German payment solutions specialist Hess presents its latest cutting-edge solution, the Scorpion Compact
Based in Magstadt near Stuttgart, Germany, Hess Cash Systems has been developing some of the industry’s most advanced payment solution technologies. Having in initially started out as a manufacturer of shoe repair equipment in 1885, the company introduced its first self-service bank equipment in the 1960s. Now its products are used in more than 50 countries across a variety of market segments, of which casino gaming is presently among the most important.
Hess became part of the German-based gaming group Gauselmann in 2001, paving the way for its entry into the international gaming industry.
Global sales manager Erik de Kat explained that this offered an opportunity to build on the company’s strengths within banking and diversify its product range further.
“When the Gauselmann Group took over Hess a decade ago it was obvious that gaming equipment should also become a core product,” he told InterGaming.
Over the last 10 years, Hess equipment has been installed in casinos throughout the world, reducing the burden on cashiers by making a range of tasks less time consuming and more secure. Its products are performing particularly strongly in the Dutch and South African markets, while there are new developments planned for Asia this year.
The company’s latest innovation is the Scorpion Compact, a slimline card dispensing kiosk that enables operators to move towards cashless gaming.
“The Scorpion Compact,” said De Kat, “has a small footprint and is a competitive redemption and distribution terminal for cashless gaming.”
The kiosk’s elegant slimline design means it can be placed in entrance areas and casino ‘hot spots’. It boasts a card dispensing mechanism with a maximum capacity of 250 cards and a note stacker for up to 500 banknotes. Its banknote acceptor is highly reliable and a 15ins touchscreen provides easy-to-follow instructions for users. The Scorpion Compact can be used in combination with all existing kiosk installations and full administration can be completed via the intranet and casino management systems.
“Hess is helping to drive innovation in the payment solutions market by listening to customers and keeping development in house,” De Kat said.
The company shared a booth at this year’s ICE Totally Gaming show with Dutch systems specialist REAC, with which it has been working to develop new solutions for a number of years.
“Our cooperation with REAC is based on our belief in the products they develop and the integration our Hess products can offer,” De Kat commented. “This also works for the other companies we have been working with for the last few years.”
Hess’ Polaris Redemption Centre and Polaris Scorpion products, when combined with REAC’s magicPAY card technology, provide a comprehensive payment solution that facilitates the move towards fully cashless gaming.
Players simply insert their money into one of the kiosks, receive their loaded magicPAY card and proceed to their chosen machine. If they wish to leave the gaming area, they return the card to one of the kiosks, receive their deposit and the balance on the card in cash and are able to leave the casino without having to queue at the cash desk.
With the availability of payment solutions such as those designed by Hess, De Kat believes that this transition to cashless gaming will be “just a matter of years”.
