News
EUROPEAN UPDATE IGT bids to acquire Entraction
Busy month for IGT with the sale of Barcrest Group and plans to acquire Entraction
Swedish online gaming firm, Entraction, has received an offer from International Game Technology (IGT) to purchase outstanding A and B shares in the Stockholm based group for $11.11 per share. IGT wants to acquire 90 per cent of Entraction and will pay around $115 million for the company.
“The addition of Entraction advances IGT's position in legalised interactive gaming markets,” said Patti Hart, CEO of IGT. “It strengthens our interactive portfolio by adding poker, bingo, casino and sports betting. This combination will drive enhanced value for our global customers and partners,” she said. “We are also thrilled to welcome the Entraction team as the newest members of the IGT family.”
According to the President and Chief Executive Officer for Entraction, Peter Astrom: “This transaction represents a fantastic opportunity for our employees, customers and shareholders alike.” Mr. Astrom said that Entraction would be able
Macau smoking ban in New Year
Gaming operators will soon be required to set aside dedicated smoking areas of up to 50 per cent of their total public area from January 2013, exactly a year after the tobacco control law comes into effect in January of 2012, according to Macau’s president of the Legislative Assembly’s second standing committee, Chan Chak Mo. It’s been more than a year of discussions between lawmakers and the Government regarding the draft tobacco control law, and they are finally reaching a consensus. Enforcing the law in casinos will be examined by the Government every three years and will also be in place, in addition to casinos in Macau, in restaurants, hotels, karaoke bars, cinemas, schools and universities, maritime terminals and airports, museums, as well as public parks and gardens.
Entraction is an
independent supplier and operates one of the world’s largest online poker networks.
Entraction’s poker
network currently has a seven-day average of 1,440 cash game players, placing it between 888 and Microgaming.
to utilise IGT's global scale and distribution to advance its short and long term objectives in new and exciting ways. He said that he looked forward to joining the IGT team.
The Board of Directors at Entraction recommended unanimously to the group's shareholders that they should not hesitate in accepting the US gambling giant's offer. Shareholders have until June 7th to make a final decision. If they choose to accept, settlement will begin one week later, pending regulatory approval and other conditions, according to a statement issued by Entraction's Board of Directors.
Gaming Partners acquire OMC mold manufacturer
Gaming Partners International Corporation’s French subsidiary, Gaming Partners International SAS, has completed the purchase of certain assets of OMC Sarl and its subsidiary OMC Industries (OMC), a private French-based manufacturer of high-quality plastic injection molds.
The transaction, although financially immaterial, is part of the company's previously announced acquisition strategy to use its strong cash position to acquire companies, products or technologies that enable it to diversify and grow its product and service offerings. By giving the company the ability to manufacture the high- precision molds required to make gaming chips, this acquisition provides GPI with greater control over its entire
chip manufacturing process while maintaining the highest internal standards of gaming currency manufacturing security. Additionally, the purchase enhances the company's existing delivery timelines and provides GPI's worldwide casino customers with a greater range of custom chip design solutions.
Finally, the acquisition enables GPI to broaden its manufacturing capabilities into other industries by enabling it to support and grow OMC's existing mold design and manufacturing business. “We are excited to purchase OMC’s capabilities, as their reputation for producing high- quality, secure products for a wide range of industries is unmatched," said Gregory Gronau, GPI President and Chief Executive Officer.
G3 I JUNE 2011 I PAGE 20
The recent victory of Betfair in the long running court cases against the Dutch government will provide the impetus for the legalisation of i-Gaming and the breakdown of Dutch monopolies according to STIOG, the foundation that lobbies on behalf of providers of interactive games via the Internet. According to STIOG it is working hard in order to create ‘user friendly’ regulation that should make the Netherlands one of the most important online gaming markets in Europe.
FutureLogic has strengthened its South American presence with the appointment of Emilio Machado to lead New Business Development in South America, reporting to John Edmunds, VP International Markets. “We are very excited about Emilio joining our international team,” said Edmunds. “Emilio brings with him a wealth of experience in OEM sales and marketing and with his knowledge and understanding of the cultures and languages across South America. With the new opportunities opening up for FutureLogic within the region, his contribution is sure to enhance our success.”
Last year, Gaming Laboratories International, made headlines when it integrated GLI Australia into GLI’s global submission process. Now
GLI has further solidified the company’s structure, naming Damien Stone as General Manager of GLI Australia. Zelko Galic, Managing Director & CEO of GLI Australia, said: “We are thrilled to welcome Damien back to GLI Australia. He spent many years with us, functioning at a very high level and leading his teams. We are absolutely confident in his ability to direct the operations of our three Australian lab locations and help our regulatory and supplier customers meet their goals.”
JCM Global has named Payam Zadeh as Director of Sales for the EMEA territories. Mr. Zadeh will work from the company’s European office in Düsseldorf,
Germany. In his new position, Zadeh will oversee all JCM Global sales efforts and direct the sales, marketing, customer service and new product development team across Europe, Russia, the former CIS states, Africa and parts of the Middle East.
Following a restructuring in the European Commission’s Internal Market and Services Directorate-General (DG MARKT), Ms. Pamela Brumter-Coret has been appointed Head of the ‘Business-to-Consumer Services’ Unit, which will from now on be in charge of dealing with all gambling related issues, among others.
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