Operator News
US – Merkurstar glitters in Juegos Miami sunshine
By Lewis - 9 June 2016
The inaugural Juegos Miami had many stars and many star attractions: exhibition, education, conference and social, and Merkur Gaming (the first Tier One manufacturer to place its support behind this unique hybrid event) recorded a star presence of its own; thrilling visitors to its private suite with presentations of its Avantgarde SLT and the brand new Merkurstar slot cabinets.
From the opening Welcome Reception, sponsored by Merkur Gaming, through to the closing first JCM Global Latam Golf Classic four days later, Juegos Miami was full of successes and surprises; a worthy event that hit its target of bringing the many diverse gaming markets of Latin and Central America together under one roof.
Juegos Miami was born from the concept of the late and much missed former Merkur Gaming CEO Jens Halle and his wish to have an event that brought together all the vibrant markets of Latin America in one place and at one time. That concept was expanded and new features added during the organisation period but, ultimately, Juegos Miami provided a framework for debate and discussion across all levels of the vibrant gaming industry that is growing so dramatically across the region.
Organised jointly by Clarion Events and Urban Expositions, Juegos Miami learned from the experience of presenting such a multi-faceted event and it is widely expected that the ‘show’ (and more) will return for a second edition in 2017.
Merkur Gaming gave their presentation exclusive status by occupying the Biltmore Hotel’s Tuttle Suite and its exterior terrace, a location that could, and did, comfortably accommodate visitors in VIP comfort. Comfort to see, for the first time since its international debut at ICE in London, the real ‘star of the show’ the brand new Merkurstar upright cabinet.
Merkurstar is the gaming cabinet that combines every one of the key features that discerning operators and players demand. Visually stunning, Merkurstar is the cabinet that sets new standards in total comfort play by taking game time to a whole new level thanks to its Wow Sound and Horizon HD graphics on twin 24-inch glossy screens that are further enhanced by next generation lighting effects and an easy touch button panel.
The design brief for Merkurstar was intensely focussed on combining the ultimate in player comfort with a similar level of technician ease of access. Through utilising front access to the cabinet, by means of a sophisticated folding mechanism, Merkurstar is the last word in being technician-friendly and, as pre-launch testing confirmed, a true joy to work on: even in the tightest spaces on the gaming floor.
The key to Merkurstar’s success remains, of course, the game thrills that it offers to players. Merkurstar features the very best innovations from the ever expanding Merkur Gaming library of game titles. With game themes to excite all player tastes and preferences the combination of a great cabinet and great games delivers the ultimate in the gaming of today. Merkur Gaming refer to this new attraction as ‘our star’ and is certain that Merkurstar will soon truly be a real star across all of Latin America.
Charles Hiten, Chief Executive of Merkur Gaming Americas, commented at the event’s close: “Juegos Miami was a huge gamble. Nothing like this unique event has ever been done before and, while there are detail lessons to be learned for the future, it can clearly be classed as a huge success: one that Merkur Gaming, the Team that Delivers, will look to support in the future.”
