Vol. 7 • No. 23 • June 22, 2009 - Print This Issue
RSS 2.0 Feed
Vol. 7 • No. 23 • June 22, 2009, GOODS & SERVICES
WMS, Hasbro Extend Licensing Agreement
The partnership between slot manufacturer and board-game producer that created the Monopoly slot machine franchise has extended its arrangement as new Monopoly titles appear.
Slot manufacturer WMS Gaming Inc. announced that it has extended its long-term license agreement with Hasbro, Inc and Hasbro International, Inc. through 2016. The ongoing agreement grants WMS exclusive worldwide rights to develop and produce slot machines and other gaming machines featuring the Monopoly brand.
In addition, WMS and Hasbro have expanded the scope of their relationship, with WMS securing exclusive worldwide rights to develop and produce gaming machines based on such classic Hasbro board game brands as Battleship and Clue (or Cluedo, as it is better known in international markets), among others.
WMS had not previously produced slots based on those other board games because the license previously was held by the former Mikohn Gaming, which released Battleship and Clue video slots early this decade. That license has since expired, and Mikohn Gaming no longer exists.
“As the exclusive worldwide licensee of the Monopoly brand for gaming machines, our talented development teams and engineers have taken one of Hasbro’s flagship brands, and by combining its name recognition and familiar icons with creative game content and innovative technologies, developed one of the industry’s most successful series of participation gaming machines for use in licensed casinos,’ said Orrin J. Edidin, president of WMS Industries Inc.
“Since introducing our first Monopoly branded participation games in fiscal 1999, we have developed more than 60 approved Monopoly branded games, including 12 over the last two fiscal years. This extension of the license agreement acknowledges our consistent development of great games based on this worldwide icon and secures access for our creative teams to one of the world’s most enduring entertainment properties for many years to come that will benefit our casino customers, casino patrons, Hasbro and WMS.”
Mark Blecher, Hasbro’s senior vice president and general manager of digital media and gaming, added, “We are pleased to expand and extend the scope of our relationship with WMS, a recognized innovation leader in the gaming industry. WMS has proved itself time and again with its very innovative Monopoly gaming program and we are confident that they will continue to do an outstanding job in creating strong entertainment value in their area of expertise with additional Hasbro brands.”
In addition, WMS and Hasbro have expanded the scope of their relationship, with WMS securing exclusive worldwide rights to develop and produce gaming machines based on such classic Hasbro board game brands as Battleship and Clue (or Cluedo, as it is better known in international markets), among others.
WMS had not previously produced slots based on those other board games because the license previously was held by the former Mikohn Gaming, which released Battleship and Clue video slots early this decade. That license has since expired, and Mikohn Gaming no longer exists.
“As the exclusive worldwide licensee of the Monopoly brand for gaming machines, our talented development teams and engineers have taken one of Hasbro’s flagship brands, and by combining its name recognition and familiar icons with creative game content and innovative technologies, developed one of the industry’s most successful series of participation gaming machines for use in licensed casinos,’ said Orrin J. Edidin, president of WMS Industries Inc.
“Since introducing our first Monopoly branded participation games in fiscal 1999, we have developed more than 60 approved Monopoly branded games, including 12 over the last two fiscal years. This extension of the license agreement acknowledges our consistent development of great games based on this worldwide icon and secures access for our creative teams to one of the world’s most enduring entertainment properties for many years to come that will benefit our casino customers, casino patrons, Hasbro and WMS.”
Mark Blecher, Hasbro’s senior vice president and general manager of digital media and gaming, added, “We are pleased to expand and extend the scope of our relationship with WMS, a recognized innovation leader in the gaming industry. WMS has proved itself time and again with its very innovative Monopoly gaming program and we are confident that they will continue to do an outstanding job in creating strong entertainment value in their area of expertise with additional Hasbro brands.”
Please login to post your comments.