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Women at Reflex | Surj Stott Interview

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Women at Reflex | Surj Stott Interview
Women at Reflex | Surj Stott InterviewReading Time: 5 minutes

 

Each year, the 8th March marks International Women’s day (IWD). In 2021, let’s pay attention to this year’s bold theme which is, ‘Choose to challenge’.  The time is now to challenge inequality, call out bias, question stereotypes with the aim to forge an inclusive world.
It will come as no surprise that the gambling sector is both very white and very male. The lack of women working in senior positions is astounding.  Of the women who do work in the sector, they are more likely to work in retail, HR or administrative functions. The Gambling Commission’s recent annual report has confirmed that women are gambling in similar numbers to men. If we want games to be representative of the players, it’s important that teams creating them offer a diverse and varied perspective. In which case, encouraging more women to work in the sector can only be positive.
We chat to Surj Stott – Head of Sales at Reflex Gaming to discuss her incredible journey from a run-away, wayward teenager to helping build one of the UK’s leading machine producers.  We get her views on what she would choose to challenge on IWD.


1. Hi Surj, tell us about your role at Reflex Gaming

I head up the sales and marketing function, so customer account management is a big part of the job.   Along with Steve Clark, I help manage our customer relationships.  At Reflex, we pride ourselves on great partnerships with pub retailers, operators and our AGC customer base.

Day-to-day, I also manage our production schedule and liaise closely with our production and logistics teams to ensure that our games are delivered to customers on time.

I’m also responsible for planning our events, including major expos, such as ICE, EAG and ACOS. I really enjoy this side of things, due to my love of people and socialising. The cancellations of both EAG and ICE this year have been a blow for Reflex, as both events are important marketing platforms for us to showcase our new product lines.  They also provide a great opportunity to speak to our customers and learn their requirements and find out what is performing well on their estates.

2. How has the global pandemic impacted on Reflex Gaming?
At the start of 2020, the outlook was positive for Reflex, we were acquired by the Dransfield Group in 2019 and we had established ourselves as one of the country’s leading machine suppliers to the pub and club sectors.

The first lockdown resulted in our entire customer base being closed which wiped out our forward-looking orders.  We consequently made strategic decisions to fast track our drive to the online space. We have formed strategic alliances with two major distributors, Yggdrasil and Stakelogic. These give us the opportunity to penetrate the online slot market quickly and get our games in front of more players via their vast distribution networks. This is typical of the Reflex psyche in that, being faced with the biggest negative impact imaginable to our existing business, we have leveraged opportunities that have been unaffected by the pandemic.

However, it is very disappointing that the Government have given very little support to manufacturers and suppliers to the leisure and hospitality industry. Supply chain companies like Reflex have simply slipped through the Government’s support net. Other than the furlough scheme, we’ve had no additional support and it has been a real struggle to operate for 14 months with, effectively, no income.  We have tried to lobby for a business support grant and a rates relief, but with no success to date.

I am a strong character and I’ve managed to remain positive throughout the pandemic.  We need to focus on the future and there is now some light at the end of this long tunnel, through the impressive vaccine rollout which has resulted in the Government’s roadmap out of lockdown.  Right now, it seems that the leisure and hospitality industry will reopen in April/May as planned, and if people opt for “staycations”, these will be positive steps to ease the recovery of the sector.

3. How did you get into this sector?
I grew up in Leicester in a first-generation Indian family.  At the age of 15, my parents had arranged for my marriage to a goat farmer, based in India.   My instincts told me that it did not feel right, and it certainly wasn’t a life I wanted. I took the drastic step to do a runner, and I haven’t looked back since!

As you can imagine, leaving home at 15 was tough, but I was fortunate to have a good network of friends who helped me through the situation.  I’m thankful that I didn’t end up in the wrong crowd.

I was running a successful Nottingham city centre pub in my early twenties, following which I established my own bar in Newark. This meant working very long and unsociable hours, and with a young child, often proved to be difficult. I decided that more of a 9-5 job would better suit my home / work life balance and I mentioned this in conversation with one of the customers in my bar, who happened to work at a local gaming machine business called BWB.  An opportunity came up there, so I applied. I was interviewed, got the job, and began my career in gaming at BWB. After a while, I moved into a sales role and it was whilst I was working here that I met my husband, Quentin, (these days the MD of Reflex Gaming).

4. What would you tell your younger self?
It would be to trust your instincts.  At 15, my decision to leave home was very much a “Sliding doors” moment.  Although it was the risky choice, I went with my instincts. Fortunately, I have no regrets.
Also understand that sometimes you may have to work harder and apply more attention to detail than some male colleagues.  Enjoy the journey and don’t be afraid to be yourself!

5. What barriers have you faced, as a woman, in becoming successful in your field? How did you overcome them?
When I first started my career in this sector, sadly, I did experience both racial and sexual discrimination.   I don’t get easily intimidated and the discrimination ultimately made me a stronger person. I have proved myself with great determination irrespective of other people’s prejudices.

However, I have witnessed much progression in the industry since I started. I am seeing an increasing number of women in senior positions who have progressed from junior roles and long may this continue.

6. The International Women’s day theme is, “Choose to Challenge”, what would you choose to challenge?
I passionately believe that there is no place in the world for bullies. Whether this happens in school, at work or your community. We need to take a collective stand against it. I cannot bare people who belittle others to make themselves look superior! Call them out for what they are. I’ve met a few bullies during my career and behaviour like that should be confined to the Skip of history.

7. What message do you want to send out to young women who are considering a career in this industry?
The i-Gaming sector has opened a huge host of career possibilities.  There are jobs ranging from game design, graphic design, software development, marketing, etc. You will be able to unleash your creativity and let’s face it, the end-product is fun. There is never a dull moment in gaming.

It’s changed a lot since I started in 1996.  It’s more politically correct without being woke.  This is an exciting vibrant industry with a lot of great people in it.  Although the gambling sector might not be everyone’s first choice of industry as a career, for me, it’s been a blast and I’ve made a lot of friends from it. I met my husband, and I’ve had opportunities to meet some very interesting and successful people along the way.

George Miller (Gyorgy Molnar) started his career in content marketing and has started working as an Editor/Content Manager for our company in 2016. George has acquired many experiences when it comes to interviews and newsworthy content becoming Head of Content in 2017. He is responsible for the news being shared on multiple websites that are part of the European Gaming Media Network.

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PG Soft sponsors Manila’s Waterbomb 2025

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PG Soft, a world-class digital mobile games company, is thrilled to sponsor the highly anticipated Waterbomb World Tour 2025 in Manila, taking place on February 22-23, 2025, at the Quirino Grandstand in Rizal Park Luneta.

Known as the “best summer experience,” Waterbomb promises an unforgettable blend of dazzling K-POP performances, vibrant HIP-HOP acts, and explosive sets by Korean DJs, delivering a sensory spectacle like no other.

 As part of the sponsorship agreement, PG Soft will gain significant brand exposure, with its logo featured on the Waterbomb Official Poster and Official Homepage ahead of the event. On-site, the brand will be prominently promoted across the venue, including a special Main Artist visit to the VVIP Booth and the hosting of VVIP Tables to elevate attendee experiences.

PG Soft’s spokesperson commented: “PG Soft is excited to be part of this iconic event, blending the worlds of cutting-edge gaming and electrifying live entertainment.”

The post PG Soft sponsors Manila’s Waterbomb 2025 appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

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NOVOVISION™ casino management solution celebrates fantastic ICE in Barcelona

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The year started excellent for the NOVOMATIC systems unit: After successful recent installations with renowned customers in Portugal and the UK, the NOVOVISION™ casino management system celebrated its “best ICE ever” at the new show venue in Barcelona. Perfectly integrated in the comprehensive NOVOMATIC product portfolio, but also as a standalone solution, NOVOVISION™ has become a CMS force to be reckoned with.

Visitor interest was accordingly high at the NOVOVISION™ sector of the NOVOMATIC stand as international operators took a deep dive into the manifold functionalities that combine casino management, efficiency optimization and player satisfaction in one powerful and yet highly scalable CMS solution. The system was presented at ICE in two distinct set-ups, showcasing the different functionalities and choices for club operations and for casino venues. A biometrically supported NOVOVISION™ access installation with elegant flap gates served as a divider between the two demo-venues.

Especially the casino side focused on a high-traffic architecture with options for TITO, Cashless or biometrically supported wallet solutions, highlighting detailed player tracking and attractive loyalty functionalities across a player journey that is highly individualized, appreciative and fully compliant with Responsible Gaming protocols.

A highlight in both demo set-ups was the triple version of a highly accessible new self-service station demonstrating its uses as a loyalty kiosk, as a promotional service point and as a Self-Registration Terminal (SRT), that turns customer registration into an intuitive, fast and secure self-service. The new NOVOVISION™ SRT uses 32” Full HD screen with PCAP touch that serves as an intuitive customer interface with customized language selection and clear menu navigation. It can be equipped with a customized registration set-up according to the individual operator preferences and prevailing regulatory requirements, fully satisfying detailed player tracking or anonymous play environments with a variety of optional components such as OCR document scanner, ID card reader, camera, QR code printer and more.

Another popular product premiere was the NOVOVISION™ panorama picture-in-picture feature that transfers the PTM player interface to the bottom game screen to enhance the usability, along with any other streaming content inserts. But also, the sophisticated NOVOVISION™ tournament solution as well as the latest functionalities for in-depth BI, jackpot management and powerful loyalty features drew large crowds.

Jens Einhaus, Head of Sales and Marketing NBS, says: “I am not exaggerating, when I say that this was the best ICE ever for us. Many factors have added to that. Apart from the excellent new location in Barcelona, the superb venue and well-planned show layout according to industry sectors as well as the new stand, it is definitely our product that is now attracting a lot of attention. And the reason is quite simple: it is an excellent solution for today’s and tomorrow’s CMS requirements. While many legacy casino management systems are approaching end-of-life and lack support for modern loyalty and jackpot programs, NOVOVISION™ has been developed from the ground up, by operators for operators. As a visionary state-of-the-art CMS platform, it is the sustainable and future-proof choice for operators who now need to assess whether their current CMS can comply with the increasingly complex gambling regulations. And, NOVOVISION™ has been designed as a solution.”

The post NOVOVISION™ casino management solution celebrates fantastic ICE in Barcelona appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

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QCI Heatmap: A Modern Evolution of Classic Data Visualization with Cutting-Edge Technology

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Quick Custom Intelligence (QCI) is revolutionizing data exploration and visualization with the launch of QCI Heatmap, an advanced contour heatmapping tool that transforms the way casinos interact with slot performance data.

This release represents a unique modernization of classic data visualization techniques, reimagined using state-of-the-art graphics processing, machine learning, and QCI’s proprietary intellectual property.

A Modern Take on a Proven Approach

Heatmapping has long been a valuable tool for understanding gaming floor performance, but traditional implementations were often limited by static visualizations, sluggish responsiveness, and an inability to scale dynamically. With QCI Heatmap, we have re-engineered these foundational techniques using modern high-performance rendering technology, GPU acceleration, and AI-driven insights, enabling real-time, interactive exploration at a level never seen before.

According to Andrew Cardno, QCI’s CTO and a two-time Smithsonian Laureate for Heroism in Information Technology: “The fundamental principles of heatmapping have remained relevant for decades, but previous implementations lacked the speed, depth, and interactive flexibility needed for modern, data-driven decision-making. With today’s powerful graphics processing engines, we can now dynamically render images at over 60 frames per second, making QCI Heatmap the most responsive and flexible data exploration tool I’ve ever built. This new approach seamlessly integrates with the QCI Enterprise Platform, offering unparalleled real-time insights.”

Patented IP Meets High-Speed Data Exploration

QCI Heatmap is built on a unique combination of proprietary intellectual property (IP) and modern visualization technology, setting it apart from legacy heatmapping tools by:

  • Leveraging GPU Acceleration: for real-time heatmap rendering, eliminating lag and increasing user engagement.
  • Integrating Machine Learning Algorithms: to enhance pattern detection and predictive slot performance analysis.
  • Enhancing Customization & Flexibility: allowing casino operators to interactively explore multiple data layers and adjust visual perspectives instantly.

Replacing QCI Slots View & Expanding Capabilities

With the introduction of QCI Heatmap, QCI is retiring the legacy QCI Slots View module and elevating data visualization to the next level. This tool provides:

  • Full Gaming Floor Visibility: Real-time interactive overlays of slot performance, customer behavior, and revenue patterns.
  • Seamless Multi-Platform Use: Optimized for both desktop and iPad, ensuring a fluid experience across devices.
  • Advanced Metric-Driven Exploration: Deep integration with the QCI Enterprise Platform, unlocking multi-dimensional analysis for decision-makers.

To ensure customers can fully leverage this next-generation tool, QCI College will offer specialized training courses on QCI Heatmaps, covering both desktop and iPad applications.

Industry Leaders Praise QCI Heatmap’s Unprecedented Performance

The impact of QCI Heatmap is already being felt across the industry. Tony Toohey, CEO of Gaming Dynamics, shared his experience: “The ability to see and interact with an entire gaming floor through a dynamic heatmapping tool is game-changing. Our Australian deployments have seen an overwhelmingly positive reception, and working alongside the QCI development team has ensured this tool delivers maximum impact upon release.”

Pioneering the Future of Casino Data Visualization

QCI Heatmap is more than just an update—it’s a paradigm shift in how casinos leverage visualization technology. By combining time-tested heatmapping concepts with modern rendering engines, AI, and proprietary QCI innovations, Quick Custom Intelligence has redefined what’s possible in gaming data exploration.

The future of casino intelligence is visual, interactive, and powered by QCI Heatmap.

 

The post QCI Heatmap: A Modern Evolution of Classic Data Visualization with Cutting-Edge Technology appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

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