Aristocrat and Cogetech to enter Italian VLT market

Under the terms of its agreement with Cogetech, ACE Interactive will provide its TruServ server-based gaming system to Cogetech for deployment in the Italian VLT market.

ACE Interactive will also provide over 2,000 VLTs as well as retailer site controllers and jackpot signage packages. The majority of VLTs will be Aristocrat’s flagship Viridian electronic gaming terminals. Cogetech intends to commence the roll out of the VLTs in the latter part of September 2010.

In addition, the agreement with Cogetech includes the supply of Aristocrat game content beginning with five successful Aristocrat game titles which already have regulatory approval. The Aristocrat games will create a casino-style gaming experience in venues carrying Cogetech’s newly created IZIPlay brand.

Commenting on the announcement, its CEO Dottore Fabio Schiavolin said, “Cogetech is pleased to have been able to attract one of the world’s leading video game suppliers with a wealth of experience as a key supplier to Italian casinos.

“As such Italian players are already used to Aristocrat’s games styles. Through our IZIPlay branded outlets, Cogetech is now able to bring these games closer to players across Italy. “We have chosen ACE Interactive for its cutting edge, secure and reliable technology and Aristocrat for its powerful and innovative games – a combination that is very hard to match.”

Jamie Odell, CEO and Managing Director of Aristocrat said, “We are very pleased to be able to partner with such a strong and experienced company for our entry into the newly regulated Italian VLT market. This agreement represents a significant step forward in our plans to leverage our ACE technology to create a competitive VLT offer globally.”

The new VLT legislation in Italy does not permit random number generators to be based in the gaming machine itself making ACE Interactive’s server-based gaming system the ideal product for the new Italian market. The system is approved for both networked and venue jackpots.

ACE Interactive CEO Michael Koch said, “We worked closely with Cogotech to ensure the TruServ solution was effectively customised to meet Italian regulations whilst delivering seamless operating conditions for venues as well as an exciting gaming experience for players.

“We are very proud to have secured our second major VLT customer. In 2008 the state lottery of Norway, Norsk Tipping, installed our TruServ solution and has deployed over 2,200 VLTs. With this, our second major contract, ACE is now in a position to increase its breadth of product offerings to the global VLT market.”