NEWS
Two’s company in the VLT biz
Italy’s VLT explosion is one of the biggest gaming opportunities in years – and for many, joint ventures prove the best way to exploit it
Joint ventures can be uneasy partnerships. But in Italy’s still rapidly developing market for video lottery terminals (VLTs), bedfellows really do seem to be doing better business together than they might separately. Take Casinos Austria International (CAI), for example. It doesn’t have permission to operate VLTs itself, so it’s teamed up with Italy’s Cogetech – which holds around 5000 licences – to launch a chain of “mini casinos” offering the new high-stake slots.
The latest of the Vincendo-branded venues has opened in the spa resort of Merano, close to Italy’s border with Austria, with 60 VLTs. It follows the chain’s debut in Milan at the end of last year, and will soon be joined by a pair of rather larger venues with 100 VLTs apiece (like Milan), scheduled to open in Ancona and Prato this summer. Another site similar in size to Merano’s is also being set up in Varese. Eventually, CAI – which owns three quarters of the joint
venture – and Cogetech hope to have 1800 units deployed around the country, implying around 20 locations. Said Director Alexander Artmann of the new Merano mini casino:“We have a great gaming mix with 60 VLTs, sports betting and some exciting jackpot opportunities. We will be combining this with a warm welcome, friendly service and an attractive bar and cocktail lounge. With the right level of personal service, a VLT outlet can be far more than just a slot parlour, and we are certain our venue will be a valuable addition to the Merano entertainment scene and provide the town with a further great tourist attraction.”
Meanwhile, another partnership – the Merkur Inspired lash-up of Inspired Gaming Group and Merkur Gaming – is bringing Konami Gaming content to the Italian VLT market. Merkur’s parent, the Gauselmann Group, has previously supplied Konami games in its home territory of Germany. Said Giacomo Bozzini, General Manger at Merkur
Inspired: “Having two strong partners out of the industry as shareholders of the joint venture, we now offer the widest range of ergonomic cabinets with an extensive library of top-performing games.
CAI and Cogetech plan to deploy 1800 VLTs across Italy, implying around 20 “mini casino” locations
8 JUNE 2011
Making tables match the room
For casino table supplier Abbiati, outfitting a cruise ship was nothing new. But their designers’ approach had its share of novelty
Continuing a long and successful collaboration, Abbiati Casino Equipment has recently supplied the casino tables for Carnival’s latest cruise ship Carnival Magic. Carnival Magic is the 23rd Carnival Cruise Line ship and the hundredth ship in the Carnival Corporation family of cruise lines. The naming ceremony for the new vessel took place in Venice on 1 May.
The event was also attended by members of the Abbiati
family, where they had an opportunity to meet the President of Carnival Cruises Gerry Cahill and SVP for Casino Operations Rodney Dofort. Giorgio Abbiati, the CEO of Abbiati Casino Equipment, said that, as with all collaborations with Carnival Cruise Lines, Carnival Magic was another challenging project to deliver.
He went on to say that the uniquely custom-designed
Abbiati designed the cylindrical table bases in an unusual style matching the magician’s top hat
tables will add a high-quality Italian ambience to Carnival Magic’s sophisticated interior design. Abbiati delivered 16 gaming tables, 2 American Roulettes, 13 card tables and one Big Craps table, all in a black piano finish and customised to the Carnival architect’s specifications. The tables reflected the striking interior style and design
of the room, inspired by a magician’s tricks. Abbiati designed and manufactured the table bases in an unusual cylindrical style intended to match the magician’s characteristic top hat. Said Dofort: “Our business relationship with the Abbiati family and Abbiati Casino Equipment commenced in 1998 when we asked them to enhance the casinos on Costa Cruise Lines with their beautiful Italian-styled casino tables. Since that time they have successfully completed high- quality installations on many new ships in several of our corporate brands. “We believe that the Joe Farcus-designed casino on the
Carnival Magic is one of the most striking spaces in a stunning new ship, and the Abbiati tables play a strong role in that overall effect.”
PEOPLE
ARISTOCRAT Rich Schneider is the new Chief Product Officer at Aristocrat Technologies, leading product design, portfolio management and global marketing from the Las Vegas office.
APEX Udo Nickel has been named as Sales Director of Apex Gaming’s new German operations. He comes from Cashpoint, the online gaming company.
ATRONIC Michael Scala is now Machine Division Sales Director for Atronic in Europe, the Middle East and Africa. Previous roles with the company for Scala, who is based in Graz, Austria, include Director of Global Operations and Quality, and Director of Product Management in Atronic’s casino division.
GLI Gaming Laboratories International has appointed Damien Stone as General Manager of GLI Australia, overseeing the testing firm’s three Australian labs. Stone first joined GLI Australia as a test engineer in 1997 and eventually became Manager of Compliance and Quality Assurance, before briefly leaving the gaming sector in 2009.
HEBER Gaming controls maker Heber says that growing revenue has allowed it to make a number of appointments, including Claire Saunders as Marketing Co-Ordinator, Kate Bray as Sales and Marketing Assistant, and Jamie Earley as Dispatch Supervisor in manufacturing. Also joining the manufacturing department is Jamal Stevens.
FUTURELOGIC Emilio Machado is now leading new business development in South America for FutureLogic, reporting to International Markets VP John Edmunds.
SNOQUALMIE CASINO Jon Jenkins is the new CEO of Snoqualmie Casino in Washington state. He has also been President and CEO of Casino Arizona and Talking Stick Resort.
OLGC Rod Phillips has been hired by the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation as its new President and CEO.
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