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Norsk Tipping
Norway, 2003, a new Gaming Act was drafted and eventually passed. In 2005 the government granted the monopoly to operate VLTs to Norsk Tipping, the state-owned gambling company. .
To replace the existing rag-tag network of existing slot machines which continued to operate, Norsk Tipping put out a public tender for the supply of a new network of 10,000 VLTs and all the required back office systems. This was a significant tender and was worth around $150m.
EssNet Interactive won the public tender. The price of Boss Media stock rocketed. Staff members all became millionaires on paper as their stock options rapidly increased in value.
Page List
- Interview – Hendrik Sandin – Boss Media
- Interview – Henrik Sandin – Operations
- Interview – Henrick Sandin – Hurricane Georges
- Interview – Henrick Sandin – Norway
- Interview – Henrick Sandin – Antigua Again
- Interview – Henrick Sandin – Boss Media’s Home Markets
- Interview – Henrick Sandin – Boss Media Devoured
- Interview – Henrick Sandin – After Boss Media
- Interview – Henrick Sandin – End
What is a VLT?
A Video Lottery Terminal offered simple video-based slot games as well as Keno and versions of Poker.
A VLT will have connection of some sort to a central computer for reporting and updating.
VLTs were generally housed in publicly accessible locations like bars and cafes.
To make the new VLTs. Henrik repurposed the Boss Media casino games so that they could run in a land-based cabinet. Land-based slot machines were far behind in technology at that time so these new games were a big deal.
The new VLTs used an internet connection. This enabled real-time reporting and gave the operators the ability to upload new games to the VLTs.
They also integrated a Player ID card system so that the player could be identified and alerted when their player time exceeded pre-set limits.
The possible conversion of the Norwegian krone to the Euro was also taken into account by enabling the VLT’s bill validators to be configured remotely.
Ultimately, they would indeed manufacture and install 10,000 slot machines
However, they didn’t have it all their own way. Although the government had monopoly through Norsk Tipping, the people who owned the old slot machines were not happy about losing their income.
“They wanted their own machines and didn’t want to report to government..”
So, they sued the government and they won, which upset the plan a bit.
However, despite the opposition, the partnership between EssNet and Norsk Tipping continued and the new VLTs were eventually installed from 2007 onward.
Boss Media and Tattersall’s would exit from EssNet Interactive and the business would be sold to Scientific Games. Tattersall’s remained a client of EssNet and Boss Media would purchase a copy of the software and would continue as a IVT supplier in addition to their core businesses. Boss Media then sold the lottery part of their business to Aristocrat.
