Electronic casino table game maker Spintec d.o.o. is preparing to tap into Macau’s live-dealer electronic table game (ETG) market. That is according to the firm’s chief commercial officer, Goran Sovilj, in a recent interview with GGRAsia.
“There is a large opportunity for all ETG manufacturers with the expiry of the patent” of LT Game Ltd, he said.
“We at Spintec are looking at this opportunity and we believe that the market is big enough for all of us to get a piece of the pie,” Mr Sovilj added.
“We have a very strong footprint in Macau, and I believe that due to the recognisability of our software, we are positioned quite well,” he added.
The live-dealer ETG segment in Macau has been dominated by gaming technology provider LT Game. The company – a unit of Hong Kong-listed Paradise Entertainment Ltd – is well known for its live multi-game (LMG) product in stadium format, featuring rows of gaming terminals linked to live-dealer-operated baccarat tables.
That dominance has been linked to a patent covering the use of multiple terminals for electronic table games involving a human dealer. The patent is set to expire in October this year. In Macau, an invention patent is protected for 20 years from the filing date of the application, according to existing legislation.
Mr Sovilj said Spintec had so far received “no inquiries” from Macau casino operators regarding live-dealer ETG products. Nonetheless, the firm was already preparing for the opportunity, including through product development.
“We obviously think forward. We have a clear roadmap for our Asian business, and that includes the stadium opportunity in Macau,” the executive said.
In Macau, Spintec works with Hong Kong-listed and Macau-based gaming equipment distributor Asia Pioneer Entertainment Ltd (APE). “APE has been really great for us,” Mr Sovilj said. “The partnership is just outstanding.”
As reported by GGRAsia, Macau’s gaming regulator approved in August last year Spintec’s ETG products Aura and Karma for distribution in the local market. These lines are suitable for live and virtual baccarat.
Product upgrades, sic bo ambitions
At this year’s Global Gaming Expo (G2E) Asia trade show in Macau, which took place in May, Spintec launched a series of upgrades for its Virtual Baccarat product. These included the introduction of new side-bet options. Added to the existing ‘Lucky 6’ side bet were ‘Small and Big Lucky 6’, ‘Lucky 7’, ‘Small and Big Lucky 7’, and ‘Super Lucky 7’, as well as the ‘Pairs+’, ‘Monkey no Monkey’ and ‘4/5/6 Cards’ side bets, which were recently approved by Macau’s casino regulator.
The firm also premiered its MultiView game platform, which allows players to display and participate in up to four different games simultaneously on a single screen.
The gaming supplier is additionally seeking to expand its presence in Macau’s automated sic bo market.
“Currently, there is limited competition and operators are seeking an alternative, which we are working very hard to provide,” Mr Sovilj stated.
He added that Spintec already enjoyed a sizeable footprint in the city’s automated roulette market. “When you walk onto the floors, we have a lot of units installed.”
Mr Sovilj stated that the firm was working to expand its presence in Asia. He admitted that Spintec was still finding the best way to increase its footprint in the Philippines, but had managed “to do a couple of good deals” in South Korea, while enjoying a strong position in India.
“We want to continue to be close to the markets where we operate, make sure that we take into consideration the requirements customers have, because every market is different,” Mr Sovilj said.
