NOVOMATIC Romania destroys counterfeit equipment

NOVOMATIC Romania continues to fight against piracy in the gambling industry by destroying 161 counterfeit gambling equipment. This action is carried out within the program launched with Newton Slots, the objective is to encourage the organizers to hand over the counterfeit equipment, to replace them with original equipment NOVOMATIC, at special prices.

Counterfeit gaming equipment are financially accessible, also the operator makes considerable but illegal winnings, because of the small percentage of winnings for players. However, in the long term, the organizer risks losing its customers, to have unjustified winnings and to be sanctioned according to the legal provisions, both from a financial point of view, as well as from a civil or criminal point of view.

By introducing counterfeit equipment in the locations, depending on the crimes committed, the organizers take extremely high risks. In addition to the penalties of a criminal nature for infringement of intellectual property rights (trademark, industrial design, copyright, patent, etc.), operators risk criminal cases for: committing tax evasion, money laundering, unfair competition, offering, distributing, holding or storing / transporting pirate goods, etc.

Infringement of the intellectual property rights of the owners and the illegal copies of the original products are the main source for the black market or the illegal exploitation, with all the related consequences:

• Access of minors to locations where illegal slot machines are operated;

• Tax evasion by non-payment of taxes related to the operation of gambling;

• The possibility of installing programs on these illegal copies, so that the equipment can be manipulated, either by the organizer in his interest or by the player in his interest;

• Money laundering.

Unofficial figures claim that there are approximately 25,000 counterfeit gaming equipment on the Romanian market.

Over the years, NOVOMATIC Romania had numerous initiatives against the phenomenon. Among them, organizing mystery shopping sessions and buying equipment suspected of counterfeiting by different manufacturers. In the fight to increase awareness in the gambling industry, during the annual gambling exhibition in 2007, a lot of counterfeit main boards were destroyed.

The initiatives continued with training seminars in 2011 and 2012. Organized in collaboration with the Romanian Police and representation of ONJN.

The latest project, held in collaboration with Newton Slots, offers gambling organizers the opportunity to be safe, to provide a legal and secure framework for their activity and for their clients. Organizers can hand over the counterfeit equipment and benefit from new equipment, produced by NOVOMATIC, at special prices.

NOVOMATIC Romania continues to fight against piracy through actions that sustain the safety for players, so they can enjoy a responsible game, but also for operators so that they can carry out their activity in a safe competitive market.