September 2008 news:p2-11 News 19/8/08 14:38 Page 6
CASINO NEWS Email your news to
casino@nka.co.uk
WMS gains new
Sales Manager
Ho’s Hong Kong SJM IPO
René de Jong is
struggles, but completes...
the International
S
hares in Sociedade de Jogos monopoly in 2002 and Las Vegas
Sales Manager de Macau (SJM), Stanley casino operators moved in, Stanley
for WMS, based Ho’s casino company, finally Ho is raising money to revamp his
in Holland. René began trading on the Hong Kong operations. The IPO sold a quarter
Group Pestana has spent €6 million on
Casino da Madeira, adding five tables,
37, formerly of Stock Exchange after last-minute of SJM’s shares and raised almost
70 machines and a new gaming area.
Philips Electronics NV and Scantech legal challenges from his sister. half a billion dollars – but this was
ID BV, joins WMS with more than 16 Winnie Ho’s legal moves delayed under half the target for the IPO at
years of sales experience. René the offering, and prompted the the start of this year, owing to a
Ritzio claims it’s
previously served as Commercial withdrawal of over half the total weak stock market, fears about
leader in Belarus
Director for a global IT hardware applications made by individual trading conditions in Macau, and
company, specialising in sales of investors. As a result, the offer was queries from the stock market
laser-based optical solutions. undersubscribed and Deutsche regulator about the shareholding
Bank, which ran the IPO, was left structure of SJM’s parent company. T
his summer, Ritzio International
launched three new
entertainment venues in the
Skycity appoints
holding 100 million shares. “You all know our path towards cities of Gomel, Brest, and Grodno.
Winnie Ho, who has launched the listing has not been smooth,” The company believes this makes it
new senior team
over 30 legal challenges to her said the 86 year old Stanley Ho, one the largest gaming provider in
brother and owns around 7 percent of Asia’s richest men who owns or Belarus, with 27 gaming clubs and
As part of a refocus on its core of SJM, questioned the legality of controls 30 percent of SJM. "But we 1,300 machines.
business of gaming, New Zealand’s the sale at the last minute, claiming have successfully overcome a series The three new locations are larger
Skycity Entertainment Group has that it went against Hong Kong’s of obstacles, turning challenges into gaming clubs offering a selection of
appointed four senior executives. policy not to promote gambling. opportunities.” games, show programmes,
Wayne Freeman moved from In the face of increased a71 Meanwhile, the South China amusements, food and beverage,
Aristocrat to become Skycity’s Group competition in Macau, where his Morning Post reported that Wynn and other customer services, each
Gaming Machine Product Manager, casino operations are estimated to Resorts was contemplating a on a 500 m
2
site.
while Arthur Pitcher, formerly of have lost almost half their market $3billion Hong Kong IPO to raise In November 2006 the company
Aspinalls, became General Manager share since SJM lost its casino money for its Macau developments. launched its Volcano-branded gaming
for the company’s Hamilton club chain in Minsk, after which it
operations. In Auckland, Brant established a series of middle-size
Bedwell is now Table Games
IGT and Progressive develop alliance
venues, featuring around 40
Manager and Kierren Gersbash is machines and
Gaming Machine Product and
P
rogressive Gaming IP portfolio including version 4.x of electronic
Development Manager. International Corporation and IGT’s sb server-based technologies. roulettes,
“I’m delighted to welcome them to IGT are entering into further Progressive retains a worldwide before opening
the team,” said CEO Nigel Morrison. agreements to expand their licence to continue to market the these larger
strategic technology alliance, which standard progressive and mystery sites.
21 independent
was established in April 2008 to jackpot features of CJS to its Ritzio puts
address server-based gaming current customers and to new the success of
judges lined up
opportunities jointly. customers. its Belarusian
Under the expanded alliance, Progressive will be developing activities down
Ritzio: keeps locals happy
T
he 21-member judging panel Progressive Gaming will transfer its applications to be deployed on both to “a solid marketing package
for the 2009 International Casinolink Jackpot Station (“CJS”) IGT’s sb server-based technology offered to local players that includes
Gaming Awards has been technology to IGT, which is expected and on Progressive Gaming’s bonus programmes, entertainment
finalised, and entries are being to be integrated with IGT’s extensive Casinolink Enterprise Edition. events, and tournaments.”
invited. The Awards will be
presented on the 26th January at
the Millennium Gloucester Hotel,
Zagreb’s Golden Sun wins Aristocrat’s Golden Boot
London during ICE, the International
Casino in Croatian team strips, served goals and score points of their own
Exhibition. football-themed cocktails, while slot while live action from Austria and
The 2009 Z
agreb’s Golden Sun Casino
won Aristocrat’s Golden Boot
award for the best promotion staff took to the floor in Pelé shirts Switzerland was relayed on the big
event is for Pelé Golden Goals Hyperlink to attend to players’ needs. The screen. Action reached fever pitch
supporting two charities: Care during the Euro 2008 Football promotional campaign was as a volley of Mini, Minor, Major and
International and Children with Championships. supported by printed flyers and even Grand Jackpots were struck.”
Leukaemia. Donations to these The Golden Sun installed a giant newspaper and radio adverts. “The additional income from Pelé
charities can be made at any time screen and projector to broadcast Golden Sun Casino slot manager, Golden Goals’ reels proved most
via
www.gaming-awards.com. To live Euro 2008 matches to its Goran Stefanek commented: “The welcome – even if we’re still reeling
enter, contact organiser Lisa Barrett playing clientèle for the duration of promotion was highly successful from the bitter blow of Croatia’s
via
lisa@gaming-awards.com the tournament. Bar staff, kitted out and encouraged players to shoot quarterfinal Euro exit!”
6 SEPTEMBER 2008
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58