# Jersey Jack Pinballgets New Investors

**Source:** Pinball News Website  
**Type:** article  
**Published:** 2015-08-07  
**Beat:** Pinball

**URL:** https://www.pinballnews.com/news/jerseyjack8.html

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## Analysis

Jersey Jack Pinball announced a significant investment round led by Leonard Abess (ThinkLab Ventures), joined by Andrew Paul (Tudor Investment Corp) and Scott Flanders (former Playboy CEO). The three investors are characterized as lifelong pinball enthusiasts and existing JJP customers. The capital infusion is positioned to support JJP's expansion and future game development roadmap.

### Key Claims

- [HIGH] Leonard Abess is Chairman and Executive Officer of ThinkLab Ventures and former majority owner of City National Bank of Florida, which he sold in 2008 for $927m — _Direct statement in article body with specific financial figures_
- [HIGH] The three investors are all pinball people and customers of Jersey Jack Pinball — _Jack Guarnieri quote: 'the three investors are all pinball people and customers of the company'_
- [HIGH] Scott Flanders' involvement with Playboy Enterprises does not mean another Playboy pinball is on the way from JJP — _Jack Guarnieri explicitly denied this in quote: 'he denied that Scott's involvement with Playboy Enterprises meant another Playboy pinball is on the way from JJP'_
- [HIGH] Jersey Jack Pinball machines can be found in 16 countries around the world as of 2015 — _Official company statement in press release_
- [HIGH] JJP has announced a collaboration with Pat Lawlor on a new, original-game to be launched in spring 2016 — _Official press release statement_

### Notable Quotes

> "With this capital infusion we can now take our company to the next level. Our goal is to consistently deliver the finest games in the industry and the best game experience for our players."
> — **Jack Guarnieri, JJP Founder and CEO**, Article dated August 7, 2015
> _Articulates JJP's strategic vision for using the investment capital toward manufacturing quality and player experience_

> "I have been a pinball fan my entire life. In Jersey Jack Pinball I saw company that has both the creative vision and technical abilities to renew and reinvigorate this industry."
> — **Leonard Abess, Lead Investor**, August 7, 2015
> _Frames JJP as a vehicle for industry renewal and positions investor as long-term pinball enthusiast_

> "I have been a pinball fan since my teens and with Wizard of Oz, Jersey Jack is delivering absolutely state-of-the-art product."
> — **Andrew Paul, Co-investor**, August 7, 2015
> _Validates investor credentials as pinball enthusiast and endorses Wizard of Oz as industry-leading product_

> "This vote of confidence in me, in our Team, and in our products leaves no doubt that Jersey Jack Pinball will have the resources to develop and manufacture many more great games for our expanding worldwide player base for many years to come."
> — **Jack Guarnieri, JJP Founder and CEO**, August 7, 2015
> _Emphasizes investment as validation of company direction and promises sustained future game development_

### Entities

| Name | Type | Context |
|------|------|---------|
| Jersey Jack Pinball | company | Pinball game manufacturer headquartered in central New Jersey; recipient of significant investment capital in August 2015 |
| Leonard Abess | person | Lead investor; Chairman and Executive Officer of ThinkLab Ventures; former majority owner of City National Bank of Florida (sold 2008 for $927m); Time 100 honoree; Reader's Digest 'America's Best Boss' |
| Andrew Paul | person | Co-investor; General Counsel and Managing Director of Tudor Investment Corporation; asset management firm manages $14bn+ in assets |
| Scott Flanders | person | Co-investor; CEO of Playboy Enterprises as of 2015; former CEO of Macmillan Publishing and Columbia House Company |
| Jack Guarnieri | person | Founder and CEO of Jersey Jack Pinball; started in amusement industry in 1975 servicing electro-mechanical pinball machines; founded JJP in 2011 |
| Pat Lawlor | person | Famed pinball designer collaborating with JJP on a new original-game to launch spring 2016 |
| The Wizard of Oz | game | JJP's first game; praised by investors as state-of-the-art and 'the ultimate pinball game to date' |
| The Hobbit | game | Much anticipated JJP game line scheduled for fall 2015 release |
| ThinkLab Ventures | company | Leonard Abess's family office; led the investment round in JJP |
| Tudor Investment Corporation | company | Asset management firm based in Greenwich, Connecticut; manages assets worth in excess of $14bn; Andrew Paul is Managing Director |
| City National Bank of Florida | company | Former company owned by Leonard Abess; sold in 2008 for $927m; Abess gave $60m of proceeds as bonuses to 399 staff |
| Playboy Enterprises | company | Company where Scott Flanders served as CEO as of article date; article explicitly denies JJP plans new Playboy pinball game |

### Topics

- **Primary:** Investment and Business Funding, Jersey Jack Pinball Company Growth, Investor Backgrounds and Credentials
- **Secondary:** Upcoming Game Releases (Hobbit, Pat Lawlor collaboration), Pinball Industry Renaissance and Renewal

### Sentiment

**Positive** (0.85) — Article presents the investment as an unambiguous positive development for JJP. Investors are portrayed as credible, accomplished, and genuine pinball enthusiasts. Tone is celebratory and forward-looking. No critical perspectives or skepticism present.

### Signals

- **[business_signal]** JJP leadership explicitly states capital will be used for manufacturing expansion and sustained game development roadmap, positioning company for multi-year growth phase (confidence: high) — Jack Guarnieri: 'With this capital infusion we can now take our company to the next level' and 'develop and manufacture many more great games for our expanding worldwide player base for many years to come'
- **[business_signal]** Jersey Jack Pinball secures significant institutional investment from high-net-worth investors with proven track records in business and finance, indicating investor confidence in JJP's business model and growth trajectory (confidence: high) — Leonard Abess (former bank owner, $927m sale), Andrew Paul (Tudor Investment manages $14bn+), Scott Flanders (Playboy CEO) all invest in JJP simultaneously
- **[market_signal]** JJP has international distribution across 16 countries as of mid-2015, indicating global market penetration and operator network expansion (confidence: high) — Press release: 'As of 2015, Jersey Jack Pinball machines can be found in 16 countries around the world'
- **[announcement]** Pat Lawlor collaboration on original JJP game announced for spring 2016 launch (confidence: high) — Press release: 'has announced a collaboration with famed pinball designer Pat Lawlor on a new, original-game to be launched in the spring of 2016'
- **[announcement]** Hobbit pinball game line confirmed for fall 2015 release from JJP (confidence: high) — Press release: 'Jersey Jack Pinball will manufacture the much anticipated Hobbit line of games this fall'

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## Transcript

Date: 7th August 2015

Three new investors have taken a 'significant' stake in the Jersey Jack Pinball manufacturing business, it was announced today.

The Jersey Jack Pinball factory

The three have been revealed as Leonard Abess, Andrew Paul and Scott Flanders.

Leonard Abess is Chairman and Executive Officer of ThinkLab Ventures based in Miami, Florida and is the former majority owner of City National Bank of Florida, which he sold in 2008 for $927m. He was voted Reader's Digest's America's Top Boss after using $60m of the proceeds to give bonuses to all of the 399 staff at the bank. His generosity was acclaimed by President Obama in his State of the Nation speech.

Andrew Paul is General Counsel and Managing Director of Tudor Investment Corporation, an asset management firm based in Greenwich, Connecticut. The company manages assets worth in excess of $14bn.

The third member of the group is Scott Flanders, who became CEO of Playboy Enterprises in 2009. He is a former CEO of Macmillan Publishing and CEO of Columbia House Company, the world's oldest and largest direct seller of music and video products.

The three have teamed up to invest in Jersey Jack Pinball in a deal which should provide a stable financial foundation for the company and is a vote of confidence in President and CEO of JJP Jack Guarnieri. Jack told Pinball News that the three investors are all pinball people and customers of the company. However he denied that Scott's involvement with Playboy Enterprises meant another Playboy pinball is on the way from JJP.

Here's the company's press release:

JERSEY JACK PINBALL ANNOUNCES MATERIAL INVESTMENT

LAKEWOOD, NJ, August 7, 2015 /PRNewswire/ - Jersey Jack Pinball LLC, the New Jersey based award-winning pinball manufacturer and innovator, is pleased to announce a significant investment led by ThinkLAB Ventures, the family office of Time 100 honoree and Reader's Digest's "America's Best Boss" Leonard Abess, and joined by Tudor Investment Corp Managing Director Andrew Paul and Playboy CEO Scott Flanders.

Jersey Jack Pinball Founder and CEO Jack Guarnieri commented, "With this capital infusion we can now take our company to the next level. Our goal is to consistently deliver the finest games in the industry and the best game experience for our players." Jack continued, "This vote of confidence in me, in our Team, and in our products leaves no doubt that Jersey Jack Pinball will have the resources to develop and manufacture many more great games for our expanding worldwide player base for many years to come."

Lead investor, Leonard Abess says, "I have been a pinball fan my entire life. In Jersey Jack Pinball I saw company that has both the creative vision and technical abilities to renew and reinvigorate this industry. I have known Jack Guarnieri for many years and delighted in watching him develop the ultimate pinball game to date, The Wizard of Oz." Co-investor Andrew Paul added, "I am pleased to be associated with Jersey Jack Pinball. I have been a pinball fan since my teens and with Wizard of Oz, Jersey Jack is delivering absolutely state-of-the-art product. I am excited to be part of Jersey Jack Pinball as they develop the industry's most significant innovations and exciting games."

About Jersey Jack Pinball, LLC.

Jersey Jack Pinball, headquartered in central New Jersey, is a renowned manufacturer of modernized real, full-sized arcade commercial pinball machines. The company leads the industry with design and innovation. Veteran amusement industry figure Jack Guarnieri started in 1975 when he began servicing electro-mechanical pinball machines. Since then he has participated and led in all sides of the industry, from developing amusement centers, designing games, creating the online site PinballSales.com in 1999, and bringing Shuffle Alley back to life in 2002. In 2011, Jack Guarnieri saw a need for premium, technologically-advanced, and easily serviceable pinball machines and founded Jersey Jack Pinball. As of 2015, Jersey Jack Pinball machines can be found in 16 countries around the world. Following the success of its first game, The Wizard of Oz, Jersey Jack Pinball will manufacture the much anticipated Hobbit line of games this fall, and has announced a collaboration with famed pinball designer Pat Lawlor on a new, original-game to be launched in the spring of 2016.

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*Exported from Journalist Tool on 2026-04-13 | Item ID: c785ecbb-f6b6-437e-91a3-be5fe4e85326*