Inside Asian Gaming

December 2010 | INSIDE ASIAN GAMING 47 Briefs Ms Palenik said the increase in entertainment choices for consumers “will make it more vital for the industry to produce an offering and experience that consumers want to spend money on.” In its gaming industry outlook report, PwC expected a relatively gradual recovery in Las Vegas since gaming centers tend to lag about 12 to 18 months behind a rebound in the economy. At the same time, significant new capacity has entered the Las Vegas market. This includes MGM Resorts International’s US$8.5 billion CityCenter development and the $3.9 billion Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas, scheduled to open this month. “As the global economy recovers, and international visitors return alongside domestic visitors, Nevada continues to be better placed to capitalize on the upturn than Atlantic City, since Nevada is less affected by competition from regional casinos,” PwC said in its 44- page report. Overall, PwC projects that US gaming revenue will increase to US$68.3 billion in 2014, which would be a 3.6% compound annual jump. This compares with the 23.6% compound annual growth rate it forecasts for the Asia Pacific market, which should hit $62.9 billion in 2014. Aristocrat and Bally agree to cooperate on main game video and touch-screen technology Last month, Aristocrat Technologies, Inc and Bally Technologies, Inc announced that they have entered into a technology cooperation agreement that relates to the ability of the system to manage the main game screen’s video and touch-screen communications. Under this agreement, both companies reinforce their commitment to delivering system-driven solutions that use Gaming Standards Association (GSA) and computing-industry protocols to enable casino operators to create a picture-in-picture-style interface on the gaming device to differentiate their slot products, regardless of the manufacturer. “Aristocrat and Bally have very similar views of both the current and future technology needs of our gaming system customers,” said Nick Khin, President of Aristocrat America.“Both our companies have decades of systems experience, and feel it is imperative we cooperate on this important issue.” “Our companies have worked very well together on our download-and-configuration products and in demonstrating the power of implementing the picture-in-picture-style interface with this approach,” said Bruce Rowe, Senior Vice President of Strategy and Business Development for Bally Technologies. “We will continue to cooperate on this and other initiatives that mutually benefit our customers.” The player interface technology at the center of the two companies’ agreement is Aristocrat’s nCompass™ and Bally’s iVIEW Display Manager™ (DM). This type of technology has been approved by Gaming Laboratories International (GLI), is in the field today in multiple markets, and is backward compatible to work on older gaming machines as well as new gaming devices being purchased today. Aristocrat and Bally are confident that their customers want this type of technology to be interoperable, highly configurable, and available on an open network, easily enabling third-party applications and ensuring that gaming operators have the freedom to create differentiated marketing and service experiences on the games they own. Leap Forward Gaming announces strategic alliance with Shuffle Master Leap Forward Gaming, Inc of Reno, Nevada, announced it had formed a strategic alliance with Shuffle Master, Inc. According to a press release: “Through this strategic alliance, two distinct leaders in the gaming industry come together to bring operators and manufacturers worldwide an unmatched solution integrating the best products and content from Shuffle Master with the leading wireless technology offerings and solutions from Leap Forward Gaming.” Leap Forward Gaming CEO Ali Saffari commented: “Operators are asking vendors to collaborate to address industry needs that will drive efficiency and their ability to do more with less. Shuffle Master and Leap Forward share a vision that the gaming floor of the future will be wireless, which allows for new opportunities and both companies are committed to working together to achieve this vision. Our groundbreaking, patented, highly-secure wireless technology provides Shuffle Master with the ability to seamlessly offer new levels of connectivity throughout the casino floor in an economical way.” “Shuffle Master is committed to partnering with best-in-class companies to help solve important industry problems,” said Jim Jackson, Senior Vice President of Business Development for Shuffle Master. “Leap Forward’s wireless technology complements our table products and machines. Our initial area of collaboration will focus on wireless progressive solutions for the casino floor. We strongly believe that the combination of LFG’s wireless technology and Shuffle Master’s innovation will redefine the way gaming properties interact with their customers.” The first innovative product of a multi-phase effort from the collaboration is expected to be available to the gaming industry in spring 2011. Aristocrat’s Nick Khin