IGT Wins at IGE, Names Bierer EVP of New Media, Sells sbX™ to European Casinos
International Game Technology took top honors at the 2010 International Gaming Awards in London on Jan. 25. A panel of international judges chose IGT as the best slot manufacturer of the year. The awards were held in conjunction with the annual International Gaming Expo (IGE). This is a repeat win for IGT, as the company won the same International Gaming Award in 2009.
IGT has named Gideon Bierer executive vice president, new media. Bierer will lead the strategic effort for IGT’s new media division. “New media—the Internet, mobile, social networking—are changing the way companies do business,” Patti Hart, IGT president and CEO, said. “It is important to stay ahead of market trends and continuously evolve our business so that we can effectively serve our customers. We are focused on developing engaging content for the slot patron of today and tomorrow.”
IGT also announced that its Exclusive French Distributor LUDI S.F.M. has signed an agreement to install the sbX™ Experience Management System at Casino d’Evian in France. This is IGT’s first European agreement for sbX™.
IGT has also signed its first Scandinavian agreement to install the system at Grand Casino Helsinki in Finland. As Finland’s sole casino, Grand Casino Helsinki operates 300 slot machines of which more than 65 percent are manufactured by IGT. sbX™ will be integrated with Grand Casino Helsinki’s existing IGT Casinolink system. For more information, visit www.igt.com.
ARIA, Boot Hill, Parx Open with MEI Products
MEI parlayed its CASHFLOW SC and EASITRAX Soft Count products into three winners the week of Dec. 14, 2009. CityCenter (ARIA) in Las Vegas; Boot Hill Casino in Dodge City, Kan.; and Parx Casino in Bensalem, Pa., all specified MEI products to leverage cash handling efficiencies from the slot machine floor to the soft count room. “MEI is proud that we earned 90 percent of games shipped in the United States for new casinos and expansions in 2009,” said Eric Fisher, vice president-Americas. “Installing CASHFLOW SC allows our customers to achieve the best acceptance rates and security. The addition of EASITRAX Soft Count provides operators with data to optimize machine placement, advance troubleshooting, make drop schedules more efficient and eliminate unnecessary jurisdictional fines.” For more information, visit www.meigroup.com.
Bally Wins International Gaming Award, Extends N.Y. Lottery Contract
Bally Technologies Inc. announced that it has been awarded the prestigious 2010 International Gaming Award for Best Gaming Technology Manufacturer. John Connelly, Bally Technologies’ vice president–international, accepted the award at a gala ceremony at the Millennium Gloucester Hotel in London. The International Gaming Awards were held in conjunction with the annual International Gaming Expo (IGE) in London. Bally was recognized for being the most innovative gaming technology manufacturer and achieving sales volume matching its level of innovation by a panel of judges.
Bally also announced that it has signed a seven-year contract to extend its current term with the New York Lottery to continue providing video gaming terminals to the state’s eight racetrack casinos. The contract extension will commence immediately and run through December 31, 2017. Bally has a 51 percent market share in New York, where it provides more than 6,400 video-gaming terminals. Bally has enjoyed a partnership with the New York Lottery since January 2004. The company is one of three video gaming providers in the state. For more information, visit www.ballytech.com.
WMS Signs Systems Agreement with FutureLogic
FutureLogic Inc. announced that it has signed a Global Technology Agreement with WMS Gaming Inc. According to the agreement, FutureLogic’s GEN2 Universal™ printer will be the preferred printer in WMS gaming platforms. Both companies have also agreed to work together on strategic marketing initiatives and new printer applications for next-generation games. For more information, visit www.wms.com.
Quick Seven™ Granted Approval in Iowa
The Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission recently approved the new casino table game Quick Seven™ for live wagering within Iowa casinos. Innovative Gaming is excited to offer Quick Seven as a new addition to the existing pre-approved table games in the state of Iowa. Expect to see Quick Seven on the casino floor at Harrah’s Council Bluffs later this month. Innovative Gaming’s President Larry R. Cockrell Jr. said, “The installation of Quick Seven at Harrah’s is a great opportunity for us to show individuals that Quick Seven is truly a quality casino game that is both profitable and extremely entertaining, sure to captivate players of all skill levels.” For more information, visit www.quickseven.com.
George Gasser
Hospitality and Gaming Industries Mourn Passing of George Gasser
George E. Gasser, former CEO and youngest of the three founding brothers of Gasser Chair Co., died Jan. 18 at age 80 in his hometown of Youngstown, Ohio. In the mid-1940s, George and two of his brothers, Louis and Roger, set up shop in their industrial hometown of Youngstown in a family-owned, three-story horse barn. Driven to develop their own product line, they began designing and manufacturing aluminum-frame dinette sets and soon founded Gasser Chair in early 1946. George enjoyed helping people and, in the process, established many friendships across the country and overseas. He enjoyed the challenge of solving a customer’s seating problem, and his office door was always open for his employees to stop in. Today, Gasser Chair remains a family owned business. The second and third generations of the Gasser family, teamed with some of the finest skilled and dedicated people in all aspects of the business, are guided by the founders’ original principles. George is survived by his wife, Janet, eight children, 18 grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren. For more information, visit www.gasserchair.com.
Gaming Support Granted GLI Approval
Gaming Support has been granted Gaming Laboratories International (GLI) certification covering its BaseSys Navigator jackpot controller. The first such regulatory milestone projected for the product, the certification covers mystery and progressive configurations within the American states of California, Delaware and Rhode Island. “Gaming Support is proud to have cleared this first, very important hurdle,” stated Don Baugh, CEO, Gaming Support USA. “For the past several years, the American controller market has been far too restricted, with only one or two vendors supplying product. We look forward to providing American operators with a worthy alternative and are excited by the ongoing proliferation of this new, very exciting technology.” For more information, visit www.gamingsupport.com.
BMM Supports WIGC 2010 as Key Sponsor
BMM Compliance, the world’s first independent gaming test lab, was proud to be a key sponsor at the CNIGA Western Indian Gaming Conference held in Palm Springs Jan. 12-14, 2010. As one of the key sponsors at WIGC, BMM presented the opening seminar on the first day of the conference, as well as being the official host of the regulatory sessions held that day. The presentation, which focused on the rapid changes in technology throughout the world and in the gaming industry, was well received by more than 100 attendees. Gregory Anderson, BMM’s marketing consultant, said: “It was an honor to work with the people at CNIGA. They did a fantastic job of organizing the event, and the new format worked very well. We look forward to participating again next year.” For more information, visit www.bmm.com.
Shuffle Master Appoints Wade to Board of Directors
Shuffle Master Inc. announced that Daniel M. Wade has been appointed to the board of directors, effective Feb. 5. “Dan brings to our board significant experience and valuable perspective, having worked in the gaming industry for more than 37 years, including 16 years holding various executive positions with the MGM Mirage, most recently as the vice chairman of the board of directors from 2003 to 2006,” noted Phillip C. Peckman, chairman of the board of directors for Shuffle Master. “He is well-known throughout the community and his considerable knowledge of gaming operations complements the strengths of our existing board members. I am confident that his proven leadership and insight will help guide Shuffle Master’s growth as the industry begins to recover from an unprecedented economic environment.” For more information, visit www.shufflemaster.com.
SPIELO Enters Into Agreement with Octavian, Granted Licenses
Lottomatica Group has announced that its subsidiary, SPIELO Manufacturing ULC, and Octavian International Limited have entered into a licensing agreement pursuant to which Octavian will develop games using SPIELO’s game development kit for SPIELO’s gaming platform in Italy’s new video lottery terminal (VLT) market. The games will be initially offered to Italian players Lottomatica Videolot Rete S.p.A. (LVR), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Lottomatica Group. As part of the agreement, Octavian will also target several of its most popular AWP titles and themes to the new Comma 6B, or VLT, market on SPIELO’s gaming platform using SPIELO’s Game Development Kit. Octavian and SPIELO expect to release the first games in the second half of 2010. This is the first of several content agreements SPIELO expects to announce relating to the Italian VLT market.
SPIELO also announced that the Nevada Gaming Commission unconditionally granted Nevada gaming manufacturer and distributor licenses to SPIELO, following the recommendation of Nevada Gaming Control Board. SPIELO intends to distribute its products, including the performance-driven prodiGi Vu™ cabinet, the powerful new sensys EP™ platform and a library of compelling games, in Nevada through its affiliate, ATRONIC Americas, LLC. SPIELO expects to introduce its products to the Nevada market in 2011 after receiving the required product approvals from the board’s technology division. For more information, visit www.gtech.com.
TCSJOHNHUXLEY Receives International Gaming Award
TCSJOHNHUXLEY is proud to announce its recent success at the International Gaming Awards (IGA) ceremony, being honored with the prestigious title of Traditional Casino Equipment Supplier 2010. This second consecutive honor signals TCSJOHNHUXLEY as a clear leader in its field and recognizes the company’s consistent track record of providing clients with the industry’s best portfolio of products. TCSJOHNHUXLEY is synonymous worldwide with the highest quality casino equipment. For more information, visit www.tcsjohnhuxley.com.
Andrew Hanley
TransAct Promotes Hanley to VP International Sales
TransAct Technologies Inc. announced the promotion of Andrew Hanley to vice president international sales, effective immediately. In his expanded role, Hanley is responsible for sales of the company’s complete portfolio of Epic casino and gaming products and services within the Asia Pacific market, including key markets such as Macau, Taiwan, Singapore, the Philippines and Australia. In addition, he will also expand his responsibility for the company’s South American efforts, working with casino operators, slot and game manufacturers and distributors. For more information, visit www.transact-tech.com.
Gary Platt Ships to California, Slovenia, Colorado, Minnesota
Gary Platt Manufacturing shipped more than 1100 Gazelle Style chairs to Jackson Rancheria in Jackson, Calif. The chairs have cashmere ebony upholstery and black understructures. Gary Platt also shipped 200 Gazelles to Igralni Salon Karneval in Slovenia with a “Casino Carnivale” logo and 665 Sierra chairs on a Hi-Lo Pedestal to Riviera Blackhawk Casino in Blackhawk, Colo. Casino Pauma in California, received 300 Gary Platt Sierra X-Tended Play chairs and Grand Casino Hinckley in Hinckley, Minn., received 205 Gazelle X-Tended Play chairs through the distributor, Gitchi Gaming. For more information, visit www.garyplatt.com.
Ostrander Named to Oneida Nation Gaming Commission
Doug Ostrander has been appointed to the Oneida Nation Gaming Commission, the regulatory body that oversees the licensing and gaming activity at Turning Stone Resort and Casino. He currently serves as a councilperson for the Town of Cairo, chairman of the Cairo Zoning Commission and a trustee for the Cairo Library. He was director of security for Turning Stone Resort and Casino from its opening in 1993 until his retirement in 2005.
Third Interblock Machine Installed in Ontario
Megastar 8, the electromechanical roulette for eight players, was installed in high-limit gaming area at Fallsview Casino Resort in Niagara Falls, Ontario. The latest installed electromechanical roulette is the third Interblock product at the casino, adding to their existing Megastar 8 roulette and Dicestar 8, the electromechanical dice machine with a Sic Bo game. Megastar 8 is Interblock’s most successful and best performing machine on the market. The success of this machine lies in its carousel design. The game is easy to operate and its intuitive user interface allows players to quickly learn the game. For more information, visit www.interblock.si.