IGT has new Montana office
Kevin Lintner, Montana Account Manager for IGT (International Game Technology) announced Jan. 15 that he will be relocating to Montana and representing IGT from the company's Bozeman quarters.
This should come as welcome news to the owners of IGT video gaming machines because the move signals IGT's renewed commitment to the Montana gaming jurisdiction, Lintner said.
 |
| Kevin Lintner |
Owners of the "Game King" 960-series of IGT devices can anticipate continued company support for parts and service, he said. IGT is also evaluating releasing additional games for this platform, he added.
"There is a lot that is in the planning stage for IGT equipment in Montana," Lintner said, including the possibility of introducing IGT's latest state-of-the-art platform, known as the "AVP" or "Advanced Video Platform." That machine series incorporates all upgraded and more industry-standardized components with enhanced computing power to drive games with the highest quality presentation and features.
Lintner will work out of office space at the IGT engineering facility already located in Bozeman where 20 game developers are charged with bringing new games to South Dakota, Oregon, Louisiana, West Virginia and some Canadian provinces as well as Montana.
The proximity of the sales office to the engineering group should create some significant efficiencies and more effective communication between the company's customers and game engineers with Lintner functioning as the conduit, he said.
His presence in Montana ought to serve to assure continued smooth relations with the regulatory community and make game submissions and approvals easier and quicker as well, he said.
"I'll be the pivot point for all this," he said. "We should gain a better understanding of the process while we get to know our customers and their desires better. We're hoping to bring some new equipment" to the Montana market "while continuing to support the old."
"We will be pushing the envelope on poker and keno games with innovative new bonus and progressive features that currently don't exist on IGT machines. But first we'll make sure all of this will work for the location owners, route vendors and IGT."
Linter then hinted at another major endeavor the company may undertake in Montana, but was purposely vague regarding details when pressed.
"Let's just say we're evaluating in-bar micro-systems designed to improve security and efficiency."
Lintner was raised and educated in Helena and earned a marketing degree from Montana State University in Bozeman in 1994. He then worked for the old VLC gaming machine manufacturing company which operated out of Bozeman at the time, then joined IGT when it acquired VLC in 2002. Lintner's family, including two young sons, will also be relocating to Montana.
"I'm really looking forward to the opportunity to hunt in Montana again," he said. He has been working out of the company's Renton, Wash. campus. He said he will also be doing some downhill skiing in the winter and playing on the water with his ski boat in the summer.
He said he expects to take an active role in industry functions and business associations, including in the regulatory and legal sphere.
"The gaming business is facing challenges in Montana, South Dakota and Oregon, just as it is nationwide," Lintner said. "We all have the same problems with the economy and smoking bans. I feel like we have a lot of work to do in Montana, we have ground to make up, but I'm looking forward to the challenge. We're going to bring IGT back to a position as the market share leader."