IGT RETURNS

IGT Celebrates Return to G2E

Global gaming leader IGT lived up to its “It’s Game Time!” G2E theme this year in Las

The Company’s sprawling boothwelcomed guests with next-generation solutions for land-based casinos and the evergrowing iGaming and sports betting segments, whileCompany representatives were energized by the opportunity to convene in person at an industry event. In addition to debuting new products, IGT won multiple awards, and hosted entertainment icon Vanna White as part of the 25th anniversary celebration of Wheel of Fortune slots.

“G2E 2021 was a highly productive show for IGT,” said Ken Bossingham, IGT SVP Sales. “We utilized G2E as a platform to connect with customers, unveil new products such as the Peak65 and DiamondRS cabinets and content and demonstrate next-generation innovations such as Resort Wallet with IGTPay and the CrystalFlexsolution.”

As G2E attendees entered the exhibit hall, many took a straight path to IGT’s always-exciting G2E booth. In a booth packed with innovations for every casino gamingsegment, there was something of interest for all G2E attendees. Among the many standouts were the Peak65 and DiamondRS

cabinets, the Resort Wallet and IGTPay modules of the IGT ADVANTAGE casino management system and the awardwinning CrystalFlexsports and gaming solution.

Making its global trade show debut, the Peak65 cabinet was a must-see attraction in IGT’s booth. With a 65-inch, progressively curved display, dual bash buttons and advanced lighting, sound and ergonomics, the colossal cabinet was a highlight of IGT’s G2E showcase. The Company demonstrated new Wheel of Fortune, Megabucks, The Price is Right and Gong Xi Fa Cai games on the super-sized hardware. IGT’s DiamondRS was an equally impressive component of the Company’s G2E portfolio. The new mechanical reel cabinet is backed by IGT’s leading pedigree in mechanical reel slot content and melds many player-preferred classic stepper elements with future-forward technologies such as IGT Diamond Glass that allows for dynamic content and multi-game options. IGT’s Double Top Dollar, Fortune Coin Extra and Pinball were among the first games showcased on this stunning hardware.

In the PlaySports area of IGT’s booth, crowds gathered to experience the CrystalFlex – IGT’s CrystalBetting Terminal with multi-game content. The unique product won “Best Consumer-Service Technology” in the Global Gaming Business Gaming & Technology awards. The private carroldelivers the ultimate VIP betting and gaming experience and gives players a comfortable space to place pre-game and in-game sports wagers, watch multiple live sporting events simultaneously, and enjoy the legendary Game King X® content bundle, which includes player-preferred slots, keno and video poker games... For added player enjoyment, the solution is equipped with a headphone jack and mobile device charging port. There was also much buzz in this section of the booth related to sports betting industry veteran Joe Asher joining IGT as President of Sports Betting.

Perhaps the most star-studded moment in IGT’s G2E booth was when Wheel of Fortune hostess and entertainment icon, Vanna White, hosted a celebrity slot tournament that included a $15,000 prize pool. The tournament was held on IGT’s all-new Wheel of Fortune Spin & Win slot tournament solution as part of theongoing celebration of the 25th anniversary of Wheel of Fortune slots.

“There was significant excitement and activity in IGT’s booth throughout the three-day event,” noted Bossingham. “We received positive feedback from our customers about our entire portfolio and we’re highly motivated to get IGT’s latest growth-driving products onto their gaming floors.”

Interview with Chu Yook Liew

Creative Director & Design Studio Manager at Greentube

“An event that made me feel like I was at the Oscars, we were strangers in a room, yet united with cheers of support from one table to the next. “

Ali many thanks for speaking to the Infinity Gaming Magazine, you are the Chief Marketing Officer at Videoslots how long have you been with the company and what is it like working for Videoslots?

Been working with Videoslots for 5 years now, It’s a great place to work with lots of like-minded people. There’s always good team spirit. Although number of employees grow by the day, I believe we still maintain that ‘’Family’’ feeling in the company which is great to

Chu many thanks for talking to us and firstly can we start by saying congratulations on receiving the Industry Pride of the Year at the recent Women in Gaming Diversity Awards (WIGD), were you expecting the award?

Thanks so much for the pleasure of being considered and the privilege of winning! As a nominee in the Positive Role Model of the Year category, I was hoping to win an award at the event. However, I certainly didn’t expect to even be considered for Industry Pride of the Year. It’s a great honour.

You received so many endorsements from colleagues regarding your support and encouragement for them, is that something you have always tried to do?

It warms my heart hearing about the positive endorsements from my dear colleagues! Support and encouragement is something that is subconscious

Chu Yook Liew at the WIGD Awards

and comes naturally to me. It’s so important to grow and develop in life, no matter what industry or role we are in.

You came from a very challenging background, can you tell our readers a little of your early life?

I think every individual has a story of challenge to tell that is unique to them. As an Asian female who was born in Malaysia, the quiet expectation was to choose a field that offered job security. Art and design were definitely frowned upon and I grew up thinking creative and personal expression were an act of rebellion. The saying ‘out of sight, out of mind’ comes to mind, especially for an introvert such as myself. My family migrated to Australia for a better life and adjusting to a society that encouraged and valued personal opinion was a challenge for me.

Your skill is in graphic design and prior to Greentube you worked for many different design companies, but your love when a child was Disney, did that inspire you to take up graphic design?

I think it would be fair to say that graphic design was a second choice when I realised that working at Disney was not going to be a reality! It is important to find satisfaction in life. When you are able to do something you love and thrive at, for a living every day, you are in a very fortunate position.

Would working for Disney have been your dream job?

It would definitely still be a dream job! The movement and the tricking of the eye that is animation still feels magical to me. The beauty that can be created from something so simple as a sequence of images is profound.

Now at Greentube for more than 6 years, you must like it there, what is it like working for the company?

As clichéd as it sounds, it’s like working with family and friends. While part of a large, multinational group, our team is close-knit and supportive of one another. The environment strikes a perfect balance between being comfortable while also encouraging teams to hit ever-higher targets, allowing employees to develop and achieve.

Does Greentube support their women and help them achieve their ambitions?

I’ve enjoyed a range of roles at Greentube, as a graphic designer, UI/UX designer and, currently, creative director. I’ve enjoyed observing a similar journey taken by many women here at Greentube, so I can definitely confirm that Greentube values and supports women and their ambitions.

You got very emotional when you were named Industry Pride of the Year at the WIGD Awards, what were you thinking about?

I will tell you exactly what was going through my mind in the hope that it might entertain! I was thinking of how to break the news to my supporters about not winning the Positive Role Model of the Year award. I didn’t even realise there was one more award to go and I’m ashamed to say I was distracted and in mid-composition of an SMS on my phone when I heard Colin recounting something that sounded so familiar

familiar to me. I realised he was telling my story to the crowd! It was the effect of this, and thinking about the incredible kindness of my supporters and the great raconteur that Colin is, that brought tears to my eyes.

It was your first time at the WIGD Awards, what did you think of the awards program?

I kept thinking to myself how difficult it must be to organise such any event, especially during a pandemic, let alone an event that made me feel like I was at the Oscars! I loved being a part of a collective celebration of women, diversity and inclusion. We were strangers in a room, yet united with cheers of support from one table to the next.

What are your thoughts about women working within the industry, do you think it is a good environment for women to work in?

I’m an eternal optimist and can’t help but reflect on the positive advancements for women in our industry. I remember starting out as a design intern and I often reminisce about those days while in my current position as a creative director. Working alongside fellow female leads at Greentube, I can attest that I am a part of an encouraging environment for women to work in.

Having won the award and attending the WIGD would you recommend more women to take part and see the support and inspiration the event creates?

Absolutely! It’s definitely something I’m still raving about, from the warmth of the welcome to the inspirational speakers and the genuine affection in the room. We were all each others’ cheerleaders that night. “I realised he was telling my story to the audience! It was the effect of this, and thinking about the incredible kindness of my supporters that brought tears to my eyes.”

Are there more women within Greentube that you feel should deserve being recognized for their achievements?

I can think of a number of women who would be very deserving nominees, due to the contribution and impact they have made within the company, their strength of character and the inspiration that they are. I look forward to putting their names into the mix next year.

One final question Chu before we let you go, now you have attended the WIGD will you be back next year to see who may receive the award?

Without a doubt. I am already looking forward to being part of next year’s cheer squad!

Georgia To Debate Gambling For 2022

Could the eighth most populous state in the US be considering entering the gambling world and allow their citizens to gamble? For decades lawmakers and religious groups have opposed any form of gambling in Georgia except for the state lottery but things could be changing.

At present in the US only five states remain without any form of gambling whatsoever, they being Hawaii, Vermont, Kentucky, Utah and South Carolina. Most are controlled by conservative lawmakers and influenced by strong religious groups who oppose any forms of gambling.

However Georgia may be breaking free from that group and for the first time in a long time has gambling on the agenda on the 10th January 2022 when the General Assembly’s reconvention will begin for the year. The legislative session will last four months and those in favour of bringing gambling to the state are looking to convince their colleagues of the benefits of gambling for the state.

All the major operators will be observing closely to see how the session plays out with MGM Resorts, Wynn, Caesars and Bally’s all saying that any positive movement towards gambling will be most welcome and would definitely move to be involved.

Indeed Georgia is not only the 8th largest state in terms of population it also has the countries largest airport with Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport, making Georgia a potential visitor destination hotspot should casino resorts be permitted.

Supporters of gambling point to the fact the residents are already gambling illegally online and the state are missing out on tax dollars by ignoring the fact. State Rep. Ron Stephens is a supporter of bringing gambling to the state and believes that for the first time in a very long time the state has a good chance of legalising gambling even thou all previous attempts have failed.

He believes the tide of opposition is weakening in Georgia as more US states join in allowing gambling and online gambling within their borders. He is not alone with state professional sporting teams such as the Atlanta United, the Braves, Falcons, and Hawks all support bringing sports betting to Georgia.

Come January the debate will start in Georgia, it will not be a fast decision and a lot of negotiations will be taking place to convince all involved parties, but for the first time in a long time the possibility of Georgia allowing any form of gambling apart from the lottery is a distinct possibility.

The DASH GAME

in search of the perfect Dashboard

By Lynn Pearce de Freitas

According to a recent Gartner report, BI dashboards have become hugely popular, and the number of people using them in organizations is “accelerating massively”. One of the reasons for this, other than the need to cut out silos and have reporting for all teams in place, is that the cost of these BI tools is a fraction of what it was 10 years ago, as competition amongst BI vendors and the shift to the cloud grows exponentially.

I have been looking for the ultimate dashboard for quite a while now, researching the possibility of having all my reporting in one high-level, visual space, which can be drilled down by various departments within the company, from C-Level all the way through to Customer Service staff to measure their KPIs and performance on a daily basis.

A number of the bigger companies that I have worked in always had Business Intelligence analysts running queries to analyze the data for most of the business insights, which we as managers would use to optimize our business processes, and the marketing teams would use to take a deep dive into daily, weekly and monthly marketing campaigns, using the information to capitalize on revenue opportunities which would not have been possible to see otherwise. This BI function of updates to the dashboard allowed the teams to measure and analyze their activities to make data-driven decisions on a daily basis and was an integral part of the workday.

However, working as a consultant with start up businesses over the past few years has taught me that in order to be truly competitive, you need to have real-time agility. We need to be able to respond as

quickly as possible to emerging events and opportunities, with datainformed actions. The traditional BI model no longer makes the grade, the holy grail is getting as close to realtime as possible.

And so I started my Dash Game! I first went through all my current pain points to see what I really needed from a company-wide dashboard, that could give access to all divisions, with levels of security inserted, keeping corporate governance top of mind, as I knew I would need to add external vendors in as well as internal staff. In addition, I needed the dashboard to be cloud-based, and I wanted to free the data from silos, plus make it look visually appealing and easy to use for all staff members, including investors, who only needed to see the high-level view of the real-time analytics. I also needed to include our Google suite of tools, alongside the CMS, CRM, affiliations, performance, email marketing, sms, push notifications, loyalty and gamification platform, including numerous apps. Doing research was a huge task, not for a lack of options, but because of the multitude of platforms offering different levels of realtime analytics and interactivity. The more I researched, the more I realized that what I was actually looking for was a more tactical dashboard, which would be able to tie in directly with the business goals, KPIs and metrics, and which would help the various teams to determine what they were doing was working, or not, and make changes as soon as they saw the need to do so. all-in-one dashboard, so narrowed down my choices to the following5 Dashboards, which allows investors a high-level view, through to customer service staff to give hem the insights they need on a daily basis.

My top 5 dashboardsservicing small to large enterprises, in no particular order of preference:

1. Qlik is an end-to-end cloud platform for real-time data integration and analytics.

For 11 consecutive years, Qlik has been named as a Leader in Gartner’s Magic Quadrant for Analytics and Business Intelligence Platforms. In addition, users ranked Qlik Sense #1 in 11 categories, including business value, customer experience and product satisfaction in the large

international BI vendors peer group.

2. Tableauis an integrated BI and analytics solution that helps to analyze key business data and generate meaningful insights. The solution helps businesses to collect data from multiple source points such as SQL databases, spreadsheets, cloud apps like Google Analytics and Salesforce to create a collective dataset.Users can create interactive maps and analyze data across regions, territories, demographics and more.

3. Grow Softwareis a cloud-based business analytics and reporting solution suitable for small to midsize organizations. The solution allows users to create customizable dashboards for monitoring business workflows and key activities.It supports connection with Salesforce, Dropbox, Google Analytics, Twitter, MySQL, among hundreds of other sources. Grow brings real-time data into the dashboard, allowing users to view trends as they occur and share information with their team.

4. Salesforceis a completely managed Cloud-based software solution, offered on a subscription-based payment. Salesforce helps organizations to perform Lead Management, Invoice Processing, Account Management, and Customer Support through their all-in-one solution. Data in Salesforce can be expressed as Reports and Dashboards that aid the senior management to track the progress of activities and make decisions based on them. 5. Cyfeis a cloud-based all-in-one dashboard application for small to midsize businesses that enables users to monitor all marketing channels including SEO, SEM, email marketing, web analytics, social media and more. It supports a variety of monitoring widgets including Salesforce, Google AdWords, Google AdSense, Bing Ads, Campaign Monitor, Mixpanel and more.Key features include pre-built widgets, Push API, real-time reports, data exports, TV mode, white labeling and branded reports and dashboards.

Playtech Confirm Agreement With Aristocrat

Playtech the igaming software company have this morning announced they have recommended the sale of the company to their shareholders for a consideration of £2.1 billion, that represents a 58% premium on the current share price of Playtech.

Commenting on the Acquisition, Mor Weizer, CEO of Playtech, said: “This transaction marks an exciting opportunity in the next stage of growth for Playtech, and delivers significant benefits to our stakeholders, including our customers, our shareholders and our incredibly talented people. This deal has the potential to enhance our distribution, our capacity to build new and deeper relationships with partners, and bolsters our technological capabilities. The combination of our two companies builds one of the largest B2B gaming platforms in the world, with the people, infrastructure and expertise to provide our customers with a truly best-in-class offer across all areas of gaming and sports betting.”

Commenting Trevor Croker, Chief Executive Officer of Aristocrat, said: “The proposed combination would bring together Aristocrat’s world-class gaming content, customer and regulatory relationships with Playtech’s industryleading global online RMG platform (B2B) and European B2C footprint.

The Combined Group would offer a broad portfolio of end-to-end solutions for gaming customers around the world, as well as seamless player experiences, underpinned by a shared focus on responsible gameplay and innovation.

Additionally, the business will be ideally positioned to unlock sustainable shareholder value by seizing opportunities in the fast-growing global online RMG segment as they continue to open up, particularly in North America. The recommended offer is a full and fair value and reflects the strategic potential of the combination in a global gaming sector that continues to migrate online, as a result of technology and entrenched consumer-driven change.

Adding Playtech’s talented team with Aristocrat’s established strengths and momentum will create a true industry leader in the global online RMG space, particularly in terms of our B2B capabilities.

The proposed acquisition continues Aristocrat’s approach of investing in medium to long-term growth and we are extremely excited by the opportunities that this will bring for our shareholders, people, customers and players.”

Jennifer Bowman

Speaks Her Mind

Industry professional Jennifer Bowman talks to the Infinity Gaming Magazine about her life and tips on living your life

I have been incredibly fortunate throughout my career in gaming and have been able to take advantage of multiple opportunities as they have arisen to be able to build an interesting history and experience base within gaming. I entered the industry in my early twenties in Las Vegas and the wonderful thing that I was taught from the very beginning is that the industry is very small, there are so many people who you will work with throughout your career so not only is it important to never burn a bridge as you never know with the series of acquisitions who will be your boss or colleagues next, there is also a very tight-knit community. For me, that translated to an opportunity to get to know the gaming community and with my natural curiosity, it was a wonderful way for me to learn the lingo and gain exposure to many departments and facets of the industry. I believe that there is an incredible amount of opportunity for anyone who wants to learn something new and put the work in required to master their crafts; this is especially true in gaming. This was how I became so interested in mentorship, thought leadership and idea-sharing communities. I have always believed that knowledge is best leveraged when shared. It makes the good of the whole stronger, rather than making one person more “powerful” by being the one in the know.

Jennifer Bowman

We are often asked what we would pass on to others at the beginning of their careers and for me it stems from five basic tenants. The first, protect your social media and web profile fiercely, it will live on forever. The second, become money savvy and if you aren’t seek out professional assistance so that you are taking full advantage of all the benefits of building your own security within a quickly changing world. . Thirdly, be flexible and open -minded as the most interesting and innovative ideas are frequently the most unique that others might scoff at initially. Fourth, be proud and protective of your network and never burn a bridge and help others to build their network across your trusted connections. Finally, and most importantly to me, work closely with a few mentors both inside and outside of your industry and field of expertise. For me personally, I believe that life is not about a work/life balance and a 50/50 split and I think that is a dangerous myth that especially was taught to women as they were growing in their careers in previous decades. Instead, I was taught by a wise mentor about the concept of eight forms of wealth: Love, Family & friends, Adventure, Finances, Business, Health, Mental Growth and Spirituality. I look at my life as each of these being a fuel cell needed to run the machine of my life and I prioritise which are the most important to me but knowing each must never be completely empty. And then I build my goals and daily schedule to reach my goals based on what activities will help me to replenish the fuel cells across these eight levels. For me, adventure is something I crave and I love, so it is always very high priority along with my work/business life which happily funds the adventure. It is not so much a balance of work/life for me, but an approach to how I seize each day fully and in the way that I will find the most fulfilment. This then in turn allows me to be a better leader to my team and face each day with the focus where I can be the most productive.

I have been able to grow my career by finding what is interesting to me and being willing to relocate when there is a new role available leveraging my skills in a new field or department of expertise. My ability to travel frequently and relocate, as required, has given me exposure to over 100+ countries in which we do business, and I have lived in three countries. Through these experiences I have gained unique background of working in roles that were North America/USA-focused as well as

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overseeing the product management and marketing strategy for everything outside of the USA and Canada. The ability to seamlessly navigate the geographical and cultural nuances of working with a multicultural, multinational team is something that I have cultured, and I thrive on the diversity I encounter every day. Diversity and Inclusion initiatives are so incredibly important for gaming as the diversity of our employees, customers, operating geographies and the players we serve is among our greatest assets. . I am incredibly proud to be actively involved in Women in Gaming initiatives and mentor many women and men in the industry and outside of the industry. I think by lending my unique perspective to others as they navigate their career obstacles and help develop them their growth plans, it grows me as not only a leader, but helps me identify additional opportunities for personal growth. It is important to me to sit on panels regarding marketing in the digital age and work with thought leadership groups to reinforce my knowledge and ensure that I am looking at challenges I face with a fresh perspective.

I was completely shocked and flabbergasted to be honoured with the Outstanding Contribution award at this year’s Women In Gaming Diversity Awards. It feels incredible to be seen and to have my efforts and contributions to the industry be acknowledged in any way and at this level it was incredible and a tad overwhelming. There are so many talented individuals who work feverishly each day to build their careers to a level of success that they have defined and shape our industry into one that is more inclusive and representative of our communities. I work tirelessly alongside so many inspiring women and leaders who are allies that I feel the impact of initiatives of diversity and inclusion groups on a daily basis. I see the difference that D&I efforts are making in my daily work life in the way that my unique, authentic voice and management style is now not only embraced, but celebrated. I have so many women tell me their stories on a daily basis and I am so inspired by communities of WIGD that lift others up, find opportunities to open their network to those that can benefit and always pull up a chair for another woman to join the conversation at the table.

ABOUT JENNIFER

Jennifer Bowman is a Marketing professional with over 20 years in the gaming industry. She began her career with Anchor Games in the compliance department based in Las Vegas. The IGT acquisition allowed for Jennifer to relocate to the Reno area where she worked extensively with cross functional groups implementing ERP software solutions. Seizing an opportunity to join the International division, she moved to Amsterdam In 2006 as the Product Manager for International Casino Products overseeing and crafting go to market activities for all markets outside of the USA and Canada. Currently residing in London, U.K. she is responsible for the global marketing operations, marketing automation and sales enablement technology platforms. Additionally, she continues to lead marketing teams across Europe, Middle East, Africa (EMEA) and Latin America and Caribbean (LAC) and thrives on the complexity of leading multi-national, multi-cultural teams across geographic boundaries. Jennifer is currently the IGT Ambassador to the U.K. chapter of The United Nations Global Compact —Target Gender Equality, an active member across women in gaming initiatives, and mentor to many inside and outside of the gaming industry. Frequently she is called upon to speak on panels regarding marketing in the digital age and her enthusiasm for live events is infectious. Jennifer spends her free time hiking, sailing and travelling the world and her favourite trip to date is her time well spent in Antarctica.

BGC Launches “Take Time To Think” Campaign

Standards body the Betting and Gaming Council (BGC) has launched a new campaign aimed at encouraging customers to use the wide range of safer gambling tools offered by its members.

The BGC’s commitment to raising standards, the ‘Take Time To Think’ campaign will replace ‘When The Fun Stops, Stop’ as the regulated industry’s key safer gambling message.

It follows extensive customer research, as well as engagement with academics, Government stakeholders and operators on the most effective way of encouraging responsible betting.

While ‘When The Fun Stops, Stop’ was successful in helping to address problem gambling, the BGC believes ‘Take Time To Think’ will be even more effective by encouraging customers to pause and consider the safer gambling tools operators provide – such as deposit limits, time-outs and self-exclusion – to help them moderate their play and stay in control. The BGC has worked with broadcasters and online platforms to deliver the multi-million pound campaign, which has been funded by BGC members William Hill, Entain, bet365, Gamesys, Flutter, Betvictor, Betway, Kindred, Playtech, Betfred, PlayOjo, Betsson and Microgaming.

It will be launched with a series of TV adverts showing customers pausing mid-play before considering whether to use safer gambling tools.

Operators will also adopt the ‘Take Time To Think’ messaging across their online and retail businesses.

BGC members already ensure that at least 20 per cent of their TV and radio adverts are safer gambling messages, while it is estimated that around two million customers – around one in five – already use deposit limits.

Conor Grant, chief executive officer of Flutter UK and Ireland, said: “Our brands have been at the forefront of innovative campaigns to raise awareness and promote customer usage of safer gambling tools for a number of years. “Together with the wider industry, we are pleased to support the BGC’s Take Time to Think campaign, which aims to positively impact awareness and usage of the range of safer gambling tools available to customers.”

Grainne Hurst, director of corporate affairs at Entain, said: “Ensuring our customers have an enjoyable experience when playing with us is our highest priority and we are pleased to support the Take Time To Think campaign as an important initiative, which encourages customers to take full advantage of the safer gambling tools that are available to manage their gaming.”

Mark Pearson, director of corporate affairs at Betfred, said: “It is essential that the industry present a consistent message and everyone works together to promote safer gambling.”

Michael Dugher, chief executive of the BGC, said: “I am absolutely delighted that our members have signed up to this fantastic campaign.