This will present UK businesses with unprecedented challenges and Gamestec have been developing their contingency plan since last year , to ensure that we mitigate for every eventuality. We have worked with Transport for London, along with other agencies that are stakeholders in the Games, to ensure that we understand the nature of the potential disruptions and implement actions to address them.

The nature of the challenge varies across the period of the games as different events will be held on each day, and different venues used both inside, and outside the capital, with Weymouth for example playing host to thousands of visitors to the Olympic sailing events. As well as the 109 miles of Olympic and Paralympic route networks, which will be subject to exceptional traffic restrictions, day-to-day “hotspots” will affect venue specific routes. This is against the backdrop of increased congestion, due to the influx of Olympic tourists.

Understanding the nature of this disruption and the requirements of our customer’s is key to Gamestecs approach to the Games. All of our customers’ sites that are likely to be affected, due to their proximity to venues or the Olympic Route Network, have been identified. As part of our planning process, a member of the Gamestec staff will be visiting every site well in advance of the Games. This will allow us to fully understand their requirements during the Olympic and Paralympic period, and any further restrictions on access or amendments to the locations operating hours. We will then deploy the appropriate actions from a number of contingency plans we have identified, revolving around resource, vehicles and timings, to ensure that any disruption is minimised.

The 2012 Olympics present a wonderful opportunity for businesses in the UK and particularly the capital, but only precise planning will enable us to fully recognise these opportunities. Gamestec has applied this precise planning to their approach, to ensure that we continue to deliver a “Gold Medal Service” throughout the Olympics.

“As always, location is the key and at Gamestec, we pride ourselves in being able to respond rapidly to customers’ requests for service, machine changes and installations” commented Peter Collinge Gamestec Operations Director. “We have seen a great expansion in our business in Scotland with significant growth within key accounts such as JD Wetherspoon, and with the launch of the revolutionary digital iPub product. Therefore we needed a location that not only reflected this, but also offered the capacity to grow with the extra demand that we are continuing to see.”

The depot is located approximately 2 miles north of Motherwell and 11 miles South East of Glasgow, offering the ideal central location to service the growing base of Gamestec Scotland customers. “The team are delighted with their new surroundings. The fact that the building is bespoke to our needs as a business, means that we can continue to offer the industry leading service that Gamestec Scotland is renowned for” said Suzanne Probert Gamestec Scotland General Manager.” I am delighted that all of the current staff have transferred to the new location and really enjoy working in the state of the art facility and we have received an excellent response from our customers who are appreciating the speed and level of service the team are able to offer.”

The move further demonstrates Gamestec’s position as the leading operator of pay to play services in UK with the investment in this region and their commitment to offer the highest levels of quality in both product and service to every customer.

Gamestec Scotland can now be found at
Unit 39, Evans Business Centre, Bellshill Industrial Estate, Belgrave Street,
Bellshill, ML4 3NP

“Our customers have taken a real shine to TabBOXX” commented Joanne Mistry the manager of the Greene King owned Malt Shovel pub. “We have worked hard at informing our customers of the charitable aspect of the machine and this, coupled with the opportunity to win up to £1000 per play has ensured the game becoming a real hit”.

During the past fourteen months over £550,000 has been raised for The Roy Castle Lung Cancer Foundation through TabBOXX ticket sales, with twenty per cent of each ticket sold going to the Charity.

“On behalf of the Foundation I would like to thank Joanne and each and every player” said Matt Boyle, director of fundraising at the Roy Castle Lung Cancer Foundation. “We are the only dedicated charity committed to fighting lung cancer and every penny received helps us get closer to beating this terrible disease.”

“We are absolutely delighted to present this cheque to the Roy Castle Foundation on behalf of Joanne and her customers” said Stefan Podolanski Gamestec Senior Product Manager. “TabBOXX has proven to be an additional all important revenue stream to pub managers and landlords alike and Joanne and her team are an absolute blueprint on how to get the very best out of the social lottery game”.

TabBOXX is a user-friendly, pull-tab lottery game where players can win up to £1,000 per play. Through TabBOXX, Gamestec work with two national charities The Roy Castle Lung Cancer Foundation and The Dame Kelly Holmes Legacy Trust with twenty per cent of every ticket sold going to charity.

The instantly recognisable BAR X is exclusive to iPub and fully licensed from Electrocoin Sales Ltd. The game has undergone a complete digital revamp by the team at Astra Games, led by Design Director Andy Dinning. “We wanted to use all the tools that the iPub platform allows whilst retaining the core game, that is instantly recognisable to AGC players and has been such a phenomenal success,” commented Andy. “There are few games that reach legendary status and BAR X is certainly one of them, the team and I are proud to have been able to bring the game to the iPub platform.”

John Stergides Managing Director of Electrocoin added, “I am absolutely delighted with how great the game looks digitally and it certainly plays like the classic which was very important in the final approval of the game. It is a real demonstration of the knowhow and experience that Andy and his team at Astra have, I congratulate them on doing an outstanding job”. John continued, “BAR X is very close to my heart and even after so many years continues to be a great game and I’m in no doubt that it will be a huge hit with players in pubs across the country.”

“For iPub’s latest game to be one of the highest selling AWPs of all time and such an instantly recognisable product really demonstrates our intentions for iPub to appeal to a wider audience” commented Zane Mersich Managing Director of Astra Games “John has recognised the opportunity to bring the BAR X brand to the pub environment and sees the potential offered by the cutting edge video platform driving iPub. This game is a real coup for iPub. It’s always a challenge recreating classics but I believe the development team here at Astra have stayed true to the original and have really done it justice.”

Gamestec recently undertook market research which has identified a large number of pub customers who happily play machines in AGC, bingo halls and online, but will not play machines in pubs. This represents a huge opportunity to grow revenue from machines in pubs by offering customers games they are familiar with and want to play. Current iPub game play statistics show that over 50% of plays comes from Roulette, Poker and simple play slots, games previously unavailable in pubs. Chris Butler, Gamestec Managing Director commented “iPub attracts players who are happy to play in other locations but up until now would not think twice about playing the fruit machine in their local. BAR X is a superb addition to grow the appeal of iPub further and will be a real tool to expand the player base and in turn grow machine revenue which is a priority for all pub retailers in this challenging economic climate”. Chris continued, “How do we get more people playing in pubs? By offering choice through versatile product placement and providing attractive games with wide appeal, whilst at the same time catering for players who love traditional hi-tech analogue games such as Deal or No Deal. With BAR X joining a star studded supporting cast of diverse high quality content we are confident iPub will become the player’s choice.”

The game retains the famous “ BAR”, “X” and “O” symbols but has a fully variable stake and prize, a first for BAR X. Customers won’t have long to wait as BAR X will be available to all iPub customers and will be part of the new game pack, being digitally delivered to all iPub machines during the next few weeks.

“With both companies being the largest operators in their respective fields and with Gamestec’s national coverage matching the high street presence of Quicksilver venues, the partnership has obvious synergies and we are delighted to have been able to award this contract to Gamestec and look forward to developing the relationship further” commented Paul Monkman Talarius Gaming and Service Director. Peter Collinge Operations Director for Gamestec added “At Gamestec we strive to deliver the highest levels of success and responsiveness and by utilising our stock management and planning systems, trained installation teams and modern fleet of vehicles, we will deliver a technology driven solution that will underpin the success of Talarius in growing their business.”

Talarius will benefit from Gamestecs industry leading operations and logistics service. With a nationwide network of depots, strategically positioned for outstanding geographical reach and Gamestec Assist, the Leeds based team of Customer Service Executives is on hand to help with all their clients needs, 14 hours a day, 364 days a year.

The present talks, which do not include the Danoptra companies OBL or Leisure Connection and which would be subject to approval by the Office of Fair Trading (OFT), now look set to represent one of the most significant developments of recent years in a gaming market that is rapidly developing with new digital technologies, while maintaining its continuing use of the analogue technology that is still in strong demand from UK gaming operators.
Julian Nicholls, Chairman of Danoptra commented: “Having worked together with Astra for some years on digital gaming machines operating alongside our successful analogue games, it is apparent that the strengths of Danoptra can be enhanced through access to the resources, market knowledge and experience of Astra and its position within the Novomatic Group. Danoptra companies will be ideally positioned to respond to the exciting opportunities presented by changing marketplace. In short, the combination of the market strengths and skills of a combined Astra and Danoptra represent a step change in capability that represents a clear ‘win-win’ for the companies, their employees and their customers”
Zane Mersich, Managing Director of Astra added: “Astra’s position as Novomatic’s excellence centre in the UK has a strong focus on the continuing evolution of digital based gaming entertainment products and services which will be strengthened by adding further analogue capability. It has been like-minded thinking between Danoptra and ourselves that first began the process which has ultimately brought about this development. I am able to confirm that if the acquisition proceeds, both Astra and the relevant Danoptra companies will continue to develop, manufacture and of course support a full range of analogue products in the future. The analogue AWP is a core component of the UK gaming entertainment industry and it is a significant part of the history of Astra itself and also of Bell Fruit Games. So, to sum up, if our present discussions are successful it will ensure that some of the best known and much loved brands of the UK gaming entertainment industry will flourish and the coming together of these iconic companies will provide market leadership in both analogue and digital gaming together with enhanced service and support to their customers”.
The parties hope that exchange of contracts will take place in mid March with completion of the acquisition scheduled for the end of April, subject to regulatory approval. Pending completion Astra and Danoptra Gaming Group shall continue to operate as fully independent companies in the market.

The Double Olympic Champion seen here with Peter Davies Gamestec Commercial Director and Stefan Podolanski Senior Product Manager launched the trust in 2008 wanting to create a legacy from her athletics career that would benefit the young people who look up to, and are inspired by elite sports performers like herself.

Gamestec’s Commercial Director Peter Davies said, “To be supporting one of our great Olympians in this Olympic year and helping a cause that taps into encouraging young people reach their full potential is something we are delighted and proud to be supporting”.

The Trust is committed to creating life chances for young people and uniquely, every young person the Trust supports has the chance to work with, be inspired by, and learn from the experience of world class sports stars.

Dame Kelly added, “In three years my charity has supported nearly 15,000 people with the aim of helping disadvantaged young people gain the skills, confidence, self-belief and determination they need for success in the modern world. With over a million young people currently unemployed, the need for support like ours is even greater. However, we want to reach more and the 20% raised from every ticket sold through the participating TabBOXX lottery terminal will go a long way to helping us support even more young people who have not had the best start in life.

TabBOXX is a user friendly, pull-tab lottery launched in May 2010 and has now been rolled out to over 700 pub sites across the UK. Players can win up to £1000 per play as well as other smaller cash prizes. Twenty per cent of the £1 ticket price goes to the participating charity.

Matt Boyle Fundraising Director of the Charity said, “The Roy Castle Lung Cancer Foundation is the only charity in the UK wholly dedicated to fighting lung cancer and £500,000 will have a real impact on the work we do, providing help and hope to the people affected by lung cancer”.

“I would like to thank all the pub goers across the UK who have bought tickets and support our work.”

“To be able to hand over a cheque for this amazing amount of money is a real testament to the success of TabBOXX” commented Stefan Podolanski. “Being able to win up to £1,000 in a pub whilst helping worthwhile causes really appeals to the player’s imagination and the opportunity to present the cheque here in the research lab, truly endorses that players can make a difference. Here’s to reaching the next milestone!”