“The market is in for a big surprise when they see our products at AGE 2015”

Why does Australia offer business potential for Interblock? What are the most relevant opportunities and challenges you're seeing in the country?

Interblock has been very successful across the Asia Pacific region, however, we view Australia as having a great deal of potential and view it as a huge opportunity for Interblock. Today, there are approximately 10,000 MTGM’s in NSW, and many of those are aging. Currently, our Australia penetration has been limited and even that was with an older platform product from Interblock.

We were not first to market in Australia, so it might surprise the Australian market to learn that Interblock is the number one performer in Asia in the ETG category, because that region is more familiar with our newer, even better performing product lines. That being said, we still realize that we will have to work hard to earn market share and ensure that the performance matches the expectation.

Other companies before us in Australia have proven that ETGs can be popular. What other companies don’t have, however, is our games and our platforms – products are so stable and well-engineered, the market is in for a big surprise when they see our products at AGE

Further, customers will be ecstatic at the service they receive once they install our games. That’s because we have a well-known and respected team in Australia, and this will help our customers understand that we are here for the long term and that we are prepared to take the MTGM/ETG/FATG market by storm

Many casinos around the world have speculated that the MTGM/ETG products can be their savior and help them bring the new generation of player to their properties and they intend to promote this. Given that Australia is a mature gaming market, we expect this to be even more evident here than anywhere else.

What are the main characteristics that distinguish the Australasian Gaming Expo from other similar events?

AGE is very different to other shows in that most of the companies show products that are for sale then and there. Hence most of the companies spend the three days taking orders, and confirming them, by touching and feeling the product as they make the purchase. This is not a “look behind the curtain at what we might do later” kind of show – people come here to buy and sell now, and we are certainly bringing available product with a track record of proven performance.

How do you adapt both your business strategies and products to meet Australian market changes?

We look at the needs of the player and deal with our customers to make sure that we are building products that suit their requirements. We are very focused on our products and we know that we present them in a fashion that is appealing to the player, and more importantly it gives them confidence to invest in the game.

You recently opened an office in Sydney in an effort to increase your Diamond-product presence and market penetration in the region. What do you forecast for the near future?

We did recently secure a location in Sydney, and it is in the same precinct as Aristocrat and IGT, which is good for us and also for our customers. The office is currently undergoing a big renovation to make it applicable to the needs of our company but also for our business partners alike. Once complete the office will contain a large showroom with all Interblock products, offices and a boardroom for in-depth meetings and product planning with our customers. We invite the Australian gaming community to come meet us at AGE, and then come to our new location in Sydney where we can help plan an ETG strategy that makes sense for their players and unique gaming situation.