April 2015
Technology in Casinos - Special Edition
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Guest Editor Comment This supplement features casino technology, with a number of industry experts discussing some of their current leading edge developments. Whilst casino operators do not need to know how technical innovations are researched or developed, they do need to know when the innovations are capable of enhancing their operations. Casino operators are committed to upgrading their own customer services, security systems and revenue streams, whilst technical innovators are committed to research, development and international sales. Although both parties work independently, they link up when a new technological development offers something exceptional. Many large casino operators, especially in the US, expand their customer options by adding bingo to their operations. Ortiz, the leading bingo suppliers and technologists offer exciting gaming machines that introduce bingo to a casino operator’s customer base. Ortiz are fully international and on the leading edge. Aruze have created new gaming machines that are proving extremely popular. They have gone down a very different design route that has proved enormously popular with customers. Their machines are unique and visually outstanding and are changing some of the norms that slot machines have maintained in recent years. Apex gaming has introduced some astounding new innovations. One example is their iDrop system that can be added to each table game replacing an operator’s need for a cash desk. Apex have proved on numerous occasions that they have the insight and technology to upgrade casino elements which have been established for years. Other examples of how casino technology can progress are Cammegh’s research and development results. Although they originally created the industry’s benchmark roulette wheel they have improved it year after year. They have also developed other innovative and successful products, some of which have been adopted by the online casino industry. Despite the ongoing friction between the live and online casino industries, some live casino operators have started to incorporate online technology. As live casino operators start to walk down the online path, the technologists will almost certainly follow them and create new options. Clearly casino operators do not subscribe to every technological change, but to be effective and efficient, they need to track the progress. Attending gaming exhibitions opens the technical door to the future, but tracking the effects of the changes is the secret to long term success. Some of Casino Life’s articles and interviews may be technically complex, but they are one of the most important avenues that lead to successful operational upgrades. Chris Moore Independent Casino Consultant Email cmoore@telefonica.net Tel: +34 650 925 928
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Guaranteed Gaming Entertainment Peter White talks to Maurilio Silva President of Ortiz Gaming Could we commence this interview with a brief history of Ortiz Gaming; how it came to be founded, to the present day, multinational corporation with offices and customers World Wide? Our history has always been about providing entertainment and happiness to people through our products and to add to the business growth of our clients. This core philosophy for the past 20 years has been the guiding principle of our growth. In 2002, Mr. Ortiz decided to expand to Central America; today the company has operations around the world. By 2003, Ortiz Gaming began operations in Scandinavia and, two years later, in Spain. Again, this core philosophy and the demand it has driven our expansion now into the USA, Asia, and many new markets. Could you provide our readers details along with an over view of the extensive product range of Ortiz Gaming? We are constantly adding innovative products and services to our cabinets, games library and wide range of gaming offerings. Our core is Bingo and we remain the world innovators there; but this is not your grandmother’s Bingo: this is 21st Century excitement surpassing slots, tables, and anything seen before. We remain the leading developers of Electronic Slot, Bingo, and Amusement with Prizes (AWP) gaming machines What would you say are the main benefits that gaming operations get from partnering with Ortiz
Gaming? The main benefit of our games is the remarkable increase in operator revenue; and it is new revenue not cannibalized revenue. Our intense focus on the player experience is major step beyond simply providing games; for example, our new o-Circle cabinet is a complete immersive experience bringing the player into the game. This kind of innovation not only drastically increases “time-inchair” but creates an entirely new way of thinking about the expectation of game revenue. Does your approach to game development incorporate feedback from operators and their patrons? Every aspect of our game, from sound to design to playability even down to the bonus ball feature, are meticulously focused on the partnership between Ortiz Gaming and our operator partners —together focusing on the patrons. We are 100% about feedback; down to a partnership between us. Investment in technology and product development is critical to any organisation involved in this highly competitive market. What is Ortiz Gaming’s policy on investment in innovation and product development? Providing entertainment to patrons and business growth to our clients requires constant expansion through new technologies and methodologies. Our revolutionary cabinet line, our beyond-thenext-generation mobile devices, even our latest
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game platforms are the product of our constant investment in technologies and new ways of thinking about the floor. What is one of the technology developments created at Ortiz Gaming in recent years that most impresses you? There is no doubt that our O-circle cabinet and our O-Future cabinet are impressive beyondcutting-edge innovations; everyone who sees them agrees. But the truly impressive development is the underlying “Ortiz Standard” that provides an entirely new level of expectations of superior floor performance. The standard of measuring how a game should perform has been radically altered by the superior performance multiples of Ortiz Games. Ortiz Cash and Ortiz Net are both clever innovations developed in recent years. Can you provide to readers more detail on both of these gaming operation systems? Ortiz Cash is our casino management system. It manages all communications to the slot machines and to cashier desks. Through Ortiz Cash, it is possible to control all financial inputs and outputs, perform the automatic closing of tills, define the
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roles of employees, and generate tokens and cards to insert credits into machines, amongst other functions. With functions on par with that of a costly and clunky SAS system, Ortiz Cash provides state-of-the-art reporting, in an easy to use format at a fraction of the cost. Ortiz Net is a complete online management solution, which controls the operations and allows access to collect information from machines through a secure website. Ortiz Net allows owners and operators to access their revenue billing online and in real time. Operators can easily access information about machine functions, understand better the client and your needs, the individuality of each product coin-in and revenue numbers per machine - accumulated or by periods: daily, weekly, monthly etc. Ortiz Net also allows for printing custom reports and graphics of the real time operational statistics. Ortiz Net ensures the collaboration and interactivity between departments, making management 100% efficient. Ortiz Gaming has an impressive list of best sellers and new games for 2015. Are they all region specific and are there more on the way for G2E Las Vegas 2015? Because of our intense focus on patrons’ and
operators’ needs, we have never subscribed to the “one size fits all” strategies of trying to fit square pegs into round holes. Our offerings are very carefully tailored to the behaviour, demands, designs, and particularity of each region – and even sub-regions. Even in the USA, we cannot say that a patron in one state is the same as another state patron; operators are the first to tell you that and it is key to the Ortiz philosophy. You will see even more of this at G2E this year! O Circle platform encompasses the OMS Communication system which displays winning information and videos. Can you provide details on this display system for those operators whom are considering upgrading their current systems? The main purpose is display the jackpot performance amount per title. When a player wins the bonus, the video screen shows the draw and announces the winner and giving more visibility to our products In which markets and geographic regions are you seeing most growth? Word-of-mouth endorsements spread like a wildfire; and the more our games appear at top-tier casinos, the more demand there has been for The Ortiz Standard. Indian Country in the USA is more of a community than a geography; so a huge player-driven success in one state often triggers casino demand a dozen states away. The question about our growth has really been a question of “when can the Ortiz games be available at my casino?” What was the reaction at G2E Las Vegas at the launch and since from visitors at shows since then such as NIGA to the new O Circle cabinets? Again, the demand – not just for our innovative design but for the Ortiz Standard on the floor – has been remarkable. The more the word of our successes spreads, the more demand we hear from across the USA (and across the globe). How was 2014 for Ortiz Gaming?
2014 Ortiz Gaming became one of the top gaming manufacturers in North America, and the most significant Bingo manufacturer in this market. This is a huge achievement in such a competitive market. Our goal is follow the same trajectory here in UK , with dedication and respect, like always With the half way mark nearing for 2015 what have been the highlights for you so far this year and what excites you most about the second half of the year? So far this year we have placed games at some of the most important casinos in the USA and won the support and backing of some of the industry’s most renowned operators. These properties and leaders are true trend-setters in the industry and more and more eyes have focused on the Ortiz Standard as a result of these endorsements. The rest of 2015 not only holds continuation of this trend but our entry into some exciting new markets.
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Mercury Rising Andrew Cammegh speaks with Glyn Thomas, Casino Life What are your plans for 2015? What are the main challenges for you as a company and for the industry in general? 2015 looks set to be a very exciting year for Cammegh; we have already had a very busy year, as well as celebrating our 25th anniversary in March, my father Bill Cammegh received the ‘Outstanding Contribution’ award at this year’s Gaming Awards. John Grannell has joined us on a more full time basis to assist in the sales of our roulette side bets and we’ve had a fabulous showing at this year’s ICE Show. In April we launch our brand new roulette side
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bet, Spread Bet Roulette, installing in 10 Grosvenor Casino locations across the UK. We will also launch our updated state-of-the-art Billboard Display Screens over the coming weeks. We are also thrilled to have secured deals with some very prestigious casinos this year in locations all around the world including: Galaxy Macau, Tropicana Atlantic City, Crown Melbourne, Tsogo Sun Group, South Africa and Cratos Premium, Northern Cyprus. The biggest challenge for Cammegh this year is controlling our level of growth; we’ve seen huge demand for our products in recent months which is
fantastic for our business but also means a lot more hard work! We have already employed more staff within our production and marketing departments which has allowed us to adapt to the increase in demand comfortably. Do you think that the development of the online gambling market will have an influence in the way you shape your products in the years ahead? The online market has already had a huge impact at Cammegh in the design of our wheels. Our Mercury 360 RRS wheel, designed specifically for the online gaming sector, has been hugely popular since its inception. The RRS increases the unpredictability of the wheel, provides extra security against rotor clocking and allows ‘No More Bets’ to be called later on in the game, increasing productivity. In addition to this, our unique roulette side bets; Lucky Symbols & Spread Bet Roulette slot in to the online GUI very successfully and can also add value to the online operators. We have developed partnerships within the online gaming community such as Extreme Live Gaming who will be integrating the symbols from our roulette side bet, Lucky Symbols, into their Ra Roulette game. We have also found that our Billboard EyeCard is perfect for the online gaming environment; the EyeCard can track cards as they appear face-up and can be used with various card games, including Blackjack and Baccarat. What are the key advantages of Cammegh Roulette Wheels over alternatives? Cammegh’s innovative roulette wheels contain high end precision engineering with an unrivalled aesthetic finish befitting any casino in the world. Cammegh manufacture all the critical metal components in-house, like Rolex, we do not outsource the moving parts in our precision engineered product. Having such control and ownership of the manufacturing process gives both ourselves as the manufacturer, but more importantly our customers peace of mind. Recently, we have also seen an increasing trend in the demand for bespoke wheels, an area we are extremely passionate about, resulting in some fantastic wheel designs we have created for several world leading casino brands.
Furthermore, Cammegh’s manual roulette wheels feature our unique and design registered ‘Double Radius Traditional Separator Ring’, having a double axis on pocket frets increases the unpredictable nature of the ball scatter, delivering game control and security for the operator and protection from late and section bets. Cammegh’s reputation for manufacturing the world’s best roulette wheels is further cemented by our depth of knowledge of manufacturing materials, from the high tensile stainless steel used in our maintenance free for life bearings to our in-house developed Garnite race tracks, offering an incredibly durable precision engineered contact area for the ball. Technological advancements found in our Mercury 360 roulette wheel also include an array of 4 invisible in-rim sensors plus our unique Bonus Numbers feature for value added roulette side bets, further differentiating the Mercury 360 from its competition. Can you provide details for SpreadBet Roulette, which we understand is now approved for the UK market? Spread Bet Roulette is our brand new roulette side bet designed to fill the void in value added side bets for roulette. Spread-Bet builds on the traditional roulette game delivering an increased house edge and a winning side bet outcome each game. Customised pay-outs ranging from even money to the mini-jackpot sized 1,200 / 1 allow the operator to tailor the game to suit their clientele. To lengthen the odds we have ingeniously introduced two concentric roulette number rings spinning in opposing directions on the Billboard Display. At ‘No More Bets’, the rings stop dead, randomly aligning the two sets of numbers. The game then continues as usual until the winning number is determined, which is then paired with its aligning number on the Billboard Display. The sum of these paired numbers, a number between 0-72, determines the Spread-Bet result which is displayed via Billboard together with the traditional roulette result. Spread Bet buy-ins (each covering a range of numbers similar to the existing 1-18 & 19-36 buy ins) are printed on the layout; any bets covering the range of numbers in which the Spread-Bet result falls are then paid out at the specified odds.
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The first installations of Spread Bet Roulette are due in April at 10 different Grosvenor locations in the UK. Having been approved by the UK Gaming Commission in December 2014, we have rigorously tested the side bet over the past few months and have been delighted by the results; we were also able to exhibit Spread Bet at ICE in February and we found that it generated huge interest and intrigue by those who saw it and we look forward to seeing how the public responds. What product had the best performance in sales over the last year? Why? The Mercury 360 is our top selling manual roulette wheel, primarily for the reasons mentioned earlier, but the Mercury 360 is frequently sold with the incredibly versatile Billboard Display System often featuring customised graphics, TV video steaming, selectable pay tables to name but a few. The Slingshot 2 also continues to outperform expectations with sales increases year on year. The Slingshot’s unique ability to have the ball in sight 100% of the time makes it a favourite with terminal manufacturers, online and land based operators alike. What are the key features of PitBoss HQ and how can it assist operators? Cammegh offer two wheel analysis tools : Pitboss HQ and Wheel Manager. Pitboss HQ operates via a browser based interface in a local or wide area network. Permitted users can access game data, including; rotor speed/direction, games per hour, dealer ID, ‘drop’ & ‘float values’, plus exportable raw
data to enable customised reports. The data captured in Pitboss HQ allows operators to study results and performance levels ensuring operational and wheel standards are being maintained and optimised. Wheel Analysis provides a more forensic study of the wheel itself and how the wheel is being operated against pre-set parameters including: pre-set wheel speed, ball speed and ‘no more bets’ threshold. In addition, Cammegh offer XML messaging which provides ‘real time’ messaging and wheel status alerts across the network for integration with third party systems. What difficulties have you experienced in the global gaming industry? Operating in a global market presents a challenge all of its own; time zones, licencing, currency, language, exhibitions and varying products specifications all add to the complexity of our operations. That said, we enjoy a very positive relationship with our customers and this has proved very important in aiding us achieve our shared goals. Notwithstanding the challenges, we consider having a global market to be a blessing as it has enabled us to maintain productivity levels as global territories experience varying economic demands. Which one of the technology developments created by Cammegh in recent years has most impressed you? It is difficult to choose between the Mercury 360 RRS and the truly multifunctional Billboard Display System which works with games such as; Roulette, Baccarat, Blackjack, Sic-Bo, 3 Card Poker and has the ability to
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support live streaming, EyeCard and EyeCard Plus. The Mercury 360 RRS offers random rotor speed to protect operators against advantage and section bet players, particularly helping operators in the online sector. This is a discreet and beautifully executed security feature seamlessly built in to a traditional product. Serving this important niche sector demonstrates our commitment to our specialist field and the high importance we place on all of our customers operational requirements. Investment in technology and product development is critical to any organisation involved in this highly competitive market. What is Cammegh’s policy on investment in innovation and product development? Innovation has always been central to Cammegh’s philosophy, with firsts including; maintenance free for life bearings, invisible in-rim sensors, one piece rotors, open protocol for third party communication, scalloped separator rings and a reinforced Garnite race track to name but a few. Innovations such as these have not only given Cammegh roulette wheels a well established reputation as the market leader, Cammegh’s state-ofthe-art Billboard Display System shares a similar reputation, operating as a multi-faceted and functional product on a common hardware platform, giving our customers greater flexibility. We have always invested in R&D, supporting the constant stream of ideas we collect from our customers, but also that naturally occur as part of our day to day business and from the passion we have in what we do. Prioritising the investment into the multitude of ideas is just as challenging as developing them into marketable products, but we will always focus on our core products and this keeps our R&D priorities in check. How were sales of the popular Cammegh Billboard Display Systems in 2014 and can you provide details on the various additions and upgrades to the system? Our Billboard Displays are incredibly popular with sales increasing year on year. The biggest market for our screens is Australasia with the Billboard Displays
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featuring in some of the largest casinos in the region such as Crown Casino Melbourne and Sky City. That said, the demand for our displays remains phenomenal in other parts of the world with the US, Europe and African markets all representing a significant number of Billboard Display System sales. We have also experienced increasing growth in the Asian market, perhaps most notably with a prestigious order for customised roulette wheels and Billboard Displays for Galaxy Macau. Cammegh Billboard Displays work with a multitude of casino games including: Roulette, Baccarat, Blackjack, Casino Wars and Sic Bo. Since the first release in 2004, Cammegh’s Billboard Displays have continued to push the boundaries in casino display technology; recent upgrades to the system include: scheduled TV streaming, meaning that the screens can now be used as a point of sale and advertising for the casino anywhere on the game floor and Multiboard mini; the ability to show results from multiple tables on one screen. Also included are features such as bespoke graphic designs, pin sharp 3d graphics & animations, 3rd party integration and data logging & live export. And finally for those of our readership planning to attend next month’s G2E Asia Show, please can you provide them details on your booth at this year’s exhibition? Cammegh are looking forward to what will be our 8th G2E Asia show. The show will see the brand new Cammegh roulette side bet, Spread Bet Roulette, make its first appearance in the region having had its debut at ICE in February. Cammegh’s EyeCard and EyeCard Plus will be at the booth, partnered by Billboard Display Systems showcasing the very finest Baccarat graphics. The cornerstone of Cammegh’s exhibit will be the flagship roulette wheel, the Mercury 360 together with the visually stunning Crystal wheel, Mercury 360 Aurora and the patented Slingshot 2 automatic roulette wheel. Visitors can find us at booth number 865, we hope to see you there!
French Mascot for Aruze Daniel van Marissing from Mascot sfm chats with Damien Connelly
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ike other up-and-coming ‘smaller’ slot manufacturers, Aruze Gaming’s product is both innovative and uniquely focused. Aruze, formerly known as Universal and Nevada licensed since 1984, is a growing force. As Daniel van Marissing commented, “Aruze do things differently. It starts with the visual. Aruze machines are eye catchers. You can immediately recognise an Aruze machine in a lineup of machines with other leading manufacturers.” I can testify to that. When I recently saw Aruze’s Crystal and The Gold slots, they stood out visually for me on the casino floor with their impressive topper designs. Major French casino groups like Partouche and JOA were the first to successfully adopt Aruze products in their search for new and different entertainment. Streamlined with the American market, games like Mermaid Fantasy and Dark Samurai have their European exclusivity in France, a reflection of the growing influence of the company Daniel van Marissing is now involved with, MASCOT sfm. Mascot sfm is one of the few authorised gaming equipment distributors for the French market, the largest casino market by value in Europe. Daniel has been involved with Mascot sfm for a year now, following a distinguished career in the casino
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industry. The company specialises in distributing casino gaming products in France and Monaco, with additional distribution into Luxembourg, Germany, Austria, Czech Republic, and Switzerland. Its primary focus is building the market share for the slot products of Aruze Gaming. Aruze thinks out of the box and the uniqueness and difference of Aruze game themes makes them highly suitable for casinos to use to meet their own promotional needs and inspire the creative thinking of operator’s marketing personnel. “Aruze slots have very strong themes. Take The Gold as an example: the theme allows marketing an array of possibilities to promote the game. To name some: golden footsteps, gold carpet, and golden promotional materials. “Aruze games demand player interaction. Aladdin and the Lamp allows players to rub the lamp to get into the feature games. Interaction by the player makes a difference that, supported by good game math, helps explain the success of Aruze slots with players, and with casinos. Today, interaction in games is a key element and Aruze assures this. “Aruze is very original with its use of reels and their features. Traditionally, reels spin around in one direction and players get an outcome. Aruze makes the reels part of the interaction
with the players. Aruze succeeded in re-inventing steppers with unique variable movements of the reels: acceleration, deceleration the reels moving in different ways, they do sambas, and they turn around again to get ‘Wilds and have variable color schemes. Aruze games use their reels in a one of a kind proactive way. In combination with LCD screens, other features appear extremely well made, assuring continuous entertainment for the player. With game lifecycles shortening for many manufacturers, and an insatiable demand for better/ fresher games from players, maybe Aruze is on to something. The company doesn’t look to do either vanilla or licensed game themes, the player interface is involving and energetic (audio and visual), and as Daniel noted, “Aruze games are not like other games on the market. The way Aruze machines are presented and perceived by players, they always leave a distinctive opinion. This is something I also found to be true when I played one of the Ultra Stack games on the Aruze booth at this year’s ICE. It’s not often I’ve started out disliking a slot game, cringing at what I considered to be its 1980s arcade game audio, only to find myself a few minutes later moving my hips and knees to this very same ‘old school’ audio. The Ultra Stack game did not leave me indifferent.
Who’s Aruze? Aruze is, I think it fair to say, one of those brand names you have heard of, but may not know a great deal about. Founded in Japan, under the Universal brand famous for its Pachinko machines, Aruze has an American casino heritage. Its head office is in Las Vegas, where it operates as Aruze Gaming America. In North America it is increasing its slot market share. Interestingly, while Aruze is not necessarily a big brand slot manufacturer, it is a large company. Indeed, its founder, Mr. Kazua Okada, was one of the lead financial backers behind Steve Wynn’s reinvention of the modern casino resort. Aruze is a company that knows the casino market in great detail, even if the casino market doesn’t necessarily know Aruze in as much detail...and that will likely change, especially in Europe with Mascot sfm and Daniel van Marissing supporting them. As Daniel noted, “I believe in the Aruze product, and I think they have a good Damien Connelly & future ahead of them”.
Daniel van Marissing
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The next level Rebecca Green talks to Kubilay Ă–zer, Global Sales Director of APEX gaming 15
How was 2014 for Apex Gaming and how has 2015 been so far? We see 2014 as the year that has demonstrated our dedication to further provide innovative solutions, true to our motto of taking gaming to ‘the next level’. We released the iDROP to the market – the revolutionary cash handling system for live gaming tables. We updated our Pinnacle gaming machines – both on the hardware and software front. This includes 3D games and server-based gaming. We gained several approvals to sell our electronic multiplayer and finally we further expanded the possibilities to make use of mobile gaming inside gaming locations. In short 2014 was a very busy year for our development teams. Our focus for 2015 is to further introduce these solutions to the global gaming market. That is why the company founder and CEO, Johannes Weissengruber, asked me to join the team last year as Global Sales Director. I am excited and proud about having this possibility to lead the global sales team for APEX gaming. With all these innovations, we had high expectations for the ICE. Even these expectations were exceeded. Therefore, I can say that 2015 will be a successful year for APEX gaming. What have been the stand-out installs in your opinion amongst all the installations that Apex gaming have had at Casinos over the last year? We are very proud of the contribution the iDROP has made at the brand new Gauselmann casino in Germany – the Merkur Spielbank LeunaGünthersdorf. This was the first casino in the global casino industry to introduce the iDROP and do this in such a way that the casino does not require a cash desk. A second important installation of the iDROP has been at the Imperial Casino in Strazny, Czech Republic. These are just two examples to mention in this short interview. Naturally we have had important installations for further products. The exciting news is the progress we are making with our automated multiplayer APEX PLAYER STATION (APS). The APS is terminal-based so is very flexible and modular for our customers. We offer four different games – including the APEX-only QUIKKER. The APS can be linked up to four different ROULETTE wheels, including live ROULETTE. And last but not least – it can be connected with our Pinnacle slots or with our mobile solutions (tablet gaming) to enable operators to offer the fun and excitement of playing on the APS even if all the terminal positions are occupied. We have made first installations in
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Ireland and the recent Irish Gaming Show was very successful for us. The approvals for sales have come through for Macau and we have high hopes here. How much success has the Pinnacle gaming machine family had since its introduction and what are the latest enhancements incorporated in to the updated range? The Pinnacle and Pinnacle SL (slant top) series are the basis of our land-based slot solutions. We have established the Pinnacle in many countries and jurisdictions over the past years. We have taken a great product and made it better still. Not just on the hardware side – but on the software front as well. Let me explain: We improved the Hardware and Software of the Pinnacle Series – referring to the hardware side, we have increased the monitor size to make playing on the Pinnacle even more enjoyable. We have not changed the cabinet form. The upright Pinnacle now has 24” monitors fitted (instead of 22”). The Pinnacle SL has 27” monitors (instead of 26”). We even offer an upgrade kit should customers wish to update their older Pinnacles to this latest design. For the software: we have introduced our EVO platform. This represents a quantum leap in game graphics and game speed. We have altered the way we portray our games – they are now placed in categories – Fruit Games, Table Games, 3D Games and Classic Games. The swipe technology that we know from smartphones has been implemented here, making changing screens so much easier today. Another great benefit for our customers is that our automated ROULETTE APS (APEX PLAYER STATION) can be linked to the Pinnacle slots – so slots players can play on the APS without having to leave the Pinnacle. By the way, we also offer our slots games on the APS. What are the essential features of the iDROP & why should a Casino go ahead with the expenditure to incorporate the iDROP System in their Casinos? The advantages are so many that we could spend the whole report just focusing on these! But let me sum these up: The iDROP closes all security gaps within the Live table game area from table to the counting room. Operators can monitor all iDROPs in real-time via his existing Casino Management System. iDROP communicates with the SAS Protocol, this makes the installation extremely easy. The iDROP supports ticket-in, ticket-out technology so that tickets can be entered into or paid out by the iDROP. Furthermore, the iDROP helps you to mix the
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Kubilay Özer (left) and Johannes Weissengruber (right) from APEX gaming with Karl-Heinz Lager from Merkur Spielbank Leuna-Günthersdorf
player culture within the casinos. For example, slot players can play with their tickets at the ROULETTETable or other way around. We have seen how popular this is at Merkur Casino in Leuna – players move much more freely between live gaming and slots gaming. You can say that the iDROP has enabled a culture change within casinos – to bring slots and live gaming together (which were traditionally separated). Is there a limit on the amount of tables the iDROP system can manage? No, there is no limit. How adaptable is the iDROP system and can it contribute to lowering bottom line operating costs? Yes absolutely! As players can now purchase their jetons directly at the live gaming table (and also receive their winnings directly there as well), casinos no longer need to have a cash desk. Merkur Casino Leuna-Günthersdorf in Germany is a great example of a casino that is completely automatized. Personnel expenses are therefore minimized. The fixed costs are reduced on a long-term basis.
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Furthermore, the jetons all stay at the tables. Players no longer take them to the cash desk to be redeemed or buy them at the cash desk to play. The number of jetons required is halved when using the iDROP in this way. Moving on to day-to-day savings – remember that the iDROP gives the operator immediate, real-time data on the drop at each table. Shrinkage at the tables can no longer occur. The state-of-the art technology within the iDROP ensures that no fake banknotes can be accepted – a further saving. No-one is going to try and launder fake money in casinos at the live tables knowing that the iDROP will immediately recognise and signal to the croupiers if such false banknotes are entered into it. Is the iDROP System easy to operate and maintain or does it require someone trained and proficient in IT to manage? The iDROP System has been constructed so that everyone can operate this without any special knowledge or background. It has a touchscreen for the croupier to quickly and professionally operate the iDROP correctly. Also we kept the maintenance simple. You can replace moving parts within seconds
without any technical knowledge. Is the Apex Mobile Slot application that provides players the option of playing their favourite games such as Ocean Tale on slots or tablets an evolution from the magic mobile application launched in 2013? While APEX Magic Mobile was a good foundation for developing APEX Slot Challenge and APEX mobile slots, APEX Mobile Slots is a huge step forward in mobile server-based gaming. It provides a reliable, secure and efficient mobile gaming platform for casino operators to extend their offer and enable their players to switch between land-based slots and mobile tablets in the casino. With a special version of APEX iDROP the borders between land-based and mobile gaming are blurred even more: players can switch between the mobile slots (tablets) and landbased machines making use of ticket-in, ticket-out. This allows players to continue playing in lounge areas and bars, where no land-based slot machines are available. We were also very proud to introduce automated and live-table ROULETTE integration for the APEX mobile slots at ICE 2015 in London. Players can now participate in live table games, as well as play slots games on the mobile devices.
opportunities to guess which numbers are hiding behind these cards. It´s very simple to understand and makes a lot of fun for the player. The player can win up to three hundred times of his bet – so over eight times higher that of ROULETTE! With an ever increasing capabilities of computing hardware that is enabling game developers to create even more complex levels of game interaction and complexity, what are the key aspects of the EVO Platform that you consider make it the first choice for Casinos ahead of those provided by other manufacturers and suppliers? The new graphics and design have been very well received by operators and players. For example, you can hide credit on the display only with one finger touch. You can start or stop gambling with the swipe function like smartphone or tablet products. The technology has immensely speeded up the game play. Switching between games is done in a fraction of a second. The 3D games are portrayed in an outstanding way. All in all, the EVO platform has made a fantastic positive impact on the game graphics and display.
The gaming industry has had companies state claims of cutting overheads, revenue optimization, increased productivity all provided to impress and sell. Can iDROP provide statistics and an example of a Casino operation where your system has an impact? The examples cited above on how the iDROP can lower costs are proven. To reiterate: A cash desk is no longer required – the daily savings here are substantial. The savings by having to buy less tokens. The added security at live tables – the cash is completely accounted for. Furthermore, the iDROP enables a new culture of uniting slots and live gaming – that can lead to an increase in game play and thus revenue.
What is your opinion on the way the number of industry manufacturers is converging? The shape of the industry is definitely changing and the number of mergers and acquisitions has been amazing. I see this as an opportunity for companies like APEX gaming – privately-owned companies with many years of experience and success in the market. Operators want to offer their players diversity. Today there are fewer companies offering land-based gaming solutions. It is our pledge to continue to support operators in offering their customers the diversity they require. With all the new products we have on offer and that in a market where diversity is key, this further increases our standing. No one wants to be dependent on one or two suppliers / manufacturers.
Could you explain to our readers how the QUIKKER Card Game works? QUIKKER is a game that we have brought to the gaming world. It is a table game that unites the best of both worlds for ROULETTE and black jack. You have 2 closed cards on the display and player bets on the potential outcome(s). For example, I can bet that the first card will be between 2-7 and the second card between 8-K or both cards have the same number or symbol, etc.. The player has several
And finally what are the company’s main goals for 2015? APEX is very successful in Europe. We have focused on our key markets and built up a reputable position. Now is the time to expand into further countries where we have traditionally not been active in. We have ultra-modern gaming solutions. The opportunities for the APS in Macau are a great example. The international demand for our products prove to us that we are on the right track.
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