NOVOMATIC: High-level visit from the USA

Subtitle: North America is one of the most important markets for the global gaming industry. NOVOMATIC Chairman of the Board Harald Neumann and NOVOMATIC Chief Technology Officer Thomas Graf received a high-level visit from Ernest L. Stevens, the most important representative of the National Indian Gaming Association (NIGA). The Association represents around 250 Indian tribes that operate casinos in North America and is, therefore, among the most important customers of the Lower Austrian technology group.

With revenues of around EUR 100 billion, the USA is the strongest market for the gaming industry. A substantial part of this is made up of some 250 Indian tribes, who operate gaming facilities in 29 different states and are represented by Ernest L. Stevens.

“It is an honor to welcome Ernest L. Stevens to Gumpoldskirchen and give him an insight into our production. The National Indian Gaming Association is one of the most important organizations in the USA and is an important partner for NOVOMATIC,” said Mr. Neumann, who is pleased about the high-level visit. Gumpoldskirchen is not only home to the headquarters of the leading company but it is also where the latest gaming terminals are produced and exported around the world.

Ernest L. Stevens, NIGA Chairman, said: “NOVOMATIC products are known in the USA for their state-of-the-art technology, reliability and high quality, and thus it is very exciting for me to visit the company’s headquarters in Lower Austria.”

After the visit to NOVOMATIC, the guests will travel on to London, where ICE Totally Gaming, the most important gaming fair in the world, is being held. This year, NOVOMATIC will again present the latest innovations and technologies on a booth that covers over 5,000 m².

Gaming as an act of redemption
This has been the case since 1988 with the passing of the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act by the US Congress, which allows “Indian Nations” to operate casinos on their tribal territory. There are 250 tribes in 29 US states operating 482 gaming facilities.

The revenues of the Indian casinos do not have to be taxed and enable the Indians to invest in their community. Revenues from gaming have made a significant contribution to the construction of general facilities such as schools, kindergartens and hospitals, providing the Indians with a way to safeguard their livelihoods. In many reservations, the unemployment rate was over 80 percent. Diseases such as diabetes and tuberculosis were widespread. Many Indians depended on welfare. This changed with the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act.

 About NOVOMATIC

The NOVOMATIC Group is one of the biggest international producers and operators of gaming technologies and employs about 30,000 staff worldwide. Founded by entrepreneur Professor Johann F. Graf in 1980, the Group has locations in more than 50 countries and exports high-tech electronic gaming equipment and solutions to more than 75 countries. The Group operates around 270,000 gaming terminals and video lottery terminals (VLTs) in its some 2,100 plus gaming operations as well as via rental concepts.

Through its numerous international subsidiaries, the NOVOMATIC Group is fully active in all segments of the gaming industry and thus offers a diversified Omni-channel product portfolio to its partners and clients around the world. This product range includes land based gaming products and services, management systems and cash management, online/mobile and social gaming solutions as well as lottery and sports betting solutions together with a range of sophisticated ancillary products and Services.

Caption: (from left to right) Thomas Graf (NOVOMATIC CTO), Ernest L. Stevens (NIGA Chairman) und Harald Neumann (NOVOMATIC CEO)
Photo credit: NOVOMATIC/Thomas Meyer Photography