Bally Acquires SHFL entertainment, Installs EBS in New Mexico, Releases Online Games on William Hill Site
Bally Technologies Inc. announced it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire SHFL entertainment Inc. at a per-share price of $23.25 in cash for total consideration of approximately $1.3 billion. The transaction, which was unanimously approved by both the Bally and SHFL Boards of Directors, combines two best-in-class, complementary and customer-centric gaming technology companies with a shared commitment to innovation, to create a company offering the gaming industry’s most diversified suite of products. The acquisition of SHFL will complement Bally’s existing product portfolio while providing new access to the global land-based and online table games market and the growing e-Tables market, as well as enhancing its presence in key international markets, creating a leading end-to-end gaming technology company.
Bally also announced it has installed its award-winning Elite Bonusing Suite™ (EBS) applications at the Isleta Hotel & Casino (previously Hard Rock Albuquerque) in N.M. The casino will feature Virtual Racing™ NASCAR® from Bally’s award-winning EBS. The casino operator will also use EBS to add excitement across their iVIEW network using player-centric, real-time interactive promotions such as U-Spin Bonusing™, DM Tournaments™ and Flex Rewards™. The casino will utilize Bally’s CoolSign® media-management solution and install the Bally WayFinder application across the gaming floor, enabling players to easily find their favorite casino game or check out the latest menu at Embers Steakhouse. CoolSign enables casino operators to showcase bonusing events, such as Virtual Racing NASCAR, on video screens throughout the property, further enhancing the excitement and anticipation that these types of floor-wide bonuses provide.
Bally announced its online slot games are now available through the United Kingdom-based William Hill. Under terms of the agreement, Bally’s games will be available for players on www.williamhill.com. For more information, visit www.ballytech.com.
IGT Wins Big in Oregon State Lottery VLT Market, Has Given Away Nearly $6 Billion in Jackpot Winnings
International Game Technology (IGT) announced that the company will be providing 1,500 video lottery terminals (VLTs) to the Oregon State Lottery in 2014. The VLTs will include latest-generation platforms that feature the advanced video platform, or AVP®, that will enable the lottery with a full games to system (G2S) capability. IGT is now able to offer the award-winning AVP game theme library as they deploy into the Oregon Lottery market on the G2S protocol. Poker will also be on the roster.
IGT published a compelling infographic looking at the history of MegaJackpots® millionaires, including total money won, “winning-est” states and luckiest months. IGT MegaJackpot games have created more than 1,500 millionaires, more than any other gaming manufacturer. With nearly $6 billion won since 1986, the infographic names the following the Top 5 Winning-est States, ranked by total MegaJackpot dollar amount won, including Nevada: $2.3 billion; New Jersey: $884 million; Mississippi: $513 million; California: $429 million; and Louisiana: $307 million. The graphic also identifies the luckiest months for winnings, with May ($548 million), March ($509 million) and November ($493 million) making up the top three. For more information, visit www.igt.com.
SHFL entertainment Installs Linked Progressives across 35 Casinos in the U.K.
SHFL entertainment Inc. announced that it has begun the installation of its Operator Wide Area Progressive (OWAP) technology to link 50 BJ Aces tables across 35 of Genting’s casinos in the United Kingdom. SHFL’s OWAP technology provides casino operators the ability to offer linked progressive jackpots across multiple properties, leading to faster incrementing and more frequent jackpots while delivering even more excitement for players. All 50 tables are scheduled to be linked by mid-August. For more information, visit www.shfl.com.
NEWave Welcomes Microsoft Expert to Managerial Team, Installs TINCheck Software at Charles Town Races
NEWave is continuing to expand its top management and now the company has welcomed Microsoft software expert David Beecher as a systems engineer. NEWave is known throughout the gaming industry for its staff having in-casino experience and Beecher is no exception, coming to NEWave from Terrible Herbst Hotel & Casino where he served as an IT systems and support manager. Beecher also brings a knowledge base from outside of the gaming industry to NEWave, having served as IT manager for Summit Mortgage Corporation in Plymouth, Minn. Beecher is a Microsoft Certified Professional—Windows XP. He is also considered an expert in Trend Micro, Symantic and Watchguard software and in SAN devices. Beecher is based in NEWave’s headquarters in Las Vegas.
NEWave is expanding its relationship with Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races, installing its leading TINCheck software at the casino. Previously, NEWave installed its Audit Manager and Title 31 software tools at Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races. The casino, located in Ranson, W.V., will use TINCheck software across the entire operation from slot floor to table games. An integral part of the company’s award-winning myCompliance Manager™ software suite, TINCheck software makes verifying patron information simple and affordable, as it quickly validates address and tax ID information. For more information, visit www.mynewave.com.
New AGA President to Join Influencers at EiG
October’s EiG, which is being held in Barcelona, is set to be the first official engagement outside the United States for new American Gaming Association (AGA) President and Chief Executive Officer Geoff Freeman. Freeman, a respected association professional, was previously executive vice president and chief operating officer at the U.S. Travel Association, where he was instrumental in repositioning the industry to become a leading political force in Washington. For more information, visit www.eigexpo.com.
Interblock Sees Popular Growth of G4 Organic Live Roulette in France
Interblock installed its multi-terminal gaming machine, G4 Organic Live Roulette™, within the Casino Gujan Mestras located in southwest France. The installation was carried out at the end of May and since then has showed excellent results. G4 Organic Live is a semi-automated game, offering choice of any traditional game from our selection. Organic Live platform offers players the ability to place wagers electronically on a live wheel operated by a croupier or an electronic shoe being dealt for a baccarat game.
Interblock is proud that another great installation together with one of the top casino operators in France, company JOA Groupe, was carried out in Casino de Luxeuil-les-Bains. G4 Organic Live™ Roulette with seven play stations in a silver-black design was placed in the beginning of June.
Interblock is proud that the beginning of a new cooperation with French distributor SFC2A has already shown some results by placing G4 Organic Live Roulette in Casino les Pins. For more information, visit www.elektroncek.eu.
Hialeah Park Casino Selects MEI® Cash Management Solutions
The Hialeah Park Casino has specified all 882 slot machines with both SC Advance and EASITRAX Soft Count. Opening a new operation with an efficient, proven cash management process was vital to management’s decision. SC Advance has evolved from the industry-proven CASHFLOW SC note acceptor, applying new technology and market knowledge to make a great product even better. It features enhanced recognition technology, faster note-to-note speed, improved barcode recognition and the capacity to accept more than 100 different currencies and denominations. SC Advance also has one of the industry’s best acceptance rate for valid street-grade notes, including those that are wet, crinkled or torn. For more information, visit www.meigroup.com.
Giesecke & Devrient Great Britain to Take Over Currency Tech
Giesecke & Devrient Great Britain Ltd., Wembley and Currency Tech entered into a definitive agreement under which GDGB will acquire all shares of Currency Tech, based in Milton Keynes. By acquiring Currency Tech, G&D is taking the next step toward growing its presence in the U.K. market. Currency Tech’s business is complementary to G&D’s existing product and service portfolio. According to Ralf Wintergerst, group senior vice president and head of G&D’s Banknote Processing division, this acquisition reinforced the position of the division as the leading solution provider for all aspects of the cash cycle. For more information, visit www.gi-de.com.
Caesars Entertainment Breaks Ground on Atlantic City Facility
Caesars Entertainment Corp. announced it has begun construction on the largest meeting and conference facility in the northeast. The project is intended to stimulate new visitation to the market, particularly mid-week. Atlantic City captures less than 1 percent of the $16 billion convention and meeting market in the northeast U.S. The development of a state-of-the-art facility and Atlantic City’s proximity to New York, Philadelphia and other urban markets presents the opportunity to increase this share. Caesars plans to use $45 million of funds it previously contributed to the New Jersey Casino Reinvestment Authority and more than $80 million of equity to complete the $125.8 million project. For more information, visit www.caesars.com.
Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Las Vegas Welcomes New Addition in Vancouver
Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Las Vegas is pleased to welcome Hard Rock Casino Vancouver to the family and looks forward to the unveiling later this year. Reputable for its unrivaled offerings influenced by the love of music, the announcement of the Canadian property follows shortly after the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino was selected to be the brand new casino offered in Sioux City, set to open summer 2014. The multi-million dollar renovation and rebranding will be operated by Great Canadian Gaming Corporation, Canada’s leading gaming company known for the award-winning four-diamond River Rock Casino Resort. It will be located in the booming city of Coquitlam in Metro Vancouver, British Columbia, and will deliver the edgy yet sophisticated ambiance for which the Hard Rock brand is synonymous. For more information, visit www.hardrockcasinovancouver.com.
Ultimate Gaming Enters Agreement to Bring Online Gaming to New Jersey, Completes Field Trial for Ultimate Poker
Ultimate Gaming announced that it has signed an online gaming operations agreement with Trump Taj Mahal Associates. Under the terms of the agreement, Ultimate Gaming will supply a wide range of real money online casino games and poker, using its proprietary technology platform and the Ultimate Brands. Ultimate Gaming launched real money online poker in Nevada at UltimatePoker.com in April 2013. Ultimate Gaming is also the exclusive online gaming partner of the Ultimate Fighting Championship® (UFC).
Ultimate Gaming has successfully completed the field trial for Ultimate Poker, receiving recommendation for approval from the Nevada Gaming Control Board to continue offering real money online poker. On April 30, 2013, Ultimate Gaming made history as the first company in the United States to offer legal and secure online poker. Once the first hand was dealt, a trial began during which Ultimate Gaming proved its ability to adhere to the rigorous requirements set forth by the Nevada Gaming Control Board. For more information, visit www.ultimategaming.com.
Cuningham Group Wins Western Pacific Regional DBIA Award of Merit
Honoring top projects that demonstrate the successful use of innovation by design-build teams, The Doug + Nancy Barnhart Cancer Center at Sharp Chula Vista Medical Center was honored at the Design-Build Institute Western Pacific Region’s 7th Annual Awards Competition. Cuningham Group Architecture Inc. partnered with Makena Medical Buildings, Medical Real Estate Development, J. Reese Construction Company and Kitchell Contractors to develop, design and build the new three-story facility. The 45,000-square-foot Sharp Chula Vista Cancer Center serves patients who have already been diagnosed with cancer and are referred to the center for further diagnosis and treatment. For more information, visit www.cuningham.com.
MGM Resorts International Announces Promotions
MGM Resorts International announced three senior level promotions in its government affairs, corporate communications and public relations departments. The following promotions were announced: Alan Feldman to executive vice president of global government and industry affairs, Clark Dumont to senior vice president of corporate communications and Jenn Michaels to senior vice president of public relations. Feldman is one of the industry’s most recognizable and trusted executives and has brought increased focus to the company’s government and regulatory areas, as well as ongoing work in industry affairs. Feldman will continue as the MGM’s principal spokesperson, especially on industry issues. Michaels spearheads national, international, regional and local consumer media relations for the company’s resorts and is responsible for developing and implementing communications strategies in support of all of their entertainment, food and beverage, hotel and retail amenities and attractions. For more information, visit www.mgmresorts.com.
Galaxy Gaming Continues Its Aggressive Eastern Seaboard Expansion
Galaxy Gaming Inc. announced it has expanded its East Coast operations into North Carolina. Harrah’s Cherokee Casino Resort has installed Galaxy’s games on 61 of its approximately 100 tables. Following the recent trend set by other eastern states including Maryland, Pennsylvania and Rhode Island to add live table games, the Cherokees negotiated a new compact with the State of North Carolina. This change allowed Harrah’s Cherokee to add live table games to its establishment. For more information, visit www.galaxygaming.com.
The Wynn Launches Leap Forward’s SaffariNet®
Leap Forward Gaming Inc. announced it has installed the SaffariNet® Patron Display Interface™ (PDI) picture-in-picture multimedia ecosystem technology at The Wynn, a Wynn Resorts Limited property. As part of the patented SaffariNet® ecosystem, PDI agnostically provides operators with high flexibility and agile content production and implementation utilizing web-based technologies such as HTML5, Silverlight®, Flash, etc. For more information, visit www.leapforwardgaming.com.
Travis Lamb Named Senior VP, CFO of Maryland Live!
Maryland Live! Casino announced that Travis Lamb has been named senior vice president and chief financial officer. Lamb has more than 20 years of experience in the casino gaming industry, primarily in strategic planning and analysis, and financial leadership positions. Lamb is responsible for overseeing all of the financial aspects of Maryland Live! Casino, including budgeting, revenue management, financial planning and analysis, accounting, information technology and compliance with state and other external regulators. In addition to his financial duties, Lamb is heavily involved in all aspects of the property’s day-to-day operations. Lamb is responsible for overseeing all of the financial aspects of Maryland Live! Casino. For more information, visit www.marylandlivecasino.com.
Massachusetts Gaming Commission Hires Jill Lacey Griffin
The Massachusetts Gaming Commission announces the appointment of Jill Lacey Griffin as director of workforce, supplier and diversity development. Responsible for overseeing development of a skilled workforce and trained local supplier base, in order to maximize their use by the new expanded gaming industry, Griffin will also lead the commission’s efforts to ensure that both the workforce and supplier bases are fully inclusive of the diverse populations that make up the citizenry of Massachusetts. Griffin will be responsible for assisting with the creation of a task force to provide business services to support small business seeking business opportunities with casino and slots-parlor gaming licensees. Griffin will also oversee the promotion of diversity and programs to encourage all residents of the Commonwealth to benefit from the new jobs and business opportunities created through the expansion of gaming. For more information, visit www.massgaming.com.
SK+G Expands Further into Asia
SK+G Advertising announces the formation of SK+G Asia Pacific, based in Hong Kong. Known throughout the region for creating successful marketing campaigns for powerhouse resort destinations Galaxy Macau and Solaire Manila in the Philippines, SK+G has cultivated a deep understanding of Asian culture and consumer psychology. The agency has partnered with The Tank, a Hong Kong-based firm with equal prowess in the service marketing realm and unparalleled experience in the Asian market. For more information, visit www.skgadv.com.
Magic Dreams Successfully Installed in Argentina
Magic Dreams is proud about its successful installation in Argentina, its main profitable market in Latin America. Hipodromo de Palermo, owned by Casino Club, selected 20 machines belonging to two popular Magic Dreams Jackpot Systems: Time Voyager and Captain Cash. The titles offered to Hipodromo de Palermo’s players are Back to Jurassic, Back to Rome and Back to Rinascimento. For more information, visit www.magicdr.com.
Mr. Green Goes Live with Jumio for VIP Customer Experience
Mr. Green and Jumio Inc. announced that Jumio’s real-time customer identification solution is now live for Mr. Green customers. Mr. Green is one of the high growth licensees in Malta, now offering more than 200 games and carving out a reputation as an e-gaming provider that offers a personal service that makes every customer feel like a VIP. Jumio’s Netverif enables Mr. Green’s customers to use the camera on their computer or mobile device to scan their ID document that is then validated by Jumio’s technology to ensure that players are who they say they are and that they are of legal age. For more information, visit www.mrgreen.com.
Ezugi Announces Addition of Mini-Games to HTML5 Experience
Ezugi announced a partnership with casino software provider Play’n GO. This partnership will see the inclusion of Play’n GO’s slot games such as Ace of Spades, Cops’n’Robbers and Lucky Diamonds and their table games BlackJack Casino Hold’em and Mini Roulette available on Ezugi’s HTML5 package. Using a simple API, Ezugi has synchronized the player’s balance between the slot games and table games to the same online wallet, meaning the customer does not have to leave any window and can continue to play and easily deposit and withdraw in parallel. The in-game experience comes in Real Money and Demo Modes, giving customers the option to simply entertain themselves during the wait or to add to their winnings. For more information, visit www.ezugi.com.
INTRALOT Signs IT Contract with OPAP, Receives Internet Betting License in Poland
INTRALOT announced that following an international tender process procured by OPAP S.A., it has signed a contract for the implementation of the new central system and a contract for the support, maintenance and evolution of the new central system with a total duration of five years. The duration of this agreement is for two years with three one-year renewal options. INTRALOT has also signed an extension to its current contract with OPAP S.A. until the commencement of the new system. The implementation contract includes the commissioning and installation of the infrastructure, the software implementation/installation and all the necessary implementation services, so the new central system commence live operations and user licenses for Greece and Cyprus.
INTRALOT’s subsidiary in Poland, Totolotek, has received a six-year Internet betting license from the Polish Ministry of Finance. According to the license granted, Totolotek will provide to players in Poland fixed-odds betting and sport pool games through the Internet. The company’s plans regarding interactive gaming in Poland also entail the development of live betting. Totolotek’s interactive operations in Poland, expected to commence in the fourth quarter of 2013, will be developed on INTRALOT’s state-of-the-art technology and will complement its already successful land-based operations in the country. For more information, visit www.intralot.com.
bwin.party Selects GeoComply as U.S. Geolocation Partner
GeoComply, which was recently awarded a license by the Nevada Gaming Control Board to provide geolocation solutions to online gaming operators, has been selected by bwin.party digital entertainment to support them across both PC and mobile devices in the U.S. GeoComply was chosen because of its ability to deliver on the high standards of compliance required by regulators in the U.S. In addition to holding a Nevada license, GeoComply has submitted a license application with the state of New Jersey where a regulated market for online gaming is set to open this November. For more information, visit www.bwinparty.com.
Win Systems Moves to New Offices
As of June 5, Win Systems is operating in their new corporate offices located in Sant Cugat del Vallés. With more than 2,000 square meters of space, the new headquarters will accommodate more than 80 software engineers by the end of the year. The offices also house the company’s technical support department, which provides 24-hour technical support to all its customers and operations. For more information, visit www.en.winsystemsintl.com.
Betware, Prima Networks Awarded Contract for Danske Spil
Betware, in conjunction with Prima Networks Limited, has won a public tender to provide a bingo and instant games solution to the Danish national lottery Danske Spil, which represents a major proportion of the Danish gaming market. Through the deal, Danske Spil will be able to offer its players a complete suite of Microgaming’s renowned online bingo games, as well as multiple instant predetermined games. The games offered to Danske Spil will be optimized for different platforms to allow the Danish players to enjoy them via mobile, tablet, Smart TV and desktop. For more information, visit www.betware.com.
Seneca Niagara Prepares for $26 Million Casino Transformation
Officials with the Seneca Nation of Indians and Seneca Gaming Corporation today unveiled plans to completely renovate the 88,000 square-foot main gaming floor at Seneca Niagara Casino & Hotel. Niagara Falls’ premier gaming destination will undergo a $26 million transformation, enhancing everything from the sights and sounds guests experience to the air they breathe. The project will take place in several phases and will be completed in a virtually seamless fashion with minimal disruption to guests. Another major investment will be the demolition of Club 101 at the center of the gaming floor and the creation of an entirely new feature bar and live entertainment stage in the southwest corner. The area will be furnished with a dance floor, lounge seats, a circular bar with 20 tabletop video gaming units and a 40-by-20 feet high-definition jumbo video wall that rivals those at professional sports venues. The project represents the first major renovation of the original casino since 2002. For more information, visit www.senecacasinos.com.
Farrell Named Resorts World Casino President, Eller Appointed Chief Financial Officer
Edward M. Farrell, a gaming industry veteran with more than 30 years of experience at the most successful casinos across the country, has been named president of Resorts World Casino New York City. Farrell was part of the startup team in New York City and oversaw a team of financial professionals during a time that Resorts World repeatedly set national records for monthly gross gaming slot revenues, peaking at more than $71 million this March. Since opening less than two years ago, the casino has taken in more than $1.2 billion in overall revenues with more than
$500 million of those dollars earmarked for New York State’s education fund.
Genting has appointed Ryan Eller to be chief financial officer of Resorts World Casino New York City. Eller has extensive experience in the gaming industry leading finance teams for tribal and commercial casino operations, including Harrah’s Entertainment. He is a former U.S. Marine, graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy and received an MBA from Harvard Business School. For more information, visit www.rwnewyork.com.