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LATINO AMERICA ■ MACAU ■ ICE PREVIEWS ■ ONLINE ■ NEWS
January 2013
FOR THE GAMING PROFESSIONAL WORLDWIDE

4
CONTENTS JANUARY 2013
www.casinointernational-online.com
NEWS
Editor’s letter
12
14
22
28
72
STATESIDE
Sharon Harris brings the US news
LATINO AMERICA
Ricki Chavez Munoz brings the hot
news from South America
MACAU BUSINESS
The latest news and features from
Asia’s finest business magazine
ICE PREVIEWS
Including our cover story from
Aristocrat on page 30, Novomatic on
p38 and GPI on 52
ONLINE
News and features from gaming’s
fastest-moving sector, from Matt
Broughton
Well, let’s get the platitudes
out of the way
first. Happy New Year,
here’s to 2013, unless
you’re a triskadekaphobe, in which
case you’re in for a year of hell.
ICE is looming in a big way, and the industry is looking
to it with optimism. The new venue is a cracker,
though much harder to get to than Earls Court; I’ve
been there several times as it’s the same venue used for
the London Marathon expo every year. That event sees
upwards of 100,000 visitors over four or five days, so
I’m sure it can cope with pretty much the entire casino
industry descending on it.
There’s not a huge amount to do in the area around
ExCel though, so I hope the hotel bars are well stocked
or they won’t know what’s hit them.
See you in London!
Jon Bruford, Managing Editor
jonbruford@yahoo.co.uk
+44 1584 877177
www.casinointernational-online.com/facebook
www.casinointernational-online.com/twitter
Managing Editor: Jon Bruford
[Contact details above]
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Contributing Editor: Barnaby Page
casinointernational@barnabypage.com
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mrbroughton@hotmail.com
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pryder@datateam.co.uk
Administration:
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CORRESPONDENTS
USA correspondent: Sharon Harris
+1 609 601 7890
sharonhar@aol.com
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CASINO NEWS
Crane Co to grab
MEI Conlux
Crane Co is about to capture
MEI Conlux for around
$820million on a cash free
and debt free basis, representing 9.6
times MEI’s estimated 2012 EBITDA
(earnings before interest, taxes,
depreciation and amortization) of $85
million. MEI is well known to operators
in the gaming industry, as well as
retail. Headquartered in Malvern, PA,
and with sales of approximately $400
million in 2012, MEI has customers in
over 100 countries and employs 820
people worldwide. From 2009 to
2012, MEI sales have grown at a
13% compound annual growth rate
and EBITDA margins have increased
to 21%. On a pro forma basis, the
combined sales of MEI and Crane
Payment Solutions will be
approximately $575 million in 2012.
Mr. Eric Fast, President and Chief
Executive Officer of Crane Co., said,
“This acquisition is consistent with
our strategy of niche market
leadership. MEI is an outstanding
business and a leader in the payment
solutions industry, with a solid
product portfolio, excellent technology
and sophisticated hardware and
software. MEI materially strengthens
our existing Payment Solutions
business, which we have grown
through three acquisitions beginning
in 2006. Together we will be able to
offer our customers a complete
product suite utilizing MEI’s
leadership in bill validation and
Crane’s leadership in coin handling.
We will have the global scale to
capitalize on key growth
opportunities, especially in emerging
markets. In addition, we will expand
our capabilities to drive innovation
and facilitate the integration of bills,
coins and cashless payment options
Specialist Signs4U
enjoys further IGT
success
Netherlands-based signage
specialist Signs4U has
cemented its position as
European leader in the casino signs
business with another major win, this
time with IGT.
The slots manufacturer will be
releasing a new range of Rapid
Progressives products and has
selected Signs4U to provide
dedicated promotional signage.
The news has delighted Signs4U
Managing Director Martin Spies, who
said: “We have a great relationship
with IGT and work with the company
regularly. The understanding between
us has led to a string of successful cooperations
with some great products.
This will certainly follow that trend.”
Rapid Progressives, mystery
progressives banked with popular IGT
slot titles, will be featured on IGT’s
stand at ICE (stand S7-110), one of
the major booths at the show and
always a magnet for visitors. Attendees
will see the new Rapid Progressive
themes along with the Signs4U
products, including the new UTGS
signage, which will also dominate
Signs4U’s own booth, S7-130 .
Said Sabby Gill, Regional Vice
President EMEA & SOLAC at IGT: “We
are pleased to continue the
relationship with Signs4U. It is
necessary for a company like IGT to
have suppliers upon whom we can
place great reliance and trust and
Signs4U fulfill this role perfectly.”
to better serve customers
worldwide.”
The purchase of MEI is contingent
upon regulatory approvals and
customary closing conditions. Crane
Co. said that it intends to finance the
acquisition through a combination of
cash on hand and additional debt.
Commitments are in place to cover
100% of the financing needs in order
to facilitate the closing of the
transaction, which is expected to be
in the second quarter of 2013.
Until the acquisition is complete,
MEI and Crane Payment Solutions will
operate independently under their
existing management structures.
Following the acquisition, it is
expected that Michael Hayes,
President of MEI, will become
president of the combined payment
solutions businesses, headquartered
in Malvern, PA.
TransAct
launches new
web site
TransAct Technologies has
launched a new, improved
website at www.transacttech.com.
The new site, which went
live in November, offers a number of
improvements over the old site, with
extensive information and a
categorized approach to TransAct’s
growing product portfolio.
It provides a wealth of information
about each of TransAct’s key
brands, including Epic and Epicentral
for Casino, Gaming and Lottery.
“With all the growth and
developments taking place within
the organization, it was time to
refresh our Internet presence to
reflect the company we are today,”
said Bart Shuldman, Chairman and
Chief Executive Officer of TransAct.
Visit www.transact-tech.com for
more information.
4 JANUARY 2013

CASINO NEWS
GLI receives
Nevada recognition
Gaming Laboratories International has been
awarded a State of Nevada Certificate of
Recognition by Nevada Governor Brian Sandoval,
who presented GLI with the certificate in a ceremony
during a meeting of the State of Nevada Economic
Development Council (EDC). The Governor awarded GLI
with the Certificate in recognition of what the award said
is GLI’s “innovation and entrepreneurship, which has
helped drive economic growth and job creation in
Nevada.”
The Chairman of Nevada’s Economic Development
Council Glenn Christenson, said: “On behalf of our Board
of Directors and the entire community, we congratulate GLI
on its decision to expand their investment in Southern
Nevada. We look forward to working with the GLI team,
wish them continued success and appreciate their
contribution to our growing economy.”
“The GLI team is extremely honored to receive this
Certificate of Recognition for its extensive economic
development efforts in and commitment to Nevada,”
said GLI General Counsel and Director of Government
Relations Kevin Mullally. “GLI’s investment is possible
because of the courage and vision shown by Governor
Sandoval and the members of the Nevada Assembly who
supported the effort to welcome private labs.”
“Over the past two years, GLI has worked very closely
with the State, the EDC and the State of Nevada Gaming
Control Board (NGCB), as the Board transitioned some
testing responsibilities to private labs. GLI has invested
heavily in infrastructure and staff to facilitate Nevada’s
desire to become the jurisdiction of first choice for new
technology. GLI has been able to accomplish this while
reducing the industry’s overall testing costs and
maintaining or improving upon the current testing times. As
a result, GLI’s investments have proven to be very
successful, and our team is happy to be an ever-growing
part of the Nevada community,” Mullally said.
In 2012, GLI invested nearly $7 million in
infrastructure and hiring in its Las Vegas laboratory,
adding more than 93 permanent jobs in Nevada. In June
2012, GLI was named a “Registered Independent Testing
Laboratory” by the NGCB, and the company has received
more than 2,000 submissions for testing since then. The
submissions include every type of gaming product, from
iGaming to sports book devices and systems, as well as
slot products and casino management systems.
L-R: Nevada Governor Brian Sandoval, GLI Sr. Director of
Worldwide Marketing Christie Eickelman, GLI General Counsel
and Director of Government Relations Kevin Mullally, Vice
Chair of Clark County Board of Commissioners Susan Brager
GLI has 20 global lab locations. The upgrade of GLI’s
86,000 square foot laboratory in Las Vegas is now home
to more than 165 of GLI’s more than 750 employees
worldwide.
Nevada offices
for Dallmeier
Dallmeier Electronic USA, Inc.
announces the opening of its
new Las Vegas facilities.
Headquartered in Fort Lauderdale,
Florida, Dallmeier has made a
significant investment expanding its
operations to Las Vegas. The new
facilities will house Dallmeier’s
entire west coast staff, its
warehousing operations, sales,
service, training and logistics.
“We are very excited to expand
our operations here to Nevada,”
said Joe McDevitt, president of
Dallmeier USA. “This expansion
shows our commitment to the
casino surveillance market and will
allow us to better serve our Las
Vegas and West Coast customers.
While we already occupy our new
facilities we will be holding an
official Grand Opening in
conjunction with the World Game
Protection Conference (WGPC),
which takes place from February
25th through the 27th. Our Grand
Opening will follow the WGPC on
Thursday, February 28th. Those
attending the conference or those
involved in the casino surveillance
field are invited to join us.”
BEGE thrilled by Casino Technology slots
Casino Technology’s newest themed
slots, PLANETA PAYNER SLOTS,
debuted at the recent fifth edition of
BEGE Expo in Sofia. The first two games of
the series, “BAD GIRL” and “VAMPIRE
ROMANCE”, based on the hit video clips of
the famous Bulgarian pop singers Andrea
and Galena, were the centre of visitor
attention as one of the most interesting
products showcased at BEGE Expo. They
feature stunning visuals and sound,
recreating in an attractive and realistic way
the themes of the videos.
As if they came out from the games the
real Andrea and Galena “materialized” at
Casino Technology stand, personally
demonstrating “their” games to the public
and entertaining with a performance. Then
Emilia herself, the main character in the next
game of the series, took to the stage. The
range will be expanded with more titles
incorporated in the themed multi-game “SIN
AND TEMPTATIONS.”
The singers shared with the media that
are honored to be the first Bulgarian
prototypes of licensed video slot games.
Andrea and Galena agreed that both games
are very exciting and attractive. The stars
added that the games were able to recreate
extremely faithful the atmosphere and the
vision of the original videos and that they like
a lot their new images.
© SPIELO International, 2012
© 2012 Electronic Arts Inc. Plants vs. Zombies and PopCap are trademarks of Electronic Arts Inc.

ICE NEWS
ICE firmly on course to
achieve sell-out first
year at ExCeL London
Experts and thought
leaders converge on ICE
for social gaming debate
As the gaming industry gears
up for ICE Totally Gaming the
great news is the change of
venue to ExCeL London has been
embraced by exhibitors. The latest
figures released by the organisers
confirms that the sold out signs will
be posted way before the doors
open on the biggest gaming show
on earth. Kate Chambers argues
why 31,000 sqm of innovation
simply can’t be experienced in a
single day.
ICE Totally Gaming 2013 will be
the biggest gaming event on the
industry calendar, with news that
just 1.2% of exhibition space
remains unsold as of the end of
November. The news, which is a
testament to the marketing
activities undertaken by the
organising team at Clarion, means
that ICE 2013, the first to be
staged at ExCeL London, will
comprise in excess of 31,000sqm –
a stand-out statistic which is certain
to attract the broadest spectrum of
international gaming professionals.
The number of exhibitors showing
their latest innovations and product
launches will be over 400 – which
represents a mouth watering
prospect for the many thousands of
international buyers coming to the
exhibition. Kate Chambers,
Director – Gaming, and the person
responsible for implementing the
move to ExCeL London said: “Our
marketing theme for 2013 has
been ‘think big’ and I’m
delighted to say that the
creative we have been
running throughout
the international
media channels has
lived up to the reality of
what visitors will see at
ExCeL London when the
doors open on the 5th
February for the first edition at our
new home. There’s absolutely no
way that any buyer of gaming
equipment would be able
to see so many leading companies
without spending at least nine
months of the year on a plane: at
ICE you can do the equivalent in
three days – although it’s a hugely
busy three days admittedly!
“ICE is an event which provides a
shop window on absolutely
everything that’s taking place in
gaming and, most importantly
gaming from every geographical
perspective. Add important C-Level
activities, a flourishing Conference
programme, key networking events
and a prestigious awards ceremony
which celebrates excellence,
integrity and professionalism and
you have a multi-faceted celebration
of the international gaming industry
which offers tangible benefits to
everyone involved in the gaming
business in all of its guises.
“In terms of visitor numbers we
are tracking significantly above this
stage of the campaign last year.
What I can say is that once again,
we’ve raised the bar in our
marketing. In ‘think big’ we have a
very strong creative proposition
which resonates with our
stakeholders and targets, we have
introduced new initiatives such as
our ICE e-magazine, we are working
even closer with our good friends in
the media and we are utilising all
available media channels.
However the key reason for
attending ICE is the assembly of
absolutely stellar companies which
are exhibiting at ExCeL –
you can’t get any
better than
that.”
ICE Totally Gaming will be a
mecca for international attendees
wanting the latest insight on
social gaming. Vsitors can benefit
from the influential ICE Conferences
programme, which will provide
contemporary updates on social
gaming provided by many of the
world experts in the sector. The
conference programme will explore
the phenomenon from the full range
of gaming perspectives and involve
more than 20 social game
developers and thought leaders
including representatives from
William Hill, Ladbrokes, Praesepe
plc, GamCare, PKR, and more.
The Monetising Social Gaming
conference, on Wednesday 6th
February, provides in-depth analysis
of the convergence of casual and
social gambling. The day features
panels of thought leaders including
Ladbrokes’ Ben Dale, William Hill’s
Neale Deeley, Yazino’s Hussein
Chahine, and RocketPlay’s Matthew
Cullen. The conference will go to the
heart of the relationship, debating
whether social gaming represents a
threat or an opportunity for the
gambling sector. On a practical
level, it will tackle key issues such
as how to convert players from
social to real-money gaming
and explore
how
jurisdictions are approaching
regulation in the social gaming
space. The International Casino
Conference (4th February) and
Integrating Land-based & Online
Gaming (6th February) both include
two sessions on social gaming, with
more than 10 hours of informed
social gaming debate and insight.
Ewa Bakun, Head of Content,
Gaming, at Clarion Events said:
”The evolving convergence of casual
gaming and social gambling, and its
ultimate effect on the wider world of
gambling, is currently leaving us
with more questions than answers.
The iGaming industry has more to
gain by embracing these changes,
and the aim of the ICE Conferences
programme is to help the industry
avoid the mistakes made by other
sectors which resisted the drive of
innovation until it was almost too
late. To this end we are dedicating
over 10 hours of discussion, debate
and insight to topics including
regulation, convergence, business
partnerships and the potential
threat of player cannibalisation.”
To view the full programme of
subjects and speakers visit
icetotallygaming.com/conferences
© SPIELO International, 2012

NEWS EXTRA
Could China’s leadership
change impact Macau?
Innovate Gaming looks at a situation that could change massively in
March, with a change at the top in China
Since China’s government eased visa
restrictions for its citizens to enter
Macau back in 2009, gaming in the
former Portuguese enclave has gone
from strength-to-strength.
Following the ‘once-a-decade’ leadership
change in China that will take place in March,
industry observers question the longevity of
gaming in Macau.
A new generation of leaders has taken over
the ruling Communist Party of China (CPC), as
the country faces a new range of opportunities
and challenges, both domestic and
international. Under the CPC’s reign, China has
been a global success story, with its rapid
growth leading the country to a dominating
economic force.
The 18th party congress elected Xi Jinping as
the new general secretary of the CPC and a
group of younger officials to takeover the
leadership. The new leaders might be uneasy
about the regulations that have enabled
Chinese citizens to spend vast sums of money
in Macau’s casinos, generating huge profits for
both local and US operators.
Macau’s
government
tourist office
projected
that more
than 30
million
people,
the
majority from mainland China, entered the
semiautonomous Chinese region in 2012. Gross
gaming revenue in Macau increased 15 percent
year-on-year during the period.
To continue supporting domestic growth in
China, policy makers will rely on money being
funded back into the local economy, rather
than being leaked elsewhere. A report
published in October 2012 by the US-based
organisation Global Financial Integrity,
estimated that $472 billion left China in 2011
and the country lost $3.79 trillion over the
last decade.
Policies aimed at clamping down on the
country’s extensive corruption, a principal
threat to the CPC, could stem the flow of
gamblers and money to Macau. “Corruption”
inferred Xi in his first speech as party leader
last November, could “cause the collapse of the
party and the fall of the state.”
Chinese law currently prevents citizens from
taking more than $50,000 out of the country
each year, but it has been easy to get around
the restrictions. Largely aided by junket
operators, wealthy Chinese gamblers visit
Macau to play high-stakes games and it is not
uncommon to see chips up to the value of
$10,000 on the tables. Debts and facilitation
fees demanded by junkets operators are often
repaid in China.
Steve Vickers, CEO of business intelligence
firm SVA said that Macau is an obvious first
target for the Chinese government. “The
primary risks to the gaming sector comes from
the Chinese side,” said Vickers, “It will come
from the end of acquiescence to this vast capital
control abuse and crackdown on corruption.”
Techniques used to move money from
An innovative online representation of
land-based, interactive and social
gaming, Innovate Gaming keeps the
industry up-to-date, informed and
inspired.
www.innovategaming.com
China to Macau could be quickly made
difficult to continue. It is commonly known
that credit cards are used to buy expensive
gifts at the many luxury boutiques in Macau
and then players immediately obtain a
refund in untraceable cash from the retailer.
Other methods include using companies to
issue inflated invoices to pay for crossborder
transactions.
“Everybody knows the bulk of Macau
gamblers are high rollers, and they’re all from
mainland China,” proclaimed Liu Bolong, a
Professor at Macao University, “The new
leadership, I’m sure, will begin the process of
anticorruption activities and this will affect
Macau in a very substantial way because many
of these high rollers, their money is coming
from illegal practices.”
Hoffman Ma, CEO of Macau casino Ponte 16,
said the Chinese government took hold of
Macau when it tightened visa restrictions,
hurting the gaming industry. “Visa restrictions
years ago showed the power of the Chinese
government to control Macau’s gambling
revenue if they want to,” he said.
© SPIELO International, 2012
© 2012 Electronic Arts Inc. Plants vs. Zombies and PopCap are trademarks of Electronic Arts Inc.
10 JANUARY 2013

STATESIDE
Stateside
Sharon Harris brings the news from the New World –
marvelling at shenanigans around the ‘fiscal cliff’
…most foresee
an unfavorable
adjustment to a
future business
climate of new
taxes and
regulations
When you read this, Americans will
know whether the nation went over
the economic “fiscal cliff.” The
“fiscal cliff” describes the
unresolved financial and budget
issues regarding taxes, spending, deficits and national
entitlements going forward.
In other words, as of late December, no one in the
U.S. is certain of their future finances. Everyone is
asking the same questions, including “What will I
keep from my earnings? What will my taxes be? How
can I minimize them with allowable deductions”? The
answers are unclear within every taxpaying household
and business across the country.
My feature in the next issue of CI explores the
American gaming industry in a post-election
environment with a new Congress. We held the story
since not one source could definitively answer how
gaming will fare until after January 1.
While no one knows the outcome, few Americans
have confidence. In fact, most foresee an unfavorable
adjustment to a future business climate of new taxes
and regulations. Because every American business
owner and employee is also a potential casino
customer, their discretionary leisure dollars are
critical to gaming’s successes.
As the insecurity mounts, what will happen to
future investments for millions of ordinary
Americans? The Obama White House and the
Democrats want to raise taxes on who they define as
wealthy (over $250,000), including a 5% increase –
from 15% to 20% on qualified dividends from
domestic corporations.
American workers pay up to 35% – based on their
salaries – on their original employment income. If
they invest their net dollars in profitable stocks, these
same corporations pay up to 35% in taxes before
distributing any dividend interest to investors, who
then pay another 15% rate on that net figure.
Spending has plunged the US into horrific debt.
Democrats have offered little in spending cuts,
believing taxes can defray some of the debt. Many
Republicans will agree to more taxes by eliminating or
limiting some tax deductions, but they have rejected
tax rate changes. We’ve heard this script before.
I believe tax increases on voluntary investments
could impact people’s willingness to invest in gaming
stocks. Why risk capital to pay more taxes? Will
investors pull back? If so, could that influence an
organization’s expansion, buying, upgrading and
renovating decisions? While larger companies have a
financial margin, smaller casinos and suppliers often
do not. Will they hire or fire more?
To protect themselves, both large and small
companies are proactively working to beat Washington
at its own game. Throughout December, hundreds of
companies had advanced early 2013 stockholder
dividends, plus bonuses and partnership commissions.
Also, many advanced employee salaries to avoid other
increased taxes scheduled to kick in on January 1.
Among these was the Las Vegas Sands Corp. (LVS). It
declared a special dividend payout of about $2.3
billion, with $1.2 billion paid directly to LVS
controlling shareholder and CEO Sheldon Adelson. A
very public opponent of Barack Obama’s reelection,
I’m not surprised Adelson would legally shelter himself
and his shareholders. MGM Resorts International
secured $5 billion for refinancing at a lower cost to
eliminate their high-priced debt taken on at the peak
of the financial crisis. Executives opted to accept
possible economic penalties over uncertainty.
The nation is crying out for direction. I saw
“Lincoln”, Steven Spielberg’s acclaimed new movie. Set
in January 1865, its plot conveys President Abraham
Lincoln’s conviction that passage of the US
Constitution’s 13th Amendment would forever abolish
slavery following the Civil War. In less than 30 days,
Lincoln, involved every step of the way, supervised the
“persuasion” of many House legislators to vote yes.
As a registered Independent with no party loyalty, I
would be thrilled if the lawmakers would actually lead
the way out of this potential “fiscal cliff” chaos.
Republican House Speaker John Boehner offers
uninspired, technical explanations of why his party
objects to tax increases. Democratic Senate Majority
Leader Harry Reid never lets facts or evidence
influence his commentary. Finally, President Obama
needs to stop the perpetual campaigning, stay in
Washington and lock everyone in a room to work
something out. He must lead like Lincoln.
© SPIELO International, 2012
© 2012 Electronic Arts Inc. Plants vs. Zombies and PopCap are trademarks of Electronic Arts Inc.

SPIELO AT ICE
SPIELO and PopCap
to wow ICE visitors
SPIELO International to showcase groundbreaking new games and powerful
systems at ICE 2013
SPIELO International is showing more
entertaining games than ever before
across all gaming platforms at Stand S7-
150 at the ICE Totally Gaming 2013 trade
show at ExCeL, London, from 5 to 7
February, 2013.
For the casino market, the line-up includes four
exciting new licensed titles that casual gamers know
and love from PopCap Games, a division of Electronic
Arts. SPIELO International and PopCap have entered
into a licensing agreement and have developed slot
games based on three internationally recognized
PopCap franchises – Plants vs. Zombies, Zuma, and
Bejeweled. The casual versions of these games are
beloved by billions of people worldwide, and appeal
to both men and women. SPIELO International has
worked closely with PopCap to stay true to the spirit
of their brands and create terrifically fun and
engaging new slot gaming experiences.
Visitors to the show will also get a peek at MEGA
KONG, the exciting new multi-level progressive link
and follow-up to the widely successful KING KONG
CASH. And they’ll see the expansion of successful
multi-game solution, diversity, with the introduction
of Magic Maroon and Sweet Sunshine. Each edition
offers players a choice of core game titles in addition
to top-performing, stand-alone DOGGIE CASH
progressive titles and at least one classic, low-line
game.
SPIELO International’s Casino Systems Division will
be presenting its wide range of powerful, modular
GALAXIS management solutions at ICE. These
modules help operators to streamline operations and
attract and reward players to promote loyalty.
GALAXIS ANALYTICS is a new module comprising
advanced gaming analytics that visualise and analyse
the dynamics of floor performance to identify
revenue generating opportunities. SYSTEM2Go is a
complete multi-site gaming management system that
will also be demonstrated at ICE. Sold as a package, it
is quick to install and simple to use, and is ideally
suited to multi-site gaming operations. Customers
visiting ICE will also enjoy an exclusive
demonstration of innovative prototypes – more
details to follow!
In addition, SPIELO G2 (formerly known as
GTECH G2) will be showcasing its award-winning
range of iGaming and sports betting products and
services at ICE, which will include the launch of four
new games and an exciting sports initiative.
But that’s only the beginning of SPIELO
International’s exciting content-driven games and
solutions. Visit Stand S7-150 at ICE to see much
more, and to find out how SPIELO International
speaks gaming.

Latino America
Ricki Chavez Munoz reports on what’s happening in South America
Solamente una corta nota para desear que hayan
pasado unas felices navidades y que este 2013 sea de
mucha ventura, o aventura para esos audaces
empresarios que se atreven entrar a mercados
difíciles, pero de seguro que rentables.
Con algo de menos sigilo nos dirigimos al Este de la capital
británica, donde se desarrollará el nuevo Show de Londres en el
centro de exposiciones Excel, los días 5-8 de febrero. Por
primera vez el ahora llamado ICE Totally Gaming 2013 (ICE) se
muda de la coqueta área de Earls Court, en el otro extremo de
la ciudad, y desde ya se les aconseja ver la mejor forma de
obtener alojamiento más conveniente al Excel.
Por siaca, si alguien quiera una manito para ver donde se
alojan, solamente, tienen que enviarme un email y les daré el
mejor dato posible. Eso sí, vénganse bien arropaditos porque
febrero en Londres no es tiempo de carnaval como en Rio.
Brrrrrr… ¡Ahí nos vemos!
Chau,
Ricki.
ARGENTINA: Se inauguró el Amerian
Casino Carlos V
Amerian, la primera cadena de hoteles argentina nacida en
Córdoba, inauguró el Amerian Hotel Casino Carlos V, el tercer 5
estrellas de la cadena en Termas de Río Hondo, Santiago del
Estero, Argentina.
El nuevo hotel cuenta con 151 habitaciones, 6 suites, una
amplia suite presidencial, restaurantes, salas de convenciones y
el spa más moderno del país, entre otros servicios. Además,
dispone de un casino equipado con los más altos estándares
tecnológicos.
El Amerian Hotel Casino Carlos V es considerado el hotel más
lujoso del norte argentino, el cual contará con un área de spa
Just a short note to wish that all of you have had a very
happy Christmas and that this new 2013 is full of good
ventures, or good adventures for those daring gaming
professionals who take up the challenge to go into
markets that although topsy-turvy can also be
profitable.
Without much apprehension, though, we shall be on our
way to the east of the British capital city for the new London
Show at the ExCel convention centre, on 5-8 February. Now
called ICE Totally Gaming, 2013 (ICE) has moved from
fashionable Earls Court to the other end of the city, and right
now it is best to sort out accommodation that is conveniently
accessible to the ExCel.
In case someone needs a hand with the accommodation
stakes, just drop me an email and I will try to give you the best
possible hotel alternative. And for those who come from a
more tropical climate, please ensure to wear warm gear
because February in London is not carnival time like in Rio.
Brrr… See you there!
Ciao,
Ricki.
ARGENTINA: Opens Amerian Hotel
Casino Carlos V
The Amerian Hotel Casino Carlos V, in Santiago del Estero,
Cordoba province, Argentina, is the new casino in the
country, and the third for the hotel chain Termas de Rio
Hondo in the Santiago city.
The new hotel has 151 rooms, 6 suites, and an extensive
presidential suite, as well as restaurants, convention centre,
and the most modern spa in the country, all with a host of
services, including a casino equipped with slots and tables
with cutting edge technology.
14 JANUARY 2013

LATINO AMERICA
única en toda la Argentina, con un circuito hídrico, piletas de
aqua-relax, senderos y caminos de sensaciones, sauna, baño de
vapor, duchas de tratamiento y gimnasio montado
profesionalmente, con bicicletas, cintas, equipos multifunción,
además de un espacio para gimnasia rítmica.
The Amerian
Hotel Casino
Carlos V has the
latest in spa
technology in the
north of Argentina
set in a luxurious
setting and
equipped with a
hydro system,
acqua-relax pools,
sensual walkways, sauna, steam rooms, health showers; as well
as a fully equipped professional gym with an area for aerobics.
BOLIVIA: BMM formally accredited by AJ
RCM y Fernando Cuellar, Manager BMM Peru
BOLIVIA: AJ acredita a BMM
La Autoridad de Fiscalización y Control Social del Juego in
Bolivia (AJ), ha acreditado formalmente a BMM International
(BMM), líder global en laboratorios de ensayo para el Juego y
consultoría técnica, para certificar a operadores, fabricantes y
la homologación de instrumentos de juegos de azar, colocando
a BMM a la vanguardia del sector en el reemergente mercado
boliviano.
Fernando Cuellar, Gerente Sénior Manager en Servicio a
Clientes de BMM Perú, dijo: “Este ha sido un proceso muy
interesante a la vista de toda Sudamérica por el formal enfoque
de AJ al introducir una estructura regulatoria formal.
Históricamente, el mercado boliviano ha sido muy movido,
aunque menos regulado, y ahora, AJ se encuentra introduciendo
los requerimientos completos para sus singulares estándares,
que son actos muy positivos hacia el desarrollo de un mercado
bien regulado y estable”.
Por su parte, Mike Dreitzer, Director en Jefe de Operaciones de
BMM, dijo: “Como proveedores de servicios globales, es
imperativo para nuestros clientes que BMM tenga el
reconocimiento o sea licenciada en cada una de las jurisdicciones
del mundo entero, y estamos sumamente agradecidos a Mario
Cazón, Director Ejecutivo of AJ por su respaldo en este proceso. Y
aunque el proceso de licenciatario de cada jurisdicción es de
forma alguna único, en BMM tuvimos claras instrucciones para
cumplir con los requerimientos de otra jurisdicción, una vez más.
Tengo el orgullo de decir que la oficina de BMM en Perú está
haciendo un trabajo fantástico dando constante soporte a la
comunidad regional regulatoria, y esperamos añadir a la
Autoridad del Juego a nuestra lista de clientes”.
CHILE: SCJ apelará contra decisión de juez
por casino ilegal
La Superintendencia de Casinos de Juego (SCJ) ha apelado
contra la resolución del 4° Juzgado de Garantía de Santiago,
Chile, que accedió a la suspensión condicional del
Gaming testing laboratory and technical consultancy BMM
International (BMM) has announced that it has been formally
accredited by Bolivian gaming regulators, Autoridad de
Fiscalización y Control Social del Juego (AJ), in preparation 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.
Fernando Cuellar, Senior Manager for Client Services, BMM
Peru said, “This has been a very interesting process for all of
South America to watch, as the AJ approach to introducing
formal regulatory structure was unique. Historically Bolivia
was a bustling market, albeit less regulated. Now AJ are
introducing full licensing requirements in regard to their
unique standards, all these moves are very positive steps
towards developing a well regulated and stable 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. Although the licensing
process in each jurisdiction is somewhat unique, with the
clear direction that BMM was provided we were able to
successfully meet the requirements of another jurisdiction,
once again. I am proud to say that BMM’s office in Peru is
doing incredibly well and assisting the regional regulatory
community. We look forward to adding Autoridad del Juego to
our client rosters.”
CHILE: SCJ appeals against illegal casino
Chile’s regulators, Superintendencia de Casinos de Juego
(SCJ) has lodged an appeal against the Court in Santiago that
suspended the legal process on criminal charges of the
persons responsible for operating an illegal casino at a Poker
House masquerading as a sports club in the chic area of the
country’s capital city, Las Condes.
SCJ started criminal proceedings against the plaintiffs last
July, when a police investigation concluded that a registered
company was operating a casino in an open challenge to
Casino Law No. 19.995 as well as two articles in Chile’s
Criminal Law, using a sports club registration. Chile’s casino
legislation passed in 2005 limits casino operations to
municipal casinos and integrated resorts operating in hotel
complexes.
16 JANUARY 2013

LATINO AMERICA
procedimiento solicitada por el Ministerio Público, en el marco
de la querella criminal que el organismo regulador y fiscalizador
presentó en julio 2012 contra de quienes resulten responsables,
en calidad de autores, cómplices o encubridores del “Club
Deportivo Poker House San Carlos de Apoquindo” en la comuna
de las Condes, Santiago, por los eventuales delitos contemplados
y sancionados en los artículos 277 y 278 del Código Penal.
A juicio de la SCJ, en la investigación quedó claro que se
explotaba ilegalmente un casino, tanto así que incluso los
implicados en el delito habían puesto en escena una estructura
–que contaba hasta con personalidad jurídica propia– para
ocultar la comisión del ilícito penal, dándole la apariencia de
legalidad a sus actividades delictuales.
En la acción judicial se interpuso que luego de que el 19 de
julio pasado una investigación policial logró determinar que en
el inmueble de las Condes funcionaba de manera ilegal un
casino de juego, constituyéndose delitos penales y civiles y una
abierta vulneración a la Ley Marco de Casinos N° 19.995 que
establece las bases generales para la autorización,
funcionamiento y fiscalización de los casinos de juego en el país.
PERU: GLI llevó a cabo una Capacitación
Intensiva en Perú
Gaming Laboratories International (GLI), el laboratorio líder
de ensayo y consultoría técnica a nivel mundial, ha completado
la capacitación intensiva de 35 inspectores de juego de la
Dirección General de Juegos de Casino y Máquinas
Tragamonedas (DGJCMT) del Ministerio de Comercio Exterior y
Turismo (MINCETUR) de Perú. El entrenamiento abarcó todos
los procesos relacionados con el Sistema Unificado de Control
en Tiempo Real (SUCTR).
GLI realizó la capacitación de siete días en Lima, Perú, la cual
incluyó entrenamiento en campo para los inspectores en varias
salas de juego y con una variedad de sistemas SUCTR
debidamente aprobados. La capacitación fue impartida por
personal de los departamentos de cumplimiento, ingeniería y
expertos en evaluación de red, cuidadosamente seleccionados
entre el personal mundial de GLI, para ofrecer el mejor
entrenamiento y experiencia disponible en la industria del juego.
La Directora de Desarrollo para Latinoamérica y el Caribe de
GLI Karen Sierra-Hughes dijo, “GLI tiene un gran compromiso con
la entidad regulatoria en Perú y en toda Latinoamérica y el Caribe.
Estamos muy orgullosos de haber trabajado tan estrechamente con
la DGJCMT en los últimos años y haber sido seleccionados para
llevar a cabo esta capacitación. Esta capacitación representa un
paso importantísimo en el camino a reforzar las regulaciones en la
industria del juego peruana, y esperamos continuar manteniendo
nuestra estrecha relación con la misma.”
SUCTR es la denominación que MINCETUR le ha dado a los
modelos de Sistemas de Monitoreo y Control. Este proyecto
masivo conecta aproximadamente 72,500 máquinas al
SUCTR las cuales han sido certificados y homologados por
MINCETUR. Los SUCTR están ahora reportando directamente al
centro de datos del MINCETUR, transmitiendo información con
respecto a ingresos y eventos significativos para lograr un mejor
control de la industria del juego en Perú.
Manuel San Román Benavente, Director de la DGJCMT de
Perú dijo, “Estamos muy satisfechos con la capacitación que GLI
ha proporcionado a nuestros inspectores, la cual ha servido para
unificar criterios con relación a las tareas de control de los
PERU: GLI conducts substantial training
in Lima
Gaming Laboratories International (GLI), the world’s
leading gaming testing laboratory and technical consultancy,
has completed an in-depth training for 35 gaming inspectors
of the General Direction of Casinos and Slot Machines
(DGJCMT) of the Ministry of Exterior Commerce and Tourism
(MINCETUR) of Peru.
GLI held the seven-day training in Lima, Peru, which
included onsite training for the inspectors in several gaming
halls and with a variety of SUCTR approved systems.
Conducting the training were compliance, engineering and
network assessment experts, carefully selected among the
global GLI staff, to provide the best training and expertise in
the gaming industry.
GLI Director of Latin American and Caribbean
Development Karen Sierra-Hughes said, “GLI has a longstanding
commitment to the regulatory entity in Perú and
throughout Latin America and the Caribbean. We are very
proud to have worked so closely with the DGJCMT for the last
several years and to have been selected to perform this
training. The training represents an important milestone in
their path to strengthen the regulations in the Peruvian
gaming industry and we look forward to continuing our very
close relationship.”
SUCTR is the denomination MINCETUR established for the
Monitoring and Control Systems model. The massive project
connects roughly 72,500 machines to the SUCTRs that are all
homologated by MINCETUR. The SUCTRs are now reporting
directly to the MINCETUR´s data centre, relaying information
regarding revenue and significant events to better control the
gaming industry in Peru.
Manuel San Roman Benavente, the Director of DGJCMT
said, “We have been pleased with the training that GLI has
provided to our inspectors, it has served to unify criteria for
the control tasks of the SUCTR Models that are installed in
gaming halls. GLI has certified many SUCTR Models for Peru,
so this experience has served to transmit and display the
characteristics of each SUCTR model.”
Strong support from industry leaders for
SAGSE Panama 2013
As is well known, the choice of Panama to host a regional
international event is due to the “natural” characteristics of
18 JANUARY 2013

LATINO AMERICA
modelos SUCTR que se encuentran instalados en las salas de
juego. GLI ha certificado muchos Modelos SUCTR para Perú,
por lo que esta experiencia ha servido para transmitir y mostrar
las características de cada modelo SUCTR.”
Fuerte apoyo de la industria para SAGSE
Gaming Panamá 2013
SAGSE Gaming Panamá 2013 se realiza los días 8&9 de mayo
en el nuevo Centro de Convenciones Vasco Núñez de Balboa
del Hotel Panamá, continuando por noveno año consecutivo,
con pasos cortos, pero firmes. Como bien dice la frase “desde
México a Perú todo el Gaming en el mejor lugar, Panamá”.
Giorgio Gennari, Presidente de Monografie S.A.,
organizadores de SAGSE, dijo: “Son más de 1000 los Casinos y
Salas de apuestas que tienen conexión directa con Panamá. Este
potencial de operadores se ve en pocos eventos del mundo.
Actualmente a Panamá se puede llegar desde diferentes puntos
de Centroamérica y el Caribe conectando a más de 780 casinos y
salas de juego de la región y desde Junio 2012 en concordancia
con la expo SAGSE, se le sumaron los 332 casinos del estado de
nevada que tendrán vuelo directo Las Vegas - Panamá.”
Con muy fuerte apoyo de la industria del juego global, SAGSE
Gaming Panamá 2013 tendrá como Sponsor de Platino
Novomatic y Merkur Gaming, mientras que la empresa
Aristocrat Industries ha optado por sponsorizar nuevamente el
Lounge de la expo que será equipado con el más sofisticado
servicio gastronómico que este hotel El Panamá tiene para
ofrecer. El Aristocrat Lounge será el corazón de SAGSE y el
punto de reunión de todos los operadores de la feria.
Por otro lado la empresa Belatra Games ha tomado el
sponsoreo oficial de los gafetes del show. Su marca estará por
los pasillos de todo el evento acompañando a todos los
operadores durante su visita a la muestra. Por último, pero no
por ello menos importante, la feria tiene el Apoyo oficial de
SHFL Entertainment y GLI, quienes en un esfuerzo de marketing
acompañan el evento como sponsor Dorado. Esto quiere decir
que estarán presentes en toda la campaña de marketing
apuntada a invitar a los operadores de la región.
“Es evidente que los nuevos grandes proyectos previstos para
el corto y mediano plazo locales, han captado la atención de la
industria del juego y la hospitalidad. Entre los más destacados:
El Casino Golden Lion, Royal Flush, la operación del Hilton, el
Casino de Trump, el Sortis y el aniversario y renovación total del
Casino Princess. Esto se suma a la grilla de más de 19 casinos,
un hipódromo, salas de apuesta y más de 30 salas de máquinas.
SAGSE es un evento para toda la región. Un evento social e
internacional,” finalizó Giorgio Gennari Litta.
this great city, and the SAGSE Gaming Panama 2013 Expo and
Congress will also benefit from the high degree of air
connectivity (non-stop flights from Las Vegas and 60 other
countries), transparent rules, gaming under the framework of
law and a relaxed state of mind when doing international
business for the entire region.
SAGSE Gaming Panama 2013 Expo and Congress Official
will be held on May 8 & 9 at a new venue, the Vasco Nunez de
Balboa Convention Center at the El Panama Hotel in Panama
City, a regional hub that also benefit from the high degree of
air traffic, transparent rules, gaming under the framework of
law and a relaxed state of mind when doing international
business for the entire region.
There are over 1,000 casinos and gambling halls that have
a direct connection with Panama. This potential quantity and
quality of operators can only be seen in few events around the
world. Giorgio Gennari, President of Monografie S.A., Show
organizers, said: “Currently Panama can be reached with nonstop
flights from different parts of Central American and the
Caribbean connecting more than 780 casinos and gambling
halls of the region and from June 2012 in accordance with
SAGSE expo, we add the 332 Nevada casinos that have direct
flight from Las Vegas to Panama.”
High industry support is represented by leaders such as
Novomatic and Merkur Gaming as Platinum Sponsors;
Aristocrat will sponsor the Lounge once again that will be
equipped with the most sophisticated food service that this
hotel can offer. There visitors will enjoy a delicious sampling
of dishes and drinks from Panama. The Aristocrat Lounge will
be the heart of SAGSE and the meeting point of all operators.
In addition the company Belatra Games has taken the official
sponsorship of the show lanyards once again.
Last but not least, the Panama event also has the official
support of GLI and SHFL Entertainment who in a marketing
effort will accompany SAGSE Panama as Gold Sponsors. This
means that these industry leaders will be present throughout
the show’s marketing campaign aimed at inviting the
operators in the region.
“It is clear that the big new casino projects planned for the
short and medium term have caught the attention of the
gaming and hospitality industry. Among Panama highlights:
The Golden Lion Casino, Royal Flush, the operation at the
Hilton, Trump Casino, the Sortis, and the Princess Casino
anniversary. There are more than 19 casinos, one racetrack,
betting rooms and over 30 gaming halls just in Panama City.
SAGSE is an event for the whole region. An international and
social event,” concluded Gennari.

By Muhammad Cohen
Playing by the
rules
Casino panel cautions on U.S. law violations,
diversification and licence expiry
AU.S. criminal conviction
would affect the
“suitability” of a Macau
gaming operator. Duarte
Chagas, a legal advisor to
Macau’s Gaming Inspection and
Coordination Bureau made that
assertion during last month’s Asian
Gaming and Hospitality Congress at
Galaxy Macau.
Citing the slogan “What happens in
Vegas stays in Vegas”, Mr Chagas said,
“It’s time to rethink that.”
He noted that the gaming regulator
here focuses only on the “suitability
and financial capacity” of Macau
licensees. “[But] if a licence holder’s
director or shareholder is convicted
[in the U.S.], that would have an
impact on suitability. If there was a
loss of licence, that would have a
bigger impact.”
He added: “It would also affect the
financial capacity of the licence. There
are all kinds of implications for the
contracts written in Macau.”
Wynn Resorts Ltd and Las Vegas
Sands Corp, parent companies of local
operators Wynn Macau Ltd and Sands
China Ltd respectively, have reported
they are under investigation for
possible violations of American laws
linked to their operations in Macau,
including alleged offenses under the
U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act that
22 JANUARY 2013

MACAU BUSINESS
bars payments to foreign government officials.
According to Mr Chagas, convictions in the U.S.
would however not necessarily trigger immediate
action in Macau. “It would not be automatic. We
would have to look at the circumstances of every
case.”
Mr Chagas spoke as part of a panel on casino
industry regulatory issues in Macau, including
smoking restrictions due to take effect next month,
age restrictions and exclusion rules, plus gaming
licence expiration. Jorge Godinho of the University of
Macau Faculty of Law, and Su Guojing, chairman of
non-profit organisation Asian Responsible Gaming
Alliance, also participated in the panel.
Diversification driver
Beijing may demand greater steps toward economic
diversification to lessen Macau’s reliance on gaming
in the next round of casino licences, expected when
the current gaming concessions expire in 2020 and
2022, panellists noted.
“The central government has always been
concerned about diversification of Macau’s economy,”
Mr Su said, noting that he was expressing a personal
opinion. “I’m pretty certain that the [new] leadership
is going to insist on the diversification path.”
“Diversification could be included in new licensing
requirements,” Mr Godinho agreed. “In 2002, there
was no requirement to diversify. Singapore learned
from our experience.”
When the Lion City tendered its casino licences, it
insisted on so-called integrated resorts with strict
limits on casino size and requirements on nongaming
elements. But Mr Godinho doesn’t expect
Macau to be so stringent.
Recent land grants and construction approvals for
current gaming concessionaires should meanwhile
not be viewed as an indication that renewal of their
licences is imminent, Mr Godinho cautioned. “We
don’t know. The signs that have been coming out are
that no earthquake will happen. But it’s a political
decision.”
Look back, see ahead
Rather than trying to read tea leaves or current
events, Mr Godinho suggested looking to the past.
“History shows that concessions wind up getting
renewed,” he said.
Tai Heng Company, holder of the first gaming
monopoly for 25 years, originally received a two-year
licence, he recounted. Similarly, Stanley Ho Hung
Sun’s Sociedade de Turismo e Diversões de Macau
SARL initially received an eight-year concession that
ultimately lasted for 40 years.
“Macau has had long periods of stability [of gaming
licences] with moments of rapid change,” Mr
Godinho concluded, adding however “groundshaking
movements do occur.”
A big change is due on January 1,
when casinos will have to designate
at least 50 percent of their space as
non-smoking areas.
“The industry has reacted in a very
strong way to the restriction,” Mr
Chagas said. “We have to have good
sense here and the Health Bureau
[which will implement the
regulations] has to have good sense.”
Casinos have great leeway in
deciding where to place the nonsmoking
areas. “The Macau market
has particular characteristics. For
example, smoking can be allocated
to the VIP rooms,” Mr Chagas
pointed out. “In some casinos, where
the mass market is more important,
there can be more allocation of
smoking in those areas.”
Time of the signs?
The law raising the minimum
casino admission and employment
age from 18 to 21 has drawn a great
deal of attention in the mainland as
well as Macau, according to Mr Su.
He questioned enforcement of the
law, enacted last month.
“In Singapore, you have to show
your passport or ID to get into the
casino. Here, you’re still not
checked.”
Signage about the new minimum
24 JANUARY 2013

MACAU BUSINESS
age is “hard to find and small” and often
away from the casino, Mr Su added. “We’d
like to see more obvious signs at the
casino entrances.”
The new law doesn’t specify the
standards for size and placement of signs,
Mr Godinho said. He added that while the
change in the casino admission age has
been widely publicised in Macau, most of
the casino visitors are from outside the
city and so may not be aware of the
change.
The same law allows individuals to
request exclusion from casinos. Violating
an exclusion order is a criminal offense,
subject to imprisonment or a fine, Mr
Chagas explained. The rules also enable
families to request exclusion for a family
member, subject to the approval of the
excluded person.
“Self-exclusion and family exclusion has
been very common for many years in the
U.S. and elsewhere,” Mr Su said. “Macau
may be a little behind, but it’s trying to
catch up.”
He suggested that “direct relations”
such as parents, children or spouses
should be able to file an exclusion
application without the approval of the
person to be excluded. Macau should also
consider requiring casino marketing
material to include information on how to
apply for exclusion.
Mr Godinho took issue with the
criminalisation of exclusion violations. “If
a person realises he has a problem and
takes the responsible action of excluding
himself, then loses control, this person has
a legal problem,” he said. “It could result
in a prison term, it could give him a
criminal record. It gives the person an
even bigger problem.”

Totally Gaming
ExCeL
London
5th - 7th February 2013
As we get closer to ICE Totally Gaming 2013
here are our suggestions for five things that
should be high up on your to-do list.
Visit icetotallygaming.com
1Check out ICE’s pre-show
planner to help you get the most
out of your visit to ICE Totally
Gaming 2013
ICE’s pre-show planner (online.myiwf.com/ice2013 ) opens
a window onto the world of gaming you’ll be able to discover
at the show before you even arrive at ExCeL London. You can
search the exhibiting companies you’ll find on the floor of the
show and the programme for ICE Conferences, as well as
getting a 3D view of ICE by using the special interactive floor
plan. Then combine everything you discover into your own
personal MyPlan itinerary for your three days at ICE Totally
Gaming 2013. And don’t forget to check out ICE’s Interactive
Wayfinder (online.myiwf.com/ice2013/Aboutus.aspx) which
uses interactive digital wayfinding maps and allows you to
drill down information on show, Conferences, facility, and city
through compelling rich media and a green technology solution.
2
Start thinking about your journey
to ICE at ExCeL
ICE has commissioned a special film that highlights the journey
options available to you to get to ICE at ExCeL – whether
you’re travelling via London’s Underground or at surface
level, your journey will be very straightforward.. To view go to
icetotallygaming.com
3Check out ExCeL’s ICE Guide
Our new home for ICE, ExCeL London, has produced a special
guide for ICE visitors to help you familiarise yourself with the
venue and the local area. This will allow you to make the most
of your stay in London with specific info on travel tips, places
to eat, drink and shop at ExCeL, and answers to frequentlyasked-questions
ranging from their bureau de changes to
the venue’s free Wi-Fi. The guide can be downloaded at
icetotallygaming.com
4
Book your tickets for the Totally
Gaming Awards
Don’t miss out on one of our industry’s nights of the year: the
Totally Gaming Awards. Presented at 7pm on Monday 4th
February - the evening before ICE opens its doors – the Awards
categories cover all gaming sectors along with education,
Social Responsibility and outstanding contribution awards. Visit
totallygamingawards.com for full information on how to
book your place.
5
Register for free entry to ICE
2013
To register for your free entry to ICE Totally Gaming 2013
could not be simpler: just visit icetotallygaming.com and
complete your details. Then you will be able to arrive on the day
at ICE, print off your badge and walk straight into the biggest
expo on the industry gaming calendar. And in the run up to
the show you will receive targeted briefings on your particular
sectors of interest produced by our team of gaming industry
writers to ensure you’re fully briefed to make the most of your
three days at ICE.

ARISTOCRAT COVER STORY
Aristocrat raises its game
plan for ICE 2013
Gaming giant aims to make a big impact on stand S8-150
Aristocrat Technologies has signalled its
intentions to make a big impact at the
forthcoming ICE exhibition (ExCeL, 5-7
February), increasing its stand footprint
at the London show by more than 50 per
cent year-on-year. With a total of 97 machines
hosting 57 different games, as well as demonstrations
of server-based, downloadable and online capabilities,
2013 will mark the staging of the global gaming
solutions provider’s most expansive European
showcase to date.
Aristocrat’s ICE 2013 collection covers a number of
gaming segments, spearheaded by new high
entertainment premium licensed games, a growing
list of titles and themes for the VIRIDIAN Hybrid
stepper platform and Feature Top Box library, further
bolstering of successful multi-play games and more
concept extensions incorporating the popular Mega
Pay feature.
Some of Aristocrat’s most loved and best
performing games will be making a comeback as the
‘Classics’ benefit from new widescreen
enhancements and the ‘Legends’ reincarnated in
multigame twin-packs featuring the original game
alongside new Deluxe versions.
Core standalone games will also be well
supported with several new games and innovative
game features making their debut appearance in
Europe at ICE.
New licensed games represent an extremely
attractive proposition for many casino operators
in 2013, according to Pedro De Matos, General
Manager – EMEA.
“Just as they will take prime positions serving
as centrepieces on gaming floors, so too will they
be our own focal attraction. Aristocrat has invested in
prime brands with strong global recognition and
great gaming concepts featuring entertainment, high
levels of interactivity and movie quality HD
animations.”
Superman: The Movie
There can be little doubt surrounding the universal
appeal of Superman The Movie, already drawing
crowds when making its appearance at G2E Las Vegas
in October.
Superman The Movie premieres in the VIRIDIAN
Hybrid cabinet, complete with 31.5-inch Feature Top
Box HD display, themed fascia and optional LCD
dynamic LCD buttons. Incorporating extensive video
footage from the original movie, game play
comprises five interactive bonus features
including a triple standalone progressive
jackpot.
Based on the sequel blockbuster movie,
with equally strong features, game content and
film excerpts, Superman II is the follow-on title
previewing alongside on Aristocrat’s ICE stand.
The Mummy
Themed on another box office hit, the
Feature Top Box videogame The Mummy has
recently been released in Europe, with strong
sales recorded over its first month and further
proliferation anticipated over the first quarter
of 2013. The game will be accompanied by
another strong sequel title, The Mummy
Returns.
ZORRO
ZORRO has been a firm favourite on
European gaming floors over the last
decade and Aristocrat’s most recent
gaming version of the masked man,
ZORRO The Legend Returns has been
on European gaming floors since
October. Another VIRIDIAN Hybrid game at
ICE will be the romance-inspired follow-up
title, ZORRO The Mask and the Rose.
Also appearing, ZORRO The Tale of the Lost
Gold is a widescreen videogame utilising the
proven Mega Pay format (multi reel set play)
to enhance player appeal – a format already
showing itself to be a popular choice amongst
players with another licensed success story,
The Phantom.
“Momentum has been building over the last few
months and Aristocrat now has a bigger role to play
in European and African markets, hence the more
prominent display at the region’s most important
show” said Mr De Matos.
“We have analysed individual territories and player
requirements to identify key titles and themes for
each market, so Aristocrat’s product pipeline for 2013
and beyond is much more focused on customer
needs than ever before.
“I am pleased to say that more than 75 per cent of
the models being shown at ICE will be available to
order immediately or within the first calendar quarter
and over 95 per cent by the middle of the year.”
30 JANUARY 2013

ICE PREVIEW
Alfastreet’s hot new
developments for ICE
2012 was challenging for all the right reasons: find booth S6-130 to see why
like every other year,
has been very challenging
for Alfastreet; challenging,
in the way that we
“2012,
constantly strive to keep
ahead of our competitors. We do it with new
developments, better overall service, and a
perfect product for every each one of our
customers. In 2012 year we invested lots of time
and effort into upgrading our already top
quality hardware, we redesigned most of our
products, and most importantly, we added
several new additions to our wide range of
products, games and services. We also
upgraded our relationship with the customers
by offering them consultation, floor design
options, detailed graphics, and basically all this
just to help out, and to make sure our
customers are aware of our open and
straightforward relationship with them.
As said, we once again progressed in every
aspect of this game, and that is why, we can
mark 2012 as excellent year for Alfastreet.
Our plans for the future include further
improvement of all of the aspects of our game.
Service, sales, development and production, we
always strive to do it even better, just so we can
stand out from our competitors and make sure
we retain our well deserved position in the
gaming market.
We are proud to maintain, and even upgrade
our leading position on the Asian market. We are
still the favorite choice of most of the operators
throughout the region and we plan to stick
around for a long time. Furthermore, we are
getting ready to really enter into the US market.
We have the gaming approvals, we’ve done initial
installations, and we are foreseeing great results
in the year 2013. Besides these currently active
markets, we are doing very well in South
America, and Africa as we are once again a
preferred choice of most the reputable venues in
the area. Last but not least, Europe is still a
sleeping beauty but we are active wherever we
see the opportunity, and for this reason we
achieved several new gaming approvals to reenter
the promising European markets.
As always, we are looking forward to this
year’s ICE, and to greet our existing partners,
and to meet the new ones. We always take
special care of our partners, by allocating
enough time for them at this busy show, and
also, by creating a special event for them, so
that we can all get together and have some fun.
This year we will reveal several new products,
some of them being very exciting and new. That
is why Alfastreet is a must-see booth for every
gaming professional on the show. So, we are
inviting everyone, to come and be greeted
warmly.
All are welcome to visit at booth no: S6-130.
This is a great position on the show, and we
will definitely be visible to every visitor
coming in.”
JANUARY 2013 33

ICE PREVIEW
DRGT’s server-free
connectivity at ICE 2013
DRGT will be showing precisely why it is the fastest growing systems company
at the forthcoming ICE – on stand S8-130
2012 was a year of growth and
integration. DRGT’s Systems in
Progress (SiP) was renamed DRGT
Systems to reflect the excellent
synergies gained. DRGT Peru was
established and already boasts a team of 20
dedicated staff. The number of slot machines
connected worldwide to DRGT systems has
grown from 8,000 to over 20,000. In Peru
alone over 50 separate casinos connected to
DRGT during 2012.
2013 promises to be another very exciting
year. DRGT is and remains an independent
systems company – where systems remain in
the forefront. Thus, DRGT can connect with all
slots – no matter the age or manufacturer. This
means that operators do not need to renounce
upon favourite, older reel-based slots when
introducing a system.
DRGT works serverless. This greatly simplifies
the daily operation of systems. All the data is
fed to the operator from each individually
connected slot machine. No expensive servers
are required, no IT staff are required. This
reduces the cost barrier dramatically for
systems – opening up systems to a great new
part of the gaming market.
DRGT offers complete systems solutions –
with complete flexibility. Accounting, cashless,
jackpots, bonusing, player tracking,
tournaments – all these are examples of the
world of opportunities embedded in the
drSMIB. Straight-forward, clear and direct –
this is how DRGT works. Thus, all products are
classified in such a way for you to understand
immediately what each product refers to. The
‘DR’ is used as standard for all products – for
example, drAccounting, drBonusing,
drCashless, drJackpots, drPlayer Tracking, etc.
Special mention should be given to drScreen.
DRGT has truly changed the way systems are
viewed in the industry for good. This complex
necessity has become an open, friendly
marketing tool. With drScreen, operators can
directly communicate with each and every
individual player. Player attention is naturally
on the regular screen – and drScreen makes
use of exactly that. Thus, operators can use the
slot screen to inform, entertain or even reward
the individual player. Players no longer need to
look at a small display. drScreen offers
promotion and bonusing possibilities
according to the player card level - thus
allowing for perfectly targeted marketing. These
marketing or informational messages can be
configured and shown individually to players
directly on drScreen. Further possibilities
include the promotion of events, jackpots, etc.
All machines can be connected
– all can be operated cashless
The innovative, forward-thinking approach of
DRGT means that DRGT can integrate their
systems on all slots. For example, all machines
can be connected to cashless. Referring to
ticketing - should older machines not contain
the technology or components for ticket
reading / printing; DRGT then provides a
complete package to update such machines to
this cashless technology. Should there be no
physical room to integrate a ticket printer in
the slot machine – no problem – DRGT links it
in a side box at the machine (called naturally
drSide Box). Cashless play by card is available
whereby all the information that used to be on
a small screen can be shown on the entire
gaming monitor thanks to drScreen. DRGT
even offers a further solution – payment via an
iButton (drButton) whereby all the player
account information is stored on the iButton.
This is the simplest and most costeffective
way to introduce cashless
gaming on the slots floor – an exclusive
DRGT solution.
The DRGT technology naturally
covers the whole gaming floor as
drTable and drCage link the live tables
and cage into the systems technology.
Mr. Jurgen De Munck, founder and
CEO, stretches out a warm welcome to
visitors to the forthcoming ICE, saying,
“The ICE is the perfect international platform
to inform the global gaming market of the
unique benefits we offer. Our systems are
flexible, modular, cost-effective, run on all slots
and are naturally serverless. We are looking
forward to seeing our customers and cordially
invite visitors to come by and learn more about
how we can help you. We are here for you”.
The entire team of DRGT is looking forward
to greeting visitors to their stand S8-130,
including Jurgen De Munck (CEO), Michiel van
Dam (COO), Georg Steiner (Senior Business
Development Director), Joost van Egeraat (Sales
Director EMEA), César Vásquez (General
Manager – DRGT Peru), Jean-Michel de
Busscher (Director of Operations – DRGT
Belgium), Christian Eder (Director of
Operations – DRGT Systems Austria) and Franz
Lechner (R&D Director).
Jurgen De Munck and Georg Steiner
34 JANUARY 2013

ICE PREVIEW
Casino Technology brings variety
“Greatest gaming variety ever” for ICE 2013
Recently releasing more gaming
titles and concepts than any period
before, Casino Technology is
preparing to demonstrate the most
interesting samples of this variety at
ICE 2013. According to the current strategic
goal to position its products in multiple sectors
of gaming, from resort casinos and state-of-theart
arcades to home computers and mobile
devices, the company will make its stand as a
shiny and full of surprises “City of Games”,
where every district will present a different part
of the multi-game collections dedicated to a
different theme, concept and array of games,
and available on multi-platform applications.
The most popular multigame, GAMOPOLIS,
has grown further in 2012 in many varied sets
developed for different markets, customer
profiles and jurisdictions.
Casino Technology is launching for the first
time a 40-game GAMOPOLIS set, under the
new brand GAMOPOLIS HIGHWAY. The ICE
audience will also see 7 different sets from the
basic line of 20-game international versions.
These multi-title sets include whole game
suites, along with smart selection of the best
Casino Technology single games ensuring
hours of uninterrupted play for the visitors.
The ICE show also will mark the European
premiere of the next branded line of video
slots. PLANETA PAYNER SLOTS are licensed by
the leading Bulgarian music company
PLANETA PAYNER, representing the explosive
combination of gaming excitement with the
power of top chart music videos. Every game
features a top
performing music star, which makes a double
attraction for the players and some of the
singers will be at Casino Technology stand in
London to present in person their games to the
visitors.
In addition to the record number of game
titles Casino Technology is presenting a brand
new slot machine model SENSA FLEX,
successor of the most successful to date line of
slot machines SENSA PLUS. The new model
features an original technical solution for the
main monitor - a curved LCD screen, creating a
sense of rotation of mechanical reels, like in
the classic slot machines.
Casino Technology will also demonstrate in
London the great move made this year in terms
of systems development and server-based
technologies. In 2012 the company launched
its SERVER GAMES TECHNOLOGY (SGT) as
immediate answer to the new trends in the
industry and constantly increasing demands
for faster, multi-channel and more flexible ways
of betting.
Crane Payment: Thinking Big at ICE
Stand S10-430 for the most comprehensive cash handling suite on the market
Crane Payment Solutions is looking
forward to showcasing its range of
products for the global gaming
market at ICE. Visitors to the stand
will be able to see a range of
solutions including hoppers, bill validators, bill
recyclers and audit management.
Stephan Rosseneu, Director of European
Sales for Crane Payment Solutions said: “We’re
excited to be taking part in ICE again this year
and looking forward to exhibiting at Excel for
the first time. ICE’s theme of Think Big is a
perfect fit for us and ICE will be a great start to
what we’re sure is going to be a very exciting
2013. During 2012 we launched our first Crane
Payment Solutions product, the v? colibri and
our brand new website and are keen to build on
the success of the past year.”
Bill Validators:
The Money Controls Ardac Elite is a truly
global product – it is the bill validator of
choice in casinos, slot halls, gaming machines
and VLTs worldwide. Among the innovations
found on the Ardac Elite is the first and only
field proven imaging technology. If there are
any disputes about the last bill entered an
image of the last note inserted can be
displayed, either on the gaming machine
display, or by simply plugging in a PDA via the
USB port. The Money Controls Ardac Elite’s
state of the art imaging technology and 4-way
barcode reader, allows customers to insert
barcode tickets in any orientation, increasing
acceptance rates and user satisfaction.
The CashCode one bill validator offers a
range of benefits to casinos and OEMs. Key
features include: a universal design to accept
all currencies; one single hardware platform to
reduce support and operation costs, and
flexible architecture with multiple options and
configurations. The CashCode one also has
advanced sensor technology which scans both
sides of the bill, thereby optimising
recognition.
Banknote Recyclers:
As with many payment systems there is not
always a one-size fits all solution and bank-note
recyclers are no different.The CashCode Bill-to-
Bill 60 recycler is a revolutionary payment
system designed for Europe that accepts and
validates 5 – 50 Euro bank notes. It can then
store and recycle 5’s, 10’s or 20’s to payout as
change or dispense as winnings. Features
include quick & simple configuration changes
or firmware updates via a BlueChip memory
card, 2 digit external display indicates bill
count to operator and high impact resistant
cash vault.
Audit and Cash Management
The CashCode one comes with oneCheck
cash management and accountability solution.
oneCheck is the newest asset reporting and
tracking cashbox management solution for
both bills and tickets. Operators simply use a
barcode scanning system to check the cashbox
contents while the security cage remains
closed. At the same time, a simple press of a
button prints a ticket that displays the last five
bills inserted into the validator, without
opening the cashbox and presenting a security
risk.
Visit Crane Payment Solutions to see how
their products can provide real benefits to your
business.
36 JANUARY 2013

ICE PREVIEW
Novomatic predicts “a
roaring success” at ICE
With their global footprint growing, ICE’s largest exhibitor is abuzz at the
prospect of a truly great gaming show – on stand S5-250
As the most important event of the year
for Novomatic, ICE Totally Gaming 2013
has a new home on London’s Docklands,
a new February date and is looking set to
be the most spectacular gaming show on
earth. Novomatic, traditionally the show’s largest
exhibitor is determined to help provide the ‘Wow
Factor’ with its largest ever on-event presence!
On what will be its largest ever booth at an
international gaming show Novomatic will present a
huge array of gaming innovations and attractions
from across the entire spectrum of the industry. With
its subsidiaries from around the world and experts in
the many specialised fields of the gaming
entertainment industry Novomatic plans to help
launch the ‘new look’ ICE Totally Gaming event in
spectacular style.
At this stage Novomatic is not yet releasing details
of specific product launches but is pleased to confirm
that there will be debut appearances for a brand new
cabinet design, a whole new array of Game
innovations, new Jackpots and important technology
innovations for serverbased Gaming systems. ICE
visitors can be absolutely sure that there will be
much to see and do on Novomatic’s booth, number
S5-250, and can also be sure of the traditional
Novomatic warm welcome and hospitality during the
three days of the show.
Following the news that Germany’s IMA show will
not take place in 2013 it is expected that a larger
than usual contingent of German operators will be
seen in London’s ExCeL Exhibition Centre from
February 5th -7th and Novomatic is, of course,
making special plans to welcome them.
Jens Halle, Managing Director of Austrian
Gaming Industries GmbH (AGI), noted: “ICE Totally
Gaming is the most important trade show of the
year for Novomatic. The show’s slogan this year is
‘Think Big’ and that is something that we heartily
endorse. I would like to personally invite all our
customers, business partners and friends to visit us
in London and I promise that there will be many
attractions and innovations for you all to see and
try for yourselves.”
38 JANUARY 2013

ICE PREVIEW
New venue, new vision
for TCSJOHNHUXLEY
The first stage of TCS’s new vision will be on show at ICE, with exciting
developments alongside the classics; check out stand S7-350
ICE 2013 sees change for TCSJOHNHUXLEY.
There is much excitement and expectation
moving to a new venue and location in the show,
but in addition TCSJOHNHUXLEY will be
showcasing a new vision for its product portfolio.
Over the last year the company has been reviewing
its products and will be presenting the first stage of
this new vision at ICE in February. The focus will be
on key products - Gaming Floor Live, Supernova,
Tablet Roulette, electronic table games and of course
traditional industry leading products.
Cath Burns, TCSJOHNHXLEY Group CEO
comments, “We’ve spent the last 9 months focusing
on our product portfolio to ensure we are building a
solid foundation in which we can support our
customers globally. What you will see at ICE is the
first stage of this product-focused approach with our
software based products such as Gaming Floor Live,
Supernova and Tablet Roulette that are designed to
drive business and revenues at the operator level.”
The ICE presentation will feature key areas:
The Supernova Zone will showcase how this unique
product delivers floor wide progressive and game
bonusing to all live table games. The system drives
increased revenues by adding higher
levels of player excitement and loyalty
to all live table games including
Roulette, an industry first. Its multilevel
event based and mystery prizes
can be employed on games that don’t
normally run progressive jackpots.
The Gaming Floor Live Zone
highlights this Real-Time game
optimisation tool designed to
maximise key performance areas and
profitability. Gaming Floor Live
automatically captures game data,
which in turn provides information to
maximise turnover, maintain house
advantage, reduce operating costs and
understand opportunity costs.
Initially launched for Roulette, the
system has now been developed to
incorporate a variety of other games,
which will be showcased at ICE.
Visitors will be able to sit back and relax in our
Lounge - the perfect place to demonstrate our
innovative server based Roulette solution that allows
players to play live Roulette tables on a touch screen
tablet device throughout a gaming venue. This is the
perfect Roulette solution for what have traditionally
been non-gaming areas such as bars, restaurants, and
smoking terraces. It will enhance electronic revenue
by giving flexibility during busy periods, offering
increased player positions without the need for
additional staffing levels.
In addition to this, we will be showcasing our
exquisite gaming tables, wheels and new games in the
Traditional Zone as well as our award winning
electronic multiplayer products in a dedicated
Electronic Zone.
“We are really looking forward to this year’s show as
this signifies the start of a new journey for the
company”. Cath Burns continues, “The future will see
us integrate all of our core products with our
technical products so that we can offer our customers
a core solution. This is the first stage, that said we
already have some ground-breaking product offerings
providing very strong foundations for the future.”
Cath Burns, TCSJOHNHXLEY Group CEO
40 JANUARY 2013

ICE PREVIEW
A clear message from SUZO-HAPP
Two business pillars standing strong at ICE 2013! See stand S9-130
Suzo-Happ has two clearly defined
business fields – and leads the
market in both. It is a global
distributor for industry ‘household
names’, acting as a one-stop shop in
the industry – for both manufacturers and
operators. Suzo-Happ offers an unparalleled
product range for the gaming, amusement and
industrial industries. The diversity of these
industries is reflected in the product size at
Suzo-Happ – namely over 50,000 components.
The global strength of the Suzo-Happ Group
with twelve strategic locations and a team of
almost five hundred professionals ensures that
manufacturers and operators have close
contacts with their local Suzo-Happ
representative. Suzo-Happ places focus on
offering the industry true innovation at short
lead times and favourable prices. Therefore,
household names in the industry rely on Suzo-
Happ as their distributor – often European or
even global distributor and service partner.
Such companies include ELO (touch screens),
MEI (banknote readers / recyclers and coin
vaildators), FutureLogic (ticket printers), Assa
(locks) and Innovative Technology (bank note
readers / recyclers).
Suzo-Happ will be presenting the key
products and new innovations of these key
partners on the Suzo-Happ stand S9-130.
Suzo-Happ is also an innovator and
manufacturer for the industry, living and
breathing gaming and amusements, with key
knowledge in how to create new technologies.
With R&D teams available to support
manufacturers directly – Suzo-Happ offers a
unique service: to create the technologies for
customers. The manufacturing plant Chinatec
in Zihou in China belongs to the Suzo-Happ
Group. The group’s products are manufactured
here. A state-of-the-art building was erected in
2001 that covers an area of over 15,000 square
metres and is situated close to Hong Kong and
Macau. The Chinatec manufacturing plant is
key to the success of the Suzo-Happ Group. The
company has an excellent reputation for quality.
Mr. Harald Wagemaker, Sales Director EMEA
at Suzo-Happ, explains another benefit around
this, “Our focus is creating partnerships. We
know such partnerships benefit the household
names in the industry. We asked ourselves how
we can increase our service more with
manufacturers. The gaming industry is very
dynamic as we see year-on-year at the ICE. We
see ourselves as the bridge between the present
and the future. We can design and manufacture
new products for our customers. And the further
benefit is: As we are a distributor, we can manage
the product flow to our customers. That means
they do not need to purchase the complete
produced units at one time. We can supply these
just-in-time and invoice accordingly”.
The entire Suzo-Happ team looks forward to
greeting visitors to their stand at the ICE,
inviting you to get to see the ‘two sides of Suzo-
Happ’ – in other words the two business pillars
of Suzo-Happ.
New innovations from VNE
Italy’s most successful change machine manufacturer hits the London show
VNE – Italy’s most successful
manufacturer of change machines –
will once again be welcoming
visitors to its stand at the
forthcoming ICE exhibition in
London at stand number S11-110.
The extensive product range will be on
display. This includes change solutions in
banknotes to coins, banknotes to
banknotes and coins, coins to coins
and tickets to banknotes and coins.
The latest solution has been
conceived particularly for the UK
market. Thus, the ICE exhibition is the
perfect location for it to receive its
international premiere. The Two
Pennies change machine is targeted for
the UK resort arcades which have
many amusement games that cost 2
pence per play. The Two Pennies has
extensive change capacities – up to
18,000 coins. The integrated large
screen monitor and loud speakers
makes this change machine much
more – it becomes a marketing device
– allowing operators to channel
messages and play music. It is this
entertainment factor that makes Two Pennies
the perfect new change machine for the UK
arcade sector. Two Pennies changes any UK
coin denomination over 2p into 2p pieces. A
further model is available with a secure, antifraud
banknote reader. This version is called
the Maxi Changer.
VNE has amassed great experience in
the gaming sector as well. Italy is the
largest market for VLTs in Italy and thus
VNE has the right solutions for change
in this market segment.
The Super Change VLT accepts and
dispenses coins and banknotes and
handles tickets and cards. The bulk
coin acceptance accepts coins at 20
coins per second – ideal for tipping in
a pot of coins. The data access system
enables an online connection so that
remote monitoring and adjustments are
just a click of a button away.
The Queen Change is the regal
change machine for the VLT market. It
accepts and dispenses barcode tickets
and can be connected to all VLT
platforms. The coin and note capacity are very
high – 4,500 coins (3 hoppers) and 3,000
notes (5 note dispensers).
Mr. Lorenzo Verona, Commercial Director at
VNE, is looking forward to the ICE, stating, “In
the space of a few short years we have brought
VNE to the forefront of the largest and most
contested market for change machines in Italy.
As a family-owned company, we are in the
position to move quickly to develop what the
market really requires. This philosophy has
taken us to the top in Italy. It is exactly the
same philosophy that we have for international
markets. We invite international companies to
come and see us at the ICE – we are actively
seeking new distributors to add to our growing
team of global distributors”.
VNE change machines can be operated as a
marketing tool due to the new possibility to
place a TV screen over each change machine.
Operators can use the screen for advertising /
information or entertaining purposes.
The whole VNE team is looking forward to
greeting visitors to their stand at the
forthcoming ICE.
42 JANUARY 2013

ICE PREVIEW
WMS: Engaging Players.
Delivering Results.
More than 75 games including exciting new titles like Wonka and Spider-Man.
Stand S8-210 is the place to go…
The WMS line-up of over 75 games at the
ICE Totally Gaming 2013 exhibition will
feature an extensive portfolio of new and
unique content for the global markets. At
ICE 2013, WMS’ continued commitment to
Engaging Players. Delivering Results. will be displayed
through a broad array of unique and dynamic
entertainment experiences. Highlights include:
Game Chest: a series of multi-games powered by
the CPU-NXT2 platform available on the Bluebird2e
and Bluebird xD cabinets, and offered exclusively to
our international markets. The Game Chest multigame
supports multiple languages and currencies, as
well as provides an attractive, user-friendly interface.
The multi-game series will be available in three
unique game sets, each comprised of six to eight
themes featuring a mixture of proven WMS content,
with the first game set featuring six unique themes
from the player-favorite G+ Deluxe and
G+ Deluxe 5x4 series.
SPIDER-MAN: WMS’ second game
to feature the Sensory Immersion 2.0
Motion Chair System, SPIDER-MAN
slots are dual-array games with five
random “Spider-Sense” features and
exciting bonus rounds featuring
video and audio clips from the
blockbuster film trilogy. Players get
up to 8 reel sets spinning at up to
50x in the Free Spins Bonus, or make
the most of advanced CPU-NXT3
graphics and motion events perfectly
aligned in an exciting bonus battle
with the Green Goblin.
WILLY WONKA & THE
CHOCOLATE FACTORY: The third
WMS Sensory Immersion 2.0
participation Wide-Area Progressive
slot game, the WILLY WONKA &
THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY game
delivers an entertaining experience
with enhanced graphics, superior
play mechanics and advanced touch
screen functionality integrated into the
game play that is synchronized with the
movement of the motion chair. A ride on the
CHOCOLATE RIVER BOAT is brought to life through
the motion chair technology and gives players the
chance to experience the “Scrumdidilyumptious” joy
of finding a golden ticket hidden in a WONKA Bar
that awards a $5,000 jackpot - with the odds of
finding it increasing each time the jackpot is not
won. Even the game’s WONKAVATOR feature, the free
spin trigger used to determine which bonus round
will be awarded, is motion enabled.
KISS: Players looking for a unique take on multiarray
games, original game mechanics and a rockin’
soundtrack need look no further - KISS slots will set
your slot floor to Rock and Roll All Nite and party
every day. A new take on multi-array base games can
award one, two or three bonus reel sets on any spin,
enhanced with low symbols removed, WILDs or WILD
reels. On top of that are three exciting bonus rounds,
including the KISS Alive Bonus for an exciting new
take on picking bonuses set to a soundtrack that’s
Hotter than Hell.
CHEERS: Based upon the immensely popular,
long-running TV sitcom show, the CHEERS slot game
features the lovable cast of characters that everyone
knows, including Norm and Cliff. With fun filled
bonus rounds like Cliff Clavin’s Random Fact
Bonus, where players select a card to be awarded
credits and a quick clip of little known
information from Cliff, such as “It’s a little known
fact that the tan became popular in what is known
as the Bronze Age,” or Norm’s “Pour You a Beer Mr.
Peterson?” bonus, players are sure
to find plenty of enjoyable slot
entertainment on casino slot
floors.
The WMS booth will also feature
some recent proven performers
from the WMS catalog, including
the first motion chair game in slot
history Aladdin & the Magic Quest
and latest themes in the hit Colossal
Reels family of video slots.
For more information, please visit
www.wms.com/now,
www.youtube.com/wmsslots or
www.twitter.com/wmsgamingnews.
44 JANUARY 2013

ICE PREVIEW
JPM: Advancing on all
fronts
JPM joins ICE organisers in Thinking Big on
stand S7-230
After an extensive marketing
campaign, ICE will be opening its
doors on 5th-7th Feb 2013 at its
new home, ExCel London. Itself the
world’s largest B2B gaming Expo,
ICE is urging visitors, exhibitors and other
participants to ‘Think Big’.
As in previous years the
JPM Group will occupy a
large centrally located
position at ICE and its
team are looking forward to
the opportunities that
exhibiting at such an
important show inevitably
bring.
JPM’s Paul Bursnell
explains: “JPM has always
done good business at ICE
and it’s an important show
for us, both in terms of new
business and meeting up
with existing customers.
During the past year JPM
has been advancing on
several fronts and we’re
looking forward to
unveiling the results of a
substantial development
investment. Coincidentally,
we will present the biggest
and widest range of
products we’ve ever show,
so I guess we’re rising to
the ICE challenge.”
For many UK operators,
2012 was marked as the
year in which JPM
responded to concerns
about lack of choice by
investing heavily in product
for the beleaguered
Category C analogue
market with strongly
performing games released
under its Al Murray The
Pub Landlord franchise.
Paul Bursnell has
confirmed that more relief
in the guise of Al Murray is
on the way and added that
new ranges of Category B3
and B4 games for the
domestic market will be on show for visitors to
the ICE stand. Indeed, the star of the show is
sure to be JPM’s newly launched video Max
Power gaming system for the UK.
Initially launched as a five game
compendium, the system delivers operator
flexibility and player choice whilst maintaining
the exemplary content
for which JPM is
renowned. Paul Bursnell
explained: “Initially the
system will offer a variety
of game styles using
three, four and five reels.
The games have been
well proven and new
content will follow
rapidly from both the
JPM development team
and other best of breed
developers. Game
content is selected and
updated by the
operator,” he added. A
Euro version of the video
Max Power system will
also be available, in
addition to international
specification slots.
JPM has revealed that,
for the first time, the
company will be showing
dual screen games in the
ubiquitous Linear
cabinet. Visitors to the
stand can view
competitively priced
games, supplied singly or
as a compendium for the
UK and European
markets in this new
format.
The Group’s
partnership with Czechbased
Synot has also
produced some truly
market-beating results,
all of which will be on
show in addition to a
range of original product
developed by Synot.
Returning to the UK, JPM’s Crystal brand will
be making its first ICE appearance. Utilising
the popular Horizon cabinet, Crystal is about
delivering great JPM games at a lower price
break but with no sacrifice to quality. If the
early operator interest is any indication, the
Crystal games are set to attract a great deal of
attention.
On the European front, Paul Bursnell has
confirmed that new hybrid ranges for the
Spanish market will be on show, along with
some strong games for the re-emerging Danish
territory.
JPM Interactive, the group’s online division
has also enjoyed a productive year with both
new and classic games titles being deployed to
operators. JPMi Managing Director Andrew
Davies confirmed that interest from the online
community is growing and that the show diary
is filling rapidly.
“JPMi now offers a substantial online games
portfolio, including repurposed successful
classic JPM titles and a string of rich multistake
games featuring the popular Max Power
progressive bonus,” declared Andrew. “We
believe that the latest AWP style release from
the JPMi development team, Al Murray’s Golden
Game is the first in an entirely new generation
of online games, delivering a unique sense of
engagement. Al Murray’s Golden Game has
already debuted on Bet 365 and will shortly be
rolled out over a variety of sportsbetting and
global gaming sites,” he informed.
For Paul Bursnell, the ICE show also fulfils a
unique need for the company’s hardworking
team. “We always gather a lot of feedback at
ICE. As a team we pride ourselves on our focus
on individual markets and their specific
requirements. Everything at ICE has been
developed with specific clients or markets in
mind. The show provides the visitor and
ourselves with a unique snapshot, the ability to
see our latest innovations, all together, at the
same time and alongside those of other
exhibitors. Sometimes it’s great to pause and
just listen to the valuable feedback on our new
products,” reflected Paul.
JPM games may be experienced for free at:
www.playjpm.com
46 JANUARY 2013

ICE PREVIEW
iVIZION evolves at JCM
Stand S9-240 for the latest in cash handling technology
JCM is helping casinos everywhere
evolve their gaming floors to be even
more accurate, secure and rewarding.
Now JCM Global is evolving, bringing a
world of solutions to ICE Totally
Gaming 2013.
JCM will be on stand S9-240 showing a
collection of highly evolved products that help
operators be even better, smarter and faster
than ever.
JCM is evolving its award-winning iVIZION
bill validator, building on iVIZION’s foundation
of intelligent validation. iVIZION is the most
advanced bill validator the gaming industry has
ever seen, and the product has been breaking
records around the world. iVIZION is evolving
with JCM’s new DNA (Dynamic Network
Applications), an incredible set of bundled
enhancement tools that empower casino
operators to do much more than ever thought
possible, and in real time.
Operating
wirelessly or
hard-wired, DNA
passively
monitors the
EGM “SAS” line
for critical
housekeeping
data, while
securing two-way
communication
with all critical
peripheral
components.
With JCM’s DNA, operators can get extensive
reports in real time and deliver firmware
updates instantly, with no downtime, across the
entire operation. DNA also enables regulators
to instantly verify peripheral device, software
versions, view reports and more. In other words,
this original technology is even further
enhancing profitability, productivity and
efficiency.
The evolution continues to table games with
the new iV8 table game bill validator, which
gives operators “Intelligent Validation At 8
Notes Per Second.” The revolutionary iV8 bill
validator was developed specifically for the
high-volume table game marketplace. iV8 has a
compact, sleek, streamline design and has been
proven to increase play time.
Next, JCM will demonstrate Mobile Wager
Wallet, the world’s first fully interactive mobile
wager network that connects players,their
QuickJack redemption ATM kiosks and a
gaming device. Developed in conjunction with
Techfirm, Mobile Wager Wallet delivers mobile
transaction capability across the entire casino
operation, quickly, easily and securely.
To see these and other solutions, visit JCM at
ICE or online now at jcmglobal.com.
Abbiati Casino Equipment at ICE
Stand S6-630 for Roulette, RFID, tables and much more!
Exhibiting at booth S6-330, Abbiati is
bringing its consolidated and
renowned portfolio of gaming
products where they will showcase a
wide range of brand new products.
“The London show has always been the most
challenging exhibition for our company” said
Giorgio Abbiati, CEO of Abbiati Casino
Equipment “and our team is eager to take part
in another exciting show. Giovanni Abbiati, the
Founder and President of the Italian company
had added saying, that the company this year
has strengthened its forces in investigating and
researching new technologies. The result of it is
the development of a brand new range of
security features to be added to chips, plaques
and jetons, created to satisfy even the most
demanding of their clients.
“The security of Chips, Plaques and Jetons
has always been a goal for our company and as
a witness of this we are always researching new
materials and technologies to make our
products safer against counterfeiting” stated
Giorgio Abbiati. “The company is proud of
showcasing these new enhanced security
features during the London show” he added.
Among all other products the Italian
manufacturer will be presenting its
Contemporary Wheel, a recent model of
Roulette Wheel, which incorporates an
upgraded patented invisible laser technology
(Class 1A). The wheel is made of alternative
materials, which are able to guarantee to the
Casino Operators the top quality and security.
The main benefits of the newly manufactured
wheel is a very competitive price and no visible
evidence of the laser sensor in the ball track.
The wheel obtained a big success throughout
this year and Abbiati is pleased to show it again
during this exhibition.
“The latest innovation of this year is a new
alternative material for layouts we are going to
introduce,” said the Abbiati CEO, “which is
much more economical but still as durable as
the synthetic layouts. This cloth can be also
personalized according to any design that may
be requested by the Casino Operators.”
Abbiati continues to focus on its Poker
Division, which includes customized poker
chips, Modiano playing cards with standard
and personalized backs, poker tables with
different characteristics and various ranges of
prices, chairs and to this game related
accessories.
In the past year Abbiati have had a large
expansion not just in its key and consolidated
markets.
The management says the company has
expanded even more in the Asian market,
receiving an amount of important orders
regarding chips, jetons and plaques including
new security features.
Another achievement obtained by the
company since they were granted an approval
by Nevada Gaming Control Board for their
chips, plaques and jetons is a new approval
received this year from the Singapore Casino
Regulatory Authority, which enabled Abbiati to
sell their casino currency products in
Singapore, in a such way securing a
continually growing entry of Abbiati in the
Asian market.
As every year Abbiati will display a large
range of their Live Gaming tables of various
styles and configurations, a selection of their
American Roulette wheels together with a
selection of Winning Number Displays and
these are just to name a few.
48 JANUARY 2013

ICE PREVIEW
Interblock’s enhanced
4th gen unveiled at ICE!
Booth S4-210 for the latest stunning designs and innovative electronic
gaming solutions
“It is a great pleasure to welcome
our customers, business
partners and friends in the
gaming industry to meet with us
and see the presentation of
company’s 16th visit to the International
Gaming Expo – ICE Totally Gaming 2013 in
London at the new location, the ExCel venue,
the unique waterfront location in the heart of
London’s Royal Docks.
5th of February will mark the unveiling
greatness of Interblock’s enhanced multi-player
platform available on the market – G4D -
DIAMOND product range in MODERN and
UPGRADED design:
• G4D Wheel with Big3Six game
• G4D Virtual 06 with Baccarat and Black
Jack game
·wn Side Bet
• G4D Bubble 08 with Pop’n Poker game
• G4D Dice 10 with Craps and SicBo game
• G4 Organic Roulette 08 in Football Shape
• G4 Organic Bartop
G4D Wheel with Big3Six game: Big3Six is
an exciting new spin on an old classic. The
game consists of 3 Wheels which offers 3 times
the fun and 3 times the action. The 3 Wheels
also act as reels for a Slot Machine themed Side
Bet. Interblock’s
beautifully
illuminated G4D Wheel is certain to be an
attraction on any casino floor, and will
definitely improve the drop on existing Wheel
games.
Organic Roulette with additional Side bet
game: Touchdown Roulette is an exciting new
Side Bet for Interblock Roulette that is certain
to improve the hold on existing Roulette games.
The Side Bet is themed around the popular
game of American Football, and does not
interfere with basic Roulette play. Players can
follow all the Football action with stunning
animation and sound on a separate LCD
display. The goal of Touchdown Roulette is to
score a Touchdown.
G4D Bubble 08 with Pop’n Poker game:
The G4D Bubble is a stunning Interblock
generator that is certain to be an eye
stopper on any casino floor.e drawn balls
on 52 LCD displays. Pop’n Poker is a
proprietary game that combines the
excitement of Keno and the LOTO and
adds a Poker theme. Interblock’s Bingo and
Keno games can also be offered on the
G4D Bubble.
Advantages that were brought with the
enhanced G4D generation of products are:
• Modular structure, all elements being
stand-alone type and almost unlimited
possibilities of configurations
• Simplified with better and versatile X
technology
• New classic style environment
• Device assembly time is reduced for
50%
• New design with an emphasis on more
Swarovski crystals, new chrome outlook and
letter signs
• Implementing newly developed Ball and
Wheel generator
Get ready… and join Interblock team at
booth # S4-210.”
For more information, please visit
www.interblock.eu.
50 JANUARY 2013

ICE PREVIEW
GPI to showcase new
innovative new products
Gaming Partners International expands B&G currency line, RFID suite and
Paulson playing cards; check it out at stand S9-230
ICE is Gaming Partners International’s
kickoff to the new year. We are excited
about the new venue in London. We will
be showcasing our full range of gaming
chips, plaques, and jetons, gaming tables,
gaming solutions, and table game products.
We pride ourselves as being the industry’s
leading manufacturer and provider of casino
currency. We have expanded our B&G
currency line. Our J2 jeton, is a
groundbreaking product that combines the
aesthetic and security features of Europeanstyle
jetons with the easy handling of
American-style chips. Unlike traditional jetons,
the J2 features color edge spots that allow easy
identification when in racks or stacks, the J2
can include a wide range of decal and printing
options not available on traditional jetons,
including holograms, diffraction foils and more.
In addition, we will be introducing brand new
standard chip designs and colors for our
American-style B&G chips extending the level
of customization options available to create an
aesthetically pleasing and secure chip unique
to a casino’s brand.
GPI continues to expand its
already extensive suite of RFID
technology in gaming currency
security and innovative gaming
solution applications. As a
result, we have seen an increase
in customer interest in utilizing
our RFID solutions to enhance
currency safeguarding and the
streamlining of casino
management systems both on
the floor and back of house.
One innovative application
that has been of great interest to customers,
has been our RFID Poker solution. GPI’s RFID
Poker assists in eliminating rake, round-up, and
other calculation mistakes. Available with an
optional progressive jackpot, our RFID poker
solution automates chip counting and pot
calculation processes, reducing downtime
between rounds and thus increasing rounds
played per hour.
We have added a third product to our
Paulson line of cards and now offer Paulson
Plastic playing cards. Our plastic cards offer
the same high quality as our Paulson and
Paulson PSV paper stock cards with the benefit
of being able to withstand long repeated play.
They offer the classic snap and feel of
traditional paper stock cards and are tear,
smudge, and scuff resistant. Various
customization options are available to meet
casino requirements. Our new Paulson Plastic
cards have been very
well received.
Another message we
will emphasize at ICE is
that GPI is sensitive to
the economic changes
being felt in the
European and global
gaming environment
and how they affect
casino operators. GPI
manufactures all of its
gaming currency,
casino gaming tables, layouts, cards, and dice.
Unlike working with a distributor, we work
directly with the customer and oversee the
complete production process from concept
and design to order and delivery. And by way
of our innovative manufacturing capabilities
and technologies, we are able to meet
changing customer requirements and
tightening price points.
Visitors can expect a full demonstration of
our complete line of table game products,
including our unparalleled furniture
manufacturing expertise. Each table will be
stocked with the essential products required for
a live game, as our extensive product portfolio
includes playing cards, dice, roulette wheels,
table game accessories and more.
For more information, visit us at booth S9-
230 or visit www.gpigaming.com.
52 JANUARY 2013

ICE PREVIEW
APEX Gaming – the
home of gaming
APEX gaming introducing yet more innovations at the ICE – stand S6-150
APEX gaming will be taking a
major presence at the
forthcoming ICE that will take
place at the ExCel London
exhibition centre between 5th
and 7th February. The stand size will be over
500 square metres – to house the multitude
of gaming solutions from APEX gaming.
Pinnacle Gaming Cabinet
The latest and greatest gaming cabinet series
will once again be on display. The
upright Pinnacle and slant
top cabinet Pinnacle SL
stand out immediately.
Wonderfully designed and
lavished with chrome, they
represent pure gaming
luxury. The technology
matches this luxury with
the finest components
and a patented
cooling system
which has the dual
benefits of
keeping the
components not
just cool but also
clean (by continual air
circulation) ensuring
their longevity. This
ensures optimal game
uptime and so maximises
player satisfaction.
New games style
APEX Gaming games are well known for their
features and intelligent options. The two major
games packages – Multi Magic 20 and Hot
Magic Fruits XXL are firm favourites in many
countries around the world.
These games are now complemented by
brand new games that attract a different type of
player, thus offering further revenue boosting
options when operating slots from APEX
gaming. The new games Four Towers, Circus
and Zeus Revenge are intuitive and thus simple
to play. Furthermore, they have been designed
to increase positive player suspense – meaning
that the excitement mounts during the game
and the win potential as well. Four Towers plays
on just one reel – yet the tension mounts as
this is linked to further features.
3D games
APEx gaming is playing a leading role in the
creation of 3D games. Once again visitors to
the APEX stand will have the opportunity to
witness for themselves the wonders of these 3D
games. The first 3D games package contains
five fantastic games:
THE ADVENTURES OF CAPTAIN NEMO
LEGEND OF THE SPHINX II
WONDERLAND
OCEAN TALE 2
ROYAL FRUITS
Mobile game progression
APEX gaming is moving its mobile games line
forward. The Android version already offers the
option to purchase credits for fun play.
Furthermore, the tournament option is already
up and running. More games have been added.
Much time and dedication has flowed into
the new play-for-fun APEX games. The popular
features of smart technology have been
integrated into the APEX App.
SHUFFLE KING II – 40%
Reduced Shuffling Time
The Shuffle King – the
electronic card
shuffler – has
been completely
updated. The brand
new Shuffle King II
has gained
widespread acclaim
during its
introduction at gaming
exhibitions around the
world in recent months. The
shuffle time has been reduced by an amazing
40%. It now takes only around 35 seconds to
shuffle one full deck of fifty-two cards.
The Shuffle King already has acclaimed
major references during 2012 – particularly
from Europe’s largest poker casino – King’s
Casino at Rozvadoz in the Czech Republic. The
name Shuffle King is the fitting name. Now the
Shuffle King II is set to take the market by
storm
Quikker updated!
The electronic Quikker card game is set to
take the major table game market – in Asia – by
storm. This unique game is becoming more and
more well-known with its mix of roulette and
black jack. Betting on the outcome of two cards
– just like black jack – yet having a great
number of betting options to choose from –
just like roulette. Bet on the same colour cards,
the maximum added value of the two cards, if
one or both can be an ace. The maximum win
is indeed one hundred times the bet – three
times higher than roulette.
The ICE is the perfect location for APEX
gaming to introduce the new innovations
around Quikker. Quikker is available in three
versions – live, semi live and electronic. The
semi live version is with a traditional live
Quikker table alongside electronic terminals.
The electronic version is with an electronic
table and electronic terminals. This flexibility
allows an ever increasing number of terminals
to be placed around the Quikker. A 42”
monitor will be on display with the Quikker
and terminals at ICE to demonstrate how
operators could position these.
Table Game Payment
Systems innovation
APEX gaming will be unveiling – indeed this
will be a global premiere – a very exciting new
product for table gaming. This innovative
payment / security device will be the ideal link
for players who will to transgress between slots
and table games. Come to the APEX stand to
find out more!
The whole APEX team looks forward to
greeting visitors to the forthcoming ICE at
stand S6-150.
54 JANUARY 2013

ICE PREVIEW
Amatic – a world of
gaming solutions
Major stand size at ICE to underline extensive product range
Amatic Industries from Austria is
taking a major stand size to
demonstrate its world of solutions
at the forthcoming ICE that will
take place between 5th and 7th
February at the Excel London Exhibition and
Convention Centre.
Amatic Industries will be exhibiting on stand
number S4-155 with a stand size of 500
square metres, where visitors can join them to
celebrate their 20 years in business.
A Truly International Stand
The Amatic Industries stand will underline
how international the company is. Regional
solutions will be on display, including the
targeted products and solutions for Asia, South
America and Europe, with special attention to
Germany, Spain and the UK and Ireland. In this
way, visitors will be more quickly find their way
around the large stand and see the right
solutions for their region.
Let the Performance begin!
The Performer upright and Performer slant
top gaming cabinets are truly unique. Amatic
Industries is leading the way in innovative,
forward-thinking design. The dual screen
upright gaming machine Performer is
complimented by the slant top Performer
Grand Arc – that is available either with two
screen or three screens – whereby the three
screened-version is particularly outstanding.
New for 2013: The Performer Grand Arc has
been updated from 26” to 27” monitors, further
enhancing the gaming experience. This large
wide-screen design is indeed a must-see at the
forthcoming ICE.
The masters of electronic
roulette
Alongside two decades of gaming machine
technology, Amatic Industries has a wealth of
knowledge in the field of electronic roulettes.
The Grand Jeu, Grand Jeu Prestige, Grand
Jeu 22WS and Grand Jeu Double offer an
excellent choice. Furthermore, an independent
electronic roulette wheel or a live wheel can be
linked to separate terminals – providing
operators with the greatest of flexibility to
expand on this solution to fit their own
investment plan.
Looking at the two latest inventions more
closely:
Grand Jeu 22ws Electronic Roulette has
improved graphics, wider monitors, unique
player features. It is designed as standard for
eight separate playing positions.
The fully automatic dual-wheel Grand Jeu
Double combines two individual electronic
roulette wheels. These can be set so that a
player may play on both at the same time –
creating double roulette fun! The wide screen
monitors show the player graphics in high
definition resolution – providing for all the
data players look for. All the latest components
are found within the Grand Jeu Double – as
Amatic’s electronic roulettes are well known for
their long life spans and excellent uptime rates.
The Grand Jeu Double has ten player positions
and comes as standard with four large-screen
monitors that operators can use to attract,
inform and entertain players.
Focus on online gaming
Amatic Industries continues to place strong
focus on the online side of the business.
Management at Amatic Industries recognises
the demand for their games on the internet.
The popularity of Amatic games in land-based
gaming locations can now be transferred online.
The popular games from Amatic Industries
are available online at www.grandx.com. All the
requirements to successfully operate Amatic
Industries games have been completed. Amatic
Industries offers online gaming specialists from
every jurisdiction the opportunity to work
hand-in-hand to offer their customers the great
games of Amatic Industries. The Multi Remote
Gaming System (MRGS) from Amatic Industries
ensures that each individual customer has their
own server in their jurisdiction to securely run
the games on. This is a great advantage as each
customer can connect the MRGS to their own
online gaming platform with the games
configured to their own needs – thus
presenting the games from AMATIC Industries
in their own look and feel. For customers who
want to start their Online Business from
scratch AMATIC Industries additionally offers
the Online Casino Management System - their
Platform to run an Online Casino.
Server –Based Gaming / VLT
Solutions
Server-based gaming / video lottery terminals
are much in demand in international gaming.
This popularity is set to rise as governments
have real time access to all VLT data. Good to
know that Amatic Industries has developed a
wide range of solutions that have been proven
in the market place for years now. The MLT -
Multi Lottery Terminal perfectly combines
security, transparency, simplicity and flexibility.
All features and mathematics are performed by
the server, leaving the gaming machines to
simply portray the game from the server. The
game server handles the complete process online
in real time, including the machine
payment management system. A customerfriendly
platform caters for increased customer
acceptance. A wide-ranging jackpot system
ensures the complete benefits come to fruition
of server-based gaming.
56 JANUARY 2013

ICE PREVIEW
Aruze brings the big
guns to London
Arguably the best stepper products on the market can be seen at stand
S9-150 alongside a raft of equally-brilliant video slots
Aruze is gaining a global reputation for
creating highly engaging and
entertaining gaming products including
multimedia video and stepper slot
machines, community gaming products
and multi-terminal devices. Aruze has elevated the
performance of their products which are “Designed
to Engage Players, All in the Name of Fun” to be
among the top of the industry. This year, Aruze
Gaming returns to ICE: Totally Gaming, for the first
time in four years, introducing its diverse product
portfolio to the European market.
“We are looking forward to returning to ICE with a
collection of some of our most fun and exciting
products that we
have ever shown,”
says Steve
Walther, Aruze
Gaming America’s
Chief Marketing
Officer. “Our
products are
performing
among the top of
the industry and
we look forward
to introducing
these fantastic
games to new
customers.”
Aruze Gaming
will show its latest
products,
including the
Innovator Deluxe,
which feature
Radiant Reels and
elaborate top
boxes that are
sure to turn
heads with some
unique
interactive
experiences. The
Innovator Deluxe
is a premium
range of stepper
products that matches the excitement of
Aruze Gaming’s mechanical steppers,
with unique interactive experience. For
example, in Aladdin & the Lamp, players
rub an actual “lamp” to call forth the
genie during the bonus event. Actions
that occur in the top box impact the
spins of the Radiant Reels below.
Both the Innovator Deluxe and the
Innovator product lines feature the
industry’s largest five-reel stepper strips,
in a standard cabinet, and the Radiant
Reels include 240 full-color LED lights
and feature different illuminations and
motions dependant on the game play
scenario. Among the Innovator Deluxe
and Innovator titles on display will be Ali
Baba, The Gold, Crystal, Seven Rush,
Sapphire Chance and d’Artaganan and
the Musketeers.
Attendees will also have the
opportunity to play the award winning
G-LINK product, Rich Life, which
positions two players side-by-side in a
head-to-head competition called the
VERSUS EVENT. During the randomly
triggered VERSUS EVENT which is
displayed on a 60-inch LCD monitor,
decisions that one player makes has an
effect on the outcome of the other
player.
Aruze Gaming will also show its latest
premium range of G-DELUXE interactive
top box products, including Franken
Mama and Knight of LaMancha, each
featuring an exciting base game with
many frequent interactive bonus events
and an eye-catching top box. Also on
display will be a number of Aruze
Gaming’sG-SERIES standalone video
products.
Additionally, Aruze Gaming will
present the award-winning Lucky Big
Wheel, a multi-station electronic version of the
traditional Big Six.
58 JANUARY 2013

ICE PREVIEW
Fournier
exhibits
“core
values”
Visit booth S3-447 to find possibly
the best casino-quality playing cards in
the world…
Fournier Playing Cards will exhibit at booth S3-447 during the
course of ICE Exhibition taking place at Excel, London, 5th – 7th
February.
According to Javier Berasategui, Fournier Export Director, Fournier is
bringing to the show the products that represent the “core values” of
the company since 1868.
“We are well known for supplying the finest casino playing cards but
our goal is more ambitious. We aim to offer the ultimate gaming
experience where all parties get a complete satisfaction. Casino
operators find a card 100% safe, highly resistant and durable and that
works smooth and consistently well in all shuffling machines of the
market. Casino dealers enjoy a card easy to shuffle and deal and last but
not least players highly value the snap, flexibility and nice touch of our
playing cards”, Javier Berasategui explains.
During the last years Fournier have made a significant effort to
continue developing this gaming experience. In that sense Fournier has
added to its product portfolio “Bee” playing cards, manufactured by
their sister company United States Playing Card Co. “Bee” playing cards
are arguably American and Asian casinos’ favourite being the exclusive
“Cambric Finish” they offer highly appreciated.
On the other hand, as Berasategui points out “leading through
innovation is another core value at Fournier and that will be well
represented at our booth thanks to our Pre-Shuffled playing cards and
our “Bee-tek Electronic Shoe”. Our Pre-shuffle cards offer more casino
productivity without compromising security. These playing cards provide
a truly random shuffle from the factory, being the process fully
automated, patented and with the certification of GLI”. Finally the “Beetek
Electronic Shoe”, second generation of our Baccarat Shoe launched
in 2008, upgrades the Baccarat solution offering interesting security
features such as the B-codes that optimize card reading and detect
foreign cards and the PR-X Brake technology that prevent the feared
overdraw that causes so many conflicts at casinos”
JANUARY 2013 59

ICE PREVIEW
Pawn Stars, NASCAR
and a lot more at Bally
Big-name licensed slots, top-class systems product, and online crossplatform
solutions all on stand S3-310
Bally will exhibit a large selection of
innovative gaming solutions at the
International Casino Exhibition
(ICE) in London, England Feb. 5-7
at ExCeL London. New games,
systems, mobile, and interactive technology
designed to excite players and rev up casino
operators’ revenue and operating efficiency will
take center stage in stand S3-310.
Bally is exhibiting more than 60 unique
game titles, including:
Pawn Stars
Bally brings one of the world’s top TV shows
to casino floors in Pawn Stars, featuring Rick,
grandfather Richard (Old Man),
grandson Corey, and Corey’s
loveable sidekick Chumlee, from the
hit TV series Pawn Stars on the
HISTORY Channel. Airing in more
than 150 countries in 37 languages,
Pawn Stars has been rated a top
cable show in the United States,
Europe, and Latin America, and
has millions of viewers across the
globe.
The game begins when a player
chooses their favorite character
from the show. Selling and
negotiating add excitement during
the Negotiation Bonus, where
players choose one of five items
to sell and then negotiate
with the Pawn Stars for
credit awards. With its
giant wheel, free games,
11 wheel-bonus prizes,
wilds, pick-‘em features, and iDeck
interaction, this game promises to be
as popular as the show itself.
NASCAR Video Slots
The NASCAR video slot brings
the thrill of racing to any casino
floor and features a lineup of
who’s who in racing royalty –
Clint Bowyer, Dale Earnhardt, Jr.,
Jeff Gordon, Kevin Harvick, and
Jimmie Johnson. NASCAR is delivered on Bally’s
ALPHA 2 Pro Series V22/32 cabinet with a
near-area progressive jackpot award. Players
select their favorite driver and the game screens
change to reflect that driver’s team colors and
branding. This high-octane experience features
three bonuses: The Pit Stop Bonus, Burnout Free
Games, and the U-Race Bonus.
ICE attendees
should also look for
Betty Boop’s Fortune
Teller, which offers
an unprecedented 15
bonuses at any bet
and U-Spin and U-
Choose bonuses. The
superb follow-up to
the popular Cash
Wizard , Tiki Magic is
Bally Technologies
first 1080p highdefinition
game and
features a new
mystical character,
Ms. Magic, three new
thrilling base-game
bonus features, and
two fun Wizard Bonus
Bet features.
Also prominently featured are Bally’s first
Europe-specific games, a Multi-Game Pro
22/22 game suite, and games with a Super EZ
Select button configurations to assist both low
and high max- bet market needs. The
Company will also display its first playerselectable
language games and titles ? part
of the recently announced partnership
with High 5 Games.
Systems
Bally’s extensive systems and server-based
solution showcase will feature the
Company’s suite of casino and slotmanagement
systems – SDS , CMP , and
MCC for every size of casino.
Visitors to Bally’s 2013 ICE stand will be
able to see live demonstrations of iVIEW DM,
the award-winning picture-in-picture-style
player-user-interface that enables gaming
operators to choose where on the game they
want to display player information and
bonusing promotions. Bally’s Elite Bonusing
Suite (EBS), when combined with iVIEW DM,
adds dramatic new levels of excitement and
anticipation to the player’s experience. The EBS
applications deliver floor-wide, personalized
promotions, second-chance-to-win events, and
the ability for players to earn valuable rewards.
Soon debuting in Europe is Bally Command
Center, which installs media content and
operating systems on the iVIEW displays and
iVIEW DM. This Bally server-based solution
provide operators with downloadable targeted
player content instead of physically removing
chips from each individual iVIEW device on the
floor. Casino operators and marketing
managers can download content to the entire
gaming floor simultaneously in minutes – with
a touch of a button.
Online
The award-winning content and trailblazing
play mechanics synonymous with Bally
Technologies’ land-based titles will now be
available to players online via Bally’s full suite of
interactive solutions offered through the
Company’s remote gaming server (RGS). Bally’s
open iGaming platform enables casinos to
deliver play-for-free and wager-based poker,
table games, video slots, and sports betting and
choose from best-of-breed content; and a
library of interactive games based on proven
casino-gaming content.
Bally integrates traditional casino systems
with online, mobile, and social better than
anyone else. As a result, operators can conduct
marketing, bonusing, data tracking, and
collection seamlessly, enabling them to
understand and market to their players in ways
never before possible. Players can play the same
games, receive the same bonuses, and earn the
same points on the casino floor, at home, or on
the move.
60 JANUARY 2013

Zitro brings successful
games to ICE
Visit booth S9-155 to discover proven platforms and games to excite players
and revitalise your floor
Zitro will debut its exhibitor booth
(S9-155) at ICE and showcase its
wide range of products and most
successful games and platforms in
London this February. The company
has a strong base in bingo games, with success
in Europe and Latin America.
Zitro will bring to London its platforms that
have made the company a world leader in
video bingo games: BlueWave and its
innovative platform BlackWave, whose
technical characteristics offer the possibility
of playing with, surround pictures and sounds
that transform the experience of game in a
really exciting adventure.
For Zitro´s chairman, Johnny Ortiz, said of
the ICE venture, “Exhibiting in London
means, not only to present our product to the
UK market, also strengthens our steps
according to the international expansion
strategy of the company”. James Boje,
Executive Vice President International added:
“Debuting our own stand in the new ICE
Totally Gaming venue of ExCel is a thrilling
opportunity for Zitro to showcase our
portfolio and continue our global expansion.”
For BlueWave platform, Zitro take many of its
most successful games such as: PowerBonus,
Fishmania, Bingo Dreams, Last Bingo in Paris,
Story Bingo or Bingo and the Beast.
The star of the show will be the BlackWave
platform with many of its games such as: Bee
Alive, CaniBall, Red Riding Hood,
Elephantastic, Jaguar, Jerrynstein, Black Power
Bonus, Rabbit, Spin Bingo, Tiki, Wild Rocks and
Discoball, among others.
JANUARY 2013 61

ICE PREVIEW
First-ever simultaneous
ETG from Inspired
Visitors to Inspired’s stand S4-110 can play roulette variants, baccarat and
virtual horses all on one gaming screen and at the same time
Inspired Gaming Group, a leading supplier of
ETG products, multi-game SBG slots,
government regulated VLTs and Virtual Sports,
will unveil the industry’s first synchronised multi
table game product at ICE: Sabre Synchro.
Sabre Synchro allows players to alternate between
different electronic table games, including roulette
(live, auto or virtual wheels), baccarat and virtual
horse betting. By utilising Sabre’s panoramic 26-inch
widescreen the changes back and forth between
different games can be done swiftly from the same
screen. There is no need to cash out and change
machine or to go back to the menu screen to select a
different game. Up to four different games are at the
player’s fingertips at all times and can be enjoyed at
the same time.
Luke Alvarez, CEO of Inspired Gaming Group,
commented: “Inspired’s success is built on its
innovative Open SBG Core technology; making it a
global leader in multi-game entertainment products.
Sabre Synchro is the next great evolution in multigame.
This synchronised, fast action experience is
particularly suited to ETG terminals by offering
players several channels of entertainment for when
the roulette wheel is spinning or the cards are being
dealt. It’s fast paced, continuous fun.”
With the launch of Sabre Synchro comes the
introduction of a new Virtual Horse Betting game for
the popular ETG Sabre product. Inspired’s Virtual
Sports are live in 33 countries around the world, both
online and in retail venues. Its popular Virtual Horse
Betting has been modified especially for a casino
audience, with simplified betting markets, faster races
and a mystery progressive. More Virtual Sports,
including Virtual Greyhounds and Virtual Motor
Racing, will be available for Sabre Synchro in the
near future.
Also featuring on Inspired’s action packed ICE
Totally Gaming stand will be the full range of UK
products, Italian VLTs, SBG slot machines for
Colombia and Mexico, and its award-winning Virtual
Sports and Virtual Numbers games for online, mobile
and retail.
62 JANUARY 2013

ICE PREVIEW
Ainsworth: ‘Play the Future’
Booth S8-110 for brand new cabinets and games!
It’s time to ‘Play the Future’ at ICE 2013
with Ainsworth’s strongest, most diverse
product portfolio! What’s more, the new
products on display will again demonstrate
the creative and innovative edge Ainsworth
brings to its product design and development.
Debuting at the 2013 ICE Expo next month
will be Ainsworth’s latest addition: The all new
A560st Slant Top, an engineering masterpiece
that perfectly embodies the attributes of a
classic entertainer. The A560st provides for
state-of-the-art technology with its dual
widescreen LCD presentation, powerful
Quadtronic processor, compact storage,
premium sound system and an intuitive player
interface supporting a 15 button play deck play
with a programmable button option.
And if that’s not enough, the all new A560st
offers truly amazing gaming content with
stunning high resolution graphics and
imaginative themes that are synonymous with
the GamePlus range. So, it’s no surprise that
the all new A560st is set to provide for a high
impact gaming
experience! And as
Ainsworth’s CEO Danny
Gladstone says, “The all
new A560st is an
extraordinarily
engineered cabinet
providing for a
spectacular presentation
no matter where it is
placed on your gaming
floor.”
Ainsworth will also
unveil the QX32 ! The
QX32 is an intelligent
controller that sets itself
apart from the
competition, not only
does it manage multiple
jackpot banks, the QX32
has the ability to
simultaneously manage
both symbol and
mystery jackpot pools. The range
of options are endless, Ainsworth
now provides the ultimate in
jackpot solutions. At the upcoming
ICE show, Ainsworth will launch
two exciting Mystery Jackpot
Packages: Hummin Mystery and
Glitter Mystery along with many
more new and innovative Jackpot
Packages due for release in 2013.
Ainsworth’s Group General
Manager of Strategy &
Development, Scott Clarebrough,
adds, “Ainsworth has been
building for the future and now
we’re ready to further raise the
performance bar with more
leading edge brands and
exceptional game titles. Ainsworth
is committed to delivering players
with quality unique entertainment
experiences.”
Step Forward with DLV at ICE
Stand S3-460 sees the latest products from DLV gracing the exhibition
At one of the largest exhibitions of ICE
Totally Gaming, which will be held in
London, DLV Company shows its
latest products.
The Company takes part in various
exhibitions around the world and the
exhibition in London is one of the most
significant for DLV. From 5th to 7th February
on the stand S3-460 will be a presentation of a
new cabinet called – Hybrid and produced in
accordance with the latest technology. The
cabinet design is uniquely slim, and this is
different Hybrid from previous versions of the
cabinets from DLV. Also, a new cabinet
supports all peripheral products that are
require in the gaming industry. During the
exhibition DLV will present new gaming
platform along with a completely new concept
of gambling. The invention of Hybrid is a great
indicator of hard work and creativity to visitors,
guests and customers.
In additional to new products on the DLV
stand, visitors will be able to get acquainted
with the last development of the software
product Jewel Jackpot 3, the latest addition
to the Jewel Jackpot series. In comparison
with the earlier series of the jackpot, which
comprised only 10 games, Jewel Jackpot 3
consists of 15 games and gives a chance to
win by 5, 10 and 20 winning lines.
We impatiently waiting for the show and
prepare for it, to make the event more bright
and comfortable for all visitors to ICE Totally
Gaming 2013.
64 JANUARY 2013

ICE PREVIEW
Eurocoin celebrates 40th birthday!
Join the party at stand S10-340
Eurocoin will start the celebrations of
its 40th year of business in grand
style, as the company unveils its
largest-ever stand at the 2013 ICE
Show on February 5-7.
“We have come a long way since Tom Veitch
attended the 1973 ATEI Exhibition at Alexandra
Palace with a single display board!” agreed
Tom’s son Colin Veitch, the Sales & Marketing
Director at Eurocoin. “My brother Nick and I
are very proud of the company’s heritage, and
extremely grateful to the thousands of people
who have given us their confidence and
support over the years. 2013 marks a very
significant landmark in Eurocoin’s history, and
we would both like to pay tribute to the many
talented people who have worked with us over
the years – only with the help of their efforts
and enthusiasm have we been able to achieve
our goals.”
Once again in 2013, Eurocoin invites ICE
visitors to see their
exceptional portfolio
of world-class gaming
components this year,
featuring the very
latest hardware,
systems, and
components from
their supply partners
and global market leaders TransAct Technology
Inc, Kortek and 3M Touch Systems:
• See the Epicentral Bonus coupon system in
full, live operation, allowing promotional
coupons to be printed for players right at the
machine!
• Our market-leading Epic 950 TITO printer
plus Epic 880 and Epic 430 thermal roll
printers continue to dominate casino and VLT
operations – come and find out why!
• Multi-Touch 3M touch screens are big news
the world
in gaming machines! Come
and play with the very latest
Projected Capacitive Touch
technology on the stand
• Eurocoin supply
licenced and approved Slot
Tickets for gaming and
casino operations around
• See the very latest in change machine and
payment terminal technology, including the
revolutionary Thomas PayStation
All this, plus our full range of the latest wide
screen TFTs, slot tickets, 3M capacitive
touchscreens, spares and components are all
featured at Eurocoin.
For further information, visit
www.eurocoin.co.uk or contact
sales@eurocoin.co.uk
TransAct’s Epic gains momentum
TITO thermal printer is winning over operators worldwide – see it at stand S10-340
TransAct Technologies, along with
their European partner, Eurocoin,
have developed a loyal following
across Europe and beyond for the
ticket-in, ticket out printer, the
TransAct Epic 950 . The global success of the
Epic 950 has earned it numerous industry
awards and the selection as printer of choice by
major casino groups and slot manufacturers
worldwide. Casino operators choose the Epic
950 for its extreme reliability, the single unit
that works in all slot types, and for the
outstanding sales and service support that
TransAct and Eurocoin provide their customers.
The momentum for the Epic 950 continues
with the introduction of the Epicentral Print
System in Europe. Epicentral is the software
solution that prints promotional offers or
marketing messages directly at the slot
machine while the player is playing. First
introduced and installed at multiple casinos in
the US, Epicentral was launched in Europe at
the ICE show in 2012. Since then, Epicentral
has been selected by a leading casino group in
Europe to be installed across their casino
properties to print marketing messages and
deliver responsible gaming information to their
patrons while they play.
Using the unique capabilities of Epicentral,
casinos can extend marketing campaigns from
traditional media to promotional coupons that
drive targeted “on property” player behavior.
Designed for carded or uncarded players,
Epicentral drives higher levels of carded play,
generates higher slot-floor revenue, produces
incremental on-property spend and can even
generate new advertising income for the
property. Epicentral is designed to complement
casinos’ existing marketing programs by
rewarding, recognizing and making players feel
appreciated – right at the slot.
In addition to the standard Epicentral
modules of Coupon Generator , Campaign
Center and Server Manager , Epicentral
mobile services have proven to be
extremely popular. Epicentral Mobile
Host allows casino hosts to walk through
the casino slot floor with a tablet (such as
an iPad) or Smartphone and deliver high
quality promotional coupons directly to a
player at a slot machine in real-time. This
solution empowers the casino host with
cutting-edge technology to
service their VIP
customer in a
more targeted
and effective
way right on
the casino
floor.
66 JANUARY 2013

ICE PREVIEW
MEI showcases Cash
Management Solution
Big-name licensed slots, top-class systems product, and online crossplatform
solutions all on stand S3-310
MEI is proud to return to the ICE
Total Gaming Show this year
with Gaming’s most
comprehensive cash
management solution – the
combination of SC Advance and EASITRAX Soft
Count. By networking the slot floor to the soft
count room, these award-winning products
raise the bar for value and performance
expectations while maximising operator
profitability.
SC Advance evolved from the winning
CASHFLOW SC note acceptor, applying new
technology and market knowledge to make a
great product even better. It features enhanced
recognition technology, faster bill-to-bill speed,
improved barcode recognition and the
increased capacity to accept up to 100
different currencies and denominations. SC
Advance also has the
industry’s best
acceptance rate for valid
street-grade notes,
including those that are
wet, crinkled or torn.
More MEI customers are
now also implementing
EASITRAX Soft Count, a
product extension that
expands the reach of note
acceptors from the slot floor
into the soft count room. The addition
of EASITRAX to SC Advance or CASHFLOW
SC creates a comprehensive software/hardware
system designed to streamline the cash
management process. Since it was introduced
in 2008, EASITRAX Soft Count has been
installed in over 90,000 games worldwide.
Operators typically receive a return on
investment in less than one year by reducing
20-30 seconds per cash drop and
improving maintenance practices
through access to eight preprogrammed
reports. An interactive
Savings Calculator on the new
EASITRAX website
(easitraxsoftcount.com)
provides a valuable tool to
estimate how much money can be
saved by implementing the Soft Count
cash management solution.

ICE PREVIEW
Quixant goes quad
core for gaming
The world’s most advanced all-in-one computer platforms for the gaming
industry? Find out on stand S10-140
Quixant will be showcasing its full
portfolio of products at the ICE
2013. The flagship QX-40, based
around the AMD Embedded R-
Series APU, is available in dual and
quad core processor configurations and
uniquely can drive up to ten
independent high definition
monitors through the use of
the innovative Display Port
1.2 Multi-Stream Technology
(MST) architecture.
The newest and exceptionally
popular QXi-4000 was launched at G2E
in October 2012 is also based around the
AMD Embedded R-Series APU. The QXi-4000
introduces four-screen support and Quixant’s
proprietary advanced PCI Express based gaming
logic at a competitive price point.
The QXi-200 has a well-established footprint
since its launch in 2011, owing to its compact
size, fan-less operation and high performance
at an incredibly competitive price point.
Quixant will also be demonstrating
its new DisplayPort monitor
range. Supporting DisplayPort
Multi-Stream Technology, the
monitor range is designed
specifically for integration into
gaming machines and perfectly
complements Quixant’s computer
platforms.
All Quixant’s gaming platforms are supported
by a comprehensive suite of software tools,
drivers, libraries and documentation. Quixant
is also proud of its deep support network which
gives customers direct access to the software
engineering team responsible for developing
the tools, drivers and libraries. ICE 2013 will
also represent the landmark launch of
Quixant’s new brand. Since its foundation in
2005, Quixant has enjoyed exceptional success
in introducing its advanced computer
platforms to the market and the new brand
represents an exciting new chapter in the
company’s evolution.
Please visit us at booth S10-140.

ICE PREVIEW
Exhilarating slots and
systems line-up from IGT
Stand S7-110 is the place to experience International Game Technology’s
land-based, mobile, online and social gaming portfolio
IGT provides an exhilarating
line-up of games, a total
systems solution for
unforgettable player
experiences and innovations
that bring customers thrilling
content, on any device, around
the globe.
As the only gaming company in
the world with a comprehensive
Land-based, Mobile, Online and
Social gaming portfolio, IGT offers a
global reach in gaming that cannot
be rivaled.
Innovation is at the heart of IGT,
which is why we continually raise
the bar for the gaming industry by
delivering unrivalled gaming
innovations for our customers.
Our IGT Cloud solution is
leading the way in using state of
the art technology to bring
dramatic benefits to operators
and players alike. The IGT
Cloud enables real-time
reporting, near-instant game
deployment, multi-site analytics
and hosts of additional
functionality to help operators
significantly increase their
business agility and their
management functionality
whilst improving player
engagement.
With more than a decade of
experience in online and mobile
casino gaming via the IGT
Casino Remote Game Server
(IGT rgs ), IGT is a proven
leader in delivering interactive
experiences. At ICE,we will show
how we are bringing a seamless
gaming experience to players
across all devices, from online to
mobile, with ‘best of breed’
content, including universallyrecognized
brands.
IGT continues to drive
convergent gaming experiences by
providing successful IGT titles to
social channels as well. With
millions of social gamers, Facebook
is a dynamic way to reach fans and
IGT is leading the way by
delivering this new player segment
to land-based casino operators
with the opportunity to integrate
the DoubleDown Casino into their
existing websites. Voted the fourth
best game on Facebook, with 5.5
million monthly players, the
DoubleDown Casino offers a full
casino-style offering in one place
with classic IGT games,
multiplayer poker, blackjack,
roulette and more! The
DoubleDown Casino includes
some of the top-performing
land-based game titles in the
industry, including Da Vinci
Diamonds and Cleopatra ,
with plans to include many
more popularly-ranked IGT
land-based and online game
titles in the coming year.
Unrivaled performance and
global reach define the
portfolio of solutions, from
MegaJackpots , Core, Video
Poker and casino management
systems to online and mobile
games as well as social, “fun to
play” casino experiences on
DoubleDown Casino on
Facebook and mobile. The
result: engaging and
entertaining experiences that
players can enjoy everywhere.
IGT turns possibilities into
performance with cutting-edge
casino management tools such
as IGT’s Advantage, Casinolink
and sbX along with new game,
analytics and Intelligent
Bonusing applications.
IGT MegaJackpots deliver
mega-excitement with the
crime-stopping action of CSI Video Slots,
featuring CSI , CSI: Miami and CSI: NY in
this three-games-in-one star, Wyland Video
Slots, which immerses player in oceans of
entertainment on the Center Stage Duo
platform, and Rapid Progressives which thrill
players with thematic content options such as
FC Cash Cup and Sea Cash. Blockbuster
titles join IGT’s Center Stage Series with Sex
and the City Out on the Town and the Star
Wars Trilogy.
IGT’s Core slots will be the games players
will be searching for on casino floors
everywhere with an extensive lineup of
stunning video slots, new mechanical reel titles,
and the debut of Country Music’s biggest star,
Dolly Parton Slots. Plus, players will appeal to
Core hits such as the sweetly-themed Candy
Bars and Takes the Cake slots, making them
worldwide superstars. Finally, the IGT Video
Reel Edge slot titles such as Tully’s Treasure
Hunt offer traditional slot play with exciting
skill-based bonuses that will delight players.
70 JANUARY 2013

ICE PREVIEW
Merkur Gaming to think
big at ICE 2013
Major roles at London show for VLT/SBG solutions, Highflyer cabinet, and
Dispenser 100 – visit stand S4-150 for more
Merkur Gaming will think big at ICE
2013, which takes place at ExCeL
London Exhibition and Convention
Centre, on February 5–7, 2013. The
425 m 2 stand, located at S4-150, will
showcase the very best in high-quality casino
technology and solutions.
Among the highlights will be our server-based
technologies (SBT) and video lottery technologies
(VLT) solutions, the Merkur Dispenser 100, and
cabinets such as Evolution (Slant Top), WB4,
Privilege (WB5), Highflyer, and Vision Casino. A
range of products for the United Kingdom, the
Netherlands, South Africa, Spain and Italy will be
displayed, underlining Merkur Gaming’s focus on
both international markets and also localisation
for each territory.
Merkur Gaming has extensive experience in SBT
and VLT, having invested heavily to master the
technology. Now, these sectors are rapidly growing
throughout the world, and we are well placed to
provide cutting-edge complete solutions. A bigger
role will therefore be dedicated to SBT and VLT on
this year’s stand at ICE.
The Merkur Dispenser 100—the ideal banknote
recycler for gaming, change and redemption
machines—will naturally also be on display. This
proven, successful product caters for all major
currencies, and can deal with three separate note
denominations, recycling 34 notes of each
denomination. Over 80,000 units have so far been
manufactured.
We will also have a number of cabinets on show,
including the very special Highflyer. This unique,
stylish, ultra-modern cabinet combines the highest
quality standards with maximum player comfort and
convenience. Incorporating a huge variety of themes,
the Highflyer also offers unobscured views, with two
22-inch monitors, one of which appears to ‘float’ in
mid-air—perfect for players who choose to lean back
for a more relaxing gaming experience. The
Highflyer’s ‘made in Germany’ label, synonymous with
quality that lasts, continues to win over operators
worldwide.
Visit Merkur Gaming and partner companies
GeWeTe, edict and Blueprint at ICE 2013, stand S4-
150. For more information, call +49 5741 273-6929
or email AWesterkamp@merkur-gaming.com.
72 JANUARY 2013

ONLINE NEWS
PRIMA NETWORKS LIVE WITH
ITALIAN ONLINE SLOTS
Prima Networks Limited, powered by Microgaming, has gone live with nine
operators in Italy including 32Red, Neomobile Gaming and Betway, with a
market-leading online slots offering across download, flash and mobile
platforms.
Loraine Schoevers, Director of Prima Networks Limited, says: “Launching into
Italy with our online slot games is a new milestone for the business. We consider
ourselves to be the market-leaders in online slots in Italy, with access to
Microgaming’s highly regarded collection of unique games. We are initially
offering 50 slot games in Italy, which will be increased rapidly to take advantage
of Microgaming’s portfolio which includes more than 600 games.”
ARISTOCRAT ENTERS
SOCIAL GAMING
Aristocrat Leisure Ltd has announced an agreement to acquire Product
Madness, Inc., a leader in the fast-growing online social casino market.
Product Madness is amongst 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. The acquisition will strengthen Aristocrat’s online
gaming presence by bringing the company a top tier social casino operator and a
best of breed social gaming platform.
Product Madness has offices in San Francisco and London with more than 20
employees and has been focused on Facebook applications since its inception in
2007, publishing numerous successful Facebook games.
Aristocrat CEO and Managing Director, Jamie Odell, said: “Aristocrat will be able
to offer its casino customers new and innovative forms of content through a
robust social gaming platform, while also gaining a strategic foothold in the social
casino market. The Product Madness platform will allow our customers to
meaningfully enhance that player experience. Together with our recently
announced acquisition of an internet gaming system and remote game server,
Aristocrat is making strategic and measured investments that position us for a
future in which online channels will be key to our growth.”
Aristocrat has acquired the entire Product Madness business, including
management and staff. Product Madness co-founders, Lior Shiff and Jose
Brotons, will continue to lead the business.
ODOBO LAUNCHES HTML5 DEVELOPMENT
Odobo, the new HTML5 games development
program and platform for the regulated online
gambling industry, has officially launched and
is accepting applications to its Game Developer
Program from game studios and producers. This
presents a new opportunity for game developers to
capitalise on the high-value players in the online
gambling industry via distribution through licensed
casino operators worldwide.
Founder and CEO Ashley Lang said: “It’s very likely
that the blockbuster game that will help take online
casino gambling mainstream has not been invented
yet. We thought, ‘how would any developer with that
great game idea overcome all the hurdles in today’s
industry?’ Something needed to change.”
The Odobo Game Development Kit (GDK)
supports HTML5 game production based upon
engines and random number generators that are
certified by industry-accredited third-party testing
facilities. Odobo looks after localisation and makes
all approved games available in multiple currencies
and languages. Games built within the framework of
the Odobo Developer Program are unique in that they
rival top-quality Flash games on the
desktop while also supporting the rapid
shift towards tablets and smartphones. All
approved games are available to casino
operators via the Odobo marketplace - a
B2B content “app store” for the industry -
launching in early 2013.
For developers requiring assistance with
HTML5 game production, Odobo offers
access to an in-house HTML5 game
development team. Once a developer’s
game is live, they can use a comprehensive
analytics platform for unparalleled real-time
gameplay visibility and historic reporting.
This gives developers unique insights into
the key metrics driving their game’s
success.
74 JANUARY 2013

ONLINE NEWS
MICROGAMING UNVEILS THE
MPN AND NEW WEBSITE
Microgaming, the world’s largest provider
of online gaming software, has
announced the re-brand of its main
poker network to the ‘MPN’ and the launch of its
new website: www.thempn.eu.
The MPN, formerly called the Microgaming
Poker Network, has undergone a significant
transformation over the past two years,
encompassing sweeping changes to its design,
architecture and game offering. The rebrand to
‘MPN’ marks the culmination of a project initiated
in January 2010 which includes all of the
following steps to the transformation. These steps
include:
A new poker lobby, designed for both beginner
and advanced players, rolling out to operators
over Q4 2012 and Q1 2013. A re-architecture of
the poker platform. A new Flash client, rolling out
alongside the new poker lobby. An HTML5 client.
Blaze Poker. Anonymous Tables. Joint promotions
with key operators. True Value, a unique and
patent-pending rake allocation model that
rewards acquisition and reactivation and does
not impact on players. The formation of the
Network Management Board, the industry’s first
operator/network board, which works to shape
the development roadmap and strategies for the
entire MPN, and is now a year old.
The final steps in this process are the re-brand
of the poker network and the launch of the
network website. Success of the project can be
clearly quantified. Over the last several weeks
announcements have been made for new
operators joining the network: Betsson, iGame,
24HPoker, Pokerihuone and BetVictor. Other
operators have signed with Microgaming and
intend to launch over the coming weeks.
Lydia Melton, Head of Network Games at
Microgaming, said: “The rebrand of the network
to MPN and the launch of the network website
are both significant milestones for Microgaming
poker. We are approaching our 10th year in
operation and we are stronger than ever before.
However, we will not be resting on our laurels.
What we have done with all these changes is
build the framework for a scalable and
sustainable network. Now that the framework is
in place, we are more flexible, resilient and
adaptable to any changes that this turbulent
industry can throw our way.”
Virgin Games has launched Virgin iPad
Casino, a stand-alone casino web app
designed exclusively for iPad and tablets.
The launch of this app means that Virgin Casino’s
players now have complete choice of medium, with
games available for desktop or laptop computers,
mobile, and now iPad or tablet.
Virgin Casino’s web app is accessible from any
web browser and has been built to respond to the
exponential rise of the tablet as a primary
entertainment device. It uses the latest Touch User
Interface technology to provide responsive swipe navigation designed exclusively
for tablet screens.
Pierrick Leveque, Head of Mobile & Tablet at Virgin Games, commented: “Virgin
IOMPO WINS
INTERNATIONAL
BUSINESS AWARD
The Isle of Man
Post Office has
won the
International Business of
the Year award at the
2012 Awards for
Excellence. The coveted
award will enhance the
company’s position as a
global leader and
supplier of secure direct
mail for the gaming
industry.
Mike Kelly, Chief
Executive of Isle of Man Post Office, said: “This reward is in
recognition of our commitment to creating an innovative
diversification strategy, helping the business to thrive when
traditional services and mail volumes are in decline.”
Since making its entrance into the gaming industry
almost 12 months ago, Isle of Man Post Office has
developed a great reputation for delivering a full solution of
direct mail services through its integrated mailing solutions
department. Over the last twelve years, the company has
grown significantly, particularly with the introduction of its
Integrated Mailing Solutions (IMS), a specialist business
communications division that operates confidential and
secure mail, scanning and print services.
VIRGIN GAMES
IPAD CASINO
LAUNCHES
iPad Casino is a cornerstone in our bid to provide our players with a seamless
entertainment experience, whatever device they use to access our games. Tablets
have a big – maybe the biggest - part to play in shaping digital entertainment in
the coming years, and we aim to prove it with the first tablet casino website
experience that feels just right. Built as a web app, our iPad site is free from the
shackles of app store release schedules and accessible from any web browser.
This allows us to launch new games whenever we feel like it. And we feel like it
very often.”
At launch, Virgin iPad Casino has a selection of 16 casino games from IGT and
Microgaming, including Elvis and Cleopatra slots, roulette, blackjack, poker, bingo
and progressive jackpots, with more to come. The iPad/tablet site was built inhouse
and is plugged in to the Virgin Games single wallet – players can use the
same account to play on PC or Mac, mobile, and now tablet, and share the same
promotions, benefits and loyalty V*POINTS.
76 JANUARY 2013

ONLINE NEWS
DARK KNIGHT WINNER COLLECTS MILLIONS
QuickFire has announced that one lucky player
has won an impressive 5.4million Kroner
through the Microgaming powered
Progressive Jackpot Network. A 35 year-old
Norwegian player won the large sum of money on
The Dark Knight online video slot via the Unibet site.
The Dark Knight game, based on the legendary
motion picture from Warner Bros. Pictures, premiered
earlier this year and offers players the chance to win
one of four Progressive Jackpots through a randomly
triggered bonus wheel feature.
Unique in an industry that largely adopts staggered
payments, Microgaming’s Progressive Jackpot pays
out in one single cash payment immediately, so the
Unibet player has received all of the publicised payout
of 5.4million Kroner.
The delighted Jackpot winner said: “I had no idea
what was happening. At first, I thought I had won
5,000 Kroner, and I remember thinking ‘wow, that
will be a nice Christmas present for my girlfriend’. But
the amount kept increasing and surely enough it
SKYVEGAS.COM
CALLS ON
OPENBET
Online gaming and sportsbook software supplier
OpenBet Technologies has signed a deal to provide
the back-end infrastructure for a new HTML 5-based
mobile product from SkyVegas.com.
OpenBet stated that its platform has been designed to
give operators ‘complete flexibility over the look, feel and
technology used for their offering’ and is ‘completely
compatible’ with its account system to manage bet and play
transactions.
“We’ve had a
long and
successful
partnership with
SkyVegas.com and
today’s
announcement
underlines our
ability to grow with
our customers and
ensure that they have the underlying technology and
support to develop their offering using the latest technology
while ensuring that their end-users receive a seamless
gaming experience,” said David Loveday, Chief Executive
Officer for London-based OpenBet.
As part of the deal, OpenBet has also agreed to supply
SkyVegas.com with a selection of proprietary table games
featuring a ‘strong offering of mobile content’ including bestof-breed
third-party titles.
displayed 5million Kroner. I couldn’t
believe it, I was in shock. I rang the
Unibet customer service
department so that I could get
888 DEPLOYS
ONLINE SLOTS
IN ITALY
888 has annoucend that it has
successfully deployed the first
batch of Online Slot machines
in 888.it, under the regulatory regime
of Agenzia delle dogane e dei
monopoli (formally AAMS). This
release will introduce a wide selection
of 888’s award-winning video slot
games, including the latest releases
such as “Dawn of the Dinosaurs” and
the branded “Nightmare on Elm
Street” games, developed in 888’s
Game Studio.
Hila Klein, 888 holdings SVP Head
of Product Technologies, said: “We are
excited about this marquee addition to
our game portfolio in Italy, which will
enable us to further grow our share of
the market. We will continue to
release new games into our Italian
proposition in the upcoming months,
keeping 888.it the destination of
choice for Italian players “.
confirmation of the win!”
PLAYTECH
POWERS CORAL
The Gala Coral Group Limited has
relaunched its Coral.co.uk
sportsbook using a platform from online gambling
software designer and supplier Playtech Limited.
Isle of Man-based Playtech revealed that the new Gala
Coral website includes all of its casino, bingo and poker
products and additionally aggregates all third-party content
utilising technology from its Gaming Technology Solutions
subsidiary.
Playtech signed on as Gala Coral’s exclusive platform
provider last year and quickly moved the operator’s Gala
Casino and Gala Bingo brands onto its software with the
new-look Coral.co.uk domain also calling on technology
from its Mobenga subsidiary for a mobile offering.
“We are very
pleased to have
completed our
migration to
Playtech’s platform
and products,” said
Carl Leaver, Chief
Executive Officer for
Gala Coral Group.
“Having a single
wallet will enable us
to be more effective at growing our customers’ loyalty and
increasing cross-sell. Additionally, with this modern flexible
technology, we will be able to continue developing our
offering in line with our customers’ needs in a dynamic lowcost
way.”
78 JANUARY 2013

WORLD-LEADING LIVE CASINO. WORLD-BEATING RESULTS.
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SPIROS, DEALER AT EVOLUTION’S LIVE
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www.evolutiongaming.com
AS REAL AS IT GETS

2012-2013
Goodbye 2012,
hello 2013!
Another milestone year has come and gone. Matt Broughton caught up with
some of the industry’s leading figures to capture their thoughts on the year
behind and the year ahead. Part 2 next issue…
What has been the most rewarding part of 2012 for your company?
Robert Gustafsson, MD,
Bodog88.com
Launching the Live Dealer casino from
scratch & seeing it close the Bodog
brand’s first B2B deal within the same
year has made it exceed expectation
by miles which is, obviously, very
satisfying
Luke Alvarez, CEO and Founder, Inspired Gaming Group
Achieving impressive
international growth
throughout 2012, whilst
also maintaining our
leadership in the UK has
been a huge testament to the capabilities of everyone working at
Inspired. We’ve achieved our robust double-digit growth targets,
contracted an additional 12,000 new machines and added over
10,000 Virtual Sports venues in new markets with new customers.
Ian Nicholson, Head of Gaming, EntroPay (Ixaris Systems LTD)
As a company EntroPay has continued to see further
growth during 2012 which has been hugely
rewarding, particularly for the sales and marketing
teams. This growth has been largely part to our
relationships with high profile gaming firms such as
PokerStars and William Hill, where we are now a
main part of their Global Payments strategy. Our key
message is ‘Simple, Instant, Global’, and with our
product enhancements such as loading to a
physical card and in to a different currency, we
have ensured that we will stay that way.
Neill Whyte, Head of Product Channels,
Microgaming
Our QuickFire platform has grown
considerably in size over the last year with a
number of new operators going live.
QuickFire now delivers over 400 marketleading
games to 100 operators worldwide.
We have also extended our QuickFire offering
by signing a number of new contracts with
development partners, such as Rabcat.
What has been the most rewarding part(s) of 2012 for you
personally?
Robert Gustafsson
Settling my family into Manila and seeing the city take off as a centre
for the gaming industry (SportingBet, William Hill, Playtech, Unibet,
Betsson and Ladbrokes all have offices here now).
Neill Whyte
A key project of mine this year has been to develop our mobile
platform with the goal of creating the strongest mobile gaming
solution in the market. Microgaming has set the gold standard for
mobile gaming with a greater depth and breadth of products and
games available than any of its competitors. In 2012 we developed and
expanded our HTML5 product, announcing a succession of new
HTML5 games.
To represent our high standard for mobile gaming in the market, we
also developed a dedicated brand, Microgaming Go, which we
completed and launched in October 2012. Our mobile offering has
developed substantially this year, and so for me, this has been
extremely rewarding
Ian Nicholson
It has taken a very long time but after four and half years consulting
with some of the largest brands in the industry, the importance of
payments is finally being taken just as seriously as quality games and
sports betting odds. I couldn’t really ask for more, and after being in
the payments industry for almost a decade we are starting to see a
greater understanding of how optimised payments are the way forward.
This has occurred by working closely with operators and using a
combination of joint marketing initiatives and promotions, which have
been the key to getting declined and dormant players back to
depositing with a secure and trusted payment method.
80 JANUARY 2013

2012-2013
What would you say has been the most exciting development in
the industry this year?
Neill Whyte
The industry has seen a number of developments this year, the biggest
area of growth for me has been mobile. Recent reports suggest that
the value of mobile gaming could potentially reach $100bn by 2017
(Juniper Research) and this offers software providers like ourselves the
opportunity to capitalise on this rapidly evolving market.
Luke Alvarez
We’re bullish about the gaming industry and 2012 has seen a cluster of
macro trends come together in a positive way for the industry, and for
digital, distributed gaming suppliers such as Inspired. New emerging
markets are looking to introduce regulated gaming and go straight to
what I call ‘full spectrum gaming’ – connected slot machines or VLTs,
various types of casino, slots, numbers games, and virtual sports content,
all across land-based, online and mobile platforms. Governments in
Europe and the US are also looking at gaming regulations as a way to
generate more tax revenue and connected VLT systems are the perfect
solution. Due to our experience in the UK and Italian VLT markets we’ve
had a busy year responding to all these new opportunities.
Robert Gustafsson
A year in this industry is like 10 in any other. I like to think that as a
whole we are good at repairing the damage done by those after a quick
buck. Stars buying Full Tilt was a great move in trust restoration. On a
product level mobile continues to get stronger yet somehow doesn’t
appear to be cannibalising online betting which is incredible. On a
company level our differentiation in the poker market has given us a real
platform to offer something new in a marketplace that had become tired
Ian Nicholson
Over the last year many factors have contributed to changes, be it
regulatory, to countries changing specific gaming and online payment
laws; for us Pokerstars / Full Tilt reaching a decision within the US has
been the main game changer, albeit a massive controversy. This ties in
nicely to the mergers and acquisitions that have kept us all alert as to
who is buying who. Seeing two gaming giants merge can only mean
good things for potential growth within the payments industry.
What are you most excited about for 2013?
Robert Gustafsson
The constant rollercoaster of being a part of the online gaming
industry; there will be new products some of which will take off, others
that won’t. Regulation changes, new platforms, new devices – its everevolving
and balancing the new with maintaining the existing is the
challenge. On a product level, now that our casino is properly
competitive it’s time to market the hell out of it and that’s always the
fun part.
Luke Alvarez
Seeing many of the projects we’ve been working on during 2012 come
into fruition in 2013 is going to make it an exciting year. We look
forward to our Virtual Sports going live with at least six operators in
Italy in the first three months of 2013 – adding another string to our
bow in Italy. We’ve got some exciting product launches to be unveiled
at ICE including the next chapter in our Core VIP player
personalisation strategy, as well as new and unique content for our
electronic table gaming product, Sabre.
Ian Nicholson
The thought that is on everybody’s mind is the US finally opening its
doors to online gaming. As a business, we need to make sure that we
embrace a strategy that after the initial surge of activity, we can keep
growing within this market once the initial hype is over. Payments are
of strategic importance within online gaming, and operators are
beginning to understand that they can continually flourish and remain
competitively positioned as long as we sit alongside their main
business. Not to put all our eggs in one basket we have seen exciting
growth in Asia Pacific, larger than Europe, and it is well positioned for
us to continue serving this valuable market place.
Neill Whyte
We anticipate the launch of a number of innovative new online casino
games, as well as more exciting branded content. Furthermore we will
continue our aggressive games roll-out on mobile. The technological
capabilities for mobile devices are growing year on year, and in 2013
we will look to evolve by taking advantage of the advances in
technology to sustain our position as the leading supplier of mobile
products.
What are you dreading about 2013?
Robert Gustafsson
The workload!
Luke Alvarez
The Fast and the Furious 6. Flogging a dead horse?
Ian Nicholson
Although there are high hopes and dreams pinned on the US opening
in 2013, there is also a high chance that the market won’t be ready and
we see the opening hold off for another year or more. With that there
is also the possibility of regulation getting out of hand and major
operators pulling out of key markets due to restrictions made on
generating revenue. What is clear is that the elephant in the room is
not going to go away. Governments and regulators have an absolute
need to create certainty and consumer protection around online
gaming, while ensuring this activity is fairly axed. This may take years,
however it will eventually happen. Even though we are coming out of
our own recession in the UK, the rest of the world could see global
economic growth continuing to stagnate as online gaming players
struggle to find disposable income for recreational play. But as ever
these are all possibilities and with a strong 2012, I believe that 2013
will only be better - even with its twists and turns.
Neill Whyte
With the industry moving at such a rapid pace, there are always a
number of challenges within the marketplace. Operators and software
providers face many challenges, but with these challenges come
exciting opportunities to embrace new markets, new clients and new
technologies. This is what gets us excited. We do not dread; we
embrace.
JANUARY 2013 81

EVOLUTION
Evolving on
iPad
Evolution Gaming recently announced a new range for iPad, including its
leading Live Casino product. Matt Broughton spoke with Helen Hedgeland
about this and future developments on the format.
The outstanding Helen
Hedgeland of
Evolution Gaming
Evolution Gaming
recently announced
a new range of
mobile gaming for
iPad solutions
offering multi-channel
opportunities for both online
and land-based casino
operators. As a result of this
latest product introduction
Evolution’s licensees’ players
will be able to enjoy live-dealer
casino games on their iPads
not only in online Live Casinos
but also as part of interactive
Live Casino TV shows and in
‘intra-resort’ style
deployments.
Evolution Mobile Live
Roulette and Blackjack for iPad
is already available, with
Mobile Live Baccarat and
other games following in 2013.
“Essentially this means that iPad users can now
click or tap to play at their choice of live table in the
same way that PC users can,” explains Helen
Hedgeland, Head of London for Evolution. “It opens
up Evolution’s proven, world-leading live tables
(already used by more top-tier operators across
Europe than any other provider’s) to the massive iPad
user base. It extends the gaming floor, extends reach
for operators and, potentially, extends business
opportunity into new demographics too.”
Rank is already live with Evolution Mobile Live
Roulette for iPad for two of its brands: Grosvenor
Casino and Blue Square. Rank will also stream
Evolution’s iPad solutions from their dedicated,
branded Roulette and Blackjack tables - which
Evolution host for them at its Riga studios. Other
Evolution licensees are also planning to offer Mobile
Live Roulette for iPad as part of their online Live
Casinos. In this way the Live Roulette games launch
directly in the browser when the player joins the live
game from the Live Casino lobby on the licensee’s
website. “At the same time a major worldwide betting
brand has moved very quickly to select our Mobile
Live Roulette for iPad solution as the basis for an
Apple-approved App,” reveals Hedgeland.
iDev
For the iPad the whole user interface has been
developed in HTML5.
Evolution is particularly proud of two key areas of
this latest development: Firstly, the HTML5
development is optimised for iPad so it offers an
entirely natural iPad user experience. For example, as
the user physically moves their iPad screen from
84 JANUARY 2013

EVOLUTION
landscape to portrait their view of the live video feed
adjusts accordingly.
Secondly, the company has maintained
consistency in the user interface. Hedgeland
explains: “The iPad experience replicates and
enhances the gaming experience that players can
enjoy when they play our Live Casino games on their
PCs. Any player used to playing Evolution Live
Casino games on PC will feel right at home when
accessing the same games on the iPad.”
Delivering a live-dealer product to tablets is not
without its challenges, as Hedgeland explains:
“Obviously streaming is a key consideration to ensure
that the video feed is not slowed down and the live
action of the game is not compromised. As your
readers will know, you can buy the iPad as Wi-Fi only
or as Wi-Fi + Cellular so there will be many users
connecting to games over Wi-Fi. That will be no
different to them playing on a Windows laptop, say,
connected to a home or hotel internet connection. At
the same time we expect to see an increasing number
of users wanting to connect over fast mobile data
networks. 4G is now starting to take off in a big way.
Before too long this should make it feasible for
players to enjoy live games from virtually anywhere.”
Optimised live streaming is built in to every
Evolution solution. For many years now the company
has been able to optimise the video stream ‘on the
fly’ based upon the player’s connection. Indeed it was
technology such as this that helped convince many
major operators that Evolution Live Casino should
form part of their core offering – and that it could
develop into a significant revenue stream.
“The other major consideration was ensuring both
a natural iPad user experience and a consistent user
experience across different devices and channels,”
says Hedgeland. “We feel we have achieved this.”
Limitations/opportunities
“One could look at the screen size and say that it is
limiting,” says Hedgeland when asked about the pros
and cons of developing for the tablet format. “Then
you could, quite literally, weigh up the positives – the
slimness, the portability, the quality of image
resolution, the desirability of the iPad as a personal
entertainment and communication device… For us it
most definitely opens the door to innovation. Already
we have looked beyond players’ use of the iPad to
access online Live Casino via a gaming operator’s
website. As part of this mobile gaming for iPad
development we are adapting the UI for use as the
betting interface for Live Casino via TV.”
In Italy Lottomatica are already using Evolution’s
live games feed as a centrepiece of their branded Live
Casino TV programme. The show is broadcast live
from TV studios in Italy, with the live games fed from
Evolution’s Riga studios to a big screen in the Italian
studio. There’s a regular team of presenters
commenting on the live game action at the table.
Occasionally, one of the presenters will appear
alongside the live dealer at the table in Riga. Viewers,
meanwhile, will be able to join in the live games and
soon they’ll place bets on their iPads. It’s another key
channel to market for operators and an opportunity
to extend their audience.
Similarly, Evolution’s mobile gaming for iPad
solutions can form part of a turnkey intra-resort Live
Casino. For example, as legislation unfolds in the US,
casino resorts will be able to hand out iPads to guests
so that they can enjoy mobile live gaming. Using the
iPad, guests will be able to join the live table games
(streamed in real time from a live studio on the resort’s
gaming floor) while in their hotel rooms, in the bar, by
the pool, or virtually anywhere within the resort.
JANUARY 2013 85

EVOLUTION
“During 2013 we will be seeing lots of offshoots of
this mobile gaming for iPad development work,” says
Hedgeland, “with Evolution mobile gaming solutions
for iPhone and for the market-leading Android tablets.”
Touching story
Evolution has made maximum use of the iPod’s
capabilities where they are relevant to the enjoyment
of video-streamed live dealer games. For example,
players can swipe the screen to see
Neighbour/Special Bets when playing Roulette.
“We’ve made everything a fluid, natural, intuitive
experience for iPad owners,” says Hedgeland. “I think
users of any Apple product have high expectations –
that’s why they buy into the brand. At Evolution,
we’ve built our own reputation as the world’s leading
provider of video-streamed live dealer gaming. Now
we have tailored what was already a great product so
that it can be enjoyed on the world’s favourite tablet.”
I ask Helen what else she thinks might be
achievable on the format: “Our development team
work with that question in mind every day, as do
developers at Apple, Samsung, Microsoft and
elsewhere. There’s real competition to come up with
the next killer feature, but I wouldn’t like to speculate
what that might be!”
I also ask what change in player profiles the tablet
format brings: “We’re seeing a trend towards younger
players,” explains Hedgeland. “There are new
generations of players coming through that include a
high proportion of so-called ‘über-connected’
individuals. For them it’s the most natural thing in
the world to connect to all manner of entertainment
and social channels from anywhere. They’ve moved a
long way beyond the fixed-location, hard-wired PC.”
Mobile/Tablet Futures
The last few years have seen a huge upsurge in
mobile/tablet sports betting and Hedgeland feels it
likely that Live Casino will see a similar increase.
“Tablets will help fuel this as they allow extended and
more convenient access and they promote multitasking.
I fully expect that the developments we have
discussed will all lead to extended player sessions and
increased expenditure. Also, mobile and tablet
gaming can be used as a tool to bring in new
generations and new demographics to land-based
casinos. At the same time, it can extend the gaming
floor for the land-based casinos’ existing ‘land’
customers; it will make it easier for them to play at
times when they are unable to visit the physical
casino. If mobile/tablet gaming is introduced with
these goals, as part of an integrated two-way strategy,
it has the potential to revitalise the casino industry.”
86 JANUARY 2013

WHO’S WHO
Who’s who: Anna Sainsbury
This month: GeoComply’s CEO…
Favourite…
Movie: Dirty Dancing
Band: Rolling Stones
Book: The Art of a Deal.
Pastime: Working!
Favourite pizza topping?
Pomodoro Solo
How/when did you first get involved with the
gaming industry?
My life in iGaming started in the compliance and
testing space in 2005. I was Commercial Director at
the interactive test lab TST (now part of GLI)
managing the portfolio of iGaming clients and
opening up their offices in London, Macau, Manila
and Sydney.
What attracted you to this sector?
I was fascinated by the potential to work in such a
global industry. I still enjoy the international aspects
today as well as the challenges of familiarizing myself
with the ins and outs of each new regulated market.
What were you doing prior to the gaming
industry?
Enjoying life in Vancouver as an insurance broker.
What are you responsible for?
Like most CEO’s of a fast-growth company my main
priority is ensuring we maintain our standards and
keep our focus as we expand quickly. Launching as
the only geolocation company designed by and for
the iGaming industry just as the US market opened
has been amazing timing but really forced us to grow
much faster than we projected.
What have been the biggest changes you’ve seen
in your time?
I think the switch from the old (light-touch)
dot.com regulatory regimes for iGaming operators
to the new dot.country regimes around Europe. The
impact on how operators and their vendors had to
re-engineer their businesses to accommodate these
regulations was astonishing. In some markets such
as Italy it has worked very well indeed, but in others,
such as France, it pretty much just killed the market
stone-dead.
What are the biggest positive factors for the
sector right now?
I believe that the opening of the US markets will
actually encourage innovation across all sectors in
the market. The land-based player-base is aging and
the move online is a once-in-a-generation
opportunity for gaming companies to prove that they
can be relevant to the under 40 demographic.
And what are the negatives ones – the obstacles to
growth?
That’s easy: Protectionism! Regulations are too easily
used as an
obstacle to
letting new
entrants come to
market.
Looking at your
entire career,
what do you
think was your
smartest move?
Working for
myself.
And the dumbest one?
Trying to start a sock
company. I told everybody
that my ambition was to start
a sock company. It went
nowhere but people still
make fun of me for having
such an off-the-wall plan!
Where do you hope you’ll be, professionally, in
ten years’ time?
Retired… Living in Bondi Beach Sydney with a
beautiful house overlooking the ocean.
If you’d never embarked on this career, what
other line of work would you have liked to pursue?
I would love to have a pie shop!
88 JANUARY 2013

Once a gambler…
You can take the gambler away from the gamble, but you can’t take the
gamble away from the gambler. Or something. Matt Broughton
confesses.
As tempting as it is at this time of
year to simply hide indoors, eat
more chocolate than is sensible
and wait for January to roll round
so that furniture shops can reduce
their prices and supermarkets can start selling
Easter eggs, this year I promised the wife I’d
take a break from the world of online gaming
and heartily embrace the festive period.
Last year Christmas pretty much came and
went without me looking up from the screen
(well I was on a hot streak!) so this year I
promised Mrs B I’d do my very best to look
interested in all manner of yuletide whatnots,
even agreeing to go with her to a number of
Xmas faire things in school halls (you know:
rickety tables covered in home-made tack that
you buy for 50p and give to someone you
truly hate).
I even went as far as to promise that I’d leave
my beloved online poker to its own devices for
three whole weeks (including weekends!).
Obviously missing out on all that lovely
rakeback would hurt, but profit-wise three
weeks off might actually improve my figures
(I’m not on a hot streak currently). However,
not thinking about gambling proved far harder
than I’d first imagined.
First on the calendar was some dreadful xmas
craft fayre thing. Unfortunately a local ‘artist’
caught the wife’s eye and I was left standing
next to a lonely woman who had clearly wasted
hours of her life making DIY greeting cards
that looked like slices of three-year old toast
with glitter on. I was tempted to sign her up to
BingoCams so she could make some new
friends, but didn’t have my affiliate code on me.
I decided to kill time by walking around the
hall with my hands clasped behind my back. I
do this 1) to look superior, and 2) to make it
QUITE clear that I won’t be dipping into my
pockets for change to buy some scented candle
a child made at home out of their nan’s melted
dentures.
After circling a ‘stones-from-the-garden-thatsomeone-washed-and-painted-a
-fairy-on’ stall
for five minutes, I happened upon an old gent
by a table upon which stood a plastic tub full of
random keys along with the lock mechanism
from a door. The accompanying sign said:
“Open the door and win £50. 50p a go”.
Hmm… I thought. I wonder how many keys are
in that tub? I’m getting 100:1 for my key, so if
there are less than 100 keys I should just keep
playing until I open the door, because even if I
had to get through 20 keys, it would still have
only cost me £10 to win £50 so I’m getting 5:1
for my money and… OH NO! I’m calculating
my pot odds! The wife’ll kill me!!
“OH NO! I’ve
accidentally calculated
the positive EV of a
chocolate tombola stall!“
Moving away from the key stand for the
sake of the Broughton Christmas (and
because the old man looked like he was
about to stick a key in my eyes for loitering
and blocking the thoroughfare) I then came
upon a chocolate tombola stall. This looked
vaguely promising as it was simply a table
covered in chocolate goodies with a raffle
ticket stuck to each item. Buy a ticket for £1
and walk away with whatever chocolate had
your number on - how could that go wrong?
But then of course I thought… if I bought
two tickets at £2 and got a twix both times
(which sell for roughly 60p) I’d be
approximately 80p down, but if I bought a
third ticket for a total of £3 spent and won
the big tin of Quality Street (RRP £4.99) I’d
end up about £3.20 up on all the chocolate
bought so… OH NO! I’ve accidentally
calculated the Positive Expected Value of a
chocolate tombola stall! RUN AWAY!
I stood by the door and tried to avoid eyecontact
with anyway just in case I accidentally
placed a bet on something, when someone
asked me if I had change of a £10 note. I ran
screaming into the car park in case the wife
saw me handling cash and thought I was
running an illegal bookies.
I survived for nearly two weeks until one
of the bar staff in my local pub approached
us the following Saturday night and asked if
we wanted to play in their ‘Bonus Ball Bingo’
game. Pick a number from one to 49 and if
that was the bonus ball drawn in that night’s
National Lottery you’d win the entire kitty
of £245.
I eyed the wife for a reaction. She twitched a
little but was fortunately a few red wines into
the night so I went for it, adding: “That’s 48/1
my love. That’s better odds than the lottery
itself my sweet darling”. She gave me a ‘oh go
on then you sick degenerate’ look and reached
for the merlot. KERCHING! The deal was done
and the number 38 was mine.
I’d invite you to check what the bonus ball
from that Saturday night draw was, but I have a
feeling you’ve already guessed the result.
Needless to say the missus didn’t complain too
much when I used my £240 profit to buy her
dinner, along with a king-sized tin of Quality
Street for myself.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
JANUARY 2013 89

COIN/NOTE HANDLING
ROULETTE EQUIPMENT
GAMING EQUIPMENT