check this announcement out... ALL is still a small player in the US and hence the opportunity. The product is well accepted but they haven't focused on the stepper products yet:
"Aristocrat Technologies, Inc. and Harrah’s Entertainment, Inc. (NYSE: HET) today announced the completion of an agreement between the two companies to launch Aristocrat’s HYPERLINK® jackpot platform, which awards multi-level progressive jackpots, in Harrah’s casinos. Harrah’s has agreed to install up to twenty-five CASH EXPRESS™ systems depending on machine performance, in various casino properties. Aristocrat will install the CASH EXPRESSTM games in Harrah’s casinos as soon as all necessary approvals are received. Bruce Rowe, Harrah’s corporate vice president slot operations and research & development, stated: “We have been following the outstanding popularity of this game in Australia and feel it will have the same acceptance in the U.S. This multi-level progressive provides a great combination of small, medium and large rapid hit jackpots that add excitement and various ways for our customers to win. We are sure this is just the beginning of many projects we will do with Aristocrat as they bring to the U.S. some of their products proven to be so successful in Australia.” Chief Executive Officer of Aristocrat, Des Randall said, “This is our first major U.S. commitment to the patented HYPERLINK® technology and we are particularly pleased to work with such a premier operator as Harrah’s. We regard this as a very significant step forward for our ‘new’ U.S. company following the acquisition of Casino Data Systems (CDS) in June and significantly enhances our position in the industry.” (more) HARRAH’S COMMITS TO ARISTOCRAT’S CASH EXPRESSTM JACKPOT SYSTEMS Page 2 “Our linked progressive HYPERLINK® system provides our U.S. business with a unique opportunity for WAP penetration throughout the country,” continued Mr Randall. “HYPERLINK® is a superior performance, refreshable product of a type the U.S. has not seen before.” “HYPERLINK® has been very successful in other international markets with some casinos installing the system on 30 to 40 percent of their games,” explained Mr Randall. “Player feedback indicates that the appeal is the realistic opportunity to win a major jackpot that is not out of the reach for the average player. Players also are drawn to the game based on the frequency of jackpots which create enormous interest and continued play.” Under the HYPERLINK® system, banks of Aristocrat video games are linked to a common progressive game with four levels of jackpots. A unique random trigger continuously cycles and selects individual games to enter a second-screen bonus. The second screen feature game technology is globally patented. In the CASH EXPRESSTM version, as appropriate for its name, the common HYPERLINK® progressive game and bonus round features the sights and sounds of a train theme. At the sound of a stationmaster’s whistle a lucky player is transported into the second-screen bonus, complete with digital sound and 3-D graphics. The player touches a button to stop each of five reels, which reveals individual numbers. The numbers are added together to accumulate a score and the score determines which of the four levels of jackpots are won. Once in the bonus round, a player is guaranteed to win one of the four progressive jackpots. These can range from a start-up of $20 to a grand jackpot at $40,000. Founded more than 60 years ago, Harrah’s Entertainment, Inc. is the most recognized and respected name in the casino-entertainment industry, operating 25 casinos in the United States under the Harrah’s, Showboat, Rio, and Harveys brand names. With a combined database of more than 24 million players, Harrah’s Entertainment is focused on building loyalty and value with its target (more) HARRAH’S COMMITS TO ARISTOCRAT’S CASH EXPRESSTM JACKPOT SYSTEMS Page 3 customers through a unique combination of great service, excellent products, unsurpassed distribution, operational excellence and technology leadership. Additional information about Harrah’s Entertainment is available on the company’s web site, www.harrahs.com. Aristocrat Technologies, Inc., the U.S. subsidiary of global gaming leader Aristocrat Leisure Limited, is responsible for all North and South American operations from its headquarters in Las Vegas, Nevada. With its acquisition of Casino Data Systems in June 2001, Aristocrat now offers a diversified product line that reaches into virtually all facets of the casino floor. In addition to both video and stepper slots, the company provides casino management systems, multi-site progressive (MSP) systems, progressive jackpot meters and customized overhead sign packages. The company holds 17 licenses in various states and with more than 80 Native American tribal casinos in the United States. From its worldwide headquarters in Sydney, Australia, Aristocrat pioneered the gaming industry move to video slot technology and continues to demonstrate its mastery of games with higher player appeal in more than 30 countries, including all major gaming markets worldwide from Asia, Australia, Europe, Japan, New Zealand, South Africa to North and South America. The company employs more than 2,200 people across the globe and draws annual revenues in excess of AUD$540 million. For further information, visit www.aristocrattechnologies.com"
ALL Price at posting:
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(20min delay)