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EUROPEAN UPDATE Scientific Games buy Barcrest
Scientific Games announces agreement to acquire Barcrest Group from IGT
Scientific Games has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Barcrest Group from IGT for approximately £33m in cash, plus up to £2m in deferred consideration, the payment of which is subject to the satisfaction of certain conditions relating to a third-party contract. The transaction is conditioned on, among other things, obtaining UK competition approvals and certain third- party consents and is anticipated to close during the third quarter of 2011. Upon closing, Barcrest will be integrated into Scientific Games’ gaming divisions, The Global Draw and Games Media.
The acquisition is anticipated to enhance the company’s gaming business by adding Barcrest’s expansive library of gaming titles, which was compiled over the past 40 years, to Scientific Games’ existing content portfolio and digital delivery network. The transaction will also extend the company’s UK server-based gaming presence to new betting shop and pub
Inspired supports first Slots Summit
Inspired Gaming Group announced its co-sponsorship of the inaugural Slot Summit held in Slovenia in May. Luke Alvarez, Inspired’s CEO, is one of the guest speakers at the Summit and will be speaking to Slot Managers attending the event about the latest SBG casino solutions. Luke Alvarez, CEO of Inspired, stated before the event: “Sharing a platform with co- sponsors Bally Technologies, IGT and Atronic, I hope to bring something unique to the event and demonstrate that server-based casino products are generating record incomes and that there are no barriers or compromises to embracing networked solutions. As well as case histories, I have some exciting new products to share with attendees and look forward to being part of this forum,” he added. The four-day event featured presentations from other top international professionals in the gaming industry and technology demonstrations from leading suppliers, including Inspired.
Wilmer Montes has joined Inspired Gaming Group as Regional Sales Director for Mexico. Mr. Montes joins Inspired from Aristocrat Technologies, where he
was an integral part of the company’s sales operation and successfully increased the awareness and sales of new products in Mexico. Mr. Montes has over 23 years of experience in the gaming industry and has also held sales and account management positions at a range of leading companies.
Ian Timmis, Chief Executive
Officer, The Global Draw and Games Media.
locations as well as complementary gaming venues. In addition, by acquiring Barcrest, Scientific Games will gain access to new video lottery customers in Italy and the Czech Republic. The acquisition will provide an existing base of business in interactive gaming, where Barcrest content is available through Internet, mobile and other digital delivery channels. Based on preliminary results for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2010, Barcrest had operating income and depreciation expense of approximately £5.7m and £4.2m, respectively, on revenue of approximately £45m.
Spain establishes online gaming legal framework
The Spanish Congress has endorsed the country’s new Gambling Law that establishes a regulatory environment through all remote and interactive channels. The new law establishes the regulation of gambling activities in Spain for the first time since it was decriminalised in 1977 and allows the development of online gambling with the exception of games developed by and subject to exclusivity, such as those performed by the National Lottery (LAE).
The process has been fast- tracked by the need for the Spanish Government to open a privatisation process of the national public lottery (LAE) which is expected to IPO and offer 30 per cent stock this summer. The government
aims to obtain revenues in the region of €6bn.
It has yet to be seen how offshore companies will comply with the new law as a large number of online gaming operators have been doing business in Spain for many years will now have to settle and pay the relevant taxes for the five-year period prior to the new law. The taxation for online gambling, (set at 25 per cent of GGR/GPT), will also be a hurdle to profitability in a very competitive market with the majority of large operators having already built a considerable player database (estimated to be more than 400, 000 players) after years of tax-free advertising and sponsorship.
G3 I JUNE 2011 I PAGE 24
Fresh off the record-breaking success of its 10th North American Roundtable, GLI University, the educational division of Gaming Laboratories International, presented the 2011 European Regulators Roundtable, 17-19 May at the Radisson Blu Béke Hotel in Budapest. The event is normally held in GLI Europe’s lab in Hillegom, The Netherlands, and was moved to Budapest to better accommodate regulators. “We have had tremendous success with our past Roundtables in Hillegom, and this year we chose to move to Budapest to make the event even more accessible to more regulators throughout Europe,” said GLI Europe Managing Director Phillip Barow.
Quixant has become a member VESA (Video Electronics Standards Association). VESA has been at the forefront of creating important standards in the field of displays for many years. More recently VESA has created the DisplayPort standard, which is set to replace DVI as the interface standard of choice for the future. It is without question the most powerful and flexible display interface standard ever produced. Quixant recognises the importance of such key interface standards and its membership of VESA ensures it is able to deliver products that leverage the benefits of DisplayPort in upcoming products.
The Hippodrome Casino Affiliate Program has officially launched and is offering affiliates an immediate deal of up to 40 per cent revenue share upon sign up. Hosted on the Boss Network platform, the Hippodrome Casino’s online casino and poker offering will also provide affiliates with exclusive content and player offers that won’t be found at any other online casino. This includes hosting the biggest online tournament finals that will actually take place at the soon to launch land-based Hippodrome Casino in Leicester Square.
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