Aruze Gaming Files Chapter 11 Bankruptcy, President Steps Down
Originally published at Vital Vegas
The company makes a number of slot and electronic table game brands. Aruze makes Roll to Win Craps (a hybrid of a live table and electronic game), Shoot to Win Craps (also known as “bubble craps”), and Go Go Claw, an arcade-style slot that’s popular with the kids.
Ditto Rock, Scissors, Paper. Yes, that’s an actual slot machine.
On the same day as the bankruptcy filing, Feb. 1, 2023, Aruze announced the departure of its U.S. branch president Robert Ziems.
We’re sure that’s pure coincidence.
Aruze’s Global CEO, Yugo Kinoshita, will take on day-to-day operations while the company looks for a replacement for Ziems. The transition takes effect on March 1, 2023.
Chapter 11 bankruptcy is what’s known as a “reorganization bankruptcy.” When a company can’t service its debt or pay its creditors, such filings give companies a chance to continue operating while sorting out their financial mess.
The bankruptcy was filed in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court District of Nevada, petition #23-10356-abl. Aruze is represented by Larson & Zirzow.
A Chapter 11 bankruptcy can go one of three ways: Reorganization, conversion to Chapter 7 bankruptcy, or dismissal. Basically, Aruze has to work things out with its creditors, which usually involves the entities involved accepting less than what they’re owed, but at least they get something.
We are not bankruptcy experts, but the Internet is. So have at it.
Yes, the machine at right is Aruze’s Go Go Claw, a slot machine.
Aruze Gaming has a long and colorful history. We would share that information in detail, but it would include “research” and possibly “effort,” and you know that’s not happening.
One of the more colorful episodes involving Aruze was when, in 2018, Wynn Resorts paid the company $2.4 billion to settle a legal kerfuffle over the forced redemption of Wynn Resorts shares.
Also in 2018, Aruze was sued for patent infringements.
Aruze has sales offices in Las Vegas, Australia, South Africa, and Macau.
This is one to watch, and reporting of the Chapter 11 filing has been pretty much zero so far. Which, we trust, is how Aruze would’ve preferred it, but that’s not how we roll. We roll to win. See what we did there?