Inside Asian Gaming

43 January 2013 | INSIDE ASIAN GAMING INTERNATIONAL BRIEFS Vegas and Reno. Ms Hart, who took over as IGT’s CEO in April 2009, has been criticized for several large acquisitions by the company. Last year, IGT spent US$500 million to buy social gaming giant DoubleDown Casino. In 2011, IGT spent $115 million to acquire Swedish online gaming operator Entraction. WallStreethaschallengedIGTtoshowareturnonitsDoubleDown investment. Over the summer, the company pulled the plug on Entraction’s online poker operations in Europe, saying the business model suffered because of regulatory changes. IGT plans to use the Entraction technology in legal online gaming markets. In September, Ms Hart told the Las Vegas Review-Journal that the DoubleDown purchase would eventually be viewed as “the best investment” IGT had ever made behind the development of cashless gaming technology. IGT said it has held “numerous calls, emails and face-to-face meetings” with Mr Ader, including a presentation he made in November 2012 to the company’s board. Company officials said the proxy fight “is the result of a long-running dispute between IGT and Mr Mathewson.” IGT said Mr Mathewson “has repeatedly attempted to exert influence over the company’s operations and extract personal financial benefits at the expense of all other shareholders.” Echo Installs Vegas Veteran as New CEO Echo Entertainment, Australian-listed owner of Sydney’s The Star casino, has appointed a former US gaming chief to its top job as it fights the threat of competition from James Packer in the nation’s capital. John Redmond, an industry veteran who served at one time as president and CEO of the MGMGrand on the Las Vegas Strip and CFO of Caesars Palace, has taken up the dual roles of managing director and chief executive officer as of this month. “He has a deep knowledge of all aspects of casino and entertainment operations and will bring international experience and perspective to Echo’s strategy for corporate growth,” said Chairman John O’Neill. “By relocating to Australia from the US, John will lead a rejuvenated leadership team across Echo’s four properties in New South Wales and Queensland with a clear goal of driving profitable growth.” The change of management comes as Mr Packer’s Crown Limited is pushing forward in its quest to break The Star’s casino monopoly in Sydney and develop a rival project there. It’s reported that Mr Redmond’s duties will also include repairing relations between Echo and the New South Wales Government. 888 To Offer Gambling on Facebook Europe-based online gaming giant 888 has entered into an agreement with Facebook to launch real-money gambling— bingo initially, to be followed by casino-style games and poker—on the world’s most popular social network. The games will be provided through Facebook’s UK platform. 888’s ‘freemium’ Bingo Island product, already available on Facebook for free play, will be the company’s first offering upgraded to real-money play. “Our Facebook freemium offerings have found a significant audience, and we are very excited by the opportunity that real- money gaming on Facebook provides,” said Chief Operating Officer Itai Frieberger.“We are working closely with Facebook on this launch, ensuring we introduce the best of both worlds of real money and social gaming.” Julien Codorniou, head of Games Partnerships for Facebook in Europe, lauded 888 for its “strong reputation on both the quality and safety of their games”. TransAct to Install EPICENTRAL at Resorts World Casino New York City TransAct Technologies has received a contract to install the EPICENTRAL Print System at Resorts World Casino New York City. Initially, 2,500 slot machines at the resort will be connected to EPICENTRAL, with the potential to later connect the remaining 2,500 machines, and the system is expected to go live in the second quarter of 2013. “We are excited to be working with Genting Group, one of the most dynamic casino resort operators in the world,” said Bart C. Shuldman, chairman and CEO of TransAct. With EPICENTRAL, “Resorts World customers will no longer need to receive coupons and promotions at various kiosks on the casino floor; instead, patrons can now receive their rewards at the slot machine, thereby increasing slot machine play, enhancing the customer experience and helping to drive increased revenue for Genting,” added Mr Shuldman. EPICENTRAL connects directly to TransAct’s ServerPort device inside the slot machine, and is an easy-to-use, cost-efficient software system that enables casinos to internally develop marketing programs and promotional coupons to be distributed to customers on a real-time basis at a slot machine. Additionally, the system works with existing slot systems and games as it operates with a separate and distinct connection with the printer. Thus, casinos can use EPICENTRAL to connect to all existing slot machines, regardless of the game’s manufacturer.