The slot machines developer WMS Industries informed on May 7th that their incomes rose to $110,7 million during the first quarter of the year, which means a company growth of 3% in 2006.

The firm’s shares were 5% lower ($29,36). The net incomes for the first quarter of the year were $9,2 million, compared to the $7,2 million registered in 2005.

WMS said that the incomes had grown 3%, reaching $110,7 million and showing an increase of 18% in the average sales price of its new game machines, but added that the number of units sold had decreased to 5,165.

Gaming equipment developers have seen a drop in the growing trend, as the replacement cycle is coming to new markets in the United States, which are taking their time to open. Companies have benefited from international sales, but analysts say that this kind of sales is difficult to predict.

For the complete fiscal year, WMS has lowered its expectations for the total incomes to a range between $450 million and $455 million, compared to the previous estimation, between $455 million and $470 million.