Casinos Austria International Chooses GPI for New ‘Viage’ Complex in Brussels
Entertainment and gaming center to utilize RFID in casino currency
LAS VEGAS, NV – (March XX, 2009) – Gaming Partners International Corporation (NASDAQ: GPIC), a leading provider of casino currency and table game equipment worldwide, announced the completion of delivery of its casino currency to the Viage entertainment and gaming complex. With this delivery, GPI provided over 70,300 casino chips and plaques to the casino for its opening on March 5, 2010. The chips and plaques, which are from the Company’s Bourgogne & Grasset (B&G) line of casino currency products, were fitted with 125 KHz RFID (radio frequency identification device) micro chips.
The RFID technology offered with all GPI’s lines of casino currency allows casinos to verify the authenticity and value of each chip, plaque and jeton almost instantly, reducing the possibility of counterfeits, staff pilferage or errors in casino currency counts. This technology enables casinos to track individual chips, plaques or jetons throughout the gaming floor and at the cashier’s desks and vaults. Once fitted with specialized readers and software, each casino can follow payments, fills and credits, table drops, tips, and win and losses per table at any time of the day. GPI’s low-frequency RFID chips are compatible with special player tracking hardware and software that allow for accurate tracking of play data from tables so casinos can follow player bets and accurately rate and reward players.
The Viage complex, formerly Grand Casino Brussels, is owned and operated by Casinos Austria International and is located in Anspach Center in Brussels, Belgium. The Viage complex will feature restaurants and shopping, an events center and theater, a hotel and apartments, as well as the casino itself. GPI is providing the casino chips and plaques for its 35 gaming tables.
“We decided to go for an RFID chipset when we moved into Viage, our permanent site in Brussels, because of the extra security that the chips offered, and the potential of the added features,” said Michael Baker, Table Games Manager for Viage. “We liked the fact that we could choose from the various applications the chips provide, and opt to roll out other options in the future as business needs and technology evolves.”
This order marks the first Casinos Austria International property to open with GPI’s RFID currency products. GPI has previously supplied casino chips to many other casino properties in the Austrian group, the latest one being Grand Casino Beograd in Serbia.
“We are delighted that the Casinos Austria group has chosen GPI once again to provide its casino currency for their newest property, Viage,” said Greg Gronau, President and CEO for GPI. “Their decision to utilize RFID in their chips and plaques highlights the growing importance of security and tracking in casino currency in casino properties throughout the world.”
GPI’s line of B&G casino currency products include high-quality chips, plaques and jetons, all available with a variety of security features and customization options. Manufactured in a secure, high-capacity production facility in France, B&G products have been used in casinos all over the world since 1925.
About Gaming Partners International Corporation
GPI manufactures and supplies casino table games and equipment to licensed casinos worldwide. Under the brand names of Paulson®, Bourgogne et Grasset® and Bud Jones®, GPI provides casino currency such as chips, plaques and jetons; gaming furniture and accessories; table layouts; playing cards; dice; and roulette wheels. GPI pioneered the use of security features such as RFID technology in casino chips, and provides RFID solutions including chips, readers and displays. Headquartered in Las Vegas, Nevada, GPI also has offices Beaune, France; San Luis Rio Colorado, Mexico; Atlantic City, New Jersey, and Gulfport Mississippi. For additional information, please visit http://www.gpigaming.com/.
