“We increased our spending on R&D, while competitors are weighed down by debt, cost overruns and structural issues”

How was the 2015 G2E for Interblock?

It was beyond our expectations. We received tremendous feedback from casinos all over the world. We doubled this year’s attendance, and a large part of that had to do with both our Pulse Arena and our Diamond platform with its first-of-its-kind modularity. We introduced new versions of Roulette, Baccarat and Blackjack, and will be launching a new version of Craps by the end of the year. Customers were also very interested in StarBar, a play station that is designed to fit into any bar area or as a standalone gaming device with a built-in generator; MiniStar, the optimal product for medium and small locations from a footprint perspective; multiple new intuitive, game-enhancing side bet features; the Big 6 Wheel, a simple but attention-grabbing rotating wheel game; a new configuration option that allows operators to restrict certain bets, preventing players from placing simultaneous opposite, but equal, bets; and the Power Meter, a bonus system that encourages and shows players how close they are to hitting a target number of games played or dollars wagered to win additional rewards. The positive reaction at G2E told us that we're on track with both our product portfolio mix and our focus on enhancing our customers' operations.

At the CEO Roundtable Mr Mark Frissora said that there was a lack of innovation in casino games. What are your thoughts on this?

The Pulse Arena demonstrates innovation and the power of our technology and products. I also heard that at the CEO Roundtable someone mentioned Interblock's Pulse Arena, which is a testament that even other CEOs of the industry are realizing that Interblock is a leader when it comes to innovation.

We increased our spending on R&D, while competitors are weighed down by debt, cost overruns and structural issues. We invest a lot of money in research trying to find ways of either bringing new players to the traditional casino floors or keeping existing players engaged.

Millennials have been a hot topic for quite some time. Why is attracting and engaging younger audiences more of a challenge for the gambling industry?

When it comes to millennials, the challenge is to create the right atmosphere for them. In most cases, the environment on casino floors is not the one they're looking for. There's a huge crossover between millennials and the Interblock products. The social aspect of our products fits perfectly with what millennials want. Not only do we create products that resonate with this generation, but we’re also helping casinos to create an atmosphere that does too. With the Pulse Arena people are talking, sharing winning experiences, participating together — it’s an entertaining wagering experience that millennials haven’t been able to find in most casinos.

Why is the casino sector in America suffering from decline in revenue?

Variety is key in gaming, whether it be changing content, technology or hardware. Players expect something new — new shows, new restaurants, new experiences. You must constantly keep it fresh. Otherwise, the number of visits per month will go down. The world around us is evolving fast and competition is fierce. Unless we refresh the gaming experience we're offering, we're going to continue to see decline in revenue. I really feel that casinos have evolved over the past years —they've added new shows, restaurants, nightclubs, and they're generating more revenue. But the casino floor itself is not keeping up, the revenue is still down. We have to find a way to bring all those people visiting these locations back on to the casino floor so that they wager like they used to.