Casino Technology is nearing amilestone in its evolution. Fromits base in Bulgaria, the EasternEuropean supplier of basic video

slots and electronic roulettes has built a globalpresence that reaches into some 50 markets. Thefirm’s expanded product range now includesbranded slot games presented in custom-de-signed cabinets, and delivery systems for server-based and online gaming.This latest version of Casino Technology isgeared to compete in multiple sectors of gaming,from resort casinos and state-of-the-art arcadesto home computers and mobile devices.

One of the cornerstones of this new structure is the branded “PenthouseSlots” product. The licensing deal with Penthouse magazine was first announcedin London in January 2011. Later that year, the first Penthouse Slots cabinet—aglowing, pink-lit Sensa Plus cabinet topped with a pair of very big, very redlips—and the first game concepts were on display at G2E.

The up-gunned Sensa Plus cabinet model used by the Penthouse Slots prod-uct has since been dubbed the Sensational Plus. It is custom-tooled and speciallydesigned to create unique presentation and appeal on the casino floor. Besides thedesign, a new solution provides a “smart” technology environment for the player,recognizing the activity around the slots by built-in sensors and—with a seduc-tive voice, audio, graphic features and lighting—gently leading the player towardthe next steps in the game.

Now, with the machines and three initial games all GLI-certified, CasinoTechnology has completed the first official installation of Penthouse Slots at acasino in Bulgaria. More installations in other countries—some already sched-uled, some still in the planning phase—are anticipated before the start of G2E.

The increasingly international push, and the rollout of the Penthouse Slotsproduct, is being overseen by CasinoTechnology Vice President Rossi McKee.

“The first Penthouse Slots installa-tion was in Bulgaria, in the huge casinoFenix at Kulata on the border withGreece,” says McKee. “The games are en-joying a lot of interest and doing verywell. Now, we are expecting placement ina casino in Panama in early Septemberand in a casino in Peru shortly afterthat.”

At the Peru Gaming Show in August,Penthouse Slots were presented publiclyto casino operators in that market for the

first time. According to McKee, the slots generated a lot of interest. Mean-while, in other important markets around the world, the Penthouse-brandedproduct is making new inroads.

“We are working on two other installations that are coming up soon,”says McKee. “We are securing an installation in the Philippines. And we areworking on installations at Pechanga Casino in the United States, in Califor-nia. That will hopefully be prior to G2E.”

The Penthouse Slots are being offered primarily in banks of four or sixmachines. Aside from the three originally approved games—“UmbrellaDance,” “Butterfly Dreaming” and “Wild Temptations”—two new games forthe series, “Blazing Guitars” and “Foxy Wash,” are awaiting GLI approval.

“The new game concepts are very different from the first three, as youwill see at G2E,” McKee says. “We will be doing some special promotionsaround these new games. We will also offer multi-game packages for certainmarkets.”

Also at G2E, Casino Technology will launch a second style of cabinet forthe Penthouse Slots product.

“We have come up with a new vision for the Penthouse Slots cabinet,which is a bit different and provides another visual experience,” says McKee.“The new cabinet, which will be launched at G2E, features improved soundquality and other aspects.”

Having two visually different cabinets will give operators who choose thesix-machine installation the option of having a “three-and-three” configura-tion, says McKee.

The next system development for the Penthouse Slots is a multi-level pro-gressive jackpot, expected to be ready for placement by the end of 2012. An-other round of new features for the cabinets and increased interactivity in thegames are planned for 2013.

“The new games are going to be i-Penthouse Slots games,” says McKee,adding that more information on exactly what that implies will be available atthe London show in January.

60 Global Gaming Business • October 2012

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“Right now we are in an active mode. We arelooking to approach different territories and secure more and better positioning in our markets there. We are also looking for additional professionals, on a local level, whocan join our team and bring their knowledgeand expertise of the local-specific market.”

—Rossi McKeeVice President, Casino Technology

TeChnologyBreakThroughCASINO TECHNOLOGY EXPANDS KEY BRANDS AND MAKES INROADS IN THE AMERICAS

Casino TeChnology

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SERVER-BASED AND ONLINE GAMINGAbout two years ago, Casino Technology began to work on developing products forinteractive gaming. Now, the supplier is able to provide its catalog of games to onlinecasino operators and to land-based venues via its own server-based gaming system.

“Alongside traditional land-based casinos, the trend today and new opportuni-ties that will be available in the future involve mobile gaming, server-based gamingand online gaming played from home,” says McKee. “The server-based system andthe remote game server can be seen as two technologies that complement each other.”

Certain titles on the remote game server are available to the land-based marketby means of the server-based system. The full range of titles on the server is accessiblefor the online market.

“Through a simple API, the remote games server can be integrated with anyother third-party provider’s online system that is already deployed,” says McKee.“So, a very simple and quick integration allows aprovider to access our games and add them to thosethey are already running, expanding their library.”

McKee says the architecture is unique in that asingle system can support multiple platforms,whether it be server-based gaming in a physical venueor gaming by means of a mobile device or homecomputer. Casino Technology has applied to patentthe concept.

The first installation of the server-based system isbeing arranged for multiple locations in Bulgaria, andis anticipated in a few of these for early September.

“The Bulgarian market is a little different,” saysMcKee. “There are a lot of locations belonging to anumber of different brands, and we are working witha few of these brands.”

The gaming regulation that allows this kind ofsystem only came into effect in Bulgaria at the startof June. To get a jump on the online gaming aspectof the product, Casino Technology had already ap-plied for and received a license from the jurisdictionof Alderney. Ironically, the Alderney license was ob-tained only days before the Bulgarian law was en-acted.

EXPANDING WORLDWIDECasino Technology is looking to grow over the nextfew years, both within its base region of southeasternEurope and in its foreign markets around the world.To help with this task, says McKee, the company willbe looking for talent.

“Right now we are in an active mode,” saysMcKee. “We are looking to approach different terri-tories and secure more and better positioning in ourmarkets there. We are also looking for additional pro-fessionals, on a local level, who can join our team andbring their knowledge and expertise of the local-spe-cific market.”

In Europe, those local markets include Italy andHungary, and perhaps Greece.

Latin America has also been a main focus, andjust recently Casino Technology celebrated the fifthanniversary of its Peru office. Aside from the plannedPenthouse Slots installation, the Peruvian market hasseen the launch of the successful Gamopolis multi-game platform in recent months. With casinos there

gloBal gaMes 2012

having anywhere from 200 to 2,000 slots, the opportunities are obvious. Andif Peru goes ahead with server-based gaming, as is anticipated, Casino Tech-nology will be there with that product as well.

For G2E, Casino Technology will be featuring the launch of its new Pent-house Slots game packages and the new Penthouse Slots cabinet.

“Most of the products that we will display at G2E will be tailored mainlyto the U.S. market,” says McKee. “Some of our newest products we will notbe showing until London in January. At the beginning of next year we arecoming out with several new lines of cabinets and products that will be basedon multi-game concepts we are currently developing.

“We are also working on another licensed and branded game that we willlaunch in London.”—Rich Geller

www.ggbmagazine.com • October 2012