Suzo-Happ introduction of MEI Cashflow SC pays dividends in Belgium

DRGT is responsible gaming distributor for the Partouche Group in Belgium and started supplying the other casinos recently, having gratefully brought competition into the gaming distribution Belgium that was previously a monopolistic market. Today DRGT is a distributor for many major gaming machines manufacturers in Belgium, including AlfaStreet Aristocrat, Novomatic, Orion and WMS.

DRGT has two major business focuses – the gaming machine distribution and online systems. The team of DRGT developed a cashless online system that is based on an iButton. This system has been integrated in all four Partouche casinos in Belgium. Therefore, the international casino market can make use of the online gaming technology from DRGT, knowing that this company is independent in the industry.

The innovative solutions that DRGT has brought to the Belgian casino market have been the reason for the company’s growth to a major player in the local market in such a small period of time. The DRGT management team has worked as a catalyst for innovative suppliers in the market. Suzo Happ is renowned for its philosophy of bringing beneficial solutions to the market. This ‘best-in-class’ product range fits well with the innovative approach of DRGT. Therefore, when the Suzo Happ European Casino Team introduced the MEI Cashflow SC to DRGT, the DRGT team already had great expectations of its performance.

Jurgen De Munck, CEO of DRGT, notes, “We understand how important a bill reader is as the port of entry for slots machines. Coming via Suzo Happ, we knew that the value-added trial was worth investing the time and energy in. The results even exceeded our expectations. The Cashflow SC from MEI is maintenance free for us. We don’t notice it is in operation as it causes us zero problems”.

The DRGT online system has brought both casino operators and players the benefits of using a banknote reader. The Belgian law prevents bill to credit. Instead the banknote value is administered on the DRGT online cashless system and transferred as and when required to the machine by the player. This invention brought about a strong demand in banknote readers and the VAT performed by the Suzo Happ Group proved invaluable to DRGT.

Naturally, the Cashflow SC had to be integrated into the DRGT online system. Michiel van Dam, COO at DRGT, personally carried out this essential task. He comments, “I am very impressed by the MEI protocol EBDS+. It is extremely secure which is very important to us. Furthermore, we found the protocol very straight forward to integrate. Within two weeks the work was done”.

DRGT now specifies MEI on all its slots purchases. The Partouche Belgian floor percentage of MEI has risen from 0% to approx. 50% in the space of one year. This underlines the value that Suzo Happ brings to the market. The co-operation with Suzo Happ extends to a wide product range. DRGT sources its monitor replacements from Suzo Happ. Furthermore, DRGT is busy integrating the new innovative topper range, including the Reel Topper and the Round Video Topper. “These offer a new dimension to gaming machines. Naturally they need to be integrated into online systems. We can provide such solutions”, explains De Munck.

Erik Wijma, Sales Director of Suzo Happ Europe, comments, “We would like to thank both Jurgen and Michiel for their forward-thinking approach to the MEI VAT trial. The Partouche Group in Belgium now belongs to the ever-growing list of casinos around the globe specifying the MEI Cashflow SC. We look forward to growing this collaboration with DRGT with our ‘best-in-class’ product range”. Wijma then points out the importance of teamwork, “this has been a great team effort. My colleagues Joost van Egeraat and Marc Martens managed the VAT from a commercial and technical point of view. Both have been instrumental in its successful implementation”.