Novomatic unit acquires bingo slot firm OtiumGI

Sep 26, 2016 Newsdesk Industry Talk, Latest News, World  

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Austria-based gaming equipment maker Novomatic AG announced on Friday that it had acquired – via its unit Novomatic Gaming Industries (NGI) – a 60 percent stake in the video bingo company OtiumGI SL.

Novomatic added it would present the group’s new product offer stemming from the deal, during the Global Gaming Expo (G2E) casino industry trade show this week in Las Vegas, Nevada, in the United States.

Novomatic described OtiumGI, based in Barcelona, Spain, as providing “state-of-the-art” bingo slot machines and “service and support to the Mexican market via a local subsidiary company”.

“We are delighted to announce this acquisition that has the potential to establish an excellent position for Novomatic in the Mexican bingo segment and beyond,” said Lawrence Levy, NGI’s senior vice president for Central and South America, in a statement contained in the press announcement.

“It further broadens our highly diversified product offer for the region and perfectly correlates with the group’s ongoing commitment and strategic expansion in the Latin American markets,” added Mr Levy.

In June it was announced that shareholders at Australian Securities Exchange-listed slot machine maker Ainsworth Game Technology Ltd had approved the sale of a 52.2 percent stake in the company to Novomatic.

But on September 1, Novomatic said it had been blocked in an attempt to increase its stake in Casinos Austria AG, with authorities in Austria citing competition concerns. Partially state-owned Casinos Austria, founded in 1967, is the operator of Austria’s 12 casinos according to its official website.

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