Euroslot-APR09-PG27-32:Layout 1 24/03/2009 12:36 Page 27
www.euroslot-online.com FEATURE
Lightening the Load
M
achine operators used to be likened to traditional operating business with the SBG
“furniture removers” – particularly in the UK – technology business, to create a fully integrated SBG-
where cabinets were traditionally moved from prime focused gaming machine operator. Last year we sold
sites after a few weeks of use, waterfalling down into our pubs operating division so that the company
secondary and tertiary sites as time went on. could focus entirely on its SBG and Leisure Division,”
Around ten years ago, the first of the large UK- says Luke Alvarez, Co-CEO Inspired Gaming Group.
based operators started to experiment with server- Another market leader is the Global Draw, which
based gaming (SBG). The concept was simple. was founded in 1997 and was first to introduce
Instead of moving the cabinets from place to place, server-based gaming to the British betting shop
operators would simply send the games to the market. Today, it has more than 15,000 gaming
cabinets. When players got tired of playing one game machines installed and operating in the UK, mainland
and income started to drop, a new game could be Europe, Latin America, the Caribbean and emerging
downloaded onto the same cabinet in a matter of gaming markets in South East Asia.
minutes and income could be refreshed. One of the greatest differences between SBG and
Gamestec was one of the pioneers of SBG traditional gaming machines, is that the content can
following the introduction of its Gamesnet SWP come from any number of suppliers. Gamestec
terminal. The company currently has over 5,000 sources its SWP and video Category C games from
SWP terminals connected and this number is growing within group, by Bell-Fruit Games, which is a sister
continuously. In June 2008, Gamestec’s SBG estate company of Gamestec and part of Danoptra Limited,
grew significantly following the acquisition Inspired and also from third party developers such as Games
Gaming Group’s pub division. Part of that acquisition Media, Men In Back, Alternative Universe and
provided Gamestec with the exclusive license to utilise Revolution.
the SBG platform in the pub retail sector. “Gamestec operates a policy of sourcing only the
Inspired, meanwhile , has been focusing on SBG best of breed products and games for its customers,
since 2002. “However, in 2006 we integrated the which it does by scouring the market and reviewing all
APRIL 2009
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