USA Wager on Gambling to Help Budgets
As state budgets shrink in the economic slowdown, government officials across the United States are wagering that legalized gambling will be the winning ace needed to help shore up treasury coffers. Read more >>

Specifications of Video Game Consoles
These are the hardware specifications for the leading video game consoles, two of which will be launched this week - Microsoft Corp.'s (MSFT.O) Xbox and the Nintendo Co. Ltd. (7974.OS) GameCube. Read more >>

Bigben strikes nine for European Dreamcast owners
One of Europe's leading independent distributors, Bigben Interactive, has announced an exclusive deal with Capcom. Read more >>

GameCube and Xbox Early
Various news sites have picked up on a lead that suggests that GameCube console are already making their way to stores and Nintendo is not penalizing them for selling them early. Read more >>

Wave Rally makes a funky splash
The official soundtrack for upcoming PlayStation2 game, Wave Rally, has been revealed. The fast-paced Jet Ski racer has secured music tracks from drum and bass label Moving Shadow. The long line of producers providing music for the game include Omni Trio, EZ Rollers, Dom & Roland, Technical Itch, 2 Bad Mice, Tekniq, Aquasky, Universal, Kudos, Perfect Combination, and Dharma & Dice. Read more >>

FAB new game for GBA
SCi Ltd is releasing a sequel to its GBC Thunderbirds title - this time on the Game Boy Advance.The game will see players go up against the evil Hood, who has made a replica of International Rescue and all its vehicles in a bid to turn the world against them. The game's levels will feature a number of genres including platform, side-scrolling shoot 'em up and classic arcade shooting. Read more >>

MGM Mirage pulls out of South Africa
MGM Mirage Inc. is selling its management operations at four South African casinos. MGM Mirage officials said they wouldn't disclose the purchase price until the deal with two South African companies, Tsogo Investment Holding Co. Ltd. and Southern Sun Gaming Investments Ltd, is completed in the first quarter of 2002. Read more >>

It's a new play for riverboats
The riverboat casinos are taking on water. Gamblers are switching in droves-at least, judging by last month's numbers-from the Empress Casino Joliet to the new Harrah's Joliet Casino and Hotel, a 40,000-square-foot gaming barge that resembles a land-based casino, offers Las Vegas-style gambling and provides players 1,138 slot machines and 31 gaming tables. It replaces two of the company's multideck riverboats. Read more >>

City considers edict banning casino boats
At least two casino boat operators have their eye on Georgetown now that the state Supreme Court has made it easier for the vessels to operate in South Carolina. Read more >>

Interlott to supply 300 machines to Ky. lottery
Interlott Technologies Inc. signed a contract to provide 300 of its pull-tab/break-open card vending machines to the Kentucky Lottery. Financial terms were not disclosed. Read more >>

Kentucky Lottery to buy machines from Interlott
The Kentucky Lottery Corp. has signed an agreement with Interlott Technologies Inc. to buy 300 pull-tab/break-open card vending machines for the lottery's instant games. Read more >>

12 governors fof legalizing casinos, 15 against
Twelve governors in Tokio support the idea of legalizing casinos to attract tourists to their prefectures and create new jobs, while 15 are opposed to such a move, a Kyodo News survey showed Sunday. The poll covered all 47 governors. Only 27 indicated clear-cut support or opposition. Read more >>

Ex-politician, gaming figure Jones dies
Cliff Jones, a former lieutenant governor, international casino developer and power broker whose legendary influence earned him the nickname "the Big Juice," died Friday at a local hospice. He was 89. Read more >>

Casinos Hurting After Attacks
Casinos in Altantic City, N.J. are suffering as gamblers say they won't risk being away from home if there's another terrorist attack. Read more >>

GameCube Launches
Despite the rash of gamers that were able to secure their GameCubes because of early preorder shipments, the vast majority of hopeful GameCube owners will have a crack at scoring a GameCube today. Read more >>

Pac Man voted 'Greatest Video Game Character'
Pac Man, launched in 1981 has been voted the greatest video game character of all time, according to a poll of UK customers of PC and console games. The classic 80s arcade game beat characters like Super Mario, Lara Croft and even Sonic The Hedgehog in a survey of people buying games equipment at branches of Dixons. Read more >>

Sega's Holiday titles
Sega has announced its bigtime titles for the holidays, saying, "No Matter What Console is Under the Tree, Stuff Your Stocking with Sega!" - even the Dreamcast. Read more >>

Bet on ICE 2002! INTERNATIONAL BETTING ZONE ADDED TO LONDON SHOW
Organisers of January's International Casino Exhibition have announced a further expansion of the leading business-to-business event with the launch of the International Betting Zone (IBZ), an area aimed at technology-focussed suppliers of betting services and equipment. The IBZ is the fourth specialist area at ICE 2002, joining zones dedicated to internet gaming, machine components and recruitment. Read more >>

Company That Made PlayStation Emulator Shuts Down
A company that made software allowing consumers to play video games meant for the Sony Corp. PlayStation on their PCs and other consoles has shut down after protracted legal battles, it said. Read more >>

Rivar's big payoff in Vegas
When you're one of 2,000 exhibitors on the floor of the giant Comdex technology show in Las Vegas, anything that gives your product prominence is welcome. So Gene Savar, president and chief executive of Rivar Technologies Inc. in Clearwater, was practically delirious to be named a finalist last week in Comdex's Best of Show competition. Read more >>

Nintendo's GameCube launched in U.S.
Five years after launching its last video game console in the United States, Japan's Nintendo Co. Ltd. begun selling its next-generation machine, the GameCube. Read more >>

FunFactorXXL - Photo Play is raffling off a Renault Twingo!
From one winning game to the next: the closing date for entries for the best games idea has passed and a great number of first-class entries will make the judges' choice quite difficult. Now, the next surprise is waiting at all Photo Play terminals that are part of the network in Austria. Read more >>

Viva Las Blackpool?
Since 1879, when the city's now famous illuminations flickered into light for the first time, holidaymakers have enjoyed Blackpool's unique mix of thrilling rollercoasters, amusement arcades, candy floss, donkey rides and bracing winds. Read more >>

I.G.O. is the hit!
Photo Play Update 2002 tremendously successful. First market research tests amongst players, prior to the actual product launch of I.G.O., made it apparent that the product would be a great success. Now, after international sales presentations it has become a fact: I.G.O. - the Intelligent Games Operation power pack is an absolute hit! Read more >>

Business to Business
Tony McAuslan, founder and CEO of Next Generation Gaming, believes that the UK will steal a lead over other jurisdictions in it's attempts to regulate Internet gaming. Speaking at the recent Gaming Industry Forum he said: "A lot of companies in America are saying that the British are about to steal their lunch". Read more >>

October Gaming Results
Nevada Gold 7 Casinos, Inc. has announced that the Black Hawk gaming market grew 8.1% in October 2001, to $39.9 million. This was an increase compared to $36.9 million in October last year, said a report by the Colorado Division of Gaming. Read more >>

Nintendo shoots past forecasts
Japanese game giant Nintendo, defying glum consumer sentiment, is poised to unveil perky interim financial results on Wednesday, thanks to brisk sales of its Game Boy software and falling prices for key parts for its consoles. Read more >>

Nintendo cuts Game Boy software fees
Nintendo, the maker of video games such as Pokemon, lowered the fees it charges software companies that make games for its Game Boy Advance portable system to boost sales, software makers said. Read more >>

Sony to cut Japan PlayStation 2 price 15%
Sony Corp said it will cut the suggested retail price of its PlayStation 2 game console in Japan by 15 percent to 29,800 yen ($239.60) on November 29 and start selling the machine in several Asian markets in December. Read more >>

October gambling proceeds increase
Casinos in Colorado raked in $56.4 million last month compared with $54.3 million collected in October last year. Read more >>

Kevin Weir Joins Electrocoin
Kevin Weir has been appointed Business Development Director at Electrocoin and will join the company with immediate effect. Speaking about the surprise announcement, Electrocoin's John Stergides told Coin Slot. "I am very happy Kevin accepted our invitation to join Electrocoin and his appointment is yet another indication of our serious intent to maintain Electrocoin's position as one of the UK's leading distributors. Kevin's extensive knowledge of the industry, and especially his expertise with the retail side of the business, will be a great asset as we continue to expand the on-line tournament division". Read more >>

Gaming for Africa Expo to Relaunch
The Gaming for Africa Expo, southern Africa's premier gaming show, will make a welcome return to the international gaming calender, when it relaunches in May next year. The show had been put on hold in recent years following the hold-up of the LPM (Limited Payout Machine) market due to legislative delays. Read more >>

Indian Gaming Allowed to Continue in New Mexico
Federal officials approved gambling compacts between New Mexico and tribal governments, clearing the way for the tribes to continue operating casinos and sharing revenue with the state, officials said. Read more >>

Computer games: 40 years of fun
A London-based show will chronicle the history of the computer game since its birth in 1962 and will include vintage arcade games, rare kit and artwork. Read more >>

Viva Las Blackpool?
Since 1879, when the city's now famous illuminations flickered into light for the first time, holidaymakers have enjoyed Blackpool's unique mix of thrilling rollercoasters, amusement arcades, candy floss, donkey rides and bracing winds. And though, with 10m visitors annually, Blackpool is still the UK's most popular seaside destination, over the last decade a mixture of cheaper air travel and continental beaches has prompted a 30% drop in visitors to the North West coast. This decline has prompted amusement industry commentators to ask: How can Blackpool move into the 21st Century without abandoning its unique personality? Read more >>

Greektown Casino Opens Poker Room
Greektown Casino ahs become the first Detroit market casino to open a poker room. The poker room will accommodate 43 players at five tables. Read more >>

ATE wins EuroTechno account
ATE Limited, organisers of the market leading Amusement Trades Exhibition International and the International Casino Exhibition (Earls Court Exhibition Centre, 22-24 January 2002), have concluded a five-year agreement with Euromat to research and event manage EuroTechno. Read more >>

Rock to lead Coinmaster listing
IAN ROCK, the former chief executive of European Leisure, is to return to the public company arena by leading the Ofex listing of Coinmaster, the gaming machine maker. Read more >>

Acquisition of Chex Services, Inc.
Equitex, Inc. has announced that its board of directors has given final authorization for the acquisition of Chex Services, Inc. Read more >>

Maygay Restructures Distribution
Maygay Machines has announced that Deith Leisure will cease to be a distributor of the company's product as of January 1st, 2002. Read more >>

Iron Eagle Max announced for the PS2
JVC Digital Studios has announced its flight-combat game Iron Eagle Max for the Sony PlayStation 2. Iron Eagle Max is currently nearing the final stages of development and will be released in April 2002. Read more >>

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