Volume 14 Issue 123
Greek gaming is in safe hands
Regency Entertainment
Editorial: Editor in Chief: Glyn Thomas Mob: +44 (0) 7727 969 299 glyn@ace123.com Features Editor:
Damien Connelly
dconnelly@ace123.com Associate Editor Asia: Bill Healey bill@ace123.com
Associate Editor North America David Mckee
dmckee@ace123.com Special Assignment Correspondent: Sophie Behan
sophielbehan@gmail.com International Casino & Gaming Correspondent: JJ Woods
jjsilks@eircom.net Technology Correspondent: Rebecca Green
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Editor’s Page Welcome to Casino Life...
Autumn – a season of mellow reflection and yet no let up to the travelling to various casino-related events throughout the world. As mentioned in our last issue Peter White headed to Las Vegas and G2E that by all accounts was an improvement on last year and more visitors and exhibitors expressed a renewed confidence. So. Pause. Deep breath. G2E... Las Vegas ... yes, got that... oh, and I went to Johannesburg for ICE Africa. Low numbers of casino-related exhibitors reflected the dominance of the growing online and sports betting industry but there were some fantastic visitor numbers. Clarion took ICE as a brand and stamped it firmly on the inaugural show. Those branding details count. That marketing counts. Those visitors count... especially to the exhibitors. Was staff nervous on the opening morning? You bet, but by midday with footfall tumbling onto stands Kate Chambers allowed herself a smile and a cappuccino moustache. It was also a good move having the free conference sessions which, without exception, were all packed every day – reflecting the thirst for knowledge on everything from the value of Casino Resorts to the spending habits of the “Afrimillennials” (not my idea – honest). Chairing a session with Thabo Mosololi, CEO, Sun International, Robert Brassai, Sense4Gaming and Petro Magos of Magos Media, was a joy and I had to close down the Q&A way too early for the audience. Great enthusiasm. In the next few days I travelled throughout the city to various casinos and Jo’burg has truly come of age... very slick and a great balance of entertainment and dining with casinos has worked well. Many thanks also to Sun City for their tour – more from that venue in a later edition. Wheels down finally and last week saw us back in London for another successful Slot Summit. A quick canter through this issue see us talking to Ian Gosling, COO at Regency Entertainment; Brett Model, GM at Tiger Palace Resort, Bhairahawa, Nepal, chats to Bill Healey; There’s Optical Warfare on the Gaming Table whilst John Connolly takes a closer look at Playing Card Security; Marie Maher tells us how to make better use of executive search services; The Hakkasan in Vegas will get your taste buds bubbling; A review of the key happenings at G2E is next and we finish with Damien Connelly’s “Last Word.” Phew!
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Publisher: Peter White
Tel: +44 (0) 1892 740869
Mob: +44 (0) 7973 273714 pwhite@ace123.com
Glyn Thomas Editor in Chief
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Contents 3
Editors page
6 Quality Never Goes Out Of Style Ian Gosling, COO at Regency Entertainment Operators of Regency Casino Mont Parnes and Regency Casino Thessaloniki, talks to Peter White and Damien Connelly 16 Premier Entertainment Brett Model, General Manager, Tiger Palace Resort, Bhairahawa, Nepal, chats to Bill Healey 25 Optical Warfare At The Gaming Table By: Terry Roses, High-Tech Gaming Consultant with Ed Newman 29 Playing Card Security System (PCSS) By John Connolly 31 Utilizing Executive Search Services Most Effectively Strategies for success for both employers and candidates. By: Marie J. Maher Ph.D. 36 Hakkasan Vegas Cantonese Fusion - Trendy dining at Hakkasan on the Las Vegas Strip - by Bill Healey 41 G2E 2018 The Best of the Best at the Gaming Show in Las Vegas – by: Victor H Royer • Aristocrat • Interblock • TransAct • JCJ Architecture • Gaming Arts • Zitro • DR Gaming Technology • GeWeTe • Apex Gaming • IGT • Aruze • Samsung • AGS • Konami 70 The Last Word By Damien Connelly
Editorial Policy: The views and opinions expressed in Casino Life remain principally the views of contributors and do not necessarily reflect those of the editor or publishers. The publishers wish to avoid inaccuracies and, whilst every precaution has been taken to ensure that information contained in this publication is accurate, no liability is accepted by the editor or publishers for errors or omissions, however caused. Unless otherwise stated, articles appearing in this publication remain the copyright of the publishers and may not be reproduced in any form without the publisher’s written consent. Printed in the UK by MPC Ltd.
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Quality Never Goes Out Of Style Ian Gosling, COO at Regency Entertainment Operators of Regency Casino Mont Parnes and Regency Casino Thessaloniki, talks to Peter White and Damien Connelly
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casino market, we are confident they will share our high levels of integrity. Understanding the magnitude of the development is a little daunting, total investment will be in the range €8bn on a site three times the size of Central Park (6.200.000sqm). Investment for the IRC is expected to be in the region of €600-700m.
What is Regency Entertainment view on the bidding process for the Casino Licence? We watch with great interest for the release of the RFP, after reading the ‘teaser”, its without doubt a major development for Athens and Greece, we wish the process every success. As a company, we will welcome a respected international operator joining the Greek
Given Regency Entertainments legacy in Casino operations over recent decades in Greece, wouldn’t you expect the Hellenic Gaming Commission (HGC) to give serious consideration to Regency Entertainment’s proven success and commitment to Greece and the Greek economy over many years? Currently Regency is very well positioned in Greece, with facilities in Thessaloniki & Athens. A recent regulatory
he Hellinikon Integrated Resort Casino (IRC) will be built over more than 600,000 square meters of the former Airport, and include a mix of hotels, convention and exhibition facilities, themed attractions, entertainment, a 15,000 sq.m. casino, shops, gourmet restaurants, and other tourist attractions.
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change permits the relocation of Mont Parnes Casino (Athens) to a more central and urban site within the city.
Operating in the country for over twenty years we fully acknowledge things can never go back to the way it was
This will allow us the opportunity to establish a real “locals casino” and when taking the adage of location, location, location, being the three most important attributes for a successful casino, we are quietly confident! We did have a look at the Hellinikon project but realised very quickly it was not for us.
but what we can do is exceed expectations even if the spend isn’t what it was.
What do you see as the main issues facing Casinos in the Greece presently and over the next 5 years? Greeks have a natural propensity to gamble, perhaps the highest in Europe. The gross gaming revenue (GGR) witnessed during the period 1997-2007 was extraordinary, until the country hit a brick wall in 2008. Since then austerity measures have really taken their toll. The challenge is to offer our customers an excellent experience, fully understanding the constraints of their budget. Time value for more money, at times is over used but there is no better way to sum up gaming in Greece.
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Earlier this year the Government law changed so there was a removal of entrance ticket requirement to Casinos, how has this been received by patrons to their ability to enter both Casinos without delay? For many years we lobbied for the removal of the paid entrance ticket but still maintaining registration, this was finally achieved in April 2018. Since then we have seen an increase of over 100,000 customers in Thessaloniki and 25,000 in Athens (when compared to last year). With the introduction of VLT’s and aggressive marketing from on-line and border casinos in Northern Greece, land-based casino industry needed some help. With customers visiting the casino with a much-reduced budget the saving of the €6 entrance ticket has had a very positive affect.
Ian Gosling, COO at Regency Entertainment
From a Table Games perspective what are the most popular and do you trial new games and if so have you
follow the same trends, with the largest number of VLT’s being in Athens we adapt to meet that challenge head on.
any that have been proven winners in recent years? Table games produce 40-45% of GGR, with 60% of this coming from American Roulette (single zero, European wheel). Under our current regulations the games we are permitted to offer is very restricted, the four core games are AR, BJ, CSP and THP, we cannot trial.
In the north it’s the competition coming from the border casinos that helps determine our mix of machines and the optimum operating percentage. Our customer determines our replacement cycle, when they become uninterested with games/machines we will change them out, saying that, we still operate machines 10 years old, because that’s what the player wants.
What are the range of slot machines and what is your replacement cycle at Regency Casino Mont Parnes (RCMP) and Regency Casino Thessaloniki (RCT)? We intentionally have a very wide range of machines, we believe, not one manufacturer excels in all areas, they have their strengths and weaknesses. Video reels are the most prominent with a good proportion of them being linked in multi-level progressive banks. The traditional stepper still has an important percentage share of the floor, they command such a loyal following as does poker and stand-alone roulette machines. The two casinos don’t
You’ve been in the casino gaming industry for more than four decades. Your roles have taken you to various unique locations around the world. What led you into the industry? The casino industry has been good to me, as you rightly say it has allowed me to work around the world, meet some fascinating people, seen things you only dream of and the same time be rewarded in step with the effort you put in. Joining the business in the late 70’s was me looking for somewhere my personality would fit in, accountancy
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was not doing that! I never look back with regret and still look forward with excitement. Do you see Online Gaming affecting your visitor numbers in the years ahead and what are you doing to retain patrons? We have shared the market with on-line companies for well over 10 years now, for the first-time last year on-line GGR was above that of the land-based industry. New regulations will be introduced sometime next year which may slow down the expansion, due to high taxes, expensive licenses, non-use of RNG games. Finally
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regulating the industry will certainly throw up some anomalies which could see customers visiting the casinos more often. How do both Regency Casino Mont Parnes and Regency Casino Thessaloniki Casinos rank in comparison to the other casinos in Greece? Through its two casinos, Regency controls over 60% of the total business in Greece. The brand is strong having been built during the good and bad times of the Greek economy, we never lost sight of our position within the industry, that of market leader. To be the premier operator
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comes with a lot of responsibility, never being late with paying taxes, employee’s remuneration, foreign and local suppliers, Regency is the shining star of Greek casinos. Where do the casinos draw their customers from? Are they all local or do you also for example have allot of business travellers and holiday makers? Ours is a local’s business, we see very little tourist action. As gambling tourism doesn’t really exist in Europe we concentrate our attention on residents of Greece, occasionally in Athens we will see some foreign businessmen visit the casino but not that many. Thessaloniki because of its hotel does handle junket groups from Cyprus, Albania, Italy and Lebanon. Do either or both Regency Casino Mont Parnes and Regency Casino Thessaloniki have conference facilities and host events such as weddings and private parties? Regency Casino Thessaloniki does have a sister hotel close by, Hyatt Regency Thessaloniki, within this property there are numerous facilities including a conference centre, meeting rooms, banquets suites, which cater to the type of events you mention. In Athens the property lacks this type of infrastructure, but it is certainly something we will include in the design of the relocated property.
As we have a first-class theatre in Thessaloniki, attendance is impacted very positively on show nights. Both casinos offer live entertainment on their gaming floor, on many occasions supplementing a mega draw or similar event. We strive to book a diverse range of shows which keeps our customers interested. When RCMP moves to its new home the complex will include a wide range of entertainment venues, specially tailored for our customers.
How do the casino’s entertainment offerings impact visits to the casino?
What percent of your players are members of your loyalty program. What makes this marketing tool so powerful?
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On making registration to enter the casinos for the first time, you automatically become a member of the loyalty club. Over the years there has been a concerted effort to get the customers to use their cards, after all, points mean prizes! We have invested heavily in the club and now we are seeing the benefits, we have over 65% of our players receiving rewards from the points earned through their
What would you say are amongst the stand out features of the Regency Casino Mont Parnes and Regency Casino Thessaloniki? The team members are a stand out feature of both casinos, many have been with us a long time, we really are family in every sense of the word, without them nothing is possible. Maintaining a regulated approach
play, both on table games and slots. Through segmentation we find it very easy to target groups within the club for special offers and rewards, this targeted approach is cost efficient and we see a very positive response.
to all transaction is a must, as we all know there are no short cuts in the casino business, policy and procedures protect the business and everybody who works there. Our customers see a well-oiled machine, such integrity allows them to feel comfortable in our hands, making their visits enjoyable from start to finish. As we are part of the community we must take our responsibilities seriously and contribute when necessary.
Quality and affordability have been two key words associated with food and drink at Casinos catering for many of their local regular patrons what is your approach to food and beverage? We don’t go “cheap” with our customers, complimentary F&B is still very much part of the marketing plan, although we are encouraging more and more players to use their loyalty points. Understanding you customer and recognising his/her needs is very important especially when it comes to F&B, we are a local’s business, so we give them what they like. Exotic theme nights make a welcome change, but we are selective, to far from the norm and we will have an empty buffet!
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Over the years how have you found the culture of your working environment for women in this industry change? Regency is an equal opportunity company, always has been and always will. There has been lots of changes in our industry over the last 40 years but I never witnessed a negative culture towards women, that isn’t to say it didn’t go on. Working with female team members is refreshing and informative, I for one enjoy the interaction.
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Brett Model, General Manager, Tiger Palace Resort, Bhairahawa, Nepal
Premier Entertainment Brett Model, General Manager, Tiger Palace Resort, Bhairahawa, Nepal, chats to Bill Healey
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urrounded by the awe-inspiring scenery of the Himalayan foothills, and with a grand vision to match, Nepal’s Tiger Palace Resort is set to transform the region’s gaming and entertainment landscape. With an impressive
start earlier this year (2018), the resort destination is reaching new levels, unmatched within South Asia. We have been fortunate to catch-up with Mr. Brett Model, General Manager, Tiger Palace Resort. Tell us a bit about the vision for Tiger Palace Resort. It’s much more than a standard South Asian casino. The vision for Tiger Palace Resort is to revolutionise the Indian gaming experience and establish a new benchmark for casino destinations in the South Asian region. We have created a brand that leverages the success, reputation and core values of Silver Heritage Group and aims to transform the India-Nepal border region into a premier entertainment zone. Combining international standards with local understanding, it is the first casino resort brand that caters to the needs of today’s South Asian consumer. Once the international facilities at the adjacent domestic airport are completed, the resort will become accessible
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directly from major Indian cities and will also become crucial to China, Thailand, and other Asia cities with direct flights. Describe the casino and resort management team. Located in a country with a limited number of casinos, management and higher-level staff must come from abroad. We have carefully assembled a world class management team from as far afield as Australia, Europe and the USA who share our vision of creating the new Las Vegas or Macau for the fastest growing region in the world, India,
and who bring with them extensive experience working in their home countries as well as Asia’s established and frontier locations such as Macau, Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam. Our employee headcount at Tiger Palace Resort now stands at 819, with 95% (780) being Nepali citizens, a significant number having been hired from the local province. Silver Heritage Group is proud that within Nepal (Bhairahawa and Kathmandu) it already employs over 1,000 Nepali citizens and remains committed to continuous internal training and skills transfer, offering unique long-term opportunities for personal and career
growth. Have there been challenges in staffing and training for locals unfamiliar with casinos and gaming? It is true that many of the locals in the border area are not familiar with 5-star resorts, but this has proven to be a benefit as we are working with a young workforce who are eager to learn and grow with an international company. The customs and traditions of the local people encourages a natural understanding of what it means when we talk about building a service culture for our guests and their desire to achieve this is heartfelt. We have the perfect
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canvas to work with, in establishing our vision. In addition, Tiger Palace Resort has provided an opportunity in their home country for the wide diaspora of Nepalese working
The table games offered at the resort’s casino include all of the regular favorites such as Blackjack, Baccarat, Roulette, Dragon Tiger, Poker, Three Card Poker and Stud Poker
in 5-star resorts abroad in locations such as Dubai, Malaysia, the Maldives, and even Vanuatu to return home and share their world-class skills with their eager to learn countrymen.
along with the uniquely played Indian games such as Flush, Teen Patti and Andar Bahar, which are favourites among the Indian gaming community.
What is the physical size of the casino? How many table games and slots does the casino have? The casino is spread over 2,500 sqm and features three distinct gaming zones which are at-par with some of the best in the world. For seasoned and high-stake players, it features a distinct Premium Mass and VIP area. The casino currently features 48 gaming tables and over 200 electronic gaming machines, and there is a capacity for expansion. The casino also has a performance stage and stylish bar. The Private Gaming and VIP area, adding at least 6 more gaming tables, are expected to open soon. What are the table games offered?
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Located in Bhairahawa, does the distance from a major metropolitan area present any challenges in drawing guests into the casino and resort? Tiger Palace Resort is extremely well connected with the major metropolitan areas of Nepal and India, with a new 6-lane highway running alongside the resort’s entrance, due to be completed before the end of 2018. It is strategically located just 10 km from Nepal’s domestic airport, Gautam Buddha Airport, which is funded by the ADB and OPEC Funds, in order to open international facilities in 2019. This airport is short circa 25-minute flight from Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu. Guests can choose to fly to Gorakhpur from New Delhi (several daily flights), an airport located a comfortable
2.5 hr drive from Tiger Palace Resort. Major cities in Uttar Pradesh, India, such as Kanpur, Lucknow, and Gorakphur itself are a drivable distance from the resort. Are Nepalese citizens allowed to enter the casinos? Are there any plans to change this policy? We strictly adhere to the local regulations set by the Nepalese government. Following which entry of Nepalese citizens is restricted in the casino and currently, there is no intimation of change in these government policies. What are the nationality demographics of the casino guest? With a close proximity to the border with India, it would seem Indian citizens would be the marketing focus. Currently about 90% of our guests are Indians. Our primary target market is the 430 million Indians in neighbouring states of Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and West Bengal, approximately 20% of whom are middle-class aspirational consumers. In addition to India as a market we also intend to tap into the well-known gaming markets of China and
Thailand as well as Bangladesh and Vietnam all of which are within a comfortable flight time to Nepal, currently flying to Kathmandu but soon due to be connected directly to Bhairahawa itself. We have a marketing team based at the resort and offices in Kathmandu and India. How does social media play into the casinos marketing operations? With the tremendous growth in the usage rate and reach of social media particularly in India which is a world-leader in Information Technology; for example India remains the biggest worldwide market for WhatsApp, which has 160 million active users and has hit 200 million monthly active users in India. These platforms have become a valuable channel for brand marketing and driving revenue growth. Through social media we can generate brand awareness with real time interactions with our existing and potential guests and disseminate information about our latest events and offers at the resort. It helps us collate quick feedback from the guests. We utilise these strategic platforms to drive relevant
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traffic to the Tiger Palace Resort’s website through our
Our aim with Tiger Palace Resort is to create an integrated
continuous SMM and SEM campaigns. These platforms also keep us constantly updated about our current and potential guests.
destination for a world-class entertainment experience. Therefore, we have kept our focus on providing a holistic experience to our guests. Along with the casino, the resort also features 100 tastefully designed and well-appointed guest rooms, two VIP villas, four separate food and beverage options, a spa & salon, fitness centre with steam and sauna facilities, the largest outdoor swimming-pool in Nepal, children’s play area called Cub’s Kingdom along with an array of other recreational facilities. We are also located just 25km from Lumbini, the birthplace of Buddha and UNESCO World Heritage Site, and just a couple of hours drive to the East of Tiger Palace Resort sits the beautiful Chitwan National Park, also a UNESCO World Heritage Site, with its wildlife including Bengal Tiger, One-Horned Rhino and Elephant.
With 100% of the casino guests being non-Nepalese, is there much focus on Responsible Gaming? As an international company listed in Australia we take Responsible Gaming very seriously. We have a selfexclusion programme available for patrons and ensure that all marketing collateral and gaming incentive programmes prominently display Responsible Gaming advice. Gaming staff also use best industry practices, in conjunction with a responsible service of alcohol policy, to identify at risk patrons. Describe the non-gaming activities of the resort. There seems to be a good balance between gaming and nongaming options.
Casino Life would like to thank Mr. Brett Model and Tiger Palace Resort for their time and effort.
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Optical Warfare At The Gaming Table By Terry Roses, High-Tech Gaming Consultant with Ed Newman
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hether it’s dice, slots, roulette or poker, everyone is hoping they can find a way to put the odds in their favor in the gaming room. A simple Google search will bring you all kinds of advice from how to throw the dice in craps to how to distract a dealer at a blackjack table. Most of those tips being proffered are pretty harmless to the casinos, usually giving people a false hope that they’ve found an edge. On the other hand, because of the stakes, there are many others who push boundaries and actively work up new ways to cheat and, if able to not get caught, to win. It is gamers of this latter type, the cheats, that surveillance teams are on the lookout for, because they can be a threat. The focus in this article will be on card games. Cheating at poker and blackjack comes in a wide variety of styles. Card mechanics are those who use sleight of hand and manipulation. There are muckers who switch cards or conceal cards. A majority of cheats, perhaps as much as 75%, do so by means of placing large nearly invisible marks on the cards. This will be explained shortly. 15% of cheating involves sophisticated marking that requires optical devices. Finally, and this is what has alarmed today’s casinos, there are new, futuristic high-tech sensing devices and poker analyzers which if unchecked will continue to become more of a problem. Catching cheaters who use high-tech methods has increasingly become a challenge to surveillance. The old
Terry Roses, High-Tech Gaming Consultant
ways of gaining an advantage at cards are slowly being replaced by cheaters using sophisticated optical devices such as contact lenses, eyeglasses, modified cameras, and poker analyzers. These optical readers are used to detect invisible inks, analyze poker hands and see near-infrared marks on cards. Today’s surveillance expert is faced with the daunting task of trying to keep ahead of all of this technology.
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When it comes to watching what goes on at a card game surveillance is no longer just about keeping a close eye out to catch players or dealers with card mechanic skills who are capable of performing special moves to control, switch or mark cards. Surveillance detectives must also learn to count cards. When catching a card counter the best defense is a good offense. Complex computer programs have been designed today to track cards, chips and players, count cards, look for and single out suspect games etc. This is an important first step to catching high-tech cheating. Investigators must develop a sixth sense that gives them the uncanny ability to recognize a cheater’s social habits, body language and manifold diversions. To top it all off they must be well-informed on all of the proper table procedures. The list of required skills goes on and on. It takes genuine devotion and years of study for a surveillance detective to develop these skills. He/she must become a highly trained specialist. Modern day hightech cheaters are often the first to apply new discoveries to the gaming tables to gain an unfair advantage. As a result, technology has created a niche for a new breed
Next, you will want to know what can be done to protect and prevent these systems from working in your casino. Finally, you will need the proper training and equipment to detect these high-tech scams and catch the “would be” thieves before they ever leave the tables. To get started it will help to narrow things down. Let’s begin by taking a look at some of the older high-tech systems that have been used in the past. About 50 years ago an ingenious prism device was developed by a gentleman in Nevada that allowed the dealer to peek at the top card in a shoe and hold it back until a favorable time. This device could be attached onto the back of a dealing shoe. The dealer could simply pull the top card back into the prism to peek at the value of the card. This eliminated the need for placing a mark on a card. The top card could be held back (second dealing) until it was needed. This system is what I have termed a “no markmark.” This means no marked card was required in order to know the top card. When a dealer is in league with a player the proper term is called “social engineering.” Many subtle methods of using this system were developed. Perhaps the most devious method was for the
of specialized surveillance expert. High-tech cheaters no longer need to develop the skills of a card mechanic, count cards or do business with an “inside” employee of the casino to gain an advantage over the casino. The years of practice that it takes a card mechanic to master such skills as false shuffling, false dealing, switching cards (mucking) and developing teams to create diversions while a deck or shoe is being switched is no longer necessary. The fact is that technology has made it possible for
dealer to simply signal a player when to hit or stand. This eliminated any need for the dealer to hold the top card back for second dealing. An interesting offspring of this invention is an adaptation of this idea to the gaming table enabling a dealer to check the face down card to see if it is a face card or an ace. If the original developer had only taken his idea to another legitimate-level he would have made a fortune. Marked cards have been around forever. Professional cheaters either mark the cards prior to a game or use a rouge substance that is known as “daub” to mark cards
anyone to become an instant cardsharp. The big question for surveillance professionals is “will you be ready?” Let’s take a look to see what can be done to help you to detect, prevent and defend your casino from becoming a target of high-tech cheaters. The first step is to become aware of what high-tech threats are out there; that is the goal of this article.
during play. Decks marked for casino play are known as “paper.” There are three main types of marked cards (paper) used by cheaters: “shaded”, “juice” and “flash.” Shaded cards are marked by applying “daub” or a shading ink to a pre-determined area of the playing card. This can be done with a Q-tip, brush or during play by
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placing “daub” on a finger-tip and touching the card to mark it. “Juice” decks are an advanced form of “shade.” This special type of mark requires considerable training to see. It is a much more sophisticated type of mark, yet still visible to the naked eye. “Flash” cards are made before the cards are put on the table. The cheater trains his/her eyes to detect a light area of the cards. The mark is usually a round dot or a line. Each of the above types of marks require specialized training to see. The advantage to these types of marking systems is that the cards can be identified from a long distance. This means that the cheater can know every player’s cards simply by glancing across the table. Many measures must be taken into consideration to detect or use these types of marking systems. Knowing what game is being played, the type of lighting over the table and how to focus your eyes to read the marks are just a few factors. These types of marking systems are still being widely
used in casinos today. Learning to read these types of marks is a must for surveillance. Surveillance experts need to be taught how to read these types of marks so they can catch the scam before the cheaters leave the table. Over the past decade a great many high-tech invisible inks have been developed that can only be seen while wearing custom eyeglasses, contact lenses or by using special modified cameras. Most of these systems use special colored lenses or filters. It has been estimated that over 90,000 decks of hightech marked cards have been produced over the past decade. Three of the main sources where these cards originate are from such countries as China, Korea and Romania, made available through various online sites. A cheater can even send casino decks to these companies to have them marked. These companies also offer contact lenses, eyeglasses and cameras that are designed to read the marks. Normally the suspect cards would need to be sent off to a specialized lab for forensic examination. By then the cheaters have left with their winnings. It then becomes problematic trying to make a case to recover any losses. Some invisible inks cannot be found simply by looking through a red filter or a UV light. This presents a new challenge for surveillance. The only way to detect this type of scam is to have the correct type of optical equipment needed to see the marks. Nowadays, surveillance experts can locate most of the high-tech marking systems in seconds by using a specialized device known as an Inspecta Card Scanner. This piece of equipment can be held to the eye for instantly identifying high-tech marks.
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reputation, and employees who cheat are fired, not rewarded. All over the world the casino industry provides jobs for tax-paying citizens, therefore they have a vested interest in playing fair. Nevertheless, there are plenty of scammers driven by greed or a need to see how much they can get away with. For this reason, casinos must spend a boatload of money on surveillance and training in order to keep things on the up and up for everyone. Cheating is essentially stealing.
Summary One of the best features is that the Inspecta Card Scanner can be attached to a cell phone to covertly walk around the casino and take live video of cards on all of the tables. It is then simply a matter of playing back the video to see if any of the cards are marked. Scanning for marked cards while they are on the tables will not only locate the marks but also record the players who are seated at the table. What better way of collecting evidence? In his book The Unexpected Gambler, Robert Asiel writes about how the casinos themselves used to cheat and even gave bonuses to blackjack dealers who took the gamblers’ money. Asiel decided to turn the tables and spent a lifetime as a crossroader, one who works in collusion with others to cheat the casinos. He justified his behavior by calling it a
Surveillance experts need to be taught how to spot shade, juice and flash. These marks are in the visible range and do not require special optical readers to detect the marks other than the human eye and the proper training. From there, the next step is to be trained and equipped to use the specialized tools needed to locate high-tech marks outside the range of the human eye, that do require special filters for the eye to see. Some of what we’re finding today is nothing short of sci-fi. For example, there are decks with barscodes written on the edges of the cards that can be read with a modified near-infrared camera. The IR read then sends an image of bar codes to an analyzer in the player’s pocket that determines which player has the winning hand. The analyzer then converts the signal to an audio message which is sent to a receiver in the player’s ear. Not possible, you say? Think about this. Self-driving cars use sensors that feed information to a brain box that must calculate 2 million bits of data per second. Reading cards and calculating who was dealt the strongest hand is
form of revenge. But things have changed a lot since those earlier days. Today the casinos rake in money honestly, as the odds favor the house. It is more important to maintain a good
relatively easy by comparison. Sending a signal to a player by means of an ear piece is a piece of cake after that. Microchips, photon beams and RFID sensors within the cards themselves, are no longer future tech. Even the ability to see through cards is already here. Old school cheats will be easier to catch, but casinos need to be prepared for these emerging technologies. This is a growing need and it’s real, which we hope to address in our next article.
Terry Roses Biography
Terry Roses is the “go to” person whom many of the world’s leading casinos have reached out to for defense training against high-tech card marking systems. His expertise on how cheaters cheat has made him a much sought-after speaker and instructor at conferences like the World Game Protection Conference (WGPC) as well as The Upper Midwest Intelligence Gathering (UMIC). His Inspecta Card Scanner has been endorsed by leading game protection experts including Ted Whiting, VP of Corp Surveillance at MGM Resorts International. (See https://bbc.in/2B6cRdO) For more information visit https://detectmarkedcards.com
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Playing Card Security System (PCSS)
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By John Connolly
very casino I am invited to consult to or to conduct an internal audit at in the world or every casino I have worked in over the past 40 years in management, has a different system of accounting for the playing card stock. In a lot of cases it is a mess. Daily, weekly or monthly playing card inventories are time consuming and sometimes left up to the honesty of one or two individuals who have or are given access to the card storage room. Cards are moved by hand from table to table to pit desk and across the casino floor and sometimes out of sight or optimal range of camera coverage and then into the back of house.
Playing cards as we know are one of the most important assets of the casino environment but are too often neglected and made to be very vulnerable. We have heard very recently of a casino being fined $100k by gaming regulators for dealing with short decks. Another instance was when pre-shuffled playing cards were stored in a locked cupboard in a designated player area where cheats obtained access to the cupboard. The incidents where playing card protection has been compromised are too numerous to mention here. Playing cards are today being marked with invisible dye or video luminous paint which can only be viewed through special contact lenses or through a video monitor. The protection of playing cards is vital to the
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profitability of the casino. Hand muckers, card switchers, card markers, cold decks being introduced onto table games – these are just some of the methods used to cheat the casino out of important revenue. Remember money lost to cheating in a casino is seldom recoverable. Cristian Curelea has invented and has a patent application for the playing card security system (PCSS) which would help to protect and standardize playing card usage throughout the whole process of card delivery, acceptance, storage, issuance and manual or machine distribution on the gaming table and including the destruction process. Each card and deck is scanned and given a unique coded numerical algorithm, this code is not visible to the naked eye. (see fig.1) Fig.1
This PCSS has a patent application in the Unites States as illustrated in these images pictured and also with WIPO (World Intellectual Property Organization).
Playing cards which have presumably been sent to be destroyed cannot enter back into the system, any card which would leave the designated area would be alerted to and any cards which had left the house altogether cannot enter back into the system. The system has also a patent application pending in Macau, Canada, Australia, and the United Kingdom.
Imagine a world where the same card protection system is throughout every casino in your group, giving credibility, security, efficiency and customer assuredness as well as staff usability. For more information on this highly secure, cost effective and cost saving system contact: Cristian Curelea @ info@eyeontheaction.com Tel: +40 720 783975 www.eyeontheaction.com
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Utilizing Executive Search Services Most Effectively
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Strategies for success for both employers and candidates. Marie J. Maher Ph.D.
s a top global Executive Recruiter, I deal with companies all over the world finding them outstanding talent. We fill jobs for employers globally. Sometimes, they share with me that they have not had success in the past using executive search services. In the same way, executive candidates often tell me they have been disappointed previously with representation by an executive recruiter. In this column I’d like to share how you can make the maximum use of an Executive Search professional and have a successful and rewarding result – if you are an employer or a candidate.
Employer Pointers Starting with employers I’ll share some pointers here about how to most effectively utilize your Executive Search partner. These are the things that will help me move swiftly to find you fantastic talent: A “real” job description, (not the one created 10 years ago and outdated), a realistic salary range and clear disclosure to me about your expected hiring figure, explaining to me about your benefits, perks, bonuses, telling me why you have a great place to work, giving me some tools to help me “sell” your company and location to fine executive and management candidates, acknowledge my candidate submissions. Please return my phone calls and emails, and give me feedback. I cannot find you the perfect hire if I cannot communicate with you.
Marie J. Maher Ph.D
But most importantly for employers, is your hiring arc. The MOST effective hiring arc looks like this: • One week to get me what I need from you and confirm our relationship. Only a day or two for repeat business. • Two weeks for me to find you great candidates. • Two weeks for you to do telephone interviews and decide who to bring on site. • Two weeks for you to hire.
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Ideally, from the time you contact me to making an offer and hire should not exceed 7 weeks. If it takes you longer than this, the candidates will either lose interest, take another position, or believe your company is slow to make key decisions. I cannot control your hiring arc, only you can do that. Remember, candidates are interviewing you also. They look for efficiency, honesty, and the clear ability to make decisions. I value my employers. I work internationally and have hundreds of different types of employer companies to work with. I always have repeat business because I am good at this and care about your needs and the candidates. But I cannot control your internal impediments. My own background as a business leader gives me a compassionate perspective on your concerns. If you have an internal challenge, tell me in confidence so I can provide a work around for you.
Executive Transitions If you are an executive looking for a career transition, please read my insights that follow. I’m sure you have heard the saying that the best time to look for a job is when you have one, and that’s the truth. No matter how disappointed you may be in your current job, I encourage you to remain as long as you effectively can. This will give you time and income to advance your career, rather than just finding a job because you have to. It’s always better to move forward from a platform of security. Use your planning time to plan what the future might look like. Address the issue of your career trajectory; where do you wish to end up? Are you on the correct path? Communicate with your professional references, to be sure you have their current contact information. Address your resume, update it and have a professional friend read it also for content and presentation. Research your field and read career advancement literature. Be prepared to move forward. I help qualified executives make career transitions across industries every day; specializing most often in gaming, hospitality, and Tribal leadership. My network of companies and executives is deep and dynamic. But, I do NOT find jobs for people. I find people for jobs. While I may open doors for you, you will get hired from your own efforts and presentation. How will you present yourself to the employer, secure the offer, and present yourself in the new workplace? Interviewing is absolutely key to a successful career transition.
The Zen Interview In the sense of finding your true self in daily business life, these are aspects of what I call “the Zen interview”. I see Zen interviews happening more than you might think. And they do NOT happen by luck or accident. They happen from an awareness and desire to produce the best possible outcomes in the interview session. They happen because of excellence. They happen because of emotional intelligence. And, you can maximize the chances of making them happen for your workplace or your own candidacy. There are FOUR absolutely necessary steps to creating a possible Zen interview. The first is simply PREPARATION. As an employer, before that candidate is sitting in front of you, review the questions you plan to ask and memorize them, so that you can speak to the interviewee rather than reading from a paper. This may seem obvious, but the biggest complaint I hear when debriefing candidates is, “They read questions from their paper and they didn’t even seem to be talking to me.” In fact, one candidate told me recently, and I later was able to verify, that he was asked the same question three times in a group interview. Everyone reading from their papers just kept asking it again. This diminished the candidate, but in his eyes it also diminished the executives interviewing him and ultimately the company itself. When I asked the interviewing team later how this could have happened, their answers were about not being prepared before the interview and not noticing their error; in other words they weren’t listening. As a candidate, you too must be well practiced before entering into the interview. Not in a robotic sense of having rote answers, but in a sense of revisiting your goals, considering how you wish to be seen, and reviewing your own resume for anything you plan to emphasize or explain. Consider a few conversational sentences you could offer that are professional and courteous. Help the interviewers to interview you successfully. And keep your answers on track. The biggest complaint I get from interviewers is that the candidate wandered, went off-point, rambled, and just lost their perspective. The second absolutely necessary step it to ENGAGE. Showing up is NOT engaging. Engaging means fully experiencing this interview. Listen to learn and understand, not to reply. Use encouraging body language; lean forward a bit, smile often, focus upon the speaker, use monosyllabic agreement sounds when appropriate. Do not interrupt; that is not engaging, that is rudeness. For the interviewer, it is not necessary to show the power balance by sitting across the desk, having crossed arms, a distant, aloof and unapproachable demeanor, and
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a non-responsive bearing. Remember that interviews cut both ways. The candidate is drawing conclusions also. In a very real sense, the candidate is interviewing you as well. Candidates, there is nothing wrong with enthusiasm. This is your career moment. Shine for it! Show up. Smile.
See it as an opportunity to explore another place and situation. Unblock your nervousness and appreciate the tense feeling as excitement about potential. For those of you who interview others, think what a great opportunity you have to help someone appreciate
Use your communication skills. Be there. The third step is to work through the interview process from a place of GRATITUDE. I’m not suggesting you need be grateful for the job interview itself, but please consider being grateful for the opportunity. This is a chance to meet new business connections who may become threaded throughout your career. Perhaps this is a chance to potentially raise your compensation level. It is a chance to engage in career related growth dialogue. For interviewers, this is an opportunity to view new talent and enjoy their fresh perspective. Everything about the interview process can be a window and opportunity to function within gratitude. Remember, coming from gratitude is not weakness. In fact, it may be the ultimate expression of strength. The final step is to bring your JOY. What? Is she crazy? Yes, that is correct; “Bring your joy.” Chill and enjoy. At the end of the day, this is another interview of a vast number in your career life. Whether you are being interviewed or interviewing another, make this special. You can do that by awakening your joyful spirit and bringing harmony to the experience.
themselves and what they have to offer, to show your compassion and knowledge, to be a mentor and role model. For those being interviewed, relax and feel the fun of exploring something new. Make this a joyful and exciting time to invigorate your life and career! If you are prepared, fully engaged, and you bring your joy, ANY interview can be a Zen interview! You will change jobs many times in your career, hence many job interviews. Overcome the drama or tedium and cherish this opportunity to connect. Not every job is meant for you, but most interview meetings are growth opportunities which you will understand and see more clearly over time. You will grasp these take-aways when you have clearer perspective on the experience. Wishing you continued productivity and success! Marie J. Maher Ph.D. is the owner of Recruiting by Marie Maher www.recruitingbymariemaher.com placing management talent internationally within Casino Gaming and Hospitality industries to include Dining, Lodging and all Entertainment venues. Contact her: marie@mariejmaher.com
Looking for the best? Recruiting by Marie Maher Performing confidential and discreet executive searches, finding the best talent internationally for Casino Gaming, Lodging, Dining, and Entertainment venues. There is never a fee unless you hire. Costs are moderate and satisfaction is high Visit our website: www.recruitingbymariemaher.com Contact Dr. Marie Maher: marie@mariejmaher.com
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M M J RECRUITING BY MARIE MAHER
5-7 February 2019 ExCeL London, UK
Applied Mathematics Applied mathematics expanded considerably when Pierre de Fermat and Blaise Pascal set the groundwork for probability theory and the corresponding rules of combinatorics over a game of gambling. #spiritofgenius
To experience gaming’s Spirit of Genius visit icelondon.uk.com
Hakkasan Vegas
A Sophisticated Dining Venue Cantonese Fusion - Trendy dining at Hakkasan on the Las Vegas Strip - by Bill Healey
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K
nowing first about the venue’s worldwide draw as a top Vegas nightclub, our sights for this evening were set on dining at the Hakkasan, considered one of the city’s must-visit restaurants. Having recently relocated to Las Vegas after spending two decades in Asia, we were keen to experience one of the city’s fashionable Asian-fusion restaurants. Hakkasan met our expectations, exceeding similar Cantonese fusion experiences at upscale venues in Asia.
Designed to impress, Hakkasan’s chilled ambiance alone is a big draw, with a chic East-Asian influenced motif -- a relaxed, yet futuristic atmosphere mixed with ambient music. Dining with my favorite Asian DJ, the two of us were seated in the main dining room with dark oak lattice, which creates intimate areas for each group, yet still maintains the overall edgy mood of the full restaurant. Though we glanced through Hakkasan’s extensive menu, we put our dining selections into the hands of our
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experienced and friendly server – Emerald. She took care
brought us a second round of drinks. This time I had the
of us throughout the evening. Emerald started us out with a couple of their signature drinks – I had the Island Heat (made with Kai lemongrass vodka, coconut, ginger, Thai basil, lime and hellfire bitters) which came with a refreshing kick. Erny was given The Hakka, their signature cocktail made with Belvedere vodka, Akashi-tai sake, lychee juice, lime, coconut and passion fruit. As we were sipping on our first drinks, Emerald delivered our starters, Salt & Pepper Squid and Crispy Duck Salad. The Crispy Duck Salad was one of our favorites – served with warm Peking duck together with a perfectly seasoned salad, a tower of greens, pomento, pomegranate and pine nut. The mix of flavors and textures, particularly with the savory Peking duck made this signature dish one that we could see ordering on each future visit. As we worked our way through the starters, Emerald
Buddha’s Palm (Maker’s 46 bourbon, Velvet Falernum, yuzu juice, yuzu marmalade, black grapes, white balsamic vinegar, mint), while my partner had the Gift of Seoul (Hwayo 25 soju, yuzu, pineapple, kiwi, coconut, mint). The Buddha’s Palm was an instant favorite. As our Main courses arrived, Hakkasan’s General Manager, Derek Morishita stopped by for a chat. We mentioned that though the venue’s atmosphere, meals and drinks were outstanding, we were impressed by the impeccable service – certainly a key to Hakkasan’s success.
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Emerald delivered our three Main course selections: • Roasted Silver Cod with Champagne & Honey • Stir-fry Black Pepper Beef Ribeye with Merlot • Hakka Noodles with Mushrooms and Chinese chive The Hakka Noodles were on level with the best noodle dishes offered in East Asia, highly recommended for those
desiring a western take on a standard Cantonese meal.
Bill with Emerald
The Roasted Silver Cod and Stir-fry Black Pepper Beef Ribeye were delicious eastern twists on western fare. As we finished our mains, Emerald again delivered a couple more selections from the drinks menu: Caribbean Harvest (Diplomatico Exclusiva Rum, Ancho Reyes, vanilla, spiced pineapple, orgeat, lime), and Turkish Rose Tea (Nolet’s Gin, St-Germain, jasmine tea honey syrup, matcha, lemon, egg white) both good selections as we wound-down our dining experience. As with most first-time visitors to Hakkasan, the first draw is to the world-class nightclub on the second floor. After our first visit to the restaurant on the first floor, I’d venture to say the sophisticated dining venue matches the posh standards set by the Hakkasan brand worldwide. We’d consider this our ‘go-to” venue when entertaining in the city as it raises the bar up a couple notches for Chinese, and Asian restaurants throughout the Vegas valley.
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SAVE T HE DATE
VizExplorer presents the 4th annual operational intelligence conference for casino operators
MARCH 4 - 6, 2019 SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA
THE US GRANT HOTEL A property of the Sycuan Band of Kumeyaay Nation
vizexplorer.com/oisummit2019
SPOTLIGHT
G2E 2018 – Obsessed with Excitement
G2E 2018 – Review
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The Best of the Best at the Gaming Show in Las Vegas – by: Victor H Royer
rom the very first moment we stepped onto the
convention floor, it was obvious that G2E 2018 was going to be a great success! Many more people were milling about, and the attendance seemed to me to be better than in years past. Memories of the recession appeared to be long gone, and everywhere we went we saw action, activity, and great optimism. Not just for the industry, but for gaming at large. Especially Sports Wagering, which was the “hot” topic at the convention since the United States legalized Sports Wagering nationwide. Scientific Games, in particular, showcased some exciting innovations in Sports Wagering, as did others. More than 27,000 gaming professionals visited Las Vegas October 8-11, 2018, for G2E. Figures from key buyers, engagement in the educational programming and overall attendance significantly increased for this year’s Show. “We are thrilled to see this year’s numbers corroborate the overwhelming productivity that exhibitors and
Victor H Royer President of Gaming Services & Research
attendees experienced at G2E,” said Allie Barth, Vice President of Industry Services for the American Gaming Association. “Our goal was to create a Show that was relevant to today’s gaming professionals and facilitate ways to advance opportunities for industry growth. I believe we’ve taken a great step this year, which will be utilized to further our successes in the years to come.”
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The Aristocrat Booth at G2E 2018
SPOTLIGHT
New Games And Products From Artistocrat
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he Aristocrat Booth at G2E is always a place of excitement, with many great new innovations being
celebrate the 10th anniversary of the classic Buffalo game, and players who love that game will find their favorite elements and symbols in this new game,
showcased at this year’s along with new ways to play, and a Show. ATI presented an excellent mix $500,000 MSP jackpot. of hardware and games for Class III ATI was also excited to showcase an and Class II operators, among which all-new version of The Big Bang Theory™ was the exciting flame55 cabinet. and the new Billions™ Slot Game, based The award-winning Dollar Storm This is an exciting product for several on Showtime’s hit TV drama. And of game from Aristocrat reasons. First, it is a double-curved, 55” course, last but not least, ATI presented single-screen, 4K monitor. This provides a seamless, the new WESTWORLD™ slot game and its unique uninterrupted game play experience for the patron, and play experience that allows players to experience two the format and 4K graphics capabilities help to further separate base games either simultaneously, or through an unleash the creativity of the ATI design teams to produce integration of the two games. a fun and unique experience. The flame55 also features Also showcased was the ATI new Edge X™ cabinet. stereo “symphonic” audio; surround-sound chair; virtual This large-form cabinet creates interesting and new ways button deck; advanced ergonomics; and a new LED sign for players to enjoy their gaming experience, and the package. ATI design teams created an incredible lineup for Edge Aristocrat offers a long library of titles for flame55, X, which includes Madonna™, Mad Max: Fury Road™, starting with the all-new Buffalo Diamond™ 10th Farmville™, and the latest in the incredibly successful The Anniversary Edition. ATI created Buffalo Diamond to Walking Dead franchise, The Walking Dead III™ slot game.
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Customer response at G2E to this new cabinet and the lineup of games was over-whelming. Players and customers reacted positively to the ATI RELM and RELM XL™ reel-spinner/ stepper cabinets, and Aristocrat were pleased to introduce several titles at G2E for this fun line. The new game themes for RELM include Buffalo Gold™, 5 Dragons Gold™, Gold Stacks 88™, and Wicked Winnings II™, bringing some of Aristocrat’s most popular video titles to the stepper player. One title that attracted particular attention was the new MOTOWN® game theme. The RELM XL cabinet was partly inspired by the look and feel of a classic jukebox, so the ATI teams were excited to bring this incredible brand and sounds to this cabinet. Players can select the artist they want to listen to while they play, bringing that jukebox experience – with some of the world’s greatest-ever artists – to the RELM XL game play. Another fun cabinet that ATI showed The all-new Buffalo Diamond™ 10th Anniversary Edition game. From Aristocrat, was the new Helix XT™, which is their latest The new Helix XT™ cabinet on the new flame55 cabinet from Aristocrat portrait cabinet. Helix XT builds on the success of the existing Helix cabinet, which is popular with both casino (Video Keno being my players and operators, and adds to it by creating a large own, personal, favorite game to format experience with a curved 4K monitor. The ATI titles play). in this line include Mighty Cash – Double Up™, Ultimate Along with VGT, Aristocrat Wheel Blast™ with its industry first “metamorphic” is in the unique position to wheels, Really Wicked Winnings™, and Sun & Moon offer leading Class II and Gold™. Operator attendees gave ATI a very positive Class III games, and VGT feedback about the cabinet and the games, and how ATI managed to create a new way for players to enjoy some of their favorite games. Aristocrat also demonstrated their new Dollar Storm game. This new game was inspired by Lightning Link, and new to Dollar Storm™, with a first-of-its kind multi-level progressive action game that combines with a $100,000 MSP jackpot. Dollar Storm won the Best Slot Silver Medal in the GGB Gaming and Technology Awards.
Bar Top Slots On the Class III side, G2E attendees reacted very positively to the ATI suite of new multi-game bartops. Currently, there is a great deal of video poker available in the bartop space, and attendees were happy to see that ATI are bringing Buffalo and other player-favorite content to the bartop arena, including some exciting Video Keno games – which I personally can’t wait to try in the actual
exhibited a very solid mix of classic content and custom content. The OVATION line of games leverages the ATI deep library of Aristocrat player-favorite titles in a Class II format. Additionally, VGT showed the new Helix XT™ cabinet with new Class II titles including Dancing Foo™, Lunar Festival™, and Buffalo Xtreme™. The Arc™ Single cabinet is popular with Class II customers and The new Edge X™ cabinet their players, and ATI were from Aristocrat, featuring the happy to exhibit new titles and Mad Max: Fury Road™ game game themes including Buffalo Gold™ and the Fortune Series – Jin Shi™, and Jin Long™.
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GamingSPOTLIGHT Innovations From Interblock
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nterblock exhibited its comprehensive collection of cutting-edge Electronic Table Game solutions at the 2018 G2E in Las Vegas. Presenting their comprehensive portfolio of automated, video and dealer assisted product lines that revolutionized the way the gaming sector perceives Electronic Table Games, Interblock’s offerings were a powerful addition to this year’s Show. “We felt strongly that innovation will continue to be our reputation at this year’s G2E. A combination of next generation Stadium offerings and our revolutionary Universal Cabinet have been designed to appeal to large and small casinos alike,” said John Connelly, Interblock Global CEO. Interblock’s award-winning stadium
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configurations was one such product demonstrating the company’s latest enhancements. With compelling audio and visual effects and side bets, the Diamond product line gives ultimate flexibility to operators and provides an enhanced gaming experience for the players. Any desired number of play stations can be connected to a single unit. And, Interblock’s live craps table, launched at G2E 2017 Show, allows a player to throw the dice on a craps table while within the stadium environment. Tournament-mode can also be active on various game types within the Stadium, as well as its ability to connect to external Interblock generators.
Interblock’s number-one selling product-line, MiniStar, launched new game forms and features at G2E, on its Blackjack, Baccarat, Craps and Roulette games. The compact Roulette ETG delivers more than 120 results per hour, and provides all of the features and functionalities available on Interblock’s Diamond product line in a smaller footprint and lower price point. MiniStar Roulette features a new ball-chasing light and sound effects designed to elevate the player experience. LED lights on the wheel and amplifying sound effects chase the ball until it drops into a pocket. MiniStar Dice were also on display at the Interblock booth. This product is composed of Interblock’s new micro-dice generator and play stations that are closely situated around it, providing excellent dice visibility for the player. It offers most of Interblock’s Diamond Craps features, but in a smaller footprint. The IBX eTABLE is a cashless video gaming table that can integrate with existing Hotel and Cruise ship systems. It offers Roulette, Baccarat, multi-hand blackjack, Texas Hold’em and tournament mode for Texas Hold’em games. The IBX eTABLES can also connect online players to the same platform via the Internet through their PC or mobile device. Interblock’s breakthrough form-factor, Universal
Cabinet, is a standalone unit with slot-like hardware designed to support a variety of games. Available in both video and automated formats, the product demonstrated Craps, Roulette, Blackjack and Baccarat games, and its ability to connect to external Interblock generators. Universal Cabinet is revolutionary to the gaming industry and will change the way a typical casino floor is configured moving forward. The multi-game StarBar is a play station designed for the bar top. StarBar allows players to interact with up to four games simultaneously. A variety of different games are available at the player’s fingertips including, Craps, Blackjack, multi-hand Blackjack, Roulette, Video Poker and more. Diamond Video Blackjack featured an enhanced Virtual Dealer with fast-deal graphics that have reduced waiting time for participating players, resulting in more hands per hour. Each play station offers 27-inch high definition screens that allow players to play up to three industryleading side bets at a time.
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The TRANSACT Team at the 2018 G2E Show in Las Vegas
SPOTLIGHT
New Printer And Technology Solutions From TRANSACT
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RANSACT demonstrated its “Edge” and other innovations at G2E 2018, presenting their leading printer and system solutions for casino, gaming and lottery customers. As a global company that is continuously growing, TRANSACT had much to offer at the show, including the Epic Edge™, which is its latest casino TITO printer, and Epicentral, the gaming industry’s only enterprise-level promotion and bonusing software system. Packed with many exciting new features, the company was happy to showcase their
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products to their clients and industry colleagues. “TRANSACT always looks forward to G2E, and to meeting with our contacts from all corners of the world,” said Tracey Chernay, TRANSACT’s Sr. VP of Global Casino, Gaming and Lottery. “We very much appreciate our visits with clients, casino colleagues and OEMs because they give us the opportunity to touch base, ask for feedback and introduce them to our latest gaming products and software.” The Epic Edge™ casino TITO printer is the next-generation casino ticket printer that offers operators an enhanced 300
DPI print resolution, delivering a 50 percent improvement over current printers. As a result, the Epic Edge can produce eye-catching tickets and razor-sharp barcodes, increasing the ticket acceptance through the bill validator and reducing attendant calls. It also includes an adjustable ticket bucket that accommodates standard tickets and smaller, papersaving tickets. To further help slot machine operators, the firmware’s update port has been upgraded to USB. In addition, a micro SD card slot allows quick and easy firmware updates, increasing convenience and saving time. Additional unique features include a single rugged outer chassis with Serial, USB and Netplex ports, and a faster ServerPort™ connection. The “Edge” is built on the proven
long-term performance of the Epic 950, which is currently installed in over a half a million slots throughout hundreds of casinos worldwide. Attendees to G2E 2018 also learned about the latest iteration of Epicentral, which is the gaming industry’s only enterprise-level promotion and bonusing software suite that can target customers in real-time while they play their favorite slot machine or electronic table game. With infinite possibilities, Epicentral allows users to run multiple promotions at the same time, create games within games, offer multi-user/multi-site promotions, run different promotions on different slot game banks, segment players by tier and promote to different levels of carded players. This one-of-a kind solution also offers the ability to redeem, print or reprint bonuses at multiple locations as well as an enhanced user interface and more reporting options. Moving forward, TRANSACT plans to continue its excellent level of service it has achieved with its industry-leading gaming products. In addition, the company will also introduce the Epic Edge to more and more casinos across all regions. OEMs worldwide are currently reviewing and approving the Epic Edge, so distribution of the printers is on the horizon. To learn more about the Epic Edge, Epicentral and TRANSACT’s range of other premium gaming products, please visit them at transact-tech.com
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SPOTLIGHT
Design Innovations From JCJ Architecture
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J
CJ Architecture has been immersed in the gaming and entertainment marketplace for decades, designing some of the most notable and profitable properties in the industry. They offer clients a proven approach to planning and design that balances business objectives with the delivery of creative, high impact environments. JCJ’s comprehensive, interactive process yields solutions that address unique challenges, capitalize on opportunities and promote bottom line success. Their impressive track-record of projects with accelerated schedules is testament to their unique ability to “get the doors open sooner.” JCJ’s Gaming & Entertainment team possesses exceptional collective intelligence of the market and complex regulations. Their designs tell their clients’ stories, heighten the guest experience, and when appropriate, tap into the millennial mindset. For two decades, JCJ has been acknowledged as one of the “hottest” design firms in the nation. They are dedicated to creating distinctive architecture while committing equal energy and attention to their clients’ business plan. They measure success by the quality of the patron experience and the profitability of the property. The firm specializes in hospitality, and has focused on
delivering value to their clients by concentrating their expertise in specific markets; respecting budget, schedule and environmental resources; building consensus around a project’s direction; and believing in the ability of design to solve problems and create new possibilities. In 2012, JCJ took the bold step to transition to an ESOP (employee stock ownership plan). Since that time, JCJ has used this structure to strengthen a culture of collaboration and creativity that is balanced by a process of oversight and management. Each of their employee-owners understands the impact their work has on the delivery of their services and the contribution it makes to clients and their constituents. This consciousness keeps the client’s unique context uppermost in JCJ’s minds as they seek to bring form to their goals and aspirations.
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The suite of innovative gaming products from Gaming Arts
SPOTLIGHT
New Games From Gaming Arts
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aming Arts showcased an exceptional
lineup of innovative slot, bingo and keno products at G2E. Known as the world leader in bingo and keno games and technology, Gaming Arts has reinvented the casino floor with a multitude of unique and innovative video reel slot games, innovative progressives, highdenomination games, international multi-game products and more. Among these is the SuperBingo and Ultimate Bingo Slots, both with groundbreaking Video Content & Sleek Design. This first-of-its-kind SuperBingo and Ultimate Bingo Slots deliver powerful and entertaining game mechanics and player-favorite features, including frequently hitting bonuses and wins, multipliers, free games with retriggers, four-level progressives, multi-game options, bonus balls, and wheel bonuses. Gaming Arts also debuted its inaugural Class III collection of innovative video reels, specifically designed
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to bring fun and excitement to the casino floor. The unique library consists of four series, including: Pop N’ Pays™, Da Fa Ba™, Dice Seeker™, and Casino Wizard™. Also showcased was the SuperPROMO, which is the world’s first casino-wide interactive promotional game system including four customizable mobile games. These can be awarded to targeted players for virtually any type of promotion. To complete the presentation from Gaming Arts, we also saw the SuperGames and Bingo Millions® games, which offer Life-changing Jackpots for Increase Play, plus the Gaming Arts’ vast SuperGames library of “lifechanging jackpots” to increase attendance, player spend, and operational profitability for bingo operators across the country. The company funds the jackpots, reducing the overall liability for bingo operators. And, of course, the Bingo Millions, which is the world’s first and only $1 million linked bingo progressive and $1 million bingo games, all at no risk to the operator.
SPOTLIGHT
Zitro’s Spectacular Show In G2E Las Vegas
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ith G2E Las Vegas now over, it is time to review what
this instance of the prestigious international show has meant for Zitro. Johnny Ortiz Viveiros, founder of Zitro, proudly comments that “While last year at G2E we presented our first range of Bryke video slots to the industry, this year we arrived in Las Vegas with thousands of Bryke machines demonstrating their great performance in a large number of casinos in Europe and Latin America. Today there are many operators in these markets that see our video slots Bryke as an essential when they are deciding on the range of games for their establishments. Aware of our growing market share, we have presented in G2E not only the games that are triumphing around the world, such as Link King, but a wide range of new Bryke products. With them we intend to cover the double
objective of offering players a diverse range, and protecting the investment that operators make in Bryke machines, as we offer them a growing library of games that will ensure their profitability. In addition, we have made the Bryke games available to online casino operators, as has been the case with our video bingo games for several years, thus
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boosting Zitro Interactive’s range of games. As regards video bingo, Zitro continues to innovate, launching not only formidable games, but creating new product categories such as the Video Bingo LAP, a video bingo game with an original mechanism for obtaining progressive prizes and a great packaging, destined to compete with the most prestigious LAPs in the international market.” The great variety of Zitro products was presented brilliantly on its stand at G2E. Among the Bryke Video Slots games, the stand-outs were the Multigame LAP range L2R Sebastian Salat CEO, with panoramic sign, with the proven LINK Marta Cuesta Product Director KING star bank together with the new LINK and Johnny Ortiz Founder ME bank, which is presented with new features and an extremely attractive theme. & Gold. In the range of standalone multi-game machines Zitro also presented its new Multigame LAP Hit me Up! Zitro presented Smart Spins, which combines 4x5 and 3x5 next to the already popular LAP Blazing Pearls and Guns games, as well as Spin Hit, a multi-game with new aesthetic games that complements the range of the proven Pick & Win and Hot Deal games. The range of video bingo games that Zitro leads was represented at the stand by the new games created by the company for its Fusion platform, as well as by Power Bingo Link, the first bank of the new LAP Video Bingo product category that has been conceived by Zitro. Johnny Ortiz Viveiros concludes that “G2E Las Vegas is the confirmation of Zitro as a global provider. Beyond continuing to lead the supply of video bingo games, Zitro now has Bryke video slots, which have already reached multiple countries, and which will continue to be deployed in many other countries around the world. We have done what we said we would do: make Zitro a global leader. So I want to thank all the Zitro team for the tremendous work done to make this spectacular display of products in G2E, and I particularly want to thank our customers who have given us the opportunity to demonstrate what we are capable of doing. All of us at Zitro are committed to rewarding them, and we are going to do so by creating the best imaginable products in the gaming industry.”
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Alex Stiglich, Managing Director: Latin America and the Caribbean
Alfredo Moreno, Managing Director: Mexico
SPOTLIGHT
‘All Systems Go!’ At G2E For DR Gaming Technology™
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Latin America and Mexico embrace DRGT™s Management and Jackpot System Solutions
ictor Royer caught up with DRGT™s respective Latin America and Caribbean Managing Director: Alex Stiglich and Mexican MD: Alfredo Moreno during G2E 2018
Alex and Alfredo, did DRGT™s attendance at G2E live up to your expectations? Alex: Victor, our attendance in Las Vegas is driven by the fact that as a global supplier, we believe that this show, combined with G2E Asia, and ICE provide us with the best possible spread of global customers, across equally well
spread times of the year. That said, Las Vegas is the key exhibition for Alfredo and me. Alfredo: Exactly! As a relatively new office in the Group, compared to Alex who has been working out of Lima now for 6 years, G2E provided us the perfect opportunity to meet new customers and engage with existing partners. I, personally, was very happy with the interest shown by my Mexican customers in both our systems and jackpot product offering.
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So, between you two, you have what are a relatively new market for DRGT™, in Mexico, and relatively established one’s in LatAm and the Caribbean, to look after. Considering that, what were of interest to your customers Alex, and similarly yours Alfredo? Alex: Absolutely correct! Having been in operation now for some time, our LatAm and Caribbean customers are all very familiar with our core systems and jackpot products, and as such what intrugued them most were the newer additions to our portfolio. What I am referring to here was our new player kiosk software and player interface upgrades which afford players the opportunity to perform a number of ‘self help’ tasks directly at their EGM or at a standalone kiosk, tasks like accessing points balances, recent jackpot hits, and the ability to order F&B via the EGM touchscreen. Of further interest is the ability for us to now stream live TV or other events like concerts or raffles directly to the EGM screen or our drScreenUltra player interface, in so doing engaging all visitors to a venue, or even sharing these events with players at other venues. Alfredo: I concur, the ability to show exactly how our booth DJ (Sheryl Lynn) could be seen across a casino floor, as if she was playing at an on-site club or arena was phenomenal, our Mexcian customers loved that too. As you correctly say, the Mexican market is new to DRGT™, and as such the interest in the Group’s technology Jurgen De Munck, CEO
Marketing Manager, Duncan Pollock deep in conversation at G2E
solutions was far broader than in Alex’s case. Our world-leading jackpot configuration options were a big talking point, as was our tournament module, player kiosk and member registration software. The integration of a passport scanner, and general ease-of-use of our drSelfRegistration product also received positive reviews; operators appreciated the limited staff intervention required and as a result the ability to deploy these staff elsewhere to enhance service levels even more, players liked the fact that they could literally register themselves and then receive a new player card in a matter of minutes. Then on the Tables side, our Table Management System’s ability to seamlessly integrate into our accounting, cage and reporting modules, as well as the ability to easily allocate player loyalty points also received a lot of traction, as did our relatively new BlackJack11’s Tables Jackpot game. It is currently the most profitable tables jackpot game in Africa, and I am quite confident that we will soon start to see similar success in Mexico. The general feedback was that the game was quick, easy to learn and easy to play – the very drivers of its current success elsewhere. So where to now for DRGT™ LatAm and the Caribbean and DRGT™ Mexico? Alfredo: As you know we have opened a total of three new offices south of the US border in the last 12 months. The Mexican office, which I look after, and then an additional two in Paraguay and Uruguay which Alex oversees as part
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BlackJack11’s in action at G2E 2018
of his Latin America and Caribbean portfolio. As such, our focus is very much on establishing these offices as a real force to be reckoned with in their resepective regions, and then consolidating to an extent, in order to ensure that service levels are always maintained and that we are always able to deliver to the standards set by our longer serving Peruvian counterparts. Alex: Exactly! We take service very seriously, our company vision refers to the development and delivery of the best technology that puts the player first, and in order to do that we need to be there to be able to assist our customers, the operators, to deliver on that promise. As we’re talking expansion, I saw just ahead of G2E that you have now formally established DRGT™ Africa. Can you tell me a little about that? Alex: Of course! DRGT™ has been trading in Africa for just short of a decade, but through a distributor called Simplicit-e Gaming Solutions. The Company was looking to invest directly in Africa, and Simplicit-e presented the perfect opportunity to do just that. For all intents and purposes, Simplicit-e will continue to operate as is, but as DRGT™ Africa, where we intend to fully leverage our local partner Grand Parade Investments’ continental relationships, and our own ‘player first’ solutions.
DJ Sheryl Lynn at G2E 2018
In closing, what is the next stop on the DRGT™ roadshow, ICE Totally Gaming 2019? Alex: Yes, we’ll be at ICE. Alfredo: As a gloabl team we’re looking forward to exhibiting something brand new, something that our development colleagues have been working on for some time, and that we understand will be ‘good to go’ at ICE. Ahead of ICE though, we’ll also be exhibiting at the GET In networking and training event at the W Hotel Polanco Mexico DF on 15 November.
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Aristidis Tsikouras and Mark Edmundson of GeWeTe at G2E Las Vegas
SPOTLIGHT
GeWeTe In Strong Demand At G2E Las Vegas
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Right cash management solutions for both casino and sports betting markets
eWeTe – the European specialist for cash management/redemption and sports betting solutions – was in strong demand at the G2E show that took place at the Sand’s Expo in Las Vegas between 9th and 11th
October. Visitors recognised the consistency behind GeWeTe. This is the fourth consecutive year that GeWeTe has exhibited at G2E. GeWeTe is the cash expert of the Gauselmann Group – thus belonging to a powerful conglomerate with
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60 years of experience in the gaming business. GeWeTe itself is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year. GeWeTe’s roots are in Germany, its home country, where it leads the market by far for cash handling requirements – with a market share of over 75%. GeWeTe offers an unbeatable range of solutions – for every application there is the right solution. GeWeTe has complete control over development and production processes – ensuring the company can act quickly to ensure that new applications are met with new solutions.
The team works very closely with its customers to gain optimal market information – resulting in the best products for the market – made exactly to market requirements. GeWeTe is today a global company. This could be seen on the GeWeTe booth within the Merkur Gaming stand. GeWeTe offers local service in North and South America through the Merkur offices. That means that customers here can benefit from proven German technology with local service to match. “This is without a doubt the best ever G2E Las Vegas for us”, comments Mr. Aristidis Tsikouras, Managing Director of GeWeTe. “Due to our size, we can offer economies of scale to our customers. I firmly believe we offer the best price to performance ratio in the market. Thus, over time
we are the most cost-effective. Our machines are built to last with German technology. They keep on doing their job, year-in, year-out”. The best-selling GeWeTe solutions include the CashCenter-Compact, especially the Cash-Center-CompactCasino that were both on display in Las Vegas. These not only find their homes on casino floors. They are ideal solutions for the sports betting market – the new exciting growth market in the USA. “We have been recognised as one of the largest European providers of cash handling solutions with a powerful mother company and a network of local service centres. This puts us in a strong position in the American continent. We were rewarded with orders being placed directly on our stand”, concludes Mr. Tsikouras.
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SPOTLIGHT
Clover Link A Resounding Success At G2E Las Vegas For Apex Gaming
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ever before has APEX Gaming had such a large amount of gaming solutions on display at G2E in Las Vegas. Operators were introduced to innovative jackpot solutions, individual slots from the Pinnacle family, the EVO gaming platform, electronic roulette, iDROP Tito Table
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solutions for live gaming, live gaming tables, card shufflers and accessories. The Jackpot Islands are already a well-known brand in the USA, with the initial Dragon Egg and Leonardo’s Code games bringing real alternatives to casinos. These games have brought pleasure to many players in North
Kubilay Özer, JL Drapeau and Johannes Weissengruber at G2E Las Vegas
America. Operators were keen to learn about the new developments and were extremely excited. The latest solution – Clover Link – was also greeted with enthusiasm. Clover Link offers a total of four different games that have the additional feature of showing how the clovers (magnets or bricks) can be activated during the game. The beauty of this series of jackpot games is that it is available in a whole series of jackpot hardware configurations: The Big Island Edition (8 slots, 2 banks), Round Edition (4 slots, circular design) and the Wall Edition (which is flexible and expandable). Adding to this, operators can choose from a wide range of Pinnacle slots, including the Black Series, the 43” curved screen, Premium SL slant top with threemonitors, to name just a few. The four jackpots satisfy all types of jackpots at the same time: wide-area progressive that can be linked in the same or different locations. The fact that Clover Link can simply be managed both
for internal casino connections as well as Wide-Area is something that has been well received by operators as well as having the flexibility of many different island and wall-mount configurations. The success story of iDROP continues and the latest additional to the family – the iDROPs – was the focus for many visitors to the stand. It can manage 250 bills (and tickets) at one time at a validation rate of up to 6 per second, making it ideal when players sit at a table with a large number of bills. It also provides the casino the option to use the iDROPs to exchange a large number of bills for one Tito ticket, meaning the game is not stopped for large buy in’s and hands per hour increases. The electronic roulette solution from APEX gaming is also enjoying success in the USA. The APS – the APEX PLAYER STATION – is not only available as terminal-based or as complete solution, it offers four additional table games (Baccarat, Sic-Bo, Black Jack, Bingo) as well as APEX Slot Games. Another great advantage: it can be linked to up to four separate roulette wheels – both electronic and/ or live. The entire live gaming range was also on display – including live gaming tables and a series of innovations, including the Ball and Dice Tester and the Roulette Wheel Leveller with a leveling base. Card shuffling plays a key role in casinos and here the Shuffle King 6 again made a strong impact as it can automatically shuffle up to six different decks of cards. The Shuffle King 2, which is the single deck option, was recently released to the North American market with its debut at the new Four Winds Property in South Bend Indiana with great success. The focus was not just on the products, it was also on the team and the support given. Apogee Gaming is the distributor for APEX gaming in North America. Under the leadership of JL Drapeau, APEX provides professional service, being completely dedicated to its customers. Kubilay Özer, Global Sales Director at APEX gaming, made the following comment on the APEX success at the G2E Las Vegas show, “We are used to being rushed off our feet at ICE. Now we can say the same of the G2E show in Las Vegas. Our expectations were significantly exceeded. We are proving ourselves in the American gaming market by bringing innovations in many areas that are technically proven, a pleasure for the players and simple to operate. We take service very seriously and I’d like to thank JL and his team for their extra-special focus. I’d like to conclude by thanking everyone who came to see us. We are proud that you took the time. Once again we lived up to our motto – “taking gaming to the next level”.
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SPOTLIGHT
New Games and Products from IGT
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s usual, the IGT booth was a hive of activity. Among the many products were the Classic Game Show titles The Price is Right® Plinko Slots – CrystalDual+™ Stepper cabinet, featuring the Plinko game in which I had the pleasure of participating, with Host Drew Carey. Among the games featured at the IGT Booth were:
Fortune Coin™ Video Slots Fans of progressive jackpots are sure to enjoy this exciting game and its frequently occurring Fortune Coin™ feature, which is triggered on any spin when one or more coin symbols land on the reels to award bonus credits, a progressive pick, or up to 20 free games. The base game features stacked symbols, wilds, and a MultiWay® configuration that offers 243 ways to win. Offered on the CrystalCurve™, CrystalDual® 27, and CrystalSlant™ gaming machines, this 3x5 reel Asian-themed game features a 60-credit cost-to-cover and a max bet of 1,500.
Wheel of Fortune® 4D Featuring Vanna White Video Slots IGT’s Wheel of Fortune® 4D Featuring Vanna White Video Slots puts a new spin on a classic theme. Original audio and video featuring Vanna White, along with IGT’s TRUE 4D technology, create an immersive player experience unlike any other. Offered on the CrystalCurve™ TRUE 4D™ gaming machine, this thrilling title features exciting bonuses to fuel player excitement. During the jackpot bonus, players select wheel wedges that turn over to reveal an item that corresponds with a jackpot amount. The first three matching items award the associated jackpot. Players are eligible for the top wide area progressive with a 300-credit minimum bet. Players can spin the iconic wheel in mid-air with TRUE 4D technology while Vanna White cheers them on with words of encouragement and her signature round of applause. This low denomination, 75 pay-line game features a 100-credit cost-to-cover and a max bet of 500.
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Game innovations from IGT at G2E 2018
Scarab™ Video Slots Players will go wild for IGT’s Scarab™ Video Slots and its Wild Stays Charges Then Pays™ feature. When a Scarab symbol lands anywhere on the reels, it turns that reel symbol gold. As players continue to wager and spin, they’ll collect additional Scarab and gold symbols. After the tenth spin, all gold symbols are transformed into wild symbols for the chance to win big. The free games bonus is triggered by three or more pyramid symbols and players can select their bonus play volatility by choosing between 15 free games with five random wilds, 10 free games with seven random wilds or five free games with 10 random wilds. This 4x5 reel, 75 pay-line, waterfall game can be paired with multiple cabinets.
Fortune Gong™ Video Slots Put fortune in your favor with IGT’s Fortune Gong™ video slots. Housed on the CrystalCurve™ gaming machine, Fortune Gong features multi-level progressives and a high-frequency Prize Disk feature to keep players engaged. During gameplay, different prizes will appear on top of each individual reel. The prize above each reel is awarded when a Fortune Gong symbol lands on that reel. The prize disk awards credits, a free games bonus, and the jackpot wheel bonus. This 3x5 reel, 50 pay-line game features progressive configurable jackpots and a 50-credit cost-to-cover.
The innovative Roll to Win Craps game from Aruze
Innovations from Aruze
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ruze introduced several new Class III games,
among which are Wheels Go Round Bull™, Wheels Go Round Orb Legend™, Wheels Go Round Sun Dynasty™, and Wheels Go Round Tiger™. Wheels Go Round and round and spin up great wins. These are all 5 reel, 50 line games available on the Muso Triple-27™ cabinet. When 5 or more wheel overlays appear on screen, the Wheels Go Round Feature is triggered. Wheels will roll through the top box until one drops down into the second screen. The wheel will spin once and will award either a credit prize or a progressive jackpot. Each of the four Wheels Go Round titles has a unique free games feature. Wheels Go Round Bull™ allows players to select their level of volatility with up to 20 free games. Wheels Go Round Orb Legend™ has up to 200 free games. Wheels Go Round Sun Dynasty™ has 8 free games with a player selected mystery symbol added. Wheels Go Round
Tiger™ has eight free games with extra top symbols added. Another great family of games, rolling into casinos now!
Roll to Win CRAPS Aruze also introduced the innovative Roll to Win Craps game. This is a semi-autonomous craps game where players throw live dice onto a table-length LED display. The new product boasts features that players love at a fraction of the cost to operate. The game offers a single dealer function as host and stickman, maintaining the energy and fast pace by modifying the rate of play as needed. All bets and payouts are automated, reducing staff needs from four to one. The game features increased reliability because the dealer is responsible for electronically entering the result of the roll on a dealer terminal. When the dealer enters the roll, all information is instantly displayed on all player terminals and on the digital layout, the payouts are then made, and the history of the game is refreshed and made visible on an LED wall.
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The Wheels Go Round™ Game and Cabinet from Aruze
The electronic betting and layout features allow the Dealers to focus on customer service, stickwork, and oversight of player actions. Integrated player tracking allows for accurate rating of players. Player rolls are also tracked, allowing for a side bet option on hot rollers. The LED wall in front of the dealer is prime real estate where operators can choose to advertise internal events, promotions, restaurants, shopping, shows, and anything else desired. Or, an operator can choose to bring in external advertising, creating another source of possible revenue. Roll to Win Craps is a premium product created to elevate the casino table environment. The product offers both players and operators the best of what live craps and ETG craps have to offer.
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Innovations from Samsung
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amsung exhibited an innovative modular design of 1.2 mm and 1.5 mm LED displays, which are particularly useful for Sports Wagering, as well as signage. They are highly adaptable and portable, and can be put together in any configuration, from tall to wide, with seamless integration. The P1.5 LED signage has superior picture quality and intuitive usability, while the P1.2 LED has industry-best video processing technologies with HDR picture refinement. The display leverages LED HDR scene adaptation technology to showcase a detailed and realistic picture. Samsung LED Display IF Series reach peak
brightness levels nearly two times higher than standard LED maximum brightness norms. “Samsung understands the value display technology brings to the casino industry,” says Mario DiAntonio, Team Leader – Channel Technical Account Management, Samsung Electronics America. “We showcased our LED technology built for the casino and hospitality industries at Global Gaming Expo 2018. Visitors can experience this technology at the Peppermill Resort in Reno and in stadiums and arenas around the world. It’s our dedication to creating unique experiences for all guests that sets us apart and makes us a natural fit for the casino gaming industry.”
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New Games and Products from AGS
A suite of gaming products and games from AGS
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t this year’s G2E, AGS showcased more than 80 slot and table games, along with a full host of AGS Interactive solutions – all designed to deliver an exceptional player experience and help gaming operators boost their bottom line. AGS President and Chief Executive Officer David Lopez said, “We have had a monumental year because of our team’s relentless focus on innovation, customer partnerships, and culture. The results of our hard work culminated at G2E, where the strength of our business was on full display. We’re excited to give customers an early peek at our third Orion℠ cabinet, and demonstrate our
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large library of new game titles, expanding table products portfolio, and new mobile solutions proven to drive offproperty revenue and engagement. It’s an exciting time at AGS and visitors to our booth were expressive of that energy.” In the company’s expansive games display, AGS highlighted a host of engaging game content for its Orion Portrait, Orion Slant, and ICON™ platforms, designed to delight players and drive revenue for Class II and Class III markets. Taking center stage was AGS’s newest cabinet innovation – the Orion Upright. This sophisticated new addition to the Company’s high-performing Orion family
features dual 27-inch displays, a 21.5-inch LCD topper, LCD button deck, high bright accented bash buttons, a USB charger, and the Orion’s distinctive starwall design featuring 420 game-synchronized full-color LED lights for an innovative gameplay celebration. AGS has launched the Orion Upright with a library of exclusive new titles and AGS greatest hits. For their Orion Slant platform, launched in May 2018 and already boasting an installed base of more than 630 games, AGS highlighted new Xtreme Jackpots® titles, along with the new Fai Cai Shu™ and Kingdom Ca$h® families which offer themed banking, linked progressive jackpots, and a variety of math models. And for their high-performing Orion Portrait platform, AGS showcased nine new game titles, including the Diamond Streak™ family, Crystal Magic™, and six new Xtreme Jackpots games. AGS also continues to propel its table solutions business with a host of new proprietary table games and table solutions. Poker fans will love Vega$3™, a new twist on traditional three-card poker. Lucky 21 Bacc™ combines the excitement of baccarat and blackjack, while 100X Roulette™ takes roulette to the next level with a chance for a 100x payoff.
One of AGS’s must-see table attractions at G2E was Bonus Spin Xtreme™, a progressive side bet to transform table-game play. During this community or player-envy experience, players can win the chance to spin one of three virtual wheels which will generate multiple winners at the same table with each spin. The top award is a linked progressive jackpot, and smaller awards can include cash or casino-configurable non-cash prizes. From its table equipment lineup, AGS also showcased the Dex S™ single-deck poker shuffler, featuring streamlined designs that are economical, durable, reliable, and exceptionally functional. AGS Interactive demonstrated their groundbreaking Social White-Label Casino, the industry’s only B2B mobile solution that offers events, contests, and other in-app Live Operations features to add new levels of excitement to casino-branded social games. Also on display were AGS’ new real-money gaming solution, which delivers a diverse variety of high-performing game content to the world’s premier online operators through AGS’ robust game aggregation platform.
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The Konami Booth at G2E 2018
New Games and Products from Konami
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he Booth at Konami was a hive of activity, and great excitement. Konami revealed the all-new KX 43 Video Slot with 4K Ultra HD and Exclusive Game Library, to great acclaim. “The reaction to KX 43 from global operators has been one of approval and anticipation. It has the right combination of premium and practical for today’s core player base, with an incredible content library to attract and engage over time,” said Steve Walther, Senior Director, Marketing & Product Management. “Its creativity and quality provides a uniquely ‘Konami’ experience, which we look forward to delivering to the casino floor.” Featuring a 4K Ultra HD display, slim profile, and exclusive library of leading game content, Konami’s latest slot cabinet made a memorable impression at the opening of one of the industry’s largest events. From KX 43™ to the Concerto™ Collection, Konami showcased an
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expansive game library focused on industry-leading math and mechanics. Game play innovations including Strike Zone™ and Reels Up™ deliver new bonusing features that uniquely allow players to experience added value and entertainment for their bet. Konami also premiered its award-winning SynkConnect “cardless” player loyalty solution. Designed exclusively for Konami’s SYNKROS® casino management system, SynkConnect™ allows casino patrons to login to their player loyalty account at any equipped gaming machine using alternative authentication methods such as a fob, room key, or mobile device, as well as a traditional player loyalty card. Among the top titles featured on KX 43 is a symboldriven linked progressive series with an original new Reels Up mechanic. Debut titles including Vegas Rise™, Expanding Egypt™, Hong Kong Lights™, and Mayan Times™ display Reels Up arrow symbols across all reels throughout
The SynkConnect Mobile Bezel from Konami
Victor Duarte, Chief Product & Strategy Officer at Konami Gaming, Inc.
The Concerto Opus, Riches with Daikoku Triple Sparkle game from Konami
Konami Appoints Victor Duarte
The KX 43 Vegas Rise game and cabinet from Konami
game play. When players collect at least one of these symbols on reels 1 and 2, remaining consecutive reels with the symbol will expand upward for the chance to spin bonus reels with increasing instant guaranteed prizes at higher bet amounts. KX 43 also premiered a multidenomination linked progressive called Ba Fang Jin Bao™, in which players can increase their extra bet in order to change increasing symbol sets to gold, with premium line pays over 8-times.
Long-time gaming industry executive Victor Duarte has joined Konami as Senior Vice President & Chief Product & Strategy Officer. “Victor Duarte has a strong track record of strategic leadership in the areas that matter to our customers, including product reliability and performance,” said Steve Sutherland, President and Chief Executive Officer at Konami Gaming, Inc. “His demonstrated commitment to quality and innovation is consistent with Konami’s enduring vision for the business and its role across global markets.” Mr. Duarte will oversee Konami’s continued expansion of its world-class research and development portfolio. He brings more than 20 years of experience in the global gaming and lottery industry, with expertise spanning multiple operational disciplines. As Konami’s Senior Vice President and Chief Product & Strategy Officer, he is responsible for leading the company’s games R&D, including vision, conceptualization, strategy, and execution.
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The Brew Caps game from Gamblit Gaming
Innovations in SkillBased Products from Gamblit Gaming
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amblit Gaming dominated the skill-based gaming offerings at the Global Gaming Expo 2018 in Las Vegas, featuring the worldwide debut of new hardware and games, including the iconic PAC-MAN. In partnership with Bandai Namco Amusement, the developer behind the iconic arcade game PAC-MAN™, PAC-MAN Cash Chase a single-player experience available on Gamblit’s TriStation™ game machine made its world debut at G2E. The most beloved videogame character of all time gets gamblified as a real-money gaming experience, hitting Las Vegas casino floors in Q1 2019, but playable for the first time at G2E. Gamblit’s engaging single-player TriStation hardware, now officially launched on casino floors, offered G2E attendees a first look at brand new game titles including:
• Road Redemption®: The hit PC & console beat ‘em up racer from EQ games making its exclusive debut on the TriStation platform • Cut the Rope®: The wildly popular puzzle game adventure franchise developed with ZeptoLab gets gamblified after garnering more than 1B downloads • Doodle Jump®: The 250M downloaded classic highflying platform game, developed with Lima Sky lets players hop, skip and jump their way to success • Brew Caps™: Lets players put their eyes to the test by matching bottle caps as fast as they can in this Gamblit game • Dice Arena™: Players roll the dice, hack and slash in this
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Gamblit developed fantasy themed fighting game • Squadron Commander™: A Gamblit original where players bring their best warships and fire away to take out the enemy squadrons • C over Fire™: Developed by Genera Games, this hit fast paced arcade shooter lets players win cash for taking on the oncoming robot army • Deal or No Deal Poker®: In collaboration with Endemol Shine Gaming, this title brings all the excitement of the international hit game show to casinos like never before! Deal or No Deal Poker Special® was also showcased on Gamblit’s Model G™ interactive game tables. Players compete to uncover the highest value briefcase in the ultimate challenge of striking a deal to win big or risk it all. PAC-MAN Battle Casino was also featured in the Gamblit booth as it nears its Fall launch into casinos, allowing players to battle it out for a cash prize where the last PAC-MAN standing wins! An exclusive Pac-Man pin was given to every winner at the show. Gamblit’s platform has shown to dramatically lower the average consumer age 20 years younger than a slot player (from mid-50’s to mid-30’s) in most jurisdictions. As the leading innovator of real money and skill gaming, Gamblit Gaming develops and publishes a wide variety of games that bring a casual, arcade sense of fun and skill into the casino market. Gamblit Gaming also works closely with game developers to gamblify and publish their hit games into new markets, tapping into the exciting atmosphere of land-based casinos, activating a broader audience and new revenue stream. Gamblit Gaming provides all of the technology, gambling expertise, operations, account
The Deal or No Deal Poker game from Gamblit Gaming
The PAC MAN Battle Casino game from Gamblit Gaming
The Playboy Pinball game from Gamblit Gaming
management, security, gambling licenses, regulations and compliance elements needed. The company also helps casino operators deliver a compelling entertainment experience to not only attract new players but retain existing casino visitors. Through Gamblit Gaming, casino operators can compete on innovation while driving growth and revenue.
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The Last Word by Damien Connelly
Security: The Unsung Hero for Casinos Welcome to The Last Word. Security is under-used to attract and retain customers. Particularly first-time customers. I am not focusing on assets like surveillance cameras and facial recognition technology, which are more functional in nature. I am focusing more on security people and their impact on customers. Brands are complex. I know a little bit about brands because I worked in one of the world’s foremost brand consultancies. Simply put, you want to focus more on the emotional attributes of your brand. For me, security people strongly impact a casino brand’s emotional attributes. Security people are very important in ensuring casinos deliver excellent customer service. The more excellent your customer service, the more likely you will have higher repeat visitation. Why should casinos seek higher repeat visitation?
Safest Is there a safer entertainment environment for customers than a land-based casino? I can’t think of one. Part of this is, I think, because in many jurisdictions around the world casinos are regarded with suspicion…even by regulators. Additionally, the word ‘casino’ has an unfairly negative meaning in many markets. Casinos start from an underdog position and have, perhaps rightly so, to perform to a higher standard than other entertainment options. For women in particular, I think, casinos are perfect entertainment venues. As organisations focus on ‘internals’ such as employee diversity and gender pay gaps, we should also focus on the differences between male and female customers. Younger women are a growing opportunity for casinos. Worldwide, academic and personal research shows older women prefer games of chance, notably EGMs, while younger women use a broader mix of gambling product, including games of skill, EGMs, bingo, and sports betting.
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However, younger women are meeting their needs using online more than land-based. Women prefer a safe, female-friendly environment that is not male-dominated — in fact, men and women prefer venues that are not maledominated. So…if a landbased casino is successful in attracting women, it will also be successful in attracting men.
Everybody is in Security Security is, I think, too often positioned to customers as being like the US’ Department of Homeland Security — there to stop incoming threats. Which is a negative view… more glass half empty than glass half full. Casinos are perfectly positioned to use their people to turn security into a positive. In my view, security focuses on protecting the customer. Know Your Customer measures are standard in our industry. Floor staff have direct customer contact every day they are at work. Casino floor staff really can KYC. A great casino is so much more than a ‘gambling joint’. Are you optimising the opportunity presented by our industry’s superb security people to better market your casino as the best entertainment option? Damien Connelly has developed better customer experiences for casinos, big box grocery and convenience retailers — one client was recently sold for over US$5 billion. He has worked consulting and client-side in Strategy, Marketing, Branding, and Sales roles. You can contact Damien on +31 6 5206-7402 and at dconnelly@ace123.com
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