CHICAGO & BARCELONA, Spain--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Williams Interactive LLC, the recently established subsidiary of WMS Industries Inc. (NYSE:WMS) dedicated to online and interactive gaming, will make its European debut at the 11th Annual European iGaming Congress and Expo (EiG 2012 Expo) in Barcelona, Spain. The company will showcase more than 60 unique games that will be available for online distribution from WMS’ extensive library of must-have, differentiated gaming experiences – including WMS classics such as: Reel ‘Em In®, Zeus™ and Super Jackpot Party® games.
Williams Interactive’s portfolio of authentic, performance-driven slot-based games includes some of the world’s most successful land-based casino games. Now, WMS’ imaginative game design teams are re-creating these player favorites for online enjoyment. But, the Company’s vision also expands its customer-centric focus for the future with a plan to create games to specifically address unique segments of the B2B online gaming market.
Orrin J. Edidin, President of WMS Industries Inc. and President and Chief Executive Officer of Williams Interactive LLC, said, “In just a few short months, we are now able to demonstrate our ready-to-go, world-leading casino and multiplayer gaming portfolio complemented by a host of managed services and server integration capabilities. Combining the strengths of WMS with our newly acquired companies – Phantom EFX and Jadestone – we have created a powerful presence in the online and interactive gaming space dedicated to bring innovation and game design previously unseen in the online gaming industry. As our newly adopted tagline says – we’re Always in Play!”
At the EiG 2012 Expo, Williams Interactive will present core B2B products for the regulated gaming space: Game Server Integration and Managed Services:
Game Server Integration: Showcasing proven B2B seamless platform integration and an expansive game library, Williams Interactive leverages the extensive expertise gained through the acquisition of Jadestone, with its rich history of experience accumulated through years of customer-centric focus and integration with a veritable who's who of leading European online gaming operators. By integrating with Jadestone’s flexible Arena™ game server solution and gaming platform, gaming operators can offer their players a broad range of stunning multiplayer card and dice games, including access to one of the world's leading offerings of Backgammon, table games and video poker. Additionally, customers will soon have access for the first time on Jadestone’s online gaming platform to the broad portfolio of authentic WMS slot games, including premium slots like: Alice®, Glitz™ and Goldfish®. In addition to providing a host of great games, the tried-and-true Arena integration platform provides customers with a variety of additional features, including the advanced MiniGames™ system that enables a range of tailored mini-games to be offered inside the Sportsbook or in other product lobbies, bringing top-performing casino games directly to players – and aimed at converting new casino customers into potential high-value players. Furthermore, the Arena platform enables online gaming operators to select from various marketing features, from offering free spins or multiplayer tournaments, to leaderboards, win feeds and jackpot tickers, all designed to keep players informed and in the game.
The robust back-office features, providing support for more than 25 languages and 15 currencies, include a full range of reports and management tools, and the capability of integrating with an operator's data warehouse to facilitate seamless management reporting and analysis.
Managed Services: Whether it’s an experienced land-based casino operator looking to move their brand online or a startup business with aspirations to build a leading position in the iGaming space, Williams Interactive can provide online operators with a fully managed end-to-end online gaming solution. In addition to a casino-branded, white-label website powered by a robust gaming platform, an acclaimed range of proven games, fraud and risk controls, payment, customer service and other back-office operational services, Williams Interactive can also assist customers with player acquisition, conversion and retention strategies based on the operators specific commercial goals and areas of operation.
Addressing Customers’ Needs for iGaming Products and Services in Emerging Markets
Williams Interactive is committed to advancing customers’ iGaming efforts through a comprehensive suite of products, services and website solutions that will bridge the casino, online, social, casual and mobile gaming entertainment experiences into an integrated gaming ecosystem for casino operators’ patrons. At EiG 2012, Williams Interactive will showcase how its B2B interactive, casino-branded products and services form the pillars to create a customized online gaming entertainment community based on a casino operator’s unique brand and player strategies.
Williams Interactive also offers a unique, first-of-its-kind suite of cloud-based, white-labeled play-for-fun interactive capabilities that is flexible and can build an online gaming entertainment experience in the near-term which can then progress to a world-class online real-money wagering experience, when legally enabled. Spanning the range of gaming from authentic slot games to online poker, the Williams Interactive play-for-fun entertainment products are combined with social features expected by online players and the dynamic messaging capabilities needed by casinos to present to their players an integrated gaming experience that loops from the casino to the online world and back again.
Edidin concluded, “With over a half-century of experience creating great game experiences that excite players across a range of platforms, we are uniquely qualified to help our customers engage players across generations and across multiple content distribution channels in order to power their growth for years to come. Through William Interactive, we are building on our legacy to provide customers with a comprehensive suite of gaming products, services and solutions that will help our customers to build far-reaching player communities around their unique and valuable brands.”
See the comprehensive suite of Williams Interactive online gaming products and services demonstrated at the EiG 2012 Expo in Barcelona, Spain on October 16-18.
About WMS
WMS serves the gaming industry worldwide by designing, manufacturing and marketing games, video and mechanical reel-spinning gaming machines, video lottery terminals and in gaming operations, which consists of the placement of leased participation gaming machines in legal gaming venues. The Company also develops and markets digital gaming content, products, services and end-to-end solutions that address global online wagering and play-for-fun social, casual and mobile gaming opportunities. WMS is proactively addressing the next stage of casino gaming floor evolution with its WAGE-NET® networked gaming solution, a suite of systems technologies and applications designed to increase customers’ revenue generating capabilities and operational efficiency. More information on WMS can be found at www.wms.com or visit the Company on Facebook®, Twitter® or YouTube®.
This press release contains forward-looking statements concerning our future business performance, strategy, outlook, plans, products and liquidity. Forward-looking statements may typically be identified by such words as “may,” “will,” “should,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “plan,” “likely,” “believe,” “estimate,” “project,” and “intend,” among others. These forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause our actual results to differ materially from the expectations expressed in the forward-looking statements. Although we believe that the expectations reflected in our forward-looking statements are reasonable, any or all of our forward-looking statements may prove to be incorrect. Consequently, no forward-looking statements may be guaranteed. We undertake no obligation to update such forward looking statements, all of which are made only as of this date, October 15, 2012. Factors that could cause our actual results to differ from expectations include (1) delay or refusal by regulators to approve our new gaming platforms, cabinet designs, game themes and related hardware and software; (2) changes in regulations or regulatory interpretations that may adversely affect existing product placements or future placements; (3) an inability to introduce in a timely manner new games and gaming machines that achieve and maintain market acceptance; (4) a decrease in the desire of casino customers to upgrade gaming machines or allot floor space to leased or participation games, resulting in reduced demand for our products; (5) a reduction in capital spending or interruption in payments by casino customers associated with business weakness or economic uncertainty that adversely affects our customers' ability to make purchases or pay; (6) a greater-than-expected demand for operating leases by customers over outright product sales or sales financing leases that shift revenue recognition from a single period to the term of such operating leases; (7) future costs to restructure our business and other charges that may be higher than currently estimated, including additional charges related to actions at a later time not presently contemplated; (8) ability to realize in full, or part, the anticipated savings and expense reductions from restructuring and lower staffing; (9) adverse affects on product development, innovation and the ability to retain and attract key personnel following the restructuring and reorganization actions taken in fiscal 2011 and 2012; (10) a reduction in play levels of our participation games by casino patrons, whether due to economic conditions or increased placements of competitive product; (11) inability of suppliers of key components to timely meet our pricing or promotional competitive activity that adversely affects our average selling price or product revenues; (13) a failure to obtain and maintain our gaming licenses and regulatory approvals; (14) failure of customers or players to adapt to the new technologies that we introduce in new product concepts; (15) a software anomaly or fraudulent manipulation of our gaming machines and software; (16) a failure to obtain the right to use or an inability to adapt to rapid development of new technologies; (17) an infringement claim seeking to restrict our use of material technologies; (18) risks of doing business in international markets, including political and economic instability, terrorist activity, changes in importation and repatriation regulations such as currently experienced in Argentina, and foreign currency fluctuations; and (19) the unfavorable outcome of any legal proceedings in which we may be requirements to fulfill customer orders; (12) increased involved from time to time. These factors and other factors that could cause actual results to differ from expectations are more fully described under “Item 1. Business”, “Item 1A. Risk Factors” and “Legal Proceedings” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended June 30, 2012, and our more recent reports filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.