Goods & Services

PLAYTECH POSTPONES VOTE ON ARISTOCRAT TAKEOVER

U.K.-based iGaming software supplier Playtech PLC has postponed its planned shareholder vote on the proposed US$2.9 billion takeover bid by Australian slot supplier Aristocrat Leisure Limited.

The vote, slated for January 12, has been delayed three weeks to February 2, as a rival takeover bid is expected from JKO Play Ltd., a consortium led by former Formula 1 team owner Eddie Jordan and former Scientific Games executive Keith O’Loughlin. The U.K. Takeover Panel gave JKO a January 26 deadline to make its own bid.

Aristocrat’s bid, made in October, offers 680 pence per share, a 58 percent premium over Playtech’s share price at the time of 429 pence per share. In November, JKO revealed that it was attempting to acquire funding from a New York private equity fund to finance its bid.

In a filing, Aristocrat claimed its bid “remains the only firm offer that has been made for Playtech.

“The recommended acquisition provides attractive value in cash and enhanced regulatory and financial certainty for Playtech shareholders,” the company said.

Aristocrat further notes that any other potential bidders have already had a substantial amount of time to make an alternative proposal for Playtech. The decision to further delay the relevant shareholder meetings extends the period of uncertainty for all Playtech stakeholders.

“Aristocrat is pleased to note the recent recommendations to Playtech shareholders from proxy advisers to vote in favor of all the resolutions to implement the recommended acquisition. Aristocrat further confirms that the regulatory approvals process remains well on track, and it is committed to completing the acquisition as quickly as possible.”

Aristocrat recently raised AU$1.3 billion (US$965 million) towards its proposed acquisition of Playtech.

ICE SETS NEW APRIL DATES

ICE London has been rescheduled for April 12-14 at the ExCeL Centre. Last month, Clarion Gaming, the organizer of ICE, announced that the show would be moved from its original schedule of February 1-3 because of concerns about the uptick of positive Covid-19 cases around the world. In addition to moving ICE London, Clarion also said the iGB Affiliate London will be held April 13 and 14, and ICE VOX, which includes the World Regulatory Briefing and the International Casino Conference, will be held April 11-12.

“What for many buyers and brands is becoming the most influential week in world gaming succeeds in bringing together upwards of 700 exhibitors to the ExCeL Exhibition Centre, and I would like to pay tribute to the ExCeL senior management team which has worked tirelessly alongside us over the Christmas break in order to accommodate events of this magnitude and help us to deliver the best possible solution to our stakeholders,” said Stuart Hunter, managing director, Clarion Gaming.

“During all of our intensive discussions we have been resolute in our commitment to avoid a clash with the Indian Gaming Tradeshow & Convention (April 19 -22) in Anaheim, California, and have been in close contact with colleagues at the National Indian Gaming Association who in turn have been extremely sensitive to the circumstances caused by the omicron variant. Again, I would like to put on the record my thanks for their understanding and support. We will continue to work through any remaining challenges with all of our clients and stakeholders and support them with their preparations and planning for what is the world’s biggest and most influential gaming industry gathering.”

Last month, Clarion announced a long-term agreement with NIGA to produce the trade show.

AGS ACQUIRES LUCKY LUCKY JACKPOT SIDE BET

On January 6, AGS announced that it has acquired the player favorite Lucky Lucky Jackpot blackjack side bet from Aces Up Gaming. The asset enhances AGS’ content portfolio and provides opportunity for further growth of its industry-leading progressives.

“With more than 1,000 units across the country, Lucky Lucky is an established and high-performing side bet that supercharges the base game of blackjack for a one-of-a-kind player experience,” said John Hemberger, senior vice president of table products at AGS. “Popular in both e-tables and online gaming formats, Lucky Lucky’s appeal extends beyond the traditional brick-and-mortar live table game environment, making it a natural next step to introduce with a progressive.

“We believe Lucky Lucky will further cement our position as the leading provider of blackjack progressive content in the industry.”

Lucky Lucky totals the player’s cards with the dealer’s up card to trigger pay table outcomes. At the start of each hand, players may place the Lucky Lucky wager in addition to the underlying blackjack wager. Each player receives the first two cards, which are added to the dealer’s up card to create a three-card total; odds are paid if the total is 19 or higher, with the top award paid for suited 7-7-7.

GARY PLATT, GITCHI GAMING REPLACE DIAMOND JO SEATING

Gary Platt Manufacturing and Gitchi Gaming have replaced a competitor’s product with new seating on all slot and table games at Diamond Jo Casino in Dubuque, Iowa—more than 700 chairs total.

For the main slot floor, Diamond Jo chose Gary Platt/Gitchi Gaming’s globally popular Lido Revo model, and for the high-limit area, Diamond Jo chose the patented Monaco model. Roulette and blackjack players are seated on the Lido Revo Mini model.

“Players love our chairs because they’re so comfortable,” said Joshua Corrick, chief commercial officer for Gary Platt. “And our customers love that their customers are very comfortable while they’re sitting in a Gary Platt chair. Our unsurpassed comfort, quality, durability and service are why casinos all over the world choose Gary Platt chairs over other brands.”

Each model was hand-crafted to Diamond Jo’s exact specifications, with design elements that were carefully selected to reflect the casino’s individual brand.

ZITRO EXPANDS IN FRANCE, ARGENTINA

Slot supplier Zitro announced that the Barrière Group has installed the multi-game units Link King and Link Me in the group’s eight casino properties in France.

Link King, which was popular among players at the casinos of Enghien, Deauville, Cap d’Agde, Toulouse and Blotzheim, is now succeeding at the casinos of Lille, Biarritz, and Ribeauvillé. Following the first performance of Link King, the casinos of Toulouse and Blotzheim have also added Zitro’s Link Me as an innovative proposal to their gaming offering.

Each of the multi-game offerings, presented on the cutting-edge Fusion cabinet, includes four game titles with two progressive jackpots, a twolevel bonus and the popular Bonus Link game feature.

In a separate release, the company announced one of its most sizeable additions in the new gaming property of the UTE formed by Casino Fuente Mayor-San Martín and New Star in Argentina.

The 100 cabinets installed incude an extensive library of Zitro’s most emblematic games, such as Link King, Link Me, Link Shock and 5 To Win, installed in the Fusion cabinet, along with 88 Link Wild Duels, 88 Link Lucky Charms and Bashiba, displayed in the Allure and Illusion form factors, respectively.

JCM SIGNS MASTER SUPPLY AGREEMENT WITH CAESARS

JCM Globalhas signed a master supply agreement with Caesars Entertainment, Inc. Under the arrangement, JCM will provide its award-winning bill validation and thermal printing technology to more than 50 Caesars Entertainment destinations in the U.S. and Canada.

Previously, JCM executed master supplier agreements with Eldorado Resorts, Inc. and Caesars Entertainment Corp. separately.

“JCM has been a valued partner of both Caesars Entertainment and Eldorado Resorts for many years,” said Josh Jones, chief marketing officer of Caesars Entertainment. “Now, as a combined group, we are very pleased to continue our strategic relationship with JCM and to enhance our ability to provide our guests with the world-class experiences they expect from Caesars Entertainment.”

JCM will provide its industry-leading iVIZION bill validator, GEN5Thermal Printer, and ICB systems solutions. These technologies utilize the power of JCM’s award-winning FUZION system, which brings new opportunities for revenue, heightened security, increased productivity, and marketing and promotions to the casino floor.

JCM technologies are used in more than 85 percent of Las Vegas properties and more than 90 percent of North American tribal and First Nation properties.

SCIENTIFIC GAMES PULLS SCIPLAY OFFER

Scientific Games has withdrawn its July 15 allstock offer to acquire the remaining 19 percent equity interest in that it does not already own of its social gaming business, SciPlay Corp.

Scientific Games will retain an 81 percent economic interest and 98 percent voting interest in SciPlay, the company said in a statement.

SciPlay said in its statement a special committee of independent directors it had formed to evaluate the bid “rejected Scientific Games’ initial proposal,” which was a quarter share of Scientific Games stock for each share of SciPlay.

The panel then negotiated with Scientific Games for better terms, but the committee and Scientific Games were “unable to reach an agreement,” according to the statement.