Bally Technologies intends to keep cashing in on theglobal popularity of gaming but wants to keep gambling out of itstreasury. Like many middle-market companies, the $880 milliondesigner, manufacturer and distributor of gaming devices is makingmoney in a precarious global market where currencies swing wildlyin value, often daily, and one major currency's survival may be indoubt. So Scott Edgeworth, the Las Vegas-based company's controllerfor treasury and risk management, is hedging its bets, somethingthat seemed unnecessary until three years ago.

As business has become more global and the perils of leavingmajor currency positions unhedged have grown ominous, treasury proslike Edgeworth are searching for hedging solutions that provide theright balance of automation, outsourcing and personalattention.

Even on a modest scale, personal attention is essential, soBally brought in Edgeworth, aCPA with banking and investment company experience, 2½years ago, partly to organize its first currency hedgingprogram.