Focus SHFL ENTERTAINMENT
As the overwhelming game of choice in Macau, baccarat has become a keen focus for developers of multi-player terminals due to legislation capping live tables as well as labour shortages due to so many casinos opening in such a short space of time.
Sands China, the Macau-based operating arm of Las Vegas Sands, originally opted to install SHFL product when it opened a multi-player dedicated part of its gaming floor called Imperial Stadium at its Venetian Macao and Sands Macao casinos. It subsequently replaced SHFL product with that from LT Game.
The litigation regarding the Macau Rapid Baccarat Patent Issue is long and convoluted but has led to the scheduling of a trial hearing. SHFL’s spokesperson said: “SHFL Asia will have the opportunity to present the legal and factual arguments as to why any accusation of patent infringement should be found totally without merit. We believe that we have meritorious defences and are vigorously defending this matter.”
“After initially agreeing with Macau customs officials’ request to cover our Rapid Table Games Multi Game product, we received court approval to post a bond of approximately $0.1m to enable our subsidiary SHFL Asia to display the Rapid Table GamesMulti Game product at the G2E Asia Gaming Show,” it explained. “In November 2012, a higher court in Macau agreed to hear our appeal of the injunction, giving us the opportunity, for the first time, to contradict the facts and the arguments proffered by the Natural Noble Plaintiffs in support of the injunction, and to attempt to recover the bond of approximately $0.1m and prove the lack of merit of the injunction. We have submitted our defences and counterclaims in this matter and are vigorously defending this matter.”
A complaint has also been filed against SHFL entertainment in the United States District Court for the District of Nevada alleging ‘unfair competition and tortious interference with current and prospective business and contractual relations’ as a result of SHFL’s alleged ‘disparagement and misrepresentations regarding LT Game International’s business, products and services.’
The complaint seeks injunctive relief and an unspecified amount of damages, including claims for costs. SHFL’s spokesperson stated: “We believe that this complaint is without merit and we are vigorously defending this matter.”
In October SHFL Asia countersued with a lawsuit in a Macau court against the LT
A complaint has also been filed against SHFL
entertainment in the United States
District Court for the District of Nevada alleging ‘unfair competition and
tortious interference with current and prospective
business and contractual
relations’ as a
result of SHFL’s alleged
‘disparagement and
misrepresentations regarding LT Game International’s
business, products and services.’
The complaint
seeks injunctive relief and an
unspecified amount of damages,
including claims for costs. SHFL’s spokesperson
stated: “We believe that this complaint
is without merit and we are vigorously defending this matter.”
Game alleging that its claims of holding a monopoly have been ‘to the detriment of SHFL Asia’s business’ and have gone ‘beyond the legal scope of patent protection in Macau.’
The lawsuit alleges that the LT patents are not novel and so shouldn’t restrict SHFL Asia and other companies from selling or using multi-game terminal betting products in Macau.
Whilst some multi-player manufacturers are still weighing up their options with regards to exhibiting at G2e Asia, SHFL’s spokesperson stated: “It is our intention to exhibit our products at G2E Asia, yes.”
Even away from the multi-player issue, the market is still providing huge opportunities for SHFL.
WHILST SOME MULTI-PLAYER
MANUFACTURERS ARE STILL
WEIGHING UP THEIR OPTIONS
WITH REGARDS TO EXHIBITING AT G2E ASIA, SHFL’S INTENTION IS TO EXHIBIT ITS
PRODUCTS AT G2E ASIA.
The spokesperson said: “We’re very pleased with its success, and the consistent feedback we've received from operators in Macau is that DFDC is one of the strongest slot performers on their floors. In Asia, Duo Fu Duo Cai is a progressive link jackpot game with 88 Fortunes and 5 Treasures as the base games. There are approximately 160 currently installed in Macau at City of Dreams, Galaxy, Wynn, MGM, Mocha slot halls, Sands and the Venetian. Further expansion in Asia includes the Philippines.”
Analysts at Union Gaming recently tipped SHFL for big things in Asian markets with the product saying it ‘has an opportunity to gain market share in the Asian slot machine market.’ It highlighted SHFL’s slot game Duo Fu Duo Cai – Fu saying it was ‘performing well above house average in Macau’ with strong time on device. Union believes a combination of expansion and replacement will see 23,600 new slot machines sold into Asia over the next four years.
April 2013 PAGE 31
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68