gaming industry
SUZOHAPP Appoints Jim Kirner as New Sales Director for North America
SUZOHAPP has announced the appointment of Jim Kirner as its new Sales Director for North America.
With over 20 years of experience in the gaming industry, Jim brings a wealth of expertise to his role and will be pivotal in driving SUZOHAPP’s sales and product strategies across the region.
Throughout his career, Jim has been instrumental in driving transformational changes in the gaming sector, helping companies innovate and enhance the player experience. In the past, he directly worked on driving the adoption of Ticket-In, Ticket-Out (TITO) systems from the ground up and he played a critical role in the development of bonusing software solutions, as well as strategic accounts initiatives. His extensive experience spans a wide range of gaming sectors, including electronic table games, cash access services, ticket redemption kiosks, and slot machine sales at both the property and corporate levels. Prior to joining SUZOHAPP, Jim held key leadership positions at IGT, DiTRONICS, Interblock, and Aruze Gaming Global.
“I’m excited to join SUZOHAPP and leverage my experience to help drive growth and innovation across North America. Our industry is evolving rapidly, and I look forward to working closely with our talented team to deliver cutting-edge solutions that meet the evolving needs of our customers while enhancing the gaming experience for players everywhere,” said Jim Kirner.
“Jim’s extensive background and in-depth understanding of SUZOHAPP’s customer base will be invaluable in refining our sales and product strategy. We are confident that his leadership and industry knowledge will be crucial to our continued success in North America, and we look forward to his contributions in strengthening relationships with customers and partners across the region,” said Geoff Mc Dowell, President of SUZOHAPP.
The post SUZOHAPP Appoints Jim Kirner as New Sales Director for North America appeared first on Gaming and Gambling Industry in the Americas.
ESG standards
Zitro Expands its Campus in Barcelona with a Second Building
Zitro has announced the expansion of its campus in Barcelona with the addition of a second building, a state-of-the-art facility that significantly boosts the company’s production capacity and strengthens its position as a leading innovator in the gaming industry.
Located within the same business park, the two buildings now form a unified Technological Campus spanning 18,000 square meters. This hub currently brings together more than 700 professionals and operates through internal studios, where multidisciplinary teams work side by side across all stages of product creation—from initial concept to distribution—with the workforce set to grow to 1000 employees by the end of the year.
The Barcelona campus works in coordination with Zitro’s second Technology Campus in Bangalore, India, which has seen a 30% increase in its workforce over the past year. Together, these campuses form a truly global development and manufacturing network, reinforcing Zitro’s presence in more than 52 countries and its ability to meet international demand with the highest quality standards.
“This is more than just a new building, it’s a statement about where Zitro is headed. We’re scaling up to meet demand, yes, but we’re also creating the space to dream bigger, innovate faster, and deliver experiences that truly resonate with operators and players everywhere. Most importantly, this expansion aligns with our strategic vision for continued innovation and global market leadership,” said Johnny Ortiz, Founder of Zitro.
The new facility features modern warehousing systems, optimised production workflows and advanced logistics infrastructure, all while meeting the highest ESG standards, ensuring a sustainable, energy-efficient environment that reflects the company’s commitment to environmental responsibility and employee well-being.
With this expansion now fully operational, the company has established the infrastructure foundation necessary to support its ambitious growth trajectory and commitment to delivering premium gaming experiences worldwide.
The post Zitro Expands its Campus in Barcelona with a Second Building appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
Acquisitions/Merger
Pavilion Payments Reaches Agreement to Acquire DiTRONICS Financial Services
Pavilion Payments, a leading provider of omnichannel payment solutions for the gaming industry, announced it has entered into an agreement to acquire certain payments and automation contracts and technology assets of DiTRONICS Financial Services.
This transaction would provide Pavilion with several key additions to its innovative suite of payments and automation products for the broader brick-and-mortar industry, as well as expanded access to the route, restricted, charitable, and historical horse racing (HHR) markets.
This aligns with Pavilion’s commitment to improving its core servicesAcquisitions/Merger and strengthening its competitive position within the gaming industry. The completed transaction would build on the acquisition of the CasinoSoft Title 31/AML platform and the vertical integration of Pavilion’s payments and automation stack.
“I have the utmost respect for George and the amazing business he’s built over the past 25 years. This represents an opportunity for us to strengthen our platform, and I am looking forward to delighting our existing install base with better automation products and the opportunity for our leading-edge cashless products to thrive in these underserved markets,” said Diallo Gordon, Chief Executive Officer of Pavilion Payments.
“We’re excited about seeing this transaction through and the value it brings through a stronger product portfolio and continued service for DiTRONICS customers—and ultimately, our own. We see strong alignment between our teams, and we believe this transaction will further position us as a thought leader in the payments and automation space while creating meaningful added value for customers,” said Alyssa Beaver, Senior Vice President of Sales at Pavilion Payments.
“We have put 25 years into building DiTRONICS and its suite of products. We are extremely pleased to take this next step with the Pavilion Payments team and afford our customers the benefits of access to Pavilion’s gaming industry-leading payments solutions,” said George Vasilakos, founder and principal owner of DiTRONICS Financial Services.
The post Pavilion Payments Reaches Agreement to Acquire DiTRONICS Financial Services appeared first on Americas iGaming & Sports Betting News.
Conferences
NOVOMATIC Delivers Spectacular Innovation at ICE 2026
From January 19 to 21, ICE Barcelona was once again the global hub of the gaming industry. With a booth of over 4500 m², NOVOMATIC brought its comprehensive 360-degree portfolio to life, spotlighting the latest advances in gaming technology and integrated solutions. Alongside representatives of NOVOMATIC headquarters, numerous subsidiaries and technology partners, including NOVOMATIC Gaming Spain, NOVOMATIC Gaming UK, NOVOMATIC Italia, LÖWEN ENTERTAINMENT, APEX and Ainsworth, showcased their latest innovations. A dedicated area for visitors from Latin America was another highlight of this year’s presence. Bespoke market solutions and regional concepts underlined the Group’s strong footprint across more than 130 markets worldwide.
Besides its technology showcase, NOVOMATIC’s booth offered a vibrant and welcoming atmosphere as well as distinctive hospitality and entertainment. Traditional culinary specialties, including freshly prepared Austrian sausages and the AdmiralBet Pub with live sports coverage, were complemented by interactive attractions such as a darts challenge with German pro Max Hopp and a dedicated Fiesta Spirit photo booth.
Premium Cabinet Engineering: Next-Generation Performance on the Gaming Floor
A major focus at ICE 2026 was NOVOMATIC’s continuously advancing premium cabinet portfolio, which underlines the Group’s technical expertise in hardware development, player ergonomics and audiovisual immersion. The internationally acclaimed V.I.P. X Galaxy 2.65 turned many heads, with its premium comfort concept further expanded through the global launch of the V.I.P. X Galaxy Lounge 2.65. This version of the cabinet delivers a high impact immersive experience in the more compact footprint enabled by the “Mamba” seating solution.
NOVOMATIC also showcased the DIAMOND X Quattro 1.55J, the Group’s flagship cabinet and one of the most successful concepts on the international market. With their cutting-edge display technology, refined glass touch deck, and optimized sound performance, the DIAMOND X models featured monumental sign solutions that dominated the booth. The scalable DIAMOND X family of cabinets supports multiple game formats, Linked Progressives and high-impact jackpot installations, enabling high-visibility flagship deployments.
XTENSION WORLD in Action: Linked Progressives and Game Innovation
NOVOMATIC unveiled a strong lineup of new Linked Progressives and Multiple Feature Games under the XTENSION WORLD umbrella. Key premieres included VISION LINK, a new generation of jackpot mechanics and player engagement models engineered to maximize dwell time and floor performance. Another highlight was XTENSION LINK Volume 5, expanding one of NOVOMATIC’s internationally most successful game families with a powerful new portfolio of feature-rich titles designed for sustained player appeal. A further addition to the multi-feature portfolio, IMPERA PROLINK 2, delivers advanced jackpot mechanics and feature-driven gameplay designed to enhance performance across multiple markets.
On the NOVO LINE platform, RISING TREASURES II attracted strong attention, expanding the established brand with new themes, enhanced bonus structures, and high-volatility win potential tailored to evolving player preferences. Completing the showcase, NOVOMATIC presented its latest game mixes, including the highly customizable GAMINATOR X5 and the new Impera Line HD Edition 10, whose powerful tools allow operators to tailor content portfolios to local requirements and strategic floor objectives.
System Intelligence: Novo Unity Pro and NOVOVISION
In the Electronic Table Games segment, Novo Unity Pro confirmed its status as one of the industry’s most advanced ETG platforms. With a highly modular architecture that meets the evolving operational demands of modern gaming floors, the solution supports a broad portfolio of electronic live games, including Roulette, Blackjack, Baccarat and Sic Bo, while advanced functionalities such as Simultaneous Betting deliver maximum flexibility, throughput and table utilisation for operators.
NOVOMATIC’s visionary Casino Management System NOVOVISION was once again a top attraction at ICE, underlining its role as a strategic backbone for state-of-the-art gaming floors. With its cutting-edge technology, the scalable CMS was demonstrated to new record numbers of visitors, with its broad functionality, real-time data analytics and seamless floor-wide integration.
Frontrunner at the European Casino “Oscars”
ICE 2026 once again hosted the prestigious European Casino Awards, where NOVOMATIC emerged as the most successful company, securing four major honors and reinforcing its preeminent position in global gaming. The Group received awards for the Best Slot Machine – DIAMOND X Quattro 1.55J, Best Electronic Table Gaming Product – Novo Unity Pro, and Best CMS/Software Product – NOVOVISION, as well as the Sustainability Initiative Award – Photovoltaic Systems.
NOVOMATIC also received the ICE Landmark Award 2026 to honor its founder Prof. Johann F. Graf for 45 years of entrepreneurial vision, innovation and sustained international expansion. The award was accepted by Stefan Krenn, Member of the Executive Board of NOVOMATIC AG, on behalf of Prof. Graf. Together, these awards highlight the strength of NOVOMATIC’s 360-degree portfolio and firmly position the Group at the forefront of the international gaming industry.
Stefan Krenn, Member of the Executive Board of NOVOMATIC AG, said: “ICE 2026 marked yet another defining moment for NOVOMATIC. The international recognition that we received reflects the consistency of our strategic course and the capabilities of our technology solutions. Our award-winning portfolio of cabinets, games, ETG platforms, and system intelligence illustrates the scale and integration of our global offering. We would like to thank our customers and partners worldwide for their continued trust, and our more than 26,000 employees, whose professionalism and commitment drive our sustained success.”
Thomas Schmalzer, VP Global Sales and VP Product Management NOVOMATIC AG, said: “The response to our innovations at ICE 2026 confirmed that we are precisely meeting the needs of today’s gaming floors. We greatly value the close collaboration with our customers and partners worldwide, whose feedback enables our teams to deliver state-of-the-art products and solutions that drive player satisfaction and operator performance. We look forward to a successful year for the industry and to meeting again at ICE 2027 and other international events in the months ahead.”
The post NOVOMATIC Delivers Spectacular Innovation at ICE 2026 appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
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