NEWS & NOTES

Scientific Games Corporation’s development of a common software and operating system for the various casino gaming machine brands it has acquired since 2013 is likely to be welcomed by investors, said Telsey Advisory Group in a note last week following a meeting with the company’s senior management. Telsey analysts David Katz and Brian Davis also highlighted that Scientific Games’ new software and operating system—known as Argos—would be what they referred to as “backward compatible,” meaning it could be applied to legacy products as well as new ones. The analysts said the new platform “should alleviate concerns about obsolescence among the brands.”  •  An Olympic Entertainment Group company, Jackpot Game S.r.l., has acquired the gaming business of two VLT slot casinos in Milan from Italian casino operator Pasquale Di Gaetano. The parties agreed not to disclose the price of the transaction. The acquisition aims to increase OEG’s market share in Italy. On completion of the transaction, OEG will own 14 VLT slot casinos in Italy. In 2014, the two facilities, Judica Concetta and sons sas, reported gaming revenues of €0.7 million (US$773,000).  •  The U.S. casino industry is pushing Congress to enact cyber security legislation that would protect gaming facilities from cyber attacks and encourage information-sharing between the government and the business community. In a letter to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) and Democratic Leader Harry Reid (D-NV), the American Gaming Association, as part of a broader business coalition, urged passage of the Cybersecurity Information Sharing Act of 2015 (CISA). “Recent cyber incidents underscore the need for legislation to help businesses improve their awareness of cyber threats and to enhance their protection and response capabilities in collaboration with government entities. These attacks are advancing in scope and complexity,” wrote the AGA.  •  Interblock, a gaming machine manufacturer has installed its luxury Diamond Roulette game at the Mt. Pritchard & District Community Club Ltd. (aka Mounties) in Sydney, Australia. Mounties Gaming Operations Manager Michael Pullin commented, , “At Mounties, we strive to create a fully rounded entertainment experience for all of our guests, and we are very excited to be the first club in Australia to have Interblock’s luxury electronic roulette table game.”  •  China Security & Fire Technology Group has been hired to make SJM Holdings Ltd.’s Lisboa Palace in Cotai an “intelligent building.” Parent company China Security & Fire Co Ltd. says the contract is worth RMB100 million (about US$16.11 million).  ?  New retailers have signed up to offer outlet stores in the Resorts World mall in Birmingham, England. Bench, North Face, Skechers, Phase Eight, Ernest Jones and others will join anchor stores Next Outlet, Nike Factory Store and Gap Outlet. Nearly 90 per cent of the 51 retail units at the “destination mall” are occupied ahead of its opening later this year.  ?  SkyCity Entertainment Group is enhancing its Auckland property with a major upgrade of its main atrium. The $24 million investment will add new flooring, wall cladding and lighting features to the property, as well as a gourmet burger bar and a new main escalator providing more direct access to the main gaming floor. The property will soon mark its 20^th year. ?  The National Council of Problem Gambling recently presented its 2015 Awards, with the top award, the Monsignor Joseph Dunne Lifetime Award for Advocacy, going to Jim Pappas, executive director of the Council on Compulsive Gambling of Pennsylvania. Pappas has had 35 years of advocacy in this area, according to the award. The Lifetime Research Award was given to Dr. Howard Shaffer, associate professor of psychiatry at Harvard Medical School and the director of the division on addictions at the Cambridge Health Alliance. The Jim Wuelfing Award for Prevention went to Liz McCall of the Connecticut Council on Problem Gambling.  •  President Russell Begave of the Navajo Nation last week signed into law an ordinance that will tax alcohol sold at the tribal casinos. The tax of 3.25 percent will bring in an estimated $73,000 annually.  •  Eldorado Resorts, the company buying Circus Circus Reno, said net income for the second quarter 2015 was $4.8 million, up from $2.9 million year-over-year. Net revenue declined 2.2 percent to $182.6 million, which cash increased 2.6 percent to $36.3 million.  •  The Nevada Gaming Control Board  has recommended Vincent Michael Malfitano be denied a gaming license, which the Nevada Gaming Commission will consider in two weeks. Malfitano purchased the Delta Saloon and Bonanza Saloon in Virginia City.  •  Minnesota Politicians have killed state lottery director Ed Van Petten’s (l.) bill that sought to bring an online initiative to the state. The bill had some traction, but some in the legislature claimed Van Petten had not kept everyone in the loop, and had gone above and beyond his allotted authority.  •  The Yurok Tribe is claiming that Georgia-based Charles Sheehan has conned the tribe out of $250,000. The tribe deposited $250,000 into an escrow account meant for due diligence fees, as Sheehan had agreed to lend $8 million to the tribe from his nonprofit foundation. Unbeknownst to the tribe, Sheehan had been indicted a few days earlier for running a fraud scheme. The $250,000 had been wired out immediately and has gone missing.  •  Rod Stewart is extending his residency at Caesars Palace for a fifth year. Stewart announced a Spring 2016 run of “Rod Stewart: The Hits” which went on sale Friday.  •  The Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority board of directors approved a spending budget of $490,000 for Las Vegas to host the Routes America Development Forum in February 2017. The event will be a regional conference.  •  The Nevada Gaming Control Board filed a 13-count complaint against John-Martin Meyer and his company Perpetual Gaming for failing to report $1 million in transactions. The complaint claims Meyer and his company permitted unlicensed companies to operate under his firm, as well as improperly moving slot machines to California tribal casinos, in addition to a slew of other charges.