Lottery provider Gaming King has acquired a reverse takeover of Sceptre Leisure, which will see the two operators further expand their services to UK pubs and clubs, introducing lottery systems into pubs and AWPs and club machines into members only clubs.
Sceptre Leisure, which acquired Crown Leisure last year, currently provides over 6,500 pubs across the UK, including those operated by the likes of Punch Tavern and Mitchell and Butlers as well as regional operators, with 17,000 amusements made up of AWPs, digital jukeboxes and pool tables. Gaming King provides over 5,000 members only clubs with lottery solutions.
The deal will see the two companies operate under three brands: Sceptre Leisure, Lottery King and Kellys Eye and see them exploit changes in the UK Gambling Act by providing the pub market with lottery systems.
Sceptre chief executive officer Ken Turner told InterGame: "The current market is a challenging one however gaming products have always tended to be a fairly recession proof product. Pub machines still make up 25 per cent of a pub location’s bottom line profit.
"And as for the effects of the smoking ban," continued Turner. "We are a year on from when it was introduced in the UK and are seeing early signs of improvement."
The smoking ban has, in a way, also provided the perfect opportunity for the operators’ lottery product as cigarette machines are starting to become obsolete in the pub market meaning the vending lottery machine can take over the footprint.
"It is a natural location for the machines," said Turner. "Because the machine has a small screen on the front it can provide promotional opportunities and more than one source of income to the licensee."
Brian Nichols, managing director of Gaming King added: "The player pays just £1 for a ticket and the lotteries are instant with the prizes paid out at the locations themselves. The top jackpot payout is £5,000 which is verified by ourselves and then paid out."
