GW08-p14-15-briefing:Layout 1 21/12/09 13:27 Page 1
Briefing
“It is of utmost importance for us that our customers can
make the best use of the Amatic machines in operation.”
Leopold Öller Amatic Industries | Director
Bloomberg acts to preserve Coney Island’s amusement heritage
USA
PROSPECT
T
he doors to Michael hood” with new retail options and
Bloomberg’s dreams for nearly 5,000 new housing units.
Coney Island are finally open. The move is expected to gen-
New York mayor Michael erate more than 25,000 con-
Bloomberg has announced that struction jobs and 6,000
the city has signed a contract with permanent jobs. In total, the plan
Thor Equities to acquire 6.9 acres is expected to generate more
of land on Coney Island for than $14bn in economic activity
$95.6m. The move paves the for New York City over 30 years.
way for a far-reaching expand- “The City’s acquisition of the
and-enhance initiative that seeks land in Coney Island’s historic
to cement the continued future of amusement district marks the
the Brooklyn island’s historic beginning of a new era in Coney
amusement district. Island’s history,” said Bloomberg.
With the acquisition of three “Over the last four decades, the
waterfront parcels, the City will amusement district has dwindled
create a 12.5-acre outdoor to just three acres, but we’re now
amusement park within a new 27- reversing that trend. Like New
acre amusement and entertain- York City’s other great parks,
ment district. Approved by the City Coney Island’s amusement park
Council in July, the plan will pre- will be owned by the public, and
serve and grow the historic amuse- its future will be in the hands of
ment area through the creation of a New Yorkers who have cherished
“vibrant mixed-use neighbour- it for generations.”
The world in brief...
Europe
free says its odourless, ciga- GALA CORAL GROUP Hall 2 of Earl’s Court in easier to have an open and
rette style devices will soon MAY SELL TO US January. Company founder constructive dialogue with
be made available through a INVESTORS and MD Johannes Weissen- games developers.”
network of 5,000 vending UK It was just four years ago gruber stated: “Apex Gaming
machines throughout that Gala Coral Group staved has grown to be a major
EJC LOOKS INTO Belgium beginning in January. off a take-over bid by US gam- player in the gaming market
INTERSTATE GAM- A month later, the distributor bling operation Harrah’s by clearly adhering to its
BLING TREATY will stock the electronic ciga- Entertainment. Now, Gala is strategy - namely to provide
North
GERMANY Eight of rettes in more than 6,000 looking for an influx of cash to gaming operators with tried
Germany’s gambling cases are Belgian gas stations, conven- keep their heads above water and tested games for each
America
now confirmed to take place ience stores and tobacco and is, once again, being eyed individual market in the
in the European Court of shops. Plans reportedly call by an American investment Marcin Arasniewicz highest quality cabinets pos-
Justice in December, with the for the group to expand distri- company. Blackstone Group of Orbis sible.” JOHNSON RESIGNS
Interstate Gambling Treaty bution of Smokefree’s prod- has made a bid of £300m AS IGT EVP
expected to come under ucts to a further 10,000 (E332.56m) in return for a 40 IOA GROUP USA David Johnson has
intense scrutiny. The possible vending machines in the to 60 per cent stake, in the machine purchases. The deci- APPOINTS PETER resigned as executive vice-pres-
non-compliance of EU law in Netherlands and more than Gala Coral Group operation. sion was made by senior man- WEIR TO KEY ROLE ident, general counsel and sec-
relation to the ban on internet 100,000 vending machines in According to rumours in the agement after a value-added UK The IOA Group, which retary, of land-based gaming
gambling will be examined at Germany. financial world there are trial at the company’s most with close to 30,000 behemoth International Game
oral proceedings now con- eight other private equity important casino in Poland. installed machines is the Technology, effective January 4.
firmed to take place on firms looking at Gala assets. The director of Slot Opera- UK’s second largest operator Formerly with Anchor Gaming,
December 8 and 9. Even if the Blackstone is a leading global tions at Orbis Casino, Marcin of gaming and electronic Johnson joined IGT in 2003 and
cases produce a positive alternative asset manager and Arasniewicz, agreed to partic- amusement equipment, has has been responsible for IGT'‘
result, current predictions provider of financial advisory ipate in a VAT, during which a bolstered its management legal, government relations and
suggest it will be 2012 at the services listed on the New side-by-side trial was per- team with the appointment compliance departments.
earliest before the market in York Stock Exchange. If formed between MEI Cash- of Peter Weir. Respected as
Germany is opened up to accepted, Blackstone’s bid flow SC83 and the latest one of the most knowledge- NEW BOWLING/FEC
private competition. would disrupt an agreement competitive note validators. able executives in the VENUE FOR ALPINE
drawn up between Gala’s domestic industry, Weir has USAA new ten pin bowling
SMOKEFREE SIGNS junior lenders and its current APEX LOOKS TO worked in the machine venue, Viejas Bowl, has recently
EUROPEAN VENDING private equity owners, MAXIMISE EXPO sector for over four decades been opened in Alpine, Califor-
CONTRACT Cinven, Permira and Can- IMPACT and will be responsible for nia with a ribbon cutting cere-
BELGIUM Smokefree dover. AUSTRIA Kirchenfeld- the development and testing mony, traditional tribal blessing
Innotec, the Nashville, US- based Apex Gaming is to use of product as well as serving and the throwing of the first
based electronic cigarette ORBIS SPECIFIES MEI the forthcoming IGE show as the IOA’s interface with strike. The 12 lane boutique
manufacturer, has signed a dis- CASHFLOW to unveil its new product, suppliers and manufactur- bowling centre features a
tribution with the largest POLANDMEI has confirmed the Quikker, which is ers. microbrew bar and 42 gaming
tobacco wholesaler in that Orbis Casino Group in described as a “truly innova- Weir stated: “Because the machines. Parent company
Europe. Working in conjunc- Poland is now specifying MEI tive, brand new electronic IOA is independent of any Viejas owns the nearby Viejas
tion with the as-yet-unnamed Cashflow SC83 note valida- card game.” Apex Gaming manufacturing interests it Casino 35 miles east of San
group, NASDAQ-listed Smoke- tors for all future slots will take prime position in certainly makes it much Diego.
GamesWorld | 14 | December 2009/January 2010
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