The Nevada Gaming Commission has approved a license for Australia's Ainsworth Game Technology Ltd. to supply machines in the state. Company Chairman Len Ainsworth, the gaming industry legend who founded Aristocrat in 1954, announced he will immediately open an office in Las Vegas.

The commission approved Ainsworth after the manufacturer was recommended for approval by a 2-1 vote by the Nevada Gaming Control Board. The dissenting member of the board, Mark Lipparelli, had cited company chairman Ainsworth's past regulatory compliance record, which he said contained several questionable transactions between 1986 and 1993, when Aristocrat made several unsuccessful attempts to secure Nevada licensing. Aristocrat was not approved for licensing until 2000, after not only Ainsworth but all his sons had left the company. Ainsworth formed his new company after giving up his own interest in Aristocrat.

In the end, the commission did not feel the regulatory questions posed enough of a problem to deny licensing. "It is a major milestone for AGT," said Ainsworth. "It has been a long road to achieve this position, which ranks us with everyone else supplying this important market. We are confident that we will make a significant impact on the Nevada gaming scene."

By GGB Staff

Staff writers for Global Gaming Business magazine. Las Vegas, Nevada.