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During the past 40 years, the Native American-owned firm of Thalden Boyd Emery Architects has become one the best-known casino-hotel architects in America—especially among gaming tribes, having worked with more than 72 tribes and 24 First Nations, building more than 125 casino projects and more than 400 hotels.

Some of TBEA’s past clients have included Harrah’s, Hilton, Holiday Inns Worldwide, Hyatt, Marriott, Radisson, Donald Trump and Delaware North Companies, Inc. Hotel & Motel Management magazine ranks TBEA a “Top Design” firm in the hospitality industry in the United States. It is a company with extensive experience designing destination resorts, gaming floors, atriums, hotel rooms, entertainment venues, convention space, multi-use space, retail, restaurants and parking garages for tribes in the United States and Canada.

The company, with its highly experienced staff of 40 professionals, consolidates offices in Las Vegas, St. Louis, Tulsa and Phoenix, combining the Native American background and design expertise of Chief Boyd, AIA, the creative hotel and casino design expertise of Barry Thalden, AIA, and the design and production talents of Rich Emery, AIA.

Since 1971, Thalden and Boyd have been architects for resorts, hotels and casinos, and for Native American tribes. In 1982 Emery joined them and rose to lead design and production. As a team they are passionate about design.

TBEA’s approach of creating “ordinary to extraordinary” is based on developing unique and exciting visions and bringing them to life. Building on Thalden’s personal experience, designing theme parks, the firm became known for theme design. TBEA took the leading edge of the wave of mega-resorts in Las Vegas, designing technical theming drawings for resorts like the Venetian Casino, Hotel & Resort. The firm has built a reputation for delivering projects on time and on budget.

TBEA provides full architectural services including master planning, engineering and interior design. Its mission is to help improve the lives of Native Americans through economic redevelopment.

Thalden Boyd Emery Architects is an active associate member of the American Gaming Association and the American Institute of Architects, and an associate member of the National Indian Gaming Association.

To learn more, visit www.thaldenboydemery.com or contact Linda J. Roe, VP of business development, at 702-384-4884.

SPIELO International designs, manufactures and distributes top-performing games, cabinets, central systems and associated software to legal gaming markets around the world. The company offers a complete range of end-to-end gaming products for diverse gaming segments, including distributed government-sponsored markets, commercial casino markets, Amusement with Prize markets and, as a result of integration with SPIELO G2, interactive and sports betting markets.

SPIELO G2 is the leading provider of i-gaming and sports betting products and services to regulated gaming markets, as well as the top supplier to the world’s lottery industry, operating more poker networks in regulated gaming markets than any other provider.

SPIELO International serves more than 1,650 customers on five continents and has shipped more than 225,000 gaming machines worldwide. The company holds more than 350 gaming licenses and is licensed to sell gaming machines in 25 U.S. states, including Nevada, plus 142 tribes.

SPIELO International is 100 percent owned by Lottomatica Group, a market leader in the Italian gaming industry, as well as one of the largest lottery operators in the world based on total wagers and a leading provider of lottery and gaming technology solutions worldwide. Lottomatica is majority owned by the De Agostini Group, a century-old publishing, media and financial services company.

SPIELO International also is an affiliate of GTECH, a leading gaming technology and services company. SPIELO International is a platinum member of the Gaming Standards Association and supports open industry standards such as Game to System and System to System.

SPIELO International has a dedicated workforce of approximately 2,100 employees. Major offices are located in Belgrade, Serbia; Gibraltar; Graz, Austria; Hyderabad, India; Las Vegas, Nevada; Lima, Peru; London, United Kingdom; Luebbecke, Germany; Monaco; Moncton, Canada; Rome, Italy; Stockholm, Sweden; Warsaw, Poland; and Växjö, Sweden.

For more information, visit us at www.spielo.com

SOSH Architects was founded in 1979 on the core conviction that quality design continually rewards the community, the client and the design team. The firm has steadily grown from a company of four partners to its current size of approximately 60 design professionals engaged in the execution of major master planning, architecture and interior design commissions worldwide.

The company philosophy drives a design process that values exploration, visualization and the contributions of multiple voices consistent with their belief that the best design solutions are the result of thoughtful collaboration.

SOSH’s principals, Thomas J. Sykes, Thomas J. O’Connor, William A. Salerno and Nory Hazaveh, continue the commitment of personal involvement in each project. With offices in Atlantic City and New York, SOSH Architects has established a worldwide reputation for master planning, architectural design, interior design and strong project delivery achievement. SOSH’s success is based on the passion and purpose they bring to every design opportunity. They challenge convention, explore options and generate the kind of unexpected solutions that are the hallmark of their practice.

For three decades, SOSH Architects has had the opportunity to work on an impressive array of hospitality design projects. From master planning to restaurant renovation, and from new tower construction to resort expansions, SOSH has handled every aspect of hotel and casino design on multiple properties in the major urban markets of New York, Philadelphia and Atlantic City, as well as in California, Arizona, Nevada, Mississippi, Indiana, Louisiana, Connecticut, the Caribbean, Europe and Asia. These properties include gaming floors, hotel rooms, restaurants, nightclub and entertainment venues, ballrooms, retail stores, lounges, pool and spa retreats, administrative support space, food service facilities and day care centers—each use bringing with it a unique set of challenges and technical requirements.

Ongoing or recently completed projects include Revel Resort in Atlantic City (which premiered in May 2012), several projects for Seminole Hard Rock Casinos on the East Coast, Scioto Downs in Columbus, Ohio, the phased master plan expansion to Fantasy Springs Golf Resort in California and the first phase of design for Genting Group’s Bimini Bay resort in the Bahamas. The success of the Spotlight 29 Casino near Palm Springs, California and the collaboration that resulted in the property’s stunning design received first prize for Casino Design in the prestigious Sarno Awards.

For more information, visit www.sosharch.com or contact sosh@sosharch.com.

SHFL entertainment, Inc. is a leading global gaming supplier committed to making gaming more fun for players and more profitable for operators through product innovation, and superior quality and service.

The company operates in legalized gaming markets across the globe and provides state-of-the-art, value-add products in five distinct categories: Utility products, which include automatic card shufflers and roulette chip sorters; Proprietary Table Games, which includes live games, side bets and progressives; Electronic Table Systems, which include various e-table game platforms; Electronic Gaming Machines, which include video slot machines; and newly introduced iGaming, which features online versions of SHFL entertainment’s table games, social gaming, and mobile applications.

SHFL entertainment, Inc. is included in the S&P SmallCap 600 Index.

Information about the company and its products can be found on the internet at www.shfl.com, or on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.

Multimedia Games is poised to “play louder” in 2013 with expansion into Nevada and other markets, the addition of new titles to the High Rise Games series, the rollout of its latest premium product series, Smokin’ Hot Jackpots, and the upcoming National TournEvent of Champions.

The High Rise Games series is picking up significant momentum, and MGAM expects to release a new title every quarter, such as High Rollin’ Progressive and High Rise Hotel, along with increasing the number of games featuring the award-winning MoneyBall bonus game. Styled after a traditional pinball game, players get three shots on one of the four themed top-box play screens. After selecting where their MoneyBall will launch, players watch as it hits pins, bumpers, multi-ball triggers, 3X fireballs or a ball lock before landing in a prize bucket.

High Rise Games feature one of the largest top boxes in the industry with a vertically placed 37-inch LCD screen and colored LED lights around the bezel.

Smokin’ Hot Jackpots, the newest premium mechanical product series, will hit casino floors this year. Paired with six popular mechanical base game titles, such as Top Shelf, Smokin’ 777 and Tiger 7s, and featuring an 11-tier linked progressive, the new Progressive Heat Up feature and an attention-grabbing top box tower, this series stands to be one of the company’s top products this year.

In March, MGAM will roll out the National TournEvent of Champions tour, which is revolutionizing the idea of a slot tournament. The tournament promotions team will visit roughly 80 to 100 casinos throughout the nation on their “PLAY LOUDER” tour bus and crown winners at each location. The championship finale will take place at Lagasse’s Stadium at the Palazzo during G2E 2013. With more than $250,000 to be handed out in prizes, along with the title of the “Nation’s Best Player” up for grabs, this event will be a historic moment for MGAM and the participating casinos.

“With more High Rise Games titles on the horizon,” says a company official, “the debut of Smokin’ Hot Jackpots heating up casino floors and players and casinos fighting it out across the country for bragging rights in the National TournEvent of Champions, Multimedia Games is once again proving they give their customers and players the ultimate ‘Play Louder’ experience.”

For more information about Multimedia Games, visit www.multimediagames.com.

Konami Gaming, Inc. is “born from fun” with entertaining games designed to ignite players’ imaginations and an innovative casino management system designed to drive business forward.

Konami is a complete gaming manufacturer that develops, designs, manufacturers, distributes, sells and services slot machines and the casino management system Synkros. With headquarters located in Las Vegas, Konami’s products are distributed throughout North America, Europe, Latin America, the Caribbean and Southeast Asia.

Synkros is the evolution of the Konami Casino Management System, and is best known for its advanced capabilities of real-time analysis, reliability and innovative marketing tools. Synkros offers system-delivered slot tournaments using True Time Tournaments, allowing tournaments to be administered using a player-on-demand format where patrons can play their tournaments at their own convenience.

Synkros also offers SuperSeries, a multi-level, multi-themed, floor-wide bonusing tool. SuperSeries bonus themes include Tomb Treader, Mustang Mayhem, Lot-A-Bucks and Thunder Track. Recently, Konami’s system was selected by Seven Clans casino properties located in Red Lake, Warroad and Thief River Falls, Minnesota.

Konami’s game library continues to grow with increasingly popular games on innovative cabinets. The Podium, one of Konami’s popular cabinets, has been taken to greater heights with Podium Goliath.

Podium Goliath is a larger version of the Podium, standing more than 7 feet tall and featuring colossal sound with dual 36-inch, high-definition LCDs and 360-degree attract lighting. A new game series available on the Podium cabinets is Passport to Riches, a Multi Mystery Xtra Reward game. Passport Riches offers three new bonus features, including Free Reels, Power Push and XL Wild Reels, and two available titles, Great Pyramid and China Dream, which features a traveling interactive dragon that randomly triggers these bonuses individually or in combination with one another.

Konami has many upcoming releases scheduled for 2013, including Dragon’s Victory, a new four-level, linked mystery progressive game in which players lead a dragon on a magical adventure to uncover medallions. Dragon’s Victory will be compatible with most KP3 video titles. Konami will also release SeleXion, a multi-game that offers up to 10 KP3 video titles. It includes multi-denominations, easy-to-use LCD touch screens and a Dynamic Button Panel. Game themes will change instantaneously between titles.

For more information about Konami Gaming, Inc., visit www.konamigaming.com.

Founded in 1966 and based in Las Vegas, JBA Consulting Engineers initially focused on regional projects and quickly grew to become an engineering leader in the western United States. Five decades later, JBA has expanded its expertise by embracing cutting-edge technology, and mastering sustainable design and international design standards, while deploying a team of trusted advisers to deliver these state-of-the-art designs and master-plan consulting services throughout the world.

JBA took part in the master planning of Twin Arrows Casino and Resort, utilizing the latest in BIM technology to design the magnificent facility. The resort and casino encompass 266,000 square feet of space with more than 48,000 square feet dedicated to gaming and 105 hotel rooms. The facility design includes 954 tons of chillers, 21,000 MBH heat capacity and a 110,000-cfm casino heat recovery air floor system. JBA provided MEP, acoustical engineering, security and surveillance and fire protection engineering services.

JBA Consulting Engineers Tribal Partial List:

• Agua Caliente Casino Resort Spa – Rancho Mirage, California

• Barona Resort & Casino – Lakeside, California

• Black Oak Casino – Tuolumne, California

• Casino Snoqualmie – Snoqualmie, Washington

• Dry Creek Rancheria – Santa Rosa, California

• Graton Rancheria Casino – Rohnert Park, California

• Gun Lake Casino – Wayland, Michigan

• Little Six Casino – Prior Lake, Minnesota

• Muckleshoot Casino – Auburn, Washington

• Mystic Lake Casino – Prior Lake, Minnesota

• Pala Casino Spa Resort – San Diego, California

• Quechan Casino – Winterhaven, California

• River Rock Casino – Geyserville, California

• San Manuel Casino – Highland, California

• Spa Resort Casino – Palm Springs, California

• Thunder Valley Casino – Lincoln, California

• Twin Arrows Casino – Flagstaff, Arizona

• Valley View Casino – Valley Center, California

• Wildhorse Casino – Pendleton, Oregon

 For more information, visit www.jbace.com.

The Innovation Group of Companies provides financial, management, investment banking, development, marketing and diversification advisory services to a signature, worldwide client base. The organization is comprised of five affiliates, highlighted below. Three specialty advisory divisions include Innovation Food & Beverage, Innovation Sports & Entertainment and Innovation Interactive.

Together, the companies evaluate operational and development opportunities, make strategic recommendations and offer the tactical tools to help clients implement them.

The organization has been associated with more than $75 billion in investment decisions throughout the past 20 years. Additionally, its areas of specialization have naturally expanded into a number of related discipliones that define the world of leisure and entertainment.

The company’s leadership has helped bring many of the world’s largest entertainment and hospitality developments to fruition, and has been exposed to industry best practices across six continents. Tribes, multibillion-dollar operators, government entities, global financial institutions and others depend on the company’s divisions:  

• The Innovation Group—Premier provider of consulting services for the gaming, entertainment and hospitality industries. Services include feasibility studies, market assessments, economic impact studies, strategic and financial planning, economic diversification, legislative and government advisory, litigation and expert witness support.

• Innovation Capital—Leading boutique investment banking firm offering Gaming & Leisure and Restaurant & Retail practices. Services include mergers and acquisitions, corporate finance, financial restructuring and valuations/fairness opinions.

• Innovation Project Development—Experienced project management firm providing oversight of the industry’s most complex developments.

• Innovation Marketing—Translates the unparalleled consultancy, analysis and research of The Innovation Group into industry best practice marketing tactics. 

• Innovation Management Services—Exclusive network of operational experts offers short-term crisis management, operations evaluation, turnaround implementation, management strategy and pre-/post-opening services.

• Innovation Food & Beverage—Specialty advisory team offers research and analysis, operations and management, concepting and implementation, positioning and marketing, development and renovation and financing and asset management specific to F&B considerations.

• Innovation Sports & Entertainment—Practice to further establish the organization’s presence in a broader range of sports, entertainment, performance venue, convention center and related amenity segments.

• Innovation Interactive—Research, analysis and strategic advisory specific to the online gaming segment.

Hnedak Bobo Group, NIGA’s 2012 Associate Member of the Year, has been creating highly competitive and exciting properties for tribal and commercial gaming clients for 34 years.

A trusted partner and leading provider of architecture and interior design in Indian gaming, HBG believes that great design and planning must always support the client’s business opportunity. The 90-person firm is constantly elevating its contributions to the Indian gaming industry. Simply put, “HBG thinks differently, and it shows.”

Thinking differently begins with knowing what it takes to operate a competitive property. HBG is the only architecture firm working in Indian gaming today to own, operate and develop its own four-star hotel: a highly successful Westin hotel located within a thriving entertainment district. It’s an experiential laboratory for operational efficiency and design innovation. HBG puts into practice key strategies to help its clients differentiate in a competitive market by leveraging their own market-proven strategies and experience.

HBG also is known for thinking differently when it comes to project delivery. The firm launched a separate hotel development company in 2010, DreamCatcher Hotels, which recently opened its first property at Coushatta Casino Resort in Kinder, Louisiana.This year, HBG also will introduce Casino Now, a unique solution developed to help operators take quick advantage of market growth opportunities.

Recognized as the NIGA Associate Member of the Year, HBG supports NIGA, NCAI, regional Indian gaming associations and Spirit of Sovereignty through creative fundraising activities, lobbying and strong membership participation. HBG’s highly successful guitar auction fundraiser in support of Spirit of Sovereignty raised $10,000 for the SOS Native American scholarship fund.

HBG’s contributions to the industry also include national design recognition. The firm made a clean sweep of the “Best Native American Casino Resort” award categories at the 2010-2011 G2E Casino Design Awards. Its four-diamond Northern Quest Resort and Casino outside Spokane, Washing and its Four Winds Casino in Hartford, Michigan each won Best Native American Resort. Four Winds Casino Hartford also received Best Overall Casino Resort Under $200 Million for 2011, a significant award encompassing the entire tribal and commercial gaming industry.

HBG will celebrate the opening of Seneca Buffalo Creek Casino in Buffalo, New York later this year; the completion of Four Winds Casino in Dowagiac, Michigan; and the completion of a major expansion to the Winstar World Casino in Thackerville, Oklahoma.

For more information, visit www.hbginc.com.

Global Cash Access is focused every day on redefining the possibilities of cash access products, cash handling and related services throughout the gaming industry—both in the U.S. and abroad. The technologies GCA creates are the standard bearers for the entire industry.

More than 1,000 gaming establishments worldwide come to GCA for ideas and innovative concepts. In 2012, the company processed more than 90 million transactions and dispensed more than $20 billion in cash. GCA’s global presence enables the company to work side-by-side with its clients worldwide—that means real customer service delivered in real time.

GCA’s broad suite of Xchange products provides robust, vertically integrated gaming payment solutions to the casino industry. Recently, GCA introduced its newest Xchange product, Table XChange, which connects table games to a casino’s existing TITO network, allowing for scanning and printing TITO vouchers. This technology creates a common currency across the casino, creates a bridge between slots and tables, and helps casinos identify valuable crossover players. The TableXchange device further streamlines casino operations by virtually eliminating the need to replenish chips at table games.

To buy in, the player gives a TITO voucher to the dealer. The TableXchange device scans and displays the voucher value on the device’s LCD and touch screens, allowing the player, dealer and security operations to confirm the voucher amount. The player then receives chips and a TITO voucher for any cash balance. To cash out, the dealer simply collects and enters the value of the player’s chips on the numeric keypad. The TableXchange device then prints a cash-out voucher for the player and a receipt ticket for the drop box.

GCA is poised to equip any casino with future-forward devices and solutions that generate more profitability on the floor.

For more information, visit www.gcainc.com.