PokerHeaven.com has launched a new poker tool, The Hand Tracker, that lets players track their playing activity in real time via an animated console.

Edward Hoffman has joined the TableMAX sales team, bringing with him more than 21 years of experience in the gaming industry.

Congressman Barney Frank, Chairman of the House Committee on Financial Services, has introduced two Bills to Congress. His Internet Gambling Regulation, Consumer Protection and Enforcement Act of 2009, calls for a legislative infrastructure to allow licensed operators to accept wagers from US residents, while a second bill seeks to push back the date for mandatory compliance with The Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act of 2006 (UIGEA) from 1st December this year until the end of 2010.

Grosvenor Casinos, owned by British leisure gaming company, The Rank Group, has paid £650,000 for the casino at Coventry City Football Club's Ricoh Arena.

IGT's second-quarter profit fell by 44 percent, as falling sales and the costs of restructuring the business hit home.

Mark J Wiedemer has returned to Bally Technologies as Director of Systems Sales after a spell at Konami Gaming in a role in which he was responsible for developing systems sales strategy and overseeing business development.

NX2, the latest licensed Roulette table game from TCSJOHNHUXLEY, dispenses with the traditional ‘racetrack' layout to enable a new approach to Roulette neighbour betting.

The US National Center for Responsible Gaming (NCRG) has set up two NCRG Centers of Excellence in Gambling Research - one at Yale University, and one at the University of Minnesota. Each Center will receive a three-year grant for a total of $402,500 to undertake research.

Global Cash Access reported strong results for the quarter ended March 31, 2009. Revenues were up 26.6 percent, year-on-year, operating income up 5 percent, and earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization rose 11.6 percent.

When the organisers of ELA polled exhibitors regarding Swine Flu, the preferred option was postponement rather than total cancellation or the risk of going ahead as planned.

Italian slot specialist Magic Dreams chose the Fadja show in Bogota to show Aztec Moon, a five-reel video slot, available in 9 or 25 lines configuration, that recalls the ancient myth of Aztec Empire, and Return of the Phoenix, the game that mixes traditional Egyptian art and science fiction elements. Both games feature a themed, four-level mystery jackpot.

Aristocrat has released the Sky Heroes theme for its Xtreme Mystery Link, which is available both for Viridian and Xcite machines. Sky Heroes provides a mini-blockbuster aerobatic display for Xtreme Mystery's overhead signage and for the LCD top box on each linked machine.

A federal district court has issued summary judgment rulings that products in Bally's Power Bonusing Suite, in particular Power Promotions, Power Bank, and SDS/CMP Power Winners, don't infringe IGT patents.

The Gaming Standards Association (GSA) has released clarifications to the G2S protocol standard that ‘fine tunes' many points of the protocol. The G2S Message Protocol v2.0.1 is a freely available download at www.gamingstandards.com

Marjolein Clarijs from Holland Casino Breda won the 2009 European Dealer Championship organised by the European Casino Association (ECA) and hosted by the Casino Cosmopol in Malmö, Sweden.

The Las Vegas Golden Nugget Hotel & Casino welcomed 280 competitors to the first World Series of Slots tournament in April. After battling head-to-head through eight rounds, one player walked away with the $100,000 grand prize, part of a $262,000 prize pot. A $10,000 Bonus Tournament was open to players knocked out in the first round.

The 2010 International Gaming Awards will be held in London, England, on 25th January 2010 alongside IGE.

Blackjack Switch, the blackjack variant in which players are dealt two hands and can swap the top two cards between hands, has been approved for trial in Britain by the Gambling Commission.

DEQ Systems' EZ Baccarat no-commission Baccarat with Dragon 7 side bet has been approved for play in Macau, following a request from Wynn Casino in Macau, which is installing four tables. The game accelerates the speed of Baccarat by eliminating the commission, and also increases revenue by allowing players to place side bets.

Lai Fai Chiang has joined the Atronic team in Asia as the Key Account Manager for the region, replacing Zane Reynolds. Chiang, who was with Atronic's distributor RGB for five years, has a detailed knowledge and understanding of the Asian gaming market and its specific requirements. He holds a Bachelor Degree of Commerce majoring in Accounting and Finance.  

According to Spanish Gaming News, International Leisure Development (ILD), the company behind the Gran Scala project has scaled back its ambitions and is currently seeking new partners.

Gaming Support USA has received approval as a gaming supplier by the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario. Ontario is the largest gaming market in Canada, recording both the highest casino and slots revenues of any Canadian province during fiscal 2007-08, according to the company.

Internet Marketing, when done right, can be exceptionally cost-effective – but how can your web site stand out from the billions of other gaming sites? SEO expert Christopher Angus explains…

Sharon Harris looks at how the fate of the gaming industry is affected by the machinations of Wall Street and financial institutions worldwide…

Mientras alistamos valijas para volar a Panamá, nos han llegado noticias de que el terrible virus H1N1 ha llegado al país. Habiendo estado en el Panamá varias veces durante los últimos dos meses, nos parece increíble ver la tarde llegada del virus de marras que tuvo su primer impacto en México, solamente a un par de horas de vuelo yendo hacia el norte.

Porque fue en México donde se dieron las primeras víctimas del virus, y justamente nos encontrábamos ahí y vimos como se desplomaba la industria del entretenimiento y hostelera, después de la alerta roja en la última semana de abril. Estuvimos visitando México con un grupo de inversionistas del sector, cuando un terremoto de 5,8 grados en la escala de Richter nos removió desde los pensamientos para abajo, en medio de una reunión a media mañana.

Después, nos enteramos que la feria de ELA 2009 en Ciudad de México, los días 14 y 15 de mayo, había sido pospuesta. Los organizadores del evento se contactaron con los expositores y acordaron casi unánimemente cambiar la fecha del evento para los días 23 y 24 de julio. Al cierre de edición, la mayoría de los casinos habían vuelto a abrir sus puertas en casi todo el país, sin embargo los hoteles se encontraban bajos de gente para esta temporada del año, porque la percepción en el extranjero sobre un viaje a México sigue siendo un poco fría, a no ser que sea esencial.

Que gran diferencia con las imágenes que nos trajimos en la memoria del excelente y entusiasta show de Bogotá, que parecía inmune a la depresión económica global. Pero más de esto en la nota de abajo, y cruzamos todos los veinte dedos para que el Sagse Gaming Panama 2009 sea también todo un éxito.

Ciao,

Ricardo.


Fadja 2009 es Pasión
El año pasado, un directivo de una empresa con vasta trayectoria en el mercado global del juego me confió que la dirección corporativa de su empresa no respondía al interés en sus productos de empresas latinoamericanas con la rapidez del caso, porque para varios de ellos la región todavía se percibía un tanto remota, tanto en la distancia como por su condición de nuevo mundo. Poco faltó para que me dijera que aun nos veían con plumas y cerbatanas husmeando en la selva tropical.

Los dos días que duró Fadja 2009, y que concluyó ayer jueves han tenido, relativamente hablando, una mayor expresión comercial que la demostrada en los dos más grandes eventos globales recientes. Con temor a equivocarme, podría decir, que las transacciones en la feria andina de juegos han rebasado las expectativas de 3A Producciones, organizadores de Fadja, y la de muchos de nosotros también.

A los magníficos productos presentados por líderes globales del sector como Austrian Gaming Industries, que llegaba a Fadja desde Austria por primera vez, IGT, Bally, Aristocrat, Atronic, Merkur Gaming, Octavian, R. Franco, y numerosas otras respetables empresas, se sumaban líderes regionales como Innovation, (presentada por primera vez con su vehiculo del sector, Game Market), Mundo Video, y Heal Technology.

La nota del clamoroso ‘si podemos’ popular, la dio, sin embargo, el juego Cash Poker en los humildes 3 x 3 metros de un stand compartido. Ya habíamos visto el Cash Poker actuar como imán en la feria de Aruba el mes pasado. Ya habíamos visto a su inventor.

Luis Fernando de la Peña, literalmente sudar la gota gorda, demostrando el juego en la mesa media luna donde casi veinte años atrás había debutado el Poker Caribeño, de éxito global hoy en día.

Por dos días consecutivos, pudimos ver jugando este ingenioso nuevo juego de mesa a ejecutivos de los casinos más grandes de Colombia y Venezuela, para empezar. En Cash Poker, el dealer no tiene cartas, porque como dice el slogan del juego dirigiéndose al jugador: ‘Tu suerte es lo único que cuenta’.

Para describir el desenvolvimiento de Fadja 2009, debemos resaltar que el elemento principal de este, fue la pasión de la gente que en verdad se regaló con productos, servicio y vasto carisma por dos memorables días en Bogotá.


Inversión de US $ 63 millones en Casino Carrasco
El Grupo Codere-Sofitel, ganador de la licitación del Hotel Casino Carrasco en Montevideo, ha indicado que el trabajo de restauración de la emblemática propiedad tendrá una inversión de US $63 millones, para transformarlo en el mejor Hotel Casino cinco estrellas del país. El grupo cuenta con un plazo récord de veinte meses para culminar el trabajo en las instalaciones que presentan un estado de deterioro y abandono considerable.

El proyecto de Codere-Sofitel propone recuperar el edificio y su integración con el barrio, tratando de eliminar las fachadas de elementos agregados que representan deformaciones con respecto al proyecto original. El director de operaciones de Sofitel para Latinoamérica, comentó que “es más difícil y costoso recuperar un edificio como éste que hacer un hotel desde cero”.

El plan consiste en excavar cuatro metros por debajo del nivel actual y colocar allí el casino junto a un estacionamiento subterráneo. En el hotel, el plan consiste en construir 116 habitaciones y colocar en las dos características cúpulas del Hotel Carrasco, suites penthouses de lujo.


Alcaldes de Chile darían pelea
Los alcaldes de las siete ciudades donde funcionan casinos municipales aprobados mediante legislación previa a la Ley de Casinos del 2005 han formado un frente común para pelear contra el dictamen de la referida Ley que autoriza esos casinos a funcionar hasta el 2015, cuando la Superintendencia de Casinos de Chile autorice a los nuevos casinos, que podrían ser en ciudades distintas de las actuales.

Los alcaldes de Coquimbo, Iquique, Pucón, Fernando Paredes, se reunieron a fines de abril en Viña del Mar con la alcaldesa Virginia Reginato quien, personalmente, se dedicó a llamar por teléfono a cada uno de sus seis colegas, invitándolos a sumarse al colectivo edil contra la referida Ley para proteger a sus comunas.

Casi todos los alcaldes se han comprometido a hacer pelea y están entusiasmados con una propuesta de Reginato, que podría empezar por la vía judicial para tratar de instalar la premisa de que dejar a estas siete ciudades sin sus respectivos casinos es una “expropiación de carácter inconstitucional”. Adicionalmente se estudia la alternativa de lograr respaldo en la vía legislativa para intentar modificar la ley 19.995, que considera derogados los permisos o concesiones que les han permitido tener casas de juego, a partir del 2015.


SAGSE Gaming Panamá celebra su 5to aniversario
SAGSE Gaming Panamá, organizada por Monografie, celebrará su Quinto aniversario en Panama con una fiesta para sus clientes, reguladores y principales operadores en el Casino Veneto Wyndham Grand Hotel el 21 de Mayo, en el contexto de un cóctel muy especial lleno de festejos que se llevará cabo en el Pool bar del séptimo piso a las 20.30 horas.

La expo SAGSE Gaming Panamá se desarrollará los días 21/22 de Mayo en el centro de Convenciones ATLAPA en Panamá. La empresa Monografie S.A., organizadora del evento dijo: “Con el impulso que genera toda renovación, las perspectivas y proyectos del nuevo gobierno en Panamá potencian las expectativas en todos los sectores económicos, incluyendo al Gaming.

“En este nuevo clima de optimismo y desarrollo de este país centroamericano, y perpetuándose como el corazón de las Américas, SAGSE Panamá se convierte en el centro de interés del Gaming en el área Centroamérica y Caribe. No obstante el panorama de incertidumbre mundial, más de 600 pre acreditados en el área caribeña aseguran el éxito comercial de la muestra SAGSE Gaming.

As we get ready to fly back to Panama, news is beginning to spread about the latest impact of virus H1N1 on the country. Having visited the country several times during the past two months, it is incredible to see the relatively late arrival of the dreaded virus, which originated in Mexico just two hours flight further up the Americas.

Mexico, of course was where it all started, and we were there to see the collapse of the entertainment and catering industry after the red alert went on in the last week of April. We were visiting the country with a group of gaming investors, when an earthquake also shook us about in a mid-morning meeting.

Soon after, we received news that ELA 2009 scheduled in Mexico City for 14 & 15 May had been postponed. According to the event organizers, exhibitors at the show were contacted and convened on a change of dates for 23 & 24 July. At close of press, most of the casinos up and down the country had reopened for business, and while hotel occupancy was dismally low for this time of the year, the perception overseas was somewhat tepid about travelling to Mexico unless it was essential.  

What a different picture from the excellent and enthusiastic show in Bogotá, which seemed immune to the global economic depression. But more of this below, and we cross our fingers so that Sagse Panama 2009 is also as successful.

Cheers,

Ricki.


FADJA 2009 a triumph
A year ago at FADJA 2008 an executive of a global gaming manufacturing company was heard to say that his corporate bosses were not responding quickly enough to the interest shown in their products by Latin American businesses because the region was still considered rather remote; tantamount to saying that Latin Americans are still attired in feathers and living in the depths of tropical jungles.

One year later at the Andean gaming show it was obvious that things have changed radically. Over the two days of FADJA 2009 last week it would seem that, commercially speaking, the show has become a worthy rival of the largest global gaming expos. The sheer enthusiasm and creativity of the organizers and their teams of local people gave the show an ambience much appreciated by exhibitors and visitors alike.

To the magnificent products presented by global leaders of the gaming sector, such as Austrian Gaming Industries on show at FADJA for the first time, International Game Technology (IGT), Bally, Aristocrat, Atronic, Merkur Gaming, Octavian, R Franco and many others, were added leaders in the Latin American market such as Innovation’s Game Market, Mundo Video and Heal Technology.

Cash Poker, which was a magnet at the Aruba Gaming Show last month, drew the crowds at FADJA to its small shared 3m x 3m stand. Its inventor, Luis Fernando de la Peña, worked untiringly demonstrating the game played on a semicircular table similar to that of Caribbean Poker, which was invented around twenty years ago and is now popular at casinos throughout the world. For two days, people were enthralled by this game that could also prove ubiquitous in casinos worldwide.

When we described the emotion and enthusiasm of the people at Fadja 2009, we forgot to mention that the principal element at the show was the passion generated by all the people there with charisma, prompt service and vast generosity during two memorable days in Bogotá.


Codere-Sofitel to invest US $63M in Montevideo casino
After being selected as winners in the tender for near centenary Hotel Casino Carrasco in Montevideo, the French-Spanish bidders Codere-Sofitel announced investment ot US $63 million in the complete refurbishing of the property to turn it into a superior 5-star casino hotel.  As part of the tender specifications, the winners have just 20 months to finish the work on the property which clearly shows its age.

The Sofitel director of operations for Latin America said that it is more difficult to recover a building like the Carrasco than build up a new one from scratch, Codere-Sofitel plan to stick to the original French style design of the hotel eliminating additional elements added over the years to ‘modernize’ the property. 

The new hotel will have 116 deluxe rooms and penthouse suites built on the property’s characteristic domed towers. The new additions to the property will be underground with a large car park and the purpose-built new casino.


Chilean mayors unite to battle against Casino Law
In 2005 the new Chilean casino law was finally approved, leading to the granting of licences to 17 casino projects. However, there are seven other casinos operating under the old law, but are now threatened as their licence runs out in 2015 and the local councils may lose them out in the tender process that is due.

In view of this, the seven mayors of the threatened municipalities have now decided to present a united front in a battle to keep their casinos open beyond 2015. The Mayors of Coquimbo, Arica, Iquique, Pucón, Puerto Varas and Puerto Natales met in Viña del Mar, with the city’s Mayoress, who is leading the defense of their casinos and the revenue that they represent for their cities. Viña del Mar has had a casino for over eighty years.

The casinos contribute a great deal to the local communities concerned and the fight is on to prove that revoking the licences will be an unconstitutional act. The move to keep the casinos open will begin through the courts but the legislative approach will also be considered. Modification of the 2005 law could be another way to keep casino jobs and casino tax revenue in the seven cities.


SAGSE Gaming Panama celebrates Fifth Anniversary
Organized by Monografie, Sagse Gaming Panama will celebrate its fifth anniversary with a party for exhibitors, casino operators and guests on May 21 in the Pool bar of Veneto Casino & Hotel ay 20:30 hours.

With the energy generated by any reformation, the forecast of the new government in Panama is for increasing expectations in all economic sectors, including Gaming. Within this new atmosphere of optimism and development of this Central American country, which will help to solidify its international renown as the heart of the Americas, SAGSE Panama becomes the Gaming hub of this Caribbean and Central area.

Despite the global uncertainty more than 600 professionals have already pre-accredited from the Caribbean area, ensuring the commercial success of the SAGSE Gaming expo May 21/22 from 3PM - 8PM. The most representative companies in this industry have confirmed their presence and SAGSE remains as an “Expo” with an important representation of the diversity of state-of-the art gaming products.

In an exclusive interview with Macau Business gaming tycoon Stanley Ho Hung-sun has called for the city’s casino operators to bury the hatchet and form a united front to take the industry forward. In this candid interview, ‘Mr Macau’ also gives valuable insights from his long life of challenges and reveals he has little interest in Las Vegas Sands properties but is quite keen to branch out into Asia, especially Japan. By Paulo A. Azevedo

Sharon Harris knows that what happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas... If only the President had realised that