AGEM Announces Seven New Members
The Association of Gaming Equipment Manufacturers (AGEM) announced that its board of directors has approved the membership applications of seven new companies, bringing the trade group to a total of 126 members, an all-time high. The new AGEM members are: Arrow International, based in Cleveland, a full-line manufacturer of bingo paper, pull tabs and related gaming products with more than 45 years of industry experience; Digital Instinct, based in Brisbane, Australia, a leading software development company that has developed world-class software solutions for labor and workforce management; ISMS, based in Hong Kong, a large multinational company that primarily buys and sells used slot machines; Metalcraft, based in Boise, Idaho, a precision sheet metal and fabrication shop; Ortiz Gaming, based in Sao Paulo, Brazil, with key offices in Madrid, Spain, and Miami, principally focused on Class II hardware and software; Renewable Creative, based in Henderson, Nev., an advertising agency with both business-to-business and business-to-consumer creativity; and TOVIS, based in Incheon, Korea, a provider of a wide variety of leading touchscreen and display technology and solutions. For more information, visit www.agem.org.
Ron Jeffrey Named Managing Director of Bally Australia
Bally Technologies Inc. announced Ron Jeffrey has been named the managing director of Bally Australia, reporting directly to Srinivasan (Srini) Raghavan, senior vice president of Asia-Pacific and managing director of Bally India. Jeffrey had been sales manager for Bally Australia since 2010. He will remain based out of Bally’s Australia headquarters in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. Prior to joining Bally, Jeffrey was national sales manager for Aruze Gaming, Australia. Previously, Jeffrey spent more than 10 years with Australia-based Aristocrat Technologies, where he was involved in various sales and marketing positions both in Australia and the United States. For more information, visit www.ballytech.com.
WMS Stockholders Elect Directors, Enters into B2B Agreement with BCLC
WMS Industries Inc. announced that stockholders re-elected all eight nominees standing for re-election to the WMS Industries board of directors: Robert J. Bahash, Brian R. Gamache, Patricia M. Nazemetz, Edward W. Rabin Jr., Ira S. Sheinfeld, Bobby L. Siller, William J. Vareschi Jr., and Keith R. Wyche; and also elected Matthew Paull, the former senior executive vice president and chief financial officer of McDonald’s Corp., who was nominated this year to join the board. Stockholders also voted to ratify the appointment of Ernst & Young as the company’s independent registered public accounting firm for fiscal 2013, approve the adoption of WMS Industries Inc. 2012 Restated Incentive Plan, and approve the advisory resolution on executive compensation.
WMS also announced that the company has entered into a multi-year online content licensing agreement with the British Columbia Lottery Corp. (BCLC). Under the terms of the agreement, BCLC will have access to WMS’ online library of authentic slot games on their gambling website, PlayNow.com. BCLC’s PlayNow.com players will have the chance to play many of WMS’ popular slot games. For more information, visit www.wms.com.
Aristocrat Enters Social Gaming, Selects Gaming Support, Installs at Jackson Rancheria Casino
Aristocrat Leisure Ltd. announced an agreement to acquire Product Madness Inc., a leader in the fast-growing online social casino market. Product Madness is among the top five operators in the social casino slot genre on Facebook, with more than 500,000 daily active users and 3.5 million monthly active users. Product Madness co-founders, Lior Shiff and Jose Brotons, will continue to lead the business, and are excited to bring their robust platform technology together with Aristocrat’s award-winning game content in order to drive combined growth in the social gaming segment.
Aristocrat Technologies Europe selected Slim Line signs from Gaming Support to highlight the new gaming experience recently introduced at the luxurious Monte-Carlo Bay Casino. Gaming Support worked with Aristocrat to create and make a range of signs to communicate and promote the 84 new Aristocrat machines installed as part of the refurbished Monte-Carlo Bay Casino.
Aristocrat has also completed a major update to its Oasis 360™ system at Jackson Rancheria Casino in California. Aristocrat has converted all of the property’s 1,600 games to the advanced nCompass™ LCD and added the bonusing engine nRich™. For more information, visit www.aristocrat.com.au.
Konami Hires Senior Director of Marketing
Konami Gaming Inc. is pleased to announce the appointment of Matt Reback to senior director, marketing. Reback will be responsible for providing marketing leadership for Konami in domestic and international markets, including the games and systems divisions. He has extensive experience with brand-driven business strategy, casino marketing and casino operations. In addition to serving as a marketing executive for several gaming organizations, his experience includes market research, product development and intellectual property law. Most recently, Reback served as the vice president and assistant general manager of the Sunset Station Casino for Station Casinos. For more information, visit www.konamigaming.com.
IGT Extends Mobile Footprint with Expansion to Paddy Power Partnership
International Game Technology (IGT) announced it has agreed to a deal to provide mobile games to Paddy Power in a significant extension to the companies’ existing partnership. Paddy Power, the international betting and gaming group, will become IGT’s first OpenBet customer to access a wide range of the most successful IGT mobile products via the IGT rgs® (remote gaming server) casino. The games will be available at paddypower.com as well as through the mobile site of Paddy Power’s recently launched new brand ‘Roller.’ The top-performing IGT titles in the initial launch include Da Vinci Diamonds™, Cleopatra™, Cats™, Wolf Run™, Kitty Glitter™ and Elvis® A Little More Action. For more information, visit www.igt.com.
NEWave Expands With First Contract in Maine at Oxford Casino, Expands Relationship with Spirit Lake Casino
NEWave has expanded its software dominance with its first contract in Maine at the newly opened Oxford Casino. NEWave will install its Title 31 and Tax Form Validator software modules, which will help Oxford Casino remain in compliance, avoid fines and increase efficiencies. The Title 31 and Tax Form Validator modules are both part of NEWave’s award-winning myCompliance Manager™ software suite.
NEWave has expanded its relationship with Spirit Lake Casino in Saint Michael, N.D. Spirit Lake Casino has been a client of NEWave’s since 2005, and now NEWave will install its award-winning myCompliance Manager software suite at the casino. Spirit Lake Gaming Commission Executive Director of Gaming Regulations and Compliance Departments Collette Brown said: “At Spirit Lake Casino, we take compliance issues very seriously. We needed reliable, accurate solutions combined with outstanding service to ensure that we remained in compliance and protected ourselves from fines that can be enormous.” For more information, visit www.mynewave.com.
BMM Formally Accredited in Bolivia
BMM is pleased to announce that it has been formally accredited by Autoridad de Fiscalización y Control Social del Juego in Bolivia. As the Autoridad del Juego (AJ) prepares to begin licensing operators, manufacturers and homologating gaming equipment again, this accreditation ensures that BMM will be at the forefront of the re-emerging Bolivian market. Mike Dreitzer, COO of BMM said: “As a global service provider, it’s imperative for our clients that BMM is recognized or licensed by every jurisdiction in the world. We are very grateful to Mario Cazon, director ejecutivo of AJ for his assistance throughout this process.” For more information, visit www.bmm.com.
TransAct Technologies Signs New Contract for Epicentral® Print System
TransAct Technologies announced that it has signed a new contract to install the Epicentral® print system across all Baden-Württembergische Spielbanken GmbH & Co. KG (Spielbank BW) group casino properties in Germany. The Epicentral print system will be connected to 500 slot machines and is projected to go live in various stages in 2013. As part of the installation process, Spielbank BW has upgraded all printers in their slot machines to the TransAct Epic 950® printer in order to ensure full usage of the Epicentral print system. For more information, visit www.transact-tech.com.
Saskatchewan Selects SPIELO International in VLT Bid
Lottomatica Group S.p.A. subsidiary SPIELO International Canada ULC has announced that it has signed a contract to provide new video lottery terminals (VLTs) in Saskatchewan as part of the Western Canada Lottery Corp. (WCLC)’s machine replacement cycle. This contract award follows a competitive procurement process. By early 2013, SPIELO International expects to install approximately 1,375 prodiGi Vu® terminals in Saskatchewan as part of WCLC’s network of approximately 4,000 VLTs. The VLT deployment comprises the provision of 13 games (including game refreshments). In late 2012, WCLC also selected SPIELO International to provide its INTELLIGEN™ central system to support their VLT program. For more information, visit www.spielo.com.
Cozy Games Signs Deal with Spin Games
Cozy Games Management Limited has announced that it has signed a deal with games developer Spin Games LLC, which will provide the Cozy Connect platform with a selection of its top video slot games. Spin Games LLC will initially integrate 10 games from its comprehensive portfolio, including Beticus Maximus, Frozen Fruit and Hot Dice, and will be available to players via all major tablet devices such as iPhones and all popular Android smartphones. Additional games will also be integrated in the future as Cozy Connect continues to expand its offering to operators. For more information, visit www.spingames.net or www.cozygames.com.
VingCard Elsafe Promotes Bill Oliver to President – North America
VingCard Elsafe announced the promotion of William J. (Bill) Oliver to the position of president-North America, effective Jan. 1, 2013. One of the most respected executives in the hospitality technology sector, Oliver joined ASSA ABLOY Hospitality in July 2011 in a role created specifically for him. He was responsible for leading all sales and customer operations for VingCard Elsafe brands in the United States and Canada. ASSA ABLOY Hospitality’s core brands include VingCard electronic locking solutions, Elsafe digital in-room safes and Orion by VingCard Elsafe energy management systems. Oliver has managed a wide range of hotel properties, from premium-branded, full-service hotels and casino resorts to independent boutique hotels with prestigious groups such as Marriott, Hilton, Holiday Inn, Crowne Plaza and Doubletree. In addition, he has held board of director level positions with various hotel/motel associations and regional convention and visitors bureaus. For more information, visit www.vingcardelsafe.com.
Margaritaville Resort and Casino Bossier City Hires Barry Regula
Margaritaville Resort and Casino announced that Barry Regula has been named senior vice president and general manager of the Margaritaville Resort and Casino located in Bossier City. Regula has more than 19 years of gaming industry experience in major regional gaming markets and comes to Margaritaville following 17 years at Pinnacle Entertainment. Margaritaville Resort and Casino Bossier City will debut in June 2013 as the region’s newest gaming and resort hotel destination and the first to open in over a decade. For more information, visit www.margaritavillebossiercity.com.
Pinnacle Entertainment Hires Collins
Pinnacle Entertainment Inc. announced that Julie Collins has joined the Pinnacle team as its regional public relations specialist. Collins most recently served as an account assistant for the Graham Group in Lafayette, La. She also developed social media plans and coordinated creative direction of advertising strategies. Before joining the Graham Group, Collins previously worked for Mid-City Redevelopment Alliance in Baton Rouge as an event coordinator and interned for the Acadiana Cane Cutters Baseball team and the Recreation and Park Commission for East Baton Rouge Parish (BREC). For more information, visit www.pnkinc.com.
Caesars Entertainment Appoints Donald Colvin CFO
Caesars Entertainment Corp. announced that Donald Colvin will join the company as executive vice president and chief financial officer, subject to required regulatory approvals. In this role, Colvin will be responsible for Caesars’ finance functions and report to Gary Loveman, chairman, president and CEO. Colvin served as executive vice president and CFO of ON Semiconductor Corp. from April 2003 to October 2012. Prior to joining ON Semiconductor, he held a number of financial leadership positions throughout his career. For more information, visit www.caesars.com.
MICROS Systems Inc. Announces CEO Succession Plan
MICROS Systems Inc. announced that its board of directors has elected Peter Altabef to succeed A.L. “Tom” Giannopoulos as president and chief executive officer, effective Jan. 2, 2013. Giannopoulos, who has served as the company’s CEO since 1993, will continue his duties as executive chairman during the period of his employment, which extends to June 30, 2014. Altabef served as president and chief executive officer of Perot Systems from 2004 until 2009, when Perot Systems was acquired by Dell Inc. Perot Systems was a $2.8 billion company that provided technology solutions to many multi-national companies throughout the world. Upon Dell’s acquisition of Perot Systems, Altabef served as president of Dell Services until his departure in 2011. For more information, visit www.micros.com.
IAGR Re-Elects President, Posts Record Attendance at First Conference in Asia
The International Association of Gaming Regulators Inc. (IAGR) re-elected Susan Hensel of Pennsylvania as president during the association’s first conference in Asia, held recently in Singapore. Hensel is the director of licensing for the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board and the first female elected to oversee the association. The following officers were also elected to lead IAGR in 2012-2013: Lau Peet Meng, chief executive, Casino Regulatory Authority, Singapore as vice president; A.G. Burnett, chairman, Nevada State Gaming Control Board, as treasurer and Trude Hogseth Felde, senior advisor, The Norwegian Gaming and Foundation Authority as secretary. The following were elected to IAGR’s Board of Trustees: Joseph Borg, Malta; Dale Fuga, Canada; Atle Hamar, Norway; Serobi Maja, South Africa; Kaye McDonald, Antigua; Bheki Mlambo, South Africa; Birgitte Sand, Denmark; Mike Sarquis, Australia; Jenny Williams, Great Britain. The conference had its highest attendance to date. IAGR will hold its next annual conference in Oslo, Norway, in September 2013. For more information, visit www.iagr.org.
Spectrum Gaming Group Identifies Top 21 Casino Industry Trends
For the ninth year, Spectrum Gaming Group has compiled a list of the most important trends that the global casino industry needs to monitor in 2013. It addresses ongoing changes in technology, demographics, politics and regulation to determine the most significant trends. New Jersey-based Spectrum tracks these and other trends on a regular basis. For more information, and to see the complete list, visit www.spectrumgaming.com/trends.
GLI Welcomed 70 Global Regulators at Roundtable
Gaming Laboratories International (GLI) welcomed 70 regulators from international jurisdictions to its recent Latin American and Caribbean Regulators Roundtable 2012. The event was staged Nov. 12 at the Dorado Salon of the Marriott Hotel in Buenos Aires, Argentina. A total of 19 jurisdictions were represented from all across the region. Speakers included a mix of key GLI staff and industry leaders, and regulators from across the region and around the world. The next events take place in February in Las Vegas and in May 2013 in Barcelona. For more information, visit www.gaminglabs.com.
Morse Watchmans Launches Redesigned Website
Morse Watchmans recently completed a redesign of its website. The site’s new design and fresh look offer expanded features and information for visitors and a streamlined experience for technology partners. It is centered on helping all customers understand Morse Watchmans’ wide range of solutions across a variety of markets. For more information, visit www.morsewatchmans.com.
Crane Payment Solutions Launch New Online Site
Crane Payment Solutions announced the unveiling of its new website at www.craneps.com, giving the company a unified web presence showcasing its four brands Money Controls, CashCode, NRI and Telequip. As well as product information, the site also features case studies, news and events, and information on key industry trends and technologies, alongside links to product support sections. For more information, visit www.eps.com.
Hippodrome Appoints Constantinou Director of Online Casino
The Hippodrome Casino, Leicester Square, has announced the appointment of George Constantinou as director of online operations, in advance of the London venue’s forthcoming partnership deal with pokerstars.com. Constantinou will also oversee the launch of the Hippodrome’s new online site hippodromecasino.com, built by Microgaming in January 2013, followed later in the year by the reveal of a new pokerstars.com branded poker deck on the top floor of the West End’s largest and the U.K.’s busiest casino. He will also be developing the Hippodrome’s affiliate network and exploring further partnerships and media relationships. For more information, visit www.hippodromecasino.com.