Inside Asian Gaming

INSIDE ASIAN GAMING | August 2011 50 International Briefs Briefs Casino sign specialist Gaming Support extends strategic alliance with Alpha Video Gaming Support B.V., a technology supplier to the global casino gaming industry, and Alpha Video and Audio, Inc., a digital media company, have announced a renewal of their strategic alliance. Under the agreement—which began in 2005—the companies will continue to develop and market their joint digital signage technology aimed at the gaming industry—JackpotJunction XL® and CastNET®. “We are exceedingly pleased to announce the extension of our strategic alliance with Alpha Video,” stated Gaming Support CEO, Lucien van Linden. “Over the past six years, the alliance’s achievements have proven nothing short of remarkable. What began as a simple interface between our respective digital signage products has blossomed into a fully-integrated marketing platform which has been embraced by industrial leaders such as Caesars Entertainment (formerly Harrah’s), Lottomatica, Resorts World International and Melco Crown Entertainment.” “Our partnership with Gaming Support has produced an astonishing list of ‘firsts,’” commented Lance Hutchinson, Alpha Video’s Vice President. JJXL/CastNET is installed at leading casinos and slot parlours worldwide, including those operated by Caesars Entertainment, Genting/Resorts World International, Holland Casino, Lottomatica Group and Melco Crown Entertainment. JJXL/CastNET is a modular, server-based digital signage system that utilises the combined offerings of Scala, Alpha Video and Gaming Support to enable gaming operators to manage and deliver multimedia and integrated gaming content consistently and reliably throughout an entire casino enterprise. Terry Lanni dies aged 68 Terry Lanni, one of the key architects of MGM MIRAGE’s move into the Macau casino market, has died at the age of 68, reports the Las Vegas Review-Journal . Mr Lanni was diagnosed with cancer in October 2009, about one year after he stepped down as chairman and chief executive of then MGM MIRAGE, now MGM Resorts International. Mr Lanni steered the company’s rapid growth over a 13-year period, from one casino (the MGM Grand Las Vegas) into a gaming conglomerate with 17 resorts in Nevada, Mississippi and Michigan and 50% partnerships in four other properties in Nevada, New Jersey, Genting Casinos sponsors English Premier League club’s shirt for new season Genting Casinos is to be a shirt sponsor for English Premier League soccer team Aston Villa in the 2011-12 season, which starts in August. Genting Casinos runs the UK gaming operation of Malaysian conglomerate Genting Group. It consists of 44 land-based casinos under four distinct brands, and an online casino and poker room under the GentingCasino.com brand regulated by the Alderney Gambling Control Commission. The fact, however, that Genting Casinos’ shirt sponsorship— featured on the away strip of the Aston Villa first team—also includes Chinese characters, and that EPL matches are screened live all over Asia, indicates that Genting is keen to promote its casino offer to a global audience. Genting Group also operates the Resorts World Genting casino resort inMalaysia, ResortsWorldSentosa inSingapore, and Resorts World Manila in the Philippines. Aston Villa, controlled by US billionaire Randy Lerner, is based in the UK’s second city Birmingham. Villa are to take part in the Barclays Asia Trophy 2011 in Hong Kong in late July. The tournament will also feature EPL teams Chelsea and Blackburn Rovers, and local Hong Kong side Kitchee. Another Midlands side from the EPL will also feature Chinese characters on their home and away strip next season. West Bromwich Albion, currently on a pre-season tour of the United States, are being sponsored by Bodog, an online gambling company founded in 1994 by Canadian businessman Calvin Ayre. Four other EPL teams will also have shirt sponsorship from online betting and gaming companies this season. They are: Bolton Wanderers (188BET); Sunderland (tombola); newly- promoted Swansea City (32Red) and Wolverhampton Wanderers (Sportingbet). Aston Villa owner Randy Lerner (left) with the Genting Casinos-sponsored team shirt Terry Lanni.a pioneer in the Las Vegas expansion into Macau