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030 DOND Best Offer Flap •Advert_test 01/10/2014 21:35 Page 1 October 24 – October 30, 2014 No. 2391 • www.coinslot.co.uk

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COINSLOT

COMMENT

Industry news Seaside amusements ACOS Report B2B Listings Latest machine charts Classified ads and opps Comment & Analysis Newsweek

Last week’s Autumn Coin-Op Show delivered on its promise: to provide a timely, industry forum in a good environment... it set its bar modestly low - emphasis very much on networking and informality. And it worked.

4 10 13 16 19 20 22 24

ACOS lays strong foundation OPPORTUNITIES

The first ever Autumn Coin-op Show promised that networking would be at the heart of its offering and early feedback from visitors indicates that it delivered. “It’s a wonderful opportunity,” said Alan Rogers, director of sales and marketing at Astra Games. “You quickly realise that you haven’t met face to face with some of your customers for a couple of months because of the summer season and then holidays, that kind of thing but everyone’s come down here. It’s far outstripped my expectations.” The organisers revealed that 1,000 guests had preregistered to attend, but the number of people packed into Stamford Bridge over the course of two days clearly indicated that this would be a very conservative estimate of final visitor numbers. ACOS chose not to count the

precise number of visitors, but a mere two and half hours into the first day, the supply of lanyards had run dry and the hall at Stamford Bridge was packed. “We’ve received a lot of favourable comments about the venue,” said Cooke. “Chelsea Football Club is extremely accessible by rail and road, with plentiful onsite parking. Those

IOA gives upbeat verd EXHIBITION

The IOA Group hailed the debut outing of the Autumn Coin-op ‘ideal venue’ for one of the group’s full members meetings. An encouraging first edition ‘future’. which promises more for the That’s how Paul Lang-

(Parkinson’s), Nick Rudd (Bob Rudd Leisure), Steve Hawkins and Greg Wood (Essex Leisure), ham,vice chairman of the IOA Brian and Alan Campbell (Fair Group, chose to evaluate last City Amusements), Scott week’s Autumn Coin-Op Show. McGillivray (Simms Automatics), The UK’s largest independent Bill Simmonds (F Simmonds & machine operator was one of a Sons), Chris Harrison (Alan Davis group of key supporting organi- Automatics), Brendon Breaks sations to put their weight (Breakout Operations), Peter behind the debut event and Macklam (Northumbria Leisure) opted to use the gathering as an as well as the IOA’s national opportunity to stage a Full Mem- account manager Nik Novak. bers Meeting comprising senior Reviewing what was the first executives from the IOA’s significant gathering of the national body of operators. Mem- domestic industry since Janubers represented at the west ary’s EAG, Paul Langham comLondon event included Paul and mented: “It was an ideal venue to Nick Langham (Town & County stage the full meeting of the IOA Leisure), John Powell (Select executive team. Context is everyGaming), Chris Parkinson thing and it made huge sense to

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INDUSTRY

ESSENTIAL GUIDE

Will UKIP offer coin-op respite?

ACOS makes its debut 4

22 October 24 - October 30, 2014 • No. 2391 • www.coinslot.co.uk

ndations for future showings

ACOS debut garners glowing feedback EXHIBITION

choosing to stay at the onsite hotels were on the exhibition floor within minutes and everyone seemed to appreciate the convenience of having everything on-site.” Several high level meetings were held behind the scenes, including gatherings for the Independent Operators Association and Praesepe. There’s definite potential for

growth in this area, as ACOS looks to solidify its status as an vital networking hub. However, despite this focus on conversation, many exhibitors wracked up meaningful sales over the weekend. This fact, coupled with a little bravery, may lead to the promotion of ACOS 2015 as a place where business is done, not just talked about.

t verdict on new show

utumn Coin-op Show ‘encouraging’, with the event providing an meetings.

be at the centre of an event which is all about the domestic industry and the issues we face.The venue was excellent and the location in the heart of west London,with all that part of the capital has to offer, was of huge benefit to those who attended. The IOA covered off a number of important issues including meetings with new and existing customers, discussions to explore new business oppor-

tunities, supplier meetings to touch and feel new products and discuss new services all of which,of course,impact the business.” He added:“October is a great time to stage an exhibition: coming in the month preceding the BACTA Convention and two months ahead of EAG. I’m pleased that the industry appears to be more open to support opportunities like this to get together and to talk business. It’s important that exhibitions are relevant to the needs of the market at any given time and I think last week’s show did exactly that.” The IOA will stage its AGM at January’s EAG.

Attendees heaped praise on the inaugural Autumn Coin-op Show last week, as the organisers confirmed that the venue has been booked and exhibitors signed up for a repeat performance in 2015. The show, as far as the industry is concerned, must go on. ere hours into the first day of the inaugural Autumn Coin-op Show (ACOS),visitors spoke of a palpable buzz on the show floor. The event, designed specifically to plug a gap many were unsure needed to be filled,did exactly what it set out to do. No sooner had the ceremonial ribbon been cut, than it became clear the industry had embraced the new venture wholeheartedly. “I have to say that we’re humbled by the level of support that the Autumn Coin-op Show has received from the industry,” said organiser Karen Cooke.“In terms of the show’s success as a UK focused networking event,ACOS was certainly busy, with a definite buzz on the show floor.” Feedback from exhibitors was telling.“We’re very pleased,” said NSM’s Alex Kirby, “it’s definitely something the industry needed.” Electrocoin’s KevinWeir described the atmosphere as,“buzzing - it was excellent,” while the company’s director,John Stergides questioned the sense of not attending:“I think it’s incredible that certain key industry players didn’t support this show. I think they’ll be kicking themselves.The show would be all the richer if they attended, so I hope they decide to come along next year.” Arriving ahead of the winter trade shows, ACOS provided the opportunity to showcase new products and, most importantly,

network. “The Autumn Coin-Op Show was launched with networking in mind,” said Cooke,“and this was achieved through a compact layout, bars and catering facilities on the show floor,along with plentiful seating areas.” Several attendees confirmed the success of the ACOS’s networking ventures, including Wexel Gaming’s Dan Smedley:“The show hasn’t only been useful from a sales perspectives - we’ve also been given feedback from attendees as to how they’d like to see us improve our current designs in the future; that sort of thing’s really invaluable.

We’ve taken a lot from this show.” The return of the Autumn Coinop Show for a second outing is a formality and organisers have big plans for its future.“It’s our intention that ACOS will become a permanent annual fixture and we’re pleased to have secured the venue for next year,” said Cooke.All signs seem to point to future success. Midway through day one, interested observers were declaring, in private, that they would be adding their names to the list of exhibitors, and Cooke confirmed that she has already received bookings for ACOS 2015.

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Coinslot October 24 - October 30, 2014

Industry

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Rank Group optimistic for full year figures

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FOBT issue raised in Parliament again CATEGORY B2

GAMING

It’s been a turbulent week for the markets with peaks and troughs playing havoc with stock exhanges around the world. So when Rank announce that it remains confident for prospects during the year ahead, we should see this as a positive. Three percentage points ahead of last year suggests slow movement, but positive nonethless.

ank Group has confirmed that trading in R the 15 weeks to October 12 was in line with management expectations as it posted a rise in like-forlike and total revenues in the period and said it is on track to meet full year forecasts. The FTSE 250-listed gambling group said likefor-like revenue in the period was up 3 per cent overall, with a 5 per cent rise for its Grosvenor Casinos business and a 1 per cent increase for its Mecca bingo arm. Total sales in the period were up 2 per cent over the period, with Grosvenor sales up 5 per

cent, but Mecca sales remained flat. Rank said overall trading in the period was in line with expectations and said it is confident on its prospects for the full year. In the Grosvenor business, growth in London outpaced that of its provinces sites, up 5 per cent in the capital compared to 2 per cent in the provinces. Total venues spend per visit was pushed up 1 per cent over the period, in spite of a slightly lower win margin for the casinos, as a result of the performance of its London sites. Mecca trading in the

period was more subdued, with like-for-like revenue for venues in line with the same period last year but with a rise in spend per visit offset by lower customer visits.The group closed two venues, in Burnt Oak and South Shields, in the period. The company also announced a reshuffle in its management team, with Grosvenor MD Phil Urban to leave and Mark Jones, currently Mecca’s managing director, to replace him. The company said it is working on replacing Jones and said Henry Birch, Rank’s chief executive, will act as interim MD for Mecca.

“The group has had a good start to the financial year, and I am pleased with the improvements seen in our Grosvenor Casinos brand, particularly in its digital channel, and the actions to strengthen the performance of our Mecca brand are showing some positive signs,” said Rank Group chief executive Henry Birch. “We continue to work on our strategic priorities outlined in our 2014 preliminary results announcement and expect to provide a more detailed update at our forthcoming interims in January 2015,” Birch concluded.

UKIP backs lighter gaming regulation POLITICS

Nigel Farage’s UK Independence Party is on course to be the only political party at next year’s general election backing a lighter touch on regulation for the gaming industry. n a written response to questions put to it by ICoinslot, UKIP confirmed that it is in favour of freer legislation. When questioned over its stance on the gaming industry and what kind of policies it would like to introduce, a party spokesperson said the gambling industry has suffered from high profile governmental interference. “We believe the industry has been harmed by increasing legislation, such as the smoking ban,” said a UKIP spokesperson.He continued by explaining:“Being a party of classical liberal bend we would call for lighter regulation, but argue that there is a call for necessary regulation

benches by Douglas Carswell and his subsequent landslide win in the Clacton by-election, which saw UKIP take almost 60 percent of the vote. Political analysts are predicting that a further upset in the upcoming Rochester and Strood by-election, which takes place on 20 November, by another former Conservative MP,Mark Reckless,would trigger a surge in national support. of the industry.” According to analysts, Twelve months ago policy statements or even policy UKIP has a chance of winning commitments from UKIP in 30 constituencies at the would have been considered next election, although due an irrelevance or a footnote, to the nature of the first past however, the political land- the post system it is likely to scape has changed dramati- win in just five. An analysis cally following the defection based on polling found the from the Conservative three Conservative seats of

Boston and Skegness,Thurrock, and Thanet South where Nigel Farage is standing, among the five most likely to fall to UKIP in 2015. The others are the recently taken seat of Clacton and the Labour seat of Great Grimsby. Many of these potentially winnable seats have strong links to the amusement industry.This includes a further ten seats where UKIP is a good contender, including the Conservative seats of Great Yarmouth, Camborne and Redruth, Bognor Regis and Littlehampton, Folkestone and Hythe, Thanet North, and Waveney, plus the Labour seats of Dudley North, and Rotherham.The Lib Dem seat of Eastleigh, and

Rochester and Strood, the vacant seat of Tory-to-UKIP defector Mark Reckless, are also in this category. With the gameplay becoming so intense, the question now arises as to how industries will play the UKIP card. In words of a famous political leader,it may well be time for the amusements and coin-op industry to ‘go back to their constituencies and prepare for government’.Which government remains to be seen, but the stakes are high, as are the prospects of a successful lobbying campaign.Now, it seems, is the time to push for positive change in some very negative gaming and gambling legislation.

he DCMS’ Helen Grant has reiterated her comTmitment to handing over more powers to local authorities with regard to the siting of LBOs and, in doing so, increasing customer protection. In recent oral answers to a questions session in Parliament, Alex Cunningham (Stockton North, Labour) asked: “We are more likely to find highstakes fixed odds betting terminals in deprived areas of urban constituencies such as mine than in the leafy towns of Suffolk, so it is betting shop staff in places such as Stockton and Billingham who will have to consider giving permission to punters who want to place stakes of greater than £50 a time. Will the Minister explain how the government decided on the sum of £50, the criteria that they would have betting staff use when deciding whether to grant permission, and how the system will be monitored and enforced?” Helen Grant (Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport; Maidstone and The Weald, Conservative), replied: “There is a lot in that question, but I can tell the hon. Gentleman that the proposals I announced in April were measured and proportionate. They give more powers back to local authorities and, most importantly, more protection to consumers.”

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INDUSTRY AMUSEMENTS LEISURE

B2B COMMENT NEWSWEEK EVENT The Autumn Coin-Op Show made an impressive debut last week. B2B reports from Stamford Bridge. 13

Senet Group continues responsible gambling drive ADVERTISING

ewly-created body promoting responsible gambling, the Senet Group, is seeking a creative agency ahead of a major TV campaign next year, according to the Campaign Live website. As well as the campaign, which launches in January 2015, members of the group will ensure their own TV ads carry more prominent responsible gambling messages. Senet Group has shortlisted three agencies and is expected to make a decision by the end of the year. The body was set up last month by four of the biggest gambling companies: Ladbrokes, Coral, William Hill and Paddy Power. It is part of what the Financial Times called a “charm offensive”from the gambling industry as pressure mounts to tighten regulation.

The quartet have also agreed to a voluntary ban on advertising sign-up offers, such as free bets, on TV before 9pm; the withdrawal of all advertising of gaming machines in betting shop windows; and to dedicate 20 per cent of all shop window advertising space to responsible gam-

bling messages. The Senet Group certainly has its work cut out to satisfy the more restrictive tendancies in current thought. In September, the Advertising Standards Authority banned two posters from the Ladbrokes life campaign, which read:“When

you win it’s skill - when you lose it’s bad luck” and “Once is luck - twice is talent”. The ASA ruled that, when viewed in isolation from Ladbrokes’ wider TV and digital campaign, the posters could be seen to “condone an irresponsible attitude to gambling”.

From storms to sand: Teignmouth continues to battle the elements AMUSEMENTS

district council of is to underTtakeheTeignmouth urgent action to build up the sand of the beach after an urgent report indicated that its current profile lies below ‘crisis’ levels. The Devon seaside resort is home to both Booth Amusements and Teignmouth Grand Pier, which was damaged by storm activity in April. Whilst repairs to the pier are now complete, beach preservation efforts will now focus on the protection the sea-wall from

future damage, with funds being provided through a grant from the Environment Agency. Speaking to ITV news, town councillor Don Baldey claimed that

dredging by the Harbour Commission and the dumping of sand off nearby Holcombe had necessitated this latest action. “I welcome the news that action is being

taken,” he stated, “but this is not a long term solution. We must look at the Commissions’ dredging policy and see if that is effecting the recharge of our beach.”

2391-p06-07-industry_Coinslot NEW 21/10/2014 15:53 Page 1

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Licensing solicitors Poppleston Allen have handed out a quick-reference guide to landlords in order to quell any confusion regarding the types of machine which are permitted in pubs and bars.

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ottingham-based solicitors Poppleston Allen have issued an advisory paper designed to advise UK pub landlords of their exact machine entitlements. A spokesperson for the firm told the pub trade press: “On-licensed premises are able to offer Cat D and Cat C machines but not FOBT gaming machines. Under the Gambling Act 2005, FOBTs are Cat B2 machines. Pubs can offer the lower stake and prize Cat D, for instance the pushers and cranes, as well as the low stake and prize gaming machines, where the maximum cash prize is £5.There are a number of different stake and prize

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limits for Cat D games depending on whether they are crane machines, and whether prizes are cash or non-money, e.g. cuddly toys, key rings, etc. “The Cat C gaming machines have a maximum stake of £1 and a maximum prize of £100 and these types of C machines are the most common in pubs.One of the reasons the FOBT or Category B2 gaming machines are so popular is the maximum stake can amount to £100 although the maximum prize is always limited to £500. One publican asked:“I’ve recently been approached by our local council licensing officer regarding our Monopoly quiz machine. In

addition to this, we have a couple of gaming machines with £100 jackpots. As I understood it, I notified the council that I would have the two gaming machines that could then be made available to customers.The licensing officer has now told me that I may need to apply for a licensed premises gaming machine permit because the Monopoly quiz machine is also a gaming machine. Is he right?” The answer, not surprisingly, was no; the midguided stance of the licensing officer, on the other hand, is disconcerting. A Poppleston Allen spokesperson answered: “No, he isn’t, at least not in

the case of the Monopoly quiz game.These types of games such as Monopoly, Eliminator, Pints win Prizes, and indeed other arcade games such as PacMan and Space Invaders are not gaming machines for the purposes of the Gambling Act 2005 and do not require authorisation for them to be made available to customers. The £100 jackpot machines are Cat C gaming machines. They do require authorisation and you have correctly obtained that authorisation by notifying the council, and presumably paying a £50 fee,to be able to make them available to the public. Games such as Monopoly are generally

called SWP machines. There are a number of features of SWPs which mean they are not gaming machines. For instance, if you can win a prize by skill alone, and the outcome of the game does not depend on chance, it would likely be a SWP. Whether a machine is a gaming machine or SWP is an important distinction and would be one made by the manufacturer when the game was first built and made available for sale. The spokesman concluded: “If you do need to clarify whether a machine is for gaming or is skillbased, I suggest you speak to your supplier and obtain written confirmation.”

Boost Bingo wins best public affairs campaign award BINGO

he Boost Bingo campaign by the Bingo Association, which Tsecured a reduction in bingo duty from 20 per cent to 10 per cent in this year’s Budget, was last week announced the winner in the ‘Best Public Affairs Campaign’ category at the PR Week Awards 2014.The award was presented to the Bingo Association’s chief executive Miles Baron at an awards dinner in Grosvenor House, London. The Boost Bingo campaign was launch in January 2014 and aimed to reduce bingo duty from 20 per

constituencies by visiting their local bingo club, with some trying their hand at calling numbers. Over three months, the campaign gathered more than 330,000 petition signatures from bingo players across Britain and MPs were engaged into becoming supporters of the campaign and of bingo.The campaign reached a climax when the petition was delivered to the Chancellor’s residence at Number 11 Downing Street, in February, when nearly cent to 15 per cent, to enable the 200 bingo players joined MPs for industry to invest and grow. a celebratory procession past the Nearly 50 MPs supported the Houses of Parliament. In the 2014 Budget, Chancellor launch of the campaign in their

George Osborne announced that the duty on bingo clubs would be reduced from 20 per cent to 10 per cent. It meant bingo clubs across the UK could invest in new premises, modernisation and jobs, and the industry received an extra boost. Miles Baron, chief executive of The Bingo Association, said:“We are delighted that Boost Bingo was recognised as the best public affairs campaign at the PR Week Awards. The industry united behind the campaign and everyone worked flat out to make it a success and secure a needed boost for the industry.”

amendments to the Gambling Commission’s licence conditions and codes of practice (LCCP). The Commission has proposed changes to the document, which was last updated in 2007, to reflect a better understanding of social responsibility and risk. The policy is designed to ensure that gambling operators are delivering on the prime objectives of a licence - to keep crime out of gambling, ensure that it is fair and open and protects children and vulnerable people. Although many of the changes to the LCCP proposed at this stage will make specific alterations to the document, some are included as a means of stimulating debate over a number of key issues. Members of the industry have been encouraged to get in touch with their responses to the proposed changes, which are also designed to inform and shape the current debate about the place of gambling in Britain today. Interested parties have until 31 October to make their thoughts known. Responses can be delivered via post or using an online form at the Gambling Commission’s website, where a full rundown of the proposed changes can also be downloaded.

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Soap star celebrates Cashino charity haul Gang of three go down for total of eight years

CHARITY SENTENCE

ctor Jeff Hordley (pictured, right), famous for his role as Emmerdale villain Cain Dingle, made a special appearance at a Coventry AGC this past week. The Praesepe operated Cashino site on Hertford Street played host to the television star, who was on site to celebrate the venue’s charitable efforts. Hordley met with customers and staff to thank them for the £110,00 Cashino has donated this year to CHIPS,a charity that provides tailor-made powered wheelchairs to children with disabilities. “It is so humbling to see so many people turn up to see an Emmerdale character who is a bit of a rogue to

three-strong gang of professional criminals A who hit a number of

say the least,” said Hordley. “I always enjoy visits like this, and being able to meet fans is always a pleasure. “I like to take time out and visit organisations which dedicate time to raising money for such positive charities, and CHIPS is certainly a charity that

deserves recognition for their efforts,” he added.“All I hope is that my visits today have helped raise awareness for this fantastic achievement by the Cashino team and its customers, and for the CHIPS charity.” “We have loved having

Jeff along to our venues today,”said Cashino marketing manager, Phil Gibbs.“By the looks of it our customers have really enjoyed the soap star’s visit and it has provided a nice opportunity for them to get up close and personal to one of the Dingles.”

amusement arcades in Devon and Cornwall have been sentenced to a total of eight years. Operator Jason Frost, who was among the victims, revealed that the trio have now been sentenced to between two and three years for machine fraud and that their van, various tools and £1,400 in coins have been confiscated. Nigel Green of Penzance the trade body’s CID and the compliance team at BACTA collaborated in order to convict the thieves, with Phil Silver and Tony Waldron in particular

playing their part in bringing the gang to justice. “The thieves had broken into my arcade and a fair few others,” said Frost, managing director of Phoenix Gaming Cornwall Ltd. “It was interesting to know the amount of tools they had with them to gain entry to many different machines. They also have £1,400 in £1 coins and their vehicle confiscated by the police.”

2391-p08-industry_Coinslot NEW 21/10/2014 12:04 Page 1

Mecca step up payment security efforts

Trade body urges members to support six-week school holidays LEGISLATION

PAYMENT SECURITY

In a business environment beset by hacking scandals, the Rank Group is determined to help protects its customers’ sensitive financial data from online tampering.

he Rank Group, operators of the Mecca Bingo chain, has announced that it will employ SafeCharge to store and protect its customer’s credit card information. Rank will make use of the secure payments platform and risk management option provided by the payment

services specialists. The move is designed to add a further layer of security to the sensitive financial information acquired through Mecca’s day-today operations. This reduces the risk of both unauthorised access and fraud, which SafeCharge protects against by building a specific profile to

match the bingo operator’s typical transactions. This system will flag questionable payments and transmit them in real time to the Rank’s risk analysis team. “We are confident that by improving our payments platform, we will be able to offer our customers an even higher level of protection against possible fraud.” Safeguarding and encrypting customer’s payment card information has become a matter of increasing concern for businesses around the world, as hackers continue to find success bypassing existing secu-

rity measures. In recent months, US retailers Home Depot and Kmart became the latest in a string of worldwide corporations that have fallen foul of online criminals looking to steal passwords and credit card numbers. It is hoped that by employing the new systems, Rank will also be able to decrease the burden of auditing and reduce the number of man hours needed to maintain its financial standards by providing a range of descoping options - allowing the group to more easily comply with Payment Card Industry (PCI) regulations.

Special edition plush comes with hefty price tag PLUSH & TOYS

igh-end German H plush specialist Steiff is celebrating Hello Kitty’s 40th anniversary with its first collectable based on the iconic kitten. The stuffed Hello Kitty plush toy, made with soft mohair and featuring its own mini teddy bear, comes in at an eyebrow-raising price tag of $260 (£162). Standing at 9ins tall, Hello Kitty features a moveable head and is

packaged inside a Steiff cardboard box a n d includes a Steiff Certificate of Authenticity. While i t s princely sum may leave operators who like to stock their redemption counters with Hello Kitty plush feeling a bit light in the wallet, the Steiff toy is still only half the price of the $500 Godzilla (£313), currently in development.

he De-Regulation Bill which is currently Tpassing through Parliament could become law by the end of the year, with Clause 44 Schedule 15 handing individual schools the option to set their own term times. BACTA has agreed to support BALPPA’s campaign to retain the current six week school summer holiday, which has been an English institution for over 100 years. One of the proposals is to reduce summer holidays from six to four weeks. This clause allows it to happen and could be devastating for businesses and jobs, particularly those who rely on seasonal trade. It would also cause confusion for parents, especially when their children are in different schools. BACTA has urged members to sign the epetition, which can be found at https://www.facebook.co m/SaveOurSummerHolidays or https://twitter.com/saves ummerhols. The coin-op trade body believes that concerned businesses should also write a letter to their local MP as the Bill will be going through the House of Lords to the Committee Stage where it could be amended on October 28.

NEW DATES FOR YOUR CALENDAR: 13 – 15 JANUARY 2015 ExCeL London Exhibition Centre

THE AMUSEMENT & LEISURE SHOW

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2391-p10-Amusements_Coinslot NEW 21/10/2014 13:41 Page 1

Coinslot October 24 - October 30, 2014

Amusements

Former amusements site to spearhead Southend regeneration

CRIME

Barry Island amusements operator has rewarded a A member of the public for help-

If proof were needed that the traditional seaside resort is undergoing a revival, look no further than ambitious new plans for Southend’s seafront.

ment arcade would also be kept in the development, and Martin Richardson, owner of the nearby Happidrome Arcade, has expressed an interest in it. He commented:“I am always looking for a way to improve and expand so if there was an arcade in the new site then I’d be the first to apply for a lease to run it.” If planning permission is granted,work could start next year in order to hit the project’s expected completion date of 2018. It would join a number of new developments on Southend’s seafront, including a new multiplex cinema and a £7m, 80-room Premier Inn hotel, due to open in early 2015. In addition,Adventure Island

also has plans to add more amusements to its site, and Southend’s Sealife Centre has announced its own expansion plans. Richard Stevens, partner at the Inner London Group, which has advised Goldfield on the plans, said it was the biggest scheme the resort had seen for years and would kick-start the seafront. He said there would be no delays if given the go ahead:“This has already cost millions and it’ll be a project that costs millions to complete, so the landowner won’t just sit on it if it has planning permission. It will follow through.” Christopher Wickham, of planning agent Christopher Wickham Associates, said:“Our

clients will be building a landmark building at the Eastern end of the seafront. “The scheme will change the scale of the seafront. It is a sensible scheme that is visually exciting and will benefit traders, residents and day trippers.” Graham Longley, Southend councillor responsible for economic regeneration, commented: “Of course, it is good to have regeneration of the town and we welcome projects that will regenerate Southend. “It is also good to have a variety of different types of schemes and developments, we want them to happen as they bring business and jobs to the area.”

Labour’s tourism plan to promote seaside towns TOURISM

Labour Party has pledged promote the regeneration Tof hetoseaside towns as part of its plans for the tourism industry if it is returned to power at next year’s general election. Speaking last week, shadow secretary of state for culture, media and sport Harriet Harman announced an eight-point plan to boost the industry, which represents nine per cent of UK GDP. Declaring that tourism would play a key role its plans for growth and jobs, Harman said the party would look to promote and regenerate seaside towns, arts, heritage and culture, as well as support small businesses by cutting business rate bills. She commented: “Tourism is

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Operator rewards Good Samaritan after ride returned

REGENERATION

he site of the former Funland amusement arcade in Southend could soon be leading the way in a series of regeneration projects aimed at reviving the resort’s seafront. Developer Goldfield Developments has submitted a planning application to Southend Borough Council for 282 flats, plus retail space for bars, restaurants and shops. If approved, the Funland site, the Foresters Arms pub and the closed New Ship pub on Southend’s Marine Parade would all be bulldozed. It wouldn’t be the end of amusements on the site,however. Local newspaper The Echo reports that space for an amuse-

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Stephen D’Alfonso, ABTA’s head of public affairs, said:“Our industry contributes £127 billion to the economy annually,employment in tourism is growing at double the rate of non-tourism industries, and our sector provides some of the most flexible and youth-friendly jobs in our economy today - helping to fulfil all parties’ stated commitment to employment and growth.” “Travel and tourism creates an economic powerhouse for port growth and to rebalance the jobs and wealth in every conBritain. But for too long tourism economy. It’s not about identify- stituency across the country, and has not been given the recogni- ing individual companies - pick- this announcement highlights tion it deserves.ThisTory-led gov- ing winners - but it is about the importance that Labour has put on the industry as an ecoernment’s approach has been picking winning sectors.” Tourism industry association nomic generator, and a vote patchy. Ministers have failed to take a properly joined-up ABTA welcomed the announce- winner.We will watch with interment, saying Harman had cov- est to see the priority given to approach. “The government has a ered many of the key asks from tourism by the other major parresponsibility to identify and sup- the manifesto it launched in July. ties on the road to 2015.”

ing him recover part of a unique ride stolen earlier this month. Pat Collins Snr. was reunited with the pod from his Balloon Wheel ride when the woman to whom thieves had sold it recognised the item as stolen from a photograph on Facebook. The custom-made pod, worth £7,500, had been taken overnight from a storage facility in Barry Island between Sunday October 5 and Monday October 6. Local beat manager PC Nicola Owen said: “This has been recovered from a back garden of a house in Barry on Friday October 10. “The Fibreglass pod was sold to an unsuspecting member of the public by two male persons in a white transit van on Monday evening at Glynbridge Close in Barry. “The member of the public contacted the owner directly after seeing a photograph of the stolen item on Facebook. We are appealing for any witnesses who would be able to recognise the men again or know the registration number of the vehicle involved. “Pat Collins Snr. gave a reward to the witness and thanked her for notifying him. The fairground pod has been recovered and will shortly be on its way to Dubai, where it will become part of the fairground.”

Whether your market is low stake high volume gaming, remote, land-based casinos, bingo, betting or amusements there’s only one publishing house that’s really connected. The publishing division of GB Media is responsible for the award winning titles International Casino Review, Betting Business interactive and Coinslot, as well as the ofﬁcial ICE catalogue. For a unique window on the world of gaming, simply contact us on +44 (0) 1204 396 397 or email us at jsullivan@gbmedia.eu.

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Coinslot October 24 - October 30, 2014

Leisure

16 B2B listings and industry marketplace

Online betting tax to raise 25m euros in Ireland TAXATION

Ireland is determined not to miss out on the financial bonanza that online betting can bring with a new tax designed to rake in the funds.

pproximately 25m euros will be raised annually for the Irish economy by a new online betting tax that Michael Noonan has been trying to introduce since he became Minister for Finance over three years ago. The levy on online transactions will seek to target overseas bookmakers that provide remote services to Irish customers, according to local press. Around 1.6bn euros per year is gambled in Ireland online, with most of the profits going to overseas enterprises that enjoy a relatively tax-free

regime in the country. Up to 11m euros of the money raised will go towards capital and other investment in Ireland’s horse and greyhound racing industries. The enactment of the Betting (Amendment) Bill 2013 is imminent and will require remote bookmakers and betting exchanges providing betting services to punters to obtain a licence in Ireland, regardless of whether or not they have any physical presence in Ireland. They will also be liable to pay tax on betting transactions with Irish customers. Noonan told the Dáil: “In recognition of the importance of the Irish bloodstock industry to the rural economy and the anticipated yield of 25m euros per annum from betting duty, the government will be providing an additional 6m euros a year for three years to the fund for horse and greyhound racing.” “The government is also allocating additional capital of 5m euros to Horse Racing Ireland in 2015 to leverage investment in race courses.” The bill is designed to provide a regulatory system for remote

bookmakers and betting intermediaries - otherwise known as betting exchanges - offering betting services in Ireland regardless of their location.It also seeks to provide for a fair and equal treatment of all bookmakers,traditional and remote, and betting exchanges offering services in Ireland. Leading operator Paddy Power stated:“We have worked closely with the authorities in Ireland on the Betting (Amendment) Bill - ensuring that there is a level playing pitch for all companies who operate in the Irish marketplace irrespective of whether they are based in Ireland or not,” a company spokesman said. Attempts to tax online betting have been going on at government level since at least 2009 when former justice minister Dermot Ahern began a review of gambling legislation, some of which dated from 1931. In his first Finance Act as finance minister in 2011, Noonan provided for a new licensing regime and an extension of the betting tax to online gambling but it is only now coming into force.

Spirit agree to increased Greene King merger bid

Cardiff looks forward to Superbowl leisure complex

19 This week’s machine charts

20 Classified sales, job and business opps

OCTOBER 17 - OCTOBER 23, 2014

PUBS LEISURE

evelopers QLP Ltd have invested £1.6m on a 25-year lease which will turn the D lower-ground floor of Cardiff’s Stadium Plaza into a state-of-the-art leisure complex. The 22,000 square-foot Cardiff Superbowl development will provide ten-pin bowling, amusements, VIP lanes, Laser Quest, a sports bar and a diner, joining the 14-screen Vue cinema and Pure Gym outlet already extant. The location of the Stadium Plaza, already self-styled as ‘Cardiff’s Leisure Quarter’, affords the new complex an enviable platform to capture its key customer base:“It’s next door to the world famous Millennium Stadium,” QLP director David Quaintance commented,“and right at the

heart of the city’s exciting regeneration zone, so we’re very confident about success.” QLP already operates similar centres in Great Yarmouth,Widnes and Macclesfield, with plans to expand further across the country in 2015. Cardiff’s city centre has seen extensive investment and regeneration in recent years. Speaking to Wales Online, EJ Hales agent Phillip Morris, who presided over the Cardiff Superbowl lease, added that its 2015 opening would cement the area’s status as a primary destination for leisureseekers:“With the transformation of the adjacent bus station area and the emergence of the neighbouring Capital Square, this is fast becoming the epicentre of activity in Cardiff.”

he Spirit Pub Company, which operates over 1,200 pubs Tthroughout the UK, has provisionally approved a revised merger agreement with Greene King. A September proposal from Greene King was rejected , a revised submission places a net valuation on Spirit of £723m. The operator’s board of directors has indicated that it will recommend this latest offer to its share-holders pending further agreement of terms. Spirit have stressed that there is no certainty a final offer will be made, and deliberation between both companies is set to continue up until October 31st.

The Autumn Coin-Op Show Report P13

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Essential Guide to... ACOS 2014 ACOS: A two-fold achievement of material and morale The Autumn Coin-op Show saw a number of sales success stories, but more importantly, witnessed an emerging sense of collective confidence that can only bolster the wider sector. Chris Webster reports. rrespective of market, surely the major factor underlying attendance at any trade-show is to increase the volume of sales. Networking and product-promotion are crucial co-conspirators in the overriding end-goal: long-term investments which may well yield fruit in the weeks and months that follow. Still, the defining criterion of whether a show can truly be deemed successful is if its contributors walk away from it with change in their pockets. And in this respect, ACOS seems to have delivered. “For us, in terms of sales it has outperformed our own open-day, which itself outperformed our taking at EAG,” enthused Electrocoin director John Stergides. Dan Smedley, product developer at Wexel Gaming, concurred: “We’ve seen more sales here than at EAG,” he told us, “the right people have showed up: people who are coming over and talking to us are actually placing orders.”

While the comparison to EAG is misleading in almost every respect: the two shows differ widely in terms of scale, audience and objective. And perhaps a fixation on sales-figures is similarly misdirected: after all, one of the markedly noticeable traits of ACOS was that, competition aside, a common value could be found across the show floor: that of a pervasive sense of optimism in the sector as a whole. “I think this show has come just at the right time,” commented Chris Black, managing director of SoundLeisure, echoing a sentiment found on the lips of almost everyone exhibiting over the course of the two days. “I think after the last five years everybody wants to start building again.” Whilst sales and cash-flow remain the crux of any successful business, if the legacy of the Autumn Coin-op Show is an industry with a renewed sense of purpose, its worth is undeniable, and the sector gains as whole.

24 SEVEN

ASTRA

BLUEPRINT

CROWN DIRECT

24 Seven introduces itself at inaugural ACOS

Astra looks to CAT C for future profit drive

Blueprint attract full sweep of clients at ACOS

Crown Direct champion SG Gaming’s Vertex server

solo exhibitor 24 Seven eading the Astra stand was its tried Gaming used the inaugural ACOS and tested Bullion Bars Arena product. Feventirst-time L to formally introduce itself to the The eye-catching Cat C offers a classic gaming marketplace, which proved to be a great success according to managing director Simon McCarthy. “For me the most important thing [about the show] was about reinforcing the brand, and establishing it as a new entrant into the marketplace,” he explained. “The show itself couldn’t have gone better, within the first hour I took orders, so that’s what I class as a great success for us”, he added.

three-reel design along with its £100 jackpot. Cat C is a future area of concentration for the business: “The B3 market is quite mature now, so Cat C is where we really want to go full force with now,” said Alan Rogers, Astra’s director of sales and marketing. Rogers was impressed with the positive momentum generated by the show, “It’s far outstripped my expectations,” he said. “We’ve already prebooked our stand for next year.”

lueprint Gaming shared a stand with rown Direct utilised ACOS as a platexclusive reel-based distributor PW form to promote SG Gaming’s Vertex B C Sales at ACOS, experiencing a heightened server-based gaming solution, due to interest in its £100 Cat C range aimed at the UK pub market. “We’ve had really good success there, with interest from both retailers and operators,” remarked operations director Andy Hall. The company was able to attract clients from across the spectrum of its client base. “The calibre we’ve seen has represented every aspect of our clientele: from retailers, to multi-national arcade operators, and smaller independent venues,” said Hall: “It’s been a wonderful turnout.”

launch in the coming months. Vertex provides operators with SG’s latest games for download every month. “Interest in Vertex has been excellent here,” said Crown’s managing director, Dean Harding. “As SG are the market leader in B3 and Cat C at the moment, I think for us to be able to bring their content to smaller independent operators will prove really popular.”

Coinslot OCTOBER 24 - OCTOBER 30, 2014

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Essential Guide to ... ACOS 2014

ELECTROCOIN

INNOVATIVE TECHNOLOGY

JABRO GAMES

KIDDY RIDES

Electrocoin champions tablet gaming

Innovative Technology point to ‘green shoots’ recovery at ACOS

Jabro brins Popeye to the Bridge

Next stop, ACOS

lectrocoin used ACOS to champion their tablet-gaming solution: Bar-X Kiosk. The self-service kiosk ships with 20 mobile tablet devices which can either be fixed to a machine for an additional play experience or used in a roaming capacity. “The game design is very soft,” explained business development manager Gabino Stergides. “We want to provide a long-term play experience for small win levels.” Bar-X features a multi-sweep set of games: three reelers, five-reelers, and a poker game. “We got the product firmly finished about a month ago,” Stergides revealed, “it’s tested incredibly well, and we’re really pleased with it.” HARRY LEVY

Redemption fuels Harry Levy success, with eyes on future licences

arry Levy’s commercial director Matthew Deith was upbeat at the ACOS turn-out last week: “We were one of the main backers of the show, and I think it’s turned out to be quite impressive,” he said. Family-aimed redemption products continue to be high performers for the company, but its recent capitalisation of the Flappy Bird franchise may hint at a course alteration in the years to come: “When you look at our products planned for next season, you’ll see that we’re about to become very focused in the area of licensed products.” Coinslot OCTOBER 24 - OCTOBER 30, 2014

COS is a sign that there are some definite ‘green shoots’ of recovery for the A coin-op sector according to Tony Morrison, VP of sales & business development at Innovative Technology, who also said the event was an indication that the sector as a whole was ‘more willing to invest than in the past’. With this idea in mind, Innovative Technology used the Stamford Bridge show to display two of its key UK products, the NV11 note recycler and its newest smart ticket device, a combined bill acceptor and ticket printer, which is completely unique. INTERCLUB

InterClub unveils ‘unique’ Flexitab lottery machine

abro Games used the West London event to unveil its new Popeye, Cat C triple game, available in the Horizon or Casino cabinet. Tony Brookes, managing director at Jabro Games, said the machine had invited a ‘fair bit of interest’ from the show floor, which also had the opportunity to view Jabro’s latest ticket redemption machine. “Both drew a lot of interest from both seaside and inland operators,” Brookes added. Discussing the overall event, he continued: “We weren’t sure what was going to happen at ACOS, but a lot of people came and this was a great chance to see everyone in one place.”

children’s ride. It’s got an interactive game inside, but it’s physical interaction not a digital one,” explained the company’s production manager, Gareth Jones. Kids move the steering wheel as the ride moves around, trying to catch as many foam balls as possible. “Although there’s obviously technology in there, it’s still like an old-fashioned physical game,” added Jones. “You can see the balls bouncing about, you can here the noise and see the mechanics. That’s kind of the feel we’re wanting to go for.” NSM MUSIC

JNC

JNC rides Go Go Pony at ACOS

nterClub Lotteries arrived at Stamford J Bridge to display its new Flexitab lottery Imachine, which, according to Ian Pusey, technical director at InterClub Lotteries, comes with the ‘unique’ option of running 2, 3 or 4 column games. “It’s aimed at operators who want flexibility with their set-up, and can be easily upgraded,” he explained. Commenting on the ACOS event, Pusey continued: “It’s been a very good show and has been a lot busier than we expected. ACOS looks like it could definitely fill a gap in the market.”

r. Bus trundled his way to ACOS, taking pride of place at the Kiddy M Rides stand. “Mr. Bus is a two-seater

NC Sales named its Go Go Pony linkable kiddy-ride as the runaway hit at ACOS last week. “We’ve seen lots of trade with our kiddy soft-play area stuff, but Go Go Pony has sold particularly well,” JNC’s Dave Columbine commented. The Autumn show capped a busy year for the amusement machine supplier, which had a ‘wonderful summer’ according to Columbine. “I think the industry in general did well, people are spending which is reflected here at ACOS,” he added.

Music technology in the foreground We’re very pleased, ACOS is definitely something the industry “needed,” said NSM’s Alex Kirby, as he demonstrated the jukebox manufacturer’s new app that allows anyone to select songs from their mobile or tablet. “This is going on trial within our own operation and soon it will go straight out into the market place,” said Kirby. The company’s background music system was also on show. “We’ve got a trial with four major pub groups,” said Kirby, “which has been very successful.”

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PW SALES

RLMS SALES

SB MACHINES

SOUND LEISURE

Paul Wilson: Everyone at ACOS “here to talk”

Win Fall and Slotto £500 frontrunners for RLMS

SB plan on ‘bigger stand’ at ACOS 2015

LMS Sales managing director Phil iddie rides specialists SB Machines Boulton utilised ACOS to demonstrate K saw a solid taking at ACOS: “We’re R front-runners of the company’s current delighted with the turnout and with the

VenueHub picks up bulk order at ACOS for SoundLeisure

W Sales’ Paul Wilson was full of praise for the ACOS turnout. “The show’s been fabulous,” he said. “There’s no need to separate the wheat from the chaff here - everyone who has come here has been looking to talk.” Wilson specialises in the supply of the pub and club sector, and anticipates a promising 2015: “I think what’s happening now is that there’s a concentrated group of manufacturers,” he commented. “With G Squared, Blueprint, Relfex and Bell-Fruit, you’ve four very successful manufacturers which provides sector suppliers and operators with a much wider choice of products and prices.”

catalogue: “Rather than previewing upcoming equipment, we took the opportunity to showcase our current product range: what we’re able to deliver in the here and now,” he stated. In that respect, Deal or No Deal: Win Fall and Astra’s B3 Slotto £500 were the clear winners in terms of volumes of sales. “I think I’ll echo a great many others when I say the show was a success,” said Boulton. “It was well attended by the right quality of people.”

results, it’s been excellent,” commented Paolo Sidoli. “We’ve secured definitive sales and we look forward to taking a bigger stand next year.” Front-runner for the company was its new two-seater Double Pony ride, “its been our best seller this year,” added Sidoli, who believed the show reflected a growing optimism within the industry. “I think the industry needed a show like this,” he said. “People love this location: particularly the accessibility of Chelsea.”

SAM LEISURE

SG GAMING

REFLEX GAMING

Endurance pays off

The Sky’s the limit

Reflex Gaming calls ACOS ‘right place’

been plenty of footfall, we’ve SG Gaming were at ACOS to unveil never been quiet since we opened, so the fruits of an exciting partnership “it’s There’s S been good,” said SAM Leisure’s Liam between the manufacturer and Sky

eflex Gaming owner Quentin Stott called ACOS the ‘right place’ to market his company’s Royal 100 Digital Compendium, a ten-game compendium specifically designed for the pub retail sector. “The show’s been marketed very well, which has translated into people coming,” he explained. “We’ve had a great couple of days with the amount of people that we’ve seen.” Discussing the timing of the show, he added: “I think it’s a good time of year, it’s at a good location in a nice area of London, we’ll definitely be back.”

Barrett. For the the experienced supplier, ACOS made it three shows in the three weeks, but with new products to show, the company were understandably keen to get as many eyes on as possible. Drawing plenty of attention was the Neuron Race game, which rewards quick reactions. “It’s a perfect redemption game,” said Barrett “but we’re also pushing this as a pub piece.” The latest in SAM’s long line of hardy outdoor air hockey tables, the Snowboard, was also on show.

Sports. The company’s new package bundles a custom selection of seven games onto two Triple 7 cabinets, topped with a plasma TV. Targeted at AGC and Bingo markets, the deal also includes 12 months of the full Sky TV selection. During major sporting events venues can show live sport, but during quieter periods could switch to other channels, such as Sky News.

COS saw Sound Leisure continue to attract investment with its ever popular A VenueHub. “The first person on the stand on Wednesday ordered twenty of them,” related managing director Chris Black, who added that the show provided him with an unparalleled network opportunity. “I’ve seen all my major customers,” he said, “I can’t think of anybody I haven’t met here.” Whilst the VHub remains the Leedsbased company’s best-selling product, its classic 1015 replica of the famed 1946 Wurlitzer has cornered its own bespoke market area resulting in a marked upturn in sales: “We’ve been building them for thirty years,” he said. “Everything about it is top notch, and we can’t build enough of them at the moment.” WEXEL

Bingo Plus is Wexel’s ACOS star exel’s six-player Bingo Plus unit took pride of place on their ACOS W stand. Nicknamed ‘spider-arms’ whilst in development, its six tablet interfaces “aim to provide a low-cost linked bingo solution,” explained product developer Dan Smedley, who was enthusiastic about the company’s performance at the show. “Bingo Plus has been our bestseller, but we’ve seen sales of all of our products far outmatching any other show we’ve attended to date.” Coinslot OCTOBER 24 - OCTOBER 30, 2014

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Our industry still faces many d but I never fail to be impresse fulness and willingness to inve uct development sheer quantity of new products on is proof of our in nation to embrac ACOS ORGANISER, KAREN COOKE.

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Following straight on from the inaugural ACOS event Simon McCarthy, managing director of 24 Seven Gaming, tells Coinslot about the importance of processing leads and how the show acts as a springboard for 2015. oinslot: How was ACOS for you? Simon McCarthy: The show was a total success for 24 Seven Gaming, it was great to meet both new customers and reengage with long-standing customers based on my contacts over the years.This is especially important for us, as a relatively new company in the sector it was a fantastic place for us to take our first solo stand.

CS: Now that it’s over, how do you go about processing the orders and following up on the leads?

SM: Following up on the contacts made is just as critical as the initial face-to-face meetings to be honest.I will do this with a combination of phone calls,site meetings and even Skype these days! I really appreciate how my customers have supported the new company. CS: How does your experience at ACOS affect your strategy for EAG? SM:The success of the product and presence at the Autumn Coin-op Show will be followed by a number of in-depth discussions with both Wessex Coinand Blue Monkey

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Coinslot OCTOBER 24 - OCTOBER 30, 2014

Direct are to be believed. The suppliers have selected King of the Hammer as their star buy for this week. This amusement title challenges players to smash a pressure pad with a rubber mallet, recording

their power on a back-mounted display. The piece fits alongside the suppliers’ redemption offering, which also includes Goal Line Rush and Harpoon Lagoon.

RECRUITMENT UDC EXPANDS SALES DRIVE United Distributing Company continue to expand their sales Tteam.he(UDC) The company is paying specific

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es many difficult issues impressed by its resourceess to invest in new prodvelopment. For me, the quantity of outstanding roducts on display at ACOS f of our industryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s determito embrace the future.

SER, KAREN COOKE.

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ICE 2015 registration goes live egistration for ICE 2015 has gone live with over 1,000 international gaming professionals reserving their tickets on the show website in the first 72-hours of the system being activated. The website has been designed to CS: Whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s your plan for the rest of the reflect the creative campaign for 2015 year and moving into 2015? SM:Moving forward into 2015 we now have which invites the industry to embark a renewed focus on our development proj- on its own Voyages Extraordinaires ects thanks toACOS and we will be planning and â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Discoverâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; the world of gaming to increase market share throughout the UK amongst the 500 plus exhibitors at ICE. Jo Mayer, marketing director with a combination of 24 Seven branded products and those products we represent responsible for ICE, said: â&#x20AC;&#x153;In 2014 we succeeded in attracting a total of from [Czech manufacturer] E-Gaming. 23,506 attendees to London, an achievement which represented our fifth consecutive year of growth. However, thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a saying in this business about â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;only being as good as your last eventâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;. As such, our philosophy is based on instilling a culture of continattention to its UK and Eire sales drive. uous improvement and the investments made in the brand creative and BANDAI NAMCO how we present the brand online - in SEARCH FOR the process delivering a cleaner and ENGINEERS AND quicker user experience - are important elements of that culture.â&#x20AC;? COLLECTORS ICE continues to draw vast attendance from across the globe to the UK industry, a point not lost on growield-based positions are on offer at ing numbers of coin-op companies Bandai Namco who are looking to keen to join the exhibition. 2014 had expand both their team of service engiattendees from a record 156 nations, neers and collectors. Duties include the servicing, maintenance and/or the collec- and the new creative - produced by tion of currency from the companyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s range S&Jc - is one of the boldest in the eventâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s history. of amusement machines nationwide. Sales as to the strategy we will now all plan to take at EAG. It is envisaged that the next exhibition will be much more focused on the distribution side of the business.

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B 2 B

2391-p16-18-Listings_Coinslot NEW 21/10/2014 17:22 Page 3

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Listings CAT B3 ASTRA RELEASES MAGIC LOTTO ULTRA KIT

ew kits are now available for Astra’s B3 title, Magic Lotto Ultra. Launched in October 2013, Magic Lotto Ultra has proved popular with AGC and bingo operators alike. The new kits should direct are being distributed by Crown Direct, Deith Leisure and RLMS Sales.

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INTERNATIONAL

Gamesman gains plaudits in Vegas The Brits were out in full force at the G2E in Las Vegas last month. Leading the way were Gamesman who proved that components remain big business both on and off the Strip.

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resh out of RLMS Sales is Project’s FFortune Hunter £500 B3. With stake options of 25p, 50p, £1 and £2 and boasting dual 22” flatscreens, the machine comes with a cadre of seven games and offers optional TITO provision. Targeted at the AGC and bingo markets, Fortune Hunter utilises Advantech’s Innocore technology.

CAT C A NEW WIND IS BLOWING

eflex Gaming’s latest release, Blow the Bank, is a high tech Cat C title that attracted plenty of attention at the recent Autumn Coin-op Show. This robberthemed machine is one of a number of new titles include at the event, including Chilli Con Carnage, Hit the Dracpot and Maid of Money. These multistake games are all featured in the Horizon Metal Cabinet and make use of Reflex’s Reel Connect technology. Coinslot OCTOBER 24 - OCTOBER 30, 2014

amesman, one the leading component manufacturers to the international G gaming industry, returned to the UK in buoyant mood after what managing director Mark Smith described as his company’s “most successful G2E on record”. Showing alongside parent company Esterline, Gamesman used the Las Vegas outing as a shop window for both its’ off the shelf gaming solutions and the bespoke product development service which accounts for a growing percentage of annual turnover for the company which was formed in 1996. Reflecting on Gamesman’s G2E showing, Smith said: “We use our presence at the big shows such as G2E in Vegas and ICE in London primarily to meet with clients, to listen to what their big issues are and to identify how we can help them. G2E gives us the opportunity to immerse ourselves in what is Gamesman’s single biggest market, sit down with our customers and simply talk gaming.” He added: “With all of our customers attending G2E, the show also provides an opportunity to measure the level of service we are delivering. I’m delighted to say the feedback was outstanding with Gamesman receiving official recognition from four separate companies with one confirming that for the second year running Gamesman topped their league table of external suppliers, for quality, on-time delivery and customer service. This level of commitment is something that has carried Gamesman throughout our history and will take us forward as we continue to grow. This is very much a team achievement and I look forward with confidence to our next big opportunity to showcase what we do at ICE in February.”

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1 2 3 4 7 6 9 10 5

DOND Winfall BFG DOND Box 23 BFG Hot Shots REF DOND Midas Touch BFG Fiddle A Fortune REF DOND Powerplay BFG DOND Crazy Chair Gold BFG Best Of British REF DOND The Big One BFG Worminator QPS

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

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Slotto 500 Astra Wish Upon a Slot Blueprint Triple 8 Barcrest Magic Lotto ultra Novomatics King of Slots Blueprint Triple 7 Barcrest Mega Bars Big Hit Project Casino King TS22 Project Lady Luck Reflex Magic Lotto 2 Novomatics

FEC - family

This Last Week Week Name / Manufacturer

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Encore T7 (GP2) SG Gaming Magic Games 100 Ultra Novomatic Encore T7 (GP3) SG Gaming Find the Lady Ultimate Project Magic Games 3 Novomatic Digislots Reflex Bullion Bars Streak Astra Encore T7 (GP1) SG Gaming Triple 7 (GP3) SG Gaming X3000 Multi Game Amatic

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

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Members clubs

This Last Week Week Name / Manufacturer

Magic Games U/R Novomatic Rainbow Riches Party Barcrest Free Play 70 Project Pure Gold Project Find The Lady 70 Project Party Time Arena (4 Player) Astra Win Wall Celebrity Astra Sevens Up Electrocoin Party Games (4 Player) Astra Magic Games S/D Novomatic

Taken from a representative number of sites around the UK Supplied by Amusement Equipment Co Ltd

www.soundnet.net

1 2 3 4 5

Highest Earning Tracks on Sound Leisure jukeboxes This Last Week Week

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

1 2 5 9 4 6 3 10 7

All About That Bass Meghan Trainor Budapest George Ezra Thinking Out Loud Ed Sheeran Changing Sigma feat. Paloma Faith Shake It Off Taylor Swift Rude Magic! Bang Bang Jessie J, Ariana Grande & Nicki Minaj Blame Calvin Harris feat. John Newman Blame It On Me George Ezra Prayer In C (Robin Schulz Radio Edit) Lilly Wood & The Prick

Albums

Based on data from four sites Amusement Equipment Co Ltd

FEC - adult 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

UK Jukebox Chart http://www.sound net.net/

Bullion Bars (3 Player) Astra Party Time Classic (3 Player) Astra Party Games (4 Player) Astra Double Cash Astra Adders And Ladders (4 Player) Vivid Rainbow Riches (3 Player) Empire Goldrush Stampede (4 Player) Barcrest Party Time Arena (4 Player) Astra Party Time (3 Player) Astra Golden Games (3 Player) Mazooma

CATEGORYB4 (£2/£4000 Max)

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Gone Girl The Maze Runner Annabelle One Direction: Where We Are Dracula Untold The Equalizer The Boxtrolls What We Did On Our Holiday The Rewrite Dolphin Tale 2

MUSICCHARTS

AGCs 3 1 2 8 6 5 7 10

THE MAZE RUNNER

1 2 3 4 5 7

Based on data supplied by a representative number of UK sites Supplied by RLMS Sales

CATEGORYD (10p/£5 Max.)

This Last Week Week

ELLA HENDERSON: CHAPTER ONE

Jackpot 100 Barcrest Best of British Reflex Let’s Get Jackpotted Reflex DOND Live BFG Street Casino 2014 Storm

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

1 2 3 1 4 -

Chapter One Ella Henderson X Ed Sheeran In The Lonely Hour Sam Smith Wanted on Voyage George Ezra Sweet Talker Jessie J NoSongs Of Innocence U2 Partners Barbra Streisand The Story - The Very Best Of Spandau Bellet Tough Love Jessie Ware Rose Ave You & Me

Downloads This Last Week Week

Based on data from representative sites. Supplied by sector professional

ONE DIRECTION: STEAL MY GIRL

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

1 6 11 4 3 35 -

All About That Bass Meghan Trainor Steal My Girl One Direction Shake It Off Taylor Swift Thinking Out Loud Ed Sheeran Bang Bang Jessie J/Grande/MinaJ Don’t Tell ‘Em Jeremih ft YG Guts Over Fear Eminem ft Sia Changing Sigma ft Paloma Faith BOh Cecilia (Breaking My Heart) Vamps Bullit Watermat Coinslot OCTOBER 24 - OCTOBER 30, 2014

B 2 B

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Coinslot OCTOBER 24 - OCTOBER 30, 2014

B 2 B

2391-p22-23-comment_Coinslot NEW 21/10/2014 16:38 Page 1

Coinslot October 24 - October 31, 2014

Comment Bearing all ACOS delivers on its promise

“

The Autumn Coin-Op Show brought life back to the industry at the end of the season. Now it’s time for business.

ken scott comment

o there we have it: a new show on the industry calendar. In fairness, it didn’t take a genius to work out that it was bound to happen;theAutumn spot was left vacant for far too long,and the industry clearly needed something to bring it together at this crucial stage of the year. But, in reality, the issue has never been about the timing of an autumn based show or, indeed, the necessity. It’s about money, cashflow and return on investment. And so it should be. As much as networking and meeting up is lovely jubbly for everyone in the industry - and long may that be the case - it’s actually about business. It’s about deals, it’s about investment, it’s about driving industry initiatives forward. Last week’s Autumn Coin-Op Show delivered on its promise: to provide a timely, industry forum in a good environment. It was an inaugural event and it set its bar modestly low - emphasis very much on networking and informality. And it worked.The attendees and the exhibitors enjoyed the exercise and capitalised on the opportunities.ACOS proved that it was ‘good to talk’ . But looking at next year and beyond, ACOS will be aiming to prove that talking is good for business. The ACOS organisers are savvy enough to know that going forward exhibitors will be looking at the financial return of the autumn outing; indeed, the organisers have the experience in bucketloads to know how to deliver on that particular promise. And, in fairness, they already

have. This year’s response from exhibitors showed that ACOS was not just a meet and greet:business was definitely done, and in some measure. At the same time, the organisers have found a venue in Stamford Bridge that fits the logistical bill and offers something more unique than a souless expo hall. The environs is enticing, the access - whilst not an ExCel Centre, is still very good for central London, and they have a pricing policy that people haven’t baulked at - just yet! We all know that these responses can change, largely due to our own personal circumstances, but credit to the organisers and the industry at large for finally walking out of the autumn shadows and doing something that’s in the best interests of the industry. But, one point of criticism - or better still, a suggestion. For christ sake, get rid of the clip art teddy bears that drove the ACOS promotion in the early days! It was a point of humour between Coinslot and ACOS for much of the pre-show campaign - and actually, it was so bad, it was almost good. But, the truth is, if the industry wants to move forward and be taken seriously on the business stage, it has to look the part.And clip art teddy bears don’t. So there we have it, the future of ACOS all comes down to the battle of business versus the bears! It’s a battle Coinslot is unlikely to win: but if it means another successful Autumn CoinOp Show next year, delivering a return to the industry, we might just have to put up with the clip art teddy bear.After all, who doesn’t love a teddy bear!

House! Pardon?

The BBPA has upped and a bingo ‘winner’ h

alex lee media watch community pub sector a £15m rise in business Tratehefaces bills unless the government takes immediate action, the British Beer & Pub Association has warned, according to Bighospitality.co.uk. With today’s Retail Price Index figures showing an inflation figure of 2.3 per cent, the average pub will face a £350 hike in business rates bills to £15,000 in April 2015. The BBPA said this would put far too much pressure on small, family owned businesses, for which rates can account for up to 10 per cent of total operating costs. The organisation, which is campaigning for the ‘wholesale reform’ of the business rates system, called on the government to freeze the business rates multiplier in December’s autumn statement, as well as extending small business rate relief to the end of the valuation period (2016-17). It also asked the government to work with local authorities to move to standard billing to

improve the relief application process, and to deliver urgent reforms to the administration and appeals process. “Business rates are placing unsustainable pressures on pubs, which is affecting jobs and investment, as well as damaging our high streets and villages,” said BBPA chief executive Brigid Simmonds. “We have seen a lot of positive action from the government in the past year, such as the existing cap on the rates multiplier, the application of retail relief, and the extension of Small Business Rate Relief. But the burden remains high and more needs to be done.” Last month, 100 UK companies, including pub and restaurant groups, the BBPA, the ALMR and BACTA, signed an open letter published in the Daily Telegraph warning that business rates are a ‘critical problem’ in the UK and calling for ‘fundamental reform’ of the business rates system. Business rates currently earn

the Treasury around £25bn in revenue each year but opponents argue that they stifle investment and are putting a huge economic burden on businesses across the country. In last year’s autumn statement Chancellor George Osborne capped business rate increases at 2 per cent and extended the small business rate relief scheme, but ignored calls for an overhaul of the system. Elsewhere, Choi Seong-Hun, or “Polt” as he’s known on the battlefield, is a professional video game player. He is currently one of the best Starcraft II players in the world, ranked number four in the game’s global standings, according to Money.CNN.com. For his work on the fictional planets of the Koprulu sector, Seong-Hun makes at least six figures a year in Earth dollars. Polt (a name based on a favourite character from childhood) has made a career in the rising industry of e-sports.

2391-p22-23-comment_Coinslot NEW 21/10/2014 16:39 Page 2

Coinslot October 24 - October 30, 2014 23

“Bringing fresh, new ideas to today’s players is key to the longevity of the gaming and amusement industry.”

STAFF WRITER, INTERGAME

“ ”

quote unquote

Much has been written in the business press in recent years about how to manage change. Some companies pay lots of money for seminars on the topic. And clever guys in nice suits earn a good living thinking up apt analogies (there is still a market for snake oil).”

TO COMMENT ON ANY ARTICLE

Email: al@sjc.co.uk

IAAPA launches European campaign for better business environment

HANK SCHLESINGER, VENDING TIMES

“The popularity of a mobile app game, Flappy Birds, has spawned two new amusement games, both hoping to leverage the craze for the arcade.” STEVE WHITE, REPLAY MAGAZINE

What will the business environment be like for the parks and amusements sector in five years’ time. A lot better, hopes IAAPA, which is determined to get Europe’s policy makers on track.

“What we really need to be focused on is match fixing and not ‘illegal betting’. Sports need to tell operators that if they want to sponsor a sport then they need to follow the rules of the regulated gambling industry. If they don’t do that, then they need to be excluded from being partners.” DECLAN HILL, BETTING BUSINESS

iaapa politics urope’s new Commissioner with responsibility for Etourism, El bieta Bie kowska,

PA has upped its business rate reduction campaign, e-sports continues to expand rapidly ngo ‘winner’ has found out it wasn’t his lucky day after all.

The number of video game competitions has increased from about 9,000 in 2011 to roughly 47,500 this year, according to Battlefy, a software company managing e-sports competitions. Competitions range from small, intercollegiate tournaments to this month’s League of Legends world championship, which will be held in Seoul’s 60,000-seat World Cup Stadium. Such events garner huge audiences online - more than 71m people watch (not play) video games online or on TV, according to SuperData Research. Last year’s League of Legends championship had a combined viewership of 32m. Polt practices his craft six to eight hours a day for which he is paid a salary. He plays as CMStormPolt, short for Cooler Master, a company that makes equipment for gamers like keyboards and headsets. In September, Polt played in front of a 1,200-strong crowd in Washington DC, at the Red Bull

Battle Grounds competition. Polt took third place. Roughly seven hours of work netted him $6,000. And finally, you’d think if you got all your numbers in for a £10,000 game at the bingo hall you might scream at the top of your voice, but a plumber from Wisbech missed out on the National Bingo prize last week when the bingo club manager failed to hear his call, according to Bingosupermarket.co.uk. Ronald Price got the fifth number on his ticket to complete a line for £10,000, shouted and a checker at Winners Bingo in Wisbech went to check his ticket. However, Price says the manager did not react, the game continued and the £10,000 was won a few calls later at another club. Winners Bingo say the manager did not hear the bingo shout and that the rules of the game insist that the manager must hear the call, but Price says it’s not the first time it’s happened at the club with a similar incident taking place last year.

Price is bitterly disappointed, especially as the checker had come over to check the card and he doesn’t understand how this discrepancy could have possibly taken place. He feels he’s now lost due winnings through no fault of his own, winnings that would have made a massive difference to his life. The couple have been playing at the club three times a week since 2006 and have disputed the decision but Winners say there is nothing they can do and that the player who won on the next call is the correct winner. The company says neither the manager with 40 years’ experience, nor the bingo caller heard the call.

appeared before the European Parliament on October 2 to present her priorities for the next five years. Ahead of the hearing, senior representatives of Europe’s amusement parks and attractions gathered at the Euro Attractions Show in Amsterdam for a meeting with Francesca Tudini, the Head of Tourism Policy at the European Commission, to urge policymakers to use the next five years to improve Europe’s business environment for amusement parks and attractions. Senior representatives from the industry launched an industry manifesto, which they say is the start of a sustained campaign to ensure that the sector’s needs are considered by Europe’s politicians. “When politicians think leisure and tourism they need to think amusement parks and attractions because our members are attracting record breaking numbers of visitors and in turn jobs and investment for Europe,”stated IAAPA’s vice-president for Europe Karen Staley.“As our sector looks forward to the next five years we see that in several areas such as VAT, Internal Market policy and labour law, there is still work to be done if our members are to have the best conditions for growth.” On VAT, Fernando Aldecoa, CEO of PortAventura, Spain said:

“Research conducted by IAAPA Europe,shows that reduced rates of VAT for amusement parks is a win-win for governments as well as amusement parks and attractions. They have a positive impact on jobs, investment as well as on the overall tax take.” Meanwhile, Jakob Wahl, Europa-Park, Germany, commented on safety, stating: “The safety of our guests is our number one priority and we want it to be the number one priority for politicians too. The industry in Europe is well ahead of the existing EN standard so we need Europe to commit to bringing its own standards up to our level.” On the point of employment, Andreas Andersen, president and CEO of Liseberg, Sweden concluded:“We place a huge emphasis on training our staff because it’s people that give our guests the memories that encourage them to visit us time and again. Often we’re in the position of training people who are in the job market for the first time and we give them the skills they need to succeed in hospitality and leisure.We need greater recognition of the role that we play in equipping people for the labour market.” IAAPA Europe plans to take the manifesto - which also includes industry views on sustainability, accessibility and tourism policy - to Brussels where a presentation to Members of the European Parliament is scheduled for November 4.

2391-p24-newsweek_Coinslot NEW 21/10/2014 16:08 Page 1

Coinslot October 24 - October 30, 2014

Newsweek COUNTDOWN TO MACAU he second annual Macao Gaming Show is less than a month away, along with gaming and amusement companies from all around the world. The globe’s leading hotbed of gambling activity, Macau will become the focal point for the business leaders from a number of industries. Ancillary industries such as food and beverages and entertainment will also make their presence felt, with other 120 exhibitors lined up to appear. The 2014 show is scheduled to take place from 18-20 November, 2014 at the Venetian Macao.

8 Email: je@gbmedia.eu TO COMMENT ON ANY ARTICLE

BACTA Council looks to ‘reframe strategic direction’ National Council at this meeting,” White told Coinslot. “Effectively we’ll be going public with all the plans and ideas that I’ve been discussing and presenting to the grass roots membership since I started in the position.” The Council will also consider other key matters affecting the industry, notably BACTA’s response to the LCCP for the Gambling Commission which is due at the end of the month. “This is a very important topic for the organisation and the industry as a whole, and we’ll be putting together the final pieces of our

he upcoming meeting of BACTA’s National Council presents new chief John White the perfect platform to deliver his vision for the future of the trade body. This week’s meeting of BACTA’s key players, scheduled at the Hippodrome Casino in London, sees White address the council for the first time since being appointed 12 weeks ago. Top of the agenda will be discussion on the trade association’s new overall strategic direction.“We’re going to officially put the new, reframed strategic direction for BACTA before the

BALPPA ANNOUNCES HEALTH AND SAFETY SEMINAR ALPPA has revealed details of its upcoming Health and Safety Seminar, taking place in Drayton Bassett, Stafford-

shire on 13 November. The one-day event will feature a full day of discussion, covering topics including food safety management systems, safety in play areas, lock out procedures and an ADIPS update. Legal and

insurance experts will also ben on hand to give advice. Describing the seminar, BALPPA spokesperson Chrissie Wood said: “It’s going to be an informative day with an extensive list of expert speakers, who we

response at the Hippodrome,” he added. “But it is a great opportunity for members to formulate thoughts and come together as an industry with one collective voice behind BACTA.” When asked what kind of response he expects in London, White was resolutely positive about the organisation moving forward. “There’s a lot of support for what we’re doing and we’ve had a lot of good grassroots feed in for issue such as social responsibility, and our research and evidencebased studies. We’re looking forward to a successful meeting.”

will be announcing in the coming weeks. We’ve invested a lot of time to ensure that the day will be highly productive for everyone involved and we look forward to welcoming delegates in November.”

Calendar OCTOBER 23-25 China International Games & Amusement Fair Zhongshan Expo Centre Zhongshan China www.zsgaf.com

27-28 Dubai World Game Expo Dubai International Convention & Exhibition Centre Dubai UAE www.gameexpo.ae

NOVEMBER 2014 7 BALPPA HR Seminar Blackpool Pleasure Beach Blackpool UK www.balppa.org

11-13 SAGSE Latin America Costa Salguero Convention Centre Buenos Aires Argentina www.monografie.com

14-16 BAPTO National Finals Norbreck Castle Hotel Blackpool UK www.bapto.org.uk

17-21 IAAPA Attractions Expo 2014 Orange County Convention Centre Orlando Florida US www.iaapa.org 27 BACTA Convention & AGM QEII Conference Centre London UK www.bacta.org.uk

DECEMBER 2014 4-6 Amusement, Attraction & Park Industry Exhibition (ATRAX) Istanbul Expo Centre Istanbul Turkey www.atraxexpo.com

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