“Our products can significantly improve revenue and player experience”

(Exclusive interview).- Tracey Chernay, Senior Vice President at TransAct, talked with Focus Gaming News ahead of the 2020 edition of ICE London.

The 2020 edition of ICE London starts next week at the ExCel London, and everything is set for attendees to experience the biggest show to date.

Tracey Chernay, Senior Vice President, Global Casino and Gaming at TransAct, talked with Focus Gaming News in an exclusive interview to discuss this year’s plans and expectations, along with a preview of what the company will showcase at this year’s ICE.

You’ve always described ICE London as a show you look forward to attending as it allows you to network and catch up with the industry, why is ICE London 2020 so important for TransAct in the gaming events calendar?

ICE London is a major industry hub and the first of its calibre in 2020. Not only do we look forward to networking with our colleagues and industry leaders from around the world, but we are also eager to meet with new casino operators to show them how our products can significantly improve their revenue and player experience.

At TransAct, we are committed to providing the latest and greatest technology in the industry. Attending ICE is a key component in developing our user-friendly, yet innovative products, as it allows us to gather feedback from our customers. We also appreciate the opportunity to meet with clients face to face and ask them what their needs and goals are for the rest of the year and how we can help achieve them. 

Can we get an idea of what TransAct will show in London?

TransAct looks forward to showing the Epic Edge TITO (ticket-in/ ticket-out) printer, which offers the highest print quality in the market thanks to its premium print resolution and cutting-edge features. We are proud to say the Epic Edge is the most innovative TITO printer on the market, as it’s the only one that features an unmatched 300 DPI, a high-speed firmware uploading solution and a single interface board for all games. 

We also plan to display Epicentral 4.0, which was recently launched at G2E Las Vegas. Epicentral is the only promotional software suite in the industry that can target customers in real-time with unique, custom-designed coupons. Version 4.0 offers a variety of new and improved features that are strategically designed for casino operators to increase their revenue while using the most effective and user-friendly software. A new functionality includes a sleek user interface that is easily operable and creates an optimized user experience with its clean aesthetic. The latest version of Epicentral is also web-based, which makes it easier to install, update and keep secure.

Attendees will also have a chance to see TransAct’s Epic 880, which is the preferred roll printer that is incorporated into all the leading sports betting kiosks. The Epic 880 is known for its reliability and flexibility and it is used extensively across gaming sectors where the most dependable, robust product is required.

How do you assess the gaming market entering 2020 and what are TransAct’s main challenges and goals?

TransAct is optimistic about the gaming market in 2020 and we continue to invest in both the people and the technology to drive our presence in Europe. Our goal is to educate the European operators and manufacturers about the advantages of the Epic family of printers and to continue our top-ranked position of being the easiest company in gaming to work with.

What’s your take on the current state of the European gaming market?

It is often said that the only constant is change and that is certainly true of the European Gaming Market. Flexibility is key and we at TransAct pride ourselves on not only reacting but predicting where we need to be to take advantage of the best opportunities for growth. It’s important to be actively engaged at a local level to understand the dynamics of the market so that when the laws change, for example, with FOBTs in the UK, we are already forward focused on providing solutions for Sports Betting opportunities. Similarly, we are also prepared and active in pursuing new opportunities for printers in new jurisdictions opening up.

Flexibility is key and we at TransAct pride ourselves on not only reacting but predicting where we need to be to take advantage of the best opportunities for growth.

Responsible Gaming Initiatives are important world-wide and we are big supporters of the UK’s Gambling Commission’s focus on responsible gaming. We believe Epicentral is a powerful tool for casinos to send customized responsible gaming reminders to the players at the slot machines.

What are your main plans for the year?

One of our main goals is to continue to promote the newest and best TITO printer on the market, the Epic Edge. The “Edge” has key design features from its predecessor, the Epic 950, which is so reliable that less than .03 per cent of casinos have experienced any sort of failure with it during its initial warranty period. We are confident that the Epic Edge will surpass this statistic with flying colours.

2020 is also a year of growth, as we are expanding our Las Vegas facility by bringing more software engineers into our Software Center of Excellence and more staff into our global sales, operations, and technical support departments.

With the launch of Epicentral 4.0, we also look forward to showing casinos how they can extend their time-on-device goals, increase player spend and generate increased customer loyalty. Epicentral will definitely be a highlight at our upcoming trade shows and customer meetings.

2020 is also a year of growth, as we are expanding our Las Vegas facility by bringing more software engineers into our Software Center of Excellence and more staff into our global sales, operations, and technical support departments.

Most importantly, we will continue to provide our excellent customer service through our local partners, sales reps and on-site and online training support. Our customers can be assured that they can always reach us and receive just in time delivery and quick turn product repairs when needed.