Alliance buying casino software supplier

Wednesday, Nov. 13, 2002 | 11:03 a.m.

Alliance Gaming Corp. of Las Vegas announced today that its Bally Gaming and Systems unit has acquired CMS, LLC, a supplier of casino software focusing on player database management, player tracking and promotions.

Based in Jackson, Miss., CMS has its software installed in more than 60 casinos nationwide, including casinos owned by Mandalay Resort Group, Isle of Capri Casinos Inc., Station Casinos Inc., Boyd Gaming Corp. and Coast Hotels and Casinos Inc.

Previously an affiliate company of Venture System Source, CMS offers a variety of software products compatible with the industry's AS/400 platform, similar to the way Bally's Casino Marketplace suite of products communicates in Windows environments.

Terms were not disclosed. CMS and its approximately 15 employees will continue to operate out of Mississippi as an Alliance division, a spokesman said.

Alliance said this deal is the latest in a series of transactions that has reinforced its position as a leading systems provider to the game industry.

Bally Gaming and Systems said it's the industry leader with its flagship SDS (Slot Data System) product. Bally acquired Casino Marketplace in October 2001, Advanced Casino Systems Corp. in March 2002 and the LSI Casino Management System in September 2002. Bally said it has some 217,000 game monitoring units and 187 casino customers worldwide.

Its systems offer slot machine cash monitoring, accounting, security, maintenance, marketing, promotional and bonusing capabilities, enabling operators to analyze performance and accountability while improving customer service, Alliance said.

"The acquisition of CMS was the next step in our continuing efforts to expand our systems product line, build on our strong market position and add to our talent pool of software developers," Alliance Chief Executive Robert Miodunski said in a statement. "We have partnered with Venture System Source in the past and quickly recognized the power of its software and how it is the perfect fit with our existing AS/400 products."

Alliance is best known for manufacturing and selling Bally slot machines and for its Nevada slot route operations.