- The Arkansas Attorney General recently approved wording for consideration on the November ballot regarding changes to state gaming law. There is now a scramble to collect 85,000 signatures by July 6 to endorse the proposal that would potentially allow two new casinos to be granted licenses and two existing racinos to allow traditional slots. This could see a boost of 8,000-10,000 new machines in the state. AGEM is watching this initiative closely and has agreed to pledge $10,000 in support to gain the appropriate number of signatures.
- AGEM Mexico Committee Chairman Carlos Carrion recently met with the new director of SEGOB, Eduardo Cayetano Cacho Silva. They had very positive discussions regarding AGEM’s past collaborations with SEGOB and the director’s wishes to continue to grow the relationship. It was agreed that AGEM’s Responsible Gaming Code will be translated from English and presented in Spanish, so it can be used to assist Mexico’s operators and for when new regulations are drawn up for the market.
- The AGEM-AGA Golf Classic Presented by JCM Global recently took place at the renowned Shadow Creek course. This was the 20th anniversary of the event, and was a resounding success that resulted in the largest contribution to date for the National Center for Responsible Gaming (NCRG). A phenomenal $228,000 was raised, taking donations for this event to more than $2 million since its inception. More than 140 players took part, with the overall competition won by IGT.
- Following the recent news that American Gaming Association CEO Geoff Freeman will be resigning his post on August 1, AGEM Executive Director Marcus Prater spoke at the June meeting to acknowledge and thank Freeman for his work over the past five years. The AGA has become bigger and stronger under his leadership, and he leaves behind a great legacy and a large staff that AGEM continues to work very closely with.
- AGEM welcomed four new members in June, bringing the total membership to 170 companies. Weike Gaming Technology, approved as a Bronze member, is based in Singapore and supplies slot machines, electronic table games, gaming management systems and jackpot links across Asia. Also joining at the Bronze level was Ace Systems, based in Monterrey, Mexico, which supplies software for casino management systems. New Associate members include BDO, the world’s fifth largest accountancy firm, and Nanoptix, based in Dieppe, Canada, which provides thermal direct printers to the gaming industry.
FORTHCOMING EVENTS
- Nominations for the Jens Halle and Peter Mead Memorial Awards are open. Nominees should have a minimum of 10 years working in the industry and possess the qualities that both men displayed. All nominations must be received by July 15 and the winners will be announced during G2E Las Vegas in October. Please visit www.AGEM.org for more information.
AGEM INDEX
The AGEM Index continued to grow positively in May 2018, building upon last month’s encouraging trends. The composite index finished the month at 554.05 points, a gain of 22.72 points or 4.28 percent, compared to April 2018. The AGEM Index reported a year-over-year increase for the 32nd consecutive month and has climbed 163.87 points, or 42.00 percent, since May 2017. During the latest period, seven of the 13 global gaming equipment manufacturers reported month-to-month increases in stock price. Six manufacturers reported decreases in stock price during the month.
