AB UK articles from January 2004

AB UK archives from January 2004

From the editor.(Brief Article)
January 1, 2004... THE run up to ATEI brings mixed feelings to this editor each year. Part of me can't wait for the show to start, to get in amongst the action and immerse myself in the mayhem that is the London show. Everybody is there, as is all you could...

A new trading partner in Hungary has been appointed by Innovative Technology Group of Oldham.(UK News)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2004... * A NEW trading partner in Hungary has been appointed by Innovative Technology Group of Oldham. The maker of the Smiley note validator has announced that MK-45 Bt. will handle the new NV8 with its advanced security features, including a...

Once again rumours are surrounding the future of JPM.(UK News)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2004... * ONCE again rumours are surrounding the future of JPM. As this issue was going to press there was speculation that the Midlands-based manufacturer was involved in talks with its Japanese parent to secure a management buy-out. Neither...

The DCMS is to inquire into the government's proposals for the reform of the National Lottery's lincesing and distribution.(UK News)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2004... * THE DCMS is to inquire into the government's proposals for the reform of the National Lottery's licensing and distribution. The Draft Gambling Bill's references to the Lottery will be taken into account with a view to determining whether...

Texas Pacific Group a US investment firm, has sold its 21.8 per cent stake in UK pub group Punch Taverns.(UK News)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2004... * TEXAS Pacific Group, a US investment firm, has sold its 21.8 per cent stake in UK pub group Punch Taverns. The 54 million shares went for around $376m, according to City reports. This is almost double the amount which was paid for them...

Crown group gaming division 'sold to US firm'.(UK News)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2004... THE Crown group is thought to have sold its Crown Gaming subsidiary to Bally Gaming, the major US-based slots manufacturer. Crown Gaming is the UK distributor for Bally products and while the deal was not officially confirmed as we went...

Redemption for family arcades?(UK News)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2004... HOPES were raised for seaside and family entertainment operators when Lord MacIntosh admitted to the BACTA Convention that there could be a reprieve for some redemption games thought threatened by the new Gaming Bill. The Minister went...

Electrocoin warns of high price of low cost kits.(UK News)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2004... ELECTROCOIN's John Stergides has welcomed the imminent introduction of payment deregulation, but warned that use of the wrong upgrade kits on the firm's machines could cause serious problems for operators, "I am delighted to say that our...

Sammy snaps up Sega shares as hosthe takeover talk spreads.(News)
January 1, 2004... SAMMY Corporation, Japan's largest pachinko producer, has acquired a 22.4 per cent stake in Sega, following months of speculation concerning a merger of the two companies. Sammy has agreed to buy more than 39 million shares of Sega from...

Barcrest Group gets certification.(News)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2004... AWP manufacturer Barcrest Group has secured certification to 1S09001 for its UK operations. The certification covers all processes and procedures for Barcrest Group core operations (manufacturing, engineering and support services) as...

Capital Gaming plays Russian roulette on stand.(News)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2004... CAPITAL Gaming of Cardiff launched a new three-player roulette game at the Russian EELEX show which the company plans to bring to the London show in January. Managing Director Adrian Parker was in Moscow with the new Video Roulette,...

Bell-fruit games has annouced a major addition to its range for the London show.(News)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2004... * BELL-FRUIT Games has announced a major addition to its range for the London show. The licensed game Lord of the Rings: Return of the King is the final part of the epic Lord of the Rings trilogy. The firm has promised that the new machine...

Distributor Crown Direct has taken the UK and Ireland rights to the Falgas range of kiddie rides and mini-track trains made by Falgas in Girona, Spain.(UK News)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2004... * DISTRIBUTOR Crown Direct has taken the UK and Ireland rights to the Falgas range of kiddie rides and mini-track trains made by Falgas in Girona, Spain. The deal was concluded in mid-December and came into force on January 1.

Still with Crown nine of the Simuline/Sega Cycraft.(UK News)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2004... * STILL with Crown, nine of the Simuline/ Sega Cycraft simulators have been sited in the UK market by the distributor since the London Preview, sales manager Mick Blanche told ab:UK. The equipment, worth in total 250,000 [pounds sterling],...

Taito Corporation is celebrating the 25th anniversary of Space Invaders, at the ATEI this month.(UK News)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2004... * TAITO Corporation is celebrating the 25th anniversary of Space Invaders, at the ATEI this month. To mark the occasion, Taito is producing three special edition Silver Anniversary arcade models, which will be unveiled on the Namco Europe...

BCE-riley will be exhibiting its sucessful Westbury range of tables at ATEI 2004.(UK News)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2004... * BCE-RILEY will be exhibiting its successful Westbury range of tables at ATEI 2004. On show will be some additions including some exciting new finishes. The range will feature pool tables, spares, cues and accessories as well as a new range...

Whittakers wishes warm welcome to operators.(UK News)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2004... KIDDIE ride and pusher maker Whittaker Bros. held an open house to operators in early December. The company showed its range of new and used equipment. Principals Alan Buckley, John Whittaker and Neal Holden were on hand to discuss...

Genesis, the independent distributor run by Steve and Hans Bierrum.(UK News)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2004... GENESIS, the independent distributor run by Steve and Hans Bierrum, has installed the first Amatic multi-player roulette in the UK into the Westcliff Casino in Southend. Genesis has overseen several adaptations to the machine, and has...

Crown claims country's crane crazy--sales soar.(UK News)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2004... THE Elaut Giga crane is breaking the mould for distributor Crown Direct. "Operators are buying cranes in December," said Crown's sales manager Mick Blanche. "This unheard of. We had more than 60 Gigas delivered during December, mostly to...

Eleven laser tag suppliers have joined together to form the Laser Tag Manufacturers and Supplier Association.(International News)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2004... * ELEVEN laser tag suppliers have joined together to form the Laser Tag Manufacturers and Suppliers Association. This new trade organisation will be managed by the International Association for the Leisure and Entertainment Industry (IALEI)....

Kevin Chang has resigned as vice-president of Taiwan's Wee Chin Electric Machinery Inc.(International News)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2004... * KEVIN Chang has resigned as vice-president of Taiwan's Wee Chin Electric Machinery Inc. for "personal reasons." David Huang, previously manager of engineering, has been appointed sales manager of the company and together with Thomas Tol,...

Former Sega America vice-president Howell Ivy has launched his own distribution company for classic video games.(International News)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2004... * FORMER Sega America vice-president Howell Ivy has launched his own distribution company for classic video games. Systems 99 displayed the famous old game Dragon's Lair at the IAAPA trade show in Florida. Ivy has obtained the distribution...

uWink eyes return to form with new capital.(International News)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2004... UWINK, Inc., the brainchild of Atari-founder Nolan Bushnell, announced last month that it had completed the initial stages of a reverse acquisition that will see the online touchscreen game firm become a public company. The subject of...

Middle East FEC numbers grow.(International News)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2004... MAJOR FEC projects in the Middle East are planned for the Dubai-based Majid Al Futtaim Investments LLC. Craig Hart, general manager at Magic Planet, the trading name of the Futtaim FECs, told ab:UK that a 10,000sq.ft. location is opening...

Jackpot proves Danes can bring home the bacon.(International News)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2004... DESPITE crippling tax laws in Denmark, some operators are finding success, proving such high tax markets can be profitable. Copenhagen-and Jutland-based Jackpot Games has doubled in size since the law changed in Denmark two years ago. The...

Arabs in Wonderland--Iran's first FEC for 25 yrs.(International News)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2004... THE first new amusement centre in Iran since the revolution in 1979 has been opened by Amir Abbas Gheissari. Gheissari is Managing Director of the Wonderland indoor amusements centre which is built along FEC styling. The...

e-payment easy if you go Dutch.(International News)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2004... A NEW Internet payment transaction service for the gaming industry has been launched by Netherlands-based SurfConnect International BV The Papaya Settlement System provides services for game providers and can handle all the incoming and...

New super show as IAAPA and EAASI join forces.(International News)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2004... THE International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions (IAAPA) and the European Association Amusement Supplier Industry (EAASI) announced late last year that the organisations have signed a letter of intent to form a new company, of...

The number of game centres in Indonesia.(International News)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2004... * THE number of game centres in Indonesia has escalated to around 500 in the past couple of years, according to Funworld Prima chief, Rachmat Sutiono of Jakarta. The centres consist mainly of redemption games from Korea and China and...

A new trade association is being formed in Malaysia in order to lobby the government on entertainment tax and other legislative issues.(International News)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2004... * A NEW trade association is being formed in Malaysia in order to lobby the government on entertainment tax and other legislative issues. The government is presently proposing that the tax be increased from 10 per cent to 25 per cent....

The European Court of Justice has ruled that Finland is breaking EU law.(International News)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2004... * THE European Court of Justice has ruled that Finland is breaking EU law by taxing one of its residents on their winnings from the Swedish national lottery.

Fusence has launched an updated version of its Van Gogh's Workshop.(International News)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2004... * FUSENCE has launched an updated version of its Van Gogh's Workshop. The Mark II of the portrait gallery was shown for the first time at IAAPA. It now offers the user a choice of pastel, chalk or oil reproductions of their images.

Spanish bingo company.(International News)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2004... * SPANISH bingo company, Grupo Codere and Argentinean Employees Trade Union for Gaming, ALEARA, have signed an agreement to improve working conditions.

Former Sega Europe general manager Steve Cook has joined Tribeca Tables.(Casino News)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2004... * FORMER Sega Europe general manager Steve Cook (pictured) has joined Tribeca Tables, the US-based Internet poker room software company, to handle its sales and marketing in Europe. He will be based full time in the UK and his role will...

The European Casino Operators' Association.(Casino News)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2004... * THE European Casino Operators' Association has released a message of condolence with regards to the death of its former vice-president Jaime Vaca de Arrazola. It reads: "It was with great sadness that we recently received notification of...

MGM Miraqe hits toon.(Casino News)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2004... MGM Mirage, the US-based hotel and gaming company, and football club Newcastle United have entered into a joint venture to build a major development on a prime site above St. James' Metro Station, which is in the heart of Newcastle city...

Casino opens with fundraiser.(Casino News)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2004... THE opening night of the new Silks casino in Dublin raised over 10,000 [euro] for the Kieran Kelly Memorial Fund. Kieran Kelly was a prominent jockey who died several weeks ago following a riding accident. The opening was attended mainly...

VIP announces two new people.(Casino News)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2004... VIP Gaming Solutions has announced two key appointments. Business development manager Andrew Beddoe will be based at VIP's head office in south-west London while Simona Dutto will assume responsibility for business development in Europe. ...

Gunwharf to draw the crowds?(Casino News)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2004... GROSVENOR Casinos has continued its aggressive redevelopment and expansion programme with the opening of a new venue at Gunwharf Quays, Portsmouth. The casino's opening celebrations saw over 800 people turning up over the two nights. ...

Isle of Capri bets on Red.(Casino News)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2004... A MAJOR US casino operator is joining forces with a rugby league club to build a 9,000sq.m. casino in the city of Salford. Salford City Reds' dream of moving into a new purpose-built home has moved a step nearer with the announcement that...

Novo Gaming pushes UK share.(Casino News)
January 1, 2004... NOVO Gaming UK Ltd., founded in 2001, sells and markets Novomatic AWP and casino slot machines to operators in the UK. The company has been testing and preparing games since late that year and ensuring that products have been completely...

Money Controls ICE up.(Casino News)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2004... MONEY Controls will have the latest payment handling developments on show at ICE in London this month. There will be the new WACS5, a self-contained bill and optional barcoded ticket/coupon acceptor with a cassette stacking system that...

IGT is planning a 300 per cent increase in the size of its booth.(Casino News)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2004... * IGT is planning a 300 per cent increase in the size of its booth at the London show this month. "We had 180sq.m. at the 2003 event," said Kurt Quartier, Managing Director of IGT Europe, "and this time around we will have 720sq.m. It...

Suzo exclusive.(Spares)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2004... GAMESTEC has announced that Suzo UK Ltd. has been awarded exclusive supplier status. Suzo will supply and distribute pool and general spares along with background music systems to all Gamestec sites. Gamestec's Sean Wheatley commented: "We...

Touch tech.(Spares)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2004... AFTER two years' presence in the gaming sector and after a successful launch of its capacitive touchscreen technology at last year's ATEI, Touch International has now extended its range. The introduction of a controller means the company can...

Excellent centre.(Spares)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2004... CASH machine provider Hanco ATM Systems is creating a Centre of Excellence in Milton Keynes as part of international expansion plans. The move will create more than 100 jobs over the next 12 months and underlines the company's commitment to...

Eurocoin's 30-year mark.(Spares)
January 1, 2004... LEADING spares specialist Eurocoin has passed the 30-year mark in business. The firm started life in 1973 as a small family business and has grown into a leading supplier of amusement and gaming products with annual sales of over 6...

Starpoint pushes new buttons.(Spares)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2004... COMPONENT manufacturer Starpoint is extending its range of push buttons with a new oval-shaped design. The push button is available with either standard illumination or as a luminescent button in white, red, green, blue, yellow or orange....

Scott Tod backs into Darwen & evolves into plc.(Spares)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2004... CASH handling specialist Scott Tod Developments Ltd. is now listed on the London Stock Exchange after the reverse take over of the shell company Darwen Capital. The company, which will now be known as Scott Tod plc, is planning an...

Return of the King, Bell-Fruit games.(New Products)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2004... SPEARHEADING Bell-Fruit's ATEI AWP portfolio is the final part of the Lord of the Rings trilogy. Timed to coincide with the release of the film, Return of the King lives up to its billing, with early approvals already secured. Strongly themed...

Hook a Duck, MSB Electronics.(New Products)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2004... MANUFACTURED and designed by MSB Electronics and John Ferguson Spares, Hook a Duck is a modern take on a traditional fairground game, with players required to drop ducks through rings to win a vended prize. At its launch at Preview, it was...

Knights of Valour, Sammy.(New Products)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2004... KNIGHTS of Valour--The Seven Spirits is another new fighting game for the AtomisWave system from Sammy. A continuation of a popular series, this version adds a couple of new characters in Alloth who has the fighting style like no other, and...

Gold Rush Stampede, Barcrest Games.(New Products)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2004... GOLD Rush fever is about to start again with the launch of Barcrest Games' latest addition to its popular Gold Rush range. Gold Rush Stampede three-player provides a new twist on Barcrest Games' Gold Rush Stampede sit-down and is ideally...

Lord of the Rings, stern Pinball.(New Products)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2004... PINBALL is on the up again and this big, incredibly popular licence should ensure it keeps going up as it features elements from all three Lord of the Rings movies. Sticking to the plot of the movies, the goal of players with the Lord of the...

Big Top Circus, Whittaker Bros.(New Products)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2004... WHITTAKER Bros. has tuned into the Greatest Show On Earth for the latest in its line of pushers. According to the firm, if initial reactions are anything to go by, Big Top Circus will be a worthy partner to Jazz, Arabian Gold and Pharoah's...

Big Top, Cromptons.(New Products)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2004... BIG Top is Cromptons' new and exciting eight-player coin-pusher with striking cabinet design, circus themed artwork, attract lighting and a unique Jackpot feature. The company is offering a choice of Jackpot/Changer and a non Jackpot/non...

Quake, Red Gaming.(New Products)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2004... RED Gaming's latest multistake AWP, Quake, will rock players to their foundations with its earthquake theme! Quake has been designed for UK pubs, LBOs, and arcades and players will be delighted by the additional hidden skill challenges,...

Crown duels: it's not easy being a journalist when the rumours are flying about an elusive story, nor is it easy to see your deadly rivals lift a major sporting trophy. ab: UK columnist David Snook come to terms with both ...(Snookered)
January 1, 2004... YOU win some--you lose some. "Crown is selling to Gamestec next Tuesday... guaranteed," said a Welsh friend of mine. In spite of this misinformation, he remains a friend, but only because like me, he is one of 'God's chosen own' and us Taffs...

Low and behold: 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 of the market every month. This month ... Low-tech AWPs.(Sales Pitch)
January 1, 2004... Game: Diamond 7s From: Astra Games Pitcher: Caroline Heynes THE long-standing reputation of Astra Games as the foremost innovator within the UK low-tech sector was once again enhanced at the London Preview with our latest AWP...

Looking ahead to London.(ATEI Preview)
January 1, 2004... THE 60th ATEI already looks set to beat last year's record number of 273 exhibiting companies. At the time of going to press, companies who had already booked space represented 24 different nations and 42 per cent of them were suppliers based...

Taking note.(Interview)
January 1, 2004... As the New Year kicks in, so does one of the most profound and far-reaching pieces of deregulation to affect the UK coin-operated gaming industry. The right to use bill acceptors on AWPs is due around mid-month. Retailers are frighteningly...

Orlando blooms: more UK arcade owners go to the IAAPA trade show in Orlando, Florida, than to any other US coin machine exhibition. Their motives, and what they found at this year's event in the Orlando Convention Center.(Showpiece)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2004... TO be completely honest, the motives of the troop of UK operators visiting the IAAPA show in Orlando were not entirely unselfish, if you look at the four days of the show the weather was warm and sunny for three of them--it rained on only one...

Globetrotter.(Brief Article)
January 1, 2004... EXTRAVAGANTLY dressed as always, Stuart Keane takes advantage of the motorised carts on offer to save his aching feet at the IAAPA show in Orlando. YOU can't walk down the aisles of a major trade show these days without bumping into a...

Show dairy.(Brief Article)(Illustration)(Calendar)
January 1, 2004... 2004 January 21-24: IMA 2004, NURNBERG FAIRGROUNDS, NURNBERG, GERMANY. Contact: Sandra Roth, Reed Exhibitions Duetschland GmbH, Volklinger Str. 4, Dusseldorf, 40219, Germany. Tel: +49 211 901 91134 Fax: +49 211 901 91127 e-mail:...