NEWS Global gaming
tops $400bn Lotteries, casinos take the lion’s share; but economy poses worries
Annual global gambling revenues now top $400bn, says Global Betting and Gaming Consultants (GBGC). It cites a provisional total of $419bn for 2011, up 5.6
percent on the previous year. The biggest share of that, 28.4 per cent, went to lotteries. But casinos are close behind at 27.7 per cent thanks to growth in gambling centres such as Macau and Singapore, and GBGC expects them to overtake lotteries in 2012. The figures exclude U.S. tribal gaming. “There are numerous new casinos under development in Asia that are due to open in the next few years, whilst Singapore’s integrated resorts are still only in their second full year of operations,” said GBGC Director Lorien Pilling. Internet gaming revenues grew less than might be expected, from eight per cent of the total to 8.4 per cent. GBGC expects the $500bn figure to be reached by 2014. But, cautioned Pilling, “the global economic situation will be a major influence. If China’s economy does have a crash landing it is difficult to see Macau’s gaming growth rates being maintained. A strong economic recovery in the U.S. would help gaming revenues that have been hit hard in recent years. In Europe, the gambling industry needs the eurozone crisis to be resolved because the uncertainty is really hurting the gambling sector in the likes of Greece and Spain.”
Magic Dreams
eyes Asia markets Europe, LatinAm remain core, but it’s next stop Macau for the games firm
Italian game maker Magic Dreams has its eye on new territories. “We’ve recently expanded our presence into Africa thanks to the excellent performance that our Double Draw Poker generates, and we now plan to achieve great targets in this area,” said General Manager Luca Gerardini. “We do plan also to enter in the Asian market, which doesn’t just mean Macau but also the surrounding countries. Of course Europe and South America are always the markets where our activity is well-established, and for these territories our intention is to be strengthened and consolidated by offering innovation, flexibility and great dynamism.” New products for Europe on show at the ICE Totally Gaming event in London included the upright Wow cabinet; the Time Voyager jackpot system with a three-game library consisting of Back to Jurassic, Back to Rome and Back to Rinascimento; and High Voltage, a standalone progressive jackpot series. Said Gerardini: “Our established customers immediately noticed the great innovation we showcased, but we are also extremely happy that, thanks to our new launches, we grabbed the attention of several new operators. This year’s exhibition brought outstanding business opportunities that we are looking forward to pursue.”
German MP hits out at “favouritism” Law-maker says street gaming operations should share casinos’ privileges
A senior German politician has criticised his own government's treatment of state-run casinos, saying it unfairly favours them at the expense of street gaming. Speaking at the opening of the IMA exhibition in Dusseldorf, Siegfried Kauder – a a member of the Bundestag, the German parliament, and Chairman of its legal committee – said: “Why is table gambling and gambling through gaming machines, which are actually the same as those at amusement arcades, allowed at state- run casinos, which do not have to comply with the restrictions applicable to amusement arcades? The same law applies to all of us.
“About 10m people per year visit amusement arcades to enjoy themselves. I don’t know how many people per year visit state-run casinos. I did that for the first time two days ago, and there were a few things that caught my eye.
“Never have I heard a more dishonest argument”
6 MARCH 2012
“The cloakroom fee is just €0.25. You get a
voucher for a free alcoholic drink. So people are lured into state-run casinos to make them spend their money there. That’s okay. However, the same right has to be extended to amusement arcades.
“The case law has developed the requirement that casinos must combat ‘gambling addiction’ because this is the only justification for the monopoly of the state on operating casinos to be upheld. Ladies and gentlemen, never have I heard a more dishonest argument. “If somebody can explain to me why state-run casinos
are a better place for ‘gambling addicts’ and for combating ‘gambling addiction’ than private amusement arcades, I will be happy to change my
mind.This argument is not even logical on its own terms. If you prohibit gambling at amusement arcades, pathological gamblers will resort to the Internet because, on average, each of them engages in five different forms of gambling. “If you bar one of them, the other four remain, and a fifth one readily offers itself on the Internet. This shows that the argument that ‘gambling addiction’ needs to be combated, and amusement arcades therefore need to be tightly regulated, is dishonest and cannot be accepted.”
INBRIEF
INCREDIBLE NEWS Minnesota regulators have approved Incredible Technologies as a maker of gaming machines. “Minnesota is a thriving market with high demand,” said Elaine Hodgson, the firm’s CEO.
JOLLY G G Casinos were among the strongest performers for Britain’s Rank Group during 2011, the company says.
TOMORROW THE WORLD JCM Global predicts that its PayCheck 4 thermal printer will this year be installed in 40 per cent of all North American casino games.
ILLIONOIS LICENCE American Gaming Systems has been granted a licence for the supply of video gaming terminals in Illinois, as well as a riverboat licence for the state.
MORE LEAPS Leap Forward Gaming (LFG) won the Technology Startup of the Year Award from Nevada’s Center for Entrepreneurship and Technology and the Reno Gazette Journal. Separately, TransAct Technologies’ Epic 950 printer and Epicentral Print System have been integrated with Leap Forward’s SaffariNet.
HAWAIIAN CASINOS? Three bills have been submitted to the House of Representatives of Hawaii enabling the creation of a state lottery, the licensing of land-based casino operations, and the establishment of a state e-gaming corporation. Hawaiian law-makers are looking for ways to address a large deficit.
GSA NEWBIES Arcade Game Regional Innovation Center (AGRIC) of South Korea and Tipping Point Gaming of Nevada are joining the Gaming Standards Association as silver members. Station Casinos of Nevada, the British Group of Newfoundland, and Grand Vision Gaming of Montana are also joining at GSA’s bronze membership level.
NOT GOOD Parx Casino and Mount Airy Casino Resort in Pennsylvania have been fined by regulators. Parx had allowed under-age gaming, while Mount Airy had worked with a firm whose licence was suspended.
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