With the global gaming industry once again gathering at G2E, the gaming technology providers that anchor the Association of Gaming Equipment Manufacturers (AGEM) are in the spotlight and looking forward as AGEM looks back on another active year.
“If our industry had a formal beginning for its own kind of fiscal year, it would be G2E,” AGEM Executive Director Marcus Prater said. “Our members have been busy for the past 12 months getting ready to show off an amazing array of products on the floor at G2E, and it’s a good time for AGEM to reflect on the organization’s highlights, which have advanced the collective interests of all global suppliers.”
Prater said the organization had highlighted 12 success stories, one per month, to represent the successes AGEM has marked since last year’s G2E.
No. 1: Gaming suppliers create powerful economic impact
AGEM released a comprehensive report in April showing the global gaming supplier industry generated a total economic impact of $55.8 billion, supported more than 202,000 employees – including 61,700 direct employees – and supported a total of $14.1 billion in wages and salaries during 2018. The report, titled “Impact Analysis: Global Gaming Supplier Industry,” was the result of an independent study commissioned by AGEM and conducted by the Nevada-based research firm Applied Analysis.
No. 2: AGEM, Gaming Laboratories International (GLI) committed to giving
AGEM and GLI announced in June the creation of their new “Lasting Impact Philanthropic Initiative,” a multiyear effort aimed at identifying worthy causes that will utilize direct contributions to flourish over the long term and provide a variety of assistance to multiple beneficiaries. The first gift from the newly formed Initiative was a $500,000 contribution to the Howard R. Hughes College of Engineering building fund at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. The second gift, in September, was $200,000 to the Dr. Robert Hunter International Problem Gambling Center in Las Vegas.
No. 3: AGEM legislative effort boosts workforce in Nevada
AGEM initiated the legislation that became Assembly Bill 221 in Nevada, which was swept into law and expanded the state’s technology and manufacturing workforce by giving anyone under 21 and employed by slot machine, systems, table game and component suppliers legal status as gaming employees. Previously, Nevada statute prohibited any person under 21 from being employed as a gaming employee except as a member of a casino count room staff.
No. 4: AGEM represents technology providers in Apple App Store extension
AGEM and the rest of the industry were caught off-guard by Apple’s June announcement that new guidelines for its App Store will impact Internet Gaming and sports betting suppliers and operators by requiring apps and games to be developed in Apple’s native code by a Sept. 3 deadline or face removal from the App Store. AGEM took its case to Apple CEO Tim Cook, and Apple granted an extension until March 3, 2020 that will ease the timeframe pressure for both technology providers and regulators.
No. 5: Suppliers applaud expansion opportunities
AGEM continued to cultivate contacts and relationships on the ground in Japan, where new integrated resorts will create the world’s most technologically advanced casino gaming environments. AGEM has established a relationship with the Preparation Office of Japan Casino Regulatory Commission, Cabinet Office as regulations and technical standards impacting suppliers are contemplated. In the U.S., AGEM supported the successful effort for new casinos in Arkansas and applauded the large expansion developments in Illinois that could result in 30,000 new gaming positions.
No. 6: Industry cooperation pays off
AGEM worked with the American Gaming Association on the G2E and G2E Asia events and with the European Casino Association on ICE, the International Casino Conference, and the European Dealer Championship. AGEM also partnered on other issues and events with a wide variety of other industry associations, including Global Gaming Women, the Gaming Technologies Association, Gaming Standards Association, International Masters of Gaming Law, the International Association of Gaming Advisors, the Canadian Gaming Association, the Nevada Resort Association, and the Las Vegas Chamber of Commerce. AGEM Director of Europe Tracy Cohen was selected to represent suppliers at the ECA’s Diversity and Inclusion for Career Enhancement (DICE Europe) launch in June.
No. 7: Focus on responsible gaming remains strong
The AGEM Board unanimously approved the contract renewal of AGEM Director of Responsible Gaming Connie Jones, and she had a very active year. AGEM continued to financially support a wide variety of organizations dedicated to responsible gaming initiatives, including the National Center for Responsible Gaming, the National Council on Problem Gambling, the Nevada Council on Problem Gambling, the Dr. Robert Hunter International Problem Gambling Center in Las Vegas and GamCare in the United Kingdom. As a specific example, the annual AGEM-AGA Golf Classic presented by JCM Global in May had another successful run, raising $197,000 and now raised more than $2.1 million for the NCRG over the event’s 21 years.
No 8: AGEM delivers on commitment to education
AGEM continues to fund the AGEM Scholarship through the American Indian College Fund, highlighting a busy 12 months focused on the educational component in its mission statement. In addition to supporting Indian country, AGEM has funded scholarships or contributions to the UNLV Lee Business School, Nevada State College, the Global Gaming Women Charitable Education Fund, Atlantic Cape (N.J.) Community College, the International Center for Gaming Regulation at UNLV, the UNLV Center for Gaming Innovation, Las Vegas Discovery Children’s Museum and Spread the Word Nevada. In Mexico, AGEM pledged $12,500 to National Autonomous University of Mexico to help fund a gaming industry overview that will capture all of impacts of gaming in this active market.
No. 9: Work continues on regulatory reform
AGEM continues to work with regulatory bodies around the world to advance the overall interests of its members. AGEM was especially active in Nevada over the past 12 months as Sandra Morgan replaced Becky Harris as chairwoman of the Nevada Gaming Control Board and the AGEM Compliance Committee identified area of improvement to increase the flow of technology through the board’s test lab. AGEM also had specific interaction providing direct input to regulators in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Michigan, Mexico and Canada, among other markets.
No. 10: AGEM Memorial Awards honor well-deserved duo
At last year’s G2E, AGEM revealed the third winners of the Jens Halle Memorial Award Honoring Excellence in Commercial Gaming Professionalism – former SHFL entertainment CEO and Vice Chairman of the Board of Scientific Games Gavin Isaacs – and the Peter Mead Memorial Award Honoring Excellence in Gaming Media & Communications – longtime slot machine expert and current Global Gaming Business magazine editor Frank Legato. The 2019 winners will be announced Monday, with the awards presentation at G2E set for Wednesday at 4 p.m. at the AGEM booth.
No. 11: AGEM membership hits all-time high
Total AGEM membership at the Gold, Silver, Bronze and Associate levels hit 175 companies in April, 20 years after AGEM was formed by the big four slot companies of Aristocrat, Bally, IGT and WMS.
No. 12: AGEM Officers form strong team
AGEM updated its officer ream in January when the board approved President Luke Orchard, IGT; Vice President David Lucchese, Everi; Vice President Robert Parente, Scientific Games; Vice President Tom Jingoli, Konami; Vice President Eric Fisher, Crane Payment Innovations; Secretary Mark Dunn, Aristocrat; Treasurer Tom Nieman, JCM Global; and General Counsel Daron Dorsey, Ainsworth. Nieman subsequently retired after a distinguished career in gaming that began with Bally Manufacturing in 1972 and Fisher replaced him as Treasurer.
