Casino Enterprise Management

GSA Welcomes Two New Members: Euro Games Technology and Multimedia Games

The Gaming Standards Association is proud to welcome its newest members: Euro Games Technology and Multimedia Games. Both members joined GSA as silver members. Euro Games Technology (EGT) was founded in 2002 and is involved in the development, production, distribution and operation of a wide range of gaming products. EGT is based in Bulgaria and has offices in Hungary and Romania. Multimedia Games, out of Texas, was incorporated in 1991 and offers casino management and back-office system development, gaming systems, networked technologies, and player tracking systems. For more information, visit www.gamingstandards.com.

Askew Joins AGA Government Affairs Team

The American Gaming Association announced Whitaker Lee Askew as the organization’s new vice president of government affairs. In addition to advocating on behalf of the gaming industry on key issues, Askew will focus on broadening the roster of gaming supporters among. Askew joins the AGA after a nearly five-year stint in the office of then-Minority Leader and now Speaker of the House John Boehner (R-Ohio). “Whit’s record of achievement here in Washington speaks for itself, and his contacts and experience will be vital as the AGA embarks on the challenge of introducing the commercial casino industry to more than 100 new members of Congress,” said Frank J. Fahrenkopf Jr, president and CEO of the AGA. For more information, visit www.americangaming.org.

AGEM Announces Three New Members Join Organization

The Association of Gaming Equipment Manufacturers announced that its board of directors has approved the membership applications of three new companies, bringing the trade group comprised of the world’s leading gaming suppliers to a total of 110 members. The new AGEM members are: Gemaco Inc., based in Blue Springs, Mo., Glory (U.S.A.) Inc., based in West Caldwell, N.J., and Iverson Gaming Systems, based in Bala Cynwyd, Pa. For more information, visit www.agem.org.

MICROS Partners with TRUMP HOTEL COLLECTION, Starbucks and ARAMARK

MICROS Systems Inc. is pleased to announce that TRUMP HOTEL COLLECTION™ has selected MICROS’ OPERA Enterprise Solution to replace its legacy property management system (PMS). The Trump International Hotel & Tower® Chicago will be the first property to go live with MICROS hotel management software, followed by Central Park West, Soho, Las Vegas and Waikiki. This comprehensive hotel management software will support the hotel staff by managing the day‐to‐day requirements including reservations, guest check‐in and check‐out, assignment of rooms and management of room inventory, room rotation, accommodation of in‐house guest needs, accounting, owner accounting and billing functions.

MICROS has also introduced Simphony with great success within the hospitality industry. The latest customers to select MICROS Simphony include Starbucks and ARAMARK Higher Education. Starbucks has completed deployment of MICROS Simphony to over 6,700 sites in the U.S. and will follow with sites in Canada and the United Kingdom. ARAMARK Higher Education provides professional services in dining, facility, conference center, and stadium and arena operations for more than 600 colleges and universities throughout North America. For more information, visit www.micros.com.

Aristocrat Announces In-Trial Systems, Expands Oasis 360™ to Puerto Rico

Aristocrat Technologies has recently installed the new nVision™ business intelligence solution for an in-depth beta test at the Club Fortune Casino in Henderson, Nev. NVision, an incredibly robust business intelligence tool that gives the most complete player profile available, is now a powerful new tool in the toolbox of Oasis 360™ system users. NVision boosts properties to the next level with interactive dashboards and advanced reporting that exposes the true value of the casino patron.

Aristocrat is also expanding its system dominance with the first-ever Oasis 360 Sentinel 3 installation in Puerto Rico. The new installation takes place at the recently opened casino inside the Embassy Suites Dorado Del Mar Beach & Golf Resort. Opened in early February, the $6.6 million Dorado Del Mar Casino will be Puerto Rico’s newest venue, and Aristocrat’s Oasis 360 will be monitoring all of the casino’s 258 slots.

The company also completed a successful four-week field trial of the new Oasis 360 nCompass™ platform at Chumas Casino Resort in Santa Ynez, Calif. nCompass is the next-generation hardware platform of the Oasis 360 Sentinel™, and is a leap forward in direct customer communication with amazing, advanced media delivery. Aristocrat’s sophisticated Oasis 360 system is successfully monitoring the casino floors of more than 260 casinos across North America and the Caribbean. For more information, visit www.aristocrat.com.au.

IGT and MGM Resorts International Launch Game on M Life Application

International Game Technology and MGM Resorts International launched IGT’s Cleopatra® iPhone® slot game as part of MGM Resorts’ new M life Players Club iPhone® application.  The agreement allows IGT’s Cleopatra game to be available for the first time on a casino operator’s mobile phone application. The game is offered on a non-wager basis to all MGM Resorts M life Players Club members. M life is a loyalty program that leverages the combined power of MGM Resorts properties in Las Vegas, Mississippi and Detroit. For more information, visit www.igt.com or www.mgmresorts.com.

  Aruze Announces Ziems as Senior VP, Business Development

Aruze Gaming America announced that it has appointed Robert Ziems as senior vice president, business development. “We are thrilled to welcome Robert to our management team,” said Richard Pennington, CEO for the Americas. “This is a very important position for our growing organization, and Robert’s diverse background will assist us in achieving our strategic goals.” Ziems has significant transactional and management experience from many years as in-house counsel for both Aristocrat Technologies and Progressive Gaming and has experience working in-house for Station Casinos. For more information, visit www.aruzegaming.com.

AGS Announces Acquisition of Pay it Again Poker™

American Gaming Systems announced it has acquired all rights, trademarks and patents for the unique Pay it Again Poker™ game for exclusive distribution to its customers and installed base of AGS machines. Called “what could be the next revolution in video poker” by respected Las Vegas publication Gaming Today, Pay it Again Poker was acquired from noted Las Vegas game designer Rocco Tarantino and features a 10-coin max bet and unique bonus payouts for commonly hit video poker hands. The game has five bonus payouts along with the regular ones typically found in video poker. Pay it Again Poker, with a U.S. patent secured and other U.S. and international patents pending, has already been submitted for regulatory approval in Nevada. For more information, visit www.ags-llc.com.

San Manuel Gaming Commission Appoints John Roberts

The San Manuel Gaming Commission is pleased to announce the appointment of John N. Roberts as deputy commissioner. Roberts joins forces with Norm DesRosiers, commissioner and former vice chairman of the NIGC. Roberts, an attorney, was previously executive director for the San Pasqual Gaming Commission in Southern California and the chairman of the California Tribal-State Association Regulatory Standards Taskforce. He is a member of the International Masters of Gaming Law, board member of the National Tribal Gaming Commissioners and Regulators and co-chair of the American Bar Association Tribal Gaming Committee. For more information, visit www.sanmanuel.com.

 Cadillac Jack Appoints Schwab VP, Legal

Cadillac Jack announced the appointment of Chris Schwab as vice president of legal. Schwab joins Cadillac Jack from Miller & Martin in Atlanta, where he represented Cadillac Jack in numerous projects and general legal matters. He has more than 10 years of experience representing a variety of clients from mid-sized companies to Fortune 500s in an array of complex legal matters. “The depth of Chris’ experience and familiarity with Cadillac Jack allows him to immediately take a leadership role with the company and further develop the company’s legal structure,” noted Gene Chayevsky, CEO of Cadillac Jack. For more information, visit www.cadillacjack.com.

WMS Appoints Wyche to Board of Directors, Announces Largest WAP Jackpot

WMS Industries Inc. announced that Keith R. Wyche has been appointed to serve on WMS’ board of directors. Wyche is currently president and CEO of Cub Foods, a retail grocery chain. He brings diverse experience in a wide array of general management, sales, marketing and operational roles in customer-focused companies and has a practical approach and strong commitment to customer service. “We expect to benefit from his strong management experience and perspective, as WMS continues to grow and expand by innovating industry leading products and delivering unrivalled customer service and value,” said Brian R. Gamache, chairman of the board and CEO of WMS. 

Also in WMS news, a lucky casino patron recently won the largest wide area progressive (WAP) jackpot in WMS’ history on a THE WIZARD OF OZ™ RUBY SLIPPERS™ WAP penny slot game. The lucky winner hit the jackpot for $4,963,819.15 at Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa in Atlantic City, N.J. For more information, visit www.wms.com.

SugarHouse Casino Hires VP of Casino Marketing, VIP Operations

SugarHouse Casino recently announced the hiring of Vice President of Casino Marketing and VIP Operations John Ranere. Ranere joins the SugarHouse team from his previous position as vice president of casino marketing for Bally’s Casino in Atlantic City, N.J. “We are confident that his 25-plus years of experience in the gaming industry will make him a tremendous asset to our team, as he will play a large role in enhancing relationships with our customers,” Wendy Hamilton, general manager of SugarHouse Casino, said. For more information, visit www.sugarhousecasino.com.

GLI’s European Headquarters Recognized in Singapore

Last summer, Gaming Laboratories International was recognized as a testing laboratory by the Casino Regulatory Authority of Singapore (CRA). Now, GLI Europe has achieved the same status of Singapore Recognized Testing Laboratory (SRTL). The distinction means GLI Europe is authorized by CRA to provide testing services for gaming equipment to ensure that they comply with CRA standards before deployment. To attain SRTL status, GLI had to prove its accreditation with ISO 17025, its internal compliance processes and its experience in testing gaming equipment for major gaming jurisdictions. For more information, visit www.gaminglabs.com.

GCA Announces Significant New Contracts

Global Cash Access Holdings Inc. announced that it has renewed cash access agreements with several of its longstanding and significant customers and also entered into agreements with several new casino properties. GCA has entered into agreements with some of the largest casino operators in the U.S. for the provision of its core ATM, credit and debit card cash access services, including QuikCash Plus, electronic deposit and GCA’s patented 3-in-1 rollover technology, as well as its QuikCash Kiosks, CasinoXchange redemption kiosks and Central Credit services.

Also, GCA continues to expand its operations internationally and has entered into an agreement to provide its core cash access services, including sophisticated I.D. readers, to Galaxy Casino, S.A. Galaxy Casino, S.A. has also selected high capacity CasinoXchange kiosks, manufactured by GCA’s wholly owned subsidiary, Western Money Systems. GCA has enjoyed a longstanding relationship with Galaxy Entertainment Group through its existing partnership with Galaxy’s StarWorld Hotel & Casino and City Club locations in Macau. For more information, visit www.globalcashaccess.com.

Simpson Promoted to EVP/Assistant GM of Barona Resort & Casino

Barona Resort & Casino recently announced that Troy Simpson has been promoted to executive vice president/assistant general manager of the leading San Diego casino resort. With nearly two decades of experience in the casino industry, Simpson most recently served as Barona’s senior vice president of innovation and has been an instrumental part in Barona’s success. “Troy is widely regarded as an industry expert,” said Rick Salinas, general manager of Barona Resort & Casino. “He not only has great vision but he is also a great manager, a strategic thinker and he knows how to make fun happen on the casino floor for our players.” For more information, visit www.barona.com.

Union Gaming Research Announces Opening of Macau Office

Union Gaming Research Macau Limited announced the official opening of its Macau office.“This is a huge milestone for our company,” noted Grant Govertsen, one of the firm’s founders and head of Asia. “There is no substitute for having feet on the ground in the two largest and most dynamic gaming markets in the world. Our integration into these communities will allow us to deliver a unique set of resources to our clients that has never been offered before.” Union Gaming Research Macau Ltd. is located in the Finance and IT (FIT) Building on the Macau Peninsula, in the heart of the world’s largest gaming market. The firm will publish equity research and provide corporate access to its global client base. For more information, visit www.uniongamingresearch.com.

Synectics Reaches Milestone of 75 Gaming Customer Sites Worldwide

Synectics’ industry-leading video surveillance solutions are monitoring more than 40,000 cameras with hundreds of thousands of hours of successful recording in gaming facilities worldwide. Synectic Systems Inc. announced that to date, 75 gaming properties worldwide have purchased their enterprise-class digital recording solution. With its award-winning video management and integration platform, Synergy, Synectics records in casinos throughout North America, Canada and Europe with an impressive 99.999 percent uptime performance record. For more information, visit www.synectics.com.

Hard Rock International Welcomes Klein as Head of Marketing

Hard Rock International announced that Brian Klein has been named head of marketing for Hard Rock Hotels & Casinos. In this role, he will oversee brand and individual properties. Most recently, Klein served as the regional director of marketing for Hyatt Hotels Corp. Klein is the latest executive hire to Hard Rock International’s Hotels & Casinos segment, which includes 15 hotels/casinos worldwide, featuring domestic properties in four states and six international properties. Additionally, in January 2011 Hard Rock Hotels & Casinos expanded its international offerings with the brand’s first all-inclusive resort, Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Punta Cana. For more information, visit www.hardrock.com.

New Cantor Gaming Race & Sports Book Opens at Hard Rock

Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Las Vegas and Cantor Gaming announced the opening of a brand new, state-of-the-art race and sports book facility at the resort. The new race and sports book inside Hard Rock Hotel & Casino features Cantor Gaming’s signature trading station architecture and mobile wagering tablets, giving each patron access to multiple screens on which to bet and watch their chosen games, in addition to dozens of high-definition screens throughout the sports book. For more information, visit www.cantorgaming.com.

Pinnacle Announces GM Appointments at its Louisiana Boomtown Properties

Pinnacle Entertainment Inc. announced two Louisiana property management appointments, with Barry Regula named vice president and general manager of Boomtown New Orleans and Lance George as vice president and general manager of Boomtown Bossier City. Regula moves to his new role in New Orleans following a 10-year tenure at Boomtown Bossier City. Regula has over 18 years of casino entertainment experience, including more than eight years of gaming industry experience in Louisiana. George has more than seven years of casino entertainment management experience, with nearly all of it occurring at Pinnacle’s Louisiana properties. For more information, visit www.pnkinc.com.

TransAct Technologies Partners with Foxwoods and Betson

Foxwoods Resort Casino and MGM Grand at Foxwoods announced an extended agreement with Hamden, Conn.-based TransAct Technologies to install the EPICENTRAL™ Print System in slot machines throughout the MGM Grand at Foxwoods. This expansion calls for an increase in the installation of the EPICENTRAL system from 300 slot machines to all 1,100 machines. Through the use of this software system, Foxwoods will have the ability to provide players with special drawing entries, real-time promotional coupons and marketing messages, restaurant meals, show tickets and hotel rooms, among many other possibilities.

Betson Imperial Parts & Service also announced an agreement with TransAct. Under the terms of the agreement, Betson Imperial Parts & Service Co. will distribute TransAct’s innovative gaming printer solutions in the Illinois casino market. Under the terms of the distribution agreement Betson will have the right to promote, advertise, market, distribute and offer TransAct’s line of casino and gaming printers to the Illinois casino market. For more information, visit www.transact.com, www.foxwoods.com or www.betson.com.

Konami Announces Appointments

Konami Gaming Inc. is pleased to announce the appointment of Sally Bernard to senior account executive for Nevada. Bernard will be reporting to recently appointed Steve Laman, regional sales director, Nevada. Most recently, Bernard served as a senior account executive at IGT for the past six years.

Newly appointed regional sales director, Steve Laman, will focus on building strategic relationships for Konami Gaming within the Nevada territory to further increase the company’s footprint. Most recently, Laman served as a senior account executive at Bally Technologies Inc. for the past 10 years. Ross O’Hanley, senior director of sales and marketing at Konami, says, “Konami is proud to add Steve Laman to our organization. Steve is very well thought of in the gaming industry, especially within the state of Nevada.” For more information, visit www.gaming.konami.com.

ATRONIC Appoints New Sales Manager for Argentina and Uruguay   

ATRONIC International has announced the appointment of Alejandra Muñiz as its new sales manager for Argentina and Uruguay. Muñiz’s vast experience in the gaming and entertainment industry is the result of more than a decade of learning about and serving the most important operators inside the region. She is a certified engineer and a member of the UADI (Argentine Union of Associations of Engineers) and CAI (Argentine Center of Engineers). Her primary area of expertise is operational knowledge, products, systems, and the commercial area in the Mercosur region. ATRONIC International is confident that Muñiz will foster the base of the company’s growth in the coming months, and also strengthen commercial relations, post-sale service and support for customers’ operations with experience and professionalism. For more information, visit www.atronic.com.