If you could wave a magic wand, what would you do to make it easier to sell your products in Europe?
I would recover the economy and create millions of jobs, so people would be spending money again in entertainment instead of worrying on how to pay their mortgages.
Why do people gamble?
People gamble because we all need to experience emotions. The pleasure of risk under control and the joy of winning are very rewarding feelings which come together. The secret sauce of any slot machine is combining these experiences in the most enjoyable possible way.
What is your favorite WMS game?
Lord of the Rings and the Player’s Life concept tied to this product. This is a fantastic land based game enhanced with a very strong brand and the power of Internet.
Ever play your competitor’s games?
If I play in a casino I only play our competitor’s games.
How has the poor global economy affected your sales?
A lot, like it has affected every other supplier. However we have launched strong products and found other markets where we had no presence – VLTs, Mexico, Australia – to mitigate the softness of sales in other territories.
What will WMS be introducing at the Gaming Show in London in January?
The product offer in London is going to be similar to the products we showed at the G2E with a strong focus on Network Gaming.
Are there too many global or European gaming trade shows?
London is a must. With the VLT market in Italy taking off the show in Rimini or Rome is also needed. We exhibit through distributors in the other regional shows, like Bulgaria or Hungary.
Do you think there are too many European gaming manufacturers? Is there enough business for everyone?
There is always room for a great product while developing great products require a serious Research and Development investment. However, I think not every manufacturer in Europe is going to be able to cope with this so we will probably see some consolidation in the future.
What’s the best part of your job?
The privilege of having friends in seventy countries around the World.
Do you sell any of your machines or games in the United States or is that left to WMS in Illinois?
Sales to the USA and Canada Illinois.
Where do you think the next gaming hot spots are going to be? We will see a lot of action in the VLT market in
Italy, and in Brazil and Greece, if the gaming bills are approved.
Anything new on your Helios Cabinets?
Helios is already a successful product in Mexico and it has been recently approved in Peru and Panama. The Helios product line is going to allow WMS targeting markets where so far we did not have a presence either because a multigame was required or because the market required a product with a lower price point than Bluebird 2.
About how many gaming machines do you sell in Europe?
Europe has consistently been about 20% of our international sales.
Are European Business Schools turning out graduates with the skills you need?
There are great business schools in Europe providing excellent professionals with the right skill set. However, any person working at WMS needs to have also passion and determination, and this is something cannot be taught in a business school, this comes with the person’s personality. It is our mission as managers educating these graduates in our company values so they can effectively contribute to our company’s success through their own personal success.
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