News INTERNATIONAL UPDATE Aristocrat milestone in Spain
Aristocrat builds on its street market success in the Spanish market with new Type B games
Aristocrat Technologies has passed another significant milestone in the development of its games portfolio for the Spanish Type B street market with the release of Desert Magic, Aristocrat’s first title for Spain’s substantial bar market.
The launch of Desert Magic coincides with the release of another new game for the specialised salon sector, Where’s The Gold. Desert Magic offers full twin-screen video gaming in a new, sleek cabinet with a number of trail-triggered bonus games, stretched wilds, a magic wheel gamble feature that offers the chance to multiply wins and an interactive jackpot bonus.
“This game is absolutely packed with entertainment-rich features. It has an innovative dynamic wager-based pay table and there are four different ways to hit the jackpot,” said Christian Colus, Aristocrat’s Head of Sales - Southern Europe. “Whilst retaining strong characteristics of Spain’s existing bar gaming style, Desert Magic is designed to give players a more engaging experience, with layers of additional gaming fun.”
Gamesys to buy
Virgin Games Gamesys Group has agreed to buy online operator Virgin Games and form a long term partnership to develop real money and social gambling propositions globally under the Virgin brand. Gamesys Group was founded back in 2001 by Noel Hayden, Robin Tombs and Andy Dixon and now employs more than 700 people. Virgin Games, which was founded in 2004, has grown consistently since launch and regularly won awards for its customer service and advertising. Richard Branson, founder of Virgin Group said: “We are delighted the Gamesys Group has acquired Virgin Games and formed a partnership to build a global games business. Simon Burridge and his team built a strong platform and now with the help of the Gamesys Group we can expand further internationally. We believe the Gamesys Group shares our vision and will be great partners in the sector.”
DONAL MAGUIRE, Sales and
Marketing Director Europe. Newly appointed, Mr.
Maguire has been employed by
Aristocrat since 2003, gaining
experience in a wide number of
roles, most recently having served as
Sales & Operations Director, running
the company’s New Zealand office for the past three years.
Where’s The Gold is derived from Aristocrat’s proven performer that has already enjoyed much success on casino and club gaming floors around the world. Themed on the popular concept of prospecting for gold, the game has the ability to transform multiple symbols into golden wilds, adding a gold rush fever feel to the free games feature.
“This is Aristocrat’s seventh release in a portfolio of games that continues to enhance the floors of Spanish gaming salons,” said Mr. Colus. “The overall performance of these salon games remains impressive, so the availability of yet another game based on an Aristocrat classic will be a welcome addition to operators’ estates.”
“Whilst the Spanish street sector may be different to many of the 90 countries in which we operate, it is impressive to see proven casino and club games adapted to meet its style and continue to perform so well. This is very rewarding for the investment we continue to make there,” concluded Aristocrat’s Donal Maguire.
GGR falls across every Portuguese gaming floor
A clean sweep saw each of Portugal’s 11 casinos experience a decline in revenue in 2012 with total Gross Gaming Revenues of €289.6m representing another steep fall of 11.09 per cent on 2011’s already worrying figures. Over the past four years the sector has seen more than €100m wiped from total revenue as a result of the downturn and competition from online gambling.
The two top earning casinos are located closest to the Portuguese capital with the Estoril Sol-operated gaming floor in Lisbon generating €80.2m, down 8.9 per cent from 2011 whilst the same operator’s property in Estoril saw GGR fall by 11.2 per cent to €63.3m. The casino Póvoa de Varzim, owned by the same group, posted revenues of €40.7m down 13.2 per cent.
The casinos on the Algarve owned by Solverde were the
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worst hit in the country with Vilamoura, Praia da Rocha and Monte Gordo generating 16.4 per cent less than in 2011 with a combined GGR of just €27.5m. Casino Chaves, also owned by the same operator, fell by 14.4 per cent with GGR of €7.2m. Solverde fared better in Espinho where its gaming floor surpassed the combined total at its other four properties. Earning €41.4m, representing a drop of 7.9 per cent on 2011’s figures, Espinho withstood the downturn better than any other casino in the country.
The Pestana Group saw its Casino da Madeira finish 2012 with revenues of €9.2m, down 10.6 per cent. Casino Figueira da Foz, owned by Amorim Turismo Group, posted revenues of €16.5m, down 11.4 per cent whilst the country’s newest casino Troia, also owned by Amorim, saw a drop in GGR of 13.3 generating just €3.2m.
LE GROUPE LATIN GAMING BASÉ AU Panama vient de donner son accord pour verser 31 millions de dollars US à Casinos Austria International dans le cadre du rachat du Gran Casino de Los Angeles dans la province de Bio-Bio, au sud du Chili. Après avoir renoncé à la propriété de la licence inexploitée à Ovalle en avril dernier, cette dernière ini- tiative marque le retrait complet de Casinos Austria International au Chili. Latin Gaming deviendra ainsi le troisième plus grand acteur de l'industrie du casino au Chili après Enjoy et Dream.
LE SPÉCIALISTE DU BINGO ZITRO continue à s'étendre à l’international avec deux nouvelles ouvertures dans la Principauté d’Andorre, un micro-état enclavé entre la France et l’Espagne. Bingo Cristall, situé à Escaldes- Engordany, et Bingo Stars, situé à Andorre-la-Vieille, disposent dorénavant tous les deux de machines Bluewave qui incluent des jeux faisant partie de la catégorie The Originals. PowerManiaBonus, Fishmania et El Ultimo Bingo in Paris comptent parmi les jeux choisis.
L’AUTORITÉ DANOISE DE RÉGULATION des jeux vient de concéder des licences en ligne d’un an à plusieurs sociétés de jeux locales et étrangères et d’étendre simultanément à cinq ans les licences de la plupart des opérateurs déjà en activité. L’autorité danoise de régulation des jeux a émis 38 licences d’exploitation et accordé 200 noms de domaine pour héberger des jeux en ligne au Danemark.
UNE OPÉRATION DE CONTRÔLE A VU chacun des 11 casinos du Portugal subir une chute de revenus en 2012 avec des revenus totaux bruts issus des jeux de 289,6 millions d'euros, ce qui représente une diminution de 11,09 % par rapport aux chiffres déjà alarmants de 2011. Au cours des quatre années passées, le secteur a vu chuter son chiffres d’affaires total de plus de 100 millions d’euros suite au ralentissement économique et à la concurrence des jeux en ligne.
AC COIN & SLOT, LE PLUS IMPORTANT concepteur de machines de jeux de la Côte Est des États-Unis, doit cesser ses activités. Cette entreprise familiale vient d’informer ses employés de sa décision via une note de service. Dans ce mes- sage, Thomas McCormick, Vice-président de l'entreprise, déclare : « Du fait de notre situation financière actuelle, Atlantic City Coin & Slot Service envisage de mettre fin à ses activités ».
LA SOCIÉTÉ MALAISIENNE HO WAH Genting cède actuellement ses 60 % de parts de capital du Wah Genting Poipet Casino Resorts situé au Cambodge à Pioneer Hectares pour 1 million de ring- gits malaisiens, c'est-à-dire environ 30 centimes de dollars. Le HWG Poipet Casino a cessé ses opérations en 2006 et est resté en sommeil depuis lors.
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