NEWS
Tech vendors strive to strengthen their hands with tie-ups, takeovers
Bally, Aristocrat, Shuffle Master all doing deals
Online and off, the casino industry’s technology suppliers are continuing to forge alliances – or make outright takeovers – in an effort to meet operators’ increasingly complex needs. For example, in anticipation of the arrival of legalised e-gaming in the US, Bally Technologies and Aristocrat Technologies are teaming up to offer the same slots and third-party Poker networks to US land-based casino operators looking to move online. Both companies plan to market Internet gambling platforms integrated with their existing back-end casino systems. Offering the same Poker networks will enhance liquidity, while their slot content will at first be available to online operators on a play-for-fun basis, with the hope that eventually pay-to-play with be legalised. The partnership will “help our [casino] customers maintain their leadership position in both land-based and online gaming”, said Bally’s CEO Richard Haddrill. The pair have already applied to the Nevada Gaming Control Board for authorisation as suppliers of interactive gaming systems.
The deal with Aristocrat is another
indication of Bally’s online ambitions
It’s another indication of the online ambitions being demonstrated by Bally, which already this year has launched a new Remote Gaming Server, enabling online and mobile operations to access its library of games; acquired an online gaming platform from France’s Chiligaming; and signed a development agreement with Comtrade. Aristocrat, for its part, is fast-tracking its
Internet project through collaboration with GameAccount Network. Meanwhile, Shuffle Master is to acquire the online Poker provider Ongame Network from
Bwin.party, for a price between €19.5m and €29.5m – depending on whether, and when, legalised online Poker becomes a reality in the US. Like Aristocrat and Bally, Shuffle Master isn’t looking to offer gaming directly to consumers, but instead to sell online operators – whether they are pure-play or diversifying land-based casino owners – the technology that they need to do so. “Our acquisition of Ongame will allow Shuffle Master to offer a scalable,
proven and secure solution for online Poker,” said Shuffle Master’s CEO Gavin Isaacs. “Poker is a natural fit for our table-centric online offerings and our many jurisdictional licences present a compelling opportunity for our current and future online customers.” And it’s not only online that suppliers are seeking to gain an edge
through takeovers and tie-ups. For example, Table Trac, the vendor of casino management systems, is to market a number of cash handling and redemption products from German-based CountR, including Caion, CashIO, TiTa and Rodi. It has sole rights to the products in a dozen jurisdictions in the western US, including Nevada, as well as in Latin American countries. “We believe that the CountR products are well-suited to the Americas,” said Glenn Goulet, Table Trac’s CEO. The TiTa ticket redemption unit for table gaming would, he said, be “especially appealing as it provides operators with a reliable and secure way to increase revenues while reducing costs”.
4 APRIL 2012 INBRIEF
HELP AT HAND Britain’s GamCare is trialling a free telephone number to help problem gamblers. The one-year programme starts in April, and GamCare is asking operators to publicise the new number when they update responsible-gambling materials. It is 0808 802 0133. The existing, paid-for 0845 number will remain functional.
ONTO THE BANDWAGON Lottomatica has applied to the Nevada Gaming Control Board for a licence to provide interactive gaming services, through its Spielo subsidiaries.
MORE RECRUITS Two more firms have joined the Association of Gaming Equipment Manufacturers (AGEM). They are Assurance, a Las Vegas insurance specialist, and Scientific Games.
IN CONTROL Mohegan Sun has chosen the Infor10 customer relationship management (CRM) system from Infor to communicate with its patrons and track their activity.
GOTTA LOVE ITWynn Las Vegas was named best casino resort in Fortune magazine’s 2012 Most Admired list.
PLASTIC PEOPLE Cantor Gaming is to accept credit and debit cards at its Las Vegas sports betting operations.
GONE GREEN Rivers Casino in Des Plaines, Illinois has become the first casino in the world to gain the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Gold Certification from the US Green Building Council.
HA HA The New Tropicana in Las Vegas is partnering with Laugh Factory to launch a comedy venue at the Tropicana. Other new entertainment ventures in Vegas include the arrival of Cirque du Soleil’s Zarkana acrobats at Aria this summer, and the opening of Kiss by Monster Mini Golf, an amusement attraction at the Shoppes at Harmon Square.
HALFWAY THERE Florida Gaming Group has acquired a 50 per cent stake in the Caribbean Gaming Show.
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