Alliance unit gains product approvals

Tuesday, July 27, 1999 | 10:50 a.m.

Alliance Gaming Corp. of Las Vegas said its Bally Gaming & Systems unit has won product and field trial approvals for participation games in four new gaming jurisdictions.

The actions could help Alliance to boost recurring revenues, providing "increased stability and growth to our cash flow and net income," Alliance President Morry Goldstein said.

Goldstein said Bally Gaming had about 1,200 participation games installed as of June 30, "and we expect that number will double by calendar year end."

Participation games allow slot makers to share in win from such machines, often providing manufacturers with better returns than from straight sales. Some casino operators object to participation games, preferring to buy the machines outright.

Goldstein said Bally Gaming's Thrillions wide-area progressive system has been approved for a field trial of up to 80 machines in four casinos in Mississippi.

Bally Gaming's Bell Ringer bonus game was cleared by the New Jersey Casino Control Commission, while its GameMaker video platform begins field testing in Washington state with 425 machines in the Emerald Queen Casino.

GameMaker also is expected to receive approval by the end of this week from regulators in New South Wales, Australia, Goldstein said.