Slovenian gambling slot machine experts, G Planet d.d., has joined the booming list of first-time exhibitors to show at London’s ICE 2008, describing the show as ‘respected and renowned’.

G Planet will make the trip to Earls Court for ICE, which runs between January 22nd and 24th, to show its ‘multi gambling, multi player slot machines with innovative games’.

Franci Zmavc, G Planet’s President of Managing Board, confirmed: “We have decided to exhibit at ICE quite simply because it remains one of the largest, most renowned and respected exhibitions in the EU. We hope to see many visitors who are professionally linked with casino business, casino operators and distributors.”

Based in Ljubljana, Slovenia, G Planet describes its collection as featuring ‘modern designs with the latest technology existing in this industry’. The company’s offerings are constructed from high spec materials and designed in-house at the G Planet R&D department.

Austrian Gaming Industries GmbH (AGI), wholly owned subsidiary of Novomatic Holding, has planned a spectacular appearance at ICE 2008, from January 22-24 at London’s Earls Court. The most impressive ever range of product innovations from AGI will make booth no° 3050 once again not just the biggest but also the most significant hot spot of the show.

The International Casino Exhibition (ICE) in London is traditionally the most important gaming show of the year for AGI’s international customers. It is the ideal place to introduce new products and innovations to the industry, to meet partners and customers and to present new business opportunities.

As in recent years Novomatic will present an impressive range of AGI gaming innovations on its huge floor space to the expectant show audience: the Novomatic booth will again be a very crowded place for sure.

10 brand new Coolfire™ II single slot games and a great variety of new Coolfire™ I
and Coolfire™ II multi-games will be on display for visitors to try, test and be absorbed
in stunning game play and spectacular sounds and graphics! The new Coolfire™ II games have been especially designed for the latest range of cabinets and their highly advanced technological equipment.

Most prominently among the new cabinets is the Super-V+ Gaminator®. This machine is ideally equipped for both Coolfire™ II single games as well as multi-games and epitomizes the  next generation standard cabinet for international markets. Featuring state-of-the-art video gaming technology the Super-V+ Gaminator® is absolutely designed to perform!

Super-V+ Gaminator® comes with panoramic displays in extra-wide screen format, Multi-Denomination and Multi-Language options and offers great sound through subwoofers and an active satellite speaker system. Sophisticated style and highest quality make this cabinet a top casino attraction for maximum guest attraction and superior performance.

At ICE AGI will add a further variety to its leading multi-player product range. The new multi-player Novo TouchBet® Live-Black Jack and an automated multi-player Poker table will be released at ICE for the first time. Novo TouchBet® Live-Black Jack is the first product based on Novomatic’s totally new and highly innovative multi-player platform. AGI will introduce both products with comprehensive live-installations that will certainly be a major attraction of the show. Also the highly popular and internationally successful multi-player Roulette products will be upgraded with new features for even more entertainment and gaming fun…

Another highly interesting product on display at the Novomatic ICE booth is the Flexi-Link jackpot system of the Australian company Independent Gaming Pty Ltd. Flexi-Link is the next genera¬tion of computer jackpot link systems, featuring multi-level mystery jackpots that maintain and enhance player attraction by visibly notifying the maximum possible cash value of forthcoming jackpot wins.

Flexi-Link has been a huge success in Australia, throughout Asia and beyond, with over 200 systems already installed worldwide. Since September 2007 a strategic alliance between AGI and Independent Gaming sees this guaranteed win technology come to licensed gaming venues throughout Europe. 

At ICE AGI will present the first of a new range of in-house-developed themes for this gripping jackpot system. Also, the UK-based Novomatic subsidiaries Astra and Novo Casino UK will present their latest product innovations: visitors will be highly welcome at the ATEI floor on booths 620 (Astra) and 720 (Novo Casino UK).

Jens Halle, Managing Director AGI, looks eagerly forward to the biggest gaming event of the year 2008: “After an incredibly successful year in 2007 ICE signals the go-ahead for the next trend-setting product generation for 2008. We will not rest on our laurels, on the contrary we will sustain the full impetus of the previous year in order to further expand our position as an industry leader. I am positive that Novomatic will once more really impress its customers with the new products display and I certainly look forward to seeing colleagues old and new alike at ICE. I would like to extend a hearty welcome to all our customers and partners to come visit Novomatic at ICE, booth 3050!”

Ireland's Minister for Justice, Brian Lenihan, has stated that the report from the Casino Regulation Committee will be presented to the Cabinet in the near future.

The Cabinet is likely to ask a Dáil (Parliamentary) Select Committee to consider the report before deciding what type of regulations to introduce.  In addition to dealing with casinos, it is also possible that the new regulations could deal with AWP style gaming machines.

Both these items were part of the unfinished business of his predecessor former Justice Minister, Michael McDowell.  How Brian Lenihan deals with these issues will seriously impact on the future development of the gaming and casino sectors.

Responsible trade associations, who have made sensible representations to previous Justice Ministers, are now asking Brian Lenihan to introduce legislation that will bring the laws in Ireland in line with those in most other EU member states.

While it is understood that the growing number of casinos operating as private members clubs is one of the Minister's main concerns, regulation is also currently being sought in relation to AWPs in gaming arcades and FOBTs in betting shops.

Comestero Group chooses Atei 2008 to present the whole range of change machines and its latest developed USB coin validator.
The Gaming and Coin-Op world meets up in London from 22^nd to 24th January to attend the new edition of Atei. A-not-to be missed event for Comestero Group which will be present at the Earls Court Exhibition Centre with all Group companies and representative offices: Italy, France, Poland, Spain and Argentina.

On Comestero Group’s stand (booth n° U2010, First Floor) the key protagonist will be the powerful and stylish Group-developed change machines, their best value being the completeness of the range. Especially devised for the Gaming Industry, every model can satisfy different change and installation requirements, by providing impeccable security performance.

To begin with the extra thin Jolly, dispensing up to 3.400 coins in only 20cm width, to the sturdy Twin Jolly, with a bigger dispensing capacity and a high security locking system.

On show there will be also the extra-efficient Dual Coin Plus, which provides large quantities of coins/tokens, thanks to the 2 hoppers installed, and the smart Changeuro line, perfect foreveryday display environments. The compact Changeuro Easy Plus will be available in a new version with Discriminator, to dispense 3 types of coins at the same time, with a single multi-payout hopper.

Making their debut at the English show, will be also the new models of coin to note and note to coin change machines 2Change and 4Change. As explain Comestero Group Sales Director: “2Change and 4Change promised to be winning change machines. Since only a few months from their unveiling, they have already been chosen by the main Italian Gaming operators to satisfy the highest change requirements and reduce the need for management intervention”.

An other reason to choice Comestero Group’s change machines is their extraordinaryreliability. They are all equipped with advanced payment systems to ensure safetyperformance and recognize all known fraud. A special antitheft device is available as an optionto prevent any attempt of theft or burglary.

A special area of the stand will be dedicated also to money counting, with a top quality selection from Comestero Group’s wide range.

Last but not least, an other important première will be the new USB version of RM5 ccTalk, the most widespread Comestero Group coin validator in the market.

Very near to the goal of 1.000.000 exemplars on the market, RM5 coin validator is expected tofind new interesting contexts of use thanks to this new version, suitable for all applicationsusing USB connection.

Astra Games – a leading manufacturer and content provider of domestic and overseas gaming machines and part of the Novomatic Group of Companies – have opened a new state of the art “Production Facilities and Offices” in Bridgend, South Wales. Located on the Bridgend Industrial Estate, half a mile from Astra’s previous production facilities, the new development covers an 80,000 square foot area and is primed to take advantage of the opportunities created by the advent of the Gambling Act in the UK and Astra’s growing presence in overseas markets.

Astra House will accommodate a large R & D department consisting of Games Design, Software, Graphic Design and Mechanical Development, plus the UK and Export Sales and After Sales team. The Production facilities will have an Increased capacity over its previous facility and will form part of The Novomatic Group of Companies  “Centres Of Excellence” which are based throughout the world. An experienced and skilled staff base will enhance this.  This is all geared to meeting the Groups desire to innovate and expand into all emerging opportunities.

“Astra’s core values have always been focused on invention and innovation,” stated Astra Games Managing Director Neil Chinn, “the environment we have been able to create in our new facilities will nurture and grow this innovation, and not just within Astra’s R & D team; each individual department seeks to progress and improve its performance through new ideas and more effective systems. The concept of “adding value” throughout the company will be greatly assisted by Astra’s new Production Offices and Facilities, leading to stronger products, better service and long term success for Astra and its partners and customers.”

Astra Games origins lie firmly in South Wales, created and staffed by people who had been pivotal in the development of the Gaming Industry in the area.

From the outset Astra had a keen focus on research and development, and, in order to thrive in an industry that was being driven by technological advances, brought and fostered skilled employment in many different fields that were integral in moving the company forward. Neil Chinn commented:

“South Wales is thriving with talented people with gaming industry experience and indeed emerging talent from other sectors, in terms of in-house staff and those employed by Astra’s suppliers and partners. This fact alone made it logical to remain based in South Wales and benefit from the skills pool.”

This ethos of development from within the South Wales region continued with the creation of the new production facilities. “The building itself was conceived and constructed by companies located in South Wales, creating many jobs and making a significant contribution to the local economy,” said Neil Chinn.

Astra’s success also results in success for our supply partners, many of whom reside in the South Wales region, companies such as Universal Screen Printers, Sanken, Cabinet Developments and many more. The growth of the company will also reflect in the local economy, where the creation of employment, including many skilled roles, is a result of Astra’s success. Neil Chinn adds:

“Astra House is the building block to a successful future, for Astra and our partners”