SPECIAL AWARDS
The following two awards were made at the editor’s discretion, after consideration of industry developments and feedback from various operators, players and suppliers.
Best Asian Supplier
Winner: Weike Gaming Technology
Weike Gaming Technology marked 2010 with a triple success. It was named an approved supplier of gaming equipment by the Singapore government after rigorous background checks on its management and business structure. It continued running its wide area systems business without a glitch, and widened its systems client base in Singapore and Malaysia. Then in December, the company’s subsidiary Weike (G) Management Macau Ltd took over the operation of 170 slot machines and electronic game terminals at one of the recently-opened Macau casinos. The machines had previously been operated by another outside party. This added to the 237 slots the Weike subsidiary also runs at another casino site in downtown Macau.
Regulatory compliance and market acceptance (when competing against major Western-based suppliers with well developed compliance and marketing support teams) are probably the biggest hurdles facing Asia-owned and -based manufacturers. Weike’s ability to build its market presence in the key gaming jurisdictions of Macau and Singapore through a combination of regulatory acumen and strategic partnership is what earns the company this award.
Editor’s Pick
Winner: Bally – Cash Spin
Bally’s Cash Spin product has already been a big hit in North America and may produce similar excitement in key Asian markets. Cash Spin utilises Bally’s U-Spin gesture-control play mechanic, which allows players to touch the screen and spin a virtual wheel, with a chance to win marketing dollars. “In the US, Cash Spin is a premium game title for Bally, which means it is placed and operated on a daily fee or participation basis,” Cath Burns, Managing Director and Vice President of Asia-Pacific for Bally Technologies, said in an interview published in last month’s issue of Inside Asian Gaming. Cash Spin has become the fastest selling premium game title in Bally’s history.
Honourable Mention: Walker Digital Gaming – Perfect Pay baccarat
Perfect Pay has faced some developmental challenges on its journey into Asian markets. But the product is a good example of the value of innovation. It’s what drives markets forward and provides fresh value for operators, players and investors. Any live table product holding the promise of live dealer gaming with the reporting and analytical capabilities of a slot accounting system is in our view worth the industry’s close attention.
