AB UK articles from November 2003

AB UK archives from November 2003

From the editor.(Brief Article)
November 1, 2003... I DON'T know if it's just me, but I find it quite hard to get my head around the idea of the seaside now that the nights are drawing in and the weather has taken a decided turn for the worse. I'm a city boy at heart and I only think of piers,...

Breath baited as S&N pubs spirited away in 2.5bn [pounds sterling] deal.(News)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2003... SPIRIT Amber has become the UK's largest managed pub operator with 2,500 outlets, following its acquisition of Scottish & Newcastle for 2.5bn [pounds sterling] last month. The bitterly contested battle for S&N's pubs has changed the face of...

Leisure Link honours suppliers.(News)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2003... THE UK's largest operator Leisure Link hosted its annual manufacturers conference and awards dinner at The Hilton, Warwick recently. More than 50 delegates attended, from the industry's leading games manufacturers, including Barcrest,...

Not our machine: Sega's Shoot Out with Nova.(News)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2003... NOVA'S much-publicised warning notice to anyone--even operators--using pool game SWPs that they may be infringing Nova's copyright or patent, brought a swift response from Sega Europe. Managing Director Paul Williams went on record...

AWP manufacturer Eurogames from Wellington, near Telford, Shropshire, has entered voluntary liquidation.(News)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2003... * AWP manufacturer Eurogames from Wellington, near Telford, Shropshire, has entered voluntary liquidation. The company, which specialised in new and rebuilt machines for the export market, is understood to have run into financial difficulties....

Cosmic Video Amusements in London has been appointed exclusive UK distributor.(News)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2003... * COSMIC Video Amusements in London has been appointed exclusive UK distributor for an online tournament version of the new Need for Speed video simulator car racing game from Global VR.

Inspired Broadcast Networks has announced the acquisition of Blue Multi Media, a technology provider in broadcast content for large screens.(UK News)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2003... * INSPIRED Broadcast Networks has announced the acquisition of Blue Multi Media, a technology provider in broadcast content for large screens. IBN is to bring broadband entertainment to the pub industry under the new partnership. BMM has...

UK-based Vektorlogic Ltd.(UK News)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2003... * UK-based Vektorlogic Ltd. Is planning to release a minimum of four new arcade video games in the first half of next year with the games ready for a preview at ATEI. At least two games will be released for the Neo-Geo platform and another two...

Sol Kerzner, the casinos tycoon, is planning to turn the Millennium Dome in London into a lavish gambling resort.(UK News)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2003... * SOL Kerzner, the casinos tycoon, is planning to turn the Millennium Dome in London into a lavish gambling resort. He has concluded a deal to build a 200m [pounds sterling] casino on the site, after reaching an outline agreement with the US...

Gamesoft bucks trend, starts building games.(UK News)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2003... ALAN Parker's Gamesoft company is moving to new premises in South Wales to begin manufacturing its own AWP machines. The two-year-old company has previously specialised in developing software for other AWP manufacturers and has a team of 10...

JNC takes Pole position for sales.(UK News)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2003... IAN Aston and Rod Haggett took their JNC Machine sales company all the way to Wroclaw in Poland in October for the Surexpo trade show. The Bristol-based company is a specialist in supplying second-hand equipment and base machines for...

Excel relocates to enable manufacturing flow.(UK News)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2003... EXCEL Leisure Products, the Stan McKenna-Dan Cullen partnership in Ashton-under-Lyne, Lancashire, is moving to new premises. The company, one of the country's leading pool table manufacturers and distributor of the Garlando Olympic football...

Gala Group Limited has recently completed a review of its Machine Supply Contract for 7,700 UK sited AWP, Jackpot Machines and Touchbet Roulette terminals.(UK News)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2003... * GALA Group Limited has recently completed a review of its Machine Supply Contract for 7,700 UK sited AWP, Jackpot Machines and Touchbet Roulette terminals. Gala has decided to retain Leisure Link for all businesses in England and Wales, and...

City analysts predict that Whitbread will be celebrating a 5.6 per cent rise in interim pre-tax profits to 132m [pounds sterling] when it reports today.(UK News)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2003... * CITY analysts predict that Whitbread will be celebrating a 5.6 per cent rise in interim pre-tax profits to 132m [pounds sterling] when it reports today. Investors want to know whether Whitbread plans to acquire Premier Lodges, which is part...

To coincide with the introduction of the Reformed Bingo Duty, new Bingo Duty Regulations were introduced on October 27.(UK News)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2003... * To coincide with the introduction of the Reformed Bingo Duty, new Bingo Duty Regulations were introduced on October 27. These regulate the activities of bingo promoters and the manner in which bingo duty should be accounted and paid for....

Slot suppliers team up to show united front.(UK News)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2003... SIX major suppliers to the UK slots industry are banding into a group to represent their sector in any negotiations with government in the run up to the release of a new Gaming Act. IGT, WMS, Atronic, Aristocrat, Bally Gaming and AGI are...

This could be an idea to raise attendances across the board, but in fact it's a publicity shoot to promote the Ball Master game from Sattori.(UK News)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2003... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Caption: THIS could be an idea to raise attendances across the board but in fact it's a publicly shoot to promote the Ball Master game from Sattori, which has recently placed one of its machines in the Namco...

Skill Ball Bingo marks its card at Preview show.(UK News)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2003... YET another success in the video SWP market looks to have been developed by the Peter Robinson-David Jones partnership at Nova. The duo, which has been outstandingly successful with its novel games, particularly SWPs for tournament use,...

JPM goes retro landing Crystal Maze licence.(UK News)
November 1, 2003... ONE of Britain's leading exponents of the SWP business, JPM, has secured the use of the popular Crystal Maze licence. The new model in the popular line of games that made its name in the 80s, will make its first appearance on the company's...

UDC ride Canadian Mad Wave.(UK News)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2003... DISTRIBUTOR UDC signed a deal with Canada's Triotech which gives the company exclusive rights to the UK market for the firm's PC platform simulator games. The first of these was on display at the London Preview the Mad Wave Motion Theatre,...

Deith Group sings a Looney Tune in London.(UK News)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2003... A PREDICTED strong seller in the UK market is the Tweetie Pie vendor, built by Topcodex of Spain and which Deith Group is handling exclusively. The vendor was displayed for the first time at the London Preview. Leon Deith told ab:UK: "I think...

Nat Solomon, former Chairman of Gala Group has become a specialist leisure advisor to the dedicated Leisure and Retail Sector Team at Livingstone Guarantee.(UK News)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2003... * NAT Solomon, former Chairman of Gala Group has become a specialist leisure advisor to the dedicated Leisure and Retail Sector Team at Livingstone Guarantee, the UK's oldest, unquoted corporate financial boutique. Solomon's most recent...

Phil Lamb has been appointed national accounts manager for Gamestec.(UK News)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2003... * Phil Lamb has been appointed national accounts manager for Gamestec, the leading amusement machines supplier to the licensed trade. Reporting to business development director Ian Legg, Phil's customers include Pubmaster, InnSpired and County...

Twelve thousand players took part in a national touchscreen pub games tournament held by Gamestec and run through 500 Whitbread-owned pub restaurants.(UK News)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2003... * Twelve thousand players took part in a national touchscreen pub games tournament held by Gamestec and run through 500 Whitbread-owned pub restaurants. They played for a top prize of a Ferrari for a day in a Spot the Difference game,...

Ardeco's Csaba Varadi has opened several new FEC and gaming arcades bringing his total to nine centres in Hungary.(International News)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2003... * ARDECO'S Csaba Varadi has opened several new FEC and gaming arcades bringing his total to nine centres in Hungary. Varadi opened his first arcade, New York, New York about four years ago which was later followed by the Grand Casino, a stand...

Funworld will exhibit betting terminals under a new brand name at ATEI 2004.(International News)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2003... * FUNWORLD will exhibit betting terminals under a new brand name at ATEI 2004. The Austrian touchscreen giant, famed for its philosophy of no gambling, no violence and no pornography on its Photo Play terminals, will keep the new brand separate...

Italian law changes hit tax bills and ruin show.(International News)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2003... THE Italian industry was in disarray during the Rome show last month after the government announced new technical and tax specifications only days before the show started. The changes to the proposed and long-awaited AWP legislation in the...

Greek back down on the cards.(International News)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2003... THE Greek Government, which has imposed a blanket ban on all forms of electronic gaming, may be showing signs of relenting. Faced with mounting criticism, both inside Greece and elsewhere in the EC, the government is becoming increasingly...

IT gives up in touchscreen technology battle.(International News)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2003... INCREDIBLE Technologies, the Chicago-based video game factory best known for its Golden Tee titles, has notified its distributors that the company will no longer pursue its long-standing touchscreen initiative, called Touch-IT. Gary...

NSM-Lowen finally sold as Novomatic wins bid.(International News)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2003... AUSTRIAN gaming manufacturer Novomatic has acquired NSM-Lowen Entertainment, Germany's second largest manufacturer of slot machines, fun games and amusement devices. The deal brings an end to several years of speculation over the future of...

'Final' AMOA dates announced.(International News)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2003... THE farce surrounding the scheduling of next year's AMOA show has finally come to rest. After one abortive change of scheduling, final dates for the 2004 AMOA Expo and Fun Expo have been set for September 30 to October 2, in the South Hall...

Mi casa is a new casa for Segasa and Morales.(International News)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2003... SPAIN'S Segasa manufacturing company which has been in financial trouble since last year, has moved to new premises. Owner Eddie Morales said that the company was selling the land and premises in Parla, 23km. south of Madrid. The new premises...

Belgian coin machine operator and distributor Victor Bosquin of Seeben, has entered the casino business.(International News)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2003... * BELGIAN coin machine operator and distributor Victor Bosquin of Seeben, has entered the casino business. He has formed a joint venture partnership with another operator, Circus Belgium, to buy the oldest casino in Europe, Casino Spa, The...

As part of Mexim's plan to introduce its Trendy touchscreen into the Eastern European market the game was shown at Hungary's Gamexpo show.(International News)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2003... * AS part of Mexim's plan to introduce its Trendy touchscreen into the Eastern European market the game was shown at Hungary's Gamexpo show. Mexim, a subsidiary of Germany's Stella, presented the game via EuroTrendy a company set up...

Positive news emerged from Japan last month, as both Sega and Namco revised their profit forecasts upward.(International News)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2003... * POSITIVE news emerged from Japan last month, as both Sega and Namco revised their profit forecasts upward. The moves are a reflection of the improving performance of both companies in the home games market.

Euromat has taken on a public relations company which specialises in lobbying the European parliament.(International News)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2003... * EUROMAT has taken on a public relations company which specialises in lobbying the European parliament. Euromat, the federation of European coin machine trade associations, has forged a relationship with Policy Action Ltd. from October 1.

Ireland's newest and largest casino is the Mayfair Club in the heart of Dublin's St. Stephens Green.(Casino News)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2003... * IRELAND'S newest and largest casino is the Mayfair Club in the heart of Dublin's St. Stephens Green. Mayfair's Ian Hall told ab:UK: "We had been running a casino in Dublin for a couple of years and then got the chance to acquire a...

Is Stanley Leisure up for sale?(Casino News)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2003... * IS Stanley Leisure up for sale? The casino group has denied that it is in talks with interested parties, but it is thought that Charterhouse Development, the private equity company which previously bought bookmaker Coral, is the leading...

iGGBA develops a code of conduct.(Casino News)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2003... AFTER a series of internal meetings, members of the Interactive Gaming, Gambling and Betting Association agreed to be bound by a newly-adopted code of conduct which is obligatory for all members operating i-gaming platforms. "This new code...

85 US venues take on Cashflow.(Casino News)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2003... THIS year's G2E in Las Vegas marked the first anniversary of the US launch of MEI's revolutionary Cashflow bill acceptor into the gaming market. During its first year more than 85 casinos have tested and specified the unit on all new...

Bellringer leaving GamCare.(Casino News)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2003... PAUL Bellringer, CEO of gambling charity GamCare, is to leave the organisation at the end of the year. Mr. Bellringer, who was instrumental in founding GamCare and has led the charity since its beginning in 1997, said: "I have thoroughly...

Perfect opportunity.(Casino News)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2003... G2E in Las Vegas provided a perfect opportunity For electronic controls manufacturer Heber to present its continually growing Pluto and Firefly ranges. The company exhibited the Pluto 5 Enhanced Development Kit and the Firefly X10...

The next generation.(Casino News)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2003... AS a part of its ongoing plan to formulate a strong portfolio of slots and slot-related products, TCS John Huxley struck a deal with Next Generation Entertainment. An agreement for the distribution of land-based games in the UK and other...

Sky covers casino golf.(Casino News)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2003... NAPOLEON'S Leisure, the UK's leading independent casino operator, recently drew 140 Chinese golfing fanatics from across the UK to Yorkshire. The operator, which already hosts an annual golf event at the prestigious Belfry, rolled out the...

Industry raises more funds.(Casino News)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2003... THE second British Casino Golf Championship succeeded in raising even more funds for powered wheelchairs for disabled children while providing an enjoyable day's golf at Wentworth. Enough funds were raised for nine wheelchairs, which will...

Online casinos may return to the Isle of Man. Five island-based casinos were set up there but subsequently closed down, citing the island's regulatory standards as the cause.(Casino News)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2003... * ONLINE casinos may return to the Isle of Man. Five island-based casinos were set up there but subsequently closed down, citing the island's regulatory standards as the cause. Now the island's government has appointed an "e-gaming ambassador"...

Irish slot machine company Kimble exhibited at the Entertainment Industry show in Kiev, Ukraine, for the first time in September.(Casino News)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2003... * IRISH slot machine company Kimble exhibited at the Entertainment Industry show in Kiev, Ukraine, for the first time in September. During the last few years Kimble has conducted intensive market research in Ukraine, establishing business...

Cash and grab.(Spares)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2003... HANCO ATM Systems, the UK's largest independent supplier of cash machines, has strengthened its sales team with the appointment of a new national sales manager. Rob Grouse joins the Milton Keynes based company with more than 15 years'...

Stroud team.(Spares)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2003... HEBER Limited has announced two additions to its head office team in Chalford, Stroud. Mark Walby joins as IT assistant engineer and with over four years experience within an IT role, brings with him extensive knowledge to ensure that...

Lock stocks at Eurocoin.(Spares)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2003... EUROCOIN in its role as the exclusive European gaming sales and service centre for the Medeco lock range, has launched a new cam lock system for high security applications called the Duracam II. In an innovative new design,the Duracam II...

New staff for Mikohn Europe.(Spares)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2003... NETHERLANDS-based spares specialist Mikohn Europe BV has announced the appointment of Iain London as its new sales manager. London has worked in the ginning industry for the last 12 years as both an operator and supplier. Starting at Sun...

Forge Europa adds further to its display team.(Spares)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2003... THE latest product from LED specialist, Forge Europa is a 50mm. 4x4 RGB display, specifically targeted at the growing indoor and outdoor full colour graphics displays market. These rugged devices have been designed to high levels of...

Golden Tee 2004 Extra, Incredible Technologies.(New Products)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2003... THE 2004 Extra is an add-on to the IT Golden Tee golf tournament game and provides two extra courses for the competitive play. Cedar Meadows and Shadow Swamp, both existing courses, now add to the choices in the game and both are available in...

Party Games Queue, Astra games.(New Products)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2003... THE star attraction on Astra's stand at last month's Preview was the latest upgrade to the Party Games product, Party Games Queue. The new software adds an extra dimension to the Party Games top feature, by displaying a queue of game characters...

Fusion/Merit-thon, Merit.(New Products)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2003... MERIT is replacing its hardware with Fusion, which it launched at the AMOA show in Las Vegas in September and reviewed at the London Preview last month. The new cabinet is the first upright machine with a 19ins. flat touchscreen, making the...

Pac-Man Cranes, Namco.(New Products)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2003... THE new Namco Pac Crane range features all the visual appeal, sound effects and branding of the world's most recognisable video game character, Par-Man. Both the pink-liveried Pac Candy (sweet vendor) and striking yellow Pac Grab Jnr....

Quake, Red Gaming.(New Products)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2003... THIS new multi-stake AWP from Red Gaming features a dramatic earthquake theme. The multi-stake format offers operators and players maximum flexibility in stake and prize options, ideal for changeable market conditions. Quake has been designed...

Frantic Fruits (two-player), Cromptons.(New Products)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2003... FRANTIC Fruits, the novelty belt game combining simple, coin-action game play with hi-tech AWP features, has been redesigned and relaunched by Cromptons. The new two-player incarnation, now available in 25 [pounds sterling]/20p and 5 [pounds...

Crazy Fruits sit-down, Bell-Fruit Games.(New Products)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2003... TO satisfy demand for the arena-style product, Bell-Fruit Games has developed a version compact enough to suit any location. The evergreen Crazy Fruits is now available as a single sit down unit, complete with all the features from the...

Vamp It Up, Barcrest Games.(New Products)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2003... VAMP It Up is Barcrest Games' latest AWP. Designed specifically for pubs, arcades and LBOs, Vamp It Up features a fun "transvestite Dracula" character at the centre of the game. Inspired by the popular Hellraiser game, Vamp it Up offers players...

Eight player Monopoly, Jumping Bean.(New Products)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2003... JUMPING Bean will launch the eight-player Monopoly at ATEI but showed the game for the first time aptly at the Preview. The game can be operated on 2p or 10p, and Jumping Bean hopes it will be successful in the arcade sector. Jumping Bean also...

Skill Ball Bingo, Nova Productions.(New Products)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2003... SKILL Ball Bingo is a game of skill played against the clock. There are instant cash prizes for winners of one line, two lines and a full house. New cards can be downloaded daily. Big prize tournaments are also organised throughout the year to...

Air Strike, Tsunami Visual Technologies.(New Products)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2003... TSUNAMI Visual Technologies, Inc., has released Air Strike for the TsuMo fully interactive motion based multi-game system. The background of the game is as follows; players must undergo a secret operation to destroy terrorist bases. They have...

Up, Up & Away, ICE.(New Products)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2003... A VENDOR with a difference and plenty of appeal for young children, Up Up & Away dispenses helium gas-filled balloons with minimum fuss and with a clockwork method designed to entertain and keep young children in suspense. Insert coin, pick...

Need For Speed, Global VR.(New Products)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2003... A COMPACT, high octane, street racing sit-down driver from the Global VR stable, Need For Speed features fully licensed cars including a BMW Z8, Jaguar XKR Coupe, Chevrolet Corvette Z06, Dodge Viper GTS, Ford Mustang SVT Cobra R and Lotus...

Wheel-A-Win, Cromptons Leisure International.(New Products)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2003... THE 25 [pounds sterling] all-cash coin pusher, Wheel-A-Win was unveiled by Cromptons at Preview. An innovative combination of coin-pusher, reel game and top-sign spinning Jackpot feature, Wheel-A-Win is housed in a sculptured two player cabinet...

The Rat Pack, Vivid Gaming.(New Products)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2003... VIVID'S newest AWP, The Rat Pack, is the latest in a successful line of card-based games which includes the phenomenally successful Card Shark Club. The game has been designed to amuse players with its quirky Rat Pack theme reminiscent of Vegas...

The Last Bounty Hunter, Global VR/Brent.(New Products)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2003... IN The Last Bounty Hunter, players hunt down four notorious outlaws and bring them to justice. The game features full-motion live-action video, player selectable difficulty, and exciting quick draw game play events. Players are especially drawn...

Redeeming features.(Operator's Opinion)
November 1, 2003... In the new gaming act, the DCMS wants to set the maximum stake and prize limits on redemption machines at 10p and 5 [pounds sterling], but no-one seems to be able to come up with a coherent reason why. Here in the first of an occasional column...

Sod's law: seaside operators are threatened on a number of sides by the new Gaming Act. With the latest developments about minimum size restrictions for casinos, it looks like their options will be limited even further. Regular columnist David Snook takes a look at the situation ...(Snookered)
November 1, 2003... I SUPPOSE it's called Sod's Law, that frustrating element of fate which tends to muck up the best laid plans. In this respect I allude to all those seaside arcade owners who not unreasonably thought "why not me?" when Budd talked of 2,000...

Club scout: 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 ... Club machines.(Sales Pitch)
November 1, 2003... Game: Club Jackpot Junction From: Bell-Fruit Games Pitcher: Vanda Osinska BELL-Fruit Games has an enviable reputation for producing successful machines to suit the broad spectrum of environments and player types within the club...

Speakers' corner: on the eve of this year's Preview show in London, InterGame Conferences held an event to give the industry a chance to discuss the main points of the potential new Gaming Act before the scrutiny copies are released. ab:UK was there ...(Conference)
November 1, 2003... THE Future of British Gambling Conference held in London last month allowed the industry a chance to discuss the latest developments of the UK gaming law, before its debut in parliament this month. It also gave delegates the first...

Seaside special: Jimmy Godden, the so-called 'King of the South Coast' has a lifetime's experience operating seaside arcades. David Snook met up with him to discuss the changes that will affect the sector when the new gaming bill takes effect, and the threat posed unless the legislation changes before it is passed into law.(Interview)(Cover Story)
November 1, 2003... SAYING it like it is, is a brand of diplomacy that should only be used with caution. In Jimmy Godden's case, the sword of truth becomes a most positive weapon, one he brandishes with considerable skill. He uses it to great effect when...

Preview reviewed: the Preview is growing in importance in the UK show calendar after a number of years in the wilderness. Rowan McIntyre visited the Novotel in Hammersmith to bring you the lowdown on this year's event ...(Showpiece)
November 1, 2003... THERE was a time, not that long ago, when people were beginning to wonder just how much longer the Preview show could keep going. Attendances were dropping, exhibitors were pulling out, the Novotel in Hammersmith looked like it was about to...

Show far ... no good: the Italians have been hoping for legalised soft gaming for some time, and now there is hope on the horizon. The introduction of the new law has been troubled, however, and the changes to the legislation made just before the show in Rome didn't help matters.(Showpiece)
November 1, 2003... THE Italian market is an infuriating place at the moment, but as a famous writer once said the Italians' amazing ability to cope with disaster is matched only by their inability to cope with success. This was demonstrated recently when, after...

Globetrotter.
November 1, 2003... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Caption: THE Future of British Gambling Conference was a great success, and gave Globetrotter a chance to rub shoulders with the movers and shakers in the corridors of power. Here he catches a moment with new...

Show diary.(Calendar)
November 1, 2003... November 19-22: IAAPA CONVENTION & TRADE SHOW, ORANGE COUNTY CONVENTION CENTER, ORLANDO, FLORIDA, US. Contact: IAAPA, 1448 Duke St., Alexandria, Virginia 22314, US. Tel: +1 703 836 4800 Fax: +1 703 836 4801 e-mail:...