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Casino cash machine increases gambling spend by up to 18pc
Tech
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A casino currency-changing machine soon to be introduced in Australia can increase a gambler’s spend at gaming tables by 18 per cent.
ATM maker Stargroup (ASX: STL) demonstrated the technology this week at the Sydney Australasian Gaming Expo – and plans to introduce it in Australia in six to 12 months.
“[When] this technology was originally piloted in Macau in 2015 and 2016, they saw an 18 per cent increase in spend across the table in six months,” Stargroup chief Todd Zani told Stockhead.
The technology allowed punters to gamble more in a shorter period because they did not need to leave the gaming table to change cash, he said.
“Historically, a gambler would have to go to a device in the corner of the room or swipe their card and take the ticket to a teller,” Mr Zani said.
Now punters can remain at a gaming table while loading a wad of bills – including up to five different currencies – into the StarGroup machine.
The device checks for counterfeit bills and issues a receipt that a croupier immediately exchanges for chips.
“It effectively takes five different types of currency into an auto note-feeder, validates them and then converts to them to local currency,” Mr Zani said.
The devices, which can sit on casino tables, are built in South Korea by manufacturer NeoICP Korea – which is part-owned by Stargroup.
The device also sends data back to the casino operator.
“We are working closely with NeoICP to tailor these solutions for the Australian market,” Mr Zani said.
The cost of each machine was in the vicinity of six to seven figures, he said.
“This is the first time it’s been seen in Australia and there are a number of casinos who are quite excited.”
The introduction of the technology would be subject to licensing requirements, he said.
Stargroup also plans to market the technology in airports and tourist destinations.
Stargroup’s shares were flat yesterday at 2.3c giving it a market value of $16.6 million.
The shares have traded between 2.2c and 4.6c over the past year.
