Price: £2.50
November 15 Job – November 2342 • www.coinslot.co.uk 0018 Bank Rob the21, Lot2013 Flap• No. Advert_test 27/10/2013 20:57 Page
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Industry news Seaside amusements Category C sector B2B Listings Latest machine charts For sale, wanted + opps Jabro Surreal Soccer Comment and opinion
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COMMENT
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Whilst we welcome the government’s Red Tape Challenge, we are nevertheless united in our opposition to the abolition of personal licences
Sceptre looks to the fut ANALYSIS
Established operator Sceptre Leisure prides itself on being at the forefront of developments in technology, always investing in the future with a view to maximising revenue levels for its customers. The firm cannot, however, do this as a ‘public service’, explained CEO Ken Turner. He stated: “Like any other business, we are required to provide a return to our stakeholders. Without price increases, there will be no product development, and more significantly, there will be a marketplace with either no manufacturers of operators, or a lack of competition resulting in rapidly increasing prices, which we have had already experienced in machine manufacture. Turner appreciates that this increase might be unwelcome, but he is convinced the industry as a whole will understand the requirement for the investment in equipment and technology that will be necessary to
capitalise on the new £100 jackpot, and the potential increase in cashbox levels that will further contribute to the bottom line of Sceptre’s customers. Sceptre has seen many operators fall by the wayside, along with countless local or independent operators who have folded. Turner
Praesepe resear new light on play MACHINES
most influential assembly of machine execuEtives,urope’s including a senior delegation from Germany, gathered in Milton Keynes last week for Praesepe’s annual Machine Symposium. The Symposium, the fourth to be staged by Praesepe, was attended by representatives from Astra, Bell-Fruit, Blueprint, CMS, Concept Games, Electrocoin, Fair Games, Games Warehouse, Gauselmann, NRM, Project, and SG Gaming. After receiving a market perspective and overview from Praesepe CEO Nick Harding,
the group was shown 50 ‘fly on the wall’ style video clips comprising over two hours of focus group filming which had been conducted by Praesepe in October. The focus groups, which comprised sessions devoted to both AGC and Bingo customers, featured a total of 22 machine players who spoke candidly about the machine playing experience, covering topics including their thoughts on a £100 jackpot, TITO, machine ergonomics, the role played by colour and sound in enhancing play appeal and the level of brand
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INDUSTRY
ESSENTIAL GUIDE
Can innovation drive player protection?
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Cat C for cash
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30 November 15 - November 21, 2013 • No. 2342 • www.coinslot.co.uk
he future
Sceptre announces price increases OPERATORS
Major single site operator Sceptre Leisure is to increase its prices with the long-term strategy of investing in the future and maximising revenues for its customers at the forefront of the company’s thinking. rom December, Prestonbased operator Sceptre Leisure is to increase its prices, due to a number of factors that the firm has been keen to share with Coinslot. The news comes at a time when the industry may well be better prepared to handle such cost changes; the recent government announcement of a proposed increase to jackpots on AWPs to £100 will be a welcome filip for the licensed retail sector. However, the Sceptre decision on pricing will be met with some degree of disappointment - even though the company has, it seems, staved off the rise for as long as it was possible. Talking exclusively to Coinslot about the changes, Sceptre’s CEO KenTurner reflected clearly on the move, very aware that developments designed to drive revenue, develop new products and improve connectivity and security do not come without a cost. He explained: “The purchase price of a new machine has risen by some 40 per cent in the past eighteen months, and innovations such as digital gaming and remote monitoring also have significant cost implications for machine operators. Our industry requires significant investment in research, game design and other technology to maintain and improve future cashbox levels for our customers. Operating margins in other areas have also been under pressure, with transport costs in particular increasing significantly year-onyear.” Turner added: “Our industry only works if all three parties (retailer, manufacturer and operator) receive a fair return for their input.Whilst retailer revenue has remained stable over recent years, machine operator income has
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continued: “Indeed, long standing and well respected manufacturers such as Barcrest have closed their doors to the UK market due to a lack of support.” He concluded: “Without manufacturers or operators, there is no machine industry, and without a machine industry there is no machine
income. To replace the machines on the estate of any of the major retailers would now take almost six months as machines are made to order. There is always a desire for anybody in business to achieve the most competitive price, but should this be at the expense of tomorrow’s income?
search sheds player needs and product recall amongst players. In total some 13 topics were covered by the focus groups, with Praesepe’s head of machines, Nigel Davis, providing insight and analysis of the findings. Nick Harding believes the initiative provided invaluable food for thought as the industry gears up for the possible introduction of a £100 jackpot in the first quarter of 2014. He stated:“Having shown and discussed the filming with our colleagues from the manufacturing community, many of whom are revenue share part-
ners with Praesepe, I think it is fair to say that it has changed our thinking on a number of issues and confirmed our position on others. Our cast of 22 players provided a passionate critique of the machine playing experience from both an AGC and Bingo perspective and I am sure that significant elements from their ‘wish lists’ are being communicated to machine programmers as we speak.” A full report on Praesepe’s Machine Symposium and analysis will appear in next week’s Coinslot.
fallen. It is for this reason that we have seen one national operator sold at a significant loss to investors; a number of regional players withdraw from the market due to margin erosion;and two significant machine manufacturers close down in the last 18 months. “Therefore it is against this background of rising costs and reducing real-terms income that we have reviewed our current pricing. In order to continue providing a quality service for our customers we have no option but to introduce an 8.7 per cent price increase in December 2013. For the vast majority of our estate this will equate to around 50 pence per machine per day.This price adjustment is based on cost increases that we have already incurred, but we are unable to rule out future increases should operating margins come under further pressure. “For many retailers, machine income can be the difference between profit or loss.Tradition-
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HS MONT ! Y A P TO
ally, the model has been a simple one, with the licensee or tenant taking a third of the cashbox, the pubco or brewer taking a third and the operator taking a third. Of course, this has changed over the years to reflect trends in trading with everybody seeking to try and protect their own portion of the cashbox. “The model has obviously been tightened up as pubcos look to produce strong figures for their investors, however constantly squeezing the cost has come at the expense of many long standing and professional machine operators who have disappeared.”
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Coinslot November 15 - November 21, 2013
Industry
TO COMMENT ON ANY ARTICLE
Graf calls for profitdriven innovation
SOAP STAR TO LIGHT BLACKPOOL PIERS
Former Coronation Street star Bruce Jones has been announced as the celebrity who will switch on Blackpool’s Christmas lights. The actor, who played Les Battersby in the long-running soap, will also perform his Christmas song at the event on Friday November 29.
REGULATION
Chairman of the Gambling Commission, Philip Graf, has called for the gambling industry to continue innovating in order to create growth and profits, while keeping a close eye on player protection. hilip Graf, chairman of the Gambling Commission, has opened a new line of discussion with the industry on the importance of using innovation to improve player protection. Graf, talking at the recent BISL Annual Conference, spoke about the new opportunities arising and touched on the value of a mature relationship between the regulator and the gambling industry. He told delegates:“Many gambling operators are focused on innovation and growth.The two go hand in hand in this technology driven dynamic economy, and, as I have said on other occasions, profit-driven innovation provides a good opportunity for the industry to improve the safety of their gambling products. “Of course, by blithely talking about ‘the gambling industry’there is a presumption that it is one industry
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with a shared set of interests, while in reality, we are talking about different sectors, with different and often competing interests. “It is the Commission’s duty to permit gambling a clearly pro growth duty but one which is subject to consistency with our primary responsibility the pursuit of the licensing objectives. And I am very clear here that our focus is on the protection of those who gamble and the wider community, not the protection of those who provide gambling. “Industry sectors must work as one - the outside world has become impatient with rival talking shops. The advances in technology are gradually resulting in a breakdown of the boundaries between the sectors anyway. “All operators must clearly demonstrate their commitment to providing
a safe gambling environment, in premises or online,if they wish to command public confidence. Securing public confidence is surely a more cost effective way to obtain agreement to sensible changes in regulation, rather than building up a regulatory environment to provide inspection reports. “We have moved away from routine annual or more frequent premises inspections.We now focus on thematic and individual reviews, corporate assessments and investigations in response both to incidents and to our risk assessment of the data we collect from the industry. “We expect our licence holders to alert us to emerging risks and compliance failures at the earliest opportunity - not wait for us to spot them - and to demonstrate their commitment to player protection
Email: al@sjc.co.uk
in the way they tackle emerging issues or compliance failures.We then use any learning from such episodes to improve best practice. We will impose sanctions when necessary to underline the importance of maintaining standards and to keep player protection to the forefront of all operators’ minds, but our prime objective is to work with the industry sectors to learn how best to secure responsible gambling provision. “The work we have done here represents a golden opportunity for all operators to ensure they address the vulnerabilities we have found and continue to find. The simple message for the industry is that you should be getting there before we do;and demonstrating to us
and the public your determination to provide gambling responsibly. “Working together, we (the Commission and the industry sectors) need to build up data and intelligence to support pan industry collaboration on the development of best practice; to incorporate best practice measures into regulatory expectations, to deter non-compliance and to provide well informed advice and assurance to government and other stakeholders. “A mature relationship between regulator and the regulated is vital if we are all to achieve the aim of providing players with a fair and safe environment in which to gamble, while allowing the gambling industry to innovate and grow.”
DREAMLAND TO DRIVE REGENERATION PIERS
Dreamland Trust chairman has said the new Dreamland amusement park will join the Turner art gallery in playing a “huge role” in the regeneration of Margate. He commented: “I would like the two to work together with other attractions in Margate and make a real difference.”
Fire ravages Welsh MP calls for relaxation of gambling laws seaside arcade fascia LEGISLATION ARCADES
n electrical fault sparked a fire outside a Rhyl amusement arcade earlier this week. Flames spilled out on to A the pavement during the blaze on November 10 at the Palace Fun Centre on the seaside town’s West Parade. Resident, Jordan Thackeray, who watched the drama unfold, said a light bulb inside a crown-shaped fascia board erupted into fire before breaking off and falling to the floor. Three fire engines from Rhyl raced to the scene just before 6pm and the fire was out by 6.50pm. A North Wales Fire and Rescue Service spokeswoman said: “We were called to a fire at an arcade on West Parade, Rhyl, involving the external fascia board of the arcade. Damage was confined to the board. The cause was an electrical fault.” The pedestrian area outside the arcade was sealed off with red tape as a precaution.
n MP has praised the gaming industry for helping to regenerate A Southend and called for online gambling to be allowed inside gambling establishments.James Duddridge,MP for Rochford and Southend East, praised the Genting Club in Western Esplanade for providing employment for 170 people and credited the Park Inn Palace Hotel, set to get a new casino by next summer, with regenerating the high street. The Conservative, who is helping scrutinise a new gambling bill passing through Parliament,also called for a relaxation of a law to allow bricks and mortar establishments to offer online gambling. Duddridge stated: “It is ironic games cannot be played online inside, even if one takes in
one’s own iPad or iPhone. “It would be much better to allow casinos to have gambling online within their own premises.That has greater protection for problem gamblers. The current position is ludicrous.” In the House of Commons, he said three per cent of the UK’s 142 casinos were in his constituency, and called Southend the “epicentre of bricks and mortar casinos”.
Grosvenor Casinos plans to open a £6.5m venue in the Park Inn Palace Hotel, overlooking the seafront on Pier Hill, in the first half of next year. The Palace has undergone a £25m investment since 2010 and Duddridge said its rebirth was key to the resurgence of the town as a resort. Duddridge concluded: “When I arrived in Southend more than ten years ago, there was a beautiful, but derelict 19th-century Palace Hotel. The Government used it to house asylum seekers on a temporary basis, before they could be found more suitable accommodation.That made the area, to a degree, a no-go zone. It is now a four-star hotel, and the company will be opening another casino. It may even be a five-star hotel; it certainly should be, given the quality of service I received.”
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BACTA pushes for quick B2 resolution STAKES AND PRIZES
Trade body BACTA is seeking clarification concerning the timeframe the government is working to, and the criteria it intends to use, with regard to any action on Category B2 machines. he battle for a level playing field continues with BACTA’s Leslie MacLeod-Miller asking the government for consistency with regard to machine allocation and stakes and prize levels. He told Coinslot:“My members have no wish to offer machines which give rise to problem gambling.The licensing objectives, particularly the protection of the vulnerable, are in the DNA of the industry, but we believe that this should characterise the processes of the government, the Gambling Commission and those who advise them in a uniform manner. “If the government does not believe that there is an issue with the offering of £100 a spin stake in bookmakers, they cannot believe that there is a problem for all adult premises to offer these games. Delay in resolving this issue in a transparent way threatens to damage the industry and those who are involved with the research programme. “It is arguable that if the precautionary principle was adopted, it would provide a real commercial incentive to produce the evidence which
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appears to be lacking in a timely way and, subject to the outcome of that evidence, potentially increase the ability for the industry to offer these games,increasing revenues to the Exchequer and providing further jobs for all adult premises. “There are those in the industry who believe that the current uncertainty regarding the timeframe and process will damage investment, not just in the bookmaking sector, but in those who are likely to benefit from the outcome of this
debate by being permitted to offer games that are currently limited to the LBO sector. “The government has stated their position. Although the language of urgency, immediacy and seriousness is used, there are many who believe that there is a lack of clarity regarding the timeframe, the metrics and the methodology to be used. Some refer to this as an elaborate ‘inaction plan’ and are concerned that the effectiveness of the RGT’s well-intentioned research ambitions will be damaged by a lack of detail and concrete action.” Macleod-Miller concluded:“My members are seeking confirmation from the Minister regarding when and how the government will address the question of whether the £100 a spin games give a credible cause for concern such that the precautionary principle should be adopted and confirmation that at the same time they will apply policy consistently so that if there is insufficient evidence of cause for concern regarding £100 a spin games, all adult premises will be entitled to provide these games with immediate effect.”
Scottish video game expo slated for 2014 will also feature developer competitions and retro games. “Having worked on the highly successful Scottish Bike Show and seen that grow over the last three years, it’s important to me to take those same values of transparency across to Games Expo Scotland 2014,” said otganiser Rowan Mackie.
EXPOS
ame Expo Scotland, scheduled for October G 4-5 next year will feature developer sessions, competitions and exhibitions by indie and triple-A studios. The two-day exhibition is set to launch in Edinburgh at the International Conference Centre, and
Zoltar makes prime time TV appearance NOVELTY
ovelty game Zoltar has been featured on BBC’s N Strictly Come Dancing. Harem Leisure’s Harry Remblance told Coinslot: “The BBC asked us if we could supply them with a Zoltar for Strictly come Dancing, we said we could but they said they wanted just the cabinet only so that someone on the show could stand inside it (that person turned out to be Suggs from the band Madness) and also, they wanted the cabinet to be an exact replica of the one in the Tom Hanks film BIG, we were happy to oblige.” Remblance concluded: “The interest from people who saw Zoltar on the show, which was broadcast on 4 November, has been fantastic.”
“As Scotland has such a rich and diverse video games industry, alongside a passionate gaming community, their feedback and continued input is what will make Games Expo Scotland 2014 stand out from other UK games events and become the premier Scottish expo for all things video games.”
Two more games go ‘live’ for Games Warehouse ONLINE
erby-based content developer Games WareD house has announced that its two latest slots games have now gone ‘live’ on the Sky Vegas online gaming platform. Egyptian Gold and Dr Frantic & the Lab of Loot follow hot on the heels of the hugely successful gold strike and are five-reel, 20winline games packed with exciting and entertaining additional features includ-
ing Sarcophagus Bonus, Eye of Horus and Portal of Gods (Egyptian Gold) and Money Monster, Power Lever and Chain Reaction (Dr Frantic). Most prominent amongst the countless player benefits, however, is GW’s own unique“Lock‘n’Load”mechanism that has proved such a hit on Gold Strike. In a further development, Gold Strike has also recently been released to mobile via the SkyVegasApp and agree-
ments are now also in place for release to several additional online operators. Commenting on the company’s early successes in the online and mobile space, commercial director Andrew Henson said:“This has been a long journey and we received the most fantastic support throughout the process from both Sky and Openbet.The key to the success of these games is the totally unique ‘Lock ‘n’
Load’ feature which has proved so popular with players who are all too used to being offered‘more of the same’. In terms of game development, our combination of proven land-based expertise and video gaming creativity enables us to put a new spin onto all of our game concepts within what is a highly competitive development arena.We are excited about what the future holds.”
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Industry
INDUSTRY AMUSEMENTS LEISURE
CAT C The essential guide to the UK’s all-important Category C sector - the people, the prodcuts, the issues. 10
through its subNovomatic Novomatic, sidiary Novo Lottery Soluhas acquired a majority acquires tions, shareholding in Betware the Icelandic Betware Holding, gaming pioneer and the leader in online gaming soluBUYOUT
B2B COMMENT NEWSWEEK
Icelandic company, with the remaining 10 per cent retained by the Betware management. Founded in 1998,Betware has built a strong position in the gaming market with its tions for the lottery market. focus on developing and Novomatic now owns a 90 delivering state of the art per cent shareholding in the gaming platform and elec-
tronic lottery solutions for national and private lotteries and supporting their online operations. Betware’s offering will now complement Novomatic’s product portfolio and provide a bridge into the lottery world. Thomas Graf, CTO of Novomatic, commented:
“Betware’s open platform architecture is second to none, providing tailor made solutions to any small or large scale lottery operation. It seamlessly integrates a complete range of product verticals including those of third party vendors. With our combined resources,
Plymouth Gala Bingo staff raise £1,250
Toy Retailers Association unveils top 10 Christmas toys
BINGO
embers and staff of Gala Bingo in PlyM mouth raised over £1,000
GIFTS AND PLUSH
Suppliers of gifts, toys and plush to the coin-op industry as well as operators with redemption counters will be analysing the recently unveiled annual Dream Toys list, with the Toy Retailers Association highlighting the top 10 toys which it says will ‘dominate Christmas’. 50-strong list of toys to‘dominate Christmas’ has been selected by a panel of independent buyers that represents 80 per cent of toy retailers from stores including Hamleys,The Entertainer,Argos,Smyths,Toys R Us,Toymaster andToyTown. As well as the top 50, the panel has chosen the Top 10 Toys which they believe will take centre stage this Christmas season.“Christmas 2013 is set to be a strong year for toys and this is a great Dream Toys list that reflects not only the need for toys to appeal to all budgets and tastes, but also how tech is continuing to increase its influence within toys, from pads and robotic dogs to flying fairies and fish,” said Gary Grant, chairman of the Dream Toys committee. Frédérique Tutt, global toy analyst
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with The NPD Group, added:“This festive season, we expect to see a slight increase in toy spend compared to last year. Much of this growth is going to be driven by a combination of innovation and technology in the sector.This is good news for the toy industry, as 2013 has seen a soft performance so far, due in large part to the combination of post-Olympics sales declines, poor outdoor toy sales following spring’s bad weather and the absence of a summer movie blockbuster.” Licensed products are set to be a major hit this Christmas.According to The NPD Group, licences represent a vital part of the toy industry and account for 26.4 per cent of all toy sales (YTD 12 October 2013). Tutt added:“We have seen quite a few new licences coming into the toy
know-how and industry expertise we will be able to offer any lottery operator a 360-degree-solution for all distribution channels including online,mobile and land-based, which will be a clear advantage in an increasingly competitive operating environment.”
market this year. NPD records growth in the Action Figures category and a resurgence of pre-school licences. Despite the lack of a strong movie blockbuster, film-related toy sales were nevertheless key to summer sales with almost £10m worth of toy sales at retail since the beginning of the year for the three key kids’ movies: Iron Man, Monsters University and Planes.” Grant concluded:“Licensed toys will always have a significant role within the Dream Toys list as they are always highly popular. It’s great to see One Direction taking on Walking with Dinosaurs Stomping Feet,although I’m guessing they might be aimed at different audiences!The innovation and creativity within this sector is particularly strong this year and great to see.”
THE TOP 10 TOYS FOR CHRISTMAS: City Coast Guard - Lego Doc McStuffins Doctor's Bag Play-set - Flair Flying Fairy by Flutterbye Spin Master Furby Boom - Hasbro InnoTab 3S - VTech LeapPad Ultra - LeapFrog Monopoly Empire - Hasbro Monster High 13 Wishes Doll - Mattel Nerf N-Strike Elite RapidStrike CS-18 - Hasbro Robo Fishbowl - ZuruGeemac Teksta Robotic Puppy Character Options
for charity recently, with the proceeds going to the Federation of the Plymouth and District Ex-Services Associations. General manager, Antony Smith of Gala Bingo, Derry’s Cross, presented a cheque for £1,250 to the patron of the Federation of the Plymouth and District Ex-Services Associations, Commander Charles Crichton OBE RN. Smith said: “We are grateful to our loyal membership and our staff team, who have worked passionately to raise the record sum for this year." Cdr Crichton confirmed: “This amount will give support to the general fundraising and is very much appreciated by the Federation.”
Preparation is everything ahead of EAG 2014 TRADE SHOWS
Organisers of EAG International 2014 are making sure that exhibitors and visitors are able to capitalise on the importance of an event which the IOA has hailed as ‘the centre of the industry’.
celebrating its fifth sucyear, the pre-emiNnentowcessful show in the amusements and attractions industry calendar, EAG International, will open its doors on 21 January 2014 to thousands of industry professionals. EAG Chairman Martin Burlin has an interesting take on why the expo has been embraced so quickly by the industry, developing its own unique identity:“I believe that with changes to the London show scene, including the demise of the autumn preview, the industry was looking for an event on which it
could stamp its own identity.” He added:“There has been a London show in January for more than 70 years so we always knew that there was a genuine need for this kind of event and from the outset, EAG International has been run by a very professional team with a real passion for our industry.The show’s management is structured in such in a way that all participants can have a meaningful input. Exhibitors,visitors,trade associations and all the other groups have all played their part in shaping the event and have been unswerving in
their support.” Another contributing factor to its success has to be the venue, with ExCel London now widely regarded as one of the world’s finest exhibition locations and receiving many prestigious awards for organisation, facilities and customer service. Crown Leisure has been a loyal EAG International exhibitor since the outset with managing director Dean Harding praising ExCel’s goods handling and traffic facilities. He stated:“Because ExCel is relatively new it has been designed to function
efficiently. We have always found it to be an easy and convenient venue.” Given the buzz created on the back of four successful shows and the Cat C prize uplift,organiser Karen Cooke stated:“It’s more important than ever, therefore, that exhibitors and visitors make their arrangements as soon as possible. I’d urge those who have not made their arrangements to contact Event Express as soon as possible. If you’re on a tight budget, give them a target price and they will rise to the challenge.” Among the keen advocates
of the event are the IOA Group has also selected EAG International as a meeting point for its members. Chief executive Peter Weir stated: “The three day event is the centre of the entire industry throughout its duration. Everyone we need to see is at the show and it’s very convenient for the 14 ownermanaged operating companies which make up our group.” The show’s organisers have embraced new media to provide a stream of information both for the lead-up and during the event,via EAGLive.
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Amusements HOLIDAY PARKS
briefs
amusements
Once derided as a relic of Britain’s faded past, a study has confirmed that Butlins is once again one of the most popular brands in the country, and it’s all thanks to its focus on customer experience.
MP URGES PIER CLARITY
Butlins’ brand appeal booms with UK consumers new report detailing the top 100 UK brands for customer experience has shown that Butlins’ resurgence in popularity is continuing to gain huge momentum. Placed well outside the table at a lowly 165th in 2012, this year the great British amusement brand has rocketed 151 places to 14th. That leap made Butlins the highest climber in the list, compiled annually by industry analyst Nunwood, as it achieved the largest customer experience improvement across all measured companies operating in the UK. Nunwood director David Conway indicated the study offered positive
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encouragement to other amusement firms, as it showed consumers are keen to reward companies with strong British roots. He said:“The idea that in difficult times there is a flight to trust is something that is seen more widely in our study.There is a sense of people sticking with British in times of difficulty. “The brands that have done particularly well have focused on delivering a really good experience and have a strong British heritage.” According to Drew Stevens-King, head of culture and development at Butlins, positive change began with recognition that the root of poor customer experience lay deep in its cultural foundations.
He explained: “The brand is over 75 years old. What was missing was that cultural focus on the guest.” It trained customerfacing staff to resolve a problem as soon as it was reported and encouraged the use of positive language and behaviour at every level of the company. The result was the Butlins ‘Road Map’, which set the tone for its company culture and initiated a colleague-to-colleague training programme. The famous British heritage built up by founder Billy Butlin was also utilised to its full potential, StevensKing revealed. He said: “We are very lucky that we have the founder’s name as our company name. We tell cus-
tomers a wonderful story: the team that comes in is carrying on the Butlins legacy. And they begin to buy into it; they begin to love the brand. “If you can get the team to love the brand, they will love the customer and the customer will love us. It’s a very medium- to long-term strategy, so consequently it’s taken us 10 years to get here,” he says. The result is repeat business, said Stevens-King: “People feel like they’ve come on holiday to have a break with a brand that really cares about them. Then they come back and buy more. “When they come back, we’ve got their loyalty and, with the profits, we can reinvest into the company.
Consequently, we’ve been able to build three new hotels.” The news could not come at a better time for Butlins,with owner Bourne Leisure confirming it is investing £4m in upgrading accommodation at Butlins’ three resorts next year, in addition to £12m already earmarked for a new Chalet Village in 2015. The company will open a new fairground at its Minehead resort in early 2014 featuring rides such as Helter Skelter, Waltzer, Vintage Carousel, and Dodgems. In Bognor Regis, traditional 1950s amusements and a diner will be added, while Skegness will have a new Firehouse Grill restaurant for 2014.
A local MP has urged Conwy Council to be “out in the open” about its plans for Colwyn Bay Pier, after it claimed ownership of the structure. Clwyd West MP David Jones said the people of Colwyn Bay had a stake in the future of the town’s grade II-listed Victorian pier.
BIRNBECK PIER PLANS UNVEILED The developer hoping to revive Weston-super-Mare’s derelict Birnbeck Pier has revealed its plans to include new apartments, the RLNI lifeboat station, a heritage centre and seaside kiosks. However, planning officers have told CNM Estates its scheme is not acceptable at present.
New FEC a step closer for Blackpool’s South Pier FEC
Six Piers has resubmitted plans that would see a 45,000-square foot FEC built on Blackpool’s South Pier. that would see around £8m invested in Ptheroposals creation of a new family entertainment centre on Blackpool’s South Pier have been revived. Six Piers, the firm that owns the South Pier, said last week that it has resubmitted its plans,which would see the current pier head demolished and replaced with a Blackpool Council granted it stage without being acted 45,000-square foot FEC. The scheme was first put planning permission, but has upon ever since. Michael Williams, operaforward three years ago after remained at the approval
tions director of Six Piers, said:“We have re-submitted the plans for the development at South Pier as planning permission was about to expire. We are still committed to the long term development of the pier and we still have intentions to transform the site into a year round family attraction. “Time scales are not in place currently for works to begin, but it is still very much on the agenda.We will make
an announcement in due course to re-confirm our exciting plans and outline a detailed timescale.” Six Piers’plans for the new FEC, which would be able to cater for up to 750 people, include amusements, a tenpin bowling centre, a pool room, indoor children’s soft play area,a bar and sun lounge and a 100-seat food area. Designs submitted with the latest application have not changed from those of
2010, with the concept for the proposed structure taking its inspiration from the sea. Additional land at either side of the pier, created as part of Blackpool’s new promenade headlands, would be utilised. The traditional fairground rides and concessions on the remainder of the pier would continue to operate, but would be accessed via the new FEC.
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Essential Guide to...
B 2 B
23 B2B listings and industry marketplace
26 This week’s machine charts
27 Classified sales, job and business opps
29 Jabro Surreal Soccer season
NOVEMBER 15 - NOVEMBER 21, 2013
Essential Guide to refurbished machines Next Week Coinslot NOVEMBER 15 - NOVEMBER 21, 2013
Cat C Machines PUB OPERATIONS
COMMENT
Category C gaming: in anticipation of the £100 jackpot
Massive opportunity for Cat C The quintessential ‘entry level fruity’ recently received a huge shot in the arm with a prize uplift from £75 to £100. We must have faith that manufacturers can come up with something that maximises this new opportunity.
The UK pubs sector is eagerly awaiting the implementation of the £100 jackpot for Category C gaming machines, writes John Appleton, director of electronic leisure for Mitchells & Butlers. The industry should recognise the good work that the Gambling Commission did with principally Division 4 of BACTA in revising the machine Technical Standards since the last stake and prize review. The changes led to more player enjoyment of the product and did not in the slightest undermine the Commission’s tenets of protecting the young and vulnerable.Without these changes to machine technical standards the product would be in a much worse position today. I am more than satisfied with the government’s support for the proposed £100 jackpot for pub machines. I am pleased that favourable mention was made by the DCMS of the pub industry’s evidence to support the request for a £100 jackpot. The best machine in 2013 appears to have been Deal or No Deal:The Big One from Bell-Fruit Games, although there have been a number of other good models from all the manufacturers, it is great to see a variety of product. I wish I knew what makes for a great machine - ours is the easier job, we just review the cash in box! Making a successful Cat C machine has some similarity to baking a cake in that you can put in the same ingredients, produce it apparently just the same way as previous versions, but sometimes it just works better than others. We would concur that new players generally do not understand the intricacies of each game.We have tried with manufacturers and suppliers over the years to assist players by producing game‘cards’that explain features,we have tried putting machines on free play and even put a learner button (‘L’ button) on a machine for free play with no payout. However, to date these activities have not been productive or worth the cost.That said we welcome any new ideas that can be cost effectively tested.”
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alex lee foreword ue in no small part to the industry’s trade organisations’ persistent lobbying of the government, in particular D BACTA and the BBPA, striving hard for a Triennial Review
and the prize uplift to £100, the Cat C sector now has something to truly get its teeth into. While a mixture of excitement and trepidation permeates the industry after the recent government announcement, it would be wise to remind everyone that there are already some incredibly appealing, and successful, Cat C products out there - on the £1/£75 levels - with imaginative gameplay features for AGCs, pubs and adult-only areas in FECs. In other words, the bedrock for further progression of one of UK coin-op’s most enduring machine styles is long-established in terms of creation, delivery and, of course, customer expectation. Obviously, it would be a big ask for every UK-based manufacturer to get prototype Cat C models on the EAG show floor by January 2014. If I was a betting man however, I’d wager that there’ll be plenty of action, one way or another, in the ExCel exhibition hall directly relating to brand new Cat C product as healthy competition manifests itself in London. Additionally, now everyone has got used to the MGD regime, by only paying tax based on income it has given operators the confidence to install larger numbers of Cat C machines now that AMLD is a thing of the past. In other words, while the pub market is synonymous with the installation of Cat C equipment, it’s far from the sole siting opportunity for the latest raft of post-prize uplift gear. To reiterate, there are already very appealing Cat C products out there, in large numbers, with imaginative gameplay features for AGCs, pubs and adult-only areas in FECs. This has been the case for years and despite the inescapable fact that the overall coin-op industry has declined and contracted over the last decade, opportunities will always exist for high-quality, innovative product that whets the appetite of operators and customers alike. Delivering a game that produces something attractive to the player at the point of coin entry, as well as ensuring that operators are given something to work with are two of the fundamentals for the UK’s manufacturers at present, but let’s face it they’ve risen to the challenge before so there’s no reason why they can’t do so again. If the recent prize uplift hadn’t just occurred I might have found myself struggling to find a new positive spin on the sector, but with the industry already working hard to maximise the opportunity that the change can bring, the Cat C sector can certainly reinvigorate itself, if not necessarily reinvent itself in 2014.
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Essential Guide to ... Cat C Machines Sector Overview In support of the £100 prize Last month the government announced the much-anticipated increase of the prize limit for Category C gaming machines to £100. The government said its considers the difference in prize limit of Category B and C machines is still “sufficiently wide” after any rise to maintain a “distinct appeal”.
‘Respite’ to the industry In its response to the consultation on stakes and prizes, the Department for Culture, Media and Sport said that evidence suggests that while the 2009 stake and prizes increase “provided some respite to the industry,” the benefits of an additional increase from £70 would “help support various sectors through continuing difficult economic conditions”.
Explaining the response
Helping seaside businesses
Discussing the Category C prize uplift, Helen Grant, the UK’s Minister for Sport and Equalities, said: “The government is pleased to introduce a package that supports the gambling sector but is very clear that growth cannot be pursued at any cost. Our response acknowledges gambling’s contribution to the economy but balances this with explicit recognition of the need to protect players, particularly at the higher end stakes.”
While the industry as a whole was “disappointed” with having to wait so long for a review, Michelle Michael of Weston-superMare’s Grand Pier said any uplift would assist seaside arcade businesses. “We would like to think that the government... will take a closer look at the next triennial review to regularise more of the stakes and prizes to align them with other countries that we compete with,” she said.
SWOT ANALYSIS
Everyone wants to win £100 Supported by coin-op’s leading lights for decades, the Cat C sector has survived the after-effects of the Gambling Act, the smoke ban, the credit crunch and consecutive recessions. The big test now is how UK stakeholders can help make the sector thrive post-Triennial. t would be fair to say that Category C has had some testing times over the years, but equally one could say that,despite the usual myriad challenges the sector has come up with some incredibly successful products. Already some manufacturers have committed to increase their development of Cat C games for the coming year in order to coincide with the new £100 Cat C jackpot.The hi-tech portion of the sector in particular has gone through a transitional period in the last year or so and with the implementation of the new £100 jackpot, stakeholders believe that there is a strong demand for new build games on what is a proven, reliable platform. The bottom line is that operators need quality Cat C games that have longevity and reliability in order to stimulate the market in 2014.While talk of theTriennial has rightly dominated the headlines over the last few weeks, the Cat C sector has already undergone a steady process of reinventing itself for today’s customer demographic over more than two decades. Regardless of what goes on once that 50p or £1 coin has dropped into the coin mech, Cat C (also, of course, known as AWP) machines have been a long-standing amusement with prize staple. Or, from the perspective of the end user, the omnipresent loose change ‘fruit machine’. This commanding presence in pubs and arcades has happened not just because of the above evolution with changing technology and
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updated stake and prize levels but also due to an industry-wide commitment to providing the public with a bit of low-brow light entertainment that, for whatever reason, is sufficiently appealing to attract those allimportant coins - and repeat visits. Furthermore, despite much heated debate around the style of Cat C machine which will lead us all into a glorious future (hi-tech, lo-tech, video-based, mechanical reel-based or community gaming-led), the Cat C sector has in no small way arrived at the stake and prize crossroads where it finds itself today due to solid manufacturing practises, a lot of creativity and, of course, consistent lobbying, largely on the part of BACTA. Although the current Category C sector has a number of strands and sub-divisions to it, it also holds some solid unifying elements - easy to understand gameplay, a number of strong brands and creative bespoke designs. The UK’s leading coin-op manufacturers Bell-Fruit and Reflex Gaming have long understood the requirements of both the operator and the player when it comes to Cat C.As a result, the machines currently in the market - let’s not forget the opportunities for conversions or discounted second hand deals - are, as mentioned earlier, many and varied due to the knowledge that different venues attract contrasting demographics. Put simply, what might be a cashbox filler at one location could just as easily be a tumbleweed inducer at another. Yes, we know the timing of the Triennial
SWOT ANALYSIS CATEGORY C STRENGTHS • Newcomers to the sector help promote innovation and drive healthy competition • Strong, familiar, well-targeted licences • £1 now universally seen as an ‘impulse spend’, therefore the sector remains a relevant ‘pocket money’ or ‘loose change’ domain WEAKNESSES • Competition from other forms of digital entertainment and reduced consumer spend • Amount of ‘play time’ for money can be off-putting to casual player • Contraction of UK pub sector affects cashbox takings
was poor to put it mildly, but manufacturers can now deliver an enhanced offer to the player via more exciting content, features and game styles. The pub sector can improve thanks to the increase in Cat C, although we won’t know the true extent of that improvement until
OPPORTUNITIES • New prize levels gives developers a new creative push • Use of communication technology to promote game features (such as QR codes) to player • Updatable content via various media lessens need for shipping, reducing costs and speeding up arrival of new games THREATS • Some pubs becoming more family dining-oriented, others closing • FOBT machines still offer bigger potential payouts
approximately a year from now.The bottom line is that the introduction of a £100 Cat C prize will provide an important opportunity to develop more engaging games - and improved revenues.We must also hope, and actively encourage,a fairer share of the cashbox for all concerned.
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Essential Guide to ... Cat C Machines Market Perspectives SUPPLIERS
SUPPLIERS
Eyes on the prize
Unbiased recommendations from an independent supplier
Representing a more than 40 per cent uplift in jackpot level, the new £100 prize for Category C machines is set to give the sector a much-needed shot in the arm, according to the RLMS Sales team. he industry has achieved a “tremendous”uplift of over 40 per cent in the jackpot level,and industry stakeholders are keen to witness the next generation in Category C gaming products. Tony Glanville, sales director for RLMS Sales stated:“£100 is a significant jackpot level, and we are really excited with the products the manufacturers have got in development. It is great to see the fresh stimulus it has given the creative minds within the games design teams.The new jackpot level creates a real buzz of expectation.” While the prize uplift is set to provide the Cat C market with a much-needed boost, Glanville noted that the protracted legislative process the introduction of the new jackpot has to follow creates uncertainty and indecision. “We started with a potential introduction in November, and now we are into early 2014 for implementation and still no confirmed date,” he said. “The vast majority of the Coinslot readership will have plans and commitments to make based on the introduction date of the new jackpot level without a firm date it makes it extremely difficult. For a distributor planning for EAG is a real challenge we will either be showing £70 machines that no one will have an real interest in because £100 is just round the corner, or we will be showing £100 equipment that is largely unproven as the new jackpot level has just been introduced or at worst the product cannot even be sited for testing as the implementation date has not been reached.” Discussing the current top-performing Category C equipment,Karen Sarosi,sales representative for RLMS, said:“In the hitech world, without question the 2013 range of Bell-Fruit Games machines remains the most consistent cash box deliverers.In 2013 to date there have been 17 launched models between the BellFruit Games and QPS brands.That is a phenomenal track record and unrivalled in the UK market place. “Bell-Fruit Games has a great blend using strong licences in Deal or No Deal and Monopoly and iconic brands such as Cops N Robbers with great game ideas that the hi-tech players clearly love,”Sarosi added.“The other great attribute that BellFruit have is the games team never rest on their laurels and are always looking to up their game and introduce new ideas
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for pound, Category C products from Reflex Gaming have been Pa “lifeound saver” for the single site industry,
TONY GLANVILLE: ‘WE ARE DELIGHTED WITH THE RANGE OF PRODUCTS THAT WE HAVE SEEN IN THE DEVELOPMENT PIPELINE’
which drive cash box’s forward and raise the bar further this is borne out by the phenomenal success of the DOND The Big One, which was launched in September and is still selling now.” Based on the income figures RLMS has seen from its test products, there is still a significant Cat C hi-tech player base to be catered for. In terms of growth potential for hi-tech, Sarosi said this is the responsibility of every stakeholder in the supply chain. “We are now approaching a potential watershed opportunity to grow our player base with the introduction of the new £100 jackpot,” she told Coinslot.“To grow the player base we need people and that is the where the venue operators player their part by driving foot fall to the premises and then promoting the machine offering.” RLMS is renowned for supplying a vast range of amusement and gaming products. When asked how keep its clients informed of any newly launched Category C innovations, Glanville said:“We are constantly engaging with our customer base
and we utilise as many communication tools as possible, combining old school methods with the latest technology to provide information to our customers, so they are aware of all the latest products and their performance so when they are in the position to purchase they know exactly what is the right product to satisfy their need. “Our EAG plans are at an advanced stage,” Glanville added.“We have been in regular dialogue with all our suppliers over recent months to keep abreast of the new products they have coming forward for 2014.At EAG 2014 the new Cat C jackpot will of course be a significant contributory factor to the look and feel of our product offering in January.We of course need the legislative process to have been concluded by then and the £100 jackpot is good to go.At this stage all I can say is that we are delighted with the range of products that we have seen in the development pipeline, and anyone that is involved in Cat C needs to be coming to ExCeL in January and visiting RLMS Sales on stand 550.”
according to Tim Stanhope, managing director of Leeds Leisure. “Regarding the new prize level, £100 is an excellent jackpot in terms of both its size and the fact that it will be eyecatching figure for the player,” Stanhope said. “If this were to come hand-in-hand with a long overdue crackdown on the B2 products in LBOs then it would give the pub/operator/arcade sides of the industry a fighting chance. “We are able to tap into figures and operator test experiences much quicker and easier now than 30 years ago, so as an independent supplier we are able to make unbiased recommendations to our customers, though with reference to innovation in this category it has been lacking in recent years. As such, we are hoping the £100 jackpot proves inspirational to all manufacturers of both analogue and digital product.” Stanhope added: “We don’t show at EAG, so for us the show will be a reconnaissance mission to try and work out which manufacturer has hit the ground running with the £100 jackpot and where the new opportunities and innovations have been most successfully utilised so we can report back to our customers.”
TIM STANHOPE: ‘WE ARE HOPING THE £100 JACKPOT PROVES INSPIRATIONAL TO ALL MANUFACTURERS OF BOTH ANALOGUE AND DIGITAL PRODUCT’
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Essential Guide to ... Cat C Machines Market Perspectives DEVELOPERS
‘There is an appetite for both lo-tech and hi-tech games’ The continued development of the Category C gaming sector will be dependent on retailers’ support for operators, according to Simon Barff, managing director of Blueprint Gaming’s machines division. lueprint is a member of the Gauselmann Group, whose primary business activity has been in the provision of content to the online gaming sector and the AGC market. It is only over the last 24 months that the company have started to focus and gain traction in the Cat C market place, as it developed its King of Games digital Cat C product, which has proven extremely successful with over 1,000 units now operated across the Pub sector. Latterly, Blueprint has focused on a reel-based product as a support to the UK operators and retailers with growing success. “I believe that this year has certainly been challenging but has seen new entrants entering this difficult arena in
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response to the request from the operators and retailers for competitive products and this competition has clearly driven better products for the sector,” said the company’s Simon Barff.“The continued development of the sector will be dependent on the support for the operators from the retailers and the cost of continued developments within the sector has to be funded, which is a clear barrier at this time.” “As we are seeing from our digital product, there is an appetite from the players for both lo-tech and hi-tech styles of games,” Barff added. “But the historic relationship between the pub player and the hi-tech products is still providing the greatest returns.When looking at the over-
all mix of games across the UK we are seeing a significant shift away from hi-tech games in all but the pub sector, and this trend will eventually be replicated in this arena over the coming years. “Over the coming we year are looking to continue our successful production of reel-based products, and with greater traction in the digital world we see even greater opportunities for providing market leading content across this sector. £100 is obviously seen by our games teams as a major benefit and we will be looking to launch three reelbased games in the early part of next year along with a suite of new and existing £100 games onto our King of Games platform.”
MULTI-PLAYER GAMING
Multi-player gaming: enhancing the Cat C experience is on-going demand for community and multi-player style games in Tthehere AGC and bingo sector, according to
Kevin Bottrill, sales representative for RLMS Sales. Explaining the advantages of the community gaming platform, Bottrill said players relate to the product, which also gives operators a point of difference over the LBO product offering. “The multi players give operators the opportunity to introduce a real sense of theatre into their venues and create that aesthetic ‘wow’ factor,” he told Coinslot. “We are fortunate to have the very best exponent of the multi-player format in Astra Games within our product portfolio. Astra have delivered to market within Bullion Bars and Party Time - the two most iconic titles in this genre, which gives the company a strong pedigree.” Bottrill added: “We also now have Empire Games in the multi-player market and they currently have Gold Run in a three player upright and a sit down arena style out presently and both versions look stunning and are at a price point that makes them an attractive proposition for operators. “Astra and Empire have products in the market place and in development in preparation for 2014 and the new prize level and we really believe that the Cat C
Coinslot NOVEMBER 15 - NOVEMBER 21, 2013
community and multi-player market is going to be a growth area in 2014, as this sector has largely been neglected in recent years due to the focus given on B3 products. “The current sited legacy multi-players are now showing the signs of age and although they have provided a good income stream they need to be refreshed to rejuvenate venues and players interest levels.”
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PUB OPERATIONS
Promoting the benefit of the £100 stake The £100 prize level that is set to be implemented in the Category C gaming sector next is clearly an opportunity, but the industry may need to revisit how its communicates gaming machines to both players and non-players in an effort to increase play levels. Peter Weir, chief executive of the IOA Group explains. oinslot: As 2013 draws to a close, how has trading been for the IOA Group? C How has machine performance fared
Category C machines in 2013, and to what would you attribute their success? PW: The model that stands out head and compared to last year? shoulders above all machines is Deal or No Peter Weir:There’s no getting away from Deal:The Big One.Quite simply,people love the fact that it has been a challenging year. the game! There must have been in excess Machine income suffered through the of 50 DOND models. Not all of them have summer months with lots of people drink- been as successful, so you have to deduct ing outside the pub and not inside,although that it’s not the name but the game. it is picking up again which is encouraging for the retailer. But despite this positive CS: Are you satisfied with the new Cat C position, the operator is still incurring legislation (£100 prize level) that will be increasing costs, and to overcome this will implemented next year? need an increase in their supply income. The £100 level is clearly an opportunity, but what would’ve been beneficial is an increase in stake to £2.The £100 jackpot is CS: What have been the best performing
that only circa five per cent (and it may be less now) of those that visit a pub play machines. In the last couple of years we have seen the rapid growth of iPhones. CS: There is an ever-expanding range of Cat Next time you visit a pub have a look around C equipment on the market. Do you find that and notice the numbers of people using players intuitively understand the intricacies smart phones or tablets, and what are they doing - playing games, sending emails, texof each game? PW:As I see it we have reel-based AWP and ting, checking the internet. The dwell time which used to be spent video (digital) AWPs.Where we have Cat C AWP in pubs - unlike the LBOs - machines are playing machines is now consumed by not a core promotional activity.The pubs have electronic devices.This is a big threat to other things to market/promote such as food machine income, and maybe we need to offers and drinks promotions. There is no revisit how we communicate gaming machines to both players and non-players doubt that this is a challenge for the pubs. We know from previous market research in an effort to increase play levels. very marketable and it’s our job to maximise this opportunity and makes sure it lives up to the hype.
W W W. A M G L E I S U R E . C O . U K
Rainbow Party 3 Player .............................£14,995 Rainbow Party 2 Player .............................£9,995 Rainbow Party 1 Player .............................£5,195 Gold Run Arena 3 Player ..........................£12,995 Gold Run 3 Player ......................................£10,995 Golden Winner Deluxe 3 Player ...............£5,995 Genie Multigame .......................................£4,295 DOND The Big Deal ....................................£2,695 DOND Lucky Streak ...................................£2,695
Bar X Extreme 3 Player .................... £9,995 Bar X Extreme 2 Player .................... £6,995 Monopoly Street Party 3 Player ...... £5,995 Crazy Fruits Community 3 Player ... £4,995 Las Vegas Strip Multigame .............. £2,495 DOND Big Deal Poker ....................... £1,995 The Great Escape ............................ £1,395 Cops n Robbers Street Wise ............. £1,195 DOND Go All The Way ...................... £1,195 Double Dough Seven ...................... £995 Bullion Bars Community 3 Player .... £6,995 Spin Wall 3 Player ............................ £6,995 Bullion Bars Deluxe 3 Player ........... £5,495 Solid Gold 3 Player .......................... £4,995 Winner ............................................... £1,195 DOND Desert Island .......................... £495 Monopoly Millionaire ....................... £395
R I P O N : 01765 640900
K I N G S LY N N : 01553 692817
S K E G N E S S : 07879 841151 Coinslot NOVEMBER 15 - NOVEMBER 21, 2013
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Essential Guide to ... Cat C Machines Market Analysis MANUFACTURERS
Maximising cashin-box through Cat C innovation A licensed product will help to attract a player to a machine initially, but it is the quality of the game design itself that keeps the player coming back time after time. John McLoughlin, sales and marketing director for Bell-Fruit Games, explains. Coinslot: Have operators of Category C equipment reacted positively to the recently announced prize uplift? John McLoughlin:The whole industry has been waiting for the announcement of the triennial review, so it is hardly surprising that this has been well received, although we would be happier if we had
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a confirmed implementation date to help with planning. Although the new prize levels should help to lift machine income levels, it should not be forgotten that the new £100 prize involves significant investment on the part of machine operators and manufacturers, and it is important that any growth in machine income should be shared by all parties involved.
CS: Bell-Fruit is celebrated for its rolling programme of Cat C products. Do you find that players intuitively understand the intricacies of each game? JM: Core players will understand the intricacies of each game a lot quicker than the casual player and a part of the attraction of new games is discovering the nuances in game play. All of our launched games benefit from a QR code incorporated in the artwork which players can use to learn more about the key game features.
expect this as a feature of machines. However, we sometimes incorporate ideas that are completely new and revolutionary and you will see some of these in our first generation £100 machines. New ideas involve complicated statistical profiling and are difficult and time consuming to create, but then this is what keeps Bell-Fruit ahead of the pack.
CS: There is a large online community of Category C players. When it comes to R&D, does Bell-Fruit pay as much attention to these forums as it does listening to operator feedback? CS: To what would you attribute the enormous success of your key licensed JM:We pay attention to feedback from all games such as Deal or No Deal and sources. Although we very much appreMonopoly? ciate the feedback we receive from operJM: Licences such as Deal or No Deal and ators, we are particularly mindful of the Monopoly are important in that they sup- views of machine players, as these are port our game structures very well, but a the end users who are ultimately responlicence is only part of the story. A sible for deciding whether a game is suclicensed product will help to attract a cessful or not. player to a machine initially, but it is the quality of the game design itself, along CS: You recently stated that one possiwith the statistical profile, that keeps the ble “downside” of being at the high-end player coming back time after time. At of the market is that products can Bell-Fruit we have the best creative team appear more costly than those of one’s in the industry and they are in tune with competitors. What would you say to an the players’ needs; this helps enormously operator who was considering purchasin developing product that is both inno- ing a ‘cheaper’ Cat C machine? vative and exciting for our customers. JM: When an operator buys a Bell-Fruit or a QPS machine he knows that he is buying quality and innovation. Our prodCS: Many Bell-Fruit products contain ucts have a proven track record of per‘Easter Eggs’ or ‘secret’ tricks. How forming - not just during their test easy or difficult is it to build such feaperiod, but over several years. Our games tures into the game mechanics? JM: This is something that we and the hold their rental levels on site and have player base are very familiar with, and player appeal in depth. At the end of the our players have very much come to day you get what you pay for. Coinslot NOVEMBER 15 - NOVEMBER 21, 2013
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DEVELOPERS
Embracing the changes Quentin Stott, managing director of Reflex Games, discusses the current state of the UK’s Category C gaming market. S: Have operators of Category C equipment reacted positively to the recently C announced prize uplift? Quentin Stott: Yes, everybody has been extremely positive about the changes to the jackpot. I think that people see it as a great readvertising opportunity for Category C machines, in pubs particularly - where £100 will attract special attention.The only downside is that the government process takes such a long time from when it starts through to implementation.We still don’t have a date for implementation,although we’re working on it being mid-January. CS: Are you satisfied with the new legislation? QS:The uplift is a step in the right direction overallbutwearenotcompletelysatisfied.Weremain
disadvantaged from a high street perspective. There are many other things that the government should be doing to ensure that the pub sector in particular flourishes,as pubs are a vital part of the social fabric of the country.Everyone knows that pubs have had a torrid time,and the government could be looking at the high street to create a fairer gaming machine offer.In addition to theTriennial Review,technical standards are also something that the government could revisit to try and make the product more of an up to date offer. Hi-tech machines per-se are niche products serving an ever decreasing player base and we would like to be able to make our machines more appealing.
in 2013.We had Double Agent at the beginning of the year, followed by Alice Through The Looking Glass,SnowWhite and the 7Tenners and, most recently, Galloping Jackpots. These have been predominantly fully approved and supported by retailers.The fact that we can say we have had a number of successful machines and not just the one is down to the hard work and dedication of our team.
CS: Do Category C games have an average shelf life? QS: Category C machines do have a shelf life but the length of it depends on the site itself. Top banded sites may have a machine refresh every 12 to 16 weeks, while a small country pub with a more modest income,may have a CS: What have been your best performing machine on site for six to eight months.The Category C machines in 2013? QS:We have had a number of successful titles bottom line is that these are fashion prod-
ucts that do need to be refreshed from time to time. It is down to the collaboration between the retailer and the operator to understand each site to maximise machine income - it is not a case of one size fits all. CS: How are plans for EAG 2014 faring? Can you hint at any new Category C innovations that will be on show on the Reflex booth? QS:Our plans for EAG 2014 are going well.We have completed the stand plan and we will be taking a range of 38 machines this year.For single sites we will have the latest hi-tech products and we will be launchingAtom,our brand new cabinet for single site machines.We will also be showing Digislots,our Category C digital compendium product.In addition,we will be unveiling something new and exciting, which is Category C but targeted for the arcade sector.
DATA LEISURE SALES LTD. Unit 12 Data House, Trent Industrial Estate, Duchess Street, Shaw, Oldham, OL2 7UT BELLFRUIT SEAL THE DEAL ......................................... £1,000 BANK ON IT .................................................. £900 RAPID ROUND ............................................... £900 DOND RIGHT DEAL RIGHT TIME .................... £895 DOND EAST AND WEST WING ....................... £895 CASH AHOY .................................................. £875 DOND SPANK THE BANKER........................... £825 DOND DESERT ISLAND ................................. £795 DOND COPS & ROBBERS .............................. £745 DOND RED MIST ........................................... £645 DOND RED HOT ........................................... £645 CROWN JEWELS ........................................... £595 DOND GAME ON ........................................... £495 DOND ROAD TO RICHES ............................... £495 SHOOT FOR THE STARS................................ £495 DOND LIVE THE DREAM ................................ £475 MAKE OR BREAK .......................................... £395 DOND MEGA ................................................. £375 PERFECT DEAL ............................................. £375 BANKER RINGS TWICE .................................. £350 DOND GOLD ................................................. £275 POOL 7 X 4 TOURNAMENT .................................... £795 6 X 3 TOURNAMENT ..................................... £795 7 X 4 PRINCE ................................................ £765 6 X 3 PRINCE ................................................ £765 7 X 4 WINNER............................................... £665
REFLEX CLUB JACKPOT ISLAND (NEW) ................... £1,825 RAIDERS OF LOST TENNER (NEW) ................... £1,825
JACKPOT ISLAND
REFLEX AWP CASH ENCOUNTERS (NEW) ................... £2,225
GALLOPING JACKPOT (NEW) ................... £2,225
GALLOPING JACKPOT
JPM DOUBLE DOUGH SEVEN ............................... £995 AL MURRAY BEAUTIFUL BRITISH GAME ........ £895
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S
Data Leisure Sales
MUSIC NSM NOSTALGIA ....................................... £2,000 NSM ICON ................................................. £1,795 STARBUST RPS 10,000 ............................... £995 S/L MUSIC POST ........................................... £695 SUPERSTARS RSP 10,000 ............................ £645 SPARES MPU 6 ............................................................ £40 SCORPION 5 ................................................... £45 SCORPION 5 PSU ............................................ £45 NV 8 & NV10 .................................................. £35 JCM NOTE MECH ............................................ £35 SR5I MECH ..................................................... £35 SPEAKERS- WHARFEDALE .............................. £40 SCORPION 4 PSU ............................................ £35 SCORPION 4 ................................................... £30 CASH FLOW MEI ............................................. £30 MULTI PROTOCOLS......................................... £30 YELLOW CASH FLOW MECH............................ £20 SWP’S PARAGON TT ................................................ £895 PARAGON PRO 3........................................... £445 PARAGON 3 I ................................................ £395 PARAGON 3 ................................................. £395 WANTED SCORP 5 & 4 BASE
DELIVERIES TO ANYWHERE IN THE UK & IRELAND
Contact Karl or Steve on Tel: 01706 883838. Fax: 01706 883839. E-mail: karl@dataleisuresales.co.uk Coinslot NOVEMBER 15 - NOVEMBER 21, 2013
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Essential Guide to ... Cat C Machines Products BELL-FRUIT GAMES
BFG leads the line in Cat C innovation Bell-Fruit Games is leading the charge in Cat C development. hen it comes to delivering high-earning, top performing Category C product for the Great British pub sector, Bell-Fruit Games (BFG) is leading the charge.The Nottingham-based firm, currently deep into its 50th year of trading, continues to leave the competition trailing thanks to a compelling blend of licensed and generic AWP styles. Two current models that are cutting a swathe through the Cat C sector are BFG’s DOND Pure Gold and Bank Job Rob The Lot from stable mate QPS.According to sales and marketing director John McLoughlin, both are performing brilliantly, with the former having recently achieved a full set of approvals from the major retailers.“As always, the Bell-Fruit Group is competing on all fronts and once again we have a brace of great products representing licensed and unlicensed genres,” he said. Looking at the Cat C sector more generally, BFG adheres to some strict core principles.One area where it has scored highly is in its ability to remain manifestly faithful to the
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entertainment value inherent in the flagship DOND brand,as well as innovate with traditional,generic games. McLoughlin explained:“Right from the very outset we have consistently strived to ensure that the design DNA that puts DOND so far ahead of the competition remains instantly recognisable to every player. Consequently, the intrinsic qualities that make DOND so appealing to a global TV audience have not been lost in translation when applied to the gaming machine environment.” He added:“The integrity of that lineage and the overarching manufacturing principles behind the Bell-Fruit brand are what really set us apart from the competition, and that becomes even clearer when you compare how our games - licensed and generic - perform against those of our peers. In a commercial environment that is as tough and demanding as the pub sector, the best games are those that outperform and outlast their rivals and we can say with confidence that ours do just that.”
REFLEX GAMING
Reflex Gallops ahead Reflex Gaming has introduces a fourth reel to its already popular Galloping Jackpots Cat C game. t the time of press Galloping Jackpots, the latest Category C machine from A Reflex Gaming, has managed to attract almost blanket retailer approvals - no mean feat in these competitive times. “Our aim with Galloping Jackpots is to try to get the player to stake at £1,” said Quentin Stott,managing director of Reflex. “To this end we have introduced a fourth reel, which is only active on £1 play.This opens up the possibility of 10 win lines from the traditional one, three or five available on three-reel play. It also allows us to offer wins not only from left to right on reels one, two and three, but also from right to left on reels four, three and two.This is something new and exciting and the reaction on site test has been extremely encouraging, hence the retailer approvals.” As the name suggests,Galloping Jackpots has a horseracing theme. Players must light all six horse icons to activate Super Start. Player may then choose a starting position from what’s on offer. Moving around main Coinslot NOVEMBER 15 - NOVEMBER 21, 2013
board adds Cash and Features to ladders. Players collect Ultras during the game to award bigger prizes. Players then move around the board adding to the Streak Spins pot.They can take the pot to award streak spins via the reels which correspond to the stake being played. Shuffles may be awarded to give players a chance of bringing in fruit or feature wins. Cancelled shuffles will be banked and retained for future use Champ or Chump awards a death or glory gamble at start of a feature or when landing on a question mark players can collect three Winning Posts to activate the mega board. The board will turn red and a repeat chance offered when landing on squares. Players must light all winning posts red to become invincible. The mega board Winner’s Cup Feature is a ‘take it or leave it’ feature game which can be played with one, two or three grids open. Values will be eliminated and players will be given an offer which they can choose to either take or gamble.
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LEEDS LEISURE
Leeds Leisure prepares for ÂŁ100 jackpot Leeds Leisure has been providing Cat C AWP product to the industry for the last 30 years. ooking forward to the impending triennial, Tim Stanhope, managing director of LLeeds Leisure, said: “When Leeds Leisure began in 1983,AWPs were on a 10p play ÂŁ3 token jackpot, and machine earnings were on a completely different scale to the cashboxes of today, so it will take a lot more than a jackpot increase to excite and invigorate many of our customers,who have seen more than their fair share of triennial reviews. “We really appreciate that while triennials are a time of hope and expectation for manufacturers,suppliers,pubcos,landlords and players,it is often a period of dread,trepidation and enforced budget breaking expense for many of the machine operators - small,medium and large - that we currently deal with. “We see our role in jackpot changes as
one of trying to inform and steer an independent, cost effective, as painless and as mistake free a path as is possible through what can be a difficult time, particularly in the current climate.â€? Stanhope added:“However, despite the logistical and financial pressures that the Cat C jackpot change will bring to operators when it presumably takes effect in January or February of the New year, I believe it will bring with it opportunities. ÂŁ100 has a good rounded, player marketable ring to it - more so than ÂŁ4.80 or ÂŁ35 did anyway! It’s a jackpot that will hopefully inspire innovation and some much needed variety to the pub and arcade fruit machine whether that be a re-invention on reel-based of the hi-tech board games, a revisit to lo-tech casino styles or a genuine breakthrough of digital prod-
uct to win the hearts of the majority of players as opposed to the few. “If a manufacturer does produce a gamechanger then MGD and shared operating mean that in many cases the operator will feel a more direct benefit to any uplift in returns. “This last year has seen the Cat C and operator market standing up to effectively a potential new ‘gaming tax’ in the shape of machine dongles, and many have been grateful that Reflex Gaming was able to act so swiftly and effectively to fill the demand, preventing the negative impact that a monopoly situation appeared to be about to cause,â€?Stanhope said.“It would seem that the ÂŁ100 jackpot is tempting more manufacturers, new and old back, into the Cat C market, so let us hope the breweries and
pubcos retain their recently-enforced, open, tolerant and more accommodating stance towards any other manufacturers that throw their hat into the ring of what is still a tough environment to succeed. “We are able to supply most manufacturers new products and have an extensive and regularly replenished used range, site readied to a very high standard.We have an experienced, independent and knowledgeable sales team who are always available, almost never in meetings and try not to overly pester and hassle operators who have busy businesses to run.�
Leeds Leisure Ltd NEW TELEPHONE NUMBER - 01132 040885
CLUB MACHINES GALLOPING JACKOTS (NEW) RAIDERS OF THE LOST TENNERS (NEW) COPS & ROBBERS JUDGEMENT DAY (NEW) MONTE CARLO OR BUST FLAMING SIXES DOCTORS AND NURSES SNAKES AND LADDERS CLUEDO
POA POA POA ÂŁ595 ÂŁ275 ÂŁ195 ÂŁ175 ÂŁ175
CASINO LOW TECH CARIBBEAN CRUISE RANDOM GOLD DOUBLE UP ÂŁ70 MEGA JACKPOTS CASINO DOND (VIDEO) CLASSIC RED BAR CASINO WHEEL OR WEALTH FANTASTIC 5 (VIDEO) WIN CAN ALLEY CASINO RED HOT X CASINO BAR X THE STREAK
ÂŁ550 ÂŁ495 ÂŁ395 ÂŁ350 ÂŁ295 ÂŁ295 ÂŁ250 ÂŁ250 ÂŁ245 ÂŁ245 ÂŁ195
VIDEOS SUPERBIKES TWIN R TUNED TWIN FAST & FURIOUS TWIN TIME CRISIS 3 DELUXE TIME CRISIS 3 STANDARD CHASE HQ 2 SSD BATTLEGEAR 4 SSD UPRIGHT ARCADE CLASSICS (NEW) TABLE TOP ARCADE CLASSIC (NEW)
ÂŁ4,995 ÂŁ4,495 ÂŁ2,995 ÂŁ1,695 ÂŁ1,495 ÂŁ1,195 ÂŁ995 ÂŁ995 ÂŁ895
DOND EAST & WEST WING
ÂŁ795
DOND RED MIST
DOND COPS & ROBBERS
ÂŁ750
CASH ENCOUNTERS
ÂŁ645
ÂŁPOA
Tim Stanhope, Keith Parker or John Hood Tel: 01132 040885 Fax: 01132 560180 John mobile: 07766 247876 Email: leedsleisure@aol.com Unit 59/62L, Springfield Commercial Centre, Bagley Lane, Farsley, LEEDS LS28 5LY
777 ,%%$3,%)352% #/ 5+
CHANGE MACHINES THOMAS 3004 (ARDAC ELITE) THOMAS 3004 (TAIKO) £70 AWPS CASH ENCOUNTERS (NEW) DOND EAST & WEST WING DOND SPANK THE BANKER DOND COPS & ROBBERS DOND RED MIST CROWN JEWELS TAKE IT OR LEAVE IT SAFE CRACKER STAR WARS DEATH ASSAULT MURPHY’S MILLIONS HOT HOT HOT TAKE IT OR LEAVE CRAZY TRAIL TAKE IT OR LEAVE IT PACMAN POWER UP AIR HOCKEY / NOVELTY AIRBOY XTREME MINI CRAZY SQUASH WALL HOCKEY - NEW WINNING STREAK TICKET PLATINUM HEIGHTS TICKET GARLANDO SPEEDY 7FT SWP’S PARAGON TT PARAGON PRO 23 PARAGON 19 PARAGON 2
ÂŁ1,995 ÂŁ1,795 POA ÂŁ795 ÂŁ795 ÂŁ750 ÂŁ645 ÂŁ495 ÂŁ495 ÂŁ395 ÂŁ295 ÂŁ250 ÂŁ245 ÂŁ225 ÂŁ195 ÂŁ1,495 ÂŁ1,395 ÂŁ1,295 ÂŁ1,295 ÂŁ795 ÂŁ795 ÂŁ545 ÂŁ495 ÂŁ395
0,%!3% #!,, 4)- /2 +%)4( /. /2 */(. /. s 6)3)4 /52 7%"3)4% 777 ,%%$3,%)352% #/ 5+ 7% (!6% -/6%$ 4/ .%7 02%-)3%3 s 5.)4 , 302).'&)%,$ #/--%2#)!, #%.42% "!',%9 ,!.% &!23,%9 ,%%$3 ,3 ,9 Coinslot NOVEMBER 15 - NOVEMBER 21, 2013
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Essential Guide to ... Cat C Machines Products CONCEPT GAMES
G-SQUARED GAMES/SELECT GAM
Concept Games: on a Winning Streak
Natural Selection
Leeds-based Concept Games has proudly produced a couple of Cat C winners this year, which will feature at the January EAG show.
G-Squared Games has marked its debut in the Category C gaming market with Return of the Count.
he three-player Golden Winner and single-player Silver and Gold are the latest Category C gaming innovations from Concept Games. “Golden Winner has been selling very well since February on both Cat D and C,” the company said.“This reasonably priced three-player rebuild is a lively looking, busy, fun game with great sounds and exciting features. Golden Winner is built onto Mazooma three-player base product and gives the player a very busy feel to the top feature.10p/£5 has been especially successful within the seaside market, plus bingo testing has proved the machine to be a winner too, Concept Games said. Cat C versions of the machine have also been successful on £35 and £70 jackpots. Concept Games’ David Garforth said:“Golden Winner suits both player expectations and the pockets of the operator.With machines becoming more and more expensive, rebuilds still have a great role to play in offering affordable content for AGC, FEC and bingo halls.With Concept’s generous prices against part-ex base cabinets, Golden Winner comes to the customer at
T
a very affordable price and is seen to compete with all the top earning games that are much more expensive.” Concept has designed and put to market a new single-player game to suit the operator who does not have room for a three-player. This single player casino machine, Silver and Gold, has also tested very well so far and is built on the Bell-Fruit single casino cabinet.“It too has great sounds and a very busy feature on the top dome,” Garforth said. In line with the imminent triennial £100 jackpot review, Concept is currently testing £100 versions of its kit range that will fit all Electrocoin base machines. “The new jackpot suits the 50p stake very well under new compliance laws,” Garforth said.“I am very optimistic that these games will feature in AGCs in the forthcoming year and give the operator some much needed uplift.”
DATA LEISURE SALES
Reflex action ARCADE EQUIPMENT FOR SALE NEW
GOLDEN WINNER DELUXE THREE PLAYER NEW REBUILD P/EX BFM SC4 GOLDEN GAME TYPE WELCOME
£5995
SILVER AND GOLD NEW SINGLE PLAYER REBUILD P/EX CASINO BFM SC4 CABINETS WELCOME
£1995
USED ARCADE CLEARANCE DELUXE
SIT DOWN COMFORT 10P BAR 7S SIT DOWN COMFORT / BABY RANDOM GOLD 10P SINGLE OR DUAL STAKE(10P,20P) INC SEAT SIT DOWN COMFORT BAR X 4 WIN SPECIALS 10P ALL DOUBLE HOPPER FULLY REFURBISHED GREAT 10P£5 MACHINES
£595 INC SEAT £795 £595 INC SEAT
CASINO
BAR X 7 50P £70 OR 25P/30P ANY JACKPOT £495 STARS BARS AND SEVENS £795 MIDAS TOUCH BABY ECLIPSE 10P OR 10P/20P DUAL STAKE £795 CORONATION STREET 10P THREE PLAYER £595 MAGIC 7 50P £70 £395 BAR X SPECIAL 4 WIN ANY STAKE OR JACKPOT £395 GO FOR GOLD MULTI STAKE AND JACKPOT £595 GOLD FEVER MULTI STAKE AND JACKPOT £495
£100 NEW TRIENNIAL KITS
£70 JACKPOT NEW TRIENNIAL KITS AVAILABLE NOW WITH FOC UPGRADE FOR £100 IN JAN ELECTROCOIN ALL MODELS £425 RANDOM GOLD/POUNDSTRETCHER/AND ALL CONCEPT MODELS
Concept Games
Tel. 0113 798216 Mob. 07950 407041 DAVID / TIM / DIANA Coinslot NOVEMBER 15 - NOVEMBER 21, 2013
Data Leisure Sales has strengthened its position as a leading northern distributor following the recent signing of a distribution deal with Reflex Gaming. ldham-based Data Leisure Sales has been trading for more than 20 O years. The company, which predomi-
nantly sells Category C product to the pub market, recently signed a new distribution deal with Reflex Gaming. Karl Taylor, a director at Data Leisure, said the company recently took delivery of Reflex’s new Cat C products Cash Encounters and Galloping Jackpots. “Both products are performing very well,” he said. “The upcoming £100 jackpot is good news for the market, but we need the software developers to get the games right.” Taylor said Data Leisure anticipates a busy period ahead, as the company supplies new AWPs and £100 conversion kits for existing models.
Games, the production division of Select Gaming, has entered the UK CateGgory-Squared C market with its first machine, Return of the Count. “The slow uptake of digital and the lack of choice in the Cat C market left only one real alternative: to produce our own,” said Select business development director, Jonathan Powell.“The key driving force behind any successful market is competition. Competition stimulates innovation and fuels the need for constant research and development, which can only be a good thing for the industry.We intend to add to that competition and bring our own innovative approach to the Cat C sector.” As of November 12, G-Squared Games had 25 machines out on industry test.“The results we have seen so far are extremely encouraging,” Powell said. “Figures from one major industry data processor indicate a 31 per cent increase on previously sited machines, and this is consistent across the rest of the test machines we have sited. We have already received several large orders and a number of key retailer approvals which a fantastic result
BLUEPRINT GAMING
A Blueprint for the future Blueprint Gaming is making huge waves in the hi-tech Category C sector. on from two successful games earlier in the year,Newark-based manufacturer BlueFprintollowing Gaming’s latest and current game,Alice and the Mad Hatter,has now sold in excess of 600 units. The game has received universal retailer approvals and the production models are the first machines to be built in the brand new Sunlight cabinet. “The Sunlight cabinet has been very warmly received by all of our operating partners,whose input was instrumental in its design,” said Blueprint’s machine division managing director, Simon Barff. “It is fantastic to have such a brilliantly performing game like Alice and The Mad Hatter on which to launch it.” Blueprint’s hi-tech Category C games are now distributed exclusively in the UK by PW Sales. The company’s managing director, Paul Wilson, said:“Having worked closely with several of the
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ELECT GAMING for our first model.” G-Squared Games is in the process of adapting its factory to allow for a larger build capacity, which currently stands at 50 machines per week.Andrew Powell, operations director at Select, said: “There have been a lot of challenges along the way but we have been able to draw on the wealth of experience of our existing technical team. Our workshop engineers have been stripping, repairing and rebuilding machines for years.Their knowledge and input is second to none and it was an essential part of getting this project off the ground. “In addition to our in house expertise of machine hardware it was also incredibly important to source the right software,” Jonathan Powell added. “We are fortunate enough to have enlisted the skills of Betcom Games who have been responsible for some of the best performing Cat C games in recent years.” G-Squared Games is already working on its next two models which, it is hoped, will be released on industry test in the very near future. In addition to Category C games, GSquared Games is looking at a new development to inject some new life into the SWP sector. Details of this should be released in the New Year.
BLUEPRINT GAMING’S SIMON BARFF (LEFT) WITH PAUL WILSON
Blueprint team in the past I am both flattered and excited to be renewing acquaintances with such a talented and hardworking team.The success of Alice is testament to their unrivalled knowledge and understanding of what is required by both operators and players alike.” “The follow up games, Paddy’s Payday and Viva Las Vegas, will be with operators later this month, demonstrating their ongoing commitment to such an important sector,”Wilson added. “We look forward with relish to the new stakes and prizes implementation, as well as a steady succession of new and innovative games throughout 2014.” Barff said:“Operator choice was something which was in fairly short supply this time last year,but our commitment allied to their support has completely turned this situation around, enabling us to bring to market top earning brand new games at an affordable price.”
AMG LEISURE
‘Rainbow Party is king!’
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JNC SALES
SG Gaming’s Cat C Community is ‘Money Mad’ for AMG Leisure. ational distributor AMG Leisure has stated that when it comes to top performing Category C in the AGC sector, SG gaming’s community Rainbow Party is king. Housed in the Triple 7 cabinet, Rainbow Party has stood the test of time on site. Each machine gets five games included as standard, which customers can pick themselves. They can choose from a large library of top performing games with illustrious titles such as Rainbow Riches, Elvis and Rocky to choose from. The ‘community in play’ feature entices players to join in the community games when other machines are being played. This increases the chances of activating the community features with in the game - the more players active, the better the chances. AMG Leisure’s Tony Bowman commented: “The Cat C sector has been very difficult over the last few years, despite this the community gaming product from SG Gaming seems to have bucked the trend with better cash box earnings and more customer demand than ever. Customers who originally bought one or two rainbow party’s have come back for thirds, fourths and even fifths. “I think the reason for this is that the team at SG gaming develops the very best games software, packed with high quality features that keeps the player coming back for more,” Bowman added. “With new titles being released on a regular basis, it keeps the offering fresh for the player. The latest game, The Return of the Money Mad Martians, is now available with some really encouraging early results, this is sure to be a winner going into 2014. “Additionally, any orders that are placed between now and the triennial will also receive a free upgrade to the new £100 jackpot.”
N
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Merlin Entertainments has been priced near the top end of trading expectations at £3.2bn - as the attractions company made its debut on the London Stock Exchange. Private equity owners Blackstone and CVC both sold a portion of their shares, as did Danish group Kirkbi, which also owns the Lego and Legoland trademarks, as well as having a 75 per cent in the Lego Group.
DISTRIBUTOR CROWN AND DEITH GET HOT FRUITS
This has been a positiv small and medium-size ers, with n output bot and further expected n
STEPHEN GIFFORD, THE CB FOR THE CONFEDERATION O
assist in this exciting and challenging role,” the company said.
JNC SALES LOOKS FOR PC ENGINEER
rown Direct and Deith Leisure are musement machine supplier JNC offering Blueprint Gaming’s Hot Sales is looking for an experienced C A Fruits, a nine game Category C video con- PC engineer to join its expanding work-
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Storm, Batman, Alpine Racer, Mario Kart Arcade, Aliens and the eagerly awaited Dead Heat Riders. Commercial director John Brennancommented: “We are proud to be able to
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ational amusement and gaming operator Sceptre Leisure is seeking to N recruit operations managers for its depots in the North of England and Scotland. “We are looking for experienced operator from the leisure machine industry to
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add these wonderful new games to our range of standout titles including Dark Escape, Super Bikes 2, Deadstorm Pirates, Pac Man Smash and Sno Cross, already in place.” Batman is likely to attract a significant amount of attention at the show, housed in an impressive ‘Batmobile’ style cabinet, crowned with a dominating Batman logo. Brennan said: “Batman is a dream licence with an evergreen appeal and this game combines driving and shooting in an extremely immersive and exciting environment. We have very high hopes for this machine.”
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a positive quarter for dium-sized manufacturs, with new orders and tput both on the rise, d further improvements pected next quarter.
HEN GIFFORD, THE CBI’S DIRECTOR OF ECONOMICS HE CONFEDERATION OF BRITISH INDUSTRY (CBI)
GT Pubs enters administration GT Pubs, the pub management company, been placed into administration. The Norfolkbased company was itself set up in the wake of the administration of the Publicana business in 2010.
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PINBALL LANDMARK FIGURE FOR JERSEY JACK Jack Pinball, whose products are distributed in the UK through PinJballersey Heaven, has now produced over 500 limited edition 75th anniversary Wizard of Oz pinball machines. “With the fast approaching holidays we are working extra hard to get every game out the door we can,� the company said. “So far we have built over 500 luxury editions, and the factory continues to increase speed as the months roll by. We continue to receive extremely positive feedback from customers who have received their games.� In response to the showing of the two prototype 75th anniversary Wizard of Oz games in California this September, Jersey Jack said it has decided to build 1,500 of them for production beginning in early Summer 2014.
EXHIBITION TALARIUS TRAINS ITS SIGHTS ON THE FUTURE BY INVESTING IN STAFF GC operator Talarius has launched its new Venue Development Training ProA gramme for all venue staff, giving them the skills and knowledge they need to be the best in the industry and enhance the overall operations of the business. Led by Mandi Cave, HR manager, the new learning and development programmes, which have been formed over the last year, are being launched to venue managers and their teams across the country
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over the next six weeks. The various training modules will cover different aspects of the business including sales and marketing, finance, management, customer service, social responsibility and security. As part of the learning and Development investment, Talarius has recruited two dedicated management trainersand the new programme is further strengthened by Talarius’ accredited Management 1st programme in partnership with training company People 1st. The programme will be available to all managers within the business. Peter Harvey, CEO, concluded: “We are delighted to launch this extensive and diverse training scheme which will help lay the foundation for the continued long term growth of the business.�
25
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1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
1 3 2 4 5 6 7 8
DOND The Big One BFG DOND Lucky Streak BFG DOND Pure Gold BFG Monster Money QPS DOND Golden Game BFG DOND Double Chance BFG Raising the Stakes EMP Monopoly Reel Estate BFG Snow White and the Seven Tenners REF Lady Luck Trail of Riches REF
Taken from a representative number of sites around the UK Supplied by national operator
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
King of Slots Blueprint Triple 8 Barcrest TS22 Project Magic Lotto 2 Novomatics Rainbow Riches Community Cash Barcrest Casino Star Reflex Big Party Astra Triple 7 Barcrest Mega Bars Big Hit Project Rainbow Kings Astra
MUSICCHARTS
FEC - family
This Last Week Week Name / Manufacturer
This Last Week Week Name / Manufacturer
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
1 7 4 10 9 -
Magic Games 3 Novomatic World of Poker Project Find the Lady 2 Card Project Encore T7 (GP1) SG Gaming Magic Games 3 (s/d) Novomatic Encore T7 (GP3) SG Gaming Free Play 70 Project T7 (GP3) SG Gaming T7 (GP1) SG Gaming Solid Gold Astra
Based on data from a minimum of 10 locations. Supplied by Praesepe
FEC - adult This Last Week Week Name / Manufacturer
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 -
Magic Games U/R Novomatic Rainbow Riches Party Barcrest Free Play 70 Project Pure Gold Astra Party Games (4 Player) Astra Find The Lady Project Find The Lady £70 Project Chase The Ace Project Party Time Arena (4 Player) Astra Party Mix (3 Player) Astra
Based on data from four sites Amusement Equipment Co Ltd
Coinslot NOVEMBER 15 - NOVEMBER 21, 2013
Thor: The Dark World Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 2 Captain Phillips Philomena Turbo Jackass: Bad Grandpa Ender's Game Krrish 3 One Chance Escape Plan
Based on data supplied by a representative number of UK sites Supplied by RLMS Sales
CATEGORYD (10p/£5 Max.) AGCs
THOR: THE DARK WORLD
1 2 4 3 5 6 7
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 -
http://www.sound net.net/ www.soundnet.net
Party Time Classic (3 Player) Astra Party Games (4 Player) Astra Rainbow Riches (3 Player) Empire Gold Rush Stampede (4 Player) Barcrest Adders And Ladders(4 Player) Vivid Chase The Ace Project Golden Games (3 Player) Mazooma Party Time Arena (4 Player) Astra Party Time (3 Player) Astra Full House Empire
Members clubs 1 2 3 4 5
This Last
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
2 1 3 4 6 7 5 8 9
Counting Stars OneRepublic Wake Me Up Avicii Roar Katy Perry The Monster Eminem feat. Rhanna Talk Dirty Jason Derulo feat. 2 Chainz Blurred Lines Robin Thicke feat. TI & Pharell Royals Lorde Burn Ellie Goulding Let Her Go Passenger Wrecking Ball Miley Cyrus
Albums This Last WeekWeek Name
EMINEM: THE MARSHALL MATHERS LP2
This Last Week Week Name / Manufacturer
1 2 3 4 5
Highest Earning Tracks on Sound Leisure jukeboxes
Based on data supplied by Soundnet
Based on data from four sites Amusement Equipment Co Ltd
CATEGORYB4 (£1/£250 Max)
UK Jukebox Chart
Raiders of the Lost Tenners Reflex Happy Hour BFG Jackpot Island Reflex DOND Red Mist BFG Casino Crazy OTB JPM
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
3 2
The Marshall Mathers LP2 Eminem PJames Arthur James Arthur Demonstration Tinie Tempah Music Of The Night Andre Rieu & Johann Strauss Saturday Night At The Movies Overtones You & Me Shane Filan The Nation’s Favourite Elvis Songs Elvis Presley Moon Landing James Blunt Word Of Mouth Wanted Prism Katy Perry
Downloads This Last Week Week Name / Manufacturer
Based on data from representative sites. Supplied by sector professional
STORM QUEEN: LOOK RIGHT THROUGH
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
1 2 3 5 6 4 9
Look Right Through Storm Queen The Monster LEminem ft Rihanna Move Little Mix Royals Lorde Story Of My Life One Direction Counting Stars Onerepublic Work Bitch Britney Spears Children Of The Sun Tinie Tempah ft John Martin Eat Sleep Rave Repeat Fatboyslim/Rivastarr/Beardyman You’re Nobody ‘Til Somebody Loves You James Arthur
Classified
27
27 28 28 28
Crown JNC Marsh & Co Recruitment
B 2 B
To advertise: Contact Kathryn Norris on 01204 396 397
Wanted
For Sale
FOR SALE
FOR SALE
FOR SALE
NBA HOOPS
COMESTERO DOUBLE CHANGE
ALL 2P AND 10P PUSHERS VERY CHEAP!
NOTE RECYCLER NOTE-COIN &COIN-NOTE
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FOR SALE Triple 7 Vegas Baby .............£4995 NSM Fusion..........................£1795 Sega rally 2 (twin) ...............£1795 Lady Luck double take ........£1295 Icon lite (as new) .................£1195 Final Furlong 2 (twin) ..........£1195 Manx TT (twin).......................£995 Foto cube ...............................£995 Paragon TT 08 ........................£795 Manx TT (deluxe) single x 4...£495
WANTED Golden Tee Golf Golden Giza/Terminator Empire (Project Coin)
Noahs Ark .............................£495 Bank job i fruit (digital) .........£395 Pub Lotto Machine ................£395 Red Hot 6 Club ......................£295 Fruit Busters Club .................£275 DOND East Wing/West Wing ...£845 DOND Cops & Robbers ..........£695 DOND Spank the banker ........£695 DOND Red Hot .......................£595 DOND Red Mist ......................£495
ONLINE JUKES FUSION £1195 ICON 2 £895 ICON 1 £595
01753 860008
Contact Richard @ Aztec Coin
0151 420 0006 07974 363276 richard.monk@azteccoin.co.uk
For Recruitment please see Page 28
USED POOL TABLES LARGE OR SMALL
WANTED FOR EXPORT Tel: (00 353) 719644043 For Sale
FOR SALE VIDEO BATTLE GEAR 4 TUNED TWIN COCKPIT - £2700 DANCING STAGE 2 - £1800 DANCE STAGE FUSION - £2500 SUPER NOVA DANCE MACHINE - £2000 GUITAR HERO - £2600 REAL PUNCHER - £799 TWIN CRISIS 3 DX TWIN 50in - £1500 HOUSE OF DEAD 4 MIDI - £1200 SUPER BIKES TWIN - £4800 HOUE OF DEAD 3 DX 50in - £899 KRISS SPORT AIRBRUSH BOXERS £950ea BOXER STRIP TEASE - £1800 punchballs for boxer machines - £75ea LINDBERGH MOTHERBOARDS ANY GAME - £375ea LINDBERGH GRAPHICS CARDS - £150ea RINGEDGE BOARDS - £550ea ST FIGHTER 4 SIT DOWN lcd 32in - £1900
CRANES/KIDDIE RIDES PINBALL HEAVEN LTD
TOY SOLDIER MIDI - £1200 TROY TRACTOR - £750 I RACER BIKE (SCREEN) - £1100 large GARFIELD £899 TRACTOR TIME - £900 tomy 4 head vendors £140ea plus many more
TEL 01772 816677 EMAIL SALES@PINBALL.CO.UK
tel: 07813 834331 e mail: videotronicsuk@gmail.com www.videotronicsuk.com
PARTS/REPAIRS/ACCESORIES & SERVICE MACHINES BOUGHT & SOLD LARGE STOCK OF PINBALL PARTS ALWAYS AVAILABLE
New & Used Machine Prices Cat B3 £2 Stake
T8 VEGAS PARTY PERFORMA 22 KING OF SLOTS SLANT CASINO KING TS22 KING OF SLOTS VISION BIG PARTY 500 A-SERVE CASINO KING SLANT MEGA GAMES SLANT JACKPOT KING RUMPLE WILDSPINS
£7,995 £7,995 £7,795 £7,495 £6,995 £6,995 £5,495 £3,995 £1,495 £1,495
Cranes E CLAW 900 TWIN E CLAW COSMIC E CLAW 900 SINGLE
£8,995 £4,995 £4,495
Multiplayer Gaming RAINBOW PARTY T7 3 PLY £14,495 BULLION BARS 3 PLY COM £9,995 CRAIC IN FUN 3 PLY £8,495 PARTY TIME CLASSIC £8,495 BANK RAID 3 PLY £7,495
Pushers SWEET FALLS COIN/TKT £18,495 SHOOT TO WIN £8,995 BIG PRIZE WINNER £5,995
Redemption
RAINBOW RACING £19,995 CONNECT 4 £11,795 SPIN OUT £9,995 RAINBOW SHOOT TO WIN £8,995 HARPOON LAGOON £7,995 TEMPLE RUN £6,995 ROLLER COASTER ROLL £6,995 DOODLE JUMP £6,495 MONSTER DROP SINGLE £6,495 MILK JUG TOSS £5,995 KLOBBER THE ROBBER £2,995 PIG OUT £2,495 KNOCKOUT PUNCH £1,995 LITTLE SPEEDY £1,995 GALACTIX £1,995 MONKEY MANIA £1,495 FOR A FEW TICKETS MORE £1,250
THIS WEEKS STAR BUY
VARIOUS USED T7 B3 CALL FOR DETAILS
ONLY
£3,495 +VAT
All prices subject to VAT and Carriage
gaming...and so much more!
VDOHV#FURZQGLUHFW FR XN
VDOHV#GHLWKOHLVXUH FRP
Coinslot NOVEMBER 15 - NOVEMBER 21, 2013
28
JNC SALES
B 2 B
UNIT 1, CCT BUILDINGS, GREENSPLOTT ROAD, CHITTENING TRADING ESTATE, AVONMOUTH, BRISTOL. BS11 0YB 777 *.# 3!,%3 #/ 5+ s 3!,%3 *.# 3!,%3 #/ 5+
TEL: 0117 9382552 AFTERSALES TEL: 0117 9382225
WITH PLASMA/ LCD UPGRADE WITH PLASMA/ LCD UPGRADE
WITH PLASMA/ LCD UPGRADE
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FOR FULL STOCK LIST OF VIDEO, REDEMPTION, PUSHERS, DANCE MACHINES, KIDDIE RIDES, BASKETBALL, BOXERS, CRANES, PINTABLES AND ALL FRUITS - PLEASE CONTACT 01179 382552
Recruitment
We recognise the Amusement Arcade Industry has specific Insurance requirements & our 20 years of dealing with the Leisure sector provides us with the ability to offer comprehensive insurance solutions & competitive rates.
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Subject to normal underwriting criteria Marsh & Company Insurance Brokers Authorised & Regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority
&DOO RXU /HLVXUH 7HDP RQ
Coinslot NOVEMBER 15 - NOVEMBER 21, 2013
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Sponsored by
Current Team Position Name
Manager Name
Weekly Points
Total Points
Current Team Position Name
Manager Name
1
KEEPLAYERS
2
SHELL'S ELEVEN
Peter Holmes
19
499
36
ANGRY BALLS
Laurie Carpenter
Michelle Martin
46
492
37
CAREFREE ALDON
Glyn Petrie
3
AMG FIRST 11
Terry Farr
49
489
38
SUSHI SLIPPERS
Derek Lewis
4
KEEDAY RESERVES
Peter Holmes
30
485
39
JACKSONS SUPER BLUES
5
ABOVE STANDARDS
Lee Clarke
35
485
40
EASY MONEY
6
COSMIC FIRST 11
Terry Farr
30
475
41
7
JOHN WARK'S MILKMEN
Stu & Stoo
50
474
42
8
CAREFREE BAZZA
Glyn Petrie
49
470
Weekly Points
Total Points
Current Team Position Name
29
425
71
CASHBOX KINGS
40
425
72
LLL BELLES
25
423
73
I WANT DIRTY KNEES 2
Phillip Nelson
19
421
74
Steve Barber
24
421
75
BEADLES 2
Peter Hemmings
31
418
76
COSMIC SECOND 11
Terry Farr
13
417
77
43
DIDCOT GOALBUSTERS
John Carpenter
37
417
9
CAREFREE WEEMAN
Glyn Petrie
42
467
44
CHEEKY MONKEYS
Matty Sirett
31
416
10
KEEDAYS FINEST
Peter Holmes
24
466
45
BAYERN OTHER STRIKER
David Lees
23
415
11
JAMIES SHOPPERS 11
Jamie Lucky
33
466
46
HOLTY'S HOTSPOTS
Tony Holt
35
415
Manager Name
B 2 B
Weekly Points
Total Points
James Illingworth
38
374
Amelia Stanhope
42
371
Jorzoe-FTM
32
370
DIBBS ELEVEN
Tracey Dibben
32
369
RICK'S BOYZ
Andy Bowler
16
368
AMS VXR GJ
Roger Jarrett
26
367
JO'S ASSETS
Joanne Crooks
35
367
78
SHOWBOAT ALLSTARS
Ray Harris
23
366
79
AINT GOT A KALOU
Stuart Heyden
31
365
80
THE REAL DEAL
Dave Columbine
37
365
81
S.A.S FC
David Holmes
23
364 361
12
COMRIEAUTOMATICS
Jack Craddock
36
466
47
GILLSGILLSGILLS
Colin Smith
22
413
13
THE PERFECT TEAM
Tom Clarke
40
465
48
SOUTH OF THE QUEENS
David Lees
32
407
82
SCUM ON THE RUN
Nathan Holmes
19
407
83
FERGIES FINEST
Kevin Temple
31
356
RANGERS RETURN 2
Ashley Temple
25
355
14
EVAN TENNER BACK NOW
Stuart Heyden
44
462
49
STEVIE G LUCKY 11
Shoppers Luck
37
15
JACKSONS JACKPOT XI
Gareth Cammack
27
460
50
11 UNDER PAR
Ross Evans
23
406
84
16
LE COINSPINNERS
Lee H
28
457
51
THE ELDORADO TRACTOR BOYS
Stoo Evans
36
404
85
HOT CHIPS
C Edenborough
31
351
17
MICK McCARTHY'S MISFITS
Stoo Evans
22
452
52
AMS YID ARMY
Jason Jarrett
36
404
86
BEADLES 1
Peter Hemmings
25
348
18
HAMMERTIME
Brian Wright
30
452
53
CLUB TROPICANA
Warren Roffey
36
402
87
AK BABES
Andy Water
30
348
19
THE TEAM THAT WIN
Hugo Illingworth
39
447
54
LLL CITY
Keith Parker
37
401
88
TOWER POWER
Tony O'Brien
44
346 343
20
JABRO LIONS
Tony Brookes
37
445
55
RANGERS RETURN 1
Ashley Temple
28
399
89
DONKEY LASHERS
Andy Williamson
31
21
NES UNITED
Chris Bell
55
444
56
JJ'S SHOPPERS 11
JJ Lucky
26
394
90
HOLIDAY MONEY
Darrell Webb
19
342
22
AMG LEISURE
Carl Bearman
26
442
57
LLL ACCIES
John Hood
29
394
91
BIG PRIZE WINNERS
Harry Leaveme
10
332
23
LLL UNITED
Tim Stanhope
41
442
58
ESSEX BOYS 1
Steve Hawkins
36
392
92
JOHNNYS SHOPPERS 11
John Mitchell
18
329
24
MUCKING FUDDLERS
Chris Skelly
21
441
59
ESSEX BOYS 2
Steve Hawkins
41
391
93
PARAGON ACADEMICALS
Nick Hardy
24
328
25
LLL WANDERERS
Jake Parker
30
438
60
EE BAH GUM
Simon Shaw
50
390
26
KEEDAY LEGENDS
Peter Holmes
23
436
61
BURSNELL'S BULLETS
Jo Bursnell
23
388
94
DO IT THEE SEN LAD
Simon Shaw
31
328
95
BUMBLE IN THE JUNGLE
Harry Leaveme
28
327
96
M.O.T
Bill Knowles
37
315
97
SEE THE AT' TOP
Simon Shaw
43
314
COINSPINNERTRONS
Coopertron
35
308
WARWICKS ELEVEN
27
AMG OOOOSSSHHH
Ian Pawson
29
435
62
BRAMBLEBOYZ123
Andy Bowler
28
388
28
MOTHYS MARVELS
Scott Yarham
34
435
63
BEACON BATTLERS
Harry Illingworth
25
387
29
BOWLERS BOYZ
Andy Bowler
19
433
64
DYNAMO KEBAB
David Lees
29
386
30
SHERWIN A TEAM
Mark Sherwin
30
433
65
WARWICKS WINNERS
Warwick Tunnicliffe
35
384
98
31
DANS DESTROYERS
Daniel Barber
11
430
66
ABSOLUTE RANKSTERS
Alex Lee
28
381
99
Warwick Tunnicliffe
16
305
Bill Knowles
23
305
32
ALL THIS AND MORE
Gary Newman
26
430
67
RAYLEIGHS REJECTS
Jody Buckley
37
381
100 LAC DE GURSON
33
IFUN@SUNDANCERS
Shaney Pashley
23
429
68
DELAYZIGITS
Dave Delay
20
378
101 UPHILL SKIERS
Bill Knowles
14
296
34
FC CLACTON UNDER 10's
Stuart Heyden
24
427
69
BEST SELECTION
John Jennings
24
377
102 ESSEX'S FINEST
Dave Clarke
17
292
35
JABRO BOYS
Tony Brookes
19
426
70
ABSOLUTE REAMSTERS
Alex Lee
34
377
103 2 THE TOP
Reece Newman
19
278
Coinslot NOVEMBER 15 - NOVEMBER 21, 2013
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Comment Anyone up for a deal?
“
alex lee comment t’s the middle of November and already we’re being pummelled by Christmas advertising onTV.While it’s obvious that the big retailers are looking to steal a march on each other, it struck me that the most alluring adverts are those which claim to save you money - while of course you’d have saved a load more by not buying whatever the product was in the first place. In other words, regardless of the prevailing economic winds, bargain hunting is intrinsic to human nature. Given the shake-up we’ve had in recent weeks with the government’s latest stake and prize announcement, the coin-op industry has once again been thrust into bargain-hunting territory as stakeholders at all levels examine how best to buy, sell, update, upgrade or shift their AWP stock. Ever since the Gambling Act and the smoke ban conspired to put even more pressure on an already beleaguered industry, the willingness to do a deal, especially when it comes to equipment that for one reason or another needs moving on, has been a feature of coin-op. Conversions from Cat C to Cat D machines have been important to many operations for years. The machine starts out as a brand, spanking new Cat C piece then it comes down the food chain in its new guise as a 10p/£5 Cat
I
D offering. To use just one example, second hand hi-tech Cat Cs, for example, give operators an entry point into that sector without the initial expense of a new piece of equipment. Some may buy older ‘pub machines’ to keep their AGC fresh, then further down the line they’ll become Cat Ds. Dealing in refurbished equipment, reconditioned machines, second hand stock, whatever you want to call it, keeps everyone alive. What I’m trying to say is that our sector simply thrives on a deal - and it survives on the quality of (both new and used) equipment available. It’s a fact of economic life that we can’t all afford brand new products all the time. Furthermore, deals can be done at any time of the year and the industry has always traded in such a way. For my money (I’m sure I have some somewhere, let me have a quick look down the back of the settee), one of the most stimulating features of UK coin-op is that there’s always a deal to be done. The bottom line is that someone always ends up with something that they want and that’s down to both parties’willingness to do a deal as much as it is the quality of the new or used machine on offer. Let’s hope the next raft of new products is every bit as good as some of those that have stood the test of time for 10 years and more.
Two ears, one mouth - use them
In the latest industry n chain ups its full-yea
alex lee media watch Vending Times’ Hank believes that TwhileheSchlesinger we all depend on data, it’s
how we use feedback that sets successful businesses apart from the also-rans. “An operator once told me that nearly everything he needs to know about his business is a product of software: numbers go in and numbers come out. You won’t find a more enthusiastic proponent of technology than me, but the operator is dead wrong. Even the most sophisticated technology can only provide one or two pieces of the data puzzle in business. “The more data a manager is capable of consuming and assessing, the better they are at the job. Businesspeople are flooded with data everyday from an enormous number of sources. Let’s look at feedback. “Feedback is anecdotal information from the field. That means chatting with location owners and management, comments from personnel and gossip from other operators. Unfortunately, this soft data can’t be quantified. They can't easily enter it into spreadsheets,
nor can the numbers be crunched. Given its inexact nature, is it any wonder that many people discount it as worthless? “Yet businesses have a tradition of seeking out such information. Large corporations spend tens of millions of dollars to acquire, compile and present such data to their management. Consulting firms reap millions by acquiring that type of data from focus groups, telephone surveys and field interviews. Corporate managers don’t receive this data in disparate sources. It is presented in organised reports. Charts are also rumoured to be involved. Even with this type of window dressing, it still remains feedback from the field and an expensive version of the suggestion box. “For operators and other small business owners, feedback is largely dependent on organisational culture. Ownermanagers who run their business with a ‘my way or the highway’ or ‘kill the messenger of bad news’ style are unlikely to receive much useful feedback.
“Conversely, owners who make it known they want news from the field, regardless of whether it is good or bad, tend to make better business decisions. These are constantly ‘taking the temperature’ of their businesses and their markets. These managers also tend to have workforces with better morale. “The second component of feedback is acting on incoming information. What exactly does a manager do with the informal data flowing in from the field? One businessperson I know likened it to panning for gold. You have to sift through a lot of mud and rocks to come up with a nugget. For those who have mastered the skill set, it can pay off richly.” Elsewhere, JD Wetherspoon, the managed pub operator, has increased its full-year openings target to 40-50. It reported a 3.7 per cent rise in like-for-like sales in the 13 weeks to 27 October, with a slight dip in operating margin, according to the Morning Advertiser. The pub operator said in a statement: “The company
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“As a result of the increase in the mobile devices supporting integration of video games, the competition has increased and resulted in gaming evolution. The analysts forecast the Global Mobile Gaming market to grow at a CAGR of 27.14 per cent over the period 2012-2016.”
31
TO COMMENT ON ANY ARTICLE
Email: al@sjc.co.uk
RESEARCH AND MARKETS: GLOBAL MOBILE GAMING MARKET ANALYSIS TO 2016
“ ”
quote unquote
“It’s certainly a step forward to see FOBTs on the agenda in Parliament with both the Prime Minister and the new Minister. The most positive comment from the Minister was she will be willing to listen to FOBT problem gamblers. The bookmakers have previously argued that evidence from problem gamblers should be ignored because it is ‘anecdotal’, when in reality it is very powerful testimony.” DEREK WEBB, CAMPAIGN FOR FAIRER GAMBLING
“What makes IAAPA so compelling is the sheer breadth of equipment and services on display and the fact that nearly every segment within the leisure industry is represented. From the perspective of the pay-to-play amusements sector, it is an opportunity to meet not only with the core customer base but to explore potential new applications for their products.”
Trade groups unite in bid to retain personal licences A number of industry groups have called upon the government to retain personal licences in a joint letter to Norman Baker MP, the Minister responsible for licensing.
trade bodies politics
SIMON LIDDLE, INTERGAME
“The leisure industry is one of the most important industries in the UK. Expenditure on leisure exceeds £200bn annually and employs 2.6m people. The industry is also a great provider of jobs for young people which are more important than ever in today’s economic climate.” DAVID TEASDALE, BISL CONFERENCE CHAIRMAN
them in that ratio
atest industry news, listening to feedback is the key to business growth, a major pub ups its full-year openings target and video games can be good for the brain.
believes that this increased expenditure will benefit the future performance of the business. The margin in the quarter is a possible indicator for this financial year, assuming we achieve reasonable sales growth.” Total sales in the period grew 7.6 per cent. The company opened eight new pubs in the quarter and said it has 12 more under development. “We now anticipate opening 40 to 50 pubs in total this year, slightly more than previously anticipated, helped by our increased bank facility and a number of recent acquisitions.” The company added: “The biggest danger to the pub industry is the VAT disparity between supermarkets and pubs. Since supermarkets pay almost no VAT in respect of food sales, whereas pubs pay 20 per cent, supermarkets are able to subsidise their drinks’ prices to the detriment of pubs, around 10,000 of which have closed in the last decade. It does not make economic or social sense for the government to favour supermarkets with what
amounts to a ‘tax break’, especially since pubs generate so many more jobs, and so much more tax, per pint or meal, than supermarkets.” And finally, video games can make your brain bigger, according to the Daily Mail. German researchers found video gaming causes increases in the brain regions responsible for spatial orientation, memory formation and strategic planning as well as fine motor skills. They believe the benefits of video gaming may also prove helpful in therapeutic interventions targeting the likes of schizophrenia, posttraumatic stress disorder or neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s. In order to examine how video games affect the brain, scientists from the Max Planck Institute for Human Development and Charité University Medicine St. Hedwig-Krankenhaus, asked adults to play Super Mario 64 for 30 minutes a day over two months. A control group did not play the game and the researchers measured brain volume using MRI scans. They found that in
comparison to the people who did not play video games, the regular gamers showed increases of grey matter, in which the cell bodies of the nerve cells of the brain are situated. This growth was seen in the right hippocampus, right prefrontal cortex and the cerebellum. These parts of the brain are involved in functions such as spatial navigation, memory formation, strategic planning and fine motor skills of the hands. The changes were most noticeable in participants eager to play the game. “The study can demonstrate the direct causal link between video gaming and a volumetric brain increase,” said Simone Kühn, senior scientist at the Centre for Lifespan Psychology at the Max Planck Institute for Human Development. “This proves that specific brain regions can be trained by means of video games,” he concluded.
undersigned comprise all the licensed retail and hospitalTity hemajor sector trade and professional bodies. Between us we represent all major supermarket,pub and night club chains, as well as 200,000 independent hospitality businesses and retailers. We are writing in response to the government’s consultation on the abolition of personal licences.Whilst we welcome the government’s Red Tape Challenge, we are nevertheless united in our opposition to the abolition of personal licences. The current system provides a coherent, qualification-based licensing system that lays down a national, minimum standard of training and vetting that applies to all licensed premises. Since 2005 over 575,000 people have gained the personal licence qualification. It is both a pre-requisite for a personal licence application and a Technical Certificate in the licensed retail apprenticeship. This level of training in licensing law has never before been achieved in the sector. Additional training should build on this, not be an alternative to it. The criminality check also ensures that those with an unacceptable criminal record are excluded from authorising alcohol sales. The current levels of training and vetting are key factors in supporting the licensing objectives. Where licensing authorities deem it necessary to target additional training or criminality checks, they have the power to do so at present on application or review. It should also be noted that changes to legislation introduced by this government make it possible for a premises licence review to be initiated by the local licensing authority itself. Whilst we are pleased that the government’s proposed changes retain the content of training and the criteria for criminality checks as national benchmarks, our members are concerned that if the application of these national training and vetting criteria are subject to the discretion of local licensing authorities, through decisions on the types of premises or cate-
gories of staff who need training or vetting, then a consistent national approach will be replaced by a patchwork quilt of over 400 local policies. Our multiple-site members are further concerned that keeping track of premises where licensing authorities have imposed a training condition will be hugely difficult, and once imposed a training condition will remain in perpetuity unless removed at a subsequent review, even if the type and operation of the premises changes.This will add to the burden of complexity and cost,not reduce it. In terms of levels of supervision our experience is that most licensed premises go beyond the minimum legal requirement and employ more than one personal licence holder.We estimate that across the sector between a fifth and a third of staff in customer-facing positions hold personal licences. This ensures that where the DPS is absent, a shift manager who has been trained,vetted and licensed is present to supervise.If only the DPS can authorise alcohol sales, as proposed, then either the DPS will have to be present at all times alcohol is sold, or sales will have to be authorised in absentia. Gaining a personal licence confers authority on the holder. It symbolises that the holder has been trained and vetted and is a fit and proper person to authorise other members of staff to sell alcohol. One of the key faults of the licensing system under the 1964 Act was the inconsistency and cost that arose from having over 400 local licensing justices’ policies. The current system was constructed precisely in order to create coherence and consistency across local boundaries.The abolition of the personal licence, and its replacement with a ‘gold-plated’ DPS, is a retrograde step.Given the concerns of so many industry representatives, we hope that you will meet with us before a final decision is made. Among others, the letter is signed by representatives of the BBPA, the BHA, the National Casino Forum and the Bingo Association.
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Newsweek BOWLING WORLD CUP GETS SOCIAL MEDIA COVERAGE owling fans unable to attend the 49th QubicaAMF Bowling World Cup will still be able to follow all the action via social media. The event, taking place at the Sibbiryak centre in Krasnoyarsk, Russia, on November 15-24, will bring together the world’s top bowlers each representing their respective countries. Those who can’t get to Russia can watch a live stream of the action on a pair of lanes to showcase bowlers as they move across the lanes, all via QubicaAMF’s YouTube channel. This will include commentary and interviews with competitors and their coaches. The QubicaAMF
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BISL stages annual conference usiness in Sport and Leisure staged its annual conference titled ‘The Value of Leisure’ at The Kia Oval earlier this month. Speakers included Marston’s chairman Roger Devlin and Shadow Minister for Small Businesses and Regulation,Toby Perkins MP. Pushing the claims of the pub sector, Devlin explained the important role that the venues play in the social and economic fabric of the UK.And all this, he believes, despite very little help from government. He said that the gaming industry was overtaxed and that thousands of businesses and jobs were on a knife edge. He stated that betting shops were places for peo- halls and the same could happen with betting ple to meet and socialise in the same way as shops. Providing the Labour party perspective, others visit pubs, but accused the previous government of ripping the heart out of bingo Toby Perkins said that the opposition recog-
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team will also be keeping its Facebook and Twitter followers up to date with the action as it happens. “Social media is a brilliant way for bowling fans around the world to be able to keep up to date with what is happening
at the tournament within seconds of the action,” said Anne-Marie Board, QubicaAMF Bowling World Cup manager. “I am sure it will prove a very successful way to bring the worldwide bowling family even closer.”
UK COMPANIES CONFIRMED FOR IAAPI ome well-renowned names from the UK coin-op market have been confirmed as exhibitors at the 14th edition of IAAPI Amusement Expo.
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nised that pubs are hugely important assets, and have a central role in the culture and heritage of the UK and in people’s everyday lives. “Pubs have a big economic impact on jobs and growth and when a pub closes the local community loses a hub and the local economy also loses out.” In the dedicated Gambling Session Philip Graf, chairman of the Gambling Commission, Marc Etches, CEO of RGT and Russell Hoyle, chairman of P3, spoke. According to a BISL spokesman:“What became clear was that the gambling industry will continue to be vulnerable to regressive change unless it starts to work cohesively and collectively to influence what appear to be inevitable changes coming down the line.”
Embed International, Sega Amusements Europe and The United Distributing Company will all have a presence at the event, which is scheduled for February 5-7 at Mumbai’s Bombay Exhibition Centre. Considered India’s
largest amusement expo, it is organised by the Indian Association Of Amusement Parks & Industries (IAAPI.
Calendar UK EVENTS NOVEMBER 2013 21-23 The Toy Fair 2014 Grand Hall Olympia London UK www.toyfair.co.uk
27 BACTA Members Pre-Convention Party Hippodrome Casino London UK www.bacta.org 28 BACTA Convention & AGM QEII London UK www.bacta.org
DECEMBER 2013 6 BACTA North West region annual charity ball Imperial Hotel in Blackpool www.barbarathompson@cuerdenleisure.co.uk
INTERNATIONAL EVENTS NOVEMBER 2013 18-19 Dubai World Game Expo Dubai International Convention & Exhibition Centre Dubai UAE www.gameexpo.ae
19-22 IAAPA Attractions Expo 2013 Orange County Convention Center Orlando Florida US www.iaapa.org
JANUARY 2014 14-17 IMA 2014 Düsseldorf Exhibition Centre Düsseldorf Germany www.ima-messe.com
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