AB UK articles from February 2004

AB UK archives from February 2004

From the editor.(Editorial)
February 1, 2004... One of my earliest outings as a coin-op journalist was to visit the first of the ultimately ill-fated, Fexpo shows in Barcelona. Although the amusement-only event struggled in such a gaming-heavy market as Spain, it was good to see non-payout...

Bell-Fruit Games has taken up a new position at ATEI.(UK News)
February 1, 2004... * BELL-Fruit Games has taken up a new position at ATEI. The new stand is on the main gangway near the walkthrough to ICE. BFG's John Austin welcomed the move: "Stand 1240 is a great location for visitors; we anticipate being at the hub of...

A major about turn in the fortunes of coin-up photo kiosk company Photo-Me International has been recorded for the half-year.(UK News)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... * A MAJOR about-turn in the fortunes of coin-op photo kiosk company Photo-Me International has been recorded for the half-year. The company reported pre-tax profits up from 1.3m [pounds sterling] to 15.1m [pounds sterling], mainly on the...

Increasing demand for American pool in the UK has encouraged Sam Billiards.(UK News)
February 1, 2004... * INCREASING demand for American pool in the UK has encouraged SAM Billiards to launch the New Royal Class table at this year's ATEI show.

Lordsvale has a new product ready for the London show in A Day At The Races, a four-player arcade version of the Donkey Derby..(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... * LORDSVALE has a new product ready for the London show in A Day At The Races, a four-player arcade version of the Donkey Derby. The game is being built by BFG and is being distributed by Crown Direct.

Northern Ireland to get equal AWP legislation?(Amusement with Prizes)
February 1, 2004... NIACTA, the Northern Irish trade body hopes that new gaming legislation in the province, which is due to be introduced during the month of February will finally give the area the same deal as the rest of Great Britain. Currently,...

JPM reshuffles team after Barff.(UK News)(Simon Barff)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... FOLLOWING the recent departure of UK sales manager Simon Barff to TCS Funtime, JPM has reorganised its UK and European sales team. Mike Smith has been appointed to the new position of group sales manager. Smith previously worked in...

Electrocoin to unveil two world firsts at ATEI.(Amusement Trades Exhibition international)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... THERE are to be two firsts on the Electrocoin stand at ATEI this year. The firm is to release a revolutionary new AWP and Incredible Technologies is to launch the latest update in the Golden Tee Golf series. Traditionally launched at the...

L & M Deith Sales, a division of Deith Group, will be the exclusive distributor for the New KYF Gogh's Colour Workroom for the UK and Ireland.(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... * L & M Deith sales, a division of Deith Group, will be the exclusive distributor for the New KYF Gogh's Colour Workroom for the UK and Ireland. This new machine will have the world's first photo keyring as a feature on it.

With the movement of ICE downstairs this year, there are plans at ATE Ltd. to make use of the vacant upstairs exhibition space during next year's show.(UK News)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... * WITH the movement of ICE downstairs this year, there are plans at ATE Ltd. to make use of the vacant upstairs exhibition space during next year's show. Our understanding is that a tourism event is being planned.

Coin-Op photo kiosk company Photo-Me International plans to launch new kiosks to print photographs from mobile telephones.(UK News)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... * COIN-OP photo kiosk company Photo-Me International plans to launch new kiosks to print photographs from mobile telephones. The company was reporting a strong rise in half-year profits up from 1.3m [pounds sterling] to 15.1m [pounds...

The Alderney Gambling Control Commission has confirmed that Harrah's Online has been awarded an interactive gaming licence.(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... * THE Alderney Gambling Control Commission has confirmed that Harrah's Online has been awarded an interactive gaming licence. Founded 66 years ago, Harrah's Entertainment operates 25 casinos in the 1.15. The licence has been issued for...

Rowe International.(appointment)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... * JUKE box maker Rowe International has appointed industry veteran Tony Deasy as European sales director. In his new role, Deasy will assume responsibility for Rowe's marketing and sales activities throughout Europe.

Gaines Media meets to show 'culture of equity'.(Gaines Media Group )(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... TOP management from all three companies in the Gaines Media Group gathered just before Christmas, for the first of what will become regular conferences. The new content providing group, consists of Global Games, Channel 1 Games and...

Crown in Thrillride as Duck slips.(gambling equipment )(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... CROWN Direct will unveil its Thrillrider import from ICE in the US at the London show--and at least partially answer some of the questions surrounding the Hook a Duck's appearance on its stand at the London Preview, and then apparently losing...

Imports extra value as US economy hits a slide.(games equipment)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... THE weakened US dollar which faced the industry in the early days of January, 2004, was having an op-and-down effect on the movement of equipment across the Atlantic. Reaching $1.82 to the pound sterling on January 7, the dollar meant...

The Archbishop of Canterbury made himself few friends in the UK gaming industry with his attack on plans to liberalise the UK gaming laws.(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... * THE Archbishop of Canterbury made himself few friends in the UK gaming industry with his attack on plans to liberalise the UK gaming laws. In his Christmas message Dr. Rowan Williams questioned the morality of relaxing the gambling laws and...

Around 110m [pounds sterling] of profit is being wasted in the UK bookmaking industry every year through blatant underperformance and a failure by company leaders to focus on the bottom line.(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... * AROUND 110m [pounds sterling] of profit is being wasted in the UK bookmaking industry every year through blatant underperformance and a failure by company leaders to focus on the bottom line. This is the conclusion of the latest Plimsoll...

Leisure Link.(appoinments)
February 1, 2004... * LEISURE Link has appointed Ted Robinson to the newly created role of director of network products. He will take up his position in March 2004 and joins the company from GamesNet where he was commercial director.

On The House success means Funtime for TCS.(TCS Funtime)(drink prices display)
February 1, 2004... LEEDS BASED TCS Funtime is receiving positive feedback from sites that have installed its On The House happy hour bar tool. The idea behind the machine is simple, there is an eye catching display featuring full price, half price and on...

Gamesoft opens new premises.(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... GAMESOFT, a recent addition to the UK manufacturing fold, has a new factory in Cardiff and a range of new games to take to the London show. The company, run by Alan Parker, has until now concentrated on designing games for AWP machines...

Leisure Link lands new contracts in pub sector.(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... THE UK's largest operator, Leisure Link, has kicked off 2004 with two new contracts in the retail pub sector. It has signed a new three year extension to its supply agreement with Mitchells and Butlers to supply its 2,000 pubs across the...

A new era is dawning in the casino industry in Finland with the opening of Grand Casino Helsinki on April 1, 2004.(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... * A NEW era is dawning in the casino industry in Finland with the opening of Grand Casino Helsinki on April 1, 2004. It is also time to bid fond farewell to Casino RAY, that has served Finnish casino patrons well for over 12 years. The...

Compumatic, specialist in electronic darts and educational machines, is looking for new distributors to take a brand new machine into "undiscovered" markets.(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... * COMPUMATIC, specialist in electronic darts and educational machines, is looking for new distributors to take a brand new machine into "undiscovered" markets. "After 20 years in the business we have used our expertise to produce a machine...

Touchtunes and Ecast juke it out in legal row.(intellectual property rights)
February 1, 2004... US juke box maker TouchTunes Music Corp. has won a patent lawsuit against digital rival Ecast Inc. A federal court in Northern California granted a summary judgment motion in TouchTunes' favour on December 18, reports Replay magazine. ...

Norway regs hit European wall.(gaming machines regulations)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... THE European Free Trade Association Surveillance Authority is to take Norway before the EFTA court for failure to give correct notification of technical regulations regarding approval of gaming machines in 1998. The so-called...

Hamburg gets green light to stay open all night.(casino rules)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... THE Hamburg Senate has voted to lift the city's closing time regulations with effect from January 1, 2004. Previously, amusement arcades in the city have had to remain closed between 11.00pm and 7.00am, but now slot machine operators have...

Gaming Laboratories Australia, the leading gaming testing company in the Australasian Region, has been granted a Testing Facilities License.(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... * GAMING Laboratories Australia, the leading gaming testing company in the Australasian Region, has been granted a Testing Facilities License for the state of New South Wales by the Licensing Court of New South Wales.

New cabinets for all types of gaming machines were displayed by Villart, the Russian manufacturer, at the recent EELEX show.(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... * NEW cabinets for all types of gaming machines were displayed by Villart, the Russian manufacturer, at the recent EELEX show. The company, which also manufactures its own gaming machines as well as top glasses for games. The cabinets...

The meeting between testing institutes and the Italian authorities over processes needed in the new Italian AWP law was held at the AAMS, the ministry responsible for gaming in Rome.(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... * THE meeting between testing institutes and the Italian authorities over processes needed in the new Italian AWP law was held at the AAMS, the ministry responsible for gaming in Rome. After the meeting, Ben Verhoeff, market development...

German testing firm to face monopoly claims.(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... THE level of control over Germany's gaining machine industry held by the PTB testing authority, may soon be broken. The monopoly over testing both AWP and casino slots in the country is being challenged in the European courts. ...

US violent video beaten up again.(rules against violent video games)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... IN a move to further worry the American video game industry, lawmakers in California are considering two proposed laws put forth by opponents of violently themed video games. The first of the new hills, AB 1792, broadens the legal...

Egyptian show looks for international sponsors.(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... THE organiser of the CFA Expo, due to take place for the first time in September after last year's show was cancelled, is now looking for international sponsors for this year's exhibition. Sherif Ateem from UniPark, Egypt claims that...

Matsui opens UK office as sales volume goes up.(Matsui Gaming)
February 1, 2004... JAPANESE casino equipment supplier Matsui Gaming has set up a base in the UK from which to service the European, Russian and African markets. Matsui Europe recently opened an office in Salford that is headed up by Steve Williams, who...

Tribeca lengthens e-poker suite.(Casino News)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... INTERNET poker software provider Tribeca Tables has launched several new features to its software and new online poker games including Omaha High and High Low games and tournaments. The firm, which is exhibiting at the ICE show, was the...

New spin on wheel as Cammegh breaks custom.(casino)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... THEMED roulette wheels are a speciality of manufacturer Cammegh and, as casinos create ever more individual environments, the company is increasingly asked to capture the atmosphere in the design of the wheels. The latest themed wheel to...

TCS John Huxley.(Casino News)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... * TCS John Huxley has appointed Terry Clarke (pictured) as special projects director. Clarke, a well-known industry figure worldwide, will be responsible for the development and introduction of all traditional gaming products for the...

Despite some high rollers proving late in paying their debts on times.(Casino News)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... Despite some high rollers proving late in paying their debts on time, London Clubs International came back to profitability in the first half of 2003. @@@@@ According to figures put out by the group, its prestige London location, Les...

UK-based Customised Casino Games has been awarded a Nevada field trial licence.(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... This initial licence allows the game to be trialled at casinos in Las Vegas and this process has already commenced at the Four Queens Casino and Hotel. Interest in the alternative blackjack game has also been shown by other major casinos...

A three-player roulette designed to go into a corner was shown for the first time.(games industry)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... The maker, Capital Gaming of Cardiff, had designed it in modular format so that more units could be added. Each player uses differently coloured chips on the 3-D image. Capital's Managing Director, Adrian Parker (below), said that at the...

New blueprint looms as casino sent to Coventry.
February 1, 2004... THE flew 32,000-seat arena planned for Coventry City Football Club, which includes a large casino, is being seen as a blueprint for a generation of massive UK leisure venues. The commercial viability of such schemes will be unlocked by...

Crown Gaming in new Alliance.(acquired by Alliance Gaming Corp. )
February 1, 2004... As forecast in last month's ab:UK, Alliance Gaming Corp. has acquired Crown Gaming from Crown Leisure, one of the UK's largest distributors of gaming and amusement machines. The move marks the creation of Bally Gaming and Systems UK Ltd....

Progressive stud puts a smile on regular's face.(A&S Leisure Group)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... A FOUNDER member of he casino that launched the gaming arm of a company that went on to become the UK's largest independent operator has landed the biggest windfall of the group's recently installed progressive casino stud poker game. ...

Playsafe launches web system for single sites.(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... PLAYSAFE is launching an Internet based system aimed initially at the UK single-site sector at ATEI. The system will operate as a central control system for operators, retailers and management companies. There will be benefits to all...

New touch terminals in London.(Spares)(XN Entertainment intoroduces Touch screens)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... XN Entertainment, based in Malton, North Yorkshire, is introducing a new touchscreen terminal in 15ins., 17ins. and 19ins. versions at the ICE show in London. The company's XN3K terminal has already been well received as a comprehensive...

Craig Mochrie, production director for Innovative Technology retired at Christmas.(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... Mochrie joined the company in its infancy, just 18 months after it began manufacturing the Smiley bank note validator in 1995. Since then he made a major contribution to the success of the company. Steve Jackson, who was previously company's...

Heber brings Calypso to Earls Court.(Spares)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... HEBER is to launch its new Pluto 6 control board and Calypso 32 video graphics card at the London show. Pluto 6 is in production after a two-year development and test period and is a new addition to the longstanding Pluto range of control...

Semicom UK Ltd.(Spares)(Semicom UK Ltd. introduces Magnetic & Manual swipe, Smart card )(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... Semicom's exclusive range of card reader/writer products which include, Magnetic & Manual swipe, Smart card and intelligent RF Terminal swipe modules, are ideal for applications such as gaming, EPOS, kiosk and access control. The magnetic...

MEI is launching two new cash handling products at the ICE show: the Cashflow SC83 note acceptor and the Cashflow Gen2 printer.(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... The SC series of note acceptors has enjoyed success in the US casino market. The European version is the SC83, which will be unveiled for the first time. MEI also recently revealed that it has joined with FutureLogic to distribute its ticket...

Gaming Support BV.(Spares)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... The product lines are table game accessories and third party applications for the company's BaseSys casino management platform.

Pony Express, Bell-Fruit Games.(New Products)(Bell-Fruit Games introduces PonyExpress)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... PONY Exress is a highly-themed new AWP from Bell-Fruit Games with entertaining sounds and visuals. The game play conies from the popular Cop The Lot/Diamond Mine family, with feature board and the flexi-strip Super Board. Now Pony Express is...

Honey Money, Vivid Gaming.(New Products)(Vivid Gaming introduces Honey Money)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... VIVID Gaming's new hi-tech AWP, Honey Money, is a tempting new game using a sugary sweet theme. Honey Money is another new concept game. Players access the variable trail, making their way across a honeycomb of shots, cash awards, shuffles,...

Versatile Video System, Sound Leisure.(New Products)(Versatile Video System offers)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... THE Versatile Video System--or VVS--gives operators the freedom to combine pay-per-play video and audio or audio and advertising. VVS can be combined with ally number of screens and can even offer different content on different screens. So...

Mirage simulator, FX Simulation.(New Products)(FX Simulation enhanced Mirage simulator)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... FX Simulation has come up with another design improvement for its U2 Mirage simulator. The newly improved capsule will have a windscreen in the front of it, which can be Lifted out to allow access to the rear of the television and cockpit...

Golden Keys, Barcrest Games.(New Products)(Barcrest Games introduces Golden Keys)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... BARCREST Games' new single-player game, Golden Keys, has been designed specifically for the bingo dub and arcade market. Golden Keys is a lo-tech game, incorporating an eye catching 3-D top reel with an entertaining feature which awards extra...

Big Ben, Harry Levy.(New Products)(Big Ben pusher from Harry Levy)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... BIG Ben is tire latest pusher from Harry Levy and it has all the ingredients necessary to make it another good one. The compact six player game is housed in an attractive cabinet with a fantastic Big Ben top sign that will never go unnoticed...

Beaver Uncovered, Global Games.(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... BEAVER Uncovered has the theme of summer excesses and hardcore clublands in Ibiza, Falaraki and Aya Napa! It follows in the successful footsteps of Beaver Las Vegas and Saturday Night Beaver, Beaver Uncovered has enjoyed impressive test...

Magic Games II, Novo Gaming.(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... THE current AWP that is poised to crack the arcade and bingo sectors is Magic Games II, a multi game video. The selectable four game format housed in the dual-monitored Diplomat cabinet has changed the face of video gaming with the "pre...

Gold Cup, Elton Games.(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... ELTON Gaines will be exhibiting its all new Gold Cup at ATEI 2004. Developed specifically for the smaller indoor locations such as arcades and FECs, the Gold Cup is a one to six player game, for redemption operation. It has a number of...

Cash Adder, QPS.(New Products)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... INCORPORATING a brand new game style, Cash Adder from QPS has received the complete set of retailer and LBO approvals. Superimposed numbers on the reels give access to features at positions 8-10, Position II starts the main feature game,...

Big Rig Truckin', Benchmark Games.(New Products)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... BIG Rig Truckin' is a fast-paced game with lots of targets that has all of the attraction and play appeal of Benchmark's earlier and very successful game, Big Haul, plus a whole lot more. Big Rig Truckin' comes in a two-player cabinet with a...

Jive Money, Mazooma.(New Products)(Mazooma Games)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... JIVE Money is a colourful juke box-themed single player pusher housed in the Eclipse cabinet. A "closed loop" coin system is employed where coins falling off the bed are counted into the bank then fed back via an escalating bopper. Separate...

Jolly Roger, Extreme Gaming.(New Products)(AWP with the perennially popular pirate theme)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... EXTREME Gaming's latest release for the UK single site sector is Jolly Roger, an AWP with the perennially popular pirate theme. Players go in search of treasure by playing a three-red game to enter a wrapround feature, driven by an extra...

Bottle Bank, Vivid Gaming.(New Products)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... BOTTLE Bank is the new hi-tech AWP from Vivid Gaming. The product's style takes inspiration from the core game structure of Vivid's popular Atlantic AWP, but Bottle Bank's fun bottle factory theme is very different. Players progress to the...

Casino Classics, Bell-Fruit Games.(New Products)(retro games)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... AN exciting new product for the multi-site sector brings together three classic games in one product. BFG's Casino Classics is a new take on the growing trend for retro games; evergreen favourites Golden Winner, BAR 7 and Diamonds & Rubys are...

Stand and Deliver, Global Games.(New Products)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2004... STAND and Deliver is a game based around the theme of the great British tradition of highway robbery that uses a lapping board and a hi-lo trail game. Three bat symbols on the winline enters the player into the feature game where he must...

ATEI exhibitor list.(Illustration)
February 1, 2004... COMPANY STAND NO. 3M Touch Systems UK Ltd 328 ab:UK AIG Ace Ltd 1612...

ICE floorplan and exhibitor list.(Illustration)
February 1, 2004... COMPANY STAND NO. 3M Touch Systems UK Ltd 3290 Abbiati Casino Equipment s.n.c 3242 ACG 3218...

Net flush: .Tribeca.(Tribeca Tables - Casino Center)
February 1, 2004... Tribeca Tables' Steve Cook explains how the association between online gambling and well-known commercial brands has led to a traditional parlour game such as poker being the driving force behind the P2P evolution of Internet gaming THE...

Magic touch.(Sales Pitch)(Bar Review)
February 1, 2004... We at ab:UK know how hard it is to make sure you get to, and get around, all the trade shows. But never fear, Sales Pitch brings the industry's top salesmen to your desk and gives you a choice of the hottest products from a different sector...

King of the skill.(quiz game machines)
February 1, 2004... The past 20 years have seen the SWP's fortunes fluctuate between feast and famine. But now everything has changed and, rather than being a volatile sector, it is now a viable market in its own right. In the first of an occasional feature,...

Conventional wisdom.(Snookered)
February 1, 2004... Policemen are getting younger, beer's getting more expensive and the BACTA convention just isn't what it used to be... When you've been around as long as ab:UK's much admired columnist David Snook, you can't help comparing things to the good...

Tomorrow's world: what's really new at ATEI? Stephanie Norbury looks at the technologies which are actually breaking new ground and asks the question: where will it all lead?(New Technology)(Amusement Trades Exhibition International)
February 1, 2004... IN the past, operators were likened to furniture movers. But now it seems they have a new job--as computer experts. If cabinets are to stay on site for longer, then increasingly ingenious ways of moving games, music and other information are...

Productions managers.(Interview)(Cover Story)
February 1, 2004... They may look suave on the front cover, but Nova Productions' Peter Robinson and David Jones insist that they are engineers, not salesmen. A string of unusual, sometimes bizarre, games with the constant factor of success has followed this...

Russian dressing: the EELEX show in Russia is becoming more and more important as the market expands to include more than just gaming machines. British companies are now finding a niche. David Snook braved the cold to find out more.(Showpiece)
February 1, 2004... BRITISH companies made a major impact on the EELEX trade show held in December in Moscow. Among the exhibitors were Electrocoin, Namco Europe, Sega Europe, Innovative Technology, Capital Gaming and Eurocoin. The show was principally a casino...

Globetrotter.
February 1, 2004... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Caption: IT was Tom Jones who sang Baby, It's Cold Outside with Cerys Matthews recently, but it was another Welshman feeling the chill in Red Square recently, ab: UK's very own David Snook looks like he could do...

Show diary.(Brief Article)(Calendar)
February 1, 2004... 2004 February 20-21 : AOU 2004, MAKUHARI MESSE, CHIBA-CITY, JAPAN. Contact: AOU, Tsi-Suda Bldg., 1-4-1 Kanda-Suda, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, Japan. Tel: +81 3 3253 5671 Fax: +81 3 3253 5688 February 26-29: ENADA SPRING 2004 & PARK...