NEW YORK, Nov 17 (Reuters) - Shuffle Master Inc, which makes gambling tables, slot machines and card shufflers, said on Monday it would separate the roles of chief executive and chairman to comply with best corporate practices.
Mark Yoseloff, Shuffle Master's chief executive, said in a statement that splitting the roles and other changes announced on Monday would help him focus on the company's overall business strategy.
Shuffle Master said its board elected Philip Peckman, an independent director, as its new nonexecutive chairman.
The company said it promoted David Lopez, Roger Snow and Jerry Smith to executive vice presidents, and that it was consolidating its Americas division with its corporate group to streamline domestic operations and improve efficiencies.
Shares of Shuffle Master have dropped from over $13 to $3.11 over the past year. Over the past year the gambling boom in Las Vegas fizzled, tight credit markets have jeopardized casinos' growth plans and the Chinese government has acted to slow down the Macau gambling market.

(Reporting by Mark McSherry) Keywords: SHUFFLEMASTER/ (mark.mcsherry@thomsonreuters.com; +646 223 6094)

COPYRIGHT

Copyright Thomson Reuters 2008. All rights reserved. The copying, republication or redistribution of Reuters News Content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Thomson Reuters.