At a recent meeting with Nevada regulators, Konami Group Chairman Higashio Kimihiko expressed confidence that the gaming industry has fully bounced back from the setbacks caused by the pandemic. Appearing before the Nevada Gaming Control Board (NGCB), Kimihiko underscored the industry’s robust recovery and outlined Konami’s role in adapting to post-pandemic challenges.

Konami’s Kimihiko Touts Company’s Strength at Nevada Regulator Hearing

Kimihiko, who has been at the helm of Konami since 2020, addressed the NGCB through an interpreter. He acknowledged the impact of the pandemic but emphasized that the market has regained its strength, reported CDC Gaming. He was last approved for licensing by Nevada regulators in 2013, and this recent appearance was part of a routine licensing process. The NGCB’s recommendation for approval will advance to the Nevada Gaming Commission for final consideration later this month.

In his discussion with NGCB Chairman Kirk Hendrick, Kimihiko supported the state’s efforts to accelerate the introduction of gaming products to the market. Hendrick highlighted the state’s commitment to aiding companies in swiftly delivering new technologies to customers, a sentiment that Kimihiko endorsed.

NGCB member George Assad praised Kimihiko’s impressive background, noting his progression within Konami from an engineering MBA graduate to his current leadership position.

NGCB Approves Caesars Entertainment’s CIO Rajendran Anbalagan

During the same meeting, the NGCB also reviewed and recommended the approval of Rajendran Anbalagan as the chief information and product transformation officer for Caesars Entertainment. Anbalagan, who took on this role 11 months ago, has a background in digital and technology roles, including a stint at Panera Bread as senior vice president.

Despite his limited experience in the gaming industry, Anbalagan described himself as a “computer geek” who is eager to tackle the challenges of his new position. He addressed the cybersecurity incident that Caesars experienced last fall, assuring the NGCB that the company has been proactive in strengthening its defenses. Anbalagan detailed how Caesars has increased collaboration with cybersecurity partners and hired a new chief information security officer to enhance their protective measures.

Hendrick echoed the importance of cybersecurity, noting that the NGCB itself faced a cyberattack in January. He emphasized the government’s commitment to safeguarding its systems and praised Anbalagan for his efforts to protect customer and employee information.

Anbalagan also touched on his role in product transformation, emphasizing the need for a seamless guest experience through advanced technology. Board member Brittnie Watkins commended his hands-on approach and looked forward to the innovations he would bring to the industry.

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The leading designer and manufacturer of casino management systems and slot machines, powering gambling operators across the globe, Konami Gaming, unveiled a new C-suite appointment. The company has announced it strengthened its senior-level team with the addition of Stephanie Lau. Joining Konami, she was appointed to the role of vice president of sales enablement and gaming operations.

Lau is expected to play a pivotal role in strategic processes related to analysis, data and market delivery. Ultimately, with her new role at Konami Gaming, she is expected to ensure the delivery of exceptional experiences for the company’s growing portfolio of customers.

Overall, Lau has nearly two decades of experience within the gambling sector after the start of her career back in 2005. Currently, she holds a Management Information Systems (MIS) degree along with a Bachelor of Science in Accounting, International Business from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas.

Throughout her professional career, Lau was a part of recognizable companies within the gambling sector. Her experience includes roles with MGM Resorts International as well as Station Casinos, among other leading resorts on the Las Vegas Strip.

Lau’s extensive experience includes roles within resorts and local destinations with both commercial and tribal operators. She has invaluable knowledge from the sales, data analytics and business divisions, making her a perfect fit for the new role at Konami Gaming.

The New VP of Sales Enablement Brings Extensive Experience

Jay Bertsch, Konami’s senior vice president and chief commercial officer, highlighted Lau’s experience which spans nearly two decades within the gambling sector. “She has demonstrated an ability to drive exceptional results through gaming analytics, market strategy, product positioning, and customer engagement, which we look forward to sharing with the valued casinos we serve,” he added.

“With nearly 20 years of distinguished experience in the gaming industry, Stephanie is bringing an important operator focus and data-driven approach to this key appointment.“

Jay Bertsch, SVP and CCO at Konami Gaming

The latest senior-level appointment comes on the heels of another major announcement by Konami. Back in October, the company confirmed several appointments in an effort to strengthen its relationships with its business partners. At the time, Konami said it transferred Josh Faish and Justin Torres to director of sales roles.

Moreover, the company revealed it selected Rick Tribble, Jeff Fuller and Caroline Byne for directors of business development positions. Ultimately, each of the appointments sought to improve Konami’s business-to-business relationships and contribute toward its growth in different jurisdictions.

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The Queen Baton Rouge, a brand-new gaming establishment at the site of the former Hollywood Casino in Baton Rouge, has adopted Konami Gaming’s SYNKROS casino management system. As a result, guests can now benefit from the unique rewards and benefits offered by The Queen Casino & Entertainment at each of the company’s four properties.

The SYNKROS system will also benefit the Baton Rouge casino by providing its management with a selection of solutions, including an anti-money laundering system and an employee mobile application, among others.

The Queen Baton Rouge is one of The Queen Casino & Entertainment’s two properties in the city. Having opened after a thorough renovation process, the casino currently boasts a 100,000-square-foot footprint with a large gaming area and multiple dining options.

Visitors can enjoy 700 gaming machines and 18 gaming tables offering games such as poker, craps, blackjack and roulette. The property also has a DraftKings sportsbook for the sports betting aficionados.

In the meantime, The Queen Casino & Entertainment plans to also renovate Belle of Baton Rouge, its other property in the city. As the first casino in Louisiana, Belle of Baton Rouge has a location of huge significance to the company.

Konami Is Happy to Support Another Queen Casino Property

The Queen Casino & Entertainment has been using Konami Gaming’s SYNKROS technology since 2021. The former company’s president and chief executive officer, Terry Downey, commented on the launch of SYNKROS at The Queen Baton Rouge, noting that it would allow his team to offer seamless loyalty rewards to its customers.

Following the successful installs at Belle of Baton Rouge, DraftKings at Casino Queen and Casino Queen Marquette, Downey is certain that the technology would reinforce The Queen Baton Rouge’s business as well.

We hope that the attractive rewards and technology will encourage loyal members and new guests to explore these exciting gaming and entertainment destinations.

Terry Downey, president & CEO, The Queen Casino & Entertainment

Randy Caron, Konami Gaming’s vice president of system sales, also commented on the matter, noting that The Queen Baton Rouge is The Queen Casino & Entertainment’s fourth property to adopt the SYNKROS system.

Caron praised the casino company on the grand opening of its second Baton Rouge property:

We offer our sincere congratulations to The Queen Baton Rouge on its grand opening and look forward to continued partnership.

Randy Caron, vice president of system sales, Konami Gaming

Last month, Konami posted its Q2 results, which were bolstered by its gaming & systems vertical.

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The premium casino operator in Australia, The Star Entertainment Group, announced it extended its partnership with Konami Gaming, the renowned provider of casino gaming and systems technology. The extended and expanded deal, announced Tuesday, sees the duo continue to collaborate together since their initial agreement dating back to 2008. Extending their long-term partnership marks a milestone moment for The Star, as well as Konami, reaffirming their success so far.

Per the extended deal, the casino operator will benefit from SYNKROS, Konami’s award-winning casino management system. Throughout their extensive agreement, innovation played an important role in the duo’s flourishing partnership within the gambling sector. Ultimately, the two companies share a vision to revolutionize the experiences for casino customers.

Under the extended deal, The Star will benefit from a wide range of SYNKROS technology solutions that seek to elevate the experiences for visitors of its casinos. Such innovations will include digital wallet/cashless wagering options, seeking to deliver seamless, convenient and secure experiences for the players. Additionally, The Star’s properties will benefit from mandatory card-based play, streamlining the gaming process and delivering convenient experiences for the players.

Extending its agreement with Konami, the company will also leverage its AI facial recognition technology, SYNK Vision. Through this technology, the duo will be able to create personalized experiences for the visitors. Additionally, The Star will benefit from a robust approach that will complement its efforts toward meeting regulatory requirements. Overall, the collaboration will bring efficiencies with the implementation of cashless options, which can also contribute positively toward reducing gambling harm and compliance with the evolving regulations in Australia.

The Extended Deal Marks an Exciting Moment for The Star, Konami

Joe Mayer, Konami Australia’s systems sales and operations manager, revealed that the company is delighted to expand its technology offering for The Star. He highlighted that the new technology deal complements the growth of SYNKROS and allows it to expand its global footprint.

“In partnership with Star Entertainment Group, we at Konami are excited to leverage the future technology development from this partnership, expanding offerings within SYNKROS to the wider market.“

Joe Mayer, systems sales and operations manager APAC at Konami Australia

Steve Sutherland, Konami’s president and CEO, added that the company is delighted to extend and expand its long-term collaboration with The Star. “Our joint commitment to innovation and excellence will not only transform the cashless gaming experience but also set new industry benchmarks for years to come,” he said in conclusion.

Laurent Fresnel, The Star’s chief technology and innovation officer, was similarly delighted, highlighting the importance of cashless solutions and the potential of Konami’s SYNKROS technology. Finally, he spoke about The Star’s commitment to delivering world-class solutions that combat gambling harm.

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Electronic table games specialist Spintec announced a new partnership with Konami Australia. The deal will see the latter company distribute the former company’s products in Australia and New Zealand. Signed on July 6, the agreement marks an important step for Spintec’s growth in these two markets.

As one of the largest producers and distributors of gaming products in the world, Konami will help Spintec establish a significant presence in Australia and New Zealand, in line with the supplier’s international growth strategy.

At first, Konami will leverage the X-series protocol to provide Spintec products to clubs in the Australian state of New South Wales. As agreed, the two parties will expand the distribution deal to cover other Australian states in the future.

Spintec Hails Konami as an Ideal Partner

Spintec’s chief executive officer, Goran Miškulin, said that he believes Konami is an “ideal partner for distribution” in Australia and New Zealand. He lauded the deal as a major milestone for his company.

This achievement marks a significant milestone for our business, as it not only validates the quality of our products but also opens up new opportunities for growth and expansion in a promising market like Australia.

Goran Miškulin, CEO, Spintec

Gerard Crosby, Konami Australia’s general manager of product development, echoed Miškulin’s sentiments, also sharing his team’s delight to join forces with Spintec. He praised the company for its unparalleled electronic table games, saying that they have huge potential in Australia.

We are confident that we can help Spintec achieve their sales ambitions in this market.

Gerard Crosby, general manager of product development, Konami Australia

In March, Konami licensed facial recognition technology to Independent Gaming.

Konami and Spintec to Participate in Australasian Gaming Expo 2023

Konami and Spintec are set to be showcasing their products at the upcoming Australasian Gaming Expo 2023. Products from the latter company will be showcased at Konami’s stand, allowing visitors to learn more.

The two parties believe that the event will be a good occasion to showcase their current alliance. Spintec’s global sales director, Goran Sovilj, shared his thoughts on the matter, expressing his excitement about the Australasian Gaming Expo 2023.

They [Konami] are an important player in the gaming market and it will be exciting to be included in their sales activities. We believe that taking part in the show with a partner like Konami will be a turning point for our presence in Australia.

Goran Sovilj, global sales director, Spintec

In other news, last year, Konami agreed to power Pariplay Fusion with content.

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Pariplay, the leading content provider, aggregator and NeoGames subsidiary, announced a new collaboration with DraftKings for the market in New Jersey. Details regarding the new content agreement released Monday reveal that the leading betting and gaming company will benefit from Konami Gaming content. The new collaboration marks the debut of Konami Gaming’s captivating games for customers in New Jersey via DraftKings.

The recently announced launch comes after Konami Gaming’s content was integrated into Pariplay’s Fusion aggregation platform. By introducing games from the leading provider, DraftKings strengthens further its position in the Garden State, bringing thrilling games to its growing customer base.

Konami Gaming is globally recognized for its engaging portfolio of games for the online and offline verticals. The recent integration into Fusion enables the casino games developer to bring some of its most popular land-based casino titles to new players. Thanks to the new collaboration, DraftKings players in New Jersey will be able to tap into a wide range of games, including fan-favorite popular classics and upcoming hits. As a leading developer of games, Konami Gaming’s content brings unique and engaging experiences.

DraftKings Expands Content Offering in New Jersey

Shivan Patel, Pariplay’s VP of North America, spoke about the leadership position that Konami Gaming and DraftKings hold within the regulated gambling market in North America and around the globe. She explained that allowing thrilling titles to supercharge the betting and gaming company’s offering in New Jersey marks an exciting moment for Pariplay. Finally, Patel pointed out: “Konami’s heritage in the land-based sector plays very well with online players and with such a large audience to put its game in front of through DraftKings, the potential of this launch is huge.”

“Both DraftKings and Konami are iconic names both in North America and around the world. Connecting both parties to players is a very exciting moment for us.“

Shivan Patel, VP North America at Pariplay

The delivery of Konami Gaming content for DraftKings in New Jersey complements Pariplay’s growth in North America. The latest collaboration further strengthens the company’s position as a leading aggregator for the continent.

At the same time, the deal boosts DraftKings’ offering. The new content agreement with Pariplay comes after the betting and gaming company recently boosted once again its offering in New Jersey. This happened after DraftKings launched content from Pariplay’s in-house games studio, Wizard Games.

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