely on FutureLogic to deliver cutting-edge equipment and applications to support their business." For more information, visit www.futurelogicinc.com.
PokerTek Selected by Ameristar
PokerTek Inc. announced it has been selected by Ameristar Casinos Inc. as its exclusive supplier of automated poker tables. PokerPro is now installed at Ameristar Casino Council Bluffs, which is the first installation of PokerPro in the state of Iowa. “We are pleased to partner with PokerTek for our automated poker needs,” said Jerry Colgrove, table games operations manager for Ameristar Casinos. “PokerPro is a revolutionary technology, and we are excited to bring this innovative offering into our properties.” For more information, visit www.pokertek.com.
Suzo-Happ Group Acquires Owens Precision Fabricators
Suzo-Happ Group has purchased Owens Precision Fabricators (OPF) located in Henderson, Nev. Founded in 1991, Owens Precision Fabricators is a recognized leader in precision sheet metal fabrication for the gaming industry. OPF products include specialized gaming cabinets used for slot and video gaming machines, internal brackets and shelving, as well as door and trim components with highly polished chrome finishes. Cabinets manufactured by OPF are used and distributed throughout the world by industry-leading gaming companies. OPF employs approximately 40 people and recently moved into a larger facility in Henderson. For more information, visit www.suzohapp.com.
ANTs Partners with IGT
As the gaming industry revs up for the implementation of server-based gaming, ANTs Software Inc is partnering with BMC Software to provide performance monitoring and event management services to International Game Technology to ensure reliable uptime for server-based gaming systems via IGT SystemWatch. ANTs Professional Services will use BMC Performance Manager Express to provide remote, agentless QoS monitoring of critical network infrastructure assets—servers, network devices, applications—for IGT casino operator customers located around the world. Through ANTs’ monitoring and event management service, IGT’s SystemWatch solution encompasses a fully functional 24x7x365 network operations center responsible for isolating critical events, opening trouble tickets and escalating an event's visibility within IGT. For more information, visit www.ants.com or www.igt.com.
Gary Platt Ships Units
Gary Platt Manufacturing sold 350 Barona style X-Tended play seats to the Manitoba Lottery Corporation. These seats featured Illusion Chic Grey upholstery and adjustable aluminum pedestal understructures. Skagit Valley Casino Resort, in Bow, Wash., purchased 160 Gazelle style seats. The seats are upholstered in custom vinyl and fabric and are mounted on polished brass understructures. For more information, visit www.garyplatt.com.
KGM Gaming Partners with Sign Spec
Over the last three years, Philadelphia based KGM Gaming has quickly become a premiere distributor of “everything casino.” Having already signed myriad distribution contracts, KGM Gaming now adds Sign Spec to its impressive and rapidly expanding list of partners, which also includes Aristocrat Technologies, MEI, FutureLogic, Ainsworth Technologies and Sunkist Graphics. For more information, visit www.kgmgaming.com.
JCM Global Joins 3M Touch Systems Gaming Distributor Network
3M Touch Systems Inc. announced JCM Global as an authorized 3M gaming products distributor for North America. As one of the gaming industry’s most established distributors for slot machine components, JCM will now offer 3M MicroTouch ClearTek II touch sensor and 3M MicroTouch EX II touch controller products to its casino gaming customers. For more information, visit www.3M.com.
MEI Extends CASHFLOW SC
MEI has expanded its offering to casinos with the introduction of EASITRAX Soft Count. The integrated software/hardware solution places information collected in the CASHFLOW SC bill validator into a database that can be networked to multiple locations and be accessed to analyze slot floor performance. For more information, visit www.meigroup.com.
Sycuan Casino Promotes Johnson, Appoints Potter
Bobbi Johnson has been named Sycuan Casino’s assistant director of marketing while Kimy Potter has become promotions manager. “Casino promotions have played a key role in Sycuan Casino’s marketing strategy. Both Bobbi and Kimy have been instrumental in creating promotions that not only capture the imagination of guests but also translate into bottom line results. Their creativity, professionalism and impressive marketing backgrounds made my decision to promote them a no-brainer,” says Michael Tabor, director of marketing at Sycuan. For more information, visit www.sycuan.com.
GLI Celebrates 10 Years in Latin America
Gaming Laboratories International celebrated 10 years of serving the Latin American gaming market with displays at the SAGSE and MAGIA tradeshows in October. Additionally, GLI noted the first anniversary of GLI South America, an unprecedented partnership between GLI and the Universidad Nacional de La Plata in Buenos Aires. Team members from each of GLI’s North American offices joined team members from GLI South America to speak with regulators, manufacturers and operators about GLI’s testing abilities and long-term dedication to the market. GLI Manager Latin American/Spain Development, and Panama native, Karen Sierra-Hughes said: “GLI has a long history in Latin America, and we have been working directly with regulators for more than 10 years. GLI’s participation in shows like SAGSE and MAGIA are always excellent opportunities to meet with the region’s regulators and manufacturers, both those whom we have known and worked with for 10 years, and new regulators who have been referred to GLI based on our strong reputation in Latin America.” For more information, visit www.gaminglabs.com.
Giesecke & Devrient Launches Bank Express System™
The Bank Express System solution is designed to efficiently and easily automate the bank-out function in the satellite employee bank, as well as to track inventories and cash balances. Featuring an intuitive touchscreen user interface, the Bank Express System provides controlled and secure access to 150 preassembled employee banks. With an average dispense time of seven seconds, queues at the cashier window are virtually eliminated. Driven by the firm’s Compass CasinoCM software, the Bank Express System is a comprehensive end-to-end solution setting new standards of productivity and efficiency in the satellite cage. For more information, visit www.gdai.com.
WMS Launches New Gaming Machine
WMS Gaming Inc., a subsidiary of WMS Industries Inc. has launched a new and innovative "for-sale" gaming machine based on the company's popular and proprietary Transmissive Reels gaming technology platform. Featuring the capabilities of WMS' unique Transmissive Reels technology, this new gaming machine is the industry's first mechanical reel product to offer a multi-game feature set, while also providing an exciting solution for bringing the advantages of networked, server-enabled gaming to mechanical reel products. Utilizing WMS' Hot Hot Super Jackpot® brand and popular bonusing feature, the new multi-game product addresses the growing industry demand for new, next-generation mechanical reel products. With the multi-game offering, casino patrons can choose from four different games, each with a unique paytable and bonusing. For more information, visit www.wms.com/gameroom.
Viejas Names New Tribal Gaming Commissioner
The Viejas Band of Kumeyaay Indians announced the appointment of Tracy Burris as Tribal Gaming Commissioner. Burris, a member of the Chickasaw Nation of Oklahoma, most recently was treasurer of the National Indian Gaming Association (NIGA). Prior to that, he served as vice chairman and then chairman of the Oklahoma Indian Gaming Association (OIGA) and chairman of the Chickasaw Gaming Commission. Burris is a board member for the National Tribal Gaming Commissioners/Regulators Association and is a gaming advisor to the state of Oklahoma Indian Affairs Commission. For more information, visit www.viejasbandofkumeyaay.org.
Norsk Tipping Orders Games from ACE Interactive
Aristocrat Leisure Limited’s fully owned subsidiary ACE Interactive received a second order for 500 Indago™ interactive Video Terminals (iVT) from Norsk Tipping, the Norwegian National Lottery. The terminals will be installed as part of an anticipated network of more than 6,500 terminals throughout Norway. The supply of these Indago iVTs is part of the True Server Based Gaming project between ACE Interactive and Norsk Tipping. "We are delighted that Norsk Tipping has gone live with ACE Interactive’s TruServ™ system and have the confidence to order an additional 500 Indago terminals from us," said Michael Koch, ACE Interactive CEO. For more information, visit www.aceinteractive.se.
GCA Signs 20 International Clients
Global Cash Access Holdings Inc. announced that GCA, a wholly owned subsidiary, recently signed agreements to provide state-of-the-art cash access services to patrons at 20 additional international casino properties, continuing GCA’s global expansion strategy. The expansion includes 11 properties in the Czech Republic, marking GCA’s entrance into that market. In addition to the Czech properties, GCA signed agreements with three additional establishments in Canada; one in Switzerland; and five in the Caribbean, including Antigua, Aruba, Belize, Curacao and Puerto Rico. “These new locations reinforce our strategy to grow our international business. We believe that providing casinos with the ability to streamline and improve the patron experience, as well as provide casino patrons with greater access to available cash, can contribute to the success of these casinos,” said Scott Dowty, GCA’s executive vice president of business development. For more information, visit www.gcainc.com.