Konami Gaming’s President & Chief Executive Officer Steve Sutherland has received the Association of Gaming Equipment Manufacturers’ (AGEM) 2024 Jens Halle Memorial Award during the official awards ceremony at the Global Gaming Expo (G2E) Las Vegas. He was selected for excellence in commercial gaming professionalism, as the embodiment of business success, attention to detail, evident humanity, willingness to “go the extra mile,” and long-lasting dedication to the health of the industry as a whole. Investing more than three decades of his career in the gaming supplier sector, Steve Sutherland is a central figure and longtime advocate in responsible gaming industry advancement.

“Throughout his entire career, Steve has been someone with an executive mindset who knows how to lead, manage, and operate a business at an extremely high level. He brought his knowledge from the technology industry into the gaming supplier sector and made a lasting impact on the companies he has led, all while helping mentor countless other commercial executives who now are themselves leaders of gaming supplier companies with global reach. He’s the real deal when it comes to our industry and epitomizes excellence in commercial gaming professionalism. Our supplier sector salutes Steve for all he continues to accomplish and happily presents this year’s Jens Halle award to him,” Bob Parente, chair of the board at AGEM, said.

The Jens Halle Memorial Award was established in 2015 by AGEM to acknowledge the lasting impact of longtime industry executive Jens Halle, following his unexpected passing. Steve Sutherland is the ninth honoree to receive this award since its inception. This recognition comes as Sutherland nears his 25th year at Konami Gaming, including seven years as president and chief executive officer.

“The dedication, acumen, and conscientiousness that Steve Sutherland brings to his role as head of Konami Gaming is a consistent positive force. It strengthens industry partnerships and relationships reaching across the globe, as well as within our organization. Speaking on behalf of countless individuals inspired by Steve’s enduring leadership, it is a great joy to recognize his prominent influence, success, and service, as AGEM’s 2024 Jens Halle Memorial Award recipient,” Tom Jingoli, executive vice president and chief operating officer at Konami Gaming, said.

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At the annual Global Gaming Awards Americas, the industry awarded Aristocrat Gaming as the Land-Based Industry Supplier of the Year for the sixth consecutive year. The company was also recognized for Slot of the Year for the seventh year in a row for NFL Super Bowl Jackpots, and the MarsX Flex and Cyclone Sign Package was awarded Best Land-Based Product, the second time the company has received the recognition.

“We are humbled to once again be recognized by our peers for our ongoing commitments to moving the gaming industry forward,” said Hector Fernandez, CEO of Aristocrat Gaming.

Innovation is in the DNA of Aristocrat Gaming and the company’s customer-centric approach delivers top-performing game titles, unique mechanics, groundbreaking sports partnerships and player favorite licenses. Aristocrat Gaming recently announced the second season of NFL Slots which will incorporate three new titles, the House of the Dragon slot game based off of the hit TV series and a multi-year partnership with the Dallas Cowboys.

NFL Super Bowl Jackpots on the new King Max cabinet launched a new era in gaming. It was the most anticipated game of the year and was the first of several NFL-themed games in the NFL Slots lineup. Players can select their favorite team from any of the NFL’s 32 clubs. The game has a 63” high-definition display, integrated LED edge lighting and feature-rich gameplay including game footage, licensed fan-favorite stadium anthems and a $1 million dollar progressive jackpot.

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The MarsX Flex and the Cyclone Sign Package is the next level of innovation in both placement configuration and premium quality content. Its large box top cabinet has an expansive 55” top monitor that towers over the casino floor visible for all to see and can be placed anywhere. The all-new 4-pod LED sign package completely surrounds each game in the pod – top and sides, expanding the branding and providing a seamless player experience for customers.

Quick Custom Intelligence (QCI) is proud to announce that its Chief Technology Officer, Andrew Cardno, has been honored with the prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award by Gaming & Leisure, in recognition of his exceptional contributions to the gaming and hospitality industries over the course of his career.

Andrew Cardno, a seasoned technology leader with over 25 years of experience, has been at the forefront of driving technological advancements in gaming analytics, artificial intelligence, and business intelligence systems. His innovative work has transformed the way gaming operators leverage data to improve decision-making, optimize operations, and enhance the customer experience.

“It is an incredible honor to receive this recognition from Gaming & Leisure. I have dedicated much of my career to pushing the boundaries of what’s possible with data and technology in the gaming industry, and this award reflects the collective effort of my team at QCI and our partners across the sector,” said Andrew Cardno, CTO of Quick Custom Intelligence.

Jeannie Caruso, CEO of Gaming & Leisure, praised Cardno’s impact across industries, stating, “Andrew is a rare and amazing human. The terms innovative and disruptive have been incredibly over-used, however, Andrew is the type of genius that actually brings innovative, disruptive and broad solutions to not only our industry, but many industries. He’s often sought after by vendors and properties alike for counsel on complex challenges they face. His passion extends beyond the walls of business to a role he’s devoted many years to as a Science Olympiad Coach to pass his incredible gift on to middle and high schoolers who compete in a broad range of science-related challenges. The world needs more Andrews, and it was my great honor to present him with the Lifetime Achievement Award this year, while still knowing he’ll bring boundless innovation to us far past this award.”

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The Lifetime Achievement Award is awarded annually by Gaming & Leisure to individuals who have made substantial and lasting contributions to the gaming, hospitality, and entertainment industries. Cardno’s career is highlighted by a series of innovations, including the development of cutting-edge solutions that have enabled gaming operators to better understand their customers and optimize business strategies.

With this award, Andrew Cardno joins an elite group of industry pioneers whose work has had a profound and enduring impact on the gaming industry.