TCSJOHNHUXLEY has appointed Daniel Polec as Operations Manager, Europe. Based in Stoke, UK, Daniel is responsible for all the company’s field technicians across Europe.

Daniel has a wealth of experience in technical service, having spent 13 years as an engineer and service manager for a high-tech European imaging company.

The new Gambling Act, which came into force in the UK on 1st September, has already led to the withdrawal of PokerPro tables from Aspers in Newscastle, which was the first European casino to take the automated poker game from distributor Aristocrat.

Casino sign specialist Signs 4U will be opening its second factory this October, in Uruguay, after teaming up with Suzo South Americas, which will be selling the company’s products.

The boom in remote gaming over the last year is reflected on the floor of ICEi 2008, which will be 40 per cent bigger than its 2007 predecessor.

At least 13 first-time exhibitors have signed up for ICEi 2008, according to organisers Clarion Gaming, and next year’s event is set to be the biggest in its six-year history, with over 2,000sqm dedicated to remote gaming at the Earl’s Court, London, venue.

After an eighteen-month renovation programme and a 25 million Euro spend, the Hit Company has officially re-opened the renovated Park Gaming and Entertainment Centre, Nova Gorica, which was the first casino the company opened, in 1984.

Eric Fisher has joined MEI as Vice President of Gaming in the Americas. Fisher will be responsible for focusing on route-to-market, customers, technical support, and product portfolio requirements, operating out of currency acceptor specialist MEI’s newest location, the MEI/VTI facility in Las Vegas.

Thermal ticket printer specialists FutureLogic Inc has appointed Alan Rea as the company’s Vice President, Quality Assurance.

A Certified Master Six Sigma Black Belt, ASQ Certified Quality Engineer, and Certified Quality Auditor, Alan Rea brings more than 20 years of quality management experience to the company. He has managed and implemented a wide variety of Quality Management Systems internationally.

Despite major relaxations in the restrictions on casino advertising in the UK following the September 1st introduction of the 2005 Gambling Act, it is still not possible for casinos to advertise in or on the 21,000 ‘black cabs’ that operate in London.

Merkur Gaming, the European sales arm of the Gauselmann Group, has restructured its European organisation, and aims to tune itself in more finely to the needs of the AWP market.

Jürgen Stühmeyer heads the sales operation, with support from Helmut Besse, managing director of adp Gauselmann GmbH. Andreas Weiss is now responsible for administration and organisation, and Uwe Hornis for development.

Unicum Gaming is debuting several new product lines at EELEX, which claims to be the largest gaming and entertainment industry trade show in Russia, CIS, and Baltic countries.

Unicum's own multigame slot machine, Multitron, is poised to enter the world market, according to the company. And as the distributor of WMS Gaming products in Russia, Unicum will be also debuting the WMS G+ system to the local markets served by EELEX.

FutureLogic thermal printers will now feature in all Octavian gaming applications that use thermal ticket technology, following an initial two-year deal, signed during the Australasian Gaming Expo (AGE).

The organisers of this year’s Australasian Gaming Expo (AGE) claim that the show was yet another resounding success, attracting over 11,000 people over three days in August, according to the Australasian Gaming Machine Manufacturers Association (AGMMA).

IGT Australia based its 2007 AGE campaign around a suite of new products for the local market with the slogan ‘Global Strength, Local Focus’, and celebrated the company’s continued growth.

For the first time in Australasia, IGT showed its newly-developed M-P Series – a multi-terminal gaming concept that IGT Australia plans to roll out in the middle of next year.

Bulgarian slot manufacturer Casino Technology went home with a ‘Best Stand’ award at the fifth Peru Gaming show.

The company has now adapted 30 of its videoslot games to the Spanish language, and a BMM laboratory certificate is imminent for a tranche of the company’s games, which makes them available for use in Peru and Argentina. These include some of the latest releases Multi Gemini, Mystical Jewels, Cash Party, Nubian Princess, Emperor’s Adventures, and Tennis Club.

Shuffle Master’s acquisition of the Table Game division assets of Progressive Gaming International, agreed in July, was having difficulty reaching closure as these pages went to press.

Due diligence and legal work necessary to close the contemplated sale weren’t completed to the original deadline, which resulted in two extensions to the exclusivity period with respect to the transaction.

Despite massive revenue growth in Macau, which has overtaken Las Vegas in gross revenues according to gambling regulators in both cities, its near neighbour, Hong Kong, has no plans to compete for tourists or conventions by allowing casinos on its own territory. Other tourism boosters are being explored.

September saw Money Controls celebrating the 20th anniversary of operating in two European countries: Spain and Italy.

Meanwhile, at ProGameShow3 in Bologna, the company, which has been operating in Italy with distributor Maggi Coniature for 20 years, celebrated the opening of a new office and warehouse near Milan, and the incorporation of Money Controls srl.

Inspired Gaming Group plc (Inspired), a leading provider of Open Server-Based Gaming, has secured a new $1 million deal for the deployment of its Open SBG software platform in Asia.

The company is investing a further $5.5 million in Open SBG terminals and other casino gaming terminals in the region. The investment is to supply and install its latest multi-content gaming terminal and slot machines on a revenueshare basis with Silver Heritage Limited (SHL), one of the leading operators of terminals to licensed gaming premises and casino operators in the Asia-Pacific region.

WMS Gaming Inc has closed on the acquisition of Austrian-based Systems in Progress (SiP). The acquisition of SiP follows last year's acquisition of Orion Gaming, and will facilitate the development of new local and wide area progressive products, the company says.

Aristocrat Technologies has appointed long-time gaming industry lawyer Tom Smock as Senior Vice President and General Counsel.

Prior to joining Aristocrat, Smock spent seven years with Las Vegas Sands Corporation, most recently acting as Senior VP and General Counsel for the Venetian Macau.

Slot Machine University’s online courses have been accredited by the International Association for Continuing Education and Training (IACET). The e-learning courses are provided by WMS Gaming Inc, through its certified learning strategic partner, Element K.

IACET certifies education and training providers to award Continuing Education Units (CEUs) that are accepted by hundreds of participating member companies, regulatory boards, and education organisations worldwide.

Embedded computer technology supplier Densitron Gaming is changing its name to Innocore Gaming, and will be launching a full rebranding at this November’s Global Gaming Expo, G2E, in Las Vegas.

Three destination resort casinos will be built by 2012 in different regions of Massachusetts, if proposals supported by Governor Deval Patrick are approved and enacted.

“After thoroughly reviewing the arguments and the analysis on both sides of the issue, I believe authorizing three resort casinos will have significant economic benefits to Massachusetts,” he said.

Table iD, the tracking and bet recognition technology jointly owned, developed, and marketed by Progressive Gaming International and International Game Technology (IGT), has passed the 1,000 unit marker in the US and Canada for agreements for or placements of the system.

Table iD is an automated table game system that combines table management software and RFID (radio-frequency identification) Chip Tracking with game and card management, which optionally includes a Shuffle Master card shoe with an embedded camera.

Another month, another move forward for Casino International. This issue sees three exciting developments for the magazine. First we have the inaugural column from our colleagues at Macau Business, which tells you all about the Macau Venetian opening on page 14. I hope that will be the start of many columns on this exciting part of the gaming world from them.

Like many others of my generation, I grew up in a fairly homogenous neighborhood in suburban Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Basically, we all came from the same socio-economic and religious backgrounds. Most of us went to the same summer camps, had the same educational plans and expected to achieve pretty much the same goals in our adult lives. In many ways, it was an insulated way to live.

Macau Business reports back on the impressive opening of Macau’s new resort casino, The Venetian.

Michael J Kuhn, President and CEO of the DigiDeal Corporation in Washington spoke to Casino International about the company’s products and what drives the electronic table game specialists on. Electronic table games are steadily gaining popularity worldwide as they bring increased profitability to card games and other traditional table attractions.

Quova is at the cutting edge of web technology and is leading the line with its tools for online casinos to check the location of their customers.

Casino International: What value can Quova bring to a customer, and who are your customers?

Casino International spoke to Damien Connelly of Gaming Support about the company’s new BonusBox innovation. Damien explains the idea behind the device and how it works – and how it can tempt players by giving more prizes more frequently to bring excitement back to the slot floor…

Belinda King Creative Productions supplies polished, high-level entertainment for casinos, cruise ships and other venues. The company hopes to expand its client list; BKCP has the pedigree – the only thing holding them back is that you might not have encountered them yet. Jon Bruford meets driving force that gives the company its name: Casino International proudly presents... Belinda King.

The Admiral Casino in Mendrisio is Switzerland’s number one gaming location regarding turnover levels. In 2006, the casino was able to book record revenues of almost 133mn Swiss francs. Wherever such large amounts of money change hands surveillance needs to be first-class.

Mobile gaming comes of age with poker multiplayer Aces Royal. No waiting around, plenty of satisfied customers... Cecure Gaming CEO Peter Karsten tells all about the evolution of Aces Royal.

Atronic Systems has broken ground with the company’s first ever GALAXIS casino management system sold and installed in the UK at the recently opened The Isle at Coventry Casino...

Newcastle’s Aspers Casino at the Gate has been open for almost two years and in that time developed the range of products on offer to their customers constantly. Following a critical review of their existing electronic product offering...

Las Vegas Sands Venetian Macau opened on August 28 with GPI high security chips on all its 870 tables. As most of Macau casinos, Venetian chose GPI as its preferred supplier...

France’s largest gaming operator, Lucien Barrière Hotels and Casinos, has selected Gaming Support as its exclusive signage provider for its new property, Casino Théâtre Barrière de Toulouse.

Architects Carrier Johnson recently worked with the Viejas to create a $20m expansion which aims to bring greater value to players. Jon Bruford spoke with the key players about the project...

Symmons Industries was known as a manufacturer of commercial and residential plumbing products until 2000, when the company’s vision resulted in the creation of their Signature Design Studio, which allows them to create custom fittings for any customer quickly and easily – particularly useful for the casino industry, where every individual touch can make a difference…