International Game Technology, a leading provider of casino gaming entertainment and systems technology, showcased its latest innovative casino gaming products including the AMD Radeon E6760 embedded graphics processing unit (GPU) at G2E.

Jim Vasquez, IGT vice president of Engineering, said, „By partnering with AMD, IGT is able to use the most advanced graphics processors that allow us to develop the cutting-edge casino games on our Center Stage™ and other game platforms.”

„For our players, this means an enhanced level of entertainment that ranges from interactive touchscreens to multimedia displays on some of our newest games this year,” he added.

In its new casino slot games including the AMD Radeon E6760 GPU, IGT has incorporated several AMD products. Thanks to AMD graphics platforms, IGT game developers are allowed to design integrated displays with HD video and 3D effects while also delivering the high-speed performance necessary for compelling game functionality. At G2E, attendees were able to see how these exceptional graphics translate into new gaming experiences.

„AMD is proud to provide IGT with the tools needed to develop cutting-edge games as well as the advanced graphics technology that ensures players have the most immersive and exciting casino experience possible,” said Arun Iyengar, corporate vice president and general manager, AMD Embedded Solutions. „With the latest AMD Radeon™ E6760 GPU, IGT will deliver unparalleled high-definition displays and a level of interactivity that will not only draw players in, but deliver the extraordinary, virtual Vegas action they desire.”

International Game Technology (IGT) signed an agreement with Reno-based Bonanza Casino. The agreement is similar to the one signed one month earlier, the first Las Vegas deal for IGT’s Double Down Casino social application.

Using its free-play Double Down Casino solution, the domain at BonanzaCasino.com will give the land-based venue’s online players the opportunity to ‘explore exciting casino-style entertainment while remaining connected to the Bonanza brand’.

“Social gaming continues to be a growing trend worldwide,” said Eric Tom, Global Sales Executive Vice-President for IGT.

“Through the Double Down Casino application, IGT delivers an innovative solution for our casino partners such as Bonanza Casino as they are able to host some of the hottest casino games on the most popular social platform directly from their website by leveraging IGT's technology.”

IGT’s sytems and games are already utilized at Bonanza Casino, and the premiere of the Double Down Casino application will take place online via a revenue-sharing programme in the coming weeks, and players will get instant access to its full roster of game titles including slots Da Vinci Diamonds and Cleopatra in addition to a new bingo presentation featuring multi-themed rooms. Players will be also able to enjoy poker while new titles are to be added automatically as they launch online with first-time users receiving virtual chips worth one million dollars to begin their journey.

“Offering our players this tremendous game suite online is defining a new level of entertainment for us,” said Martin Amba, Marketing Manager for Bonanza Casino.

“Through Double Down Casino, we are offering our players, both loyal and new, with fun free-to-play social gaming entertainment right on our website.”

During next week’s EiG in Barcelona, IGT will show its innovative mobile product called IGT rgs Mobile.

Using IGT rgs Mobile operators can use the new mobile remote game server to integrate IGT’s casino games onto their existing online platforms.

In order to keep up with the fastest expanding sector in the industry, IGT’s interactive division invests significantly in new game releases. IGT rgs Mobile is supposed to see 20 new game releases per year. Some of the operators using IGT’s mobile games are: Betfred.com, Virgin Games and Sky Vegas.

Darell Rodriguez has been promoted to the new position of Chief Creative Officer of International Game Technology (IGT), an America-based designer dealing with computerised gaming equipment.

Working since October 2010 as a Senior Vice-President for IGT’s subsidiary Global Game Studios, Rodriguez has now additional duties to deal with global creative agenda, which is to include third-party game developers, publishers’ platform, as well as content creation strategies.

According to IGT Rodriguez has ‘over 15 years of gaming and entertainment experience’ with such leaders as The Walt Disney Company, Electronics Arts and Lucas arts and will bring a ‘unique understanding of how to proficiently leverage industry-leading content across all platforms in ways that will benefit’ the company’s stakeholders.

Patti Hart, Chief Executive Officer for IGT said: “Darrell brings an impressive history of creativity, strategic vision and best-in-class content expertise that will continue to provide the foundation of our products and services.”

“He has provided the necessary leadership for our content development efforts and is well equipped to further our pursuit of creating and providing the most innovative game content for all of our customers and partners.”

According to IGT, putting Rodriguez in charge of the company’s creative resources shows its ‘continued commitment to delivering integrated, dynamic content and solutions for casino operators and players around the globe’.

In other news, IGT revealed that Chris Satchell will step down from his posts as Research and Development Chief Technology Officer and Executive Vice-President on Friday.

Hart said that: “Chris has helped to drive meaningful progress with our technical strategy and product development.

“We would like to thank Chris for his contributions to IGT and we wish him well in all of his future endeavours.”

International Game Technology (IGT), an American computerized gaming equipment designer and manufacturer, revealed that its online social games developer DoubleDown Interactive LLC has signed 15 deals for its application DoubleDown Casino.

 DoubleDown Interactive was bought by IGT earlier this year for $500 million and in the last month it closed deals with casinos in California, Colorado, Oklahoma, Louisiana, Florida, Minnesota, South Dakota and Virginia, which brings the total number of venues using its iGaming solution to 24.

Robert Melendres, Emerging Businesses Executive Vice-President for IGT said: “IGT is providing a unique and highly desired service to the casino community with continuous innovation and proven results in the social gaming arena.

“DoubleDown Casino is providing casinos with a solution that they can utilise today, having been made available to encourage and incent players to return to the casinos for even more exciting game play.”

Thanks to IGT’s DoubleDown Casino application land-based casinos can enjoy all the benefits of interactive gaming market and use some of its best games, such as Cleopatra or Da Vinci Diamonds.

IGT’s statement reads: “The DoubleDown Casino solution not only shows tremendous forward-thinking on the part of the casinos, who are essentially offering their players with a free-play solution for poker, bingo, slots and additional casino-style entertainment immediately, but it also allows the casino player with a way to connect with the casino property in a way that has never been offered before.

“All of the fun and excitement that DoubleDown Casino offers gives players a wide variety of popular slot game options such as classic IGT slot titles Da Vinci Diamonds and Cleopatra, a newly released bingo game and multi-player poker directly to the casino's website. The DoubleDown Casino will launch many more games during the next twelve months, all of which will be available to land-based casinos as part of the programme.”

International Game Technology (IGT) and Paddy Power have signed a deal that will have IGT provide the latter with a selection of mobile games. 

 According to IGT, the agreement is a ‘significant extension to the companies’ existing partnership’ and will allow users of paddypower.com and the new Roller mobile brand to access famous games such as Da Vinci Diamonds, Kitty Glitter, Cleopatra and more.

Neigh Nissim, Europe, Middle East and Africa Interactive Commercial Director for IGT said: “Thanks to the consistently strong performance of our games, IGT’s relationship with Paddy Power has thrived over a number of years.”

“It gives us great pleasure to extend the partnership and we look forward to enjoying further success in the future.”

Paddy Power will be the first sportsbook and online gaming customer of OpenBet Technologies to obtain access to the library of mobile games using the Remote Gaming Server (RGS) Casino.

Isaac Ward, E-Gaming Head for Paddy Power commented: “Paddy Power offers customers a world-class entertainment experience delivering the best online and mobile games available today. We have built a strong partnership with IGT over many years and it is great to be able to extend this further with the introduction of its new mobile games platform.”

International Game Technology (IGT) announced that four people have been nominated by its group of shareholders to serve on its board of directors, but the company is asking its investors to block that move during the next annual general meeting. 

The list of names was provided by Ader Investment Management LP, owner of around 3% of IGT’s total shares, on behalf of former Chairman and CEO Charles Mathewson. 

Ader Groups wants the IGT board to be joined by Mathewson, Jason Ader, Raymond and Daniel Silvers. The company believes that this proxy fight is ‘the result of a long-running dispute between IGT and Mr Mathewson’.

A statement from IGT says: “IGT welcomes communications with its shareholders and values input toward the goal of enhancing shareholder value.

“Accordingly, IGT and its representatives have been in regular communication with Mr Ader over the last several months through numerous telephone calls, e-mail exchanges and face-to-face meetings including Mr Ader's November 2012 presentation to the full IGT board. IGT has provided multiple opportunities for the Ader Group to offer plans or strategies to enhance shareholder value, but to date, it has not suggested any constructive alternatives to the company's strategy.”

IGT is asking its shareholders to block the move, instead urging its own nominees: Paget Alves, Janice Chaffin, Greg Creed, Patti Hart, Robert Miller, David Roberson, Vincent Sadusky and Philip Satre.

The company’s statement reads: “IGT's board is comprised of highly experienced professionals with expertise across a wide range of disciplines and industries critical to IGT's business including gaming, hospitality, technology and finance,” read the statement from IGT.

“In addition, IGT directors have extensive operations and management experience at the highest levels of both public and private companies. IGT's Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee regularly reviews the representation of relevant skills and experience on the board and considers new qualified candidates to ensure the company is poised for future growth. As a result, the company has substantially reconstituted its eight-member board adding six new independent directors over the last five years.

“Following Mr Mathewson's retirement in 2003, he has repeatedly attempted to exert influence over the company's operations and extract personal financial benefits at the expense of all other shareholders. In 2010, the IGT board severed all financial ties with Mr. Mathewson.

“The IGT board and the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee have carefully evaluated the qualifications of the Ader Group's nominees. The IGT board strongly believes that the Ader Group nominees, if elected, may seek to advance an agenda that is not in the best interests of all IGT shareholders.”

IGT has partnered with iSoftBet and will provide its content on the Italian iGaming market, significantly enhancing the latter’s product offering. 

Leigh Nissim, IGT commercial director of Interactive, EMEA said: “This agreement with iSoftBet provides us with a very exciting opportunity. Partnering with iSoftBet allows us to continue to develop our interactive footprint in Italy, which is a key market for IGT.”

Using single integration with IGT remote game server Casino, iSoftBet will be able to give its customers access to all of IGT’s great online slot games. 

“Integrating with the IGT rgs suite of games marks a significant milestone in our continued development. iSoftBet can now offer an even greater gaming experience and access to one of the world’s best libraries of online slots. We look forward to this leading to further opportunities and being the start of a long and successful partnership,” said Nir Elbaz, business development director for iSoftBet. 

The MegaJackpots Facebook page was created in October 2012. Last week, the amount of fans that have liked the page has reached more than 100,000. 

The MegaJackpots Facebook page contains information on latest jackpot wins, new game titles, latest contests, places to play MegaJackpots games and exclusive Facebook offers. 

The current contest held on the page, ‘Play Your Way Giveaway’ gives players a chance to win two vacation packaged to Agua Caliente Casino Resort Spa in Rancho Mirage in California or Harrah’s New Orleans. 

MegaJackpots have been launched in 1986 and cover a multitude of progressive products. The jackpot winnings include amounts starting just over $1 million, as well as the record slot jackpot of over $39 million. 

SGS International Certification Services has given ISO 9001:2008 recertification to IGT’s Global Technology and Interoperability Center. Additionally, it also received ISO 17025 re-accreditation from the American Association for Laboratory Accreditation.

Matt LaBranch, Manufacturing Operations Vice-President for IGT said: “IGT's ISO recertification is central to the company's global production and sales efforts because it signifies our commitment to manufacturing excellence, demonstrating efficiency in processes, product design and development efforts as well as customer satisfaction levels. Our dedication to our quality management system ensures that our customers receive top-of-the-line products.”

According to IGT, the ISO 9001:2008 certification represents ‘an expanded scope from the company's previous re-certification in 2010’. Aside of Reno and Las Vegas, the re-certification also includes offices in Bozeman, Montana and Hoofddorp. 

Allen Liu, Global Technology and Interoperability Center Manager for IGT said: “The gaming industry realised we must work together to achieve interoperability to meet our customers' demands. We welcome all gaming manufacturers to test their products that use Gaming Standards Association protocols with IGT systems such as sbX and Advantage at the GTIC.”