WMS Industries Inc.

Financial Main Page | IGHRM Main Page
Disclaimer:

International Guild of Hospitality & Restaurant Managers

WMS Industries Inc. (NYSE:WMS)

800 South Northpoint Blvd.
Waukegan, IL 60085

Phone: (847) 785-3000
Fax: (773) 961-1099
Email: sales@wms.com
Employees (last reported count): 838

WMS Industries Inc., incorporated in November 1974 as Williams Electronics, Inc., is a designer, manufacturer and marketer of video and mechanical reel-spinning gaming machines and video lottery terminal (VLTs). The Company conducts its gaming machine business through its subsidiary, WMS Gaming Inc., which markets its products under the WMS Gaming trademark. WMS Industries seeks to develop gaming machines that offer high-entertainment value and generate greater revenues for casinos and other gaming machine operators than the gaming devices of its competitors. Most of its gaming machines incorporate secondary bonus rounds, advanced graphics, digital sound and engaging game themes, some of which include songs and trademarks. The Company's gaming machines are installed in all of the major gaming jurisdictions in the United States and in numerous foreign jurisdictions.

In the fiscal year ended June 30, 2002 (fiscal 2002), the Company launched three new participation series: Hollywood Squares games in the winter of 2001; Pac-Man games, based on the classic arcade game, in the spring of 2002, and Survivor games, based on the television show, in the spring of 2002. The Survivor game was its first game commercialized in association with International Game Technology (IGT), which places these games on its MegaJackpots wide-area progressive system. WMS Industries does not have a proprietary wide-area progressive system. Wide-area progressive systems are electronically linked, inter-casino systems that connect gaming machines in various casinos to a central computer.

WMS Industries has established a line of video and mechanical reel-spinning gaming machines and VLTs incorporating entertaining themes and certain gaming features. The Company's gaming machines' technological features include multiple linked video monitors and touch-screen video displays for video gaming machines, advanced graphics, dotmatrix animation (dotmation) displays for mechanical reel-spinning slot machines and its digital compression DCS Sound System (DCS) music, voice-overs and sound effects.

The Company's gaming machines integrate a secondary bonus round to accompany the traditional gaming machine to create a game within a game for interactive play. If players achieve various milestones in the primary round, they move on to play a secondary round for additional bonuses. The secondary round gives the player a sense of investment in the game. The player is encouraged to continue wagering in the hope of entering the bonus round. The player can win in both the primary round and the secondary round.

WMS Industries offers product lines for sale, including multi-coin, multi-line video gaming machines; mechanical reel spinning slot machines, and 3RV gaming machines. The Company's line of multi-coin, multi-line-themed gaming machines combine advanced graphics, DCS sound effects and music, as well as secondary bonus rounds. In the primary round, the video screen of these gaming machines simulates traditional mechanical reel-spinning slot machines. Depending on the machine, the player can wager up to 200 coins per play. The Company's mechanical reel-spinning slot machines feature secondary bonusing through the use of its dotmation feature and also include DCS sound.

In September 2002, the Company began to sell the 3RV video-based gaming devices, which feature mini-bonuses, symbol animation and DCS sound. This gaming device looks like a traditional three-reel mechanical slot machine and includes a handle to activate play. WMS Industries has developed a proprietary front-screen glass over a video monitor.

WMS Industries also supplies the VLT and parts sales, game conversions and used games. The Company's VLTs include both video and mechanical reel-spinning gaming machines. They feature advanced graphics and DCS sound effects and music and incorporate many of the same features as its other gaming machines. WMS Industries offers a variety of multi-game and single-themed VLTs. Its VLTs may be operated as stand-alone units or may interface with central monitoring computers operated by governmental agencies. Its VLTs are located in places where casino-type gaming is not the principal attraction, such as racetracks, bars and restaurants.

The Company also offers sales of replacement parts and game theme conversions of its gaming machines. It also sells used games that are acquired on a trade-in basis or that were previously placed on a participation basis.

WMS Industries competes with IGT, Alliance Gaming, Aristocrat Technologies, Sigma Game, Atronic Casino Technology, Mikohn Gaming, Shuffle Master, Konami, Franco, Unidesa, G-Tech Holdings, Scientific Games and Spielo Gaming International.

Disclaimer:
The data included within the Financial section is solely for information and does not construe a recommendation and/or endorsement by IGHRM or its members to invest funds with any of the companies listed. You are strongly advised to obtain professional advice with qualified individuals or corporations for any investments of funds.

IGHRM Main Page