Interblock

PRODUCTS

Automated: Interblock's range of fully-automated machines require little in the way of croupier supervision. For example, the Diamond Roulette M-Display is a mechanical roulette machine, with a real roulette wheel, that can accommodate seven players at once through its electronic betting system. The products in this range include Automated Big Six Wheel, Automated Craps & Sic Bo, Automated Dual Roulette, Automated MiniStar Roulette, Automated MiniStar Dice, Automated Roulette, Diamond Roulette M-Display. Also included in this range are Stadiums, a multi-player setup which can accommodate either a live assisted dealer or be fully automated through video generators.

Pulse Arena: The Pulse Arena by Interblock is a live arena-style setup, where croupiers can deal to an entire audience at once. This is done by large screens behind the dealer table, as well as additional player screens for the customers to interact with. Customers are able to cycle through whichever games are available to play. The Pulse Arena is also available in a fully automated mode, so it can be utilised without dealers present.

Video: For markets that may not allow either live or automated table games, Interblocks Video range employs a computer-generated animation on an LCD display. This animation will deal to the players, who will interact through an electronic player screen. Products in this line include Stadiums, Video Baccarat, Video Blackjack and Video Roulette.

Bar top: The StarBar product is an electronic product, which can be placed at the bar of a venue to allow for players to continue gaming away from the floor. It can be used as a standalone gaming machine, or can be connected to other Interblock products.

HISTORY

Interblock was originally founded as Elektroncek in 1989 as a developer and producer of security systems. This developed over time into information technology.

Princess, the fully automated electronic roulette product, was released in 1997 at the London Casino Exposition. Later in the year, the multi-player roulette, dice and video games machine, Megastar, was also released.

The company founded Interblockd.o.o in 1999 and announced that it had reached a total sales amount of €1.3m, 70% of which had come from foreign markets.

The Organic line was released in 2008, with Organic Card Blackjack, an electromechanical gaming device which uses real cards. Later that year, Interblock and Interblock USA received gaming licences to operate in Nevada.

Over the next few years, the Organic line would expand into Organic Craps, Organic Dice, Organic Live, ORganic Virtual and Organic Island.

In 2012, Interblock revealed the Hologram Gaming Lounge platform (IBHGL) that was built in partnership with Musion Systems, a British-based company.

Interblock's Diamond generation of games were officially launched in 2014. These would be joined by Mini Roulette, IBHGL games that supported up to five players at a time and a new StarBar product.

In 2015, John Connelly was named as Global CEO of Interblock, the position he still holds today. Interblock would be acquired by Oaktree Capital Management in 2022, a global investment management company which specialises in alternative investments.

On the acquisition, Connelly said: "We have delivered robust growth over the past six years, which can be attributed to the company's dedicated team of ETG specialists, best in class product portfolio, data driven decision making and our continued focus on innovation.

"There is significant momentum within the Electronic Table Game sector, making it the right time to partner with one of the largest private equity firms in the world - Oaktree.

"Such progress would not have been possible without the leadership and innovative eye of our outgoing Chairman, Joc Pečečnik, who has contributed significantly to both Interblock's development and the gaming industry overall.

"Moving forward, we are excited about our partnership with Oaktree and the ability to further accelerate our momentum, concentrating on both organic growth and potential acquisitions."

Later on in 2022, Connelly gave an exclusive interview with Gambling Insider, regarding Interblock's move to expand into the US markets.