• About Us
  • The Team
  • Advertise with Us

The latest news on the gaming industry in Asia

() () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () () ()
  • Home
  • Macau
  • Philippines
  • Singapore
  • Japan
  • Rest of Asia
  • World
  • Industry Talk
  • Trends & Tech
  • iGaming
  • follow
    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • RSS Feed
    • LinkedIn

Bingo opening Asian doors for Novomatic: Levy

Jun 13, 2017 Newsdesk Industry Talk, Latest News, Macau, Philippines  


Bingo opening Asian doors for Novomatic: Levy

Austrian gaming equipment maker Novomatic AG says its video bingo electronic game products under the “Otium” brand have proven a surprise hit in Asia Pacific and have also opened doors for Novomatic in the casino sector there.

“Our Otium bingo products are opening a lot of doors for us in this region [Asia Pacific]. We hadn’t realised it would prove so interesting [for gaming operators],” said Lawrence Levy (pictured), Novomatic’s vice president for global sales, in an interview with GGRAsia during this year’s edition of Global Gaming Expo (G2E) Asia, a casino trade show and conference held in Macau recently.

Novomatic announced in September 2016 it had acquired a 60 percent stake in Barcelona, Spain-based video bingo company OtiumGI SL.

Otium games had been initially developed for use in the so-called “Class II” machine sector, i.e., outside the commercial casino sector – the latter often referred to by industry professionals as “Class III”. The categorisations are often used in the United States to indicate the difference between video lottery terminals run from a centralised computer – typically in North American tribal gaming casinos – and casino video slot machines in commercial-sector casinos, where each machine has a random number generator on board.

“The Otium is a pure bingo game, so it can work in a Class II market, but we also want to certify it for Class III as well, because there’s a lot of interest in it,” stated Mr Levy, referring to Asia Pacific markets.

“There are some very good games on there [the platform], and it’s very customer-friendly, easy to understand, with nice bonus games,” he added.

The executive stated: “Right now the Philippines looks to be a very interesting market: just in its size and the way it’s developing and how fast it’s developing; with integrated resorts, with bingo, with slot arcades.”

The firm says it has recently had its “Globe Roulette pro” single-player roulette game approved in Macau.

Asia opportunities

Referring to Asia Pacific as a whole, Mr Levy noted: “This is a market where we see a massive development opportunity for our company. We know that we are very strong in Europe, and we have been for some years… [In Asia Pacific] it’s a case of us targeting the right kind of products that are going to suit the players in these markets. And there are varied markets in the Asian region.”

GGRAsia asked Mr Levy whether Novomatic’s Asia strategy would be different from that of Australian slot machine maker Ainsworth Game Technology Ltd.

Ainsworth Game had said in a June 2016 filing that its shareholders had approved the sale of a majority stake in the business to Novomatic. Integration is due to be completed by October this year, according to comments by Ainsworth Game’s chief executive, Danny Gladstone, in a recent interview with GGRAsia.

Novomatic’s Mr Levy said: “I think we can do things hand in hand. There are a lot of synergies between the two, which is why we are going through this acquisition process. I think we can learn from each other in the different markets and different areas of the world. Where we’re strong they haven’t been so strong, and vice versa, so it’s definitely a process for the next couple of years. I think eventually we’ll get through to some content sharing.”

Mr Levy said Novomatic was currently working on some slot products for the Asia-Pacific region.

“We think that by the end of this year we will have specifically-tailored games for these kinds of markets – for the ‘time on device’ kind of player,” stated the executive.


  • tweet
Related articles
  • Ainsworth updates deal for distribution of online RMG
    Ainsworth updates deal for distribution...

    Mar 31, 2023  

  • Ainsworth 2H revenue rises to US$83mln, Asia only 0.5pct
    Ainsworth 2H revenue rises to US$83mln,...

    Feb 27, 2023  

More news
  • Macau March GGR up 247pct y-o-y, to US$1.6bln: govt
    Macau March GGR up 247pct y-o-y, to...

    Apr 01, 2023  

  • Some Macau hotels say no rooms vacant 3 days of Easter
    Some Macau hotels say no rooms vacant 3...

    Mar 31, 2023  


Latest News

Macau March GGR up 247pct y-o-y, to US$1.6bln: govt

Macau March GGR up 247pct y-o-y, to US$1.6bln: govt

Apr 01, 2023  

Macau’s casino gross gaming revenue (GGR) was up 246.9 percent year-on-year in March, to just under MOP12.74 billion (US$1.58 billion). The March tally was up 23.4 percent month-on-month,...
Read More
Some Macau hotels say no rooms vacant 3 days of Easter

Some Macau hotels say no rooms vacant 3 days of Easter

Mar 31, 2023  

Macau 2023 GGR at 45pct of pre-Covid level: Moody’s

Macau 2023 GGR at 45pct of pre-Covid level: Moody’s

Mar 31, 2023  

Sign up to our FREE Newsletter

UB8V5.qr.16(Click here for more)

Pick of the Day

”Efforts have pivoted to the construction of the hotel tower, with plans to launch a soft opening before the end of 2024 and a grand opening in 2025”

Casino investor LET Group

On the development of a casino hotel in Manila, the Philippine capital



Most Popular

  • Some Macau hotels say no rooms vacant 3 days of EasterSome Macau hotels say no rooms vacant 3 days of Easter March 31, 2023
  • Macau 2023 GGR at 45pct of pre-Covid level: Moody’sMacau 2023 GGR at 45pct of pre-Covid level: Moody’s March 31, 2023
  • Macau March GGR up 247pct y-o-y, to US$1.6bln: govtMacau March GGR up 247pct y-o-y, to US$1.6bln: govt April 1, 2023
  • LET Group narrows year loss, Manila site open end 2024LET Group narrows year loss, Manila site open end 2024 March 31, 2023
  • Japan govt delays IR decision due to local elections: reportJapan govt delays IR decision due to local elections: report March 30, 2023
Copyright 2014-2023 TEAM Publishing and Consultancy Ltd / All rights reserved
  • Code of Ethics
  • Privacy Policy
  • Useful Links
  • Contact Us