Astra Games, part of the Novomatic Group of Companies, have once again enforced their commitment to the UK B3 sector with the launch of the next generation of “Slotto” games, multi-game compendium “Slotto Gambler”. “Slotto Gambler” includes five new games and was born from fusing the ingenious concepts currently flowing from Astra’s design team with the evergreen popularity of some of Astra’s top-performing game themes. “Slotto” has gone super!

Arguably the brand most synonymous with B3 success, “Slotto” transcended traditional market sectors by proving successful in a variety of gaming locations, from Adult Gaming Centres through to Betting Shop terminals. It is this formula which has been reproduced and enhanced in “Slotto Gambler”, as explained by Astra’s Managing Director Zane Mersich:

“The design team placed a number of different ideas in to the melting pot and devised a multi game compendium that offers great variety with consistent features. All the games on Slotto Gambler allow wins to be gambled up to £500, plus the “Lucky Loser” bonus win. This adds greater depth to the game whilst still retaining simplicity of play.”

“Slotto Gambler” features five £500 maximum win new games:

•    Party Games Slotto Super Gambler
•    Reel King Double Action
•    Bullion Bars 500 Gambler
•    Feeling Fruity Gambler
•    Win Wizard Gambler

Slotto Gambler had its inaugural outing at Preview 2009, supported by very strong test figures and impressive on site feedback that led to volume orders, a desirable consequence of Astra’s positive approach and pro-active strategy.

“It was very satisfying to hear such positive remarks from our customers at Preview 2009, proving that the hard work and forward looking attitude of the team at Astra will indeed pay dividends for both ourselves and our customers. “Slotto Gambler” is the first fruits of this year’s labour, I look forward to presenting the whole range at INE/ATEI 2009.”

Slotto Gambler is available from distribution now.

Visitors and exhibitors have hailed this year’s Preview a resounding success. Despite current difficult trading conditions, the industry turned out in force to support the show and exhibit exciting new product.

“We were extremely pleased with the number of visitors and the quality of visitors who came to the show this year,” said Philip Howard, show organiser. “The Wednesday afternoon was particularly busy and business was being done on the stands.”

Innovation was the name of the game when it came to the UK, which is currently awaiting news on a stakes and prize review. Exhibitors showed games that were flexible, exciting and competitively priced and the atmosphere in the aisles was upbeat.

"The show went very well, we received a considerable amount of interest in Astra's new products and an excellent response to the innovative edge that Astra's games offer,” said Richard Barr of Astra Games. “At a difficult time for the UK market, Astra's focus on developing entertaining and compelling games means that we are well positioned to take advantage of any opportunities by supporting our customers with first class product,” he added.

Barrie Knighton of Gemini Games was also pleasantly surprised at how positive this year’s show was.  “Our portfolio of Digital product was received exceptionally well at this year’s Preview, visitors to the stand and the interest shown exceeded all expectations,” he said. “A realistic pricing structure coupled with a unique compendium of digital games for all sectors of our business were the prime factors in this result. Without doubt our two new SWPs ‘Nearest the Pin’ and ‘Cash Stacker’ generated a lot of interest from single site operators looking for digital product without the commitment of ongoing fees.”

Overseas exhibitors were also impressed by the show and the calibre of visitor. Top executives from leading companies such as Sega, Namco, Novomatic and TAB Austria lent their seal of approval to what remains one of the most enduringly popular UK shows on the calendar.

The UK has a new look Adult Gaming Centre (AGC) chain following the unveiling by owners Praesepe plc of its ‘Cashino’ brand. The high impact rebranding exercise follows the £25m acquisition of 31 AGCs from HJM Caterers in July of this year.

Heralding the rebranding, which has been extended to all 31 centres, Praesepe AGC division MD, Jonathon Hughes commented: “It’s a very striking, high impact design which gives us an extremely strong presence on the high street. Cashino is a great name for our brand of low stake, high volume, fun and secure adult gaming.”

Expanding on the response to the change in ownership and identity, Praesepe CEO Nick Harding added: “I have been heartened by the response from both customers and our customer-facing staff. The team we have inherited from Jon Shipley is without doubt the best any of us in the senior management team at Praesepe has ever worked with. We are delighted that the Government is reviewing stakes and prizes for Category C machines, which represent the majority of equipment we operate in our centres.”

Neil Meredith, who led the KPMG Corporate Finance advisory team that acted for Jon Shipley, said: “This transaction represents the first sign of M & A activity in the sector since the Gambling Act.” He continued: “Our specialist team remains committed to this sector and we expect to see increasing levels of activity over the next 12 months as exit plans that have been delayed are now revisited.”

Prasepe has already announced a pan-European strategy to create through acquisition a leading UK/EU low stake high volume gaming group with earnings of £50m by 2010. It is intended that the portfolio will incorporate slots, sports/pool betting, bingo and online gaming operations with key target markets including the UK, Czech Republic, Spain, Italy, Netherlands and Germany.

Money Controls’ Italian subsidiary has been appointed as the official distributor in Italy for Gamesman’s range of pushbuttons, toppers and other peripheral devices for gaming and amusement machines. The partnership agreement, signed at the Enada Rome show in October, demonstrates a very good match of innovative and class-leading products which will be offered to Italy’s OEMs.
Gamesman Ltd is a leading designer and manufacturer of pushbuttons, reel mechanisms and other devices such as toppers and lighting for the worldwide casino market. Based south of London, the company has over considerable experience of providing both off-the-shelf and bespoke solutions, and has an industry-wide reputation for quality and innovation.
Money Controls srl, based near Milan, has seen significant expansion in its operations and increasing sales over the past year and Stephan Rosseneu, West Europe Sales Manager, expects the new distribution partnership to add further to this success: “With our comprehensive portfolio of cash-handling products, Italy has been a major market for us.
“Last year, we opened a new distribution depot in nearby Bergamo to provide next-day delivery to our customers. We are frequently asked to provide equipment other than money-handling devices and the new depot gave us the capacity to achieve this. However, such products had to be the same high quality as our own, and be known and used throughout the industry; Gamesman’s products certainly meet those criteria.”
Gamesman had been seeking a distributor in Italy for some time, one that matched its own high standards, as Sales Manager, Martin Rigby, explained: “With our reputation to maintain, we wanted a distributor renowned for product quality and customer service, one that, like us, is prepared to work with customers to meet their specific needs. Money Controls was top of our list and, when we inspected the Bergamo depot and saw their order fulfilment processes, we knew they were the right distributor for us.”

The 1st edition of BEGE - Balkan Entertainment and Gaming Expo was held in Sofia between 30 September 2008 and 2 October 2008.

The event was organized by the Bulgarian Trade Association of the Manufacturers and Operators in the Gaming Industry (BTAMOGI) and under the patronage of Bulgarian State Commission on Gambling as a response to the dynamic growth of the entertainment and gaming industry in Bulgaria and the Balkans. During recent years both gaming manufacturers and gaming operators have been increasingly interested in the region’s potential, which is also a result of increased investor confidence after a number of Balkan countries joined the EU.

Following the event the organizers are more than satisfied with the results. The show was attended by more than 2000 visitors from 40 countries. The exhibition floor (over 5200 square meters) was fully booked by 78 companies from 18 countries. The majority of exhibitors were from Slovenia, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Serbia and Russia. There were also exhibitors from the United Kingdom, Australia, USA, Canada and Dubai. Internationally recognized companies such as WMS, Aristocrat, TCS John Huxley, Shuffle Mater, SUZO, JCM, MEI, Fair Play, Casino Technology, EGT, Alfastreet, Gold Club, etc. demonstrated their latest products.  

All visitors had a unique opportunity to explore the latest achievements of regional and world leaders in the entertaining business, the equipment, systems and specialized techniques for entertainment and theme complexes, hotel and resort projects and entertainment centers. Most of them were unanimous that already BEGE has become a real contender for the best and most successful gaming show in the Balkans. The facilities for both visitors and exhibitors were well organized and everybody was really satisfied with the services and the business they had during the show. 

The Awards
The special importance of the events were highlighted in the BEGE 2008 Awards Ceremony, which was a memorable event distinguishing, in various categories, individuals and companies with special merit for development of the gaming industry in Bulgaria and the Balkans.

The main motive for the organizers to establish this kind of Gaming Awards was to emphasize the tradition that BEGE and EEGS have been creating but also to mention the fact that these events do not happen accidentally but they mark the long dynamic and challenging process of the gaming industry development on the Balkans.  

At the official ceremony, which took place during the Gala Dinner at the Kempinski hotel Zografski in Sofia, the Awards were given in 13 categories. WMS gaming was awarded the prize for International Casino Equipment Manufacturer on the Balkans – Slot machines; TCS John Huxley took the award for International Table Games Manufacturer, JCM was distinguished as the most Successful Market Entry on the Balkans of a Peripheral Equipment and Parts Manufacturer. Three companies received awards in the Gaming Equipment Industrial Design category, respectively: Euro Games Technology for their Vega Vision Slant top series, Aristocrat technologies for Viridian upright slot series and Casino Technology for their PlayMe grand piano multi-player system PlayMe. Casino Technology also took the award for the ‘Most successful video-slot game on the Balkans’ for their multi-game bestseller Mega Jack, which has been a top performing product for 10 years in a row.

On the Operators side, two companies were awarded in the category Innovative casino strategy on the Balkans: Princess Casino International – as casino operator and City Casino Group as electronic casino operator. Storm International was distinguished as the most successful ‘Eastern European Casino Operator adoption of a Responsible gaming program’.