Casino Life Issue 124 Volume 14

Volume 14 Issue 124

DURABLE, RELIABLE, ADAPTABLE TOUCH TECHNOLOGY Call us on +44 0191 414 5511 or visit zytronic.co.uk to find out more

Publisher: Peter White

Tel: +44 (0) 1892 740869

Mob: +44 (0) 7973 273714 pwhite@ace123.com

Editorial: Editor in Chief: Glyn Thomas Mob: +44 (0) 7727 969 299 glyn@ace123.com Features Editor:

Damien Connelly

Editor’s Page Welcome to Casino Life...

It’s that time of year for reflection – from contemplation as to whether you were on the naughty or nice list to taking stock and considering changes. Change is the one thing the casino industry is guar-anteed to give you in spades – to mix metaphors. There are changes in hours and customers, suppli-ers and technology. But one thing does remain the same from all of the people we have met in the year and that’s a single-minded passion for “the job” – from the exhibition floor to the gaming floor. So many people

dconnelly@ace123.com

move companies; change position, but the unwavering magnetism of

Associate Editor Asia: Bill Healey

“casino life” re-mains constant.

Associate Editor North America

Club with JJ Woods– a foray we’ve been promising ourselves for some

dmckee@ace123.com

and chats to David McKee about the environmental impact of casino

bill@ace123.com David Mckee

Special Assignment Correspondent: Sophie Behan

sophielbehan@gmail.com International Casino & Gaming Correspondent:

Robert Ambrose

r.ambrose16@gmail.com Technology Correspondent: Rebecca Green

rebecca@ace123.com

Production: Designer: Stewart Hyde

stewart@totaldesignworks.com

This edition sees us doubling down in Dublin at the Carlton Casino

time. Las Vegas entrepreneur Rosalie Bingham is a woman on a mission

waste.

Next up I talk to Ian Crosby, Sales and Marketing Director, Zytronic, about how the company’s touch responsive products can bring true immersive entertainment to manufacturers. That philosophy is a watchword for Scientific Games who continue to consolidate their brands and offer new products for the casino floor – our man in Vegas, Victor H Royer explored more.

Aristocrat are on the move and have shifted their position at ICE 2019 – we find out more. Meanwhile David Clifton of Clifton Davies Consultancy Limited glances back at the key issues in the UK gambling industry in 2018 and looks forward to what may yet come in 2019.

Damien Connelly brings us to a close and adds a new word for your monthly management report – Servicescape. Use it sparingly.

From all of us at Ace Publishing have a great 2019. Please drop by and see us at ICE: on ND6 C and ND6 D

www.totaldesignworks.com

Subscriptions: Helen Holmes subs@ace123.com

Web & IT: Sudip Banjeree sb@ace123.com

Glyn Thomas Editor in Chief

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Contents 3

Editors page

6 Green Machine Las Vegas entrepreneur Rosalie Bingham chats to David McKee

10 Sensing Capability Ian Crosby, Sales and Marketing Director, Zytronic, talks to Glyn Thomas

14 Scientific Games – A Future Vision

By Victor H. Royer

22 Aristocrat to get closer inside ICE 2019 24 Asia Tech Live 2018 Review

By Bill Healey

27 UK casinos – Glancing back and looking forward

By David Clifton, Clifton Davies Consultancy Limited 30 The Last Word by Damien Connelly Editorial Policy: The views and opinions expressed in Casino Life remain principally the views of contributors and do not necessarily reflect those of the editor or publishers.

The publishers wish to avoid inaccuracies and, whilst every precaution has been taken to ensure that information contained in this publication is accurate, no liability is accepted by the editor or publishers for errors or omissions, however caused.

Unless otherwise stated, articles appearing in this publication remain the copyright of the publishers and may not be reproduced in any form without the publisher’s written consent.

Printed in the UK by MPC Ltd.

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Green Machine

R

Las Vegas entrepreneur Rosalie Bingham chats to David McKee

osalie Bingham is a woman on a mission. The Las Vegas entrepreneur has seen a problem — casino waste — and wants to turn it into an opportunity: clean power. The engine for this transformation would be something she calls

“the Green Machine.” Technically, what it is in an anaerobic digestion system. The concept of anaerobic digestion is hardly new. It is defined as “a collection of processes by which microorganisms break down biodegradable material in the absence of oxygen.” The Assyrians of tenth century B.C. used biogas to warm up their bathwater. The first “green machine” was built by British colonials in Bombay, in 1859. Perhaps distrusting the safety of the machine, they built it on the grounds of a leper colony.

Fast-forward to the twenty-first century and Las Vegas casinos have more waste than they can handle, let alone recycle. So it goes into the landfill. Bingham explains how — in tandem with space-efficient vertical farms, which are exactly what they sound like — a cycle can be created whereby casino waste goes into the Green Machine, and emerges as gas to power buses and heat buildings, or as water to irrigate those vertical farms. It’s early days yet for the Green Machine but it shows more promise than just

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dumping waste product in a landfill.

What’s your family’s history in Nevada?

I’m a fourth-generation Nevadan, born and raised in Las Vegas, and I come from a generation of prosperity that has been involved in politics most of their life. They never turned their nose up to something that was a daunting task.

They squared back their shoulders and said, ‘Let’s get it done.’ So I have been blessed and cursed at the same time to have that attitude that nothing is too big to conquer if it’s for the right reason. I come from a very grounded and supportive family, and I’m very rooted to Las Vegas and Nevada. I lived in Las Vegas all of my life but for 10 years I moved up to Lake Tahoe, raised my kids up there and just recently came back to Las Vegas and realized we have a really big problem here.

Self-reliance is one of my passions, so when I came across this technology about anaerobic digestion I thought, ‘This is such a perfect fit’ because it solves such a huge problem, with 44 million tourists generating so much waste that is just thrown into the landfill. Our landfill is the largest in the nation and second in the world to Mexico City. We have a big landfill problem here and I’m just trying to help

to do my part to help create cleaner air, sustainable energy.

As we work alongside each other it will help build hope and benefit to all. We can start to have more compassion for each other and collaboration toward the greater good.

are very skilled. It’s basically you take food or organic waste that doesn’t need to be decomposed, stick into a closed system — the concrete stomach — we add a little microbe, some heat and some air, so we circulate it, which increases the decomposing of the food, which increases gas. The gas

What led you to gravitate toward science?

First of all, science is my background as far as education goes. Science is truth and science is proof where we can evolve to higher thinking. I’m a person that wants to ask a lot of questions and make sure that it makes sense, and science makes sense to me.

elevates into these bladders, which expand like a balloon.

We take that gas, we scrub it and put it into the pipeline, and it can either go into a gas pipeline or we can convert it — using generators — into electricity.

You were twice named the Silver State Industrial Hemp Grower of the Year. Can Nevada make this a cash crop?

Industrial hemp is an amazing plant that is regenerative.

That’s why I’m so excited about it because there is no waste that I have found. Everything in that industrial hemp, from the root to the fibre to the oxygen that it creates... even when it’s decomposing it repairs damage. We can utilize every component of that plant and it’s exceptionally strong, and the benefit is so far-reaching that I only have a little tip of the iceberg of information about it because it’s so new to me, and I’m learning many times over that there’s much better farmers, much better crops out there just keep getting bigger and better. So I am just excited to be involved in this industry as well.

What led you to turn your focus toward anaerobic digestive systems?

Several reasons. One, it solves a great concern of mine because we have this food waste and this can utilize the problem. And anaerobic digestion is easy for me to understand because it’s basically a cow’s stomach made out of concrete. My family are ranchers. My grandfather had a cattle ranch. I’m very familiar with the processes of that, so it makes sense to me that we could trap this [methane] gas and utilize it. There’s a value to when we’re using it appropriately to power our cars and light up our buildings.

Can you explain these digestion systems in layman’s terms?

That’s the only way I can explain it because I am not a technical person at all. I understand a little about the concept, how it can be dangerous, but I have people that

These systems have a long history, dating back to ancient times. Do you have a new wrinkle on them?

No, what works in the past is what works in the future. The only difference is we’re going to use some of this energy and the effluent to grow food for our valley. So instead of having it go strictly to power, we’re going to be using some of that to create a self-reliant community.

What is the Green Machine and what does it do?

The Green Machine is the anaerobic digester and we dubbed it the Green Machine.

It’s a little bit easier term to use and it describes what it does. It is attached to food waste and will generate power, and it’s a perpetual power machine: For as long as people eat and animals poop, this anaerobic digester will create renewable, clean gas for us.

How do you convert trash to water and is it potable?

Let me say yes and no. Seventy percent of all food is water, if you were to look at it molecularly. As it decomposes, it becomes mostly water but, no, you cannot drink it without treating it directly. We could take it and convert it, and I’ve seen other systems that actually take human waste and it can be converted and scrubbed — it’s a long, long process, not something that’s simply done — but you can take it and it will become potable. I have not tasted it myself but I have people that verified to me that they have eaten the food that has been generated from the waste and they have drunk the water that has been treated, and they said it’s amazing how it tastes.

Do you plan on producing and selling biogas?

That’s what we would be doing. It’s called compressed natural gas. Let’s be clear that’s what we’d be using. That’s what we would be producing for the bus systems and

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DURABLE, RELIABLE, ADAPTABLE TOUCH TECHNOLOGY Call us on +44 0191 414 5511 or visit zytronic.co.uk to find out more

Southwest Gas. They’re very inspired and encouraged by us because we want to see this move forward, both of our companies.

Aside from waste food, what sort of products will feed the Green Machine?

Livestock yards, so that’s manure. A lot that we would put in the digester is the stuff that a pig or animals wouldn’t eat. We want the sludge that really nobody else wants.

We have a place for it that makes sense, that creates abundance for everyone.

What are vertical farms? The Green Machine seems to be predicated on them.

They’re not predicated, they’re associated. They are utilizing the byproduct that comes from the digester, this sludgy fertilizer that makes plants in hog heaven. They love it. The plants really benefit from using this fertilizer that comes from the anaerobic digester. There’s really no waste: We use every component and the same thing with the industrial hemp — this is why we like these projects because we think we can utilize our waste and not waste our waste.

How much of Las Vegas’ current waste output could the Green Machine accommodate?

We could utilize all of the organic trash. If we could acquire and it made economic sense. There’s a lot that we could do and it’s for the greater good but it doesn’t make economic sense, so we have to look at things that [do] which would be large food wasters, which would be prison systems, hospitals, the casinos, the conventions. All of that makes sense. It doesn’t make economic sense to take a homeowners’ association and have a composting bucket at the end of the street where everybody, when they go to pick up their mail, deposits their compost. What we don’t want to do is start something that can’t sustain itself. I’ve not solved the problem. If it’s got to constantly be subsidized then I’m not happy. I don’t want this to be a long-term subsidized program. I just want to be subsidized maybe at the very beginning, to get it started, and then once it’s started it can maintain itself.

casino industry?

Yes. Many that I’ve spoken with. The only problem that it causes, the only concern would be is there’s a premium for clean energy, just like wind and solar. They both started off with a premium. They grew and became more mainstream.

That premium went down. So of course at the beginning of these solutions it’s difficult to get people to get excited about a premium because they don’t see that it’s going to make sense to them to have to pay for it. But when you share that cost among many people — and that’s part of my quest here — I would donate 25 percent of my profit from those vertical farms to help offset that premium, because that’s how much I believe in this project. I’m willing to do my share as well.

This has been a service project for me. Even though it makes economic sense, this is something I came out of retirement for. I’m behind this project because it makes sense for everybody to benefit from waste and I am willing to do my part but I need help to accomplish this task. I can do most of it on my own but it’s a daunting task, so if anyone can get involved to help that’s where I am asking for public support to get behind this, so we can actually make a difference and create a solution that benefits us all.

What about NV Energy? Have they shown any interest in this?

I’ve spoken with them. They have a green-rider program and we would just need to qualify to have what they call a ‘qualified facility’ — mandated federal regulations that we would have to comply with — but anaerobic-digester companies that have done this have no problem getting those qualifications. So yes, they’re involved. Southwest Gas is a little bit more excited about it because the gas is so much easier to get than the electricity, because electricity has to be con-verted from gas.

Can anaerobic-digester systems realistically make Las Vegas energy independent?

No, not on their own. Between wind, solar and the anaerobic-digester systems and things that I’m aware of that are starting to happen, yes, we can look forward to a completely energy-independent city in the desert, if we were all to get involved in these solutions.

Have you had any signs of interest from companies in the

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Sensing Capability Ian Crosby, Sales and Marketing Director, Zytronic, talks to Glyn Thomas

When was the company founded and how did Zytronic end up in the Casino Industry?

The history of Zytronic dates back to the late 1940’s. Over the decades, the company focused on manufacturing glass and laminated glass and plastic components for industrial applications, and during the last 30 years into the display protection and enhancement markets. In the 1990’s, this specialisation involved the company in a number of touchscreen projects. At that time, the dominant screen technology was CRT. Recognising the potential in this market, the company moved from private to public ownership, and invested heavily in the development and manufacture of (what was then) a new touch sensing technology called ‘projected capacitance’ which was particularly durable. As CRT monitors gave way to flat panel LCDs and touchscreens gradually became more mainstream, the company was ideally positioned to support the broadening range of applications for interactive displays used in self-service and public-use systems. Zytronic has supplied touch screens into the entertainment and leisure sectors for over 15 years, with customers manufacturing video jukeboxes and lottery terminals, deploying thousands of our touch screens all over the world. Our sales in the gaming market have significantly increased over the last two to three years as the trend toward increasingly customised slot machine design has accelerated.

Players love the tactility of a physical control, particularly for skill-based gaming, as well as the flexibility and dynamism of a touchscreen interface. Explain the features you can provide manufacturers of Slot Machines and the benefits they can gain?

At G2E, Zytronic significantly raised the bar for slot

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machine manufacturers, allowing them to offer new features that really set them apart in the market.

Innovative technology allows tactile buttons or physical dials to be integrated in and around the active area of the projected capacitive touchscreen. Integrating mechanical controls into the active touch area in this way blends tactile response with touch interactivity, and opens new design possibilities for casino and skill game developers.

For example, you could have a ‘bash’ button to spin the virtual wheel displayed. Zytronic touch sensors can accommodate a range of different mechanical controls, from a simple push button to place a bet, to a dial whose

position is detected through the touch sensor.

Zytronic has also developed further custom touch detection firmware for the ZXY500 controller which responds to the increased surface area of a fingertip when pressed more firmly onto the screen and graduates its output accordingly – we call this our ‘force sensing’ capability.

Software developers can then use the variable Z-axis coordinates from the controller to activate different functions depending on the applied pressure, such as issuing an audible message alerting the user to the option selected when the screen is touched lightly, and then confirming the choice when pressed more firmly. This feature can also improve playability for partially sighted users.

Can you provide examples of the companies you have worked with and the features you installed?

Zytronic supplies several global slot machine manufacturers with innovate touch sensors, used in upright, slant-top and electronic table games. In addition, we work with many smaller, regional manufacturers.

A few examples can be seen on our website, but many, many more are confidential, as our customers

are understandably careful about revealing too much regarding the critical technologies at the core of their hardware.

Are you in a position to tell us about any new technology you are working on?

The Zytronic ZXY500 controller we launched at G2E, based on a custom ASIC chip and designed specifically to work with Zytronic touch sensors, is something we will be building on and evolving. It is important to appreciate that Zytronic, unlike many touch manufacturers, has full control over both the projected capacitive sensor manufacturing process and the touch controller design, including developing and writing the touch detection firmware algorithms, which are core to effective operations and our ability to customise according to client requirements. As a result, it has been able to adapt to create the unique capabilities we showed at G2E. For example, to allow physical controls to be integrated within the touch active area of the screen, Zytronic’s highly flexible manufacturing processes allow the touch sensing electrodes to be plotted around the aperture into which the tactile controls are located. Custom firmware was then developed, running

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on the new ZXY500 touch controller, to enable full touch functionality around the physical button.

Are you working with other sectors such as retail and entertainment in addition to the Slot Machine market, and do you see any cross over with any of those products sold in to Casinos?

Our core markets in addition to gaming are retail, industrial and financial technology. Each one has different priorities, but features that we develop for one market invariably are applicable to several. For example, the new controllers we launched at G2E allow contactless payment, wireless phone charging and customer tracking integrated close to the active area of the touchscreen.

The technologies used to implement these functions, such as RFID, NFC and Qi, generate signals that can interfere with the operation of conventional projected capacitive touchscreens, but the new controller has industry-leading signal-to-noise ratios and sophisticated algorithms that change dynamically to reject electromagnetic interference in the operating environment. Zytronic has tested each of these technologies with the ZXY500 controller and demonstrated that they can be implemented very close to the active touch area without impairing the performance of the touchscreen. This appeals to kiosk manufacturers as well as slot machine designers, and maybe in the future will be used in ATMs, too.

Will the technology advance to the level where millennials whom are more conversant with PlayStation and Xbox Games find them similar in a skill game format

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that incorporates sense technology?

Yes indeed, a new breed of platforms is emerging that are more skill based, and geared toward younger ‘millennial’ players. These feature a powerful operating system, large-format HD monitors and an advanced sound system to provide a truly immersive experience.

These games and in particular their responsiveness, need to match the outstanding performance offered by game consoles, as well as the touch experience delivered by smartphones and tablets in the customer’s hands.

High-performance touch-enabled graphics screens are no longer an optional extra for game platform designers – they are very much a baseline requirement.

When players are betting against each other in a quick fire, touch-interactive game, it’s absolutely imperative that the touch response of the screen is accurate and fast. For one particular skill-based game, Zytronic developed custom touch detection firmware to ‘time stamp’ each player’s touch to the millisecond, in the event that a dispute between players over who touched the screen first could be fairly resolved by the operator.

Immersive entertainment are two words that have been used in recent years by the big slot manufacturers when describing their latest games and cabinets. So with touch interactivity, do you believe that experience can be increased?

Touch technology needs to enhance rather than limit the playing experience. The touch itself should be intuitive, instant and automatic – in some cases responding to proximity rather than an actual touch. Players should be offered a range of control experiences too – this is why the integration of physical buttons into the active touch area is important.

Research and Development is a significant investment for companies involved in the manufacture of Slot Cabinets and EGM’s, and the price paid for these machines can be very competitive, so can your involvement be cost effective?

We allow slot machine developers free reign in terms of touchscreen design, enabling them to innovate the player interface like never before. Just think back to

how the cabinets used to look less than a decade ago (uniform ranks of genericappearing boxes, each with one or two 17-inch rectangular screens) compared to now. Zytronic is part of this revolution.

Our ability to rapidly prototype new touchscreen designs for our customers within a few weeks is also dramatically helping to reduce their ‘time to market’ for new slots designs. We believe both factors demonstrate the value that we bring.

Why should a Slot Manufacturer consider Zytronic as a partner in its EGM development programme?

As noted above, our flexibility really helps slot machine and EGM manufacturers to be cost-effective. Our manufacturing allows us to offer customers bespoke solutions of the exact size that they require in any quantity, even one-off if that’s what they’re looking for. Some competitors offer offthe-shelf products – flexible in terms of quantity, but not in terms of specification or specialisation. Others offer custom solutions, but impose minimum order quantities and/or charge a premium for such solutions. Zytronic gives customers the best of both worlds.

How was G2E Las Vegas for the company, and what can visitors to your booth expect to see at ICE Totally Gaming 2019.

G2E was very productive in that we were able to deepen our connection to existing customers in the gaming space, as well as forge some new relationships that I’m sure will bear fruit in the months and years ahead.

And beyond the individual interactions, G2E affords us

the opportunity to take the pulse of the gaming industry and assess where our touch solutions can help gaming manufacturers uplevel the gaming experience for their patrons.

What are amongst Zytronic’s main goals for the year ahead?

We released some very exciting new developments in touch control at G2E – so our goal for the coming year is to work with our customers to integrate these new capabilities into innovative console designs. We have always offered the latest technology to help designers engage the player and provide the most immersive playing experience possible, and we intend to build on this as we head into 2019.

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Scientific Games Booth at G2E 2018

Scientific Games – A Future Vision

S

By: Victor H Royer

ci Games has been at the forefront of gaming innovation for quite some time. Since their acquisition of the Bally and WMS brands, the company has escalated its product portfolio, and expanded not only into the world of innovative machine gaming, but also into Table Games,

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and – more recently – into US Sports Wagering.

With the decision of the US Supreme Court on the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act, which opened the American market to nationwide Sports Wagering, Sci Games has worked diligently to create opportunities for casino and sports book operators to

Sports Wagering In-Venue Sportsbook Technology from SGMS

Sports Wagering products and Sportsbook Technology from SGMS

expand their products and services exponentially, and to cater to an ever-increasing and new audience. At the recently-concluded G2E Gaming Convention in Las Vegas, Sci Games showcased some of their advancements in Sports Wagering, especially intended to assist the emerging national sports wagering market in the USA. Sci Games showcased a suite of Sports Wagering products and In-Venue Sportsbook Technology from their SG Digital division. Familiar to Las Vegas natives and visiting sports fans, SG Digital’s in-venue sportsbook technology, OpenBet, was featured prominently at G2E 2018. OpenBet brings U.S. operators world-class sports betting solutions, creating in-venue sportsbooks that captivate newcomers and seasoned bettors alike.

The OpenBet solution, already live with Caesars Atlantic

The Sports Wagering Kiosk from SGMS

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5-7 February 2019 ExCeL London, UK

Applied Mathematics Applied mathematics expanded considerably when Pierre de Fermat and Blaise Pascal set the groundwork for probability theory and the corresponding rules of combinatorics over a game of gambling. #spiritofgenius

To experience gaming’s Spirit of Genius visit icelondon.uk.com

City, offers a comprehensive retail experience under one umbrella. An omni-channel offering, it bridges the gap between retail and mobile, uniting the user experience across all platforms and keeping the casino top-of-mind with players whether they’re on- or off-property.

OpenBet encompasses various technologies that power market leaders across the globe.

This includes: • Easy-to-use Electronic Point of Sale (EPOS) terminals that provide bet and cash management tools tailored to the retailer with innovative and appealing interface design and customizable navigational shortcuts.

• Self-service betting terminals that allow for enhanced in-play betting.

• Intelligent message-based interfaces with dynamic real-time data, broadcasts, or streamed video.

• OpenBet Promote, which features highly engaging in-venue displays ranging from mini kiosk displays, digital signage, large video walls, The Jin Ji Bao Xi™ – Endless and combinations of standard Treasure™ game on the new SGMS TwinStar Wave XL cabinet monitors. OpenBet Promote streamlines the in-venue viewing experience.

• BYOD, or Bring Your Own Device, powers a bettor’s ability to enjoy a seamless digital experience while enabling them to place bets anonymously.

• Various payment options, including cash payments, vouchers, and fully online transactions.

• Promotional capabilities and loyalty program integration to encourage multiple visits.

• Planned incentive capabilities enabled by geolocation tools that provide operators with information on

The Wizard of Oz™ – Munchkinland game from SGMS

where bets have been placed.

The expansive OpenBet technology platform empowers casinos to enhance their digital presence and reach players in new, innovative ways.

With a new approach to a Show Booth, Scientific Games also added excitement to this year’s G2E by creating an invitationonly section of their display, where many of their cutting-edge products, games, and innovations were showcased. Casino Life magazine was provided an expert Tour of SGMS, where we were able to personally experience these terrific new games and products. Among the many so displayed were the following:

TwinStar® Wave XL At G2E 2018, Scientific Games launched the successor to the Pro Wave cabinet – the stunning 49” TwinStar® Wave XL™.

Like its predecessor, the TwinStar Wave XL takes the player-experience to the next level, boasting an even larger 49-inch, curved, touchscreen display for versatility and a comfortable player-experience.

Beyond being larger, the dynamic 4K, ultrahigh-definition display generates the kind of stunning graphics only seen in high-end home theatres. Now, with the TwinStar Wave XL, players can enjoy that kind of high-end entertainment media on casino floors.

The TwinStar Wave XL also comes with an even larger, award-winning iDeck and a more advanced lighting and sound package.

Additionally, like all cabinets in the innovative TwinStar family, the TwinStar Wave XL supports multiple content streams seamlessly, delivering game titles from powerhouse Bally, WMS, and Shuffle Master development teams, giving operators one powerful machine with access to the most innovative and in-demand game titles.

The TwinStar Wave XL is launching with a line-up of titles from proven,

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blockbuster franchises such as Dragon Spin® Age of Fire, Cash Wizard® World, and the successor to the Duo Fu Duo Cai franchise, Jin Ji Bao Xi™ – Endless Treasure™ and Rising Fortunes® – Releasing January 2019.

All games are presented with enhanced top boxes and in stunning arrangements, such as the impressive TwinStar Wave XL 360 configuration.

a Gamefield™ 2.0 game, with 5 Reels / 50 lines, Multi-Denominational, Single-Level WideArea Progressive on Scientific Games’ Cash Connection or Reel Adventures progressive link and Two-Level Near-Area Progressive, and is also available in a Three-Level Near-Area Progressive version.

Game Bonuses:

•W icked Witch of the East – Triggered in the Jin Ji Bao Xi™ – Endless Treasure base game. Wild symbols are added to the reels and reels may be added horizontally. and Rising Fortunes With it’s release in January 2019, Jin Ji Bao • T ornado – Triggered during the Wicked Witch Xi™ – Endless Treasure and Rising Fortunes feature. A number of Tornado reels will land is offered on the TwinStar® Wave XL, and and drop Dorothy’s house on the Wicked features 5 Reels / 243 Ways pay scale, MultiWitch. When this occurs, all Tornado reels Denomination Groups, and a Two-Level Neartransform to reels of Lollipop Wilds with credit Area Progressive. values which are awarded.

• Munchkin Parade Free Spins – The bonus Game Bonuses: begins with a Wheel spin that determines the • Jin Jin Bao Xi Feature – Jackpot pick number of Free Spins. The wheel can also feature where players pick to match award a progressive jackpot. During the free three symbols that correspond to one of spins, Munchkins parade in a circle and can four jackpot levels. award free spin enhancements such as The Game of Life™ game from SGMS • Shou

Bonus – A Free Games Bonus Wild Reels, Random Wilds, Multipliers, where the sum of the credit prizes and Lollipop Wilds that award credit on the Gong symbols that triggered the prizes. bonus is awarded every time a Gong symbol lands on the reels during the free The Game of Life™ – games.

Career Day • Top Up Feature – A lock and spin feature Released in December 2018, The Game of Life™ – Career Day is offered on the SGMS TwinStar where the sum of the credit prizes on J43™ with iReels / TwinStar® V75, featuring 3 the Gong symbols that triggered the Reels / 9 Lines, Multi-Denominational, Singlebonus is awarded every time a Gong Level Wide-Area Progressive on Scientific symbol lands on the reels and locks in Games’ Cash Connection or Reel Adventures place. Green Gong symbols award the progressive link, and is also available in a sum of the initial credit prize, as well Single-Level Near-Area Progressive version. as the credit prize on any other Green Gong symbols on the reels.

In addition to the Jin Ji Bao Xi™ – Endless Treasure and Rising Fortunes games, SGMS also showcased the following game innovations:

The Wizard of Oz™ – Munchkinland Also releasing in January 2019, The Wizard of Oz™ – Munchkinland is

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The Game of Life Bonus • At the start of the bonus, players are assigned one of four careers with a corresponding salary. Players are granted 10 free spins, or 12 spins if playing a bonus bet.

If a corresponding career symbol lands on the reels, players are given a Raise credit prize. If a Wheel symbol lands on the reels, players get one spin of a wheel which awards moves on the game board. Positions on the game board The Flintstones™ game from SGMS

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award credit prizes, additional spins of the wheel or one of the following bonuses. The goal is to get to Retirement Island by reaching the end of the game board or collecting shortcuts.

The Game Board Bonuses: • Weekend Getaway Bonus – 3 Free Spins and Reel 2 is Wild. All pays are multiplied by 3 • Groundhog Day Bonus – The reels spin and stop until a winning combination is awarded.

The reels will then respin to the same winning combination 3 to 10 more times.

• Life Card Bonus – Wheel bonus that awards credit prizes, additional spins, multiplier • Lottery Wheel Bonus – Credit prize • Night on the Town Bonus – 3 Free Spins with possibly a locked 2xWild or 3xWild symbols • Retirement Island – Wheel spins award moves on the Retirement Island game board for credit prizes, multipliers, one of the bonuses.

includes spins with Betty’s Wild Reel, Wilma’s Vacuum Wilds, Fred’s Stretched Reels, Flintstone Flyer Added Wilds, Car Multipliers or Dino Symbol Upgrades. The YabbaDabba-Doo features can also be awarded on a thrilling Bonus Wheel that can also bestow credit prizes, Fred & Barney Free Spins with dual Flintstones and Rubbles reel arrays, and a Dino Bonus that awards credit prizes and multipliers. The Wheel can also send players to the Races! At the Dino Races, players place a bet, pick a favorite Dinosaur and then the race is on! Spin the reels and have a Yabba-Dabba-Doo good time playing this entertaining game!

Twin Fire Frenzy™

Released in October 2018, the Twin Fire Frenzy™ game is available on the SGMS TwinStar J43™ cabinet, featuring 6 Reels / 25 Lines, Multi-Denominational, and a Six-Level Near-Area Progressive.

The hugely popular game, Twin Fire®, The Flintstones™ – Welcome to featuring both the player-favorite Quick Bedrock Twin Fire Frenzy™ game from SGMS Hit® Feature and exhilarating mini-reel Released in October 2018 on the games-in-game Hot Shot® Feature, is Gamescape™ cabinet, The Flintstones™ back and now includes a Frenzy Reel! This – Welcome to Bedrock is a 5 Reels / 30 lines 6-reel, 25-line game boasts six levels of game in a Single Denomination – 1¢, and a progressive jackpots. The top progressive Single-Level Wide-Area Progressive on the jackpot is awarded during a thrilling Wheel Scientific Games’ Cash Connection or Reel Bonus feature that is triggered by three Adventures progressive link. It is also available in a Single-Level Near-Area Progressive version.

Players spin the reels with the modern, stone-age family playing The Flintstones™ - Welcome to Bedrock on the immersive Gamescape™ cabinet. This 5-reel, 30-line game stars the iconic characters and scenes from the beloved animated sitcom that was a hit for three decades. There are numerous features and bonuses in this action-packed game, including a number of base game features where Wilds are added to the reels in entertaining ways, as well as a Dino Multiplier Feature where Dino digs up multipliers that are applied to base game wins.

Yabba-Dabba-Doo features can also be triggered in the base game which

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Bonus symbols on the reels. Players are granted one spin of the wheel that awards credit prizes, Free Games or progressive jackpots!

In the popular Quick Hit Feature, scattered Quick Hit symbols in the base game add up awarding increasing levels multipliers or progressive jackpots at higher bet levels. The Hot Shot Feature is triggered when three or more Mini-reel symbols land on the reels which transform into mini-reel games-ingame. One spin of each mini-reel game is granted which can award credits or a progressive jackpot! The mini-reel gamesin-game are classic Hot Shot games, including Triple Blazing 7s 7x Pay, Double Jackpot Triple Blazing 7s, Triple Jackpot Triple Blazing 7s, Diamond Line Triple Yogi Bear™ game from SGMS

MONOPOLY Evolution™ PRIZM™ GameTable™ from SGMS

Blazing 7s, and the iconic Triple Blazing 7s. The thrilling Frenzy Reel adds a new level of excitement awarding a multiplier, an additional Hot Shot game-in-game or Quick Hit symbol!

spins on a three-reel, one-line reel array. If one or more Mr. Ranger, Boo or Yogi symbols are achieved, the free spins reset and a credit prize is awarded for each symbol.

Yogi Bear™ Released in November 2018 on the SGMS TwinStar® V24/43 cabinet, the always entertaining player-favorite Yogi Bear™ is a 5 Reel / 40 Lines game, Multi-Denominational, and with a Four-Level Near-Area Progressive.

Take a trip to Jellystone Park and spin the reels with Yogi Bear™, Boo, and Cindy! Yogi Bear is a 5-reel, 40-line game showcased on the TwinStar® V24/43 cabinet that features

Released in November 2018 on the innovative PRIZM GameTable™ - MONOPOLY Evolution™ is a 4 Positions - 3 Reels / 9 Lines game in a Single Denomination – 1¢.

MONOPOLY Evolution™ showcased on the innovative PRIZM™ GameTable™ which allows 4 players to spin the reels and play MONOPOLY-inspired bonuses at once! The PRIZM GameTable features a 65-inch, 4K resolution, ultrahigh-definition widescreen display with 4 player positions

four levels of near-area progressive jackpots that can be won in a thrilling Yogi + Cindy’s Jackpot Feature. During the feature, players pick to match three symbols that correspond to one of the jackpots! Also triggered in the base game is the Yogi’s Picnic Respin Feature where each Cake, Pie or Sandwich symbol that lands on the reels locks in place, resets the respin meter and awards a credit prize.

If a Picnic Basket lands during a respin, all values increase by 25x!

There is also a rousing Wheel Bonus where players get one spin of a wheel that can award a credit prize or one of three bonuses. The Bear Cave Bonus awards 6 free games during which more free games can be awarded and random reels turn Wild for the greater chance of a big win!

In Mr. Ranger’s Bonus, eight free games are awarded and players can be given an enhancement for each spin, such as a multiplier, credit prize, or additional free games! Finally, in the Jellystone Pick Bonus, players are awarded three free

for the ultimate community gaming experience!

MONOPOLY Evolution is a 3-reel, 9-line game that includes a host of engaging game bonuses accessed through the Board Bonus which is triggered in the base game. Mr. Monopoly races around the board several times, eventually stopping on a square, and depending on where he stops players can be awarded one of the following: a Chance Bonus or Community Chest Bonus where players pick for credit prizes; a Railroad Bonus where train tracks award a credit prize; or a Dice Bonus where players roll two dice for credit prize. If Mr. MONOPOLY lands on GO, the GO progressive jackpot is awarded. If he lands on Free Parking, the top Free Parking progressive jackpot is awarded! There is also a thrilling Big Shot Bet Feature, a community feature where players can bet on another players’ bonus. If Mr. MONOPOLY lands on the Chance Bonus, Community Chest Bonus, Railroad Bonus or Dice Bonus, then any player who placed a Big Shot Bet is also awarded the bonus!

MONOPOLY Evolution™

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Aristocrat to get closer inside ICE 2019

A

ristocrat Technologies is set to move closer to the heart of London’s ICE show, relocating to a central position in ExCeL’s South Hall. Stand S5-150 will offer visitors the opportunity to see an even broader range of the latest marketleading gaming content and innovative hardware solutions drawn from the Company’s extensive global portfolio, carefully selected for diverse markets across Europe, the Middle East and Africa.

“Continuing our globally adopted theme ‘It’s all about what’s inside’, we will be sharing a stunning line-up of what’s next for gaming floors in 2019,” said James Boje, Managing Director – EMEA. “More games will be on display than ever before, spanning all product segments. With a vast array of premium large format platforms introduced over the last 12 months, it’s vital that customers can see as much as possible of the output resulting from year-on-year investment in design & development.”

Spearheading Aristocrat’s licensed collection will be Dragon Link™. This Arc™ Single-housed evolution of Lightning Link™ has been wowing players in Australia, the Americas and France, and is now set to roll out across Holland and other EMEA markets. On display will be the unique Dragon Link Den 12-machine carousel that impressed visitors to October’s G2E in Las Vegas, among them

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Italy’s Casinò di Venezia, which is set to see the centrepiece attraction go live on its floor on the eve of ICE. Further Dragon Link upgrades for 2019 include a new family of games featuring a Big Symbols free games mechanic, as well as a range of base games with multi mid denominations for privée areas.

Maintaining further support for the gaming world’s most popular Hold & Spin game series, new Lightning Link titles include Eyes of Fortune™ and Dragon’s Riches™, featuring expanding wilds during free games.

On the back of tremendous success in North American casinos, the metamorphic Gold Stacks™ 88 Link becomes available in the new Helix™ XT portrait cabinet and

welcomes two new unique base games, Prosperity Pig™ and Tiger Reign™ to its library.

Another highly innovative hardware concept, Helix™ Tower will see two new linked concepts added to its collection. Wonder 4 Spinning Fortunes™ brings another of Aristocrat’s mega brands, Wonder 4™, to the big screen. Linked for the first time, the renowned multi reel set game is boosted by strong legacy titles and a wheel feature delivering free games, super free games and jackpots. Also making an EMEA debut, Dragon Tower Jackpots™ is an Asian-themed game developed by the same studio that created the popular Mighty Cash™ Big Money.

The flame55™ cabinet, with its distinctive 55-inch double-curved 4K portrait screen and eye-catching LED carousel and illuminated sign package, benefits from the addition of two more knockout themes

and an all new reel matrix for the wildest Buffalo experience to date.

A mixture of licensed and proven proprietary brands also make up the range of new titles designed for the Arc™Double platform, with The Big Lebowski™ Slot Game joining other newcomers 5 Dragons™ Grand and Wild Lepre’Coins™ Pot of Gold, the latter inspired by the hugely popular Extra Bonus Wilds™ game, Wild Lepre’Coins™.

One of Aristocrat’s most popular gaming

offering further support to the recently released Game of Thrones™ Fire & Blood. Another HBO series blockbuster comes in the form of Warner Bros.’ Westworld™, combining sci-fi desert adventures with a host of proven game mechanics. Celebrating 10 years of one of Aristocrat’s most iconic North American brands, Buffalo™ Diamond brings together progressive free spins, jackpot wheel, retriggers, multipliers

operations titles on Verve™ hd, Tarzan™ Lord of the Jungle™ has now been upgraded and adapted for deployment on the Arc™ Single form factor. This mid-high denomination standalone progressive offers configurable multi-denom options along with an entertaining jackpot chase experience, powerful free games and wheel feature.

Mr Boje concluded, “Customers and players have come to expect a broad combination of proven performance, recognisable brands and true innovation when they invest in Aristocrat, and the 2019 portfolio is designed to please on every level. Our globally based design studios have taken the very best elements of past successes and have really stepped up a gear to deliver the next generation of games. Stand S5-150 will be a hotbed of creativity and we eagerly await sharing our vision with partners from across EMEA and beyond.”

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Asia Live Tech – Progressive Expansion

T

his year’s G2E Conference in Las Vegas provided an opportunity to catch up with Asia Live Tech (ALT). Headquartered in SE Asia, this gaming software firm has been rapidly expanding across the iGaming industry by delivering quality multilingual gaming solutions I was able to meet with ALT’s Erwin Dickman at the conclusion of G2E.

At Asia Live Tech, we welcome the advancement of new technologies and are always looking to adapt new technologies onto our platform and offerings to further create a unique factor but at the same time solidify our mission to ensure our offerings are constantly fair and just. It is in line with this efforts that Asia Live Tech is deemed the First Bitcoin iGaming Software Provider in Asia.

Give us a brief outline of the corporate focus of Asia Live Tech.

Asia Live Tech focuses on providing iGaming software, live casino games, slots as well as other consultancy and solutions for the iGaming industry.

A key factor in our corporate focus is that we ensure that all our solutions continuously evolve but at the same time ensuring a fair and just playing environment.

What does ALT see for their direction over the next few years?

As for Asia Live Tech and where we see ourselves in the next few years. This is a unique time indeed with various new methods, technologies and practices that are coming into play. What we are witnessing is the evolvement of the iGaming Industry, in line with this Asia Live Tech intends to be a front runner in terms of technology integration to our platform offerings. We foresee that we would be incorporated with new technologies and offerings in the years to come which has already begun as part of our current enhancement roadmap.

ALT was at G2E Las Vegas last month. How was the show, and does it indicate a move for ALT into the Americas?

G2E Vegas was indeed a remarkable event which was an eye-opener in terms of the advancement taking place in the industry. We look forward to the next G2E event in Las Vegas coming in 2019.

This however does not indicate a move into the Americas.

How does ALT view blockchain and the cryptocurrency markets?

The Blockchain and cryptocurrency market is a dark horse of the industry. Why we say this is that, the technology and feasibility is so unique but at the same time there are much improvements that need to be made in terms of processes involved with the various different cryptocurrencies circulating in the market.

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I’d like to thank Erwin for the time to chat at G2E Vegas.

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UK casinos – Glancing back and looking forward

By David Clifton, Clifton Davies Consultancy Limited

2018 has been an interesting year for the UK’s gambling industry.

As I write this: • FOBTs are now well on the way to their resting place, • online gambling has seen the bulk of the year’s regulatory enforcement action from both the Gambling Commission and the Competition & Markets Authority, • the ever more contentious gambling advertising debate has focussed primarily on betting

operators’ TV ads and on online affiliates, and • the National Lottery operator has been forced to pay a hefty penalty for historic control and governance failings.

However, the general absence of negative news headlines about the land-based casino sector should not give rise to complacency on the part of any terrestrial casino operator in the UK. In the last 12 months, the Gambling Commission has done more than make good its CEO’s promise of a “relentless escalation” in penalties. In addition, as I have long forecast, it has emphasised its intention to take regulatory action against individuals responsible for operators’ failings.

So where can we find some positively good news during 2018 for the land-based casino sector?

Unfortunately, it’s not been in the realm of gaming machines (or at least not yet). Maintaining its previous CEO’s stance of putting consumers at the heart of its advice to government, the Gambling Commission made clear back in March 2018 that it would not support: • increasing machine allocations for casinos in the absence of additional measures to manage the risk of gamblingrelated harm effectively, or • the National Casino Forum’s proposal for higher stake and prize gaming machines for ten high-end casinos in the Westminster and Kensington & Chelsea boroughs, because “there would need to be more evidence on

27

the controls that could be put in place to provide these machines in a socially responsible manner and in a way

The Commission’s call for collaborative working has become increasingly loud during 2018. That does not just

that would substantially restrict their availability”, or • the NCF proposal to increase the cash insertion limit into a B1 machine from £20 to £50, unless evidence is provided how operators would manage the risks that this would generate, or • a 500 machines cap in Gambling Act 2005 Large Casinos, on the basis that the level of any new cap would need to be based on a properly formulated rationale.

mean that casino operators must work in collaboration with their regulator though. It is a call for operators in different gambling sectors to work together and to share learning, insight and best practice with each other.

That has to be sensible. In the past, there has been a tendency for some gambling sectors to fight their own corners, which has had a less than constructive consequence in terms of achieving beneficial legislative and regulatory change. More is likely to be achieved by a gambling industry that embraces the concept of collaboration. It is surely time that a clear message is sent to the Gambling Commission that all sectors of the industry (remote and non-remote) are united in recognising the importance of strengthening player protections, making effective customer interactions and identifying the signals of potential harm from gambling.

Nor has there yet been good news in relation to the sector’s hopes: • for harmonisation in terms of bringing the machine and other entitlements of Gaming Act 1968 licensed casinos into line with those of the “new” 2005 Act casinos or • for permission to make online gaming available for use on licensed casino premises, which was rejected by the Commission because it would “be a means of effectively introducing unlimited stake and prize ‘Category A’ gaming machines”, which the Commission believes “should be restricted to a ‘Regional Casino’ under the 2005 Act” – something which shows no sign of materialising within the near future.

Given the above and the dominant focus of the gaming machines review on FOBT Category B2 machines, it came as no surprise that, in May 2018, the government decided to maintain the status quo across casino machine stakes, prizes and allocations, although it did say that “if additional measures are put in place to manage the risk of gambling-related harm effectively, we will consider looking again at the question of allocations”. This is a vital issue for UK casinos given the fact that machine allocations are low by international standards – something that the government has at least explicitly now accepted.

So what does 2019 hold?

I imagine that, following the positive response by the sector to the government’s call for casinos to work with the Gambling Commission on measures to enhance both player protections and evaluation strategies, 2019 will see even greater resources invested by UK casino operators into data, technology and research with a view to creating ever more effective protections for consumers and an effective evidence-based response to the Commission’s above-mentioned challenges.

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Over the next year, the UK’s land-based casino sector is well-placed to play a heavily influential role in that respect, confident in the knowledge that a combination of: • the success of its Playing Safe responsible gambling initiative, including the current field tests of the Focal Research Alert system for harmful gambling risk identification (that was started by the NCF in 2014), • the effectiveness of its longstanding SENSE selfexclusion scheme, • experience gained from previous collaboration with the Gambling Commission when producing the NCF’s antimoney laundering and counter-terrorist financing best practice guidelines, and • the recent FATF finding that, insofar as AML and CTF measures are concerned, the UK “casinos sector appears to have a good understanding of their risks and are applying sufficient mitigation measures” lays a firm foundation for it taking a lead in achieving the Gambling Commission’s stated aim that British consumers should enjoy “the fairest and safest gambling in the world”.

That way, greater hope exists of the sector also achieving the harmonisation and modernisation that it so greatly desires. Now, that would be good news for 2019! dc@cliftondavies.com www.cliftondavies.com

The Last Word by Damien Connelly

Servicescape Welcome to The Last Word.

Following on from ‘The Last Word’ published in Casino Life issue 123, thank you for your feedback about using security to attract and retain customers (how to turn a cost into a revenue source). Here’s one example of how your casino can grow revenues by using your security resources: 83% of US women travelling for business encounter a safety issue, and 90% state that safety concerns influence what they do in their personal time while travelling for work. The Global Business Travel Association carried out this survey.

Women business travellers are, I think, a great target for casinos with hotels due to the security expertise casinos have. A big benefit is your commercial teams are selling to a highly targeted cohort, which reduces acquisition costs.

Women business travellers take precautions such as only booking daytime flights and booking hotels in central locations. However, 61% of travel programs “rarely” or “never” provide chauffeured transportation for female travellers. That’s a big gap your casino resort can use to grow your sales.

Female travellers differ from males in nuanced ways that can be easily addressed. For example, Accor Hotels offers female-specific rooms and has a female brand ambassador for these segmented offerings. Another added benefit— women make 70% of household travel decisions. If your hotel grows sales from female business travellers, you could also win leisure spend from these same female customers.

Moving on to the focus of this The Last Word…

Servicescape I commented on servicescape in our Casino Life article covering the opening of Carlton Casino Club (see page 6 of this issue). Servicescape has a considerable impact on your revenues…especially if there are elements of your servicescape that are ‘below par’.

David G. Schwartz, Director of the Center for Gaming Research and instructor at UNLV, recently noted in his Forbes article how Bill Harrah understood the importance of padded stools when he opened his first bingo parlour

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in California: “players who don’t feel pressured socially or uncomfortable physically will be better long-term customers.”

Servicescape covers elements such as accessibility and navigation, car parks, exterior lighting, building facade, interior decor, ambience, cleanliness, and seating comfort.

It influences your customer’s approach/ avoidance behaviour. I use this in my consulting work a lot because it affects revenues and profits. It is part of mapping the customer journey.

At a city level, Las Vegas and Singapore offer brilliant examples of well-managed and thought out servicescapes.

At a property level, Wynn Las Vegas and Marina Bay Sands are excellent examples to benchmark. At a service level, VIP hotel entrances and Business Class airline lounges are good examples. At an event level, those organised by MonteCarlo Société des Bains de Mer are stunning—please see Casino Life issue 116 pages 6-19.

While servicescape may sound a bit academic, it impacts your revenues and profits. It is important to focus on getting your servicescape more right than wrong, and to stay in control of it—if you let your servicescape get out of control, it takes a lot of resources and time to get it back on track. If you would like me to look at your servicescape to see if we can improve your operations, my contact details are below.

Damien Connelly has developed better customer experiences for casinos, big box grocery and convenience retailers — one client was recently sold for over US$5 billion. He has worked consulting and client-side in Strategy, Marketing, Branding, and Sales roles. You can contact Damien on +31 6 5206-7402 and at dconnelly@ace123.com

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