“Konami is bringing a rush of new diversity to G2E 2016”

Why is the G2E Las Vegas a good fit for your company?

G2E Las Vegas is our largest event of the year. Thousands of gaming professionals walk through the Konami booth, and we enjoy meeting with so many fantastic operators from around the world to show them our very latest products to help power their business and make sure they get the most from every available space on their casino floor. As a top global supplier in casino slots and technology, Konami annually commands a central presence at the show—though this year in particular, we have greater diversity and new development than any other previous show.

What can visitors expect to see from you this year? Will you be launching any new products - others than the ones you've already introduced at other industry events such as ICE Totally Gaming?

Konami is bringing a rush of new diversity to G2E 2016. Last year’s G2E debut of the Concerto standard upright cabinet was the launch point to outstanding global reception and performance for the new Konami core product. Now we’re expanding its proven success to a complete lineup of Concerto video slots. Primary elements such as the sleek black finish and signature holographic attract lighting will take-on new form with Concerto Slant, Concerto SeleXion multi-game, Concerto Crescent single curved screen, and Concerto Stack single tall screen. Although attendees at G2E will be seeing all these for the first time, these new machines will have clear visual compliment to the standard upright cabinet that is attracting player attention and generating retention at casinos across the globe.

What will be the highlights of the 2016 G2E Vegas and why?

The new Concerto SeleXion multi-game is of particular importance to our international customers. A few years ago, Konami pioneered Podium SeleXion with advanced processing that created the world’s fastest game changed speed and instant in-game modification of denomination, currency, and language. All this was based on feedback from our international customers on what they needed to support their business and reach more customers. Now we’re taking that same technology to our proven Concerto machine, with even more power and performance. Constructed on Konami’s new KP3+ platform, Concerto SeleXion can hold up to 10 different base game themes—even a standalone progressive—while maintaining the advanced currency, denomination, and language settings that are necessary for many operators worldwide.

What are operators most concerned about these days?

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What we hear from a lot of our customers is about the need to reach new diverse audiences while still growing their core player base

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They’re quite open-minded toward trying next generation gaming products for the chance to connect with new player types in a different way. But at the same time, operators are very conscious that they cannot lose their core customers. They have tasked our team at Konami to help lead these emerging product areas, and without a doubt you will see it demonstrated with never-before-seen games and technology during this year’s G2E Las Vegas.

The gambling industry in the U.S. is going through a period of transition shaped by a range of factors, some of which have their roots within the country, while others are related to the natural affairs of the international scenario. How would you describe the current state of gambling? What does the future have in store for the sector?

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From what we have observed across varied markets and seen demonstrated from our customers, the current state is optimistic, with expanding areas of good growth

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And even in some of the most troubled markets, they are showing semblance of stability. It’s encouraging and just as we supported the industry through challenging times, we will help drive the industry toward continued advancements through strong product quality and creativity.

In a recent interview granted to Yogonet, a Pennsylvania official who's pushing to legalize online gambling in the Keystone State, said: “Sometime in the future, I see the U.S. being similar to Europe”. In your opinion, why is it taking so long for the U.S. to allow for gambling expansion in all its forms?

The nature of this industry is that every jurisdictional market is different. They each want to act responsibly to meet the needs of their particular region and with the sovereignty to do so, individual jurisdictions evaluate at their own pace.

Considering that non-gaming has, over the last years, become an effective revenue driver for casinos, what are the main challenges facing the industry?

Non-gaming investment has become a critical operational component, in part for one of the reasons I mentioned earlier—the need to reach new audiences through diverse offerings. Among the biggest challenges for that is remaining relevant, and supporting an appropriate mix of gaming and non-gaming strategies for the long-term revenue growth across both areas of business. When it comes to gaming product, Konami is pioneering next generation entertainment—backed by its legacy in video game and arcade development—which we look forward to sharing with guests at G2E 2016 in a first glimpse debut.

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