Novomatic

Visit of Gaming industry's leader's production site in the South of Vienna

Novomatic CEO Dr. Franz Wohlfahrt gave the trade delegates a warm welcome at the company's headquarters in Gumpoldskirchen, Lower Austria. With a turnover of about Euro 2.5 billion in 2008 Novomatic Group of Companies is one of the largest integrated conglomerates in the international gaming industry. Founded in 1980 by the entrepreneur Prof. Johann F. Graf the group includes affiliated companies in 22 countries and exports high-tech gaming equipment to 62 countries; as Mag. Georg Witting (Novomatic Corporate Social Responsibility / Corporate Communications department), explained as he guided the CdH-members on a tour through the production facilities.

Novomatic operates over 140,000 gaming machines in more than 850 group operations such as electronic casinos, classic casinos and other outlets. Among Novomatic operations are profitable casinos in Switzerland, Germany and the Czech Republic. The company's Admiral Sportwetten chain is the largest sportsbetting provider in Austria with over 190 sportsbetting outlets. In addition to  production at the headquarters in Gumpoldskirchen, the group has production facilities and competence centres in Germany, Great Britain, the Czech Republik, Hungary and Poland. Novomatic employs about 15,700 staff worldwide (2.700 in Austria). About 400 employees in R&D work on new hightech solutions (network solutions, access control systems, ticket systems, etc), Mr. Witting told the trade delegates during his presentation entitled "30 years Novomatic".

Austrian Gaming Industries GmbH
Eight R&D Competence centers are coordinated by Austrian Gaming Industries GmbH, located in Austria. As a manufacturer, Austrian Gaming Industries GmbH delivers one of the broadest product ranges in the industry, and is the undisputed market leader in the realm of electronic multiplayer gaming devices. In 2008, more than 100,000 gaming devices were sold in 62 countries.

Responsible Gaming
As a ground-breaking innovator in the industry, Novomatic has succeeded in developing a model for slot gaming systems that flags up potentially pathological gamblers from among the clientele: an electronic system that works in combination with compulsory registration, entry control and observation through staff.

The gaming area can only be entered through a turnstile barrier access control system using a valid NOVOCARD. This NOVOCARD is a personalized membership chip card and can only be obtained after registration requiring photographic identification and proof of age.
When Mr Witting had finished his presentation, the CdH delegation was invited to a buffet with the opportunity to talk to further members of the Novomatic management.