Novomatic set to Acquire Ainsworth EMEA
BOTSWANA – New gaming legislation kicks into effect in Botswana at the start of April meaning the nation’s 10 land-based casinos will be governed by a new regulatory body, the Botswana Gambling Authority, led by CEO Thuli Johnson.
The Authority will oversee the development of a central monitoring system, linking all gambling machines although operators must also install their own monitoring systems.
The new laws will better regulate all land-based and virtual, online and mobile betting in Botswana, including casinos, bookmakers, bingo, lotteries and racing. Casino operators will be subjected to a P250, 000 licence fee while sports betting operators will have to pay P50, 000 with bingo and lottery groups paying P10, 000 and P1m respectively.
UK–Heber, one of the leading independent suppliers of gaming controllers, has announced a new partnership with Betdigital to offer game manufacturers Betdigital’s new GRID Game Rapid Development System. Betdigital is a renowned creator of content and systems for online, mobile, interactive TV and land-based gaming platforms.
Les Ashton-Smith, Heber’s Managing Director said, “ We are delighted to be working with Betdigital and will be offering their new game engine with our PC- based platforms such as the Pluto A400 system based on AMD’s latest processor – the AMD Embedded R-Series SOC processor. The Game Rapid Development System will enable developers to quickly and efficiently develop slot machine games on Heber platforms.”
SOUTH AFRICA – Investing locally in South Africa has yielded strong results for JCM Global, where its bill validator solutions are make big gains in both the gaming and vending industries across the country.
The investment in South Africa began with JCM hiring local representatives and signing new distribution agreements with GPT (Global Payment Technologies). Now, JCM has re-emerged as a leading manufacturer of reliable and top-performing bank note acceptor technologies.
In the gaming industry, JCM’s iVIZION has been selected for use in casino and in limited payout machine (LPM) environments. Peermont Global, Sun International, and Tsogo Sun are all now using JCM’s iVIZION at their properties, as is the country’s largest LPM operator, Vukani Gaming (VSLots). Installations of iVIZION began October 2014 and marked the first time the validator was in use in South Africa.
“We are very pleased with the success our operator partners are having with iVIZION. They are reporting back to us that they are experiencing better acceptance rates with iVIZION than current industry standards,” JCM EMEA General Manager Payam Zadeh (pictured) said. “Better performance is a common theme with operators who use iVIZION, and with a 99 per cent+ acceptance rate, coupled with the industry’s strongest anti-counterfeiting and anti-stringing technology, it is easy to see why.”
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Austrian slot giant Novomatic is buying Len Ainsworth’s majority shareholding in Ainsworth Game Technology, equating to 53 per cent of the slot manufacturer
Ainsworth Game Technology founder, Len Ainsworth, has sold his share of the business to Novomatic for A$473m
AUSTRIA CASINO SUPPLIER
Len Ainsworth, Founder of the company that bears his name, will remain as Chairperson of the company having sold his 53 per cent stake to Novomatic for A$473m. Discussing the deal, Novomatic said it isn’t looking to complete a takeover and stressed that it supports AGT’s strategy to build a larger, diversified and more profitable international technology company. Novomatic plans to provide significant game development and other intellectual property to AGT and work with AGT on a global distribution and marketing strategy after completion.
Mr. Ainsworth commented: “I’m pleased Novomatic, in agreeing to acquire my shareholding, has committed to Ainsworth and our international growth strategy. Novomatic is an impressive and highly respected market leader in our industry. It has a clear commitment to innovation and new product development, which aligns with AGT. With its strength and support, Ainsworth’s future is assured and our potential is increased.”
Professor Graf, Founder of Novomatic, added: “Ainsworth is iconic and we are delighted to become substantial shareholders in the company (if shareholder approval is granted). We support the Board and management’s
strategy and look forward to assisting the Company as it continues to successfully build its international footprint and profile.”
Novomatic has also agreed to maintain AGT’s listing on ASX as well as having its current board and executive management teams stay in place. Novomatic sees the deal as an opportunity to strengthen its market position in Australasia and the USA. Indeed the Americas, now represents 58 per cent or A$34.8m of Ainsworth’s total segment profit.
Novomatic CEO Harald Neumann said: “Trough the planned share acquisition from Len Ainsworth, one of the top players in Australasia and in the USA, we will not only increase our market share in those continents, but will be consistently continuing our international growth strategy. Te synergy transfer of know- how, contents, high-tech gaming equipment will allow us to further increase our potential in the worldwide gaming market.”
Mr Ainsworth, a 92-year-old gaming veteran and philanthropist, has already given away over A$30m to medical research, including a donation to the redevelopment of Sydney’s St Vincent’s Private Hospital.
Gauselmann Group acquires 40 per cent in Spielbank Berlin
Germany
A year after opening its first casino in Germany in Saxony- Anhalt, theGauselmannGroup has acquired a 40 per cent share of Gustav-Jaenecke & Co, the owner of Spielbank Berlin.
Spielbank Berlin has five gaming locations spread around Germany’s capital city. Te most famous location is the Spielbank Berlin at Potsdamer Platz. Both major shareholders, Gauselmann and Novomatic – state their wish to jointly ensure the long-standing
success of Spielbank Berlin – which today is the casino with the highest revenue in Germany. Te investment by the Gauselmann Group will enable Spielbank Berlin to further strengthen its position to develop to become a premium casino within Europe.
“We are pleased that we have gained another strong partner in the Gauselmann Group which just like Novomatic plays a decisive role in the international casino industry,” commented Günter Münstermann, Managing Director of Spielbank Berlin. Spielbank Berlin celebrated its 40th anniversary in October 2015. Gustav-Jaenecke & Co. is looking to re-secure its casino concession in Berlin. “We are confident that we can convince the state of Berlin that we will in future remain the best partner for casino entertainment in Berlin”, concluded Mr. Münstermann.
Spain
Spanish operator EGASA is hopeful that it will be granted permission in April to remodel the Gran Casino Bilbao, making it one of the best casinos in Northern Spain. Over a period of six months, EGASA wants to completely revamp the casino’s interior design, add an extension that will allow two of its floors to be better connected and add a restaurant. Te operator bought the venue in September 2014. Since then it has improved attendance at the casino by 20 per cent. EGASA President Jose Gonzalez Fuentes said: “Tere has been an improvement although we understand that the vast improvement will come when we remodel. Te project is not yet approved by the various administrations and, therefore, is not definitive. Although the time span may vary, we are not expecting to have to close the casino to carry out renovations.”
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