Neil Moir from market-leading server-based gaming company The Global Draw spoke to Euroslot recently on the rise (and rise) of the VLT.

The rise of VLTs

Founded in the late 1990’s, The Global Draw, now a subsidiary of Scientific Games Corporation, has always been involved in networked gaming. We introduced network gaming in the U.K. by pioneering what were then known as Fixed Odds Betting Terminals. In terms of technology, these devices were similar to what became known as VLTs in the rest of the world.

Italy has become Europe’s biggest gaming market, with VLTs the icing on the revenue cake. Other countries can now learn from the model it provides – as well as the challenges it has faced, reports Jon Bruford.

It’s official: Italy is now the number one gaming market in Europe, with a combination of AWPs, casinos, online poker and video lottery terminals (VLTs) all creating staggering profits for licence holders and increased revenue for the government. And, if reports are to be believed, for organised crime.

Ladbrokes is to pilot Facewatch, the online crime reporting and image sharing system, in all its London betting shops.

Facewatch, which is used by the police, business associations, shopping centres and retailers across the capital, is believed to reduce crime by improving detection and conviction rates and acting as a strong deterrent to would-be thieves and shoplifters, according to its creators.

E-Service’s managing director accepts he’ll be a “lifer” in the amusements business, but worries about excessive regulation.

How did you first get involved with the amusements industry?

I drifted into the industry some 24 years ago, taking a position servicing credit card debiting systems with Powerhouse Payment Technologies.

Northern Racing has concluded a deal with Betfred as the provider of pool betting services and on-course betting shops at all of its UK racecourses.

The deal secures the future of on-course pool betting through Betfred’s Totepool brand for customers at Bath, Brighton, Chepstow, Fontwell Park, Ffos Las, Great Yarmouth, Hereford, Newcastle, Sedgefield and Uttoxeter.

British bookmakers are suffering from rising costs and the VAT regime, despite portrayals of a highly profitable business, Global Betting and Gaming Consultants has charged.

The consultancy firm argues: "The media has had a lot of fun with the UK’s bookmakers recently. They have been blamed for locating shops in areas that exploit the poor; horse racing has complained bookmakers are not paying enough; the government wants to tax the punter at the point of consumption; and B2 machines [FOBTs] come in for endless criticism. The onslaught has been relentless.

There was dismay across the board from Britain’s amusement and gaming industry at the announcement of the Machine Games Duty (MGD) rates which come into effect next year.

From February, MGD will impose a gross profits tax of 20 percent on most gaming machines, with a lower level of five percent applying only to those with maximum stakes of 10p and maximum prizes of £8. The industry had lobbied for rates of around 15 and three percent.

Digital Centre showed its new concepts for photo booths at the recent Amusement Expo run by AAMA and AMOA in Las Vegas.

Visitors were able to experience hands-on photo booth functionality such as wide photo strips, video message recording, social networking tools, and customised software.

Said CEO Josep Tarres: “We thoroughly enjoyed presenting our new photo booth models equipped with the ultimate in technology and design.

The independent National Endowment for the Arts (NEA), which supports artists and arts organisations, will classify video games as an art form in fiscal 2012. Taxpayer funding, typically between $10,000 and $200,000, will be granted to a project next year.

The new NEA criteria have expanded The Arts in Media as a grant category, replacing Arts on Radio and Television.

Apple Industries/Face Place announced today that it will hold an Open House to showcase its new “Face Place Wedding Photo Booth”. The Open House will be held at the Apple/Face Place headquarters, in Greenvale, NY on March 6, 2012 from 11:00am-3:00pm.

Warren Friss, President of Apple/Face Place stated “we’ve gotten a tremendous response from event planners that have already seen the Face Place Wedding Booth. Photo booths have become an absolute craze at weddings. Now event planners can offer their customers something that is elegant, includes the latest technology and designed just for weddings”.