SBG boosts Inspired results

UK: The Inspired Gaming Group, operator of the largest server-based gaming network in the UK, has reported positive annual financial results - its first since becoming AIM listed.

Group turnover for the 53 weeks ending September 30, 2006 were £171.1m, up 5.2 per cent from the same period a year earlier. A strong increase in its SBG business saw machine management revenues up 22 per cent and software sales up 69.2 per cent.

Group EBITDA was £21m, up from £19.2m for the same period previously. Strong SBG performance countered difficult trading conditions as a result of, among other things, the hot weather last year.

2006 was an "eventful year" for the group, said Inspired chairman Russell Hoyle, noting the AIM admission and increased rollout of server-based product particularly. New year business has also started strongly, with the renewal of its service contract with Gala Coral.

Mixed reception to London show layout

UK: The newly-redesigned ATEI/ICE show layouts were given a mixed reception as the show closed last night. As exhibitors streamed away from the show, the initial reactions varied between condemnatory to admiration.

It may take some time for views to form more conclusively, but the bottom line would appear to be that the show continues to attract large numbers of machine operators both in the street market and in international casinos.

The dedication of the downstairs at Earls Court into all gaming machines, resulted in complaints from many long-serving supporters of the show who were moved upstairs. The effect, however, was to make for a much less noisy ATEI, but the traffic pattern was definitely adversely affected.

Some of the upstairs-located companies reported perfectly satisfactory results while others were very unhappy. Universally condemned was the 'curtain' which separated ATEI from ICE.

Danoptra posts financial results

UK: Britain's second largest machine group, Danoptra, has filed figures for the financial year ended September 30, 2005.

They show good performances by manufacturers Bell Fruit Group and Mazooma against a weaker performance by the big machine operating sector at Gamestec which is, in terms of number of units in operation, second in the country.

Danoptra earnings before interest and tax was £10.7m (2004: £11.8m) on sales up to £201.9m from £191.5m in 2004. A large non-cash charge of £61.4m for goodwill impairment plus other non-cash and exceptional items produced a loss after tax of £82m.

The company said that the trading environment remained difficult in 2006 and the group is in talks with its finance providers. "These discussions are on-going and positive and Danoptra's shareholder remains very supportive."

New CEO Derek Lloyd said that the current financial year had started well and the group was ahead in all divisions.

Van Lishout exits Elaut, forms new company

BELGIUM: Herman van Lishout has left Elaut Group, where he was international sales manager, to form his own company, Gamebel, based at Bornem, Belgium.

He will devote most of his activities to promoting the multiplayer games of Gold Club of Slovenia with which he has an exclusive contract. Van Lishout had been at Elaut, the major crane games and multiplayer machine manufacturer, for over 12 years.

M&B appoints suppliers

UK: One of Britain's major breweries machine divisions has appointed no fewer than five smaller, independent, AWP operating companies as nominated suppliers to its locations.

M and B announced that South East Leisure, Premier Automatics, Septre, Claremont Automatics and Town and Country, had all joined the ranks of suppliers from whom its locations may take their payout machines.

Valiant launches at ATEI

UK: New company Valiant Leisure received a 'fantastic' response when it launched at ATEI this week.

The company, developed to identify and fill gaps in the coin-operated market, has come up with a new concept in children's entertainment with a coin-operated, interactive, prize-every-time machine.

Head of commercial development, Simon Le Jeune, was enthusiastic about the company's future and the response received at the show. He said: "We are dedicated to designing and manufacturing innovative machines and would like to thank everyone from the cleaners to the car park staff for making this launch possible."

Big Buck Hunter celebrates 5,000

US: The 5,000th Big Buck Hunter Pro - the game jointly developed by Play Mechanix, Betson and Raw Thrills - has now been shipped.

Introduced at the 2005 IAAPA show, the game has been received well by both operators and family entertainment centre owners worldwide over the past year and a half.

"With the much anticipated all-new tournament feature ready to launch in summer 2007, the popularity and earnings potential will soar even higher," a statement from Play Mechanix said.

ATEI gets the Xtra Factor

UK: Steve Brookstein, winner of the UK TV programme the X Factor, was on hand to help Crown Direct promote the new X Factor booth at ATEI this week.

The booth allows the user to select from a library of 250 karaoke tracks and perform and record the track within a sound proof booth.

Brookstein, the first person to win the X Factor in the UK, said: "I wouldn't be supporting this if I didn't think it was a good product. I have had a go myself and think it is a great way to encourage kids to start singing. It is something new and different and will be around for a long time."

Ladbrokes in deal with Sponsio

UK: Ladbrokes the bookmakers has bought its Scandinavian online gaming partner Sponsio in a deal worth up to £40m.

Under the terms of the deal, the UK betting firm said it would pay £36m for Sponsio plus an extra £4m if the company hits growth targets. Ladbrokes said the deal was part of its European growth strategy and would bolster its position in the Nordic region.

IGT records four per cent rise

US: International Game Technology has reported a rise in net income to US$121m for the company's fiscal first quarter ending December 31, 2006, compared with $120.6m a year ago.

The slot machine manufacturer's revenue for the quarter rose four per cent to over $642m, from $616.2m a year ago.

Camelot confident of retaining Lotto licence

UK: Lottery chief Dianne Thompson says she feels confident of Camelot's bid to secure the new UK National Lottery licence and that its proposal could not have been better.

In a recent interview with the Times newspaper, Thompson also refuted claims that the lottery process was a foregone conclusion, saying that it was a 'fair fight,' adding that the company had big plans for the future of the lottery should Camelot win.

Camelot currently faces competition from Australia's Tattersall's and Mumbai-based Sugal and Damani, while there has also been interest shown by Greek lottery operator Intralot.

Source: IGI