DOVER, Del. and NEWPORT BEACH, Calif., July 16, 2012 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- There is some good news for gaming equipment suppliers, according to the latest ROTH-FANTINI Quarterly Slot Survey.
Part of the good news is that the spate of casino openings in the United States this year has led to an increase in slot machines sales and leases.
Other good news is that existing casinos appear more willing to spend to replace old slot machines.
North American casino managers intend to replace 8.6 percent of their machines this year. That is up from 7 percent in the first quarter. And it is above the past several years when low replacement sales have been a drag on slot machine manufacturer profits.
Survey results were especially encouraging for industry giant IGT and long-time rival Bally Technologies.
Survey participants bought 37 percent of their slot machines in the second quarter from IGT, a 4-point gain. Bally accounted for 19 percent of sales, a 3-point improvement over the previous 12 months.
WMS, the third largest American slot manufacturer, got 17 percent share.
Another trend is the rise of small manufacturers. Konami Gaming, a subsidiary of Japanese consumer electronics giant Konami Corp, has become a significant player in recent years.
Now, Multimedia Games and Australia's Ainsworth are making the jump. Each got 3 percent of the second quarter's sales.
The ROTH-FANTINI report is an analysis and statistical summary of gaming technology trends based on information provided by 191 casinos in the United States, Canada and internationally.
More information about survey and industry trends are available from Todd Eilers (949-720-5781), research analyst at Roth Capital Partners, and Frank Fantini (866-683-4357), CEO of Fantini's Research, and publisher of the daily Fantini's Gaming Report.
About Roth Capital Partners, LLC
Roth Capital Partners, LLC is an investment bank headquartered in Newport Beach, CA, with regional offices throughout the U.S. including a Shanghai Representative Office in China. ROTH Capital provides analytical research, trading, capital raising, and business combination advisory services for its corporate and institutional investor clients.
About Fantini Research
Fantini Research provides information, research and consulting services for institutional investors and corporate level executives in the gaming industry. Publications include the flagship daily Fantini's Gaming Report, the monthly National Revenue Report and the ROTH-FANTINI Quarterly Slot Survey.
The Fantini Research logo is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/newsroom/prs/?pkgid=13349