Universal Sues Aruze for Over Licence Fees ASIA & OCEANIA
Universal Entertainment is suing Aruze Gaming America for US$890,684 for its failure to pay licensing fees for its technology
Te two companies are linked by Universal’s founder and former Chairman Kazuo Okada, who owns Aruze Gaming America privately
JAPAN SUPPLIER NEWS
-SINGAPORE –Singapore’s government last year seized five times the amount of assets from foreign criminal proceedings compared with 2015, stemming from increased surveillance, regulatory action and international cooperation with foreign law enforcement.
The Commercial Affairs Department (CAD) confiscated $164.5 million, up from $33.6 million the previous year, while joint investigations into money laundering offences rose from five to 13 cases in the same period, according to its latest annual report.
The monies were seized from foreign predicate offences, which are crimes that took place overseas but where funds were passed through Singapore, and include crimes such as money laundering and financing of terrorists or terrorist groups.
Last year, more than one-third of suspicious transaction reports came from the banking sector, with 14,273 reports. The sector continued to account for the main source of reports received, but other sectors also saw an increase. Money changers and remittance agents submitted 6,413 reports, and casinos made 6,032 reports.
RUSSIA –Maxim Smolentsev, president of the Shambala Casino in Russia’s doomed Azov-City casino zone, has written an open letter to President Vladimir Putin, begging him to reconsider the decision to “liquidate” the area’s casino sector. The government in Moscow has told Azov-City’s three casinos that they must close by Jan. 1, 2019, to make way for the establishment of a new gambling zone in nearby Sochi.
“Eight years ago, we, the Azov-City investors, were persuaded to believe in the very idea of gambling zones. We were promised all possible assistance and even guaranteed the gambling zones would be left untouched for 50 years. In fact, we were deceived,” says Mr. Smolentsev in the letter.
CRIMEA – Responsible for spurring economic development, Crimean Minister of Economic Development Andrei Melnikov has revealed that he has filed all the appropriate paperwork with the federal government and received approval from President Vladimir Putin to build casinos. Crimea officials will soon start accepting bids from a qualified gaming operators, as well as authorise the development of hotels and various attractions that will assist in creating a casino-centered tourist destination. The gambling zone is expected to be designated for Yalta, already a popular resort city. But before construction begins, Mr. Melnikov says a bridge that covers the Kerch Strait needs to be completed. That project is scheduled to finish in December of 2018.
P30 NEWSWIRE / INTERACTIVE /
247.COM
Universal Entertainment is suing Aruze Gaming America for US$890,684 for its failure to pay licensing fees for its technology.
Te two companies are linked by Universal’s founder and former Chairman Kazuo Okada, who owns Aruze Gaming America privately.
In a Jasdaq filing, Universal said: “Aruze Gaming America has continued to violate an agreement that it has executed with the company to pay it patent licensing fees for company-held patents by not paying said fees whatsoever. Although the company has continued to issue citations to AGA, due to the latter showing no indications that it will comply with those citations, the Company has brought a legal action.”
“In addition to the aforementioned violation of the agreement, according to an investigation that it performed, the company has verified that AGA has continued to use Company-held
City of Dreams counts down to Morpheus opening
China
Macau resort casino City of Dreams has marked the countdown to its much- anticipated launch of Phase 3 and the opening of the new Morpheus hotel concept in style by commissioning artist Maarten Baas to create a striking art piece at Te Countdown Hotel.
Te “Count:Down Clock” is the first real-time clock that Baas has created in Asia and also his first ever installation in Macau, and will count down the hours and minutes until the launch in 2018.
To make the clock, Baas and his highly accomplished production team filmed six actors in real time as they carefully paint and then wipe away the numbers denoting all the hours and minutes in the day on a hazy etched glass face. Every number is therefore unique, with the filming alone taking 10 days.
patents without permission, and that there is an extremely high possibility that it is manufacturing and selling products using those patents,” it added.
“Te company will proceed to examine legal action against this act by AGA of using Company-held patents without permission, including demanding an injunction to stop said manufacture and sales activities by AGA.”
Te filing to Jasdaq clarified that Aruze Gaming America had “no capital relationship” with Universal Entertainment as the former’s shares were “wholly owned by Kazuo Okada although there are business relationships such as purchase of slot machines."
Universal has completed an investigation into Mr. Okada’s business dealings and found him guilty of ‘three acts of fraudulence’ resulting in him being axed as Chairman.
Te art piece is the latest edition in Baas’ acclaimed “Real Time” series, a collection of 12-hour films in which actors indicate the time minute by minute. For the Count:Down Clock, Baas has dressed the actors in black tie to create a more stylish aesthetic. “I wanted it to look more luxurious, as if they’re giving you a personal VIP service,” explained Baas. “Tey are the ones who you can rely on.”
Mr. Gabriel Hunterton, Property President of City of Dreams, said: “Te forthcoming launch of City of Dreams Phase 3 and the opening of Morpheus mark the beginning of a bold new era for Macau, and so it is only fitting that we celebrate the countdown in groundbreaking and eye-catching style. Maarten Baas is one of the most exciting and original design talents in the world today and we are delighted to work with him on this innovative project. I hope that our guests will enjoy this creative spectacle over the coming months and join with us in counting down to our eagerly anticipated launch of Phase 3 in 2018.”
Australia
Specialist slots supplier Lightning Box has signed an agreement to distribute its popular games on Microgaming’s Quickfire platform. Te three-year deal will give online casinos using the platform access to the Sydney- based studio’s portfolio of titles. Te first game, Silver Lioness 4x, will go live on the network in February next year, with other new titles to follow soon afterwards. Peter Causley, CEO of Lightning Box, said: “We’re very pleased to have signed a deal for Quickfire because it’s great to have another route to get even more of our unique Aussie content into the market. “Te Quickfire platform is a very strong distribution channel, with over 200 operators integrated, and will open up a host of new opportunities for us with new customers in markets around the world.” Andrew Clucas, Director of Quickfire at Microgaming, said: “Lightning Box is a fantastic addition to our development partner portfolio; their games are enjoyed by land-based, social and online players around the world. It is great to have them on board.”
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