Jo Purvis is now Sales Director Europe, for TCSJOHNHUXLEY and heads up the company's Mainland European Sales Division

Nominations are already being received for 2009 International Gaming Awards, which will be presented at a prestigious ceremony on 26 January 2009 at a gala event hosted by the Millennium Gloucester Hotel, in London, UK.

Gamestec, a division of Danoptra Gaming Group, claims to be the leading UK gaming machines operator in the licensed trade sector following an announcement by the Office of Fair Trading that clears its purchase of Inspired Gaming Group's pub business assets.

Keith Copher, former long-time Nevada Gaming Control Board Chief of Enforcement, has joined TableMAX Holdings as Senior Vice President of Compliance.

The Chilean gaming board has awarded Casinos Austria International (CAI) the concession for the new casino in the central Chilean town of Ovalle, the capital of Limari Province.

Clarion Gaming has rebranded ICE and ICEi under the umbrella of International Gaming Expo, which now includes casino, remote, and low-stake gaming equipment and ancillaries.

Chip manufacturer Gaming Partners International (GPI), has signed an agreement undertaking to start making chips that contain no more than 0.0005 percent lead, with effect from 1st November 2008.

Bally Technologies is enlarging its international sales and operations team, and has returned to a direct sales model in the South African market.

The Gaming Standards Association (GSA) has recently added nine new members - one Platinum member, six Gold, and two Associate members - drawn from around the world.

Now that it is an authorised 3M gaming products distributor for North America, JCM offers 3M MicroTouch ClearTek II touch sensor and 3M MicroTouch EX II touch controller products to its casino gaming customers, alongside interactive digital signage LCD displays featuring the 3M MicroTouch DST touch system, which is available in display sizes ranging from 32" to 46".

The Australian Gaming Machine Manufacturers Association (AGMMA) chose the opening of the 19th annual Australasian Gaming Expo in Sydney to announce a name change - to Gaming Technologies Association, or GTA.

Internet gaming software company CryptoLogic's investment in Mahjong Time, a provider of online mahjong software, paid off through the signing of a licensing agreement under which the company gains access to half the Internet cafés in China.

Visimetrics (UK) Ltd, which specialises in high-performance digital systems for CCTV and Video Surveillance, has added a 3,000 sq ft Custom Configuration Centre as part of an expansion of its Head Office in Prestwick, Scotland.

Mario Hoffmeister is taking over responsibility for the corporate center communications at the Gauselmann Group until further notice following the departure of Head of Communications Robert Hess, who has left the Gauselmann Group after almost 13 years to pursue new career opportunities.

International Game Technology (IGT) is understood to have offered buyouts to around 500 of its older employees across the company, almost ten percent of the workforce, as the first step in a programme of cost reduction.

The seventh Annual International Dealer Championship sponsored by TCSJOHNHUXLEY was won by Cherie Harbridge-Marks from SKYCITY Casino Adelaide.

Queenco Leisure International Ltd, the emerging markets entertainment centers and casinos developer and operator, has appointed Uri Ben-Ari to the Board as Chief Executive Officer.

Over 80 percent of online gamblers worry about the security risks they are taking, while over 60 percent worry about what they should do if they have a problem gambling online, according to a survey commissioned by UK online payment service provider Paypoint.

Andy Holtman, former editor of Casino Journal, has joined Reno-based Raving Consulting Company as Vice President of Communications. Responsible for handling day-to-day communications and public relations operations, he also takes a lead role in developing new business initiatives and company growth strategies.

Ivobank, an online banking service specialising in online payments and money transfer services, is now available to customers in France, Italy, Germany, the UK, Spain, Ireland and Canada.

Dates for the 11th Andean Gaming Fair, FADJA, have been confirmed by the organisers, 3 A Producciones, as April 22 and 23, 2009. FADJA will be held at the Conventions and Exhibit Center of Corferias, in the capital of Colombia, Bogota.

Nick Khin has replaced Tim Parrott as President and Chief Executive Officer of Aristocrat Leisure's American operations.

Bally Technologies has enjoyed a record year to June 30, 2008, with its operating margin more than doubling from 10 percent to 22 percent, systems revenue increasing 54 percent, and a diluted EPS for $1.85 for the fiscal year, as compared to $0.40 in 2007.

The first permanent Cirque du Soleil production in Asia opened at the Venetian in Macau to coincide with the resort-casino's first anniversary.

Ritzio Peru, a subsidiary of gaming clubs operator Ritzio International, has reported  an 18 percent rise in revenue for the second quarter of 2008, following a recent upgrade of the games mix in its Peruvian gaming properties.

Matthew Collman has joined Atronic International's UK team based in St Albans, taking responsibility for the company's Eastern European customers and providing sales, administration and service experience.

Weike Gaming Technology, which claims to be Singapore and Malaysia's only licensed gaming machine, electronic gaming table and systems manufacturer, has attracted two senior members of staff from Stargames, the Australian slot developer owned by Shuffle Master. 

The Rank Group, which operates Mecca Bingo clubs and Grosvenor Casinos in the UK, could be in line for tax refunds totalling over £60 million following two VAT Tribunal rulings.

Casino International Managing Editor Jon Bruford talks about gloom, doom and springtime, which always follows even the hardest winter.

Sharon Harris looks at the US presidential race, and what the winner may need to survive – or excel…

Despite its tag as one of Asia’s poorest countries, Cambodia’s gaming industry has grown on a phenomenal scale. Now, one of the country’s new players is in Macau on a mission to find the secret of luring Chinese punters and forge a partnership with Asia’s gaming mecca. By Alan Tso

Making the casino environment aesthetically fresh and visually attractive is a challenge faced by operators around the world – and that’s where Waterforms International can help with their appealing water-based designs…

Not a new age, exactly – but a new way of looking at age verification for land-based casinos. Casino International found out more…

The UK recently got its first gaming compliance test lab, sited just outside Bangor in North Wales at the state-of-the-art Technium CAST facility. Casino International went along to meet two of the brains behind the operation and find out what's what…

The first installations of IGT's innovative new REELdepth video slot games took place recently at two Grand Casinos properties in Minnesota – Grand Casino Hinckley and Grand Casino Mille Lacs.

Some of Casino Technology’s most successful PC-based games like Aztec Returns, Wild Wild Africa and Ocean Delight proved very popular among players in three locations of Atlantis Casino Group situated on the exotic tropical island in the northeast Caribbean, Saint Martin.

GPI has completed an order for the latest casino to open in Macau, in the Hotel Taipa Square opposite the Macau Jockey Club. All 125,000 chips and 28,000 plaques from the world renowned Bourgogne & Grasset brand were manufactured at GPI Sas in Beaune, France.

Regency Casino Tirana enjoyed the spectacular launch of ATRONIC’s highly popular jackpot link CASH FEVER in June. The champagne flowed freely as casino guests lined up to play the exciting CASH FEVER machines.

Aristocrat Technologies’ award-winning VIRIDIAN cabinet is in high demand from coast to coast in the US, and the company recently completed three major orders for the groundbreaking cabinet.

During July and August, Grand Casino Portoroz and Grand Casino Lipica have installed five new Alfastreet R8 multi-player roulettes.

Gary Platt Manufacturing recently shipped 180 Gazelle Royale style X-Tended Play seats to Tulalip Casino in Tulalip, Washington. Fitted with custom upholstery and brass understructures, the Royale series chairs feature a protective edge on the seat back.

Seminole Gaming has selected FutureLogic as a preferred technology partner. According to Seminole Gaming, their selection was based on the printer's superior performance in an extensive product-comparison analysis.

The new Eastside Cannery Casino Hotel, Las Vegas will open stocked 100 per cent with JCM’s award-winning Universal Bill Acceptor (UBA) and the Intelligent Cash Box (ICB).

Inspired Gaming is bringing Multi-Win Roulette (MWR) to Dutch casinos through a deal with Holland Casino, the sole permit holder for operating casino games in The Netherlands.

Signs4U just finalized the production of a custom made “King Kong Cash” sign for Holland Casino in Breda. The sign will be wall mounted over the slot machines.