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Aristocrat to Close Japan Unit

Tue, May 26, 2015

Australian slot manufacturer Aristocrat Leisure Ltd. announced it will close its main Japanese unit KK Aristocrat Technologies and cease new pachislot game development in that country. The decision follows what the parent describes as a “strategic review” of its Japanese business, according to the GGRAsia website.

Aristocrat Leisure added it will maintain a small presence in Japan via another subsidiary called KK Spiky, which will provide service and field support for recent game releases.

The Japan business had become “less relevant to Aristocrat’s predominantly recurring revenue footprint,” said Toni Korsanos, Aristocrat Leisure’s chief financial officer, in a statement. “We will continue to prioritize investments behind our growing core segments across Class II, Class III and digital gaming segments.”

The closure will occur before the end of the calendar year.

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