"JCM is very strongly positioned across APAC"

JCM General Manager Ian Payne granted an exclusive interview to AGE staff. This is what Mr. Payne had to say.

What products did you showcase?

JCM exhibited its iVIZION® and UBA® bill validators, the ICB® 3.0 Intelligent Cash Box, the GEN2® Universal printer, and the BlueWave Deluxe™ firmware upload tool. Each product in the JCM portfolio is the result of the company’s decades-long commitment to its customers. JCM’s global spirit of innovation drives the company and its employees to continually improve its products, processes, and level of service – all so JCM’s customers can make deep and meaningful connections with their patrons.

What were your expectations for AGE 2016? Were your expectations met?

AGE is a good show for JCM, as it provides the company with an opportunity to showcase its products to existing and new customers across ANZ and the broader APAC region. This was a solid show for JCM, and the customer reaction to products was very good, which was in line with our expectations.

What can you tell us about customer feedback?

Customers reacted positively to JCM’s products, as well as to our commitment to the region.

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As Australia prepares to roll out its next generation of currency, customers were very interested to know how the new currency might affect their business, what JCM is doing to prepare for the roll out, and how JCM products can be upgraded to accept the new currencies with no lag time or problems

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Because JCM is a key stakeholder with treasury officials in Australia (as well as around the globe) the company is well-prepared for the new currency.

Why is it important for your company to exhibit in Australia?

ANZ and the larger APAC region have long been important marketplaces for JCM products, both on the gaming side and in the commercial side as well. It is important for JCM to exhibit at AGE to directly connect with our customers and to show our ongoing dedication to the region’s gaming industry.

How is your company positioned here?

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JCM is very strongly positioned across APAC, where the company’s bill validators are found in the pokie and table environments

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What are your main/biggest markets?

Globally, JCM has a leading presence in gaming markets in North and South America, EMEA, South Africa and across APAC. We are also keeping a keen eye on potentially emerging markets, such as Japan and Brazil.

What are your future plans?

JCM believes a slot machine can be utilized in new ways to unlock greater value for both the operator and the player. This new “what if…” has sparked a renewed spirit of cooperation between JCM, OEM, CMS provider, operators, and jurisdictional regulators. In that cooperative effort, JCM is exploring many new features that take full advantage of the existing CMS’ and EGM’s combined computing power to deliver more options to the player and greater value to the operator. JCM will reveal the latest answer to “what if” at G2E 2016.

What are your predictions for the gaming market in 2017?

We will leave the industry forecasting to the analysts. However, as a company, JCM is excited about the potential of the new technology it will reveal at G2E 2016.

What are your clients’ main concerns these days?

Security is a constant concern. Criminals spend a lot of time working on their craft, thinking of new and better ways to create counterfeits or other means to cheat casinos. That is why JCM is constantly working with treasury departments around the world to stay ahead of criminal activity.

How do you see the gaming industry in general?

For 60 years, JCM has been asking “what if.” Today, operators in different parts of the world are asking “what if” type questions as well, such as “what if the broader entertainment industry becomes even more competitive,” for example.

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While the current state of gambling is generally solid, we need to prepare now for increased competition

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That’s why we are so excited to reveal our new product. It will help operators answer that “what if” with a great deal of confidence, and to prepare for the future poised to make entirely new types and levels of connection with their patrons.

Why does Australia offer business potential for your company?

JCM has long been committed to the Australian gaming industry, and we are very proud of our track record of protecting operators of all sizes from counterfeiters and other types of cheats. Because of our strong track record, we believe Australia offers many business opportunities to JCM – in bill validation, printing, digital displays, both in the gaming industry and in the various other types of industries JCM serves, from banking to kiosk, retail to transportation.

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

JCM takes a personalized business approach to each of its customers. Where other companies may view things through a one-size-fits-all lens, at JCM we take time to understand each customer’s unique challenges, needs, and opportunities, and then we provide solutions that best fit those needs. So it would correct to say that we don’t simply adapt strategies or products to meet the Australian market; we adapt to each customer.