News INTERNATIONAL UPDATE Pinnacle acquires Ameristar
Pinnacle Entertainment is set to purchase its US rival, Ameristar Casinos in a US$869m deal
Las Vegas-based regional operator Pinnacle Entertainment is starting 2013 on a high with a deal signed to buy rival Las Vegas operator Ameristar Casinos for US$869m. The deal, which is expected to be completed in mid-2013, will need approval in nine states and doubles the size of Pinnacle’s portfolio, taking its total to 17 gaming floors with another under construction. Once completed Pinnacle would boast over 5,000 hotel rooms, 23,500 slots, and 640 table games.
The acquisition of Ameristar's properties will complement Pinnacle's existing portfolio by adding eight casino-resorts in some of the nation's best gaming markets, including: St. Charles, Kansas City, Council Bluffs, Black Hawk, Vicksburg, East Chicago and Jackpot in Nevada.
Zitro ramps up its
global expansion Bingo specialist Zitro is continuing to expand internationally with two new openings in the Principality of Andorra, a landlocked, micro-state, bordered by France and Spain. Bingo Cristall, which is located in Escaldes-Engordany, and Bingo Stars, located in Andorra la Vella, both now have Bluewave machines which incorporate the company’s The Originals games category. The games chosen are PowerManiaBonus, Fishmania and El Ultimo Bingo in Paris. Johnny Ortiz, President of the company, said: “We are very satisfied with the introduction of Zitro in Andorra. Taking into account the warm welcome our games are receiving in both bingo rooms, there is a chance that we may increase the numbers in the short run.” Zitro has obtained the necessary permits for installing this type of machines in the only two bingo establishments in the Principality. Mr. Ortiz added that this was yet another step in the far-reaching international expansion project set by the company. Along with Andorra, Zitro is already present in Spain, Luxembourg, Italy, Colombia, Argentina, Mexico and the US. It recently reinforced its international sales team by appointing James Boje as International General Manager.
February 2013 PAGE 28 ANTHONY SANFILIPPO,
President and Chief Executive Officer, Pinnacle
Entertainment.
“The acquisition of Ameristar is a
transformative transaction for
Pinnacle that will provide us the scale and
diversification to more effectively compete. The coupling of
Pinnacle and Ameristar
properties will create a terrific
portfolio of quality assets”
Anthony Sanfilippo, President and Chief Executive Officer of Pinnacle Entertainment said of the deal: “The acquisition of Ameristar is a transformative transaction for Pinnacle that will provide us the scale and diversification to more effectively compete. The coupling of Pinnacle and Ameristar properties will create a terrific portfolio of quality assets to serve our combined guests. Over recent years, we have made tremendous progress at Pinnacle in providing a higher level of service to our guests and improving our financial performance. We are thrilled about the opportunities that will be created by combining the two companies. Both companies have developed cultures where team members are focused on providing a high quality experience to their guests and delivering outstanding financial outcomes for their shareholders. Our operating philosophy and cultures are perfectly aligned.”
Gordon Kanofsky, Chief Executive Officer of Ameristar Casinos added: “We’re excited to have reached this agreement with Pinnacle as this transaction maximizes value for our shareholders and provides them with a significant and immediate premium. We are focused on ensuring a smooth transition and look forward to working with Pinnacle.”
Additional Macau tables relieves a little pressure
Existing operators in Macau will be buoyed by the news that some resort gaming floors already in operation will receive permission to increase the number of tables that they offer this year.
Whether they are allowed more baccarat tables will come down to the amount their resort has invested in non- gaming facilities.
The Secretary for Economy and Finance Francis Tam Pak Yuen said the government will examine requests for more baccarat tables based on the ratio between the gaming and non-gaming investment made, and on the number of tables already installed in a venue.
Mr. Tam highlighted that this
wouldn’t lead to a free for all with live gaming tables and that the government hadn’t finalised yet what numbers to give to each of the new projects approved for Cotai. Sands China’s COO David Sisk said he expects to get 200 additional tables at Sands Cotai Central casino resort within the first three months of the year. In 2011, the government would cap table growth to at three per cent each year starting in 2013. The aim now is that the table sector will grow by 2,000 tables over the next 10 years.
At the of its last audit in September 2012, Macau had 5,497 live gaming tables, only a few shy of the 5,500 maximum set by Government for the 2010 to2012 period.
BETDIGITAL, THE GAME DESIGN AND integration specialist, has signed a landmark deal to supply high-street LBO and bingo games to OpenBet, one of the world’s leading providers of interactive betting and gaming solutions. The first game, Super Pots Bar X is being sponsored by Ladbrokes and BetDigital will also integrate Caesars Palace, one of Ladbrokes strongest ever B3 games, onto OpenBet’s online and mobile channels too.
“In essence, we will be aiming to launch games into the retail area simultaneously to online and mobile,” says BetDigital’s CEO Heath Samples. “This will give the customer a seamless gaming experience wherever they play our games.”
BetDigital is an expert on gaming platforms used in the different UK gaming sectors, including LBO, bingo and arcade. The company has created a solution called System X, which can translate any game into the format required for these platforms. In addition, BetDigital offers invaluable advice to developers on which sectors of the UK market their games would be suitable for. “We spent two years becoming fully conversant with the minutiae of the different platforms being used in the different UK sectors, including LBO, bingo and arcade,” said Mr. Samples. “We created System X to translate any game into the format required for these platforms. In addition, we offer advice to developers on which sectors of the UK market their games would be suitable.”
JCM GLOBAL HAS appointed Eduardo Rozen to direct its sales efforts throughout the Latin American region. As Sales Manager of Latin America, Mr. Rozen
is responsible for the sales, distribution and execution of planned sales programs and general business initiatives across Latin America and the Caribbean.
In addition to sales efforts, Mr. Rozen will be a key figure in managing a sales lifecycle and recommending product direction and action, including product pricing and market research. JCM Vice President of Global Sales Mark Henderson said: “We’re thrilled to welcome Eduardo to the JCM Global sales team. His wealth of experience in the region, his varied background, and his exceptional sales and service skills will be tremendous assets to JCM and to our customers across Latin America and the Caribbean.”
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