Euroslot-APR09-PG06-17:Layout 1 25/03/2009 10:42 Page 10
INDUSTRY NEWS www.euroslot-online.com
Collinge to Gamestec
P
eter Collinge has been appointed Operations
Director at Gamestec Leisure Ltd, the leading player
in the UK gaming and amusement machines sector.
The announcement comes hot on the heels of the
appointment of Chris Butler, the company’s new
managing director.
Collinge has 26 years experience in the UK gaming industry having previously
held several senior operational and commercial management roles in casinos,
bingo operators and digital server-based gaming operations.
Where will the credit crunch?
Most recently he was Operations Director at Games Media and Field
Operations Director of Leisure Link, part of the Inspired Gaming Group.
Chris Butler said: “Peter is a respected figure in the UK gaming and
amusement machines sector and know the industry inside out. He will bring
E
rnst & Young has released a report on how the recession will affect the further depth to the management team and ensure we continue to deliver the
betting and gaming industries. The main points are contained below: best service possible to our customers.”
Cameron Cartmell, head of hospitality and leisure at Ernst & Young Derek Lloyd, Chief Executive of Gamestec parent company Danoptra Limited
commented, “During the major recessions of the early 1980s and 1990s, said: “Following the recent appointment of Chris Butler as Managing Director of
gambling spend fell only modestly, by 10% at most. Since then, the industry Gamestec, Peter further bolsters the talent within the company and further
has changed enormously. Stakes have doubled with the advent of new ways improves our current offering to our customers.”
to gamble, such as the National Lottery and online gaming that are yet Collinge said: “I am well acquainted with Gamestec’s success and progress to
untested by deep recession in the UK and only time will tell the impact.   The date under the new management team and am keen to contribute to the
gambling industry now appeals to a wider audience and this may leave it company’s continued growth.”
more susceptible to cuts in consumer discretionary spend.”
Mixed outlook for traditional players
Bricks and mortar operators have had a difficult time of late with the
introduction of the smoking ban; a decrease in the number of machines
following the 2005 Gambling Act and increases in taxation. This has
impacted different parts of the industry to varying degrees.
The traditional betting shops have shown their resilience during past
downturns. Fixed odd betting terminals, the gaming machines that have
been a major success in betting shops in the past few years, are currently
showing no signs of falling demand.
Yet the casino and bingo industries have arguably been hit harder in the
past couple of years. The casino market is risking over-supply throughout the
UK and operators remain cautious about the returns they could get on the 16
new casinos. Meanwhile, bingo companies have suffered the impacts of
double-taxation and the smoking ban which has reduced gaming during the
intervals between main-stage games.
Online tipped as a winner
With the growth of the internet, the online gaming industry has grown
Demon deal for
exponentially in the last 15 years but is yet to experience a severe recession.
Cartmell comments: “The online gaming industry is likely to do better than
other gaming subsectors as it is not solely reliant on the state of the UK
Innocore Gaming
economy, it is still going through a growth phase and with consumers saving
money by staying at home I believe it will be a winner.”
Operators are continuing to invest in this area and recent results indicate I
nnocore Gaming Ltd, one of the leading manufacturers of PC based
gaming platforms has welcomed Jon Temple and his company Demon
that the sector has been robust to the credit crisis. Interactive Ltd as the newest addition to its growing sales team. Demon
The prize for those that succeed Interactive now covers the UK and Ireland for Innocore.
Those operators that have proactively aligned their businesses to cope Jon Temple of Demon Interactive commented, “We are very pleased to be
with the recessionary economy will stand themselves in much better representing Innocore which is one of the fastest growing and dynamic
stead.   Many have done this in reaction to the regulatory changes of the past hardware suppliers in gaming today.  Their wide range of PC platforms is the
two years and will be well placed to emerge stronger as the upturn comes. broadest in the industry and provides solutions suitable for every application.
There will also be opportunities for consolidation within the industry. Larger We are eager to take on the Innocore product line and expect much success.”
operators could well seek to benefit from economies of scale by buying Over the last two years Innocore has greatly enhanced its sales team
challenged or distressed businesses, while disposing of less profitable operations. worldwide and currently has local presence in seven countries, 12 cities and five
With an overall trend towards deregulation of betting and gaming markets continents. Offices with sales, technical or operations support are located in the
worldwide, the prize for those that see this recession through and emerge following 12 cities; Newcastle (HQ), Cambridge, Los Angeles, Reno, Chicago,
fitter than before are potentially unparalleled. Las Vegas, Miami, Buenos Aires, Eindhoven, Sydney, Barcelona and  Taipei.
10
APRIL 2009
Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40