For years, many within the gaming industry considered Class II slot machines a distinct segment market, important to simply a couple of tribal gaming facilities that, they believed, would eventually migrate over to superior Class III product.

Suffice to mention that that is now not the case.

The continued growth of the tribal gaming marketplace and the continued importance of sophistication II slot machines—which may also be operated without special compacts with state governments—have ended in a resurgence of interest at school II game development from Class III slot producers. What follows is company-by-company recap of recent Class II offerings in an effort to be featured on the upcoming NIGA show from one of the vital gaming industry’s largest slot machine suppliers:

AINSWORTH GAME TECHNOLOGY

With its purchase of sophistication II gaming provider Nova Technolo

gies last fall, Ainsworth Game Technology served notice that it planned on becoming a larger player within the Class II gaming space going forward. For NIGA 2016, Ainsworth announced that for the primary time it is going to offer its proven and popular games to Class II gaming tribes.

“We are excited to start out to become a part of the category II market,” said Mike Dreitzer, president—North America for Ainsworth. “Our first responsibility is to listen closely to tribal leaders about their needs within the current gaming environment. We see it as our mission to offer new gaming options to assist ensure tribes are empowered for continued success.”

To help with this transition, Ainsworth has hired Russell Witt as director of operations and business development—Class II, and he'll be accountable for strategy and planning in all Class II markets. Witt previously served as national director of tribal development for Gaming Laboratories International (GLI) and has greater than 15 years’ experience at school II gaming.

(A podcast with Russell Witt discussing his new role at Ainsworth and the company’s Class II plans can also be accessed at http://www.casinojournal.com/media/podcasts/2594).

Highlighting Class II offerings on display at NIGA would be the first three Ainsworth Class II titles—Twice the Money, Mustang Fortune and Cash Cave. Titles developed by Nova to be on display will include China Gold, Dragon’s Heat, Wheel of Time, and 2 companion games, Immortal Nights Day of Reckoning and Immortal Nights Judgement Day. These Class II games might be available on both the A560 Dual Screen and Atlas 100 cabinets.

IGT

International Game Technology Plc (IGT) has had a protracted history of supplying successful Class II gaming content to tribal enterprises inside the U.S. At NIGA 2016, IGT may be showcasing quite a few new Class II games similar to Air Heart Bingo. In keeping with the mathematics model of the company’s exclusive Cleopatra Class II theme, Air Heart may also be deployed on numerous leading IGT gaming machines, including the G-series and universal slant cabinets. The brand new bingo game supports IGT’s Custom Button Configuration feature, which tailors the bet credits on every button and enables operators to configure for high-denominational or low-denominational gameplay. The five-reel, nine-payline gameplay elevates the player experience with dynamic aviation-themed symbols, and lines an international War II pilot as an emblem that resonates with the sport title’s play-on-words.

The company will even display the Crude Cash Bingo game. The exclusive Class II theme is provided with a five-reel, MultiWay Xtra configuration which removes paylines and provides players 720 how you can win when select symbols line up in adjacent reels. Developed for a high-volatility gaming experience, Crude Cash will also be deployed on quite a few leading IGT hardware solutions including the G23, G20, and GMLD cabinets. To raise player excitement, the game’s stacked multipliers and free games bonus features keep players engaged for big-win opportunities.

EVERI

As with IGT, Everi has strong roots within the Class II gaming space. “Class II gaming has always been a top business focus for us as we continue to expand our game development operations to support new gaming titles,” said David Lucchese, executive vice president, games at Everi. “In fact, every game currently in production is obtainable as Class II. Our goal is to continue being a top performing Class II provider with new and innovative games that allows you to attract players.”

Producing exciting premium content for sophistication II markets is the core of Everi’s tribal support strategy going forward, in step with Lucchese. “One of the surprising trends within the Class II market is the dearth of premium game content,” he said. “Our strategy remains to concentrate on Class II and make sure we provide top quality, premium games to this market. Games likeSuper Strike Progressive from our High Rise Games series, The money Man Easy Street on our Platinum MPX cabinet, Fortune Teller at the Skyline top box, and Quad Burst Tiger Strike on our new Core HDX cabinet are only a couple of games we’re especially excited about.”

On display at NIGA is the above mentioned Super Strike Progressive, a nine-reel, 32-line online game that includes bonus opportunities at any bet level. The Super Strike Bonus is triggered when three Super Strike symbols land on payline 7. Players are awarded five picks on a board of 20 picking spots and will win credits, additional picks or a progressive prize in the event that they discover a Super Strike symbol. Three Jackpot Wheel symbols landing on payline one awards players one spin at the Jackpot Wheel. The Jackpot Wheel contains credit values from 60X-200X bet per line and progressives are active at max bet.

“At NIGA this year we will be able to even be showcasing Sushi Sushi Bang Bang featuring the sport Crown topper designed to attract in players from around the casino,” Lucchese said. “We can also be demonstrating Everi Bet, our new bet configuration system that provides casino operators the ability to optimize the gaming floor for optimum returns.”

SCIENTIFIC GAMES

Scientific Games is another slot supplier trying to increase its Class II presence. “A key 2016 objective for Scientific Games is the growth and growth of our Class II footprint,” said Alex Dungan, vp of gaming operations/administration for Scientific Games. “Class II is a key strategic product in our overall portfolio, and as a pace-setter within the Class II marketplace we will be able to continue to innovate to satisfy our customer’s needs. Scientific Games currently has over 7,500 EGMs installed in over 85 locations within the U.s.a. and South Africa.”

The company plans on accomplishing its Class II growth goal by emphasizing its strength as game developer and original content provider. “Historically, if a category III game had performed well, we might develop it right into a Class II offering,” Dungan said. “Traditional tribal Class III operators are starting to strategically utilize Class II product on mixed floors, so we’re now devoted to not just bring proven Class III product into the market but in addition innovate and bring unique content for our Class II customers. We can do this with our extensive game development studios… In addition, Scientific Games is exclusive available in the market place as we have now strategic partnerships with other vendors to supply content that might not rather be available.”

This unique content could be evident on the Scientific Games booth at NIGA. “At NIGA 2016, Scientific Games will showcase five Class II games—two Bally-branded games, one WMS-branded game, and two third party licensed content games,” Dungan said. “These games are Cash Spin Featuring Quick Hit WAP, Sparkling Twilight, Thunder Cash, Gold Fish 3, and Rebel Wild on two proven, cutting-edge cabinets, the Alpha Pro V27-27 and V22-32.”

“It’s the nuances that set Scientific Games’ Class II slots excluding the competitors,” Dungan added. “Our Class II slot offerings include premium style games and 10 different state-of the-art cabinet options… Our systems also are designed for virtually no downtime by linking players to offer Class II BINGO games 24/7.”

ECLIPSE GAMING SYSTEMS

Eclipse Gaming is a longtime Class II gaming provider seeking to preserve and grow its position within the market, primarily by re-enforcing its strong existing relationships with gaming tribes.

“Eclipse Gaming is strongly rooted in tribal gaming and sophistication II remains to be the core focus for growth of our products and the company,” said Gina Lanphear, vice chairman of selling for Eclipse Gaming. “We are extremely committed to our partnerships here and certainly one of our top priorities is to construct stronger relationships with our Class II customers in addition to to stronger collaboration. We definitely plan to extend our footprint in existing markets this year, in addition to expand into additional Class II jurisdictions.”

Company plans for NIGA 2016 include presenting new themes specifically for sophistication II. A number of the games feature new math models and reel configurations, including The Jazzy Night and Witch Hunter, which both feature a 3‐4‐4‐4‐3 reel configuration, in addition to the brand new Totem Spirits.

Also included within the booth are Valor & Fortune and Professor Kranium based upon Eclipse’s wildly successful Wicked Mad Hot, and Elementary My Dear which utilizes the preferred and proven Volcano math model.

“Our plans include developing and releasing more games this year than ever before, with an emphasis on dynamic game content utilizing quite a lot of bonus levels, features, and math models, all designed for optimal entertainment value for players or even stronger performance for our customers,” Lanphear said.

VGT

Video Game Technology (VGT), an Aristocrat Technologies company, is another business with long-standing Class II roots that may be trying to become more prominent out there now that it's expanding. “VGT was built on Class II gaming and has grown to be a pacesetter within the industry,” said Jay Sevigny, president of VGT. “The market continues to grow and expand into regions of the united states.. that weren’t traditionally Class II so it’s a thrilling time for VGT. With a proven team of game design, manufacturing, R&D, customer support and marketing personnel, VGT has the entire package of resources and capabilities critical to continued gaming success within the Class II arena.”

At NIGA this year, VGT will introduce 11 new titles that they suspect will quickly become player favorites. Diamond Riches, Sapphire Dreams, Emerald Fireand Crown Fortune are all a part of the “lock and nudge” series with new locking reel features and Newton The Nudger who nudges reels to a win during bonus spins. The company’s Red Spin Gambler Series includes Polar High Roller Red Spin Multipliers, Ruby’s Red Spin Wilds, Mr. Money Bags Red Spin Deluxe and Lucky Ducky Red Spin Run and Red Spin Thunder.  Lastly, VGT has two new five-reel mechanical games in keeping with proven player favorites—Crazy Bill Runaway Riches and Crazy Cherry Jubilee!.

For the immediate future, VGT plans to become more active within the Class II video gaming machine niche. “An important trend within the Class II slot market remains to be the growth of video products,” Sevigny said. “At VGT, we pride ourselves on providing innovative and entertaining products to our players. For 2016, we plan to deliver exciting mechanical reel products, in addition to some modern video products.”

AGS

American Gaming Systems (AGS) isn't any newcomer to the category II scene; the corporate has had quite a lot of its more popular games in circulation at tribal facilities for years. “Class II Native American gaming has always been the basis of our company, and it plays a fundamental role in everything we do,” said Julia Boguslawski, chief marketing officer for AGS. “In fact, with our recent acquisition of Cadillac Jack and its well-established licenses and library of high-performing Class II games, AGS has become one of the crucial largest Class II suppliers on this planet. The market is very important to our business and we provide the majority of our games in both Class II and sophistication III formats.”

Today AGS’s Class II business comprises of greater than 15,000 units in Mexico and the U.S., making up greater than 85 percent of the company’s revenue, in keeping with Boguslawski.

For the primary time at NIGA 2016, customers will see how bringing together Cadillac Jack and AGS into one booth has created a brand new compelling combination that provides tribal gaming customers unprecedented diversity and an increased value proposition. Within the booth could be a number of slot machine cabinets, including the ICON, Big Red, and Stratos. Within ICON’s streamlined design, visitors can experience the smash hits Golden Wins and Gold Dragon Red Dragon. These Asian-themed PowerXStream games for serious gamblers was building momentum as a result of their high-volatility game dynamics, multi-link progressive jackpots and free spins bonuses. Rounding out the company’s key offerings could be Fire Wolf: Howling Boost and Cats Eye 9 Lives, two popular game titles that feature bonus spins and PowerXStream play mechanics at the Stratos cabinet.

“This year’s NIGA show presents an ideal opportunity to focus on our significant transformation since we exhibited on the show last year and—more importantly—to demonstrate our improved value proposition and continued commitment to the tribal gaming community,” Boguslawski said.

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