The National ATM Council just announced the results of their 2019 survey on ATM bank account closures, finding that the crisis continues for independent ATM owners, who make up nearly 60 percent of all terminal operators in the U.S. today. “Survey results demonstrate that large numbers of ATM vault cash bank account closures and denials continue to plague U.S. independent retail ATM owners,” said NAC executive director Bruce Renard. A sizable 44 percent of survey respondents reported closures of their other business and personal bank accounts in addition to their ATM accounts. The group says ATM entrepreneurs are in crisis,…

The last stop on the BullShooter Regional Tour before the World Challenge of Champions Finals was held March 22-24 in Omaha, Neb., co-sponsored by Greater America Distributing, Nebraska Tech and Central Distributing. Players came out from all over Nebraska, South Dakota, Kansas, Colorado, Iowa, Illinois, Missouri and Oklahoma to compete. Travis Haier, Meredith Spencer and Jacob Pemberton won the mixed triples event; Dustin Holt got the pro cricket singles plaque; and Joyce Craft and Brandon Neal teamed up to win the mixed doubles cricket title. The BullShooter 34 Finals will be held May 23 at the Hyatt Regency O’Hare in Rosemont,…

Mortal Kombat (1992), Super Mario Kart (1992), Colossal Cave Adventure (1976) and Microsoft Solitaire (1990) have all been inducted into the World Video Game Hall of Fame at the Strong National Museum of Play in Rochester, N.Y. “The four inductees span multiple decades, countries of origin, and gaming platforms, but all have significantly influenced the video game industry, popular culture, and society in general,” wrote the Museum of Play. Other nominees this year included Centipede, Dance Dance Revolution and Candy Crush Saga. The museum’s hall of fame was established in 2015 and can be reached at www.museumofplay.org.

A group of Wisconsin women host the Ladies Pinball League at Bremen Café in Milwaukee in an effort to keep the game alive and have fun with new folks. According to WUWM, the women have met on the first Thursday of every month for the past six years or so. It’s a great way to play pinball with people of all ages and experience levels, says pinball aficionado and organizer Jess Anderson. Alice Hammers, for instance, is a 40-something who’s been playing for many years. “The first time I ever played pinball I was a wee child back in the…

TrainerTainment CEO and RePlay contributor Beth Standlee recently published People Buy From People: How to Personally Connect in an Impersonal World, available through her website, www.trainertainment.net. The book focuses on Standlee’s guidance on mastering the sales process, yes, but also details the story of her journey from a pregnant, unwed teen to founder of her own company. “She is honest and emotional about her struggles to get where she is today,” wrote April Smith, owner of eContent Success. “She outlines her strategies and gives very clear steps on how to master the sales process by connecting with people and believing in…

After buying land last year on the Las Vegas Strip, operators of the Pinball Hall of Fame have filed plans for a new arcade, according to the Las Vegas Review-Journal. Tim Arnold, who founded and operates the Pinball Hall of Fame with his wife, Charlotte Owens, said that the current arcade on Tropicana Avenue has about 250 machines and he wants to have 600-700 at the new one. The plan is to construct a one-story, 26,880-sq.-ft. building on a vacant parcel on the Strip right next to the airport and a stone’s throw from the famous “Welcome to the Fabulous…

LAI Games’ and Embed’s sister company, The Locker Network, showed off its keyless electronic locker system for entertainment venues, theme parks and the like at the National Ski Areas Association Convention in San Diego this week – April 29-May 2. Their offerings also include a modular, touchscreen locker system with “patented, ultra-secure anti-jamming locks” and FLOW, the company’s software solution. More information is available at www.thelockernetwork.com.

The annual soft-tip electronic darts tournament from the National Dart Association featured 10 competitions over six days, between April 11-17 at the Westgate in Las Vegas. Singles, doubles, mixed triples and team events spanned more than 112 hours of total play – virtually nonstop dart-throwing action. With nearly 3,000 players, divided into multiple levels based on skill, there were 297 dart machines ready to go for the tourney. More than half of the players and teams walked away with cash prizes during this year’s Team Dart. Information for next year’s event can be found at www.ndadarts.com.

Mark Williams, with 25 years at Benchmark Games’ Hypoluxo, Fla., plant, was their first employee back when Al Kress, Ron Haliburton and Arnold Kaminkow originally formed the game company. Recently, the firm hosted a party to salute Mark’s quarter-century and gave him a watch to mark the event. With him out in the Florida sunshine that day were fellow workers Brian Capellaro, Curt Elrod, Trevor Generais, Tiffany Lomax & Chris Mead. Oh yes, former company top Al Kress also came to the event (like the other two founders, he’s also left the company, which is now a division of Elaut).

Gan Gun Battlers recently opened at the Tokyo Dome City Attractions in Japan (an amusement park next to the Tokyo Dome stadium), according to Triotech. Their attraction features two XD Dark Ride interactive theaters that have been themed in blue and yellow, each offering a distinct selection of Triotech exclusive movie tiles. On average, it’s brought in around 1,200 visitors per day since opening March 23. The facility is free to enter, and visitors pay per ride. “Japan has always been a leader in media-based gaming, and we are very proud that Tokyo Dome City chose Triotech’s attractions,” said President and…