CR85-p46-Interview-AGEM:SJC-Casino Review 24/10/09 20:45 Page 1
internationalcasinoreview
Interviews
With its profile rising internationally, the Association of Gaming Equipment Manufacturers
(AGEM), to which all the major players on the supply side of the industry now belong, is
In addition to
his senior
promoting a collective and proactive approach to the challenges facing the gaming sector.
executive role
on compliance
Hugh Sorrill spoke to AGEM’s president Thomas A Jingoli, who is also senior
at Konami,
director of compliance and legal administration for Konami Gaming, about how the
Thomas A
Jingoli is
association is a valuable asset for the industry in challenging times.
president of
AGEM
Working together
for the benefit of all
cooperativeindustry meeting agenda. We have five recruitment programme, starting publicly traded companies. This supply side of the industry giving to worthwhile causes
INTERVIEW AGEM officers and several with key international spans multiple exchanges and what can AGEM do to that our members support
committees as well. The group companies. Marcus’s long throughout the world and help improve the situation? and believe in.
ICR: What is the function of works very well together. background in gaming has provides a nice month-to-month TJ: While we can’t control
the Association of Gaming served him well as he has and historical snapshot of the most of the issues that have ICR: What is the
Equipment Manufacturers? ICR: What do each of the reached out to his network of overall health of the supplier hurt the economy, AGEM does association’s view on the
Thomas Jingoli: AGEM is an association’s committees contacts. We had 32 members segment of the industry. The help its members in identifying number and quality of trade
international trade association focus on? back then and now have 83, so AGEM Index is gaining in and supporting responsible shows currently?
representing manufacturers and TJ: Our most active committees clearly the plan is working. We prestige and visibility with each expansion opportunities, both in TJ: AGEM has an official
suppliers of electronic gaming are the Government Relations have added more than a dozen passing month. the US and around the world. If relationship with the American
devices, systems, table games, and Marketing committees. The companies based outside the we can assist as expansion Gaming Association and Reed
key components and support Government Relations group US during this time as a ICR: You are keen that opportunities arise, then our Expo to be leading sponsors of
products and services for the focuses on legislative, regulatory reflection of our commitment to AGEM is seen as an members will benefit by the G2E in Las Vegas and G2E Asia
gaming industry. AGEM works and legal issues, while the address global issues. international organisation increase in new business. in Macau. We are involved in
to further the interests of Marketing group addresses rather than one whose only the planning of both shows and
gaming equipment suppliers trade show, advertising and ICR: AGEM gathers together focus is American. How do ICR: Possibly the greatest our members receive significant
throughout the world. Through public relations events. They sort companies that are often you intend to achieve this? political issue facing the discounts on their space at the
political action, trade show through issues and then make fierce competitors: how does TJ: Well, we’ve already taken EGM side of the industry shows. We also have an official
partnerships, information recommendations to the full the association manage bold steps to add a strong everywhere is that of agreement with SAGSE in
dissemination and good membership. internally when discussing international influence to our problem gambling and how Buenos Aires and also
corporate citizenship, the sensitive issues? organization by welcoming as to minimise it. What does contribute sponsorship money
members of AGEM work ICR: There is significant TJ: Our members are indeed members the likes of Austrian AGEM do to address it? to the NIGA, Southern Gaming
together to create benefits for involvement by senior fierce competitors, but that Gaming, Casino Technology, TJ: AGEM is very active in this Summit and Canadian Gaming
every company within the employees of the members changes in the AGEM Euro Games Technology, area. Our members receive Summit events. Our group
organisation. Together, AGEM in the organisation: given environment. It’s remarkable Octavian, TCS John Huxley, regular updates on all of the generally believes there are too
has assisted regulatory that they all have their own how well everyone gets along Gaming Support, Aruze, issues surrounding the idea of many trade shows at the
commissions and participated in important jobs to do, how and works toward common Ainsworth, Jumbo Technology, addressing problem gambling moment and we encourage
the legislative process to solve does the association stay goals. Astro Corp, Interblock and issues. It could be a new show organisers around the
problems and create a business focused on achieving its Intralot. These companies cover technology requirement or world to reach out to AGEM so
environment where AGEM objectives? ICR: Inevitably, given the Austria, Bulgaria, the UK, simply an update in a particular that we can be part of a
members can prosper while TJ: Yes, our officers, in addition relative size and wealth of Taiwan, Japan, the Netherlands, jurisdiction. At a higher level, we discussion that will benefit both
providing a strong level of to myself as President, are Vice the companies concerned, Greece and Australia. have contributed hundreds of them and our members.
support to education and President Orrin Edidin, who is AGEM membership is Furthermore, don’t forget the thousands of dollars to
responsible gaming initiatives. President of WMS, Secretary weighted towards EGM big five companies in the US - organisations that address
Seamus McGill, who is COO of manufacturers: how do you Aristocrat, Bally, IGT, Konami education, prevention and
ICR: Why does the world Aristocrat, Treasurer Mark make sure that the concerns and WMS - all have tremendous treatment. This will continue to
need AGEM? Lerner, who is General Counsel of other types of gaming international operations. We will be a key focus of our
TJ: Simply put, there are issues of Bally, and General Counsel industry suppliers are given continue to recruit strong organisation going forward.
affecting gaming suppliers Neil Friedman, who is Associate due consideration? international members and ask
around the world and it just General Counsel of IGT. So, TJ: We’re certainly open to that they bring issues to the ICR: What philanthropic
makes more sense to address yes, we have a very high level addressing issues that impact table that we can help solve work does the association
those issues collectively rather group working as officers of any of the suppliers. It just so collectively. engage in and how does it
than as individual companies. AGEM. I think that shows how happens that the majority of our choose what to support?
We have a much greater the big slot companies feel members at the moment are ICR: How does the TJ: Along with giving to
chance at success about the importance of AGEM. most affected by what happens association keep track of organisations focused on
approaching it that way. They want their top guys on the machine side of things. important legislative and problem gambling, AGEM
involved in the organisation. The bottom line is if there is an political challenges in the contributes to a wide variety of
ICR: How is the association issue affecting a broad range of world’s many jurisdictions? other groups. We are keen on
structured? ICR: There has been huge suppliers anywhere in the world, TJ: With 83 members, that’s a educational issues and
TJ: We have 83 total member growth in the membership we want to know about it and lot of eyes and ears out there. contributed $300,000
companies, of which 39 are roll in the last year or two. try to help where possible. We have to rely on our (E200,500) to the College of
voting members. Each voting How have you achieved it? members to raise issues that Southern Nevada in Las Vegas
member represents a position TJ: We hired Marcus Prater as ICR: What is the AGEM index are relevant for all suppliers. for the purpose of funding a Since industry stalwart
on AGEM’s Board of Directors. Executive Director in March of and what is its function? slot technician programme.
Marcus Prater joined AGEM
We meet monthly in Las Vegas 2008 and set forth a plan to TJ: The AGEM Index is a ICR: The recession has had We are also funding
as Executive Director,
and via tele-conference and breathe new life into the compilation of the stock market a significant impact on scholarships at Atlantic Cape
membership of AGEM has
grown from 39 to 83
address and vote on items one organisation and to go on an performance of the 17 gaming operators. What has Community College in Atlantic
companies and the worldwide
by one based on the monthly aggressive membership members of AGEM that are been the impact on the City. AGEM will consider reach extended
46 November 2009 • interview
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