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COINSLOT

Industry news Seaside amusements Technology report B2B Listings Latest machine charts For sale, wanted + opps Jabro Surreal Soccer Comment and opinion

10/12/13

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COMMENT

4 11 12 16 18 19 21 22

...how much we should invest in technologies ... The most difficult part of making these decisions is not knowing what the government will spring on us in the coming years... 23

Machine income is vital to the fu CONTEXT

Speaking to Coinslot in the wake of the Commons vote, Leslie MacLeod-Miller reiterated BACTA’s steadfast appliance of player safety, protection of the vulnerable and self-regulation with regard to excluding all under-18s from adult-only gaming premises. He explained: “The arcade sector relies upon machine income as its primary source of income and it is plainly unfair that it is not able to offer equivalent games on the basis that they are offered within a robust regulated environment and demonstrate protection of the vulnerable.” MacLeod-Miller underlined his plea for logical and equal treatment, by stating: “As the government does not believe

the precautionary principle should be adopted, logically it should allow all adult premises to offer £100 a spin machines immediately and the RGT Category B research can analyse the effect of £100 a spin machines in the context of

Gambling charity pu gaming machine res RESEARCH

The Responsible Gambling Trust has published the first phas arlier this week, the RGT pubEresearch lished the first phase of its into gaming machines. The report is a first step in an ongoing research programme commissioned by the RGT in order to better understand how people behave when playing on those gaming machines offering the highest stakes and prizes, and what helps people to stay in control and play responsibly. NatCen Social Research (NatCen), a leading social research institute, has undertaken unprecedented research by analysing data held by 13 industry operators representing 80 per cent of the highest stakes and prizes gaming machines market. The first report has found that the data held by the industry tells a great deal about transactional data and provides a solid basis for further study of the patterns

around consumer behaviour when playing these gaming machines. The next step in the research programme, to be conducted by NatCen, will follow three strands: • Exploring use of player account data in the licensed betting office and casino sectors • Interrogating transactional level data and providing basic overviews of volume of play • Exploring within session play and patterns of behaviour using proxy session data from LBOs In addition, the RGT will commission concurrent primary research which will immediately examine areas of interest in the gaming machine research agenda, including evaluating harm minimisation approaches and exploring the impact of stakes, prizes, game speed, accessibility and game features.

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AMUSEMENTS

ESSENTIAL GUIDE

The Rhyl deal

Talking technology 12

23 December 13 - December 19, 2013 • No. 2346 • www.coinslot.co.uk

to the future of the coin-op sector

Lack of logic and consistency is not confined to B2 machines REACTION

BACTA chief executive Leslie MacLeod-Miller has given his considered response to last week’s Commons vote which determined that FOBTs would keep their controversial stake and prize ratio. The industry jury has returned its verdict. hile the‘parity’debate rumbles on, FOBT stake and prize levels remain the same after a vote in the House of Commons last week.BACTA’s chief executive officer Leslie MacLeodMiller has made clear his views on the subject, the broader issue of parity and how inconsistency is rife across all sectors of the gaming industry. MacLeod-Miller, commenting on the reports in the Daily Mail last week, confirmed that the national newspaper had not spoken to BACTA, although they had sought the trade body’s comment. He told Coinslot:“BACTA has been clear since the 2005 Act that it believes in an even playing field in social and fiscal law.The 2005 Gambling Act was formed in a political maelstrom, where the ‘wash up’ resulted in inconsistencies and inequalities which have plagued the industry and government.The Select Committee,chaired by John Whittingdale, reviewing the 2005 Act noted that the inconsistency concerning the inability for all adult premises to offer the machine games that are offered by bookmakers needed to be addressed.” Reflecting BACTA members’ views, Macleod-Miller believes that the lack of logic and consistency is not confined to B2 machines, but is demonstrated in a range of issues from the inability of casinos and other premises to offer remote games on their premises to the way in which the horseracing levy distinguishes between betting exchanges and the bookmaking sector. He continued:“The inconsistent tax regime which differentiates between sectors and sizes of operator also causes an uneven playing

should be provided if they damage the vulnerable.This fact notwithstanding, the government should still adopt a consistent policy. He explained:“If the Secretary of State believes there is no reason why B2 machines should not be made available by bookmakers,logically the government should allow these machines to be offered by other adult only premises, including bingo halls and adult arcades which are currently only allowed to offer machines at £2 a spin.”

all adult premises rather than those simply in bookmakers.” If FOBT parity was to be installed, there would be greater opportunity for manufacturers to sell additional numbers of machines, AGC operators would be able to

completely re-jig their product mix and that all-important coin-op sector footfall, and thus machine income, would rise. Let’s not forget the extra money in tax that the government could collect. It’s the ultimate ‘no brainer’.

ity publishes ne research d the first phase of its research into gaming machines in Great Britain. The RGT aims to produce outputs from these next steps by autumn 2014. Marc Etches, chief executive, said:“The nature of this research is unprecedented and this report is an important milestone in achieving a much better understanding of the way people behave when playing these machines. “The systematic assessment of industry-held data for research marks a step-change in how government, regulator and industry working in collaboration will better understand and aim to mitigate harm among gaming machine players.This exercise was a necessary building-block for gaming machine research to provide insight into player behaviour, possible harm mitigation and the

most effective options for evidence-based regulatory policy. “Delivering this feasibility study was a huge challenge and I am grateful for the co-operation of the industry and the professionalism of NatCen in delivering this research to such as high standard. “We are very aware that there is a great deal of political and public interest in high stakes gaming machines. It is the ambition of the RGT to deliver robust research which equips both the government and industry to minimise gambl i n g - r e l a t e d harm in Great Britain.”

field and there is a strong argument that the government needs to listen more closely to the industry to ensure that the tax rate allows businesses to remain viable whether it be in the remote sector or the land-based sector.” BACTA’s chief executive was keen to remind all and sundry that BACTA supports social responsibility and does not believe that games

HS MONT ! Y A P TO

COMMENTARY MacLeod-Miller’s point about the Gambling Act 2005 being put together in a political maelstrom is a particularly salient one. It looks that he was simply being diplomatic as there is still a lot of work to be done. The government have heard coin-op’s case and it’s high time they acted upon it swiftly and decisively.

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Coinslot December 13 - December 19, 2013

Industry

TO COMMENT ON ANY ARTICLE

Email: al@sjc.co.uk

Pier opens to public

Flood damage to coastal arcades minimal UK STORMS

Despite the tidal surge which hit the east coast of Britain last week being described as the “most serious” for 60 years, it looks like the seaside amusements sector, for once, has come out relatively unscathed.

Community market draws thousands PROMOTIONS

housands of people have flocked to TCleethorpes’ Pleasure Island amusement park to attend the resort’s inaugural Community Christmas Market. Part-funded by the National Lottery, the event showcased regional produce and promoted local community groups.

housands were forced to abandon their homes last week as tides in parts of the North Sea reached higher levels than the devastating floods of 1953.The Environment Agency said 800,000 homes had been protected by flood defences and better forecasting had given people “vital time” to prepare. The agency announced that the coastal tidal surge was the most serious for over 60 years. Environment Secretary Owen Paterson chaired a meeting of the government’s Cobra committee to discuss the floods. He stated:“Conditions like this only occur in some places every 500 years.” The Environment Agency, which covers England and Wales, had more than 50 severe flood warnings in

place on December 4, but that number fell steadily during the day. The agency said some flood defences had been breached but repairs were underway. In terms of the UK’s coinop strongholds, 9,000 people had to evacuate their homes in Norfolk, mainly in the Great Yarmouth area, where at least 26 properties have been flooded. Elsewhere, five beach chalets collapsed in Hemsby, Norfolk, where a lifeboat station was washed into the sea.Further north, sea defences in Scarborough, North Yorkshire, were damaged by the tidal surge. Meanwhile, more than 400 people were evacuated from the coastal resort of Jaywick in Essex. Furthermore, parts of North Wales, including seaside resort

PIERS

ales’ Penarth Pier has opened W fully to the public

Rhyl, were flooded. National Rail confirmed that Lowestoft train station was closed because of flooding on the line.The most badly affected areas were North Yorkshire, the East Riding of Yorkshire, Lincolnshire, Norfolk, Suffolk, Essex, Kent, the Northumberland coastline and West Sussex. And finally, on the North West coast, Blackpool coun-

cil closed the town’s Promenade due to high winds on December 5. The tramway was also been closed from Starr Gate to Gynn Square. Cocker Square was closed for a short time the same day due to concerns over the safety of Illuminations features, and a short stretch of Queens Promenade in the town’s North Shore area was also temporarily shut down.

after the completion of a £4.2m refurbishment. The opening of the pier’s restored Grade II-listed pavilion signalled the end of a five-year restoration project funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund.

Two more tenpin centres mooted for UK towns ton and users are hoping the company will take over the new bowling alley in Waterlans for two brand-new state-of-the-art looville. Elsewhere, tenpin bowling could also be bowling centres are mooted for Waterlooville and Bexhill respectively, heralding in the mix in Bexhill’s new state-of-the-art opportunities for amusements and soft sports centre. Members of Bexhill Town Forum voted unanimously for ten-pin bowlgaming. Restaurants, a bowling alley, cinema and ing to be included in the proposal for a statehotel have all been given the go-ahead in of-the-art sport and leisure centre complex Waterlooville.The leisure complex, on the in the town. Scott Lavocah, Rother’s contracting team town’s former BAE Systems site, will also include a gym, a pub, a drive-through restau- leader, told the Forum that the council wanted to centralise leisure facilities. rant and a supermarket. Facilities for all ages would be brought Planning officerAaronWright said that the new complex would create almost 300 new under one roof, including a ‘multi-use games jobs. Councillor Cyril Hilton said:“A lot of area’ and skate park. Scott said:“If we can people complain that too many houses are make the financial case this could happen in being built on theWest ofWaterlooville devel- about five years.And Rother is considering opment. But if they were not being built I including ten-pin bowling for the site.” don’t think this complex would be built. I’m very pleased with it.And a lot of people complain that there is nothing to do in Waterlooville. A cinema is needed.This bowling complex will replace the one in Bedhampton.” Planning permission has been given to bulldoze the AMF bowling alley in Bedhamp-

BOWLING COMPLEXES

Tilburn questions machine siting discrepancies anted house and a tenanted house is usually a failed aving seen Coinslot’s managed house.The brewrecent article on pub ers always keep the best closures, single site opera- outlets for themselves. I tor John Tilburn, from JAT hate to have to state the Leisure,was unequivocal in obvious.” The Wakefield-based his views on the subject. He told Coinslot:“I can operator added:“While I’m say that whoever came to on, can you explain why a the conclusion that free cafe in a railway station can houses close faster than have two fruit machines non-free houses may well while a cafe in a bus station be right. The obvious cannot? The Gambling reason for that is a free Commission can’t explain house is usually a failed ten- it to me.” OPERATORS

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BBPA hails Autumn Statement as ‘good news’

MP owns up to ‘embarrassing’ FOBT error

PUBS

POLITICS

Labour MP Tom Watson has admitted to making a humiliating mistake after voting the wrong way on the FOBT issue - one which he had vociferously campaigned on.

om Watson, the Labour MP for West Bromwich East, ‘accidentally’ voted to approve a government report dealing with FOBTs last week. MPs voted by 322 to 231 to approve the report by the DCMS, which said that there was no need to reduce the maximum stake from £100. Labour decided to force a vote when it came before the Commons last week for approval. Immediately before the Commons vote, Watson wrote an article for The Guardian and took part in a photo shoot on the House of Commons green outside Parliament. On his blog after the result,Watson

admitted this was the worst time to make such a mistake, but insisted it was“bound to happen”at some point in his Commons career. Watson, who claimed that the machines are used in money laundering, admitted: “I voted the wrong way as my head said put the cross in the ‘no’ box but my hand put the cross in the ‘yes’ box.” He added: “I’ve spent sleepless nights drafting campaign packs, model letters, petitions and press releases in order to gather support for the campaign against FOBTs and their corrosive impact in every high street in Britain. So basically, this was about the

he British Beer & Pub Association has welTcomed the Chancellor’s

most embarrassing vote I could make a mistake on.” Just four Conservative MPs supported Labour - Sir Peter Bottomley, Zac Goldsmith, Stewart Jackson and Charles Walker. Chi Onwurah, Labour MP for Newcastle upon Tyne Central, was the only Labour member other than Watson to vote with the government. Shortly after the vote Jackson,Tory MP for Peterborough, tweeted:

“Voted against Govt. on increasing the prize limit for gaming machines to £100. Too much risk of problem gambling and impact on families.” The vote came after a separate government review, after which ministers decided not to impose curbs on the machines through the Gambling (Licensing andAdvertising) Bill, which has progressed to the House of Lords.

Campaign for Fairer Gambling slams B2 vote PRESSURE GROUPS

top the FOBTs campaigners have expressed disappointment at the Sgovernment’s decision not to support the case on the damage caused by Fixed Odds Betting Terminals (FOBTs) presented by the lobby group. MPs voted in favour of implementing the recommendations from the recent review into gaming machine stakes and prizes, which will allow B2 machines in betting shops to keep the £100 maximum stake, rather than reducing the stake to £2. The recent consultation into gaming machine stakes and prizes

included FOBTs alongside all other gaming machines, but as a result of the vote, the government will leave the maximum B2 stake at £100. Derek Webb, founder of the Campaign for Fairer Gambling, and coordinator of a vocal stop the FOBTs campaign, said: “FOBTs were illegal when the bookmakers’ introduced them prior to the 2005 Gambling Act. As part of the scheme to get FOBTs legalised, the Association of British Bookmakers commissioned research which a DCMS staffer said was ‘predictable and worthless’. Part of the approval conditions of FOBTs was that the Minister had the power to reduce

the maximum stake from £100 down £2 and this simply hasn’t been addressed.” He added: “There are mixed messages coming through from MPs from all parties and this vote goes to show that the government are not taking the evidence of damage caused by FOBTs seriously and have missed an opportunity to take action.” Webb concluded: “This is a crossparty issue and we have always planned a long-term campaign, so will continue our efforts to see sensible restrictions on the high-speed, high stake gaming machines on Britain’s high streets.”

Formula K believes EAG has right ingredients for use in amusement parks, entertainment cenounded more than 30 tres and shopping malls years ago by his father to more than 50 counand now run by four times tries. The firm has supWorld Karting Champion Graham Liddle, Formula K ported EAG InternaInternational sells its go- tional since its karts and electric mini cars launch in 2010. Liddle LEISURE VEHICLES

stated: “We know our home market extremely well but for us, EAG International is about networking and engaging with new buyers from overseas markets. Most of the sales

we’ve gained at EAG International have been for export.” To coincide with EAG International, Formula K International will launch a new website featuring all of its products plus live action video footage.

decision in his Autumn Statement to extend Small Business Rate Relief to April 2015, which will avoid a £27m bill for thousands of pubs across the country - as campaigned for by the Better Rates for Pubs campaign. Thirty-eight thousand (three in four) pubs will get a £1,000 reduction in their rates bill, as they have a rateable valuation of less than £50,000. The decision to cap increases in Business Rates to two per cent will help pubs to avoid £7.8m on the previously proposed increases. The joint industry Better Rates for Pubs, led by the BBPA had a campaign which called for the extension of SBRR, alongside measures to improve the flexibility of the rating system for pubs and the promotion of rural rate relief. The campaign has been backed by 61 MPs who have signed Early Day Motion 599 Community Pubs from Charlotte Leslie MP. Brigid Simmonds OBE, BBPA CEO, commented: “We welcome the Chancellor’s decision to extend Small Business Rate Relief which was one of the first objectives of the Better Rates for Pubs campaign. It shows real support from the government for pubs, and that BBPA calls are being heeded.” She concluded: “It is also very good news for rural pubs that the proposed increase in fuel duty has been scrapped.”

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Coinslot December 13 - December 19, 2013

Industry

INDUSTRY AMUSEMENTS LEISURE

B2B COMMENT NEWSWEEK REPORT Technology keeps the industry alive and kicking and the three top techno players explain how in the essential guide to technology. 12

PLUSH

Alleged arcade thief caught on CCTV

The recent IAAPA show in Orlando was the icing on the cake for “an incredibly good year” for Namco Prize Division.

ADULT GAMING CENTRES

Namco Prize Division reports successful showing at IAAPA amco Prize Division’s impressive year continued with a successful IAAPA show in Orlando last month. The show saw the launch of the Pac-Man and the Ghostly Adventures range of plush. Pac-Man has had a makeover in this new a computer animated television series that will be broadcast in 40 countries worldwide. “Pac-Man was already hugely popular but thisTV show will introduce the character to a whole new generation,” said Jim Wulfers, sales

manager of merchandise, Namco America.“The first two shipments of the plush characters are sold out already and we are expecting more containers to arrive shortly with others ordered for shipping before Chinese New Year.” The Pac-Man and the Ghostly Adventures TV show will reach the UK in January 2014 and has already rolled out in Europe. Bandai will launch the Pac-Man and the Ghostly Adventures toys in the UK in February and this will be followed by a consumer game for PS3 and Xbox,

Novomatic sets out its stall for ICE MANUFACTURING

arent company of UK outfits Astra Games, Bell-Fruit PGames, Empire Games, Gamestec and Mazooma Games, Novomatic, will have the largest booth at the upcoming ICE Totally Gaming exhibition in London from February 4-6. With a new floor layout this year (ICE now uses sections of both the South and North halls of ExCel) Novomatic, with a vast 4,500sq.m of booth space, commands the show’s most prominent position by taking up the central south hall from its visitor entry points and along the entire depth of the hall. Novomatic is set to bring many of its subsidiary companies to London. The Astra Gaming Group (Astra Games, Bell-Fruit Games, Empire Games, Gamestec and

Mazooma Games) welcome visitors at the entrance, then Admiral Sportwetten, JVH exploitatie, Eurocoin, Octavian and Novomatic Gaming Spain stand shoulder to shoulder alongside a dedicated online gaming area. Jens Halle, managing director AGI, stated: “We are eagerly looking forward to ICE once again as this, in exhibition terms, is the absolute highlight of the year for Novomatic. Last year’s ICE was very much a transitional event, due to the change of both date and venue, but it still managed to deliver a great experience for us as exhibitors and, most importantly, for visitors. With the changes to the show’s layout for this year we confidently expect ICE to take another major step forward and provide a spectacular stage for Novomatic to present the new innovations that I am certain will be an integral part of tomorrow’s gaming landscape.”

among others, in March. “Pac-Man and the GhostlyAdventures will be massive next year and so we have very high expectations for the demand for the plush,” said James Anderson, general manager Namco Prize Division Europe.“It would be advisable for customers to get their orders in before demand reaches a peak early next year.” Despite the excitement surrounding the new TV show, Namco Prize Division is still enjoying strong sales of its range of classic Pac-Man plush and related prizes.

“We are ordering more units of the plush in all sizes and also we are expanding the brand to include desirable watches, plush Bluetooth speakers, footballs, and many more items,” adds James. The company has also invested heavily in its range of Nam-Gear quality electronic goods.Visitors to the stand at IAAPA saw a preview of the new range for 2014, including new tablets, Bluetooth headphones, wireless speakers and many more highly desirable highspec items.

Bacta raises more funds Rays of Sunshine FUNDRAISING

oin-op trade body BACTA and its charitable partner, Rays of C Sunshine, which grants wishes for seriously ill children, held a fundraising party at the Hippodrome Casino,Leicester Square on 27 November, raising £3,031. The event was attended by BACTA members, Rays of Sunshine staff, MPs and guests, and provided the ideal opportunity for everyone to support the very worthwhile work being done by Rays of Sunshine, and to network with fellow industry colleagues. The auction, conducted by Steve Hawkins, and raffle raised £3,031 towards granting wishes to the Rays of Sunshine wish children.

Steve Hawkins, BACTA president, said:“Although the amusement industry is undergoing a challenging time economically, Rays of Sunshine has captured the hearts of so many of us and we look forward to finding new ways to promote the excellent work that Rays of Sunshine undertake for everyone in our communities.” Jane Sharpe,CEO of Rays of Sunshine concluded:“We are now in the second year of a highly successful three year partnership with BACTA and have received £115,000 plus the £3,031.00 from the night in donations from members which has enabled us to make a difference to the lives of seriously ill children and their families across the country.”

olice have issued a CCTV image of a Pwoman they would like to speak to in connection with a theft from Shoppers Pride Amusements in Gravesend on November 11. According to local press, woman approached staff and asked to use the toilet, claiming she was pregnant. She was directed to the customer toilet but after she left, she returned and said she had left her purse in there. When a member of staff pointed out she was holding a purse, the woman said it was the phone from her purse that was missing. She was seen to go into the men’s toilets before leaving, claiming she had found her phone. A member of staff later realised her own purse was missing from her handbag, which had been in the staff room. Damage was later found to the staff room door and CCTV footage showed the female trying to barge into the door. The woman is described as early 20s or late teens. She was white with long black hair, and wore a black zip up jacket with a grey cardigan, a black and white horizontal striped top and black trousers. She is believed to have a piercing above her top lip. Anyone with information that could assist the police can call 01474 366226, quoting crime reference XY/036542/13. Alternatively, they can call Kent Crimestoppers on 0800 555111 anonymously.

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133

134

138

233 135

710

712

715 323

714

713

425

321

325

327

322

320

220

326

324

224

221

225

120

125

222

121

124

223

328

Registration 705

603

400

500

200

100

101

Organisers Offices

EAG Registration Pinball Heaven Ltd L Play Machhin ine nnee EEuuroppe PMS Internationnal

85522 85 852 234 234 34 450 45 450 50

Polgames Cluub

853 885 5533

PPHU Ritter er

400 440 00

Projectt Coin C in Ma Macchine ne Ltd Ltttdd

8455 84 845

R H Trad Trad Tr aadi ding ng

816 816 81

Redemp Red edemp emptio tionn Soft tio oftwar waree Compan Com pany pan any

714

Segga Amus Amus museme ements eme nts Eu Europ ropee rop

Reefl Refl eflex ex Gam Gaam G Gaming aming iinnngg Lt Ltd

230

Reggaall Regal Reg

6600

RL S RLM

550 50

Salyso Sa Sal ysool.l. S.A ys yso S.A.

Sound Sou nndd Lei Leisur suree sur Specia Spe cia i l Game amess Srl r

3600 835 124 2 24

The Ki Kidz dz Pai Painti nting nti ng Party Part ty Com Compan Compan panyy

224

Vendin Ven dingg Saba abadel delll

235

The he Ul U tim timate ate t Fa Fann

7400

Wessex Wes sexx Co Coiin in

830

Wexel Gam Wex Wexel Gaming ing

328 28

620 20

W teh Whi tehous ousee Lei Leis eisure ure

73 730

8 81 810

Whi hiteh tehous teh ou e LLeis ous eisure ure

745 135

Suzoo Happ Suz Happ

930

The Un Unite ite tedd Dist s rib r ut utingg Com mpan pa y

757

Syndic Syn dicate dic ate UK

120

Toy oyven ven endd

Sam am Le L is isu suure

1455

Taiwan Tai wan Slot

565

U C Ltd UKI

925

World Wor ld of Rid R es Ri

SB S B Mac Machin chin ines in e es

240

Tedddy Mou Mounta ntain nta in

743

VdW W In Inter ternat ter nation nat ion onal aall

255

Zon onee Leis eisure ure Te Techn chnolo chn ology olo logy Ltd 125

Correct at the time of going to press

Supported by

21-23 JANUARY 2014 ExCeL London Exhibition Centre

www.eagexpo.com T: +44 (0)1582 767 254 E: sales@eagexpo.com

Presented by

B AC T A Representing the British Amusement Industry

PLAN YOUR TRAVEL Forr fu Fo furt rthe he er in info forrmat fo rmatio ion n vi visi siit: www. ww w.ex ex xce ell-lo lond lo ndon on.c .c co. o.uk u /v /vis isit ittin ingg-ex gexce cell

BOOK YOUR HOTEL ExCe Ex Ce el Lo Lond ndon on has a a ran ange ge of sup uper erb b ho h te tels ls s wit ithi hin hi n th the e venu ve nu ue ca camp mpus mp us and n wit ith ha fu furt urt rthe herr 10 he 1 ,0 ,000 000 hot otel els el s ro room om ms avai av a la ai lab ble wi bl with thin thi th in 15 mi m nu nute tes te s ttrrav avel avel el you are surre to ﬁnd so some ome meth t in th ing g to sui uitt yo our tas aste te a d bu an udg d et e. BU UT BO BOOK OK EAR RLY L … EAG w EA wiillll be sh s ar arin rin ing g th the e Exce Ex cell ve venu nue nu e wi with th ano noth ther th er even ev entt so en s the h dem eman and an d fo forr room ro oom oms s wi w ll be high high hi gher er tha han n

us sua uall an and d it is im impo port rtan antt t act now to se to secu cure re e the h best be st de deal a. T hel To elp p we hav ave e te team am med up p wit ith h Even Ev ven entt Ex Expr pres es ss, the exhi ex hibi hi biti bi tion acc tion ccom ommo moda oda dati tion ti on n spec sp ecia ec ialililist ia sts, st ts, who hav ve nego ne g ti go tiat ated ed the best est po p ss ssib ible ib le e p ic pr ices es for att tten en nde dees e of EAG EA G In Inte tern rnat atio iona nal, l,, and the hey hey willll be ha wi happ ppy pp y to ass ssis istt wi is with th your yo ur boo ooki king ki ngs. ng s www. ww w.ea w. eage ea gexp gexp po. o co com m

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Keep Ke ep p up to o date atte wiith the e lat a es estt ne ews and n pro rodu duct ct inf nfor orma or m ti ma t on n by fo ollow llow win ng us s on EA AGL LIV IVE E po ow we ere red d by Co oiin Op Op Co om m mmu muni mu n ty ni y. As soo oon n as as exh x ib bit itor ors or s at EA AG In Inte tern tern r atio attio ona nal al te tellll us of the heir ir ir ne ew pr prod oduc od uctt la uc laun unches un unc ches and con onfir firm fir m wh hat the hey y wi w lll be pr pres esen e ti en ting ng at the the th show we wi show sh willll pos ostt th he in nfo form r at rm a io on on Twittterr (@E on @ AG AGEx AGEx Exp po), Fac po), ace eboo eboo eb ook, k, YouT u u ub be an and d th he EA AGE GEXP XP PO an and d C in Op Co Co C mm m un unit ity it y we webs bsit bs ites it es. es We wiillll al also so o be po p st stin in ng ne news w , ws in int nterv rviiie iews ws,, an ws nno noun unce un ceme ce me ent nts s an and d videos vid de s dir irec ec ct fr from om the sho ow flo fl or o so yo you u wo won’ n’t n’ ’t mi m ss s a thi hing ng.. ng

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Coinslot December 13 - December 19, 2013

Amusements

TO COMMENT ON ANY ARTICLE

Email: al@sjc.co.uk

New Ocean Beach plan to bring millions to Rhyl REGENERATION

If allowed to press ahead with the development of Rhyl’s Ocean Beach site, a developer has claimed it will do wonders for the resort’s ailing economy. development company has promised to bring tens of millions of pounds worth of regeneration to Rhyl after submitting a new application for the site of the former Ocean Beach amusement park. A hotel, supermarket, petrol station, restaurant, café and retail units would all be built on the site if the plan is approved. Scarborough Development Group said its £55m development would provide a huge boost to the seaside resort’s economy by creating jobs and strengthening tourism. In its planning report the developer said: “The development will bring tens of millions of pounds worth of regeneration to Rhyl and regenerate what is currently a vacant area of the town. “There will be over 350 full-time jobs

created in the scheme and further jobs created during the construction period. “Substantial investment in a new and existing flood defences will help protect the town while the hotel, family pub and other new offers will become assets in the town’s tourist offer. “The development will improve tourism and the local economy,whilst providing a fresh new look to the west of Rhyl.” Ocean Beach closed down in September 2007 after 53 years in operation as an amusement park and was demolished shortly after. It was earmarked for regeneration by development group Modus in the same year, but global recession saw the company enter administration and the site has remained derelict ever since. SDG’s application is a scaled down ver-

Suffolk amusements take mixed share of tourism bonanza TOURISM

musement attractions in Suffolk have A reported mixed results despite experiencing a season that saw visitor numbers reach record levels. Online holiday accommodation firm Best of Suffolk said its year-on-year bookings rose by 20 per cent in 2013, as tourists coming to the county reached an all-time high. This brought great benefit for Gough Hotels, the new owner of Southwold Pier, which said the attraction had an excellent year, with more than 750,000 visitors and recordbreaking figures during the August bank holiday. Alex Paul, director of sales and marketing at Gough Hotels, told East Anglian Daily Times: “We

can’t have wished better for our first year of ownership of the pier. It’s great to see our customers have really enjoyed the mix of food, retail and entertainment that they can experience all in one place.” The success experienced during the summer supported the company’s plan to create new features for the pier in 2014, Paul said, adding that they would “excite” visitors old and new. In Felixstowe, Man-

nings Amusements saw plenty of footfall, but with many visitors still spending cautiously it did not translate into record profits. Co-owner Jonny Manning said: “Visitor numbers have been good, it’s great to see more people in Felixstowe, however, spending has not been up particularly, which is probably a sign of the times. “We’ve kept prices low to help ensure visitors keep coming back.”

sion of one proposed by Modus in 2007, dropping previous plans to incorporate office accommodation and residential units, while the supermarket site has also been reduced in size. A spokesman for Denbighshire council said:“Denbighshire County Council can confirm that a new outline planning application has been received from Scarborough Development Group in relation to the Ocean Plaza site in Rhyl. “The latest scheme proposes development of 5.3 hectares of land for a mixed-

use redevelopment, to include a food store, large format non-food retail outlets, cafe/restaurant units, hotel, public house, petrol filling station with associated access, car parking, infrastructure (including new sub-station) and landscaping “The application includes the submission of a number of supporting documents such as a retail impact assessment, transport assessment and flood consequences assessment. Consultation letters to nearby residents will be issued this week.”

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Essential Guide to... SWOT ANALYSIS

18 This week’s machine charts

19 Classified sales, job and business opps

21 Jabro Surreal Soccer season

DECEMBER 13 - DECEMBER 19, 2013

Essential Guide EAG 2013 Next Month Coinslot DECEMBER 13 - DECEMBER 19, 2013

While one would rightly come to expect innovation and technology in pretty much anything to do with amusement and gaming circles, there is a core of firms whose efforts in the above fields have been directly targeted at maximising machine profitability and overall operator efficiency.

learly, innovation and technology is a rather nebulous subject to cover in the context of the coin-op sector an industry that is founded on the above principles and is rightly proud of its ongoing efforts in the above categories. For the purposes of this feature, however, we can focus on how the technology and innovation brought to the table by Amdex Solutions, Embed and SMS Media can enhance any amusement or gaming operation. The above three firms are as aware as any that failure to monitor and address advances in technology may negatively impact an operator’s effectiveness.Additionally, business practices can dramatically change - and improve - as a result of embracing new technologies. It is fair to say that new technologies and processes continue to change the way organisations operate daily.The problem for most companies is evaluating which advances are truly opportunities and which are simply distractions, which is where the likes of Amdex, Embed and SMS Media come in. We all know that change occurs at startling rates due to the access of information today. In terms of the coin-op sector, the pace at which products come to market occurs faster,the knock-on effect being that there is increased demand on companies to accelerate innovation, development and the introduction of new products to stay competitive and in the forefront of the competition. Since the turn of the century, mobile applications in particular have transformed the way consumers interface with companies and content and the likes of the above mentioned trio are at the forefront of such developments, with particular reference to amusement and gaming. There are of course many reasons why innovation can be critical to any business’s success.Although every firm in coin-op has its own priorities and sector-specific issues to balance, businesses that fail to innovate run the risk of losing ground to competitors, losing key staff, or simply operating inefficiently.Innovation,in other words,can be a key differentiator between market leaders and their rivals. The innovative solutions offered by

Can you afford not to invest in technology? Embed et al can help operators discover what opportunities exist now,or indeed are likely to emerge in the future. Successful businesses not only respond to their current customer or organisational needs, but often anticipate future trends and develop an idea,product or service that allows them to meet this future demand rapidly and effectively. Products such as machine management software systems and highly-targeted SMS marketing can help operators stay ahead of their competition as markets, technologies or trends shift. Innovation has always been a byword for the world coin-operated amusements and gaming industry. For many years, out-ofhome leisure venues across the UK, including arcades, family entertainment centres, bingo halls, pubs and adult gaming centres, have acted as proud showcases of the very latest in technologically-advanced amusement products - from cutting edge gaming systems to machines which include groundbreaking payment and security systems. Continued innovation in the coin-operated amusements sector is crucial, particularly considering the current economic backdrop, which has led to businesses across the UK competing for increasingly cash-strapped consumers’ leisure spend. As the UK emerges blinking from some of the most challenging economic times it has known since the early 80s, the likes of Amdex, Embed and SMS Media continue to bring their technological innovations to the coin-op table. In doing so, the above outfits have honed their back-end solutions,giving far greater control to venue owners in terms of player tracking and machine monitoring than would have ever been thought possible in days gone by. While technology and innovation are, by and large,inextricably linked when it comes to the coin-op sector,the industry would be nowhere if each link of the supply chain stopped striving to achieve the best ways of providing attractive products and services to each customer down the line. The cost of implementing new technologies takes a lot of time,effort and money,but is ultimately beneficial and helps keep coinop growing – the growing number of satisfied SMS Media, Amdex and Embed customers is testament to this.

SWOT ANALYSIS TECHNOLOGY STRENGTHS • Innovations in back-end technologies and systems gives operators greater control and the ability to monitor player preferences and habits • Technological innovations helps keep the coin-op sector fresh and competitive, improving the bottom line • The implementation of new technologies can protect operators against theft and fraud WEAKNESSES • Entry cost for new or additional systems can be off-putting • Time and money spent on research and development is not a guarantee of product success once it’s in the marketplace • The ‘why fix it if it’s not broken’ attitude to new innovations OPPORTUNITIES • Open and honest two-way dialogue between manufacturers and distributors - and between distributors and operators – will ultimately ensure the best new products are brought to market • Social media allows coin-op stakeholders to maintain contact with their customers and contacts at little or no cost • Any process that becomes more simplified, be it advertising, promotions, cash handling or machine monitoring, frees up more time for operators THREATS • Difficult trading conditions may lead to operators cutting budgets for ancillary products and services • Operators with a large percentage of older analogue products may not believe certain new innovations are relevant to them • Arcade owners who rely more on seasonal trade may be less receptive to spending money on advertising and promotions

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Technology & Innovation Market Perspectives OPERATIONS

AMDeX leads the way For Chris Harrison, operations director of Alan Davis Automatics in Torquay, AMDeX Solutions represent the very best choice for instituting a machine management solution. chose AMDeX for our machine management solution because we were “beingWe left behind with regards to technology and we needed to have a far better, more efficient and error-eliminating collection process. From the account managers’ perspective, when it came to reporting the need to go through paper-based documents manually just wasn’t efficient. In this industry, retailers need data to be related to them in a professional format, which was the driving force behind our decision to take the company forward and bring in an automated service. When we took that decision AMDeX offered the best product for this purpose, and as far as I’m concerned they still do to

this day. We have a very close working relationship with AMDeX.The CashPad system was brought in approximately two years ago now, and from day one it has been of great value to us. It has speeded up our collection process, and as it is synchronised our collectors no longer need to come in on a daily basis - they can now work remotely,enabling them to spend more time collecting. CashPad’s handheld terminals mean collectors make fewer errors,as they don’t have to do the calculations themselves. Instead the figures are automatically processed,synchronised within the system and made available for our account managers to do their site reviews as well.The site review format is excellent; with the tablets our managers

can discuss and review factors such as incomes,machine positions and density live on site (with a wireless connection) and in depth. Processing data in the office is also far more efficient. We are able to have much more time to spend on other projects because everything is automated and office staff don’t need to do anything manually. As the final stage of our roll-out with AMDeX, we are just about to introduce the TechPad mobile application on January 2. We already have it in place,so from that date we will be able to contact our engineers via their smartphone, monitor exactly where each one of them is from the central office and then send them to the right locations efficiently and without wasting any fuel.”

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Essential Guide to ... Technology & Innovat Market Analysis

Products

INTEGRATION

AMDEX SOLUTIONS

‘Integration is going to be the key’

Raising the bar on information technology

An increasing number of operators are exploring the possibilities brought about by new innovations and technologies in the cashless payments and machine monitoring sectors, writes Andrea Bisi, sales director for Embed International in Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Asia-Pacific.

AMDeX Solutions is the UK’s leading supplier of software solutions for independent operators looking to increase efficiencies and protect their bottom line.

There is no doubt that also UK operators are looking at new technological solutions with more and more interest, and many will soon implement them in their facilities. Operators already recognise that cards systems, loyalty systems and rewarding programmes must form a critical component of their marketing strategies. Embed International’s systems are perfectly designed to support operators’ marketing efforts, while giving them the perfect way to control their business, helping them to reduce costs and increase revenues. Embed continues to grow in UK and internationally, and our products are gaining momentum. Our goals are set high because we can see great potential for mature products both in the machine monitoring and advanced card systems. More and more operators are interested to explore the benefits associated, even if we still feel a resistance to the cashless concept in some cases. Our machine monitoring range of products is very well established in the UK market, and enjoys recognition between the gaming operators whom are becoming sophisticated and look for proper tools to manage their business.This is a very important portion of our business.Our Embed Card System is also now active in a number of locations in UK and Europe, and we expect good traction in 2014. Embed’s major focus is on R&D, and we are continuously growing our efforts. Now with a global head count of 35 developers in five teams, we address every aspect of new technologies to propose innovative hardware and software solutions to the market. I believe no other company in our specific industry niche is so dedicated. Our recent IAAPA show in Orlando saw the introduction of numerous new products for the amusement sector, and EAG will see a range of advanced products for gaming operators. Most UK operators are very experienced and knowledgeable in their own markets. Many have good procedures in place and others control their business very closely with extremely trusted personnel.I believe that those who do not recognise the advanced technological tools that are reliable and stable - and offer features and information at a speed that is just not possible with standard procedure - are living in the past. The coming years are likely to witness continued developments in mobile and ‘cloud’ environments.Another aspect I think will be more and more important in the future is the integration between various systems.We see more and more that the highly successful projects are always a combination of various activities. Games and rides, F&B and bowling,AGC, party rooms, indoor/outdoor, laser games, mini golf as well as many other activities are present in the same location. Effectively managing each individual activity with one system that does it all is hard to imagine: I think integration is going to be the key.”

“

Coinslot DECEMBER 13 - DECEMBER 19, 2013

ne method for machine suppliers to increase the efficiency of their O operation is the use of an integrated

to the minute information for finance and performance management, with key data being forwarded to Retailers via EDI. machine management system. “Account managers are now supAMDeX Solutions is the UK’s leading ported by their own reporting supplier of software solutions for module, known as Site Review,” said independent operators. Parsons.“This powerful, yet simple, During 2012 and early 2013, data visualising programme can use AMDeX Solutions completed what the live system or download a copy of were probably the largest systems the central database to a tablet or noteupgrades ever undertaken in the book. The account manager can then single site sector of the industry.“We meet with the customer to review had to complete the migration of our machine performance, providing a independent suppliers to AM-Ais, our simple aid to maximise revenue.” site management system, whilst The Service Manager application,a implementing MGD for our customer module within the Site Management base,” said Gerry Parsons, chairman System,logs and reports on the details and owner ofAMDeX solutions.“With these projects completed, we can now concentrate of service calls. Logged calls can be forwarded immeon developing exciting new functionality and increas- diately to an engineer on the road, thus minimising downtime and unnecessary repetitive telephone calls ing the efficiency of our products.” The integrated suite of products now available between base and engineer. Out of office hours engifrom AMDeX covers all the key areas of machine man- neers are able to raise calls on their own device which agement required by independent suppliers.“Our are then transmitted back into the main Service Manmobile applications - CashPad for collectors andTech- ager system. AMDeX Solutions has been serving the industry for Pad for engineers - allow data inputted on site on handheld devices to be transmitted back to the office,” over 10 years.The collective experience of the staff is Parsons stated.“This increases the efficiency of the over 90 years. Parsons said:“We build relevant and field staff and minimises the workload of the office technically sound applications taking care to reflect our customer’s requirements.We take customer servstaff.” AM-Ais, the site management system, then imports ice seriously and work with operators large and small this information with minimal fuss by receiving the to streamline their processes and maximise their informobile data through on-line servers.This provides up mation gathering and use. ”

SMS-VIP

Staying on message is key for SMS-VIP SMS-VIP continues to develop new interactive promotional services to enhance interaction between operators and their customers. SMS-VIP, the humble text message remains most effective and powerful tool for gaming Fandortheamusement operators to keep in touch with their customers and drive footfall to their venues. The Pickering-based company provides operators with the ability to advertise directly to their customers through mobile phones using SMS technology. In addition to offering straightforward ‘push’ advertising and promotions, SMS-VIP continues to introduce an increasing number of interactive elements and innovative promotional structures, ensuring all of its clients are given the best possible, tailored solution. “With our service we can contact your customers

wherever they are and remind them exactly where you are,” said SMS-VIP’s Philip Closier. “This interaction keeps you in regular contact with customers and helps drive revenues.” According to Closier, SMS-VIP has been experimenting with possible opportunities brought about with smartphones, but the company still aims to cater to the lowest common denominator, which is SMS. “If we aimed solely for the smartphone market we would miss out everybody with a simple phone,” he told Coinslot. “Plus the cost would go up. This is the simplest and cheapest method and the most direct way to stay in touch with your customers. “Over the last couple of years we have been

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AMDeX

ovation

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Embed makes another Quantum leap in technological innovation

For your collectors - &DVKPad will make their job easier and reduce your costs

For your engineers - 7HFKPad, smart phone based service call system, will improve your call response times

Embed UK has always been at the forefront of innovations with technological solutions that helped hundreds of family entertainment centres and operators to reduce their costs and support their marketing strategies.

For your administration - AM-Ais site management system will help you manage your business and maximise machine performance for your customers

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uring 2013,the Embed UK team has consistently increased in its capacity to deliver technological advanced products and innovations to help and assist all operators of gaming and amusement centres to be more efficient and effective in their business. One of the aspects that became relevant in the UK gaming industry has been the ticket-in, ticket-out (TITO) functions, introduced recently by manufacturers and implemented by some operators. This may be only a transition to possibly an even more evolved way to enhance customer experience with different tools such as cashless gaming, but nonetheless it was clear that the industry was looking for some form of standardisation, which may be not so forthcoming from the manufacturers. To address this, Embed UK has immediately developed and released a new version of our data capture system that handlesTITO accounting,so with both the companyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s data capture products - Wireless Data Capture (WDC) and newest Data Port Controller (DPC) the group monitors this function from the machines enabled. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Accordingly, our Quantum system has been changed to show TITO results as well,

so that full consistency and complete data accuracy is provided to our customers,â&#x20AC;? said Andrea Bisi, sales director for Embed International. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Operators using the Embed UK player tracking system with card readers have enjoyed the benefit of knowing exactly the spending patterns and habits of their customers. Moreover,at EAG International Expo in London next year they will be able to view the evolution of these products that are coming to market soon. More customer interaction, additional features, customer display with potential for more marketing opportunities are part of the new generation of products being developed.â&#x20AC;? Bisi added:â&#x20AC;&#x153;Of course,our Quantum products will still have a relevant position in Embed UKâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s product range for 2014, being the leading gaming machine-monitoring product preferred by many operators in UK, for its stability and reliability,critical for good and consistent management. â&#x20AC;&#x153;In addition, the amusement portion of our products and customers has seen an exciting list of new technological products and innovations,as seen at the recent IAAPA Attractions Expo in Orlando.

Invoicing, including payments and statements Account management Site Review application Flexible reporting with Microsoft Office integration

www.amdexsolutions.com

Delivering your message into your customers SMS VIP have unparalleled experience in the use of SMS technology in the AWP & Bingo Market in the UK and internationally for over 12years. SMS VIP have some 250 sites using their products in the UK and ROI. Chimera our platform is used and trusted throughout the AWP market with customers such as Praesepe placing their trust in SMS VIP to gather in customer mobile numbers automatically for them and carry their advertising. With no capital investment our web based interactive SMS platform is probably the most cost effective product on the market.

evolving our offering,â&#x20AC;? Closier added. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We have always thanked members for joining and send out a joining offer, which could be something as simple as ÂŁ5 free play next time they visit a venue. We have also ensured that people cannot join twice and that promotions are not sent out to blacklisted customers. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Down the line we realised that we could do much more than this. Over the last two years weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve been offering new services such as our Lucky Dip, where the punter can request an offer and we can send back an advertisement based on a probability pattern. We can tailor offers to our customers needs. Closier

added: â&#x20AC;&#x153;Unlike many of our competitors who offer similar services, with SMS-VIP you only pay for what you use. We do not charge a setup fee or monthly fee for our SMS package.â&#x20AC;? For Closier, SMS remains one of the most powerful marketing tools, particularly because operators are targeting a self-selected audience. â&#x20AC;&#x153;People have requested the advertisements and promotions, so there is very little wastage,â&#x20AC;? he stated. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Anecdotally, our customers report something between a 20 per cent and 25 per cent conversion rate, so the return on investment is huge.â&#x20AC;?

All SMS messages are auditable and are branded. We can also embed customer names, PIN numbers and other variables into our message that can be over 160 characters long if required. Beyond this SMS VIP provide other SMS applications such as LuckyDip & Tombola that encourage your customers to interact on a daily basis to reinforce brand loyalty. For more information

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Coinslot DECEMBER 13 - DECEMBER 19, 2013

B 2 B

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Listings

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BBPA CHIEF EXECUTIVE BRIGID SIMMOND CHANCELLOR’S DECISION IN HIS AUTUMN BUSINESS RATE RELIEF TO APRIL

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TABLE GAMES AMERICAN POOL SECTOR ‘ALIVE AND KICKING’ merican Pool is alive and kicking and still the game of choice for modern A entertainment venues wanting to appeal to the widest range of customers, according to Liam Barrett, business development manager for SAM Leisure. “In the lead up to Christmas, long-time champion of the game, Rileys, is opening a new sports bar on the Haymarket in London with SAM K Steel pool tables,” Barrett said. “Walkabout Inns has placed SAM Magno American tables in a second site in Lincoln, while Generator Hostels is supplying a SAM Magno to the group’s flagship London site.” Barrett said a brand new American-style diner concept is set to launch in Leeds in December. Rosie’s Diner will feature a full size American school bus as well as a customised SAM Magno table.

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We welcome the Chancel extend Small Business Rat was one of the first objec ter Rates for Pubs c shows real suppor ernment for pubs, calls are being hee

he European Commission has approved the definitive agreements to Timplement the licensing and divestiture commitments by Crane Company related to its pending acquisition of MEI Conlux Holdings (MEI). Crane said that with this approval it

intends to close the acquisition of MEI early December. The $804m ($491m) purchase price for the MEI acquisition will be financed through a combination of cash on hand and additional debt. In July, Crane announced that the European Commission had cleared the pending acquisition of MEI on the condition that it divested its Currenza C2 coin recycler and B2B bill recycler product lines. Both product lines were sold to SuzoHapp Group for an undisclosed sum.

SG GAMING GROWS CONTENT PORTFOLIO Gaming, a division of Scientific Corporation, has launched SthreeGGames new games recently as it continues to grow its multi-channel content portfolio. Barkin’ Mad, The Big Cheese and Money Mad Martians have all been successfully launched across the arcade, bingo and LBO sectors, with Money Mad Martians also released online. All three games were developed by SG Gaming’s in-house content development team, headed up by Rick Mountney, director of content development. Commenting on the successful launch of the games, Mountney said: “SG Gaming offers world-class content, across multiple platforms. We have a long track record of developing games that prove to be player favourites. The stats back that up - our games drive significant cashbox performance in the UK.”

EXHIBITIONS ATRAX SHOW DRAWS LUKEWARM RESPONSE amusements trade show Atrax took place in Istanbul last week, Turkish

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Chancellor’s decision to iness Rate Relief, which rst objectives of the Betor Pubs campaign. It al support from the govfor pubs, and that BBPA being heeded.

VE BRIGID SIMMONDS HAS WELCOMED THE CISION IN HIS AUTUMN STATEMENT TO EXTEND SMALL RATE RELIEF TO APRIL 2015

attracting a wide range of exhibitors and visitors involved in the Middle Eastern leisure industry. Atrax, which markets itself as the only specialised amusements industry exhibition in Turkey, said it serves a major commercial platform for visitors to establish international business connections, reinforce their existing contacts and gain access to new markets. For Andrea Bisi, sales director for Embed International, the show was “quite slow” for the first two days. “The Turkish market is very interesting, but already in the hands of three or four major distributors,” Bisi said. “It is still unclear whether redemption is legal, even if some operators are using it with great success.”

FAMILY ENTERTAINMENT CENTRES ‘TIS THE SEASON TO... GO BOWLING K family entertainment centre operator Tenpin has launched a series of offers U in time for Christmas. The group, which operates 30 venues across the UK, is offering two games of bowling, a meal and a drink for £9.49 for juniors and £12.99 for adults. Two games of bowling and a drink is just £6.99 for juniors and £9.99 for adults. Tenpin is also looking to capture the New Year’s Eve market by offering unlimited bowling, a meal and champagne for an all-in-one price dependent on the location.

North Pier faces £1m repair bill The owners of Blackpool’s iconic North Pier said they face a £1m repair bill as a result of last week’s major storm. The pier was severely damaged following the gale force winds which tore through the structure on Thursday.

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HOLIDAY PARKS CALEDONIA ACQUIRES PARK HOLIDAYS aledonia Investments has acquired a majority stake in Park Holidays UK, C which owns and operates 21 freehold and two leasehold holiday parks in the south of England. The transaction values Park Holidays at £172m, and the company will now benefit from a £10m fund to invest in its existing parks and help finance new park acquisitions. The change of ownership will purportedly allow Park Holidays - the UK’s fourth largest operator of caravan holiday parks - to strengthen its business through internal investment and grow its portfolio of parks through acquisitions. “Caledonia is acquiring a leading participant in the UK holiday market with excellent growth prospects,” said Jeff Sills, chief executive officer of Park Holidays.

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CATEGORYC (ÂŁ1/ÂŁ70 Max.)

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Single site

AGCs

This Last Week Week Name / Manufacturer

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

1 2 3 4 7 5 6 10 8 -

DOND The Big One BFG DOND Lucky Streak BFG Raising the Stakes EMP Monster Money QPS DOND Pure Gold BFG DOND Golden Game BFG DOND Double Chance BFG Monopoly Millionaire Diamond Edition BFG Monopoly Reel Estate BFG Lady Luck Trail of Riches REF

Taken from a representative number of sites around the UK Supplied by national operator

S&J

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

King of Slots Blueprint Magic Lotto Ultra Novomatics Triple 8 Barcrest Big Party Astra Mega Bars Big Hit Project TS22 Project Triple 7 Barcrest Lady Luck Reflex Rainbow Riches Community Cash Barcrest Lucky Lady's Charm Astra

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CATEGORYD (10p/ÂŁ5 Max.)

communications

gaming | betting | gambling

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This Last Week Week Name / Manufacturer

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

2 8 1 6 -

X3000 Multigame Amatic Magic Games 3 (s/d) Novomatic Magic Games 3 Novomatic Find the Lady 2 Card Project Triple 7 (GP3) SG Gaming Mega Jackpots Project Triple 7 (GP2) SG Gaming Free Play 70 Project Solid Gold Astra Bar X Extreme Electrocoin

Based on data from a minimum of 10 locations. Supplied by Praesepe

1 2 3 4 5 8 9 -

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 DOND (3 Player) Bellfruit Party Time Arena (4 Player) Astra Party Time (3 Player) Astra Find The Lady Project

Based on data from four sites Amusement Equipment Co Ltd

Telephone

01952 586226

FEC - adult This Last Week Week Name / Manufacturer

B2B Skill Ball Deluxe

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

7 3 4 2 6 1 8 9 10

Win Wall Astra Find The Lady 70 Project Free Play 70 Project Pure Gold Astra Rainbow Riches Party Barcrest Party Time Classic (3 Player) Astra Magic Games U/R Novomatic Chase The Ace Project Party Time Arena (4 Player) Astra Gold Run (3 Player) Empire

Based on data from four sites Amusement Equipment Co Ltd

Coinslot DECEMBER 13 - DECEMBER 19, 2013

CATEGORYB4 (ÂŁ1/ÂŁ250 Max) Members clubs This Last Week Week Name / Manufacturer

1 2 3 4 5

Raiders of the Lost Tenners Reflex Street Casino Storm Jackpot Island Reflex Happy Hour BFG Cops Smash n Grab BFG

Based on data from representative sites. Supplied by sector professional

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Sponsored by

Current Team Position Name

Manager Name

Weekly Points

Total Points

Current Team Position Name

AMG FIRST 11

THE PERFECT TEAM

Terry Farr

672

CLUB TROPICANA

Tom Clarke

653

JABRO BOYS

ABOVE STANDARDS

Lee Clarke

633

ALL THIS AND MORE

SHERWIN A TEAM

Mark Sherwin

627

SHELL'S ELEVEN

Michelle Martin

608

KEEDAY RESERVES

Peter Holmes

607

KEEDAYS FINEST

Peter Holmes

EVAN TENNER BACK NOW

Stuart Heyden

CAREFREE WEEMAN

Glyn Petrie

JABRO LIONS

Tony Brookes

COSMIC FIRST 11

Terry Farr

12 13

KEEPLAYERS KEEDAY LEGENDS

Peter Holmes Peter Holmes

27 50

Weekly Points

Total Points

Current Team Position Name

Warren Roffey

537

AINT GOT A KALOU

Tony Brookes

537

EE BAH GUM

Gary Newman

536

BAYERN OTHER STRIKER

David Lees

535

BEADLES 2

Peter Hemmings

COSMIC SECOND 11

Terry Farr

604

11 UNDER PAR

Ross Evans

534

603

MOTHYS MARVELS

Scott Yarham

531

603

GILLSGILLSGILLS

Colin Smith

530

595

DIDCOT GOALBUSTERS

John Carpenter

528

593

THE TEAM THAT WIN

Hugo Illingworth

525

592 589

47 48

DANS DESTROYERS EASY MONEY

Manager Name

Daniel Barber Steve Barber

23 52

Weekly Points

Total Points

Stuart Heyden

479

Simon Shaw

472

AMS YID ARMY

Jason Jarrett

470

AK BABES

Andy Water

470

535

BRAMBLEBOYZ123

Andy Bowler

468

534

HOT CHIPS

C Edenborough

467

JO'S ASSETS

Joanne Crooks

463

SCUM ON THE RUN

Nathan Holmes

459

ABSOLUTE REAMSTERS

Alex Lee

459

HOLIDAY MONEY

Darrell Webb

456

LLL BELLES

Amelia Stanhope

455

521

I WANT DIRTY KNEES 2

Jorzoe-FTM

454

DONKEY LASHERS

Andy Williamson

453

523

Manager Name

B 2 B

BOWLERS BOYZ

Andy Bowler

583

WARWICKS WINNERS

Warwick Tunnicliffe

519

LE COINSPINNERS

Lee H

583

JJ'S SHOPPERS 11

JJ Lucky

518

THE REAL DEAL

Dave Columbine

450

FC CLACTON UNDER 10's

Stuart Heyden

582

CHEEKY MONKEYS

Matty Sirett

516

BUMBLE IN THE JUNGLE

Harry Leaveme

450

JOHN WARK'S MILKMEN

Stu & Stoo

579

CAREFREE ALDON

Glyn Petrie

512

BEST SELECTION

John Jennings

449

CAREFREE BAZZA

Glyn Petrie

579

STEVIE G LUCKY 11

Shoppers Luck

511

RANGERS RETURN 2

Ashley Temple

446

SOUTH OF THE QUEENS

David Lees

572

THE ELDORADO TRACTOR BOYS

Stoo Evans

510

BEADLES 1

Peter Hemmings

442

ANGRY BALLS

Laurie Carpenter

571

ESSEX BOYS 1

Steve Hawkins

501

PARAGON ACADEMICALS

Nick Hardy

436

HAMMERTIME

Brian Wright

565

RAYLEIGHS REJECTS

Jody Buckley

501

AMS VXR GJ

Roger Jarrett

429

MUCKING FUDDLERS

Chris Skelly

565

LLL CITY

Keith Parker

500

BIG PRIZE WINNERS

Harry Leaveme

423

COMRIEAUTOMATICS

Jack Craddock

564

ESSEX BOYS 2

Steve Hawkins

499

FERGIES FINEST

Kevin Temple

420

JACKSONS SUPER BLUES

Phillip Nelson

563

RANGERS RETURN 1

Ashley Temple

492

JOHNNYS SHOPPERS 11

John Mitchell

416

JACKSONS JACKPOT XI

Gareth Cammack

562

RICK'S BOYZ

Andy Bowler

492

JAMIES SHOPPERS 11

Jamie Lucky

558

S.A.S FC

David Holmes

491

COINSPINNERTRONS

Coopertron

404

HOLTY'S HOTSPOTS

Tony Holt

557

LLL ACCIES

John Hood

488

TOWER POWER

Tony O'Brien

400

LLL WANDERERS

Jake Parker

552

DYNAMO KEBAB

David Lees

484

DO IT THEE SEN LAD

Simon Shaw

398

SEE THE AT' TOP

Simon Shaw

395

483

M.O.T

Bill Knowles

381

ESSEX'S FINEST

Dave Clarke

374

29 30

NES UNITED AMG OOOOSSSHHH

Chris Bell Ian Pawson

52 31

551 550

64 65

BEACON BATTLERS BURSNELL'S BULLETS

Harry Illingworth Jo Bursnell

34 44

484

AMG LEISURE

Carl Bearman

550

DELAYZIGITS

Dave Delay

483

LLL UNITED

Tim Stanhope

547

CASHBOX KINGS

James Illingworth

481

100 WARWICKS ELEVEN

Warwick Tunnicliffe

365

SUSHI SLIPPERS

Derek Lewis

545

ABSOLUTE RANKSTERS

Alex Lee

481

101 UPHILL SKIERS

Bill Knowles

359

MICK McCARTHY'S MISFITS

Stoo Evans

545

DIBBS ELEVEN

Tracey Dibben

481

102 2 THE TOP

Reece Newman

350

IFUN@SUNDANCERS

Shaney Pashley

543

SHOWBOAT ALLSTARS

Ray Harris

480

103 LAC DE GURSON

Bill Knowles

348

Coinslot DECEMBER 13 - DECEMBER 19, 2013

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Coinslot December 13 - December 19, 2013

Comment 31 preparation days to EAG

“All I want for Christmas is FOBT parity and a sustainable single site business model”

alex lee comment t’s almost the halfway mark in December and I haven’t mentioned the ‘C’ word yet. I don’t mean ‘coin’, the ‘c’ for ‘culture’ in the DCMS, nor do I mean the ‘c’ from ‘Category C’. Yes, I mean that jolly old time for all concerned Christmas! While yuletide comes sooner every year, largely down to the big retailers trying to steal a march on each other the moment the final firework pops and dies on November 5, if nothing else the bank holidays which frame Christmas and the New Year give us a chance to reflect on the year that’s gone. We’ve had more consolidation and contraction, a big and as yet unresolved battle regarding the fair siting of FOBTs and a (poorly-timed) Triennial Review in 2013, but as I’ve grown to realise over the last decade or so,one man’s threat is another man’s opportunity in the world of coin-op. There’s still, of course a lot of soul-searching, debate and a seismic shift in the way single site business is done, to name but one sub-sector of UK coinop, but while 2014 doesn’t exactly provide us all with a year zero clean slate it does serve as a starting point for (re)invention and (re)invigoration. Bob Hoskins once said on that dreadful British Telecom advert in the days before the internet and

“

social media:“It’s good to talk.” While we might not like what we hear when someone (such as the government or the pubcos) replies, it’s not going to stop the UK coin-op industry - including of course the leading lights in BACTA, for whom I have a lot of respect - from continuing to bang the drum for a sector that has entertained billions of people for several decades now. Clearly, there’s still a heck of a lot of work to be done in terms of constructive dialogue both ‘in house’ and with the pubcos and the government before the industry can breathe slightly more easily, but having already declared myself as a ‘glass half full’ kind of person (I have to, I was born in Sunderland) I reckon that further progress will be made in 2014. By ‘further progress’ I believe that a definitive decision will be made on FOBTs - with regard to where they are allowed to be situated that is - and I also reckon that progress can and will be made in terms of better business practices and a fairer share of the proceeds in the single site sector. While a sector that prides itself on providing fun for its customers hasn’t had that as much enjoyment from a business perspective as it deserved in 2013, I’m optimistic for a better 2014. I’ve seen how determined coin-op’s ‘survivors’ are.

I’m too sexy for my bingo hall

In recent headlines, th branding and Catfo

alex lee media watch epresentatives from the Stop the FOBTs Campaign R joined MP Tom Watson and other members of parliament last week on the House of Commons Green to raise awareness of their calls to reduce the maximum stake to £2, according to the Intergame website. In its recent consultation, the government recommended keeping the maximum stake on fixed odds betting terminals found in licensed betting offices at £100. This recommendation has been criticised by those concerned about the impact the machines have. “Despite empirical evidence of the addictive nature of FOBTs being submitted to the triennial review, the Department of Culture, Media and Sport has so far decided to maintain the status quo, after the Gambling Commission failed to include that evidence in its advice,” said Derek Webb, founder of the Campaign for Fairer Gambling. Today’s meeting is aimed at encouraging MPs to vote

against the implementation of these recommendations, he said. Tom Watson said: “FOBTs have been described as the ‘crack cocaine’ of gambling. They’re a menace to every high street. The government has it in their power to act. We hope to persuade them this is now an urgent matter.” Further afield, US coin-op publication The Vending Times asks if operators should consider branding their companies. Before dismissing the idea, you should realise the very nature of branding has changed over the past few years. Once associated with only big business, branding is now a priority for firms of all sizes and industries. Over the years, some bulk pioneers have made efforts to brand their companies. The owners went through the expense of signage, logos, slogans and unique rack configurations to give their machines distinctive looks. Some operators have benefited, finding

placement for racks in locations that traditionally didn’t welcome bulk vending. They found that corporate locations, chain restaurants and shopping malls are comfortable with brands. These trailblazers have also added value to their companies should they decide to sell. Furthermore, a brand builds familiarity and loyalty among customers. For generations, the bulk vending machine has been a ubiquitous feature of mom-andpop stores, supermarkets and big box centres. If the name of the operating company appears at all, more often than not it’s made known with a business card or modest decal near the display card in the front of the machine. As for the machines themselves, the typical small to midsize route is quite often made up of a patchwork of styles, colours and machine models. Some machines are inherited through route acquisitions or purchased because they’re cheap - over years, even

all

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Coinslot December 13 - December 19, 2013 23

“The latest slowdown in cost inflation is encouraging for the UK’s SMEs, who are a key driver of growth. The cost of oil and other commodities is expected to fall over the next year, a factor that may help to further ease cost pressures for UK firms.”

TO COMMENT ON ANY ARTICLE

Email: al@sjc.co.uk

KATIE EVANS, CENTRE FOR ECONOMICS AND BUSINESS RESEARCH

“ ”

quote unquote

“Video games remain in a weird liminal zone between fan culture and mainstream understanding. How Video Games Changed The World, which aired on Channel 4 on Saturday night, caught something of that. The spread of the medium, from Pong in 1972 to Twitter (yes Twitter) today, has been one of quiet contagion.” KEITH STEWART, THE GUARDIAN

“The on-trade needs to focus on providing an experience to allow for price elasticity.” DAVID MCHATTIE, CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER, ALMR

“Britain pumps £46 million a year into gambling machines nearly 50 per cent up in four years.” TIM SHIPMAN, THE DAILY MAIL

“The Gambling Commission, the regulatory body for the majority of gambling in the UK, has cited non-remote betting as the catalyst behind a seven per cent rise in gross gambling yield between April 2012 and March 2013.”

Operators need a single platform Gaming and service director at Talarius, Paul Monkman, spoke to Coinslot about the issues high street operators are facing post-Triennial. He believes that manufacturers must set aside their rivalries and work together to create integrated solutions.

paul monkman politics

PHIL CLEGG, INTERGAME

istorically,the industry has a poor track record when H it comes to adjusting to

nt headlines, the FOBT controversy rumbles on, US operators investigate the power of ding and Catford Mecca Bingo ramps up its entertainment offering.

decades. It is not uncommon for operators, unwilling to update “perfectly good equipment”, to boast about several generations of machines on their routes. Many vending company names don’t easily lend themselves to branding. They see themselves exclusively as a business-to-business outfit. Names like AAA Vending were chosen with alphabetical placement in the Yellow Pages in mind. Is the branded route the next step in bulk vending evolution? It may be. It is not unusual to see retailers consisting of only one or two stores investing in branding efforts through signage and logos, uniforms and packaging. A bakery I recently visited was furiously trying to build a brand with a logo printed on everything from bags and boxes to hats worn by employees and tshirts offered for sale to patrons. The owners see the effort as a way to build customer loyalty and attract

investors. Some young people starting careers are building themselves into brands through Facebook, Twitter and other forms of social media. They are very much the “Brand Me” generation. They see social networking as a way to promote and position themselves for the next career opportunity. In many ways, this is not all that different than the “dress for success” trends of past generations. For an increasing number of operators seeking out even small chains or upscale locations, branding will become an essential element in the future. I envision a bulk vending industry in which an increasing number of operators either build their own brands to land accounts or move nimbly to adapt machines and merchandise to fit the location brand. We have already seen some of this, and there's no reason to believe the trend won’t continue. And finally, the Mecca Bingo in Catford is making a name for

itself in terms of ‘additional’ entertainment, according to the Bingo Supermarket website. Apparently, it was only last weekend that Aswad performed there and all who attended had a great time. Today we bring you news of another big night at this much loved bingo hall and this time there will be fewer clothes

worn by the main attraction. Not really an event for the lads, but they are still welcome, the Fantasy Boys will be appearing at the Plassy Road club on 14 December. This night is also the Christmas Party at the Mecca Bingo in Catford so all of the customers will receive a box of Thornton’s chocolates to kick off the scrumptious night.

changes in gaming legislation. For example, the legacy versions of some games still outperform the newer £70 variants, which should not be the case! To get past this, manufacturers need to listen more to the machine operators and players, so that they can produce games that the customers really want to play. Otherwise, we are not given the opportunity to remove the legacy machines from our estate. UK manufacturers need to move away from the current silo approach, with technologies such as TITO, CITO, and integrated loyalty systems.We do not want to end up with each manufacturer developing a different platform, as this is not cost effective. We need manufacturers to cooperate with each other to deliver a single platform that all machines can utilise. Platform-based machines are high on our agenda, and above all connectability and performance visibility, which are vital in order to future proof the industry.This is an area that we are looking at with great interest.We believe that information is the way to grow the business, drive sales and protect the customer. In the next twelve months, we will continue to innovate and provide our customers with the best gaming experiences using the highest qual-

ity and most advanced machines.Although the pool of machines that we can choose from has somewhat diminished in the last couple of years, several new up-andcoming manufacturers have recently emerged.These are performing and testing well, introducing some much needed competition into the sector. The EAG is more of a networking event than a supermarket for machines. As we work so closely with manufacturers, it is unlikely that there will be anything there that we haven’t already seen. However, every now and again you find a diamond in the rough which has strong potential but needs a little development work. We are always willing to work with these smaller companies to develop new and exciting products for our customers. The toughest challenge for operators is choosing the right path. Recently, the industry has been in a state of flux, and it is important that it moves forwards. We have to ask ourselves how much we should invest in technologies to do with, for example, player tracking, TITO, or a new universal platform. The most difficult part of making these decisions is not knowing what the government will spring on us in the coming years, and whether measures we are investing in could become irrelevant as a result.

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Coinslot December 13 - December 19, 2013

Newsweek ICE SHOW LOOKS TO CREATE NEW RECORDS CE organisers are optimistic that the ICE Sensational marketing campaign will help achieve the fourth consecutive year of growth for gaming’s largest international business-to-business event. To achieve this the 2014 edition, from 4-6 February 2014 at ExCeL London, will have to exceed the 2013 audited attendance of 22,247 which itself was a 4.3 per cent increase on 2012, 8.6 per cent up on 2011 and a 17.8 per cent

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German event IMA 2014 looms large ull HD devices, high-quality multigames as well as several concepts for the “games arcade of the future” will be presented at IMA from January 14-17 2014 by the big industry players. Over 150 exhibitors, including the likes of MEI and Suzo, are expected to showcase their new products. Mario Hoffmeister, head of central communications at domestic gaming giant Gauselmann, stated:“Commercial gaming is gaining in popularity. More and more people are seeking entertainment with our state-of-the-art gaming machines with small stakes and moderate wintry an excellent opportunity not only to presnings.” He predicted: “As in television sets, multigame devices.” Christian Arras, CEO of Lowen Entertain- ent itself but to enter into an intensive tablets or smartphones, ‘full HD resolution' will also become the dominant technology in ment, stated:“IMA 2014 offers the entire indus- exchange of ideas.”

uplift on the figures for 2010. Jo Mayer, marketing director responsible for ICE, said: “This will be our second year at ExCeL and we are not resting on our laurels.” She added: “ We are investing heavily in what is our most experiential campaign to dateas well as

in an extensive direct marketing campaign and innovative social media promotions.” AMUSEMENT TRADE HEADS TO INDIA he 14th edition of IAAPI Amusements Expo is scheduled

to take place at the Bombay Exhibition Centre, India, on February 5-7. Organised by the Indian Association Of Amusement Parks and Industries, the IAAPA affiliate which represents the interests of a diverse range of amusement and leisure business in India, the 2014

expo has attracted numerous international manufacturers and suppliers, including The United Distributing Company, Sega Amusements Europe, Universal Space, Andamiro, Zamperla, WhiteWater West, Embed International and Huss Rides.

Calendar UK EVENTS JANUARY 2014 21-23 EAG International 2014 ExCeL London London UK www.eagexpo.com

FEBRUARY 2014 4-6 ICE Totally Gaming ExCeL London UK www.icetotallygaming.com 11-13 Digital Signage Expo Sands Expo Center Las Vegas Nevada US www.digitalsignageexpo.net

INTERNATIONAL EVENTS DECEMBER 2013 5-7 Atrax 2013 Istanbul Expo Center Istanbul Turkey www.tureksfuar.com.tr

10-12 ECA Slot Summit Enghienles-Bains France www.slotsummit.com

JANUARY 2014 14-17 IMA 2014 Düsseldorf Exhibition Centre Düsseldorf Germany www.ima-messe.com

FEBRUARY 2014 5-7 IAAPI Bombay Exhibition Centre Goregaon India www.iaapi.org

EDITORIAL Editor: Alex Lee Email: al@sjc.co.uk Tel: 01204 396 397 Assistant Editor: James Walker Email: jw@sjc.co.uk Tel: 01204 396 397 Managing Editor: Ken Scott Email: ks@sjc.co.uk Tel: 01273 699 900 ADVERTISING SALES Kathryn Norris Email: knorris@gbmedia.eu Tel: 01204 396 397 Fax: 01204 392 748 SUBSCRIPTIONS Sarah Haworth Tel: 01204 396 397 DIGITAL VERSION Marc Lawton Email: mlawton@gbmedia.eu Tel: 01204 396 397 PRODUCTION Designer: Gina Lloyd Email: gl@sjc.co.uk Ad Production & Pre-Press: Dave Roderick Email: gdk@sjc.co.uk PUBLISHER Director: John Sullivan GB Media Corporation Ltd, Bolton Technology Exchange, 33 Queensbrook, Bolton

BL1 4AY Tel: 01204 396 397 Fax: 01204 392 748 Email: jsullivan@gbmedia.eu OFFICES Editorial and Production: 3rd Floor, 20 New Road, Brighton, East Sussex BN1 1UF (UK) Tel: 01273 699 900 Advertising and Subscriptions: Coinslot International, Bolton Technology Exchange,33 Queensbrook, Bolton BL1 4AY Tel: 01204 396 397 Fax: 01204 392 748 Opinions expressed in this publication should not be regarded as the official view of GB Media Corporation Ltd, except where stated. Views, opinions and recommendations contained in this publication are put forward for consideration only. No action should be taken in reliance upon any such views, opinions or recommendations. Neither GB Media Corporation Ltd nor contributors accept any responsibility for any loss occasioned to any person howsoever caused or arising as a result of or in consequence of action taken or refrained from in realiance on the contents of this publication.

Notes for contributors: Coinslot welcomes the submission of articles for consideration by the editor with a view to publication. Submission of an article will be held to imply that the article contains original unpublished work which GB Media Corporation Ltd may lawfully publish. All submissions are made at the owner’s risk. © GB Media Corporation Ltd, 2013 All rights strictly reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means without the prior written permission given, full acknowledgement of author, publisher and source must be given.

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