GAMING News
DiTRONICS Introduces
DTX-Link Cash Dispenser
BOOTH #3036
DiTRONICS presents its cash dispenser DTX-Link – a fully integrated cash dispensing solution designed to provide casino cage automation or to serve as a standalone jackpot pay station A key feature of DTX-Link is its interface with all the major casino management systems
DTX-Link can payout in cash, issue tickets or a combination of both In the cage, DTX-Link reduces drawer preparation time and cashier drawer counts at the end of a shift It speeds up transactions, improving customer service while at the same time providing full-time employee savings
DTX-Link can be used as a jackpot pay station on the casino floor Transactions include ticket redemption, ticket issuance/split cash, integrated cash services,
on Page 13
IGT Rolls Out Wide Area Progressive Game in Canada, Money Mania Slots
International Game Technology PLC announced that it recently launched its second omnichannel Wide Area Progressive (“WAP”) game for Canada, Money Mania slots The game is currently available on British Columbia Lottery Corporation’s (“BCLC”) PlayNow com site and at 22 BCLC
Columbia IGT is the only supplier in the world to offer omnichannel jackpot games with shared jackpot liquidity across the land-based, online and mobile versions of the games
“We know our players love the excitement that the Powerbucks games offer, so BCLC is thrilled to launch IGT’s Money
on Page 13
Breaking Barriers –The Velvix Experience
Managing Director, Velvix
GN: Tell our readers what they can expect from Velvix this year at the show
CW: This year is our fourth G2E Las Vegas, and the entire team is incredibly excited to show off what we’ve been working on this year! Two years of cus-
heart and integrated into our game
on Page 9
Digital and AGS Interactive Celebrate Omnichannel Launch of Rakin’ Bacon Odyssey
Caesars Entertainment, Inc and PlayAGS, Inc celebrated the exclusive and first cross-platform launch of the thrilling new slot game Rakin’ Bacon Odyssey® in New
launch, well-known online gaming influencer Francine Maric – better known as Lady Luck HQ – was on hand at Caesars Atlantic City alongside Caesars representatives to pull the lever for the ceremonial first spin unveiling the new slot now exclusively live in New Jersey for the first time on Caesars Palace Online Casino and at Caesars Atlantic City,
on Page 13
8 Tips to Consider When Evaluating Your Tribal Casino’s Insurance Coverage
1. Monitor rising premium rates. Controlling expenses is pivotal for tribal casinos since more than half of operating costs is spent on payroll and employee benefits Gaming entities can’t afford to ignore inflated insurance premium costs Some providers hike premiums annually, or automatically increase the values
o f t h e p r o p e r t y b e i n g insured overtime – even for equipment that’s no longer
o p e r a t i o n a l K n o w e x a c t l y what you’re paying for and speak up if you’re being overcharged
5. Uphold tribal values. Select a competitive Tribal Workers’
provides medical, wage loss, perma-
2. Read the fine print for exclusions. M a n y n o n - t r i b a l l y o w n e d i n s u r a n c e providers offer high blanket limits that m a y s e e m a p p e a l i n g i n i t i a l l y , u n t i l tribes read the fine print Blanket limits, like $1 billion worth of coverage, are generally subject to various terms and high deductibles Exclusions in insurance coverage can also prove detrimental to tribal governments and businesses that believe they’re covered for a catastrophe
3. Train and encourage the workforce to take safety seriously. Casinos often have employees injured on the job Your insurer should provide safety training and on-site inspections of property and equipment at no additional cost Workplace safety education is vital; your insurer should help instill a workforce culture that values holistic safety
4. Attract and retain employees with competitive benefits.
Benefits can enhance employees’ job satisfaction and may come into play if an employee is weighing the advant a g e s o f s e e k i n g w o r k e l s e w h e r e C o m p r e h e n s i v e a n d c o
include health, dental, vision, accident, short and long-term disability, critical illness and more Your preferred insurance provider should offer a streamlined enrollment system well as continuous representative involvement
tribe’s ability to determine its level of coverage Tribal gaming entities can avoid the fraud and abuse that’s prevalent in state systems
W C program
6. Implement a return-to-work program.
Fanatics Sportsbook Partners with Ocean Casino Resort for New Retail Sportsbook
Location
Fanatics Sportsbook announced the opening of a retail sportsbook location
Resort in Atlantic City
“It’s an exciting day in our compan
Sportsbook at Ocean Casino Resort,” said Ari Borod, Chief Business Officer,
Fanatics grows its gaming presence in New Jersey, Ocean represents the perfect partner to deliver an elevated retail sports betting experience at the premier hotel in Atlantic City ”
The Fanatics Sportsbook at Ocean C
Set to follow in the footsteps of its a w a r d - w i n n i n g p r e d e c e s s o r s , T h e Baron dual-screen cabinet by Aristocrat Gaming features groundbreaking technological innovations including neverbefore-seen integrated dynamic lighting, advanced display monitors and
7. Identify key risks, then create an insurance plan Tribal gaming entities are not a onesize-fits-all risk model Talk to a trusted broker about your tribal business’s key risks, and then design an insurance program around those risks Property,
policies should be uniquely crafted to protect tribal assets, while considering cultural preferences
8. Reevaluate your insurance plan regularly.
The only real way for tribes to know if they are overpaying for the coverage they need is to shop around There are a minimum of four workers compensation carriers serving tribal gaming entities Get a new quote annually, or at the very least, every three years
An AM Best A- (Excellent) rated company, AMERIND creates affordable, sustainable insurance products and services for Indian Country
amerind com
sleek design elements to enhance casino floors The powerful combination c r e a t e s a n e
unlike any other
The Baron makes its tradeshow debut at this year’s show
“At Aristocrat Gaming, we continu-
Gallery – a dynamic 12,000 square foot gaming and bar experience that serves as the centerpiece of the casino The venue officially opened to the public on Thursday, September 5, just in time for the opening of the football season
brands and we are excited to present these to our guests here at Ocean,” said Bill Callahan, General Manager for Ocean Casino Resort
The Fanatics Sportsbook is a featured attraction in The Gallery, a 100foot elevated bar and lounge area with seating for sixty surrounded by slot machines, tables and 140 feet of LED walls for the ultimate sports viewing experience Sports fans can place wagers at betting windows or self-service betting terminals throughout the venue and traverse a 17-foot open-air staircase that leads to Balcony Bar, a mezzanine bar and lounge The new Fanatics Sportsbook will cater to guests looking to enjoy the ultimate VIP sportsbook experience, offering legal betting markets for all major sports including professional and college football, bas-
ally innovate for our customers, and The Baron builds on the global legacy of the market-leading cabinets in our portfolio while showcasing the depth of range we offer to meet our cust
,
Executive Vice President of Product for Aristocrat Gaming
The advanced technological features of The Baron are player-driven a
more vibrant – from the lighting, disp
ketball, hockey, baseball, tennis, soccer, golf, MMA, boxing and more All development and trading of sports betting markets will be done in-house The Fanatics Sportsbook is the latest addition to Ocean Casino Resort’s lineup of entertainment offerings at the 20-acre resort that has become the center of Atlantic City nightlife HQ2 N
diverse nightlife experience filled with
Regarded as the premier nightlife destination in Atlantic City, HQ2 is open
seating and three bars Ocean Casino Resort also has a 4,500-seat concert venue, Ovation Hall, that plays host to some of the hottest acts on tour
theoceanac com
Players will be drawn to the direct and i n d
t a i l s t h a t c o m e standard with the hardware First-ofits-kind LED lighting borders the cabinet and monitors, while indirect backlighting on the chimney illuminates The Baron in color coordination with gameplay and game themes An integrated candle lowers the cabinet profile for improved sightlines on casino floors F
aristocratgaming com
‘A Phoenix Out of the Ashes’: Vegas Manufacturer Focuses on Games After Rebrand
The gaming manufacturing industry appears to be in a state of transition and nowhere is it more noticeable than in Las Vegas where much of the change is at center stage
That’s not lost on Matt Wilson, the C h i e f E x e c u t i v e O f f i c e r o f L i g h t & Wonder, a gaming equipment manufacturer based in Las Vegas.
IGT, the London-based company run by Italian operators that have manu f a c t u r i n g a n d d i s t r i b u t i o n o u t l e t s galore in Nevada, announced a merger with smaller rival Everi Holdings then, months later in July, said that deal w a s o f f a n d
A
G
o b a l Management, owners of The Venetian and Palazzo, for $6.3 billion. The new deal is expected to close late this year or early next year.
A r i s t o c r a t G a m i n g , a s u b s i d i a r y o f A u s t r a l i a - b a s e d m e g a c o m p a n y Aristocrat Leisure Ltd., developers of the popular Buffalo slot machine franchise, in August opened a 265,000square-foot facility for manufacturing and distribution to North and Latin A m e r i c a i n H e n d e r s o n A r i s t o c r a t Interactive also recently announced it entered a deal with Digital Knights to form a new iGaming brand, TangoBet Konami Gaming, one of the market leaders in the United States, maintains a massive presence in Las Vegas and was one of the first to begin promoting its growing Bingo Frenzy Stampede, What the Duck, and K-Pow! Pig lines of slot machines
M e a n w h i l e , t h e l o c a l c o m p a n y that changed its identity and focus on the heels of the coronavirus pandemic has quietly emerged as one of the big growth stories of the industry
Light & Wonder, formerly known as Scientific Games, saw its gaming operations sector report its 16th consecutive quarter of growth in August’s second-quarter earnings call
Systems revenue grew 14%, driven by higher hardware sales and a soft-
design process Visit booth #2416 and you’ll get to trial several new titles, including an exciting update to our highly successful “Show Me The Piggy” game, plus titles that bring proven gameplay to new and unique Velvix
c h a r a c t e r s a n d t h e m e s , i n c l u d i n g “Bridge Beyond” and more
GN: What has Velvix been up to and what are your plans for the rest of this year and beyond?
CW: This year saw the introduction of
ware licensing deal with a partner in Asia
“As it relates to international success in the quarter, given international shipments remain high and drove the beat, (Light & Wonder) management noted results were driven by traditional Asian markets (Singapore, Macao and the Philippines) – a multi-year opportunity given the Asian market was slower to recover post-COVID than the U.S.,” said Truist Securities gaming analyst B
future international openings, including the United Arab Emirates, Thailand and Japan, as promising for the slot supplier.”
Worldwide Projects
Wynn Resorts Ltd. is building its $3.9 billion Wynn Al Marjan Island on 115 acres in the Ras Al Khaimah emirate on the Arabian Gulf inlet of the Persian Gulf. MGM Resorts International has begun work on Japan’s first integrated resort in Osaka And, multiple compa-
Thailand, which is considering legalizing gambling
Even with new markets emerging worldwide, Wilson has been keeping h i s f o c u s o n
L
g h t & Wonder games the best they can be
“I like to say we’re a three-year-old company since the rebrand and the emergence of Light & Wonder, like a phoenix out of the ashes of Scientific Games,” Wilson said
“And so I think the benefit for us is we’re on the other side of that cultural integration So our strategy is clear, our goals are clear We know what we need to focus on And I always say to the team, ‘Control the controllables that some of our competitors are going to go through what could be a distracting period of time,” he said referring to the ownership changes underway at IGT
P a r t o f t h e f o c u s f o r L i g h t &
several new team members, including o u r n e w p r o d u c t m a n a g e r M e l i s s a Lawres, the onboarding of new distribution partners and a mass hiring in our tech department to deal with the developing placements we are seeing across multiple markets In addition to working hard on new titles for this year’s G2E Las Vegas, we have also focused on expanding into new mark e t s T h i s i n c l u d e s n e w v e n u e s throughout California and Oklahoma, as well as finalizing our plan to enter the Minnesota market This has kept us busy and we have no plans to slow down
Wonder has been to provide its games for multiple channels It isn’t just about c r a n k i n g o u t s l o t m a c h i n e s f r o m a warehouse – it’s translating those customer favorites to a digital format for the growing iGaming sector
Wilson admits iGaming the ability to legally play slot machines and other casino games over the internet h a s n ’ t g r o w n a s r a p i d l y a s h e expected Online sports betting has taken off, but only a handful of states h a v e l e g a l i z e d o n l i n e c a s i n o s a n d much of today’s play is made through illegal offshore casinos
“It’s probably one area that hasn’t lived up quite to our expectations that we set out in 2022 was the rate of i G a m i n g e x p a n -
s i o n , ” W i l s o n s a i d “ W e
n o w w e ’ d h a v e more states having regulated iGaming
There’s seven states l e g a l a t t h e m o m e n t i n t h e
U n i t e d S t a t e s W e don’t see it a very active session in the next year. We don’t see a huge amount of regulation happening in 2025, but w e d o b e l i e v e b e y o n d 2 0 2
t h e d i g i t i z a t i o n o f g a m i n g i s inevitable. It’s going to happen at some stage in other states. I think consumers demand it. They demand digitization in every other vertical in their life.”
over-year
Jonas said gross gaming revenue for iGaming hit records in Canada and the United States and that Light & Wonder management has pledged to continue to invest in content and product development
Wilson didn’t elaborate on what his company is promoting at this year’s show
The company likely will show off its popular Huff N Puff line of games
Daron Dorsey, Executive Director o f t h e A s s o c i a t i o n o f G a m i n g Equipment Manufacturers, said investi n g i n p r o d u
become the typical course of the industry because it is centered on technology
space.”
T h e o n l y i G a m i n g a v a i l a b l e i n
Nevada is through online sports bett i n g a n d l i m i t e d o n l i n e p o k e r p l a y . Casino lobbyists have successfully kept online slot and table play at bay, pres u m a b l y t o p r o t e c t t h e i r b r i c k - a n dmortar investments.
“It’s not something we really have a whole lot of control over,” Wilson said
Record iGaming Revenue
But even with iGaming growing at a slow pace, Light & Wonder reported record revenue of $74 million in the sector in the last quarter, up 6% year-
G N : H o w i s y o u r t e a m m a n a g i n g
e x p a n s i o n ? H o w d o y o u s e e V e l v i x evolving to stay relevant in a sea of both new and established manufacturers?
C W : W e h a v e f a c e d m a n y c h a l l e n
w a y a s w e g r o w S t a f f i n g i s a n a r e a
t h a t p l a g u e s e v e r y o n e i n t h e i n d u s t r y ,
a n d a s a s m a l l e m e r g i n g m a n u f a c t u r -
e r , w e h a v e i t n o e a s i e r O u r g o a l i s t o
b r i n g o n t a l e n t t h a t t h r i v e s i n a s t a r t -
u p e n v i r o n m e n t a n d i s r e a d y a n d
e a g e r t o “ r o l l u p t h e i r s l e e v e s ” n o
“It’s the natu
technology innovation story that comes from gam-
look at the migration, it’s a lot of
The new facilities being built are
assembly-line workers.
“That’s the next natural progression in this because it’s game content and math ideas and software development and innovations that make the games more exciting and enjoyable for people,” Dorsey said “And you can do those in a much more innovative fashion now that there’s a high level of software development and computer engi-
mathematicians and graphic designers It’s not some mechanical device that’s made with gears the way that they originally came out
m a t t e r t h e t a s k a t h a n d A d d i t i o n a l l y , w e ’ v e b e e n i d e n t i f y i n g p a r t n e r s w h e r e n e c e s s a r y t o e n s u r e o u r m a r k e t e n t r i e s i n t o s t a t e s f u r t h e r f r o m o u r h e a d o f f i c e ( i e O k l a h o m a a n d M i n n e s o t a ) a r e p r o p e r l y s t a f f e d a n d r e a d y t o s u c c e
Velvix (Cont’d from p 1)
Acres Unveils Its New Achievement Bonusing Technology at Show
Casino loyalty and technology developer Acres Manufacturing Company is attending this year’s show At booth #4211, the company will showcase and take orders for its new Achievement Bonusing technology
Achievement Bonusing works by challenging players to achieve specific in-game milestones on a casino’s slot m a c h i n e s , s u c h a s a m i n i m u m p a y amount from a single spin Once a player completes a challenge, the bonus is instantly paid to the slot machine’s credit meter Achievement Bonusing is enabled by Acres’ Foundation technology, which makes any real-time slot machine event instantly actionable
Achievement Bonusing works on virtually any slot machine and is com-
DiTRONICS (Cont’d. from p. 1)
jackpot fulfillment, chip redemption and issuance, marker draws, vault buys, bill break and data capture from other applications
IGT (Cont’d. from p. 1)
Mania – another title that draws upon the same opportunity for cross-channel jackpots,” said Dan Beebe, BCLC Chief Operating Officer. “Both BCLC and IGT are passionate about bringing innovative games to players and fueling responsible growth in the industry. We also recognize that BCLC is in a unique position with our ability to offer cross-channel experiences for players. Whether players choose to play Money
Tropicana Atlantic City and Harrah’s Atlantic City
“The simultaneous launch of Rakin’ B a c o n O d y s s e y o n C a e s a r s P a l a c e Online Casino and at our world-class destinations in Atlantic City is an example of the exciting omnichannel experience we can bring to our players,” said M a t t h e w S u n d e r l a n d , S e n i o r V i c e President and Chief iGaming Officer at Caesars Digital “We’ve seen how popular this game is in other jurisdictions, and we’re confident our casino players and guests in New Jersey will enjoy it Thank you to our great partners at AGS for this exclusive launch and to Lady Luck HQ for coming out to celebrate with us ”
Lady Luck HQ is a gambling cont e n t c r e a t o r w h o p r o d u c e s u n i q u e g a m i n g - c e n t r i c c o n t e n t
Y o u T u b e , F a c e b o o k , I n s t a g r a m a n d
T i k T o k T h e i n n o v a t i v e a p p r o a c h t o Lady Luck HQ’s content has led to her
c h a n n e l s c o m m a n d i n g t h e s i n g l e largest online presence in gaming as the most daily viewed gambling influ-
patible with any casino management
enabled through a suite of digital signage packages, and the system can
app Acres’ booth features a variety of themed Achievement Bonusing solutions ranging in scale from a single bank of slot machines to a casino-wide promotion available on every game
Bonusing motivates players to increase play by adding a new layer of gamifica-
Bonusing to issue personal challenges to players, send them on virtual quests or put them in instant competition
The DTX-Link cash dispenser is an enterprise solution that is controlled, monitored and managed by a server with robust reporting, which can be customized to meet customer requirem e n t s I t h a s t h e c a p a c i t y t o h o l d
Mania at the casino or online, we’re confident this is another game they’ll love.”
multi-level progressive (“MLP”) game
against other players ”
“Other industries have seen huge
and we’re excited to help casinos modernize their customer experiences to attract new players,” he added
Unlike traditional casino bonusing, w
Achievement Bonusing uses personal historical play data to intelligently target players according to their precise value While one player may be challenged to achieve a $50 single-game pay, another player may be challenged to win $100 or $500 in a single game
Casinos can control costs by using underlying data to predict the frequency of each player completing a specific c h a l l e n g e , a n d p l a y e r s c a n o n l y increase the likelihood of winning by increasing wager size or playtime T
Achievement Bonusing as an antidote to free slot play, which costs the U S casino over $30 billion in lost profits a n n u a
t h e value of both free play issued and player time wasted in consuming free play
“With free play, the first dollars a player wagers are on the house If the player only has an hour to play, losing e
utes to free play represents a significant blow to p
requires players to spend their own money first, and no bonus is ever guaranteed to hit The gamified experience makes play more exciting for players a n d
Acres concluded F
acresmanufacturing com
15,000 notes of mixed denominations in five, 3,000 currency cassettes
After many years of industry frustration, DiTRONICS has pioneered an enterprise level software solution integrated directly into your casino man-
themes. The game includes a $100,000 op-level “Money Jackpot” and a fastgrowing, fast-hitting second-level WAP jackpot – “Mania Jackpot”. With a jackpot-reset value of $4,000, the game’s “Mania Jackpot” is designed to hit freq u e n t l y , e s p e c i a l
encer in the world
AGS’ Rakin’ Bacon Odyssey is a brand extension of the player-favorite slot game Rakin’ Bacon®, which has quickly become a fan-favorite on casino floors in select jurisdictions across North America Its gameplay features “Cornsquealius,” a loveable pig cartoon adorned in a Caesar-esque laurel and white robe The slot shines on casino floors through the popular Spectra49 cabinet by AGS with unique reel configurations of 3x5 that expand up to 6x5 during free spins with a staggering 7,776 ways to win
I n c e l e b r a t i o n o f t h i s l a u n c h , Caesars Digital is offering users 21 and older the chance to take advantage of its first omnichannel promotions linked to a new slot, with entry available both in-person at Caesars destinations in Atlantic City and via the Caesars Palace Online Casino app
“This exclusive launch illustrates the connection we’re continuing to build between our world-class destinations and our online casino platforms,” s a i d K a r e n W o r m a n , S e n
, online and mobile gameplay all simultaneously feeding the jackpot meter.
“IGT’s Money Mania omnichannel WAP game is designed to frequently d e l i v e r m i d - t o - l a r g e - s i z e j a c k p o t s , d r i v e c r o s s - c h a n n e l g a m e p l a y
in casinos,” said David Flinn, IGT SVP S a l e s , C a n a d a , S o u t h a
Money Mania is at the forefront of jack-
Caesars Atlantic City “That connection i s s o m e t h i n g w e ’ r e u n i q u e l y p o s itioned to deliver to our customers, and we look forward to celebrating more of these moments that bring best-in-class offerings to life across the in-person and digital experience ”
“Launching Rakin’ Bacon Odyssey with Caesars expands the stardom of our ‘golden pig’ and reflects our commitment to offering the same highquality gaming experience to online p l a y e r s , ” s a i d Z o e E b l i n g , A G S V i c e President of Interactive “This collaboration not only aligns with our strategic vision but also showcases our ability to execute complex, omnichannel launches that set industry standards We’re elevating the gaming experience across platforms, demonstrating our leadership in the industry and our dedication to excellence This launch marks a significant step in delivering exceptional entertainment to players everywhere ” C a e s a r s P a l a c e O n l i n e C a s i n o launched in July 2023 as the crown j
agement system powered by its proprietary DTX-Link software No third-party software is required
or stop by booth #3036
omnichannel content and innovation.”
BCLC was the first gaming operator in the world to offer an omnichannel jackpot game when it partnered w i t h I G
Powerbucks has remained one of the top-performing games in Canada and has minted more than 50 millionaires across the country.
For more information, www.igt.com.
WSOP COM Those 21 and older in New
West Virginia can now download the Caesars Palace Online Casino app on
company in North America C
Responsible Gaming and remains committed to Responsible Gaming education and providing a safe and responsi-
Palace Online Casino users The company enforces an enhanced 21+ gaming policy that ensures Caesars Rewards accounts are only available to individuals 21 and older, where permitted by law, and Caesars Digital online platforms have tools in place to encourage responsible play
Caesars Digital (Cont’d from p 1)
