Aruze Gaming Americas has had a rough history in the U.S. Although it is the successor to Universal, one of the early manufacturers of slot machines, Aruze had struggled to hit its stride. Several years ago, however, it released a product called Paradise Fishing, a giant screen suspended above a line of machines where players could “fish” for bonuses. It was an instant hit and Aruze was off to the races. Owned by Japanese billionaire and former Wynn partner Kazuo Okada, Aruze’s management team in the U.S., led by Richard Pennington and Kelcey Allison has increased market share with new products, innovative design and no licensed themes. Allison, along with product manager Rich Martinez, sat down with GGB’s Roger Gros and Frank Legato in October to talk about the company for the November cover story in GGB magazine.
