Paltronics aims to be a one-stop shop for casino management systems—not just an expert in jackpots, bonuses and gaming media
When a slot jackpot is triggered on a casino floor, it’s a memorable experience for all. But behind the shouts of delight from players, onlookers and the bells and whistles, the hard effort required for this seamless operation is often the work of the Paltronics One Link System.
Paltronics Macau Ltd has an interesting and a uniquely challenging job—to offer a unified system for bonusing, jackpots and media management across Asian slot floors. That unified system must delight the operators, the slot manufacturers, the players and—crucially—satisfy the needs of the regulators.
The core business of Paltronics has been managing bonusing, jackpots and casino media, but now the company is taking the next logical step to offer a complete Casino Management System (CMS). Paltronics says the demand for it to supply such a product has been driven by the operators themselves. Inside Asian Gaming spoke to Stephen Cowan, Managing Director, Paltronics Australasia, and Kylie Rogers, Regional Sales Manager, Paltronics Macau Ltd, about jackpots, bright lights, and even brighter ideas for adding value to casino floors.
IAG: What new products are Paltronics launching or developing in Asian markets?
Kylie Rogers: My customers are pleased we are finally coming out with a complete system which incorporates casino accounting, cage, player tracking, full slot reporting and monitoring, progressive/mystery jackpots, bonusing and a complete user friendly media system. In addition, Galaxy Macau have installed our One LinkR 3E Slot System and One Link 3E Media System, which is a first for the Asian market.
What is the difference between the new 3E system and your existing systems installed at The Venetian Macao, MGM Macau and Wynn Macau?
KR: We have breathed new life into how you manage bonusing, slots and media. Firstly with slots we have eliminated jackpot controllers, so now all changes are made from the host and sent directly to the networked slots. This alone reduces the initial outlay and significantly reduces the installation time.
One Link 3E Media System is not only more powerful but also operator friendly. It uses a drag-and-drop interface with the ability to preview actions in real time right at your desktop. It’s so simple even I can use it. One Link 3E Media has eliminated the need for the operator to have knowledge of XML programming language].
Stephen Cowan: Resources are no longer tied up so much in process, and more in the actual business of creating fresh value—i.e. more effective marketing.
When you were talking to management at Galaxy, what were they really excited about?
SC: The quality of the name and the brand in the market place. Everybody knows how stable Paltronics products are and that they perform. They were also impressed by the depth of the variations available in the jackpot engine. For example, in Marina Bay Sands [in Singapore] we have 150-200 levels operating through just one system. Having worked with Galaxy management previously on other projects, they purchased our 3E Slots and Media System without hesitation.
Please explain more about your bonusing products
SC: The Paltronics Bonusing system, unlike others, collects the bonus points live and not just at the end of the day. So if someone is promoted from gold to platinum, you as the operator are instantly informed. Operators can reward their players with a message in real time saying ‘Congratulations, you have just advanced to being a platinum member’. It also allows the operator to reward their player an extra spin to play for say another 100 credits, just to name one of the many options now available within the 3E System.
Is there any appetite at the moment in Macau for a wide area jackpot across multiple operators?
SC: We get nibbles of requests that indicate there’s an interest. But to get to the stage where they understand the complexities of the system and the security in the system for each venue so that the data is not shared, and that they understand that the player fairness and accuracy of accounting is correct—and it is—that’s where we need to be. Once they can sit down and be shown the security of the system, that will reassure people.
I understand that many slot manufacturers have chosen Paltronics to run their premium jackpot product.
KR: Yes, correct. Thanks to our strong relationships and proven product you can find our controllers running almost all slot manufacturers’ jackpots. This is such an exciting time for us. I am really looking forward to this year’s G2E Asia for the unveiling of our next generation of products.
Why have your jackpot systems been successful?
SC: Security, stability and reputation. We’ve been in the Macau market for the past eight years.
From our strong reputation in the Australian market we were asked to provide Sands Macao with One Link Slots and Media. Word of mouth travelled quickly throughout the region, but ultimately the product spoke for itself and we were then successful in placing our products in MGM Macau, Wynn Macau, The Venetian Macao and of course now the recently opened Galaxy Macau. Our products can now be found across the Asian region. We’re very honest about what our systems can do. If we can’t do something we will say so. We are willing to be flexible and work around an issue, but we’re not afraid to say if something can’t technically be done—even if that means we don’t win the contract. I think we’ve got a good reputation in that regard.
