Tom Kenny, the former Chief Operating Officer of Cantor Gaming, has joined WagerWorks as Commercial Director.

Octavian has acquired the Las Vegas-based lottery consulting specialists Gaming Solutions International (GSI), and as part of the deal, GSI Owner and President Mark Hutchinson joins Octavian to spearhead the company’s actitivites in lottery systems.

Delegates planning to travel to London, England in January for ATEI, ICE and ICEi can now register online for the events, and will be given help with their visa applications, as necessary.

Queenco Leisure is to develop a €10 million casino in the city of Constanta, which is the third largest city in Romania.

The company currently operates two casinos in Greece, one 80 kilometres from Athens, and one on the island of Rhodes. Queenco also operates the Casino Palace in Romania, in the centre of Bucharest.

The Saskatchewan Indian Gaming Authority, which operates Dakota Dunes Casino, has expanded iView's existing iTrak Incident Reporting and Risk Management System to provide a complete end-to-end security and surveillance solution for Dakota Dunes Casino. The casino opened its doors on the Whitecap Dakota First Nation, south of Saskatoon, on August 10th ’07.

Gaming Laboratories International (GLI) has opened a new facility in Melbourne, Australia and formed a partnership with the Universidad Nacional de La Plata (UNLP) to create GLI South America, which led to the opening of GLI South America in Buenos Aires. Earlier this year, GLI opened new, larger facilities in Sydney and in Adelaide.

Xavier Serra has been appointed Manager of European and African Sales and Operations for Bally Technologies. “I am delighted to be joining Bally during this exciting time,” Serra said.

A new 10-seat PokerPro table is now available, offering a range of new features, which include Omaha Poker, a game that is notoriously difficult to deal, and facilities that make it easy for operators to organise multi-table tournaments, display Showdown Odds, offer Quick Accounts, Kill Pots, and Stored Value Cards, and run the table in a variety of languages and currencies.

Les Ambassadeurs, which charges £1,000 membership and is one of the most luxurious casinos in London, England, has been put on sale by Indonesian billioniare Putera Sampoerna, who paid £115 million for it in Spring 2006.

Marvel superheroes Spider-man and The Fantastic Four will soon be starring in exclusive online casino games alongside other Marvel-branded slot games, including the Hulk, Daredevil, Blade, The Punisher, Thor, X-Men, Silver Surfer, Elektra, Iron Man and Ghost Rider.

Bally Technologies has signed a contract with Fantasy Springs Resort Casino in Indio, California, near Palm Springs to provide bonusing technology, a table games management solution and 2,000 iVIEW slot machine displays.

Gamingjobs.com, a new online Jobs Board, has been launched by Peter Logan, a former Online Gaming Analyst.

According to Logan, his site features the powerful tools and search capabilities one would expect to find on leading job sites. “It is content rich and, best of all, it's free both for employers and for jobseekers to use,” he says.

The Gaming Standards Association (GSA) has signed a memo of understanding with the Macao Polytechnic Institute (MPI), which will now act as GSA’s office in Asia, establishing a location for GSA on the continent. GSA will support MPI in spreading the technical knowledge of GSA’s gaming protocol standards to students in Macao and of Asia.

TCSJOHN HUXLEY Europe has appointed Peter Greenhill as Managing Director. Greenhill has over 25 years of experience of the gaming industry, most recently as Chief Executive Officer of Betex Group plc.

Problem gambling has not increased in the UK over the last eight years, despite widespread speculation to the contrary, according to the British Gambling Prevalence Survey 2007, compiled for the Gambling Commission by the National Centre for Social Research. The survey measured the levels of problem gambling using two internationally recognised scales, the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 4th edition (DSM IV) and the Canadian Problem Gambling Severity Index (PGSI).

Responding to the announcement of the review of industry funding of gambling research, treatment and public education, the UK’s Responsibility in Gambling Trust Chairman, John Greenway MP, said: “This is a golden opportunity for the gambling industry to demonstrate that the current voluntary funding arrangement can work by ensuring that all contributions due, under the terms agreed, are paid by Christmas.

Anew regulation, that was set to require US casino operators to withhold a quarter of poker players’ winnings over $5,000, on behalf of the Internal Revenue Service, has been modified – such winnings now have to be declared, rather than ‘taxed at source’ by casinos, after March ’08.

Slovenian electronic roulette developer, Gold Club, has more than doubled the space it will be taking at ICE 2008 in London, England.

A little over two years after joining the company Gary Platt, Steve Jackson has taken on the added responsibility of serving Gary Platt Manufacturing’s Northern Nevada customers as sales manager, along with his other territories of Northern California, Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Arizona, and New Mexico.

Shuffle Master has completed a $30 million deal for the acquisition of Progressive Gaming International’s worldwide Table Game Division assets, which include all Progressive’s table game titles including Caribbean Stud and Texas Hold ’Em Bonus. The agreement includes a software distribution licence, under which Progressive will provide progressive table technology to Shuffle Master exclusively, with certain exceptions, and will integrate this technology with certain versions of Shuffle Master’s speciality table games.

Quixant has signed an agreement to develop and supply 'next generation' gaming controllers to the machine manufacturer Ainsworth Game Technology. Quixant is working on a custom-designed, next-generation platform to cater for the future requirements of AGT’s products.

Coin and cashless payment systems specialists NRI (National Rejectors Inc) has appointed Solutions & Options as its new distributor for Greece, and Interbrands Limited as its new distributor for Malta. Both Solutions & Options and Interbrands will distribute all NRI products in all markets, not just gaming.

Taiwan-based Jumbo Technology Co Ltd has chosen Money Controls’ Ardac Elite bill acceptor for its latest video bingo machine.

Jumbo designs and manufactures professional gaming and bingo products. The parent group also owns and operates several VIP clubs and bingo halls in Taiwan and is part of a strategic alliance with over 30 partner clubs operating slot and bingo halls.

Ritzio Entertainment Group has launched its first City Casino gaming club in Tartu, Estonia, and is poised to launch a version of its ‘Vulcan’ gaming chain in Italy, under the ‘Vulcano della Fortuna’ brand. City Casino is Ritzio's key gaming brand in the Baltic States.

As part of its ongoing commitment to protect US currency from counterfeiters, the US Government will be launching a new $5 early in 2008. Additional security features have been incorporated, including changes to the watermark and security thread. Clearer markings aim to make it easier for the visually impaired to distinguish note values.

FutureLogic has launched a completely redesigned and enhanced website.

“Because the internet plays such an important role in our communication and customer service strategy, we have re-engineered our website to ensure that our key audiences can access crucial information faster and with greater ease than ever before,” said Nick Micalizzi, VP Sales & Marketing of FutureLogic Inc.

Inspired Gaming Group has secured a new $1 million deal for the deployment of its of Open Server-Based Gaming software platform (Open SBG) in Asia, and is also investing a further $5.5 million in Open SBG terminals and other casino gaming terminals into the region on a joint-venture basis.

Heber is launching the X15, a new X-Line USB PC Gaming I/O interface that is designed to work with any PC gaming control system equipped with a USB port, or with Heber’s Axis 945 gaming control system.

To reflect the rapid growth in the igaming sector across Asia, G2E Asia 2008 is to introduce an igaming business pavilion dedicated to the internet gaming industry.

I can’t speak for the rest of you, but I’d bet you feel the same way I do – excited, as G2E is just around the corner! Indeed, some of you may be reading this issue for the first time at the show. Such a feast of technology and innovation – I can hardly wait. Will WMS be able to top last year’s technology? What will Bally have up their sleeves? And of course there’s IGT, Interblock, Aristocrat and a million other companies vying for attention and sales.

2007 is a milestone year for me – 15 gaming shows and 25 years in the amusement industry. Amusements and gaming have the same premise… motivate customers to pay to play. I have fascinating tales and memories, so here is free advice for what consultants charge big bucks:

Pretty well everyone, both in the Gaming Industry and outside commentators, expected the long-awaited Prevalence Study to show at least some significant increase in Gambling prevalence in the UK.

Firstly, we would like to express our sincere congratulations to Giorgio Gennari, president of organizers Monografie S.A. for an outstanding SAGSE 2007 expo, and particularly for the generous time and effort he spent with this title and me.

Desde estas páginas, vayan nuestras sinceras felicitaciones a Giorgio Gennari, Presidente de la empresa organizadora Monografie S.A., por el desarrollo de un excelente SAGSE 2007 y su fina atención y generosa colaboración conmigo y nuestro medio.

International Editor Ricki Chavez-Munoz says the grueling 15,500 miles return journey from London to Buenos Aires was worthwhile to report on the gaming world’s third major expo...

The Tomino Group located in Malta is encouraging its players to ‘Be Smart, Play Card’ with Atronic Systems’ successful cashless gaming solution, CHIP CASH. The Tomino Group currently operates two casinos in Malta, the Oracle Casino and the recently opened The Casino at Portomaso each with 150 slot machines.

Following a Value Added Trial (VAT) of MEI Cashflow bill acceptors at the Grand Casino Helsinki, the casino operators have decided to retrofit two-thirds of their slot floor with the Cashflow.

Gaming Support has announced a deal with Laurus Invest Hungary covering the supply of casino signage for Laurus’s Monte Carlo electronic casino venue, scheduled to open in Budapest during the fourth quarter of this year. According to the terms of the agreement, Gaming Support will supply all custom signage within the property.

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 to deliver close to 2million chips from the B&G brand. These chips feature exclusive security features such as individual high security holograms, ultra-violet pigments, LaserLock infrared pigments and see-through inserts. They were produced in a record time at GPI’s facility in Beaune, France as some of the highest security chips ever made by the group.

International Editor Ricki Chavez-Munoz reports on International Game Technology’s globe-trotting executive Kurt Quartier with impressive views on Server Based Gaming

Casino International speaks with Justin Thouin, now CryptoLogic's Vice President of Marketing and Product Management, about the company's drive to find new licensees to work with...

The new Aspers casino opened recently in Swansea, with a huge celebration in early September. Casino International attended and liked what it saw...

Suzo Happ South America – recently acquired by Patrick Suverein and Jens Peiler – has entered into a joint venture with Signs4U, the casino signage experts from the Netherlands, to produce and distribute casino signage products in their new facilities in Montevideo/Uruguay and Buenos Aires/Argentina.

Casino International’s Sharon Harris looks at the foothold unions have gained in Atlantic City casinos – and what that could mean across the industry.

‘Twas the night before ICE 2008, and in London’s Natural History Museum, a new awards event was stirring... Empire Events would like your support for a new charity fund-raising awards show.

EMEA Sales Manager Jon Temple explains why you should visit their stand…

Roulette wheel experts unleash new Slingshot 2 TT at G2E 2007

Austrian Gaming Industries promises a stunning display on stand 1885

Intelligent Cash Box, Universal Bill Acceptor completes strong line-up for JCM

Walk the City streets on stand 1385 and enjoy Atronic’s strong line-up

G2E sees upgrade of PromoNet Coupon Solution

Over 100 unique game titles in almost 11,000 square feet of space...

Money Controls highlights Ardac Elite at G2E 2007, booth 2385

Bulgarian innovators have a new concept in automated Roulette – PlayMe

Third-generation shuffler is sure to impress at G2E

Axis 945 and X15 can be seen on stand 2341...

‘Win Proximity Meter’ should raise player excitement to new levels

Russia-based company to show its best product in the world’s gambling heart

Booth 2671 is the place to be!

Can they top last year’s brilliant showing?

You can find Evona’s full range on stand 3115 at G2E 2007

Gaming Partners International is the world leader with proven expertise in creating, customizing and supplying gaming chips, jetons and plaques, with or without RFID, and other security and sensitive table gaming products such as dice, cards, wheels and RFID readers as well as layouts and gaming tables directly to licensed casinos all over the world.

At G2E 2007 Dallmeier presents its overall concept for the specific requirements of casino applications. Come and see our “Products for Solutions” in Booth 5916!

Casino International recently spoke with livewire Richard Solomon, head of an eponymous artist representation company in New York.