Barcrest Group, along with Games Media and The Global Draw, wholly owned subsidiaries of Scientific Games have announced a strategic relationship that will see the organisations working closely in a number of key markets.

MEI’s success in markets around the world has been built on performance. From the SC bill validator to the 9500 coin validator, MEI’s European business continues to grow. MEI management has seen the positive feedback from end users who have participated in the value-added trials (VAT’s). Thus, it has been a natural progression to offer VAT’s to end users in different markets and with alternative MEI products.

The Polish industry has been shaken by a new interpretation of the gaming law. The sector, worth PLN 10 billion, is on the verge of collapse according to domestic sources. The Ministry of Finance sent a letter to the 66 companies registered in the Polish gaming market informing them that there had been a change in the interpretation of the gaming regulations.

Sound Leisure is honoured to have signed a landmark agreement with the world’s premier distributor and restorer of classic and antique jukeboxes. Jukebox Gallery BV is based in the Netherlands and is a specialist agent for all types of modern and latter-day jukeboxes, with a global reputation.

Funworld presented itself for the first time as a multiple product company in Italy at the Rimini trade fair with new products and a fresh market presence. Funworld’s cooperation with Microgame in the skill games sector was also introduced.

Ritzio International, has revealed the scale of its German operations which have grown exponentially since the company entered the country last year.

Rizio opened its first gaming club in Bremen, in August 2007. Today Ritzio International manages 137 gaming locations in 11 states and 33 cities. The installation base of gaming machines in operation has reached 2,200 AWPs..

Paul Williams, the current Managing Director and COO of SEGA Amusements Europe (SAE), will assume the position of President and COO of in the United States. In this new, expanded role, Williams will oversee the entire Western arm of the company, effective immediately. “Under Paul’s leadership, SAE has grown consistently over the past years, despite poor market conditions in the industry,” said Tatsuyuki Miyazaki – Head of Sega Amusement Overseas Business Division.

The Gauselmann Group has opened two new Merkur Casinos in Slovakia under the brand name Merkur Spielo. The new Merkur Spielo in the city of Zilina (population 85,000) in the Northwest of Slovakia is located in a modern shopping centre of the Max chain and offers its patrons 24 multi-games, including Games Unlimited that was specially developed for the Slovak market by the sister company Merkur Gaming, 12 video lottery terminals as well as the multi-player Merkur Roulette on a total surface of 290 sqm.

Sound Leisure and Soundnet enjoyed phenomenal success at the recent Andalusian Trade Show in Malaga, Spain. The companies exhibited with their exclusive Spanish distributor Explotaciones Ocio y Diversion S.L. (E.O.D.) a family business based in Malaga specializing in the jukebox sector, with customers covering the whole of Spain.