Bally Deploys Systems at Marina del Sol & South Point, Acquires Chiligaming
Bally Technologies Inc. announced the deployment of new systems technologies at Marina del Sol Casino in Concepción, Chile, that replace 100 percent of a competitor’s systems technology. Marina del Sol selected cutting-edge technology, which includes the latest release of the SDS™/CMP™ 12 for Windows® slot-accounting and player-tracking system; the CoolSign® resort-wide media-management system; and the proven bonusing system Bally Power Bonusing™, a suite of predefined bonus events, sweepstakes and promotions. Bally’s system solutions are live, connected on 1,273 gaming machines and 50 tables.
Bally also announced that the South Point Hotel Casino Spa is implementing Bally’s award-winning iVIEW DM and Elite Bonusing Suite solutions at its Las Vegas Strip property. The South Point will be the first Las Vegas property to use iVIEW DM and the Elite Bonusing Suite applications. Installation is scheduled for May 2012. The South Point Hotel Casino Spa plans to host Virtual Racing events.
Bally also announced that it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Chiligaming LTD’s business-to-business i-gaming platform. This technology solution will enable casino operators to choose “best-in-class” for wager-based and play-for-free applications. A significant value of Bally’s new i-gaming platform solution is that Bally Systems customers will have integration with their Bally slot-management and casino-management systems (ACSC™, SDS, and CMP), as well as the Bally Business Intelligence™ solution. For more information, visit www.ballytech.com.
Konami Gaming Inc. Promotes Eduardo Aching
Konami Gaming Inc. is pleased to announce the promotion of Eduardo Aching to vice president, international sales. Aching joined Konami in 2008 as director of international sales and was promoted to senior director, international sales in 2011. He brings a broad range of international sales, project management and operations experience within and outside the gaming industry. He holds a bachelor of science degree in electrical engineering from the Federal University of Parana in Brazil. For more information, visit www.gaming.konami.com.
JCM Global Wins Second Maryland Live! Contract
Immediately following Global Gaming Expo 2011, JCM Global announced it had won a major contract with The Cordish Co. to install JCM’s award-winning iVIZION® bill validator on more than 4,750 slot machines and electronic table games at the new Maryland Live! Casino. Now, JCM and Cordish have partnered again, this time with Cordish choosing JCM’s award-winning PayCheck 4™ thermal printer for its gaming devices. For more information, visit www.jcmglobal.com or www.cordish.com.
Bally and Aristocrat Team Up to Strengthen B2B Online Solutions
Bally Technologies and Aristocrat Technologies Inc. announced a strategic alliance aimed at the emergence of legalized Internet gaming in the U.S. Bally and Aristocrat plan to offer the same third-party poker networks as part of their business-to-business (B2B) 
Internet gaming solutions for U.S. operators. Working together, the companies will be better able to more quickly and effectively offer attractive and credible online poker games. Both companies are offering i-gaming platforms with an integration to their back-end core system solutions, while providing operators with the flexibility to choose best-in-class applications from multiple suppliers around the world; Bally through its recently announced acquisition of Chiligaming’s i-gaming platform, and Aristocrat through its exclusive collaboration with GameAccount Network. The companies plan to share their distinctive slot content for online deployment in the U.S. Bally and Aristocrat have already applied to the Nevada Gaming Control Board for the required extension to their existing Nevada licenses to act as interactive gaming suppliers. For more information, visit www.ballytech.com or www.aristocratgaming.com.
IGT’s The Dark Knight™ Video Slot Premieres at Societe des Bains de Mer Casinos
International Game Technology (IGT) announced the installation of The Dark Knight™ video slot game on the IGT Center Stage Series in five Monte Carlo Societe des Bains de Mer (SBM) casinos. Located in Monaco, the five casinos that now feature The Dark Knight video slot game are Casino de Monte-Carlo, Casino Monte Carlo Bay, Casino Café de Paris, Sun Casino and Casino Rascasse. IGT has a 53 percent floor share at the Monaco-based casinos, with several orders for new Universal Slants, SAVPs and other IGT premium cabinets over the last few months. For more information, visit www.igt.com.
Aristocrat Wins First Oasis 360™ Installation in Ohio
Aristocrat’s Oasis 360™ casino management system is the most widely installed system in North America, currently monitoring devices at more than 280 casinos. Now, Aristocrat is expanding its national dominance with a new installation at Scioto Downs Casino & Racetrack in Columbus, Ohio. Scioto Downs Casino & Racetrack, owned and operated by MTR Gaming Group is the third MTR Gaming Group operation to choose Aristocrat’s Oasis 360. The Oasis 360 installation at Scioto Downs will monitor 2,100 devices and is the first in the MTR Group to take advantage of Oasis 360’s newest and state-of-the-art products. For more information, visit www.aristocratgaming.com.
Shuffle Master to Acquire Leading B2B Online Poker Company Ongame Network
Shuffle Master Inc. announced that it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Ongame Network Ltd. from bwin.party Services (Austria) GmbH. Ongame is one of the world’s largest poker providers to online gaming operators, with a global network that includes more than 25 of the i-gaming industry’s strongest brands and operators, as well as regional networks in France and Italy. The acquisition is subject to completion of certain conditions, including receipt of required regulatory approvals, and is expected to close within not more than nine months following execution of the definitive agreement. For more information, visit www.shufflemaster.com.
Transact Technologies’ Epic 950® Chosen By 5 of 6 New U.S. Casino Properties
TransAct Technologies Inc. announced that their Epic 950® ticket printer has been chosen by five of the six new casinos due to open in United States in the first half of 2012. Combined, these properties will have in excess of 10,000 gaming machines, and each of the five properties have specified the Epic 950 as the ticket printer to be installed in all of the slot machines. “We are extremely pleased that the overwhelming majority of the new properties chose the Epic 950 for their games,” commented Tracey Chernay, executive vice president, sales and marketing. For more information, visit www.transact-tech.com.
SPIELO International Latin America Opens Peru Office
SPIELO International’s Latin American customers can enjoy a modern new showroom, expanded meeting space and many other convenient amenities at the company’s new regional headquarters at Manuel Olguín Avenue 501, office nr. 1001, Surco, Lima. SPIELO International moved and expanded its headquarters following record-breaking growth for the company in the Latin American region. In 2011, the company increased its commitment to the region and added to its sales force, and year-over-year sales in the region have doubled compared to 2010. For more information, visit www.spielo.com.
BMM Australia Asia-Pacific Reports Significant Growth in 2011
BMM International announced that its Australia Asia-Pacific (APAC) regional businesses, led by BMM Australia, have achieved significant growth targets in 2011. “This is a particularly impressive performance by the Australian, Macau and Singapore teams because our standards and targets are so high, even after many consecutive years of growth,” said Martin Storm, president and CEO of BMM International. For more information, visit www.bmmcompliance.com.
Tony Rodio Promoted to President & COO of Tropicana Entertainment
Las Vegas-based Tropicana Entertainment Inc. announced the appointment of Tony Rodio as president and chief operating officer for the company. In his new position, Rodio will have overall responsibility for company operations at: Tropicana Laughlin, River Palms and Montbleu Resort, Casino & Spa in Nevada; Jubilee Casino and Lighthouse Point Casino in Mississippi; Casino Aztar in Indiana; Tropicana Atlantic City in New Jersey; Belle of Baton Rouge in Louisiana and Tropicana Aruba. He will maintain his role as president and chief executive officer of Tropicana Casino and Resort Atlantic City. For more information, visit www.tropicana.net.
Maryland Live! Casino Selects Agilysys Stratton Warren System
Agilysys Inc. announced that Maryland Live! Casino in Hanover, Md., has selected the Agilysys Stratton Warren System for the new $500 million gaming and entertainment destination in development at Arundel Mills. Features of the Agilysys Stratton Warren System include budget tracking, business intelligence functionality, automated e-mail bid capability, multiple par level functionality and wireless mobile computer enhancements. Maryland Live! Casino will also use the system’s menu/recipe analysis module to manage food and beverage costs and build recipes that maximize revenue. For more information, visit www.agilysys.com.
Gary Platt Announces Stellar Shipping Month
Gary Platt Manufacturing shipped several large orders in February. A shipment went to Creek Casino Wetumpka in Wetumpka, Ala., for 680 of the Vue Style seats. Isle of Capri Hotel Lake Charles in Westlake, La., received more than 400 Gazelle Style Gary Platt X-Tended Play chairs. Juegos de Video y Entretenimiento in Mexico ordered 500 Ohio Royale chairs. Harrah’s Cherokee in Cherokee, N.C., received 575 Gazelle Style seats. Casino Du Liban in Lebanon received 580 Gazelle Style chairs with a custom “Casino Du Liban” logo. Wheeling Island Racetrack in Wheeling, W. Va., received the first part of their order for 1,600 Gazelle Style Hi Lo Pedestal chairs. For more information, visit www.garyplatt.com.
GSA Elects New Board of Directors
The Gaming Standards Association (GSA) elected new board leadership, and the members represent a wide range of the gaming industry. Adrian Marcu, vice president of global technical architecture at IGT, will serve as GSA’s chairman. Elected as vice chairman was Walt Eisele, vice president technology at Bally Technologies. Now serving as treasurer is Mark Pace, VP network gaming engineering & operations for WMS Gaming. Rick Gilhuly, chief information officer for Manitoba Lotteries Corp., will serve as GSA’s secretary.
The GSA board of directors members are: Don Doucet, SPIELO; Syed Hussain, Oregon State Lottery; Julius Patta, Aristocrat Technologies; Melissa Price, Caesars Entertainment; Klaus Peltsch, Ontario Lottery & Gaming Corp.; Jeannie-Marie Wilkins, Isle of Capri Casinos; and Jeff Wyton, Alberta Gaming & Liquor Commission. For more information, visit www.gamingstandards.com.
Loveman Appointed to President’s Export Council
Gary Loveman, chairman, president and chief executive officer of Caesars Entertainment Corp., has been appointed to the President’s Export Council. The President’s Export Council is charged with providing advice to the White House on strategies to bolster U.S. exports. Loveman joins the chief executives of leading travel and hospitality businesses as council members focused on cultivating international visitation to the United States. For more information, visit www.caesars.com.
Nayquonabe Jr. Named New Corporate VP of Marketing for Grand Casinos
The Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe’s Corporate Commission has announced that Joseph Nayquonabe Jr. has been promoted to corporate vice president of marketing for Grand Casino Mille Lacs and Grand Casino Hinckley. A Grand Casino associate since 2002, Nayquonabe will be responsible for overseeing the casino’s marketing efforts. He has held several key positions throughout his career at Grand Casino Mille Lacs. In 2009, Nayquonabe was named a Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal’s “Forty Under 40” honoree as well as St. Cloud State’s “Graduate of the Decade.” Nayquonabe is a Mille Lacs Band tribal member. For more information, visit www.grandcasinomn.com.
Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe Corporate Commission Announces Two New Hires
Dan Green has been hired as the Corporate Commission’s general counsel. In this position, Green will serve as the chief legal officer of the company and will oversee its legal department, which is responsible for all aspects of the corporate commission and its businesses. Prior to joining the corporate commission, he served as general counsel to the Little River Band of Ottawa Indians. The commission has also hired Jeff Castillo as the new director of investments and economic development. He most recently served as the business and economic development manager for the Fort Mojave Indian Tribe in Arizona. For more information, visit www.millelacsband.com.
Baha Mar 25 Percent Complete as it Celebrates 1st Anniversary of Groundbreaking
Baha Mar celebrated the first anniversary of its historic groundbreaking in a ceremony attended by Baha Mar Ltd., China Construction Americas management and employees. The 1,000-acre, $3.5 billion resort, gaming and entertainment complex slated to open in late 2014 will include some of the world’s most famous hotel brands, including Mondrian, Rosewood and Grand Hyatt. In nine months, vital road works and infrastructure projects were completed, making way for Baha Mar construction. The completion of these important infrastructure projects created 1,400 local jobs for Bahamians and was celebrated by a road opening ceremony on Nov. 11, 2011. Upon completion, Baha Mar will set a standard for travel expectations unmatched by any other hospitality destination in the world. For more information, visit www.bahamar.com.
JPM Strengthens Senior Management Team
In a move designed to further consolidate its position as a leading global gaming manufacturer, the JPM Group has appointed Paul Bursnell to the role of chief operating officer. Bursnell brings more than 27 years gaming experience. Bursnell joins JPM from Inspired Gaming Group, where he held the position of sales director U.K. and international. For more information, visit www.jpm.co.uk.
Soboba Casino Selects eConnect
Soboba Casino announced the selection of POS Connect by eConnect. Soboba selected the system due to its tight integration with their MICROS POS and existing surveillance system. POS Connect provides Soboba operators with the ability to identify patterns of theft, fraud and human error. The system combines live surveillance video with transactional data from the POS system providing real-time exception based reporting and alerts with the ability to visually verify the event. For more information, visit www.soboba.com or www.econnectglobal.com.
WorthGroup Architects Hires W.C. Gernandt III
WorthGroup Architects aims to acquire added vision from its latest hire, W.C. Gernandt, III. With a quarter-billion dollars in Native American construction projects under his belt, Gernandt understands not only the bricks and sticks, but also the dynamic cultural, competitive and economic components of Native American-owned building projects. As the former corporate construction manager for Cherokee Nation Entertainment, Gernandt, a member of the Cherokee Tribe, served as project manager for the Hard Rock Casino and Resort project in Tulsa, Okla., among others. For more information, visit www.worthgroup.com.
Atlantic City Gaming Veteran Joins Turning Stone Resort Casino
Turning Stone Resort Casino has named Atlantic City gaming industry veteran Guy Renzi vice president of gaming. In this role, Renzi oversees table games, bingo, poker, multi-games and keno. Renzi most recently served as vice president of casino games at Resorts Casino in Atlantic City. Prior to that, he served as gaming shift manager at Trump Taj Mahal, were he started as a pit manager. Renzi also learned the intricacies of hotel and butler management while serving as hotel operations manager at the Taj Mahal. For more information, visit www.turningstone.com.
Jim Ryan to Serve as G2E 2012 Conference Keynote Speaker
The American Gaming Association (AGA) and Reed Exhibitions announced that Jim Ryan, co-chief executive officer (CEO) of bwin.party digital entertainment plc, will serve as the exclusive conference keynote speaker at Global Gaming Expo (G2E) 2012. Ryan is highly regarded for his knowledge of the Internet gambling industry and his leadership of bwin.party digital entertainment, the world’s largest listed Internet gambling business. G2E 2012 will be held Oct. 1 - 4, 2012, at the Sands Expo and Convention Center in Las Vegas. For more information, visit www.globalgamingexpo.com.