17th Annual AGEM/AGA Golf Classic Presented by JCM Global
The gaming industry is invited to go to new heights in support of responsible gaming in the 17th annual AGEM/AGA Golf Classic Presented by JCM Global. This year’s event takes place on Tuesday, April 28 at Cascata in Boulder City, Nev. The tournament is one of the gaming industry’s most anticipated events of the year, and is expected to draw players from across the U.S. and from across the span of the industry. Registration and sponsorship opportunities are available now. Registration is limited to the first 144 participants. Green fee is $700 per person, $1,400 for a twosome or $2,500 for a foursome. More information on registration and sponsorship is available by calling (702) 651-0000 or by visiting www.golf.jcmglobal.com. The Golf Classic is a fundraiser in support of problem gambling research conducted by the National Center for Responsible Gaming. Over its history, the event has raised more than $1.4 million. Returning as title sponsors are the Association of Gaming Equipment Manufacturers and the American Gaming Association. To date, sponsors of the 17th annual AGEM/AGA Golf Classic Presented by JCM Global include AGEM, AGA, JCM Global, Aristocrat, Caesars Entertainment, Casino Enterprise Management magazine, CPI, Konami and Scientific Games. For more information, visit www.jcmglobal.com.
Ken Morriss Joins Score Gaming’s International Sales Team
Ken Morriss, an industry veteran for 40-plus years, joined Score Gaming and heads the firm’s international sales team, company president and CEO Merrill Sparago, M.D., announced. Score Gaming, a gaming company that specializes in table games and slot development for the casino industry, has installations in multiple jurisdictions, including Las Vegas, Nev., Europe, the Caribbean, Asia and Africa. In 2014, Score had both of its entries, 3 Card 21 “N” Done and Double Up Blackjack earn top performer in the Grosvenor Casino’s Gaming Competition, opening distribution in the United Kingdom. Score’s Ménage a Trois is set to open in Trinidad and Tobago. For more information, visit www.scoregamingnv.com.
Hard Rock International Appoints Jon Lucas As EVP of Hotel & Casino Operations
Hard Rock International announced the appointment of 30-year hospitality veteran, Jon Lucas, as EVP of Hotel and Casino Operations. Lucas joined Hard Rock in 2013 as the president of the Hard Rock Rocksino in Northfield Park, where he managed everything from site design and construction to the hiring and onboarding of key executives. Prior to joining Hard Rock, Lucas was the president and general manager of the IP Casino in Biloxi, Miss. for six years. Lucas spent four years as regional president at Caesars Entertainment. For more information, visit www.hardrockhotels.com.
TCSJOHNHUXLEY Strengthens EMEA Sales Team; Grosvenor Casinos Choose TCSJOHNHUXLEY for 3-Year Maintenance Contract
With the recent creation of the EMEA division, TCSJOHNHUXLEY announced it has strengthened its sales team with a number of key appointments. To meet demand and to drive the business forward, the company saw three industry professionals return to the team. TCSJOHNHUXLEY announced the appointment of Steph Nel to the role of senior business development manager, Gavin Wright to the role of business development manager and John Galajsza as brand ambassador.
TCSJOHNHUXLEY also announced it has been awarded a three-year contract by Grosvenor Casinos to service and maintain electronic and traditional gaming products in multiple venues throughout the U.K. A number of service providers entered the RFP process, which included evaluations on quality of service delivery, value, capability, sustainability, broad product knowledge and experience. TCSJOHNHUXLEY met all the required criteria, in addition to having a strong track record and comprehensive experience in this sector. The contract enabled both companies to focus on future developments and mutually beneficial improvements. For more information, visit www.tcsjohnhuxley.com.
GTECH Partners with Genera Networks on “Neighbor” Geolottery Game; Merger of GTECH S.p.A. with and into International Game Technology
GTECH and Genera Networks signed an agreement to offer Genera’s Nabor™ (“Neighbor”) geolottery game to GTECH customers. Nabor offers lotteries an opportunity to launch a modern draw game that increases revenue and attracts new players. Nabor gives players a unique social experience of winning with their community and their neighbors. Players participate in a simple lottery raffle where their home address acts as the lottery ticket. Once a jackpot winner is drawn in the random raffle, secondary prize pools are awarded among players who live the closest to the original winner. The agreement with Genera Networks enabled GTECH to provide the Nabor game to GTECH World Lottery Association customers.
GTECH S.p.A. also announced that the High Court of England and Wales approved completion of the cross-border merger of GTECH with and into International Game Technology PLC. The merger will become effective at 12.01 a.m. on April 7, 2015, subject to the satisfaction or waiver of the remaining conditions precedent set out in the merger agreement. For more information, visit www.gtech.com.
Suzo-Happ Exclusive LCD Distributor for Wells-Gardner U.S. Amusement Market; Expands Cash Handling Technology Through Acquisition of SCAN COIN
Wells-Gardner Technologies Inc. announced it has named Suzo-Happ as its exclusive distributor of LCDs for the amusement market in the U.S. Effective March 9, customers can order Wells-Gardner LCDs directly through Suzo-Happ.
Suzo-Happ also announced it completed the acquisition of SCAN COIN. The company’s full line of Retail Cash Solutions are fully automated with integrated software that provides till management and cash office processing, enabling retailers to achieve significant labor efficiencies and reduce shrinkage. This flexible and innovative solution portfolio has enabled SCAN COIN to achieve the European market leading position in retail back office. For more information,
visit www.suzohapp.com.
GSA Announces New 2015 Board Of Directors; Welcomes Austrian Gaming Industries as Newest Platinum Member
GSA President Peter DeRaedt announced the Gaming Standards Association elected a new board of directors. Returning as chair is Adrian Marcu, International Game Technology. Vice chair is Mark Pace, Scientific Games. Secretary is Klaus Peltsch, Ontario Lottery Gaming Corporation. Treasurer is Keith Wood, Aristocrat Technologies. Elected as board members are: Roman Czubak, Austrian Gaming Industries, NOVOMATIC Group of Companies; Rachel Barber, GTECH Corporation; Byron Bridger, Atlantic Lottery Corporation; Syed Hussain, Oregon State Lottery; David Oh, Alberta Gaming & Liquor Commission; Shay Segev, Playtech PLC; Kevin Trombo, Manitoba Liquor & Lotteries Corporation; and Jeanne-Marie Wilkins, Isle of Capri Casinos.
The Gaming Standards Association also welcomed its newest platinum member, Austrian Gaming Industries part of the NOVOMATIC Group of Companies. Austrian Gaming Industries GmbH, a 100 percent subsidiary of NOVOMATIC AG, is an integrated global gaming company specializing in the design, development, manufacturing, distribution and sales of electronic gaming machines and advanced technology products. For more information, visit www.gamingstandards.com.
Scientific Games’ Katie Lever Chaired Go Red For Women Luncheon; Company Joins Governor Nathan Deal at Georgia Manufacturing Day
Scientific Games General Counsel and Executive Vice President Katie Lever chaired the American Heart Association’s Go Red For Women Luncheon Feb. 27 at the Bellagio Resort and Casino in Las Vegas. More than 400 people attended this annual event, which brings together the Southern Nevada community to raise awareness, share heart disease survivor stories and ultimately combat the disease which is the number 1 killer of women. This year’s Las Vegas Go Red For Women Luncheon raised $399,177, a record in the Las Vegas Chapter of the American Heart Association’s 10-year history, and exceeds the organization’s 2015 goal by $75,000 or 23 percent.
Scientific Games Corporation also announced that the company joined Governor Nathan Deal at the Georgia State Capitol in Atlanta for Georgia Manufacturing Day on March 4. The event, attended by representatives from the state’s growing manufacturing industry, was highlighted by an official “Buy from Georgia” proclamation from Governor Deal. Georgia Manufacturing Day was presented by the Georgia Manufacturing Alliance, a statewide organization dedicated to support, promote and grow Georgia manufacturing. Scientific Games was among 70 companies in attendance. With five global manufacturing operations, the company’s largest lottery manufacturing center and lottery technology headquarters are based in Alpharetta, where more than 1,100 members of Georgia’s workforce are employed. Scientific Games currently designs and produces 98 percent of the Georgia Lottery’s instant games and provides the Georgia Lottery with marketing, promotional and distribution services. For more information, visit www.scientificgames.com.
GLI® Granted Conditional Independent Testing Laboratory Certification by Mass. Gaming Commission; Welcomes Brais Pena to GLI Spain Team
Gaming Laboratories International was granted conditional independent testing laboratory certification, pursuant to Massachusetts regulations 205 CMR 144.06. Full certification is expected to be issued contingent on the outcome of a full background investigation and review by the Investigations and Enforcement Bureau. The conditional independent testing laboratory certification granted to GLI by the Massachusetts Gaming Commission enabled GLI to begin to execute independent testing and certification services on behalf of the MGC.
GLI also welcomed iGaming expert Brais Pena to its EMEA Development Team. Pena is based in the company’s GLI Spain office in Barcelona, where he will lend his expertise to the company’s clients through its broad range of services. Pena brings a wealth of iGaming experience to GLI and its global client base. Prior to GLI, Pena was product and affiliate manager for Luckia Games, managing the company’s sportsbook, casino and poker products. He also served as CEO of PKComunicacion Gaming and affiliate manager for Akamon Entertainment. His experience also includes terms as marketing and affiliate manager for Poker Mambo and junior affiliate manager for 770 Span and RivaPoker. For more information, visit www.gaminglabs.com.
The Rainmaker Group Acquires Revcaster LLC
The Rainmaker Group acquired Revcaster LLC. The acquisition and addition of the Revcaster™ solution expanded and strengthened Rainmaker’s product suite, providing the comprehensive revenue management suite to traditional hotels, casino hotels and resort hotels. For more information, visit www.letitrain.com.
MGM Resorts International Announces Promotion, Retirement
MGM Resorts International announced the promotion of Nik Rytterstrom to general manager of Luxor Resort and Casino. Rytterstrom most recently served as general manager of the company’s Goldstrike Casino Resort in Tunica, Miss. Rytterstrom’s appointment followed the retirement announcement of Renee West. West was the first woman to be named president of a Las Vegas Strip property. She will retire effective April 24. Rytterstrom has more than a decade and a half of hospitality industry experience. He is a graduate of The University of Nevada, Las Vegas. West has been the president of Luxor and Excalibur resorts since 2010. For more information, visit www.mgmresorts.com.
Interblock Welcomes Colleen McKenna as Vice President of Marketing
Interblock appointed Colleen McKenna as vice president of marketing. McKenna was a director at Fortune 500 Symantec—the fifth largest software company in the world—where she spent 17 years as a global executive within their marketing department. She is recognized as an innovative marketer, leading trend-setting initiatives that leverage creativity and entertainment to reach new customer segments and extend the brand. An example is “Cybergeddon,” an original feature film with CSI creator Anthony Zuiker, which was distributed on Yahoo! in more than 20 countries and reached more than 30 million viewers in two months. For more information, visit www.interblockgaming.com.
Paragon Casino Resort Names James A. Shields as Executive Chef
James A. Shields was named executive chef at Paragon Casino Resort, returning to the resort after a three-year absence. Shields, a graduate and leader of the culinary team at the Culinary Institute of America, has more than twenty years’ experience in the culinary field. He has held the position of executive chef at several large properties in the New Orleans area. Shields came to Paragon from Jena Choctaw Pines Casino, where he was a chef for two years. Prior to that, Shields was executive chef at Ameristar Casino in Vicksburg, Miss., and he was executive chef at Paragon from 2009-2011. For more information, visit www.paragoncasinoresort.com.
TCSJOHNHUXLEY Appoints Pedro de Matos
TCSJOHNHUXLEY announced that after a short stint as a consultant, Pedro De Matos was appointed head of global operations. Going forward he will focus on U.K. and European operations, leveraging the global operational network to provide synergy to the group’s corporate strategy. Pedro came to TCSJOHNHUXLEY with extensive gaming industry knowledge having worked for Aristocrat Technologies since 2006, most recently in the position of general manager of EMEA. For more information, visit www.tcsjohnhuxley.com.
NIGC Creates Technology Division to Enhance Mission Delivery
The National Indian Gaming Commission (NIGC) announced a new division focused on providing technology for enhancing its regulatory mission and supporting tribes and tribal regulators. The Technology Division took the lead on providing the agency with information technology and telecommunications products, services and solutions for the NIGC. The Technology Division built on the steps the NIGC took to better harness technology internally and externally. For more information, visit www.nigc.gov.
McDonald Carano Wilson Welcomes New Gaming Law Partner to Firm
McDonald Carano Wilson LLP announced Attorney P. Gregory Giordano joined the firm’s Las Vegas office as a partner. Giordano’s practice focuses on the areas of gaming law, specifically publicly traded corporations and regulatory compliance, administrative law and procedures and antitrust law. Giordano served with the Nevada State Gaming Control Board as the first chief of its corporate securities division, where he oversaw licensing investigations and supervised the analysis and monitoring of publicly traded corporations associated with Nevada gaming licenses. Giordano advises domestic and foreign clients on structuring investments in Nevada resort casinos, including advising them on applicable gaming regulatory and licensing requirements. For more information, visit www.mcdonaldcarano.com.
AGI Gaming Colombia Presents Latest NOVOMATIC Portfolio at FADJA; NOVOMATIC to Reclaim Multiplayer Sales and Distribution
The Dominator Curve was presented in Colombia with a number of games highlighting NOVOMATIC’s first proprietary mystery progressive stand-alone jackpot. Another Latin American premiere was the display of the FV833 Imperator™ S3. A recurring sight at FADJA was the NOVOSTAR® V.I.P. II slant top with its Crown V.I.P. chair—but this time with an increased 50-inch screen. The NOVOMATIC product presentation included a number of best sellers such as the Panther Roulette™ II, the Magic Joker Jackpot™, the Dominator and NOVOSTAR SL cabinets, as well as the latest game editions.
Austrian Gaming Industries GmbH (AGI) also gave notification that, as of Aug. 1, 2015, it will reclaim the rights to the sales and distribution of its multiplayer (electronic table gaming) product range currently held by TCSJOHNHUXLEY. AGI will fully control all international sales and distribution of its multiplayer product range directly, through its subsidiary companies in some jurisdictions and via certain distribution partners in specific markets. For more information, visit www.novomatic.com.
Konami’s Podium Goliath Video Slot Creates a Big Impact for European Casinos
Konami Gaming, Inc. announced the European debut of its extra-large Podium Goliath™ video slot machine cabinet with installations in France and Belgium. Featuring dual 32-inch LCD touchscreens and unique 360-degree attract lighting effects, Goliath reached Europe’s gaming market for the first time. Exclusive Konami distributors CARO Développement and DRGT introduced this product release to casino locations in France and Belgium, respectively. For more information, visit www.konamigaming.com.
BMM Expanding The BMM Academy in 2015
BMM Testlabs announced the expansion of its training and education program, The BMM Academy, in 2015. The BMM Academy comprises a series of education and training programs tailored to fit any small group or large organization. Subjects range from ‘Independent Test Labs and their Responsibilities’ to ‘EGM Essentials’ and ‘Class II Technical Standards.’ Also offered is an ‘in-depth’ series covering ‘Math Analysis,’ ‘Electronic Signatures,’ ‘Source Code’ and more detailed areas of the testing and certification process. The BMM Academy provides training and education at BMM’s state-of-the-art facility in Las Vegas, at the client’s facility and at shows and events throughout the world. Training can be customized for each group or organization and promises a positive and interactive learning experience for all. For more information, visit www.bmm.com.
GCA Extends and Expands Business Relationship With Las Vegas Sands
Global Cash Access, Inc. announced it signed a multi-year agreement with Las Vegas Sands. The contract extended cash access services and the business relationship to include the deployment of integrated kiosks across the full gaming floors at the Venetian and Palazzo resorts in Las Vegas, as well as Sands Bethlehem in Pennsylvania. GCA’s integrated kiosk platform is a full-service solution for ticket redemption, bill breaking and cash access services. For more information, visit www.gcainc.com.
Avigilon Promotes Joel Schuster to Chief Legal Officer
Avigilon Corporation announced the promotion of Joel Schuster to chief legal officer, senior vice president and corporate secretary. Schuster leads Avigilon’s global corporate governance and international tax compliance, in addition to overseeing the company’s growing legal team in pursuit of mergers and acquisitions and intellectual property generation. Schuster joined Avigilon in October 2013 and provided legal guidance and leadership in a series of key transactions. Prior to joining Avigilon, Schuster served as the general counsel and corporate secretary for three Vancouver-based public corporations. Schuster has practiced at top law firms in the United States and Canada, and is admitted to the bars of British Columbia and Massachusetts. He holds degrees in law and political science from the University of Toronto. For more information, visit www.avigilon.com.