Spanish CIRSA Business Corporation is a leading company in the gaming sector and is one of two large holdings presided over by Manuel Lao Hérnandez. With turnover of nearly €2 billion in 2006 and a workforce of 16,000, the company operates 22 traditional casinos, 73 electronic casinos, almost 100 bingos and over 85,000 slot machines in hotels and casinos around the world.

In recent restructuring of the company, Cirsa has simplified and reduced its divisions to four from the five previously run. The object is to strengthen synergies and reduce costs without reducing employees. The decision means that one division, which is now known as Business to Business (B2B) is responsible for manufacturing (encompassing design, construction and marketing of slot machines for bingos, hotels and slots halls) and interactive (charged with the design, commercialisation and operation of online systems for instant lotteries, electronic bingos and interconnection of slot macines).

This measure on the one hand has allowed for a convergence of technologies for the integration of various technological platforms existing within the company and, on the other hand, has obtained more profitability by strengthening the different product lines and the company’s market position.

Unidesa Gaming & Systems (UGS), the B2B company, is exhibiting at SAGSE 2007 in order to consolidate its leading position in the South American market. On show will be new products that emphasise both design and innovative technology. The company has taken the lead in the design and manufacture of video slots, wheels and multi-station games, and is launching its roulette Multifourtune on the Latin American market, as well as new In Action games.

The new Roulette Multifourtune is totally innovative and is the result of watching player styles. Big roulette players often play several tables at once and Multifourtune has the unique feature of permitting a player to bet on four different spins at the same time, by betting on the touch screen terminal. That is to say that Multifourtune taps a market need and, being a system based on independent satellites, allows the operator to modify the gaming floor layout and add terminals according to market demand.

Other novelties introduced by UGS for multi-bet games include a variation of the popular greyhound Wild Race, a fascinating game with eye-catching graphics, and Random Bingo based on traditional bingo. This game is intended to capture the traditional bingo market and transfer it to slots play. New games for incorporation in the In Action machines will also be on show at SAGSE Buenos Aires. All the games are designed to give the operator an excellent result with fun and entertainment for the player.

Further expansion and commitment to Latin America is demonstrated by the UGS project in Rosario, Argentina. One of the most important construction projects in the region, the Rosario complex includes a casino, 5-star hotel and Convention Centre. The project is advancing on schedule and should be open at the beginning of 2009.

In July the company acquired 75% of the Colombian gaming company Winner Group, operating 21 casinos in Colombia with 100 gaming tables and 2,250 slot machines. In 2006 Winner Group profit was €18 million. With all the above data, the Cirsa Group has ratified its international expansion, substantially improved results, consolidated its financial position and reaffirmed its position as a gaming sector leader. (E-10.01.07)

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