WMS have had a successful time, particularly considering their relative youth in gaming terms – but their success comes from a superb attitude to their customers and a commitment to quality, in whatever aspect of gaming they might be exploring.

G2E is always a very important event for Alfastreet Gaming Instruments, one of the leading manufacturer of Multiplayer gaming terminals.

Evona have a strong history with automated roulette solutions for casinos, building machines which allows smaller operators enjoy the benefits of electronic roulette alongside much bigger set-ups for larger operations. At G2E, the company is showing some exciting product, including the Octavia New.

The new generation video slot machine, GEMINI, officially launched at ICE 2006 made an exciting breakthrough during the 2006.

Visitors to this year’s Global Gaming Expo (G2E) will be able to witness first-hand, the revolution being spurred on by open serverbased gaming around the world.

Bally is showcasing the broadest array of gaming products and technology of any supplier at G2E, at the Las Vegas Convention Center this November.

At this year’s Global Gaming Expo, Atronic will be unveiling an impressive range of new and exciting games and concepts including the latest linked video slot concept, The Game of Life, based on Milton Bradley’s highly successful board game.

With gaming technology once again on the verge of opening exciting new territory for the casino industry, IGT will present “The Big Picture” of gaming in all its emerging forms during the Global Gaming Expo (G2E) Nov. 14-16 at the Las Vegas Convention Center.

Gaming Support is looking forward to meeting you again at this year’s G2E. Drop in to Booth 3331 to find out how the range of new and improved solutions from Gaming Support will grow gaming revenues for you.

Stand 3577 at G2E looks set to be the scene of great activity and excitement as Money Controls showcases Ardac Elite, its latest bill and ticket acceptor.

Octavian International is to feature live demonstrations of a number of breakthrough games and systems developments – including a compact wireless networking module and the exciting new PortalVision suite of products – on stand 2583 at G2E in Las Vegas.

Unicum Group, the leading Russian gaming and amusement products provider, has announced details of its exhibits at G2E 2006. In Las Vegas the company will be presenting its newest slot machines and games.

Novomatic Group of Companies and its wholly owned subsidiary Austrian Gaming Industries GmbH (AGI) announce a large product portfolio for this year’s G2E from November 14–16 in Las Vegas.

Shufflemaster have big plans for G2E 2006, exhibiting a raft of new product that will excite casino operators worldwide at the planet’s largest gaming exhibition.

Ukraine's EI show is growing steadily as both Eastern and Western European companies support this thriving exhibition. Jon Bruford visited to see what all the fuss is about...

New venue, new dates, same slick presentation - but in a market full of uncertainty, can EELEX survive? Jon Bruford found out in Moscow that the answer is yes...

For over 20 years, Ricki Chavez-Munoz has been part of the Colombian gaming industry, as an operator and consultant, and in this issue, he reports on its growth and leaders.

The organizers of SAGSE Centro America have informed us that “the Panamanian Government has requested that we change the date of the gaming show previously scheduled for 7 - 8 June 2007, so that the ATLAPA Convention Center can be used for the XXXVII General Assembly of the Organization of American States (OEA).

The gaming industry in Mexico exists in a state of unbalance. The opening of casinos in the city of El Torreon, Coahuila has resulted in local officials proposing an Income Tax of 10% of revenue from the four operations be paid to the Municipality.

The formula sought by Carlos Bruce, President of the Overseas Trade Commission, to increase the collection of casino and slot machine operation taxes is simple, just as simple as the original cause of the irregularities in the Peruvian gaming industry.

In comments made to the local press, the Superintendent of the National Tax Authority (SENIAT) announced that lottery companies would pay between 60 billion and 70 billion Bolivar (US$22 million to US$25.5 million) in taxes in 2007, starting in May.

In mid October Chile’s Congressional Lower House approved unanimously the creation of a Commission to enquire into possible irregularities in the country’s casino licensing process.

The giant Australian gaming machine manufacturer Aristocrat Technologies, Inc at this year’s SAGSE show in Buenos Aires exhibited an impressive array of MKVI video slot machines, including Mr. Cashman and Money Honey; Stand Alone Progressives (SAP); Double Stand Alone Progressives (DSAP); and the exclusive Reel Power games.

In one of my conference papers on “Casino Marketing and Its Application”, I make the point that: “It is important that we never forget that MARKETING deals with the workings and secrets of the MARKET PLACE, which in its essence is the meeting point for the sellers and buyers of a commodity, product or service.”

Just a few quick lines about some items on the gaming industry, which are real headliners, apart from Sagse Buenos Aires 2007 reported below.

Our US Colomnist Sharon Harris looks at the value of land to developers as real estate prices rocket around the casino world...

In early September 2006, Stanley Casinos in the UK crowned the UK's first-ever ladies poker champion when Linda Iwaniak from Reading beat all comers. Linda's prize was £10,300 in cash and a £5,000 diamond bracelet, plus the coveted inaugural title.

Sebastian Salat, who is based in WMS’s Barcelona office, has been appointed Vice President & Managing Director of WMS International.

Casino Technology, the forward-thinking company from Bulgaria which has grown rapidly in recent years, recently showed its new partnership off at the ‘Gamexpo’ show in Budapest.

Chips and plaques from Gaming Partners International are to appear in the new James Bond movie “Casino Royale”.

TCSJOHNHUXLEY has promoted Lee Martin to the position of General Manager Asia. Lee’s promotion will assist in continuing to maintain the high level of customer service our clients are used to receiving.

GLI has announced its two newest standards: GLI-24 and GLI-25. GLI- 24 addresses Electronic Table Game Systems that function automatically and do not require a live dealer to be present at the game. GLI-25 covers Dealer Controlled Electronic Table Games which requires a live dealer to be present at the game.

Iverson Gaming has completed installation of a SLOTMaster Slot Accounting and Player Tracking System in three South Korea casinos.

Interactive games developer Gextech has announced plans to extend the trademarked range of its virtual fixed odds sports betting products under the umbrella branding of ‘Fantastic Sports’.

Charles Turnbull has been named President and CEO of the Suzo-Happ group, and will be responsible for all the Suzo-Happ Group companies including Happ, Suzo, Suzo UK, Suzo South America, Advanced Electronic Systems, Inc., ProSource and Mazzco Billiards.

Inspired Gaming will be basing its Global Network Operations Centre in Bangor, North Wales, creating up to 190 jobs over the next three years.

Aristocrat has begun a field trial for its Downloadable (DL) Technology and Server-Based solution at the Pechanga Resort & Casino in Temecula, California.

Gaming Support has received shareholder approval to launch a multi-phase expansion of its North American operations, beginning in the fourth-quarter of 2006.

Top slot machine manufacturer Novomatic has chosen the MEI CASHFLOW SC83 Series as a preferred note acceptor for its slot machine portfolio worldwide.

GLI Australia has recently moved its Adelaide testing laboratory into a new and larger facility located south of the city of Adelaide.

Heber and Octavian are to enter into a new partnership after Heber developed a new gaming controller, the Axis Express, exclusively for Octavian.

Casino Cosmopol in Sweden has cashed in on the success and excitement generated by the new World Series of Poker (WSOP) Texas Hold’Em game phenomenon, by installing one gaming table in their Gothenburg Casino, two tables in their Stockholm Casino and one table in their Sundsvall Casino.

FutureLogic have announced that IGT, a subsidiary of International Game Technology (NYSE:IGT), has designated FutureLogic’s GEN2 Universal gaming printer as the default printer for its existing and new gaming platforms. The default designation is effective November 1, 2006 through March 31, 2008.

PokerTek has announced that Gaming Laboratories International has certified the PokerPro gaming system and product line. Under this certification, PokerPro has met the following standards: GLI-13 On-line Monitoring and Control Systems (MCS) and Validation Systems GLI-16 Cashless Systems in Casinos GLI-24 Electronic Table Game System Applicable sections of GLI-11 Gaming Devices in Casinos.

Strange times are ahead for the casino industry in Russia. Much was hoped for its resurgence under new legislation which would squeeze out marginal amusement halls, the unregulated ‘mom and pops’ which were thought to be fuelling the country’s illegal counterfeit games market.