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January 30 – February 5, 2015 • No. 2405 • www.coinslot.co.uk

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Industry news Seaside amusements Preview to ICE B2B Listings Latest machine charts Classified ads and opps Comment & Analysis Newsweek

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..it’s almost like survival of the fittest. The clubs that are invested in the fabric of the club ... are still thriving... the ones that have got an ageing membership, it’s a slow decline and death by a thousand 12 cuts.

GamCare chairman c independence and in SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY

In the wake of being named in the New Year’s Honours List, Coinslot talks exclusively to GamCare chairman Anthony Jennens about the changing nature of his charity and the support received from the gaming industry.

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oinslot: Firstly, congratulations on being named in the latest Honours List, can you describe the importance of the award?

Anthony Jennens: It’s rather good for GamCare to have a bit of positive press, especially as I haven’t always seen eye to eye with the government. So it’s rather surprising and rather delightful that the government seem not to have objected too much to the occasional, shall we say, mild opposition from us in our desire to remain independent.

CS: What has motivated you to continue to advocate for GamCare’s independence?

AJ:Well in the very early days we had a budget of £40,000 a year, which was not very much. Our budget’s now close to £4m. I am immodest enough to say that I’ve been able to increase that a bit, although we didn’t grow in the most organised of fashions.

We were mostly amateurs, in terms of running a business, and mistakes were made.

Very often people would want to dump all over us for making a mistake, because we were taking away civil service jobs, which in the civil service is not popular. I think that people have come to accept that an independent assessment of the scene is good.We have the Responsible Gambling Strategy Board and we have the Responsible Gambling Trust and we have GamCare and we have the Gordon Moody Assocation.

There are quite a number of organisations of one sort of

another, but everything that gets done is done by licensees and GamCare. Rather rude to say, perhaps, but not untrue. So as long as there is a need, which there will presumably always be, I think we should stay outside of the governmental circle and be a force for good on the outside.

CS: What are GamCare going to be focussing on during 2015?

AJ: Education! Education and youth.Those are the two areas where we badly need further funding.What happens, unfortunately, is that many petitions well intentioned and genuinely meant - are made for additional funding for education and youth programs. But as we get better at what we do, the demand for our services - just normal run of the mill counselling - increases. Our take-up has increased 50 percent since last March, for example. So, where’s that money coming from?

Well it comes out of our slice, so in other words we don’t get the money in the education fund, because we have to take care of existing business.Which is a bit of shame, because we’re robbing ourselves.

We could go to the government and say that we need this money, but we work well with the industry. Most of the trade bodies are supporters and helpful to us and they’d like to see us have more money, but it’s quite hard squeezing money out of gambling operators.We hold a fairly large gun to the head of the industry and by and large they, very kindly, put one hand up and the other in their

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ESSENTIAL GUIDE

INDUSTRY

ICE takes central role on gaming stage 13

‘We have to adapt to the changing face of crime’ 4

12 January 30 - February 5, 2015 • No. 2405 • www.coinslot.co.uk

man credits and industry support

Betfred: stepping up the competition?

AGC

After two separate incidents of betting-shop chain Betfred trying to promote its wares through local AGC’s, Nick Harding, chief executive of Praesepe, is scratching his head and wondering: what on earth do they think they’ll achieve? hat seemed like a regular day of trading at an AGC in Wiltshire took a turn for the downright peculiar last week, when staff-members from a local branch of the Betfred bettingshop chain entered the premises and asked the onsite manager if they could distribute promotional material on the company’s new loyalty scheme.

It’s fair to say that the manager in question was perplexed and more than a little annoyed.What’s more - he’s not alone in the experience.

“A similar thing happened at one of our sites in Glasgow,” remarked Nick Harding, chief executive of AGC chain Praesepe.

“The Betfred staff wanted to hand out free bet slips to all the customers, and as you’d imagine - we were pretty unimpressed.”

Glasgow and Wiltshire are hardly a stone’s throw away from one another,which seems to support the idea that both incidents relate to some sort of nationwide shift towards aggressive competitive promotion on behalf of Betfred.

“Whilst we haven’t - as yet experienced this in any of our other stores,the fact that virtually the same thing occurred at the opposite end of the country certainly seems to suggest some kind of national policy behind this,” says Harding.

But then again, both events could be isolated. Indeed, both may simply be attributable to two separate, unrelated instances of ‘thinking outside the box’ by Bet-

W

pocket! [Smiles]

industry was in many cases hugely helpful and supportive CS: You have been involved and it all worked out pretty with GamCare since very near well.The status of the overall its inception in 1997, how has gambling scene and of Gamthe charity and the industry Care in particular, is now very landscape changed since then? good.We’re established quite AJ:The landscape has changed firmly on the map and I think it dramatically.I was told by will be quite hard to dislodge us Leonard Steinberg in 1999 that completely. It would be a big there was no such thing as probshame if we were dislodged. lem gambling.Leonard then very David Cameron, when he soon after that underwent a Dam- came into office, had this idea ascene conversion and became a of the Big Society. GamCare is a very generous supporter. very fine example of what the That was something of a turn- Big Society should be. It’s around and following his lead all people who care about the sorts of people, particularly social wealth of the country.

John Kenny of Gala Coral and Social wealth is hugely imporChris Bell of Ladbrokes became tant. We don’t want everything hugely supportive of our efforts. handed on a plate by the civil But nobody wanted GamCare, service or government. Indeor any organisation of our ilk, to pendent people who’ve get too big for their boots, so we acquired knowledge by experiwere reined in very carefully. ence, in some cases trial and What we tried to do was throw error, really are very valuable. I off those reins a couple of times think that is now being recogand do what we thought was nised and people are coming to right, using people who are us for advice on solving probexperts in the field, rather than lems and that’s really positive. what the industry wanted.

It’s taken 17 years of pretty Not that we are in any way hard work to get here, but I opposed to this industry.The think we have.

fred staff.

But Harding thinks not.

“I think that somebody has obviously decided that they want to go after the competition and that’s what they see us as.”

If Harding is correct,this would suggest that a campaign is in the mix to drive promotions through local AGCs - a somewhat bizarrely angled marketing ploy.

“It’s a pretty naive thing to do,” agues Harding.“To imagine that AGCs and operators of anywhere else are going to allow Betfred staff to breeze in and give away free bets to people - it’s silly:it’s not something we’d ever consider doing with our AGC competitors, let alone with our betting shop

competitors on the high-street.”

What’s more - it’s a marketing strategy unlikely to succeed.

Firstly, as Harding attests:“These people will obviously be rebuffed vigorously wherever they show up.” But there’s also the publicrelations perspective to consider.

“There’s been a tremendous degree of adverse publicity surrounding B2 machines,” Harding concludes. “Clearly targeting machine-players playing on lowstake machines and trying to get them to cross the road and play high-stake machines flies in the face of any pretensions towards responsible gambling, and as a marketing strategy, frankly it just seems a bit daft.”

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Whitley Bay redevelopment welcomed by Carlton bingo hall

BINGO

Plans to redevelop the iconic Spanish City Dome could drive a wealth of new business in the direction of Carlton Clubs, says the company’s operations director Mike Watret.

plan by North Tyneside Council to secure lottery funding for the redevelopment of the Whitley Bay seafront has been welcomed by bingo operator Carlton Clubs, who operate within the former ballroom of the unoccupied Spanish City Dome.

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ADVERTISING SENET GROUP LAUNCH UK WIDE ‘GAMBLE AWARE’ CAMPAIGN

Some of the UK’s biggest bookmakers, including LadThe Heritage Lottery Fund there - ensuring structure brokes, Paddy Power, Coral has offered a total of £3.6m placement or redesign does- and William Hill, have to redevelop the Grade II n’t prevent access to our club, bankrolled a new Senet Group listed building and its nearby that kind of thing.” campaign promoting responNegotiations between the sible gambling. Advertiseenvirons.

“There have been a number two parties have run over a ments with the slogan, ‘When of buildings in the surround- decade, but Watret describes the fun stops, stop.’ will this ing area which have been the company’s relationship week cover 8,000 betting shop demolished over time, so I with the council as ‘reason- fronts to encourage sensible think the idea of protecting able’, and is optimistic as to usage of FOBTs. The group the Dome is quite important how the proposed plans could will also use Ram Jam’s 1977 as far as the locality is con- benefit the Carlton hall. hit Black Betty to drive the “The main part of the build- message home in a £2m TV cerned,” commented Carlton’s operations director ing has been closed for well advert. Ladbrokes, Coral, Mike Watret.“There’s already over ten years and there are Paddy Power been quite a bit of recent logistical and structural issues and William Hill development including the which will be remedied once will also put redirection of a road to the it’s reoccupied,” he remarked. new limitations “There’s also been talk of a on the sea-front there.”

Extensive work will com- hotel, new retail outlets and a machines, with players being mence once agreement has new restaurant. prompted to set a maximum Whilst the finer details still time and cash limit before been reached between Carlneed to be ironed out,Watret starting their session. Autoton and the local authority.

“Carlton’s had a presence seems convinced that in the mated messages will also down by the dome for long-term,redevelopment can show up after losses of £250 decades, and we have some only benefit bingo trade. or a half hour time period.

“Obviously the big benefit The group’s efforts came historical rights to certain parts of the building itself,” for us will be bringing lots of under fire in a comment piece Watret explained. “In order new business to the area,” he in the Irish Independent, howfor them to develop the area concluded. “It’ll definitely ever, which suggested that the we need to come to an agree- make the Dome and its sur- campaign was merely an ment in terms of securing the roundings a bigger focal point attempt to see off further reguoperation of our business for the local area.” lation of FOBTs.

Pubs pool knowledge of gang tactics to tackle theft CRIME

A trader in the West Midlands is rallying assistance to fight the spate of gangrelated fruit machine thefts affecting pub landlords in the area.

t the start of the year Mr Modi, managing A director of VG Leisure, put out a public call for justice following a series of AWP thefts in the Midlands.

Since then, other traders who have been hit by thieves have been contacting nearby business owners to share their own tips for staying ahead.

One such trader in particular, Birminghambased Alan Osborne of Game Services Group, has been pushing for increased collaboration between businesses to address what he sees as a bourgeoning trend.

“We have to adapt to

the changing face of crime,” said Osborne.

“Whereas before, night break-ins were the biggest worry, now we’re seeing gangs targeting pubs in the daytime while they’re open.”

The gangs are believed to breaking into cash boxes using mole grips, securing the locks afterwards so that landlords are unaware of the breakin until collection.

Osborne said: “I’ve actually seen gangs at work on CCTV. They obviously choose their places quite carefully so they’re out of sight of the bar, and then they’ll crowd round

the machine and one person gets down with the mole grips and cutters and gets to work.”

After his business was targeted six times, Osborne took extra measures to secure his machines, and believes he may be able to assist other victims like Mr Modi with safe-guarding their cash boxes, too.

“We’ve put collars on the locks themselves and secured them with hasps and staples,” he said. “But we’ve also done a little trick inside, where we’ve implemented a push-pull switch that’s then hidden inside the machine, so if

they do manage to get inside for any reason, they can’t dump the hopper because this built-in switch means the cash door is still locked.”

Osbourne lost an estimated £1,000 over a period of just two months before the company managed to secure its machines, but some other traders he knows have been hit even harder, with £100 jackpot AWPs being targeted.

“There are things that people think of that we might not, so if we can spread that information around, it’ll just make things that bit more difficult for the crooks that

we’re up against,” he added.

Although relevant police forces have been notified about the incidents, Osborne believes it’s primarily up to the traders themselves to pool their knowledge and secure their machines.

He said: “We feel much more secure now we’ve done this. Thefts tend to happen in normal free trade pubs where the bar staff may be afraid to intervene with a large gang, so t’s best to make the machines very difficult to get into so you don’t compromise the workers.”

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INDUSTRY AMUSEMENTS LEISURE B2B

COMMENT NEWSWEEK

EXHIBITION ICE plays an increasingly important role in the UK coin-op industry. So what’s going down there next week? 13

Reflex and JCM confirm royal tie-up CATEGORY C

One the year’s bigger AWP releases, Reflex’s Royal £100, continues to shape up with the addition of the JCM cash handling etch. eflex Gaming’s foray into the world of the digR ital compendium, Royal £100, is to be bolstered by the addition of JCM’s cash handling expertise, following the announcement that all versions of the Cat C machine will feature the Global Vega note acceptor from JCM. “The high quality Vega acceptor has an excellent pedigree and is a favourite with the extremely demanding casino sector,” said Reflex technical director, Simon Dawson (pictured, right). “We have invested a lot in the games and the robust cabinet of

Royal £100 and we wanted to reflect that commitment right through to the components as well, so we have taken the unprecedented move of specifying the Vega.”

The machine was only unveiled in theAutumn and has been on site in a limited capacity since December.

Early reports from Reflex indicate that the machine has been very well received.

“We are thrilled to be supplying the Vega to

Reflex Gaming - one of the leading manufacturers of gaming machines to the UK pub retail sector,” said Jim Foster (pictured, left), sales manager at JCM Global.

“The combination of bill acceptor and the optional recycling unit makes the Vega an attractive choice for the AWP market. It features high-precision sensor technology to assure the best acceptance rate and most secure bill validation.

Special optical sensors and a flapper mechanism pre-

Novelty coin-op arcade to open in London “At the time I was really unsure if anyone would even take their shoe off, let alone coin-op machine inventor put their foot in a dark will be opening a disunknown space - but they tinctly eccentric arcade in did,” said Hunkin. “In fact, London filled with his own 20,000 people did every creations and guest pieces. year.”

Tim Hunkin, the mind The grand opening of Novbehind the project, decided eltyAutomatic will take place to launch Novelty Automaon 11 February, with The Chition after his current arcade, ropodist featuring alongside The Under the Pier Show, ran Money Laundering, Microout of space. break, Alien Probe, Divorce, “Novelty Automation is a Pet Or Meat,Test Your Nerve, mix of humour and engineerMy Nuke. ing,” said Hunkin.“It’s a new Hunkin said:“Although my home for my arcade machines, other arcade has thrived, I with some guest machines now realise it could never made by kindred spirits.”

Hunkin started out making electro- help other arcades.My machines are too mechanical machines in the 1980s for expensive to build and the themes are Cabaret Mechanical Theatre in Covent probably too odd.‘Novelty Automation’ Garden, developing The Chiropodist is a bit different. It’s part of a tradition of first, a machine that had a hole for visi- one-off London entertainments and irreverent humour.” tors to put their foot in.

NEW VENTURE

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vent the stringing of banknotes and fraud activities.”

The Royal £100 was designed with the rental market in mind and it is expected that most operators will opt to pick up the machine on a two-year lease. Reflex has also committed to offering all customers the choice of specifying the JCM Vega note acceptor at the same price as the Innovative Technology NV11 on all future machine sales.

INDUSTRY SURVEY SHOWS PROMISE OF INDUSTRY GROWTH A survey on industry trends has revealed a surge of positivity across the leisure and tourism sector after turnover for 2014 increased on the year before. The findings of the State of the Industry survey, which were shared by Janice Dunphry in a seminar at VAE, indicated both an increase in takings and an increased confidence to invest for the coming year. Roughly two thirds of survey respondents reported better financial health in the previous year, whilst more than two thirds said that they expected further growth in 2015. Revenue from after-hours parties and catering, in particular, were a key part of the upward development. The majority of participants also reported that they would be upping their spend in the coming year by investing in the fabric of the site itself. The findings were roughly in line with developments in the UK economy after the first signs of growth in 2013.

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Somerset MP pins coastal town hopes on Butlins COASTAL RESORTS

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FOBT devolution moves one step closer CATEGORY B2

After a heated debate in parliament, Ian LiddellGrainger, MP for Bridgewater and West Somerset, speaks out about the difference that holiday parks and amusements make at the seaside.

Imogen Goodman asked the MP just what can be done? he MP for Bridgwater and West Somerset has called for increased public support for brands like Butlins, arguing that the rejuvenation of Minehead sets a precedent for other coastal towns in the UK. In a parliamentary debate on 6 January, Conservative MP Ian LiddellGrainger said:“Places such as Minehead, where Bourne Leisure runs Butlins, are absolutely seminal. Many Victorian seaside towns have changed completely overnight.The likes of Butlins need the support of the local commu-

Scottish

coalition governplans for devoTlutionhement’s of powers to

nity to keep them there and should be getting more support than they do at the moment.”

Liddell-Grainger has worked with Dermot King, the managing director of Butlins, to advise the government on strategies for building up ailing seaside towns throughout Britain.

“To have somebody like Bourne behind you is a massively important string to your bow, and Minehead & West Somerset is the smallest district council in Britain,” he told Coinslot.

“We’re not a rich area in any form, so to have somebody like that banging

your drum with you and working with you is absolutely crucial.”

Since setting up in Minehead in the early ‘60s, Butlins has expanded its resort to include a water park, a large pavilion entertainment centre,the iconic ‘bounce pillow’, and - in 2014 - a traditional fun fair.

“I think that the effect of Butlins in Minehead is almost incalculable,” said Liddell-Grainger. “Their decision to spend roughly £30 million on redevelopment in Butlins, Minehead is absolutely crucial to the area.”

As well as bringing new

Whitehouse P announce new Candy Crush range

LISENSING

lush and redemption giants Whitehouse will be launching a full range inspired by Candy Crush Saga, the hit game for tablets and mobile phones.

Licences from blockbuster films such as Frozen and Despicable Me have formed the bedrock of the business for several years, but the Candy Crush collection marks an unprecedented expansion into the world of games.

“Like with all our licences, we need to react to whatever the next hot

facilities and attractions to the town, Liddell-Grainger believes that the establishment of Butlins has also benefited smaller, independent amusement arcades by bringing new customers into the area.

“The bigger company and the smaller arcades have been consummate to each other,” he said. “The client-base of Butlins makes an enormous difference to the feel of the town, and of course, the people who come to Butlins also filter out to the amusements arcades, and that makes a difference to them, as well.”

With recent visits by coastal communities minister Penny Mordaunt buoying up spirits in Minehead, Liddle-Grainger is convinced that the town can set a precedent for a project of restoration at seaside resorts throughout the UK. The MP commented: “This sort of tourism is very important in agricultural areas like the West Country, but I think this is bigger than the West Country - all around the UK we should celebrate these little towns.They are part of our heritage and they are important.”

thing to come on to the scene, whether that’s TV, films or games,” said business development manager Ian Whittingham.

“The Candy Crush range is something we’ve been trying to get for many, many months and we’ve finally got all the products set for launch in 2015.”

With the absence of characters available in the match-three puzzle game, the product development team at Whitehouse opted to base their plush on pieces of fruit and candy.

“We’ve got red striped candy and spangled plums,” revealed Whit-

tingham. “We’ve also got the heart that comes up to buy more lives; that’s going to be part of the plush.”

Whitehouse also anticipates the product being used in cars, so Whittingham and his colleagues have added a stick-on to the range.

“Obviously working from a game was a bit of a challenge,” commented Whittingham. “But with a good selection of products and the popularity of the brand itself, we’re expecting our the Candy Crush range to have the impetus it needs.”

Scotland are to include ceding increased controls over the placement of FOBTs to Holyrood. Following victory forthe ‘No’ campaign, David Cameron set up a cross-party commission to recommend areas of Scottish legislation which could be more centrally controlled north of the border.

Among its recommendations was that the Scottish Parliament be given powers to limit the number of FOBTs on new premises applications, although they would have no power to revoke existing licences.

This suggestion has now been included in government’s official proposals and will shortly move to consultation, where bodies such as BACTA are expected to add their voices to the debate. “I suspect that as the Smith proposals move to consultation that this will be the subject of some debate,” said BACTA CEO, John White, “and we are working with the Scottish Region to input to the process.”

For its part, the SNP have derided the FOBT proposal, calling it a “watered down” version of the initial recommendation. “To truly tackle this problem, the Scottish Parliament needs power to legislate not just on the number of machines - but on controlling limits on stakes, density of machines in any given geographical area and on rapidity of play,” said MSP Stuart McMillan.

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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Social media traffic doubles at EAG 2015 TRADE SHOWS

EAG continues to establish itself as the kingmaker expo for the UK amusements industry. And playing its part in this status is the show’s social media presence which grew beyond expectations.

Organiser Karen Cooke talked traffic with Coinslot.

umbers have yet to be confirmed for EAG’s 2015 attendance, but organiser Karen Cooke has revealed that the show’s social media presence attracted unprecedented levels of traffic this year.In particular,the event’s Twitter hashtag #EAGLIVE received its largest amount of tweets ever.

“There is a mechanism in place for structured postshow feedback and we don’t want to second-guess what comes out of this,”said Cooke.“We have, however, been surprised by the

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Fylde coast leisure stalwart remembered FEC

increasing use of social media by exhibitors and visitors; this year traffic on #EAGLIVE was double that of last year.”

Last year, much of the post show attention was focused on the next wave of activity: driving the international focus of the show. Whilst overseas exhibitors remained roughly the same, the process remains on course.

“We’re still analysing the final numbers but it appears that international visitor attendance is in line with last year,” Cooke explained.

“EAG is very much a European show but this year we also welcomed a significant number of visitors from the Middle East, Africa and North America.”

Looking to the future, Cooke believes the new addition to the show - VAE will remain a part of EAG. She said: “Most visitors saw value in co-locating these two events and I think everyone was genuinely surprised at the level of crossover between the two shows. EAG and VAE fit well together and have a bright future.”

PLANNING LOCAL COMMUNITIES CRUCIAL TO PLANNING SUCCESS Developments in planning regulations make it increasingly important for visitor attraction providers to work with local people when setting up or expanding their sites. The coalition’s emphasis on neighbourhood planning means that small parish communities have more influence over the developments in their area.In their Local Plans, communities can specify a desire to see further expansion of an attraction, restriction of further development, or certain specific facilities brought into the neighbourhood. In his seminar on planning at VAE, Nick Laister, senior director at RPS, asserted that site operators could have greater influence over the success of their planning applications by putting proposals forward to council forums first. Operators can also find out if any policies in the Local Plan are relevant to their site by contacting the local council, and can influence plans by putting them forward to a referendum after drumming up local support.

life of the businesswho helped create Ttheheman Pleasure Island family entertainment complex on St Annes seafront has been celebrated.

Family and friends gathered at St James church in the Lancashire village of Stalmine to remember Michael Taylor, who died in hospital on January 16, aged 78.

Taylor, who was born in Poulton and was a stalwart of the amusements and leisure industry on the Fylde Coast, also owned the award-winning Sunset caravan park in Hambleton, just outside of Blackpool.

His wife Sandy told the Blackpool Gazette: “Michael was a strong, self-made man. He will hopefully be remembered as being direct but kind, helpful and having a wicked sense of humour.

He campaigned to upgrade the image of the caravan industry and he always cared about quality.

“He said he never wanted to retire. To Michael, retirement meant running the businesses he loved and being able to travel as he wanted.

“He did just that being in work seven days a week when at home then enjoying time off mostly cruis-

ing or visiting the USA right up until he took ill in July.”

Taylor’s company Carr Royd Leisure opened Pleasure Island in 1993, on the site of the former St Annes outdoor baths.

It closed in 2009 but is still operated today under new owners as The Island Cinema.

Taylor did much to promote the region as a holiday destination throughout his career, serving as a director of Lancashire Tourism Partnership, vice-chairman of Wyre Tourism and president of Kirkham and Rural Fylde Rotary.

He was diagnosed with cancer last July and died at Christies Hospital, where he was being treated, following a heart attack.

Taylor is survived by wife Sandy, their sons Paul and David, three grandchildren and two greatgrandchildren.

Project target ICE to re TITO

Project R&D team will visiting next week's TICEhebeTotally Gaming show in numbers as the company continues the groundbreaking work on the second phase of its ‘ticket in, ticket out’ initiative (TiTO).

Launched by Project in the B3, Fortune Hunter 500, TiTO has been well received by the UK’s leadingAGC and

bingo club operators with the feedback being described by Project as “overwhelmingly positive.”

Assessing the response to TiTO and the next steps in its development, Project managing director Tony Boulton said: “TiTO offers huge opportunities to both maximise income and minimise machine downtime and the

2405-p06-09-industry_Coinslot NEW 27/01/2015 15:50 Page 3

RLMS delighted at show response to non-gaming range RLMS Sales has reported an overwhelmingly positive response from the industry to its portfolio of amusement and redemption products, at the recent EAG International expo.

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quality of the range.”

In terms of stand-out products, Glanville was quick to cite the showstopping F5 Vortex from Birthday Blaster.“As a concept alone,” he said, “there’s no doubting that Vortex is a great piece of kit.But more than that,customers clearly understand its capacity to add a unique sense of theatre to their venues, offering a great experience for the player and acting as a crowd-puller.”

Glanville was also full of praise for the latest ticket redemption offerings from stablemate Empire Games.

“Lucky Ladders and Odd Bods were visually stunning,” he noted.“Odd Bods is priced extremely competitively and with the potential to be upgraded at a later date with new characters or even themed for particular events or sporting occasions, it proved a

big winner with customers.

And the three-player Lucky Ladders,with its snakes and ladders style game, really does boast the ‘wow’ factor.

We were delighted that both games attracted admiring comments from customers and it’s great to see a UK manufacturer competing head to head with the more established overseas redemption manufacturers.”

Turning to the kiddie ride sector, RLMS gave a debut airing to Leisurematics’ Mr Bus at EAG 2015. Glanville described the ride as ‘a quality product designed by operators with operators in mind’.

He explained: “The addition of an interactive game with a redemption option on a traditional kiddie ride was incredibly well received. Operators could clearly see the ‘pulling’ potential of a ride sited outside the

E to research TiTO phase two benefits are being experienced by operators.The first generation TiTO is already a success and we are now looking at what’s next and how we can use it to deliver added value to the player.

“The UK is some way behind other gaming nations in its deployment ofTiTO and we will be visiting what is the world’s biggest gaming exhi-

WETHERSPOONS LIKEFOR-LIKE EARNINGS IN TEMPORARY DIP Like-for-like twelve-week results to 18 January were down for JD Wetherspoons, due to a temporary dip in profit margins. Earnings slid slightly in December and slowed further in the first few weeks of the new year, leading asset

TRADE SHOW

eflecting on a solid three days of trading of EAG trading for RLMS Sales, sales director Tony Glanville commented: “Having dedicated more floor space to non-gaming lines, it was vital that we deliver a broad and diverse range of world class products that offer customers something different to their existing redemption mix.”

According to Glanville, RLMS’s range covers a wide price spectrum, with products aimed at entry level right through to the higher end centrepiece feature pieces. He added: “We were delighted with the feedback from customers at EAG at how well the redemption products had been received and, of course, the orders that the team took over the course of the three days. When you combine those factors, it’s a real testament to the

PUBS

bition in order to assess the advances that have been made on the international stage.Realistically the second generation TiTO is probably 12-months away but I’m very keen to look at the developments that have been made in the areas of player bonusing and promotions in order to really putTiTO to work on behalf of our customers.”

venue offering tickets that would have to be redeemed inside, presenting them with the opportunity to play other games to boost the number of tickets won.”

and banking management group Investec to cut its earning-per-share forecast by 3.7 per cent for the 2015 financial year. Investec still recommends the pub chain to its clients, which it values at £8.33 per share. “We assume this period of softer trading is only temporary,” stated a spokesperson for the bank.

“We are cognisant of the unequal tax regime but believe that increasing real disposable incomes will benefit pubs offering great value and high service levels.” Wetherspoons has opened 11 new pubs in the financial year to date, with a further ten currently in development.

RELOCATION NEW HOME FOR GB MEDIA NORTHERN OFFICE Coinslot publisher, GB Media Corporation, has moved offices. The company’s new address and contact details are: GB Media Corporation Ltd Oak House, 1st Floor, Suite 4, High Street, Chorley, PR7 1DW TEL: + 44 (0) 1257 277400 FAX: + 44 (0) 1257 271329

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Coinslot January 30 - February 5, 2015

Amusements

8 Email: je@gbmedia.eu

TO COMMENT ON ANY ARTICLE

Student helps Dreamland design

Bognor a burglary safe spot

Scotland gets seaside funding

Council backs seafront campaigners

A teenage student has been chosen to help design the new website for Margate’s Dreamland heritage amusement park. Local graphic design student Connor Morrison, 18, was chosen after his art was featured as part of an exhibition about Dreamland.

Bognor Regis and Felixstowe might be two of the least likely places to suffer a burglary, according to price comparison website MoneySuperMarket. Bognor had 1.63 incidents per 1000 home insurance quotes last year, while Felixstowe had none.

Seaside towns across Scotland are set to benefit from almost £10m of government money. A total of 27 Scottish regeneration and tourism projects will share £9.58m from the Coastal Communities Fund.

Skegness Town Council is supporting an application to register the seafront site as a community asset. Campaigners want to prevent the development of a Premier Inn hotel on Pier Field, next to Skegness Pier.

AMUSEMENT PARKS

Eastbourne Pier arcade restoration progressing well

Several generations of visitors to Barry’s Amusements have expressed their sorrow at the passing of wellliked carousel operator Colm Quinn.

PIER

Northern Ireland loses popular carousel operator much-loved personality at one of Northern Ireland’s most popular amusement attractions has passed away.

Colm Quinn started working at Barry’s Amusements in Portrush 62 years ago, spending 50 of those as the operator of the amusement park’s carousel ride.

He had been diagnosed with cancer and died two Sundays ago at a hospital in Northern Ireland.

In a statement on the Barry’s Amusements Facebook page, the business said: “We are deeply saddened at the passing of our dear friend and colleague Colm Quinn. Colm had worked in Barry’s for 62 years and will be forever remembered as the ‘Hobby Horse’ man.

“His warm personality

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and infectious smile, made him immensely popular with the generations of people that he met during his time with us, Colm was greatly loved by all and he will be sadly missed.

“We thank everyone for their kind words and messages, which are much appreciated at this difficult time.”

In a sign of Quinn’s immense popularity, over 400 comments from Barry’s customers were added below the statement, all expressing sadness at his passing and sharing their memories of his time at the amusement park.

Kristina Trufelli, who coowns Barry’s Amusements with sister Lisa, said they were now exploring ways to commemorate Quinn at the park, with one sugges-

tion being a plaque inscribed with his favourite sayings.

Facebook user Stuart Leathem proposed adding a new horse with an empty chair to the carousel ride that Quinn used to operate.

Speaking to the Belfast Telegraph, Kristina Trufelli commented: “It is early days, but we definitely will put a plaque up on the horses.

“He also had some favourite sayings, like,‘take care of your mammies and daddies’ and he always talked about the ‘good weather’ even when it was lashing with rain outside.

He was such a positive person.”

Even outside of the busy Easter and summer seasons, Quinn was described the first employee on site in the mornings and the

last one to leave at night.

He was said to have never once taken a day off sick during the entirety of his time at Barry’s, until he became too unwell to work late last year.

Quinn’s brotherThomas said:“He was one of those fellas who had a knack with people. He had great success with the carousel because people warmed to him.

“He liked to see generations of people come back with their own children and when people said it was some of the happiest times of their lives being on the horses.”

Quinn is survived by his wife Mary, daughter Coleen and grandson Adam. His funeral took place in Coleraine and Portrush, where he was born, last week.

team overseeing the of the buildTingherestoration that housed Eastbourne Pier’s amusement arcade says work is progressing well despite recent stormy weather.

The burnt-out frame of the arcade has now been removed and two 70tonne cranes left the pier last week, signalling the completion of work to remove its fire-damaged steel dome.

The next phase of the project - the repair of the pier’s steel substructure and the installation of new decking - is now set to get underway.

Christos Stylianou, Eastbourne Pier general manager, told the Argus: “We’re really pleased with progress on the renovations despite being hampered by some challenging weather, especially high winds

which prevented us operating from the basket on the crane.

“It’s great to see people are continuing to visit the pier and supporting the businesses here.

“The viewing panels alongside the walkways are proving popular with visitors who can see work on the Blue Room being carried out at close hand and the transformation taking place as the project continues.”

A petition is continuing to take signatures to have the new arcade renamed as either The Penny Arcade or Penny’s, in honour of worker Stephen Penrice, whose nickname amongst friends was Penny.

Penrice fell from the pier’s main platform to the beach below whilst working on its repair and died of his injuries.

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Leisure Carlisle WMC closes Carlisle’s V Bar, formerly Carlisle Working Men’s Club, has closed its doors after almost 90 years. The closure of the club, which has offered the local community bingo for decades, saw seven job losses.

Scottish pubco calls administrators Maclay Group, one of Scotland’s oldest pub companies, has called in administrators after an “unexpected funding requirement”. The firm, which has been in business since 1830, has around 560 staff and owns 15 pubs across central Scotland.

Under fire: Tim Martin calls for greater support behind VAT parity effort PUBS

The founder and chairman of JD Wetherspoons has renewed his call for a slashing of VAT within pubs, and cautioned that skeptics of the cause may well suffer most.

D Wetherspoons chief Tim Martin has struck out at competitors and parts of the media for failing to support campaign efforts for greater VAT parity with the supermarket industry.

Figures detailed inWetherspoons’ most recent trading update showed a recent decline in the rate of like-forlike growth, with Martin’s accompanying statement attributing the slow-down to economic conditions “enabling supermarkets to subsidise the price of beer and other products.”

“A number of major pub companies believe that they can avoid the resulting malaise by investing in out-oftown pubs which are really ‘quasi-restaurants’,” he continued. “Unfortunately, these businesses too are already starting to suffer the effects of the tax disparity with supermarkets and they will clearly, in our view, be unable

J

to escape the consequences of an unequal tax system.”

Martin has been vocal in the past of his support for the lobbying efforts of the VAT Club, which under the leadership of French businessman Jacques Borel, proposes a reduction in the rate of VAT charged on both food and drink within the pub and hospitality sectors to five per cent. The group maintains this measure would generate an additional £1.5bn in taxes for the inland revenue and lead to the creation of 600,000 jobs.

But sources within the government have been skeptical of these figures.“We do not accept the industry’s case for a VAT rate cut for restaurants and catering,” claimed a Treasury spokesperson. “A five per cent reduced rate on catering services is estimated to cost around £9bn to the Exchequer.”

Meanwhile, the allocation

of VAT Club assets, as well as the leadership of Borel himself, have both been called into question from within the pub industry itself.

“Our cheerleading for the VAT campaign cannot be unconditional,”the Publican’s Morning Advertiser declared. “[The] PMA continues to back the principle of VAT parity, but it cannot endorse the current campaign if it continues on a spendthrift but ineffectual path.”

Martin himself singled out the publication in his most recent statement, claiming: “In the case of the PMA, the editor has questioned the financial motives of the leader of the tax equality campaign…but has utterly failed to campaign himself or through his newspaper.”

He warned:“The companies that do not speak out about the dangers of tax inequality are likely to be those that suffer most in the future.”

The 36th Annual Irish Gaming, Casino & Amusement Show 3rd & 4th march 2015 Dublin, Ireland.

Opportunities with New Irish Gaming Laws

Amusements Gaming Machines Bingo & Lotteries Social Responsibility Casinos Bookmakers Legal & Licensing Industry Associations New Opportunities In Ireland for 2015 & Beyond

40 New Casinos 20,000+ New machines 35 New COmmercial Bingo Halls Over 1,000 Sports Betting Outlets For sponsorship or exhibition enquiries Contact: info@gambetnews.com Tel: +353 (0) 21 431 6776

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24 B2B Listings and Marketplace

26 This week’s machines charts

27 Classified sales, business opps and jobs

32 Diary highlights and industry calendar

Essential Guide to...

ICE Totally Gaming 2015 ICE lives up to ‘international’ name

Visitors describe ICE as a ‘must attend’ event

ICE whips up a social media storm

Last year’s ICE attracted attendees from 156 countries, with 23,505 people attending in total. Approximately 44% came from the UK, with 33% attending from other EU countries. US and Canada-based attendees collectively made up almost 4%, while just over 5% travelled to the show from Asia and the Middle East.

The top three words that visitors used to describe ICE 2014 were informative, commercial and must-attend, with 94% saying the event was either equally or more important than visiting the event the year before.

Organisers stepped up their promotional efforts for ICE 2014 by developing the event’s web presence. The show’s Twitter account attracted 1,724 followers, and there were 433 Tweets about ICE during the week of the event. Two thousand targeted messages were additionally sent out via professional networking website LinkedIn.

EVENT ORGANISER

Nearly showtime With ICE Totally Gaming 2015 just days away, we asked portfolio director Kate Chambers about the different ways Europe’s biggest gaming show continues to develop.

S: In what ways has ICE grown since its inception?

KC:Apart from the obvious differences of venue and the sheer physical size of February's event, I think the revolution in technology, both how it impacts communications and the entertainment channels our customers use, are the most significant differences.Despite these differences, one of the great things about the brand has been its ability to interpret change and to respond to challenges positively. Much of this is down to the huge amount of goodwill that it enjoys from its stakeholders and their desire to see ICE prosper.Anyone writing the history of the gaming industry would no doubt reference ICE as the place where I would say all of gaming's most significant products have been shown, if not launched.

ment over a lack of networking hours how have you addressed this?

KC:There’s a whole range of meetings,seminars and networking events taking place at ICE - in fact, there’s too many to mention here and the best information source is the dedicated ICE app which allows visitors to access the show’s full event schedule.The ICE app, is available to download for free from the iTunes App Store and the Google Play Store.

We’ve also developed the London Casino Club, a high-profile hospitality and out of hours networking programme that involves selected gaming partners comprising the Hippodrome (Leicester Square),Aspers (Westfield Stratford City) and seven Grosvenor Casinos situated throughout central/west London. Developed in conjunction with National Casino Forum, we’re also providing a wide range of hospitality offers including an American CS: How do you expect 2015 visitor and themed Super Bowl party at the G Casino exhibitor uptake to compare with 2014?

KC:We are always reticent to make predic- in Piccadilly, a Champagne reception and tions but the pre-registration figures are free to attend poker tournament at Aspers healthy and the anecdotal feedback we are and a complimentary shuttle service from receiving is encouraging. In terms of ExCeL, free drink and casino tour courtesy exhibitors,we will open with over five-hun- of the Hippodrome. dred, occupying some 37,318sqm - a 7 per cent increase from the 2014 show.

CS: How would you best sell the show to potential visitors?

CS: The 2014 show incurred some comKC: I would have to start with the statistics,

C

JANUARY 30 - FEBRUARY 5, 2015

Coinslot Review UK Seaside Amusements Coming Soon

Coinslot JANUARY 30 - FEBRUARY 5, 2015

which in reality only tell part of the story.

Nevertheless, in 2014 we had an audited attendance of 23,506 attendees who travelled to London from a record 156 nations to see the 515 exhibitors who chose ICE as their international shop window. ICE is essentially about the exhibitors and we are fortunate to have the most powerful and smartest innovators in gaming on our show floor.

CS: How does ICE Totally Gaming maintain its international reach?

KC:ICE is the only exhibition which covers the totality of gaming - both online and offline - and with over 50 nations represented on the show floor, the only event which provides a world as opposed to a regional perspective on the industry and we are fortunate to have the most powerful and smartest innovators in gaming on our show floor.

CS: Can major exhibitions such as ICE help shape the industry?

KC: I don’t think exhibitions define or set trends, but what they are is the forum in which trends can be first identified and in that sense they are an essential resource for businesses wanting to be the first in the market and in the process gain a commercial advantage over competitors.

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Sector Overview THE VISITOR

THE DEVELOPER

ICE maker

United, as one

Whilst most of the pre-ICE media attention understandably focuses on the 500 exhibitors who will be on the show floor at London’s ExCeL Centre, outside of the leading industry statesman who frequent ICE, very little is really known about the remaining 20,000+ visitors who travel to London from more than 150 nations and who make ICE such an important event on the gaming industry calendar. Examining the flip side of the ICE coin, Coinslot caught-up with the Canadian-based gaming entrepreneurs whose trip to London will be the icing on the cake as they edge closer to launching an online global lottery, which is set to take the world by storm! an you start by telling us about your plans and what makes them so special?

C After quite literally years of research we identified an enormous opportunity for a properly licensed, private lottery to enter the market.

State-run lotteries are essentially a voluntary tax, and as such, operate primarily for the purpose of generating revenue for the state and are only capable of offering odds often in the range of 1 in 14 million up to 1 in 622 million in the case of the Superenalotto – to win the main jackpot.

Our lottery is a Raffle style, very similar to the Irish Sweepstakes lottery with a fixed number of tickets and a predictable set grand prize.We will offer odds of 1 in 450,000 for a $5 ticket all the way up to 1 in 5,625 or better to win a guaranteed jackpot of €1,000,000 or equivalent every draw.We will create add on lotteries with other guaranteed jackpots as the company grows. It’s a radical more equitable lottery,which we believe will engage with players. We will also be making charitable donations in the jurisdictions in which the jackpot winners reside which will generate good will, media traction and enhanced web traffic translating into additional ticket sales.

hold meetings with key partners who are involved in the project including GB Media who will be working with us on positioning, branding, strategic marketing and of course the launch.

As well as connecting with our associates we will, of course, spend a lot of time walking the aisles meeting with the games and systems innovators who seem to gravitate to ICE and getting in some networking with what is arguably the most influential gathering of gaming’s best connected and smartest minds.

We were here last year and it was a wonderful and an uplifting experience.This year it’s the final staging post prior to launch.

When do you think you will go live?

Everything is very much in place.We have the funding, we have best-in-breed partners, we have the financial systems and infrastructure, we have our gaming license and the business model has been scrutinised, interrogated and examined by a virtual auditorium of individuals in the corporate gaming arena.We now need to sign-off on the creative, fine-tune the marketing and we are ready to go live in 2015.

We’ve rented an apartment in Canary Wharf and I’m looking forward immensely to getting What will you be doing in London and what do together with what is an inspirational group of you want to get out of your time at the exhibi- entrepreneurs and gaming professionals with a shared vision to create a unique game changtion?

We’ve got an extremely exciting story to tell ing lottery – as well as having a few pints in one and where better to tell it than at ICE? That of the most enjoyable cities on the planet! being the case our primary purpose is to meet with our investor community comprising For more information and introductions contact existing and interested investors and also to jsullivan@gbmedia.eu

For Simon Barff of Blueprint Gaming, membership of the Gauselmann group only adds to the level of success attainable at Europe’s largest industry tradeshow. s one of the leading providers of both digital and analogue content to the UK AGC and pub retail sectors, exhibition at ICE is a A must for Blueprint Gaming, a subsidiary of the Gauselmann conglomerate.

“ICE is hugely beneficial to both the business of Blueprint Gaming and to the Gauselmann Group as a whole,” asserts Blueprint’s Simon Barff.

“It serves as a showcase of our latest developments, a chance to meet with buyers from all over the world and a chance to catch up with what our competitors are doing.”

Whilst keeping a steady focus on its primary customerbase at home, ICE also allows Blueprint to make headway with ventures in other markets.

“We also design games for online and mobile and have strong connections with most major overseas markets,” Barff explains.

“ICE is a great chance to develop those relationships.”

In terms of product, trade-shows are often the best place to pick up on market trends: and here Blueprint has observed a shift in the market away from the traditional AWP offering.

“We are seeing revenues on our digital Cat C compendium not only compete with - but surpass - those of reel-based games,” says Barff. “What’s even more impressive is that this is on a higher return to player: which leads us to deduce that the game mix on our latest update is actually growing the player-base in UK pubs.”

Barff also adds his voice to a growing number of industry professionals recognising the resurgence of community games. “We have seen a great uptake on our Cat C community in the AGC sector and have already developed the second in this family of games, which will be presented at ICE,” he states.

Of course, diversity of product requires investment of resources, and in this regard the heft of the Gauselmann Group behind Blueprint benefits it no end. The corporation’s recent acquisition of Betcom in particular leaves Barff and his team especially well placed.

“Whilst we plan to continue to roll out top games in all of the sectors we are involved in and to filter them through to the different categories that we feel they are suited to,” Barff states, “the Betcom acquisition allows us to cement our position as a leading supplier of reel-based and digital product to the Cat C market as well.”

For Barff, membership of the Gauselmann club also puts Blueprint centre-stage at his what amounts to the best show in town.

“ICE is bigger than any other UK-based show, and attracts more international visitors,” he tells us. “We approach it as part of the Gauselmann Group, and as such it allows our customers to see the vast array of expertise that we have to support us in terms of the many other divisions of the group, as well as the research and development that goes on.”

Coinslot JANUARY 30 - FEBRUARY 5, 2015

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Essential Guide to ... ICE Totally Gaming 2015 Market Perspectives PAYMENT SOLUTIONS

COMPONENTS

Narrowing the focus

Svelte at sixty Celebrating sixty years of trade, Suzo Happ will showcase at ICE not just as a components distributor, but also as a provider of integrated manufacturing.

With a renewed concentration on note-recycling and cash management systems, Eric Fisher of Crane Payment Innovations views ICE’s global magnetism as a springboard for success, both in Europe and beyond.

C

urrency utility is a big business, and few come bigger than Crane Payment Innovations (CPI). Headquartered in Malvern, Pennsylvania, and a sub-division beneath the wider Crane Company umbrella, CPI specialises in unattended payment solutions not just for gaming, but also for the retail, transportation, vending and financial services sectors.

This year’s ICE represents a special opportunity for the company.

“ICE 2015 provides us with an ideal platform from which to showcase the stability we have achieved since last year’s show, when the two former sides of our business - Crane and MEI - were still exhibiting on separate booths,” explains Eric Fisher, the company’s president of gaming.

Whilst the company’s list of peripheral products is exhaustive, recent years have seen CPI increasingly evolve from a component supplier to a cash management systems provider, as well as notably increase its number of note recycling

products. Consideration of operator return-on-investment has been the key driving force behind this gear-change.

“Capital continues to be constrained at the property level and, as a result, operators must prove the payback on all investments,” Fisher elaborates.“This is also true of peripheral devices - which now, more than ever,are often competing against new games to win approval for capital dollars: there is a tremendous onus on suppliers to prove value.”

Capital may be tight, but despite being based across the pond, Fisher still sees in Europe fertile ground for expansion.

“The need for cash recycling in gaming machines in Europe has opened up some exciting development opportunities for CPI,” he says.“As such, we are aggressively adding recycling products to our portfolio.”

From the CPI perspective, this opening in the market is filled naturally by its new SCR note recycler, scheduled for launch

S: In what ways does a presence at ICE benefit Suzo Happ?

C HW:ICE is of enormous importance to Suzo-Happ, within the German AWP market in the coming weeks.

But the reach of ICE goes beyond Germany, and so do CPI’s ambitions.

“Emerging markets in Asia like Macau and the Philippines offer some tremendous opportunities for growth,” comments Fisher. “Much work is currently being done there to promote and support the vast expansion of casinos.”

For a globally minded company, it’s this international appeal of the show that remains a key selling point.

“ICE is one of the largest gaming trade shows in the world,”says Fischer,“but compared to events of similar size,it is also perhaps the most internationally attended.”

ARCADE

Taking the world by storm Though only their second appearance at ICE, Storm Games already has a firm foothold in gambling-gaming provision both at home and abroad, and has big plans for future growth.

014 was the debut of Storm Games at ICE: Totally Gaming, and the com2pany’s product director Paul Rothwell is eager to return. “Last year was a fantastic first showing for us,” he states. “ICE provides us the absolute best opportunity to meet up with new and existing customers and show our expanding range of products for both the UK and export markets.”

And export is the key term here.

Whilst headquartered on the West Midlands and Shropshire border, the company’s global reach is impressive.

Backing from a private equity firm allows it to manufacture both hardware and software products domestically and at a remote facility in Taiwan, shipping street and arcade products to UK markets as well as to Belgium, Holland, Spain, Croatia and even Africa.

Indeed, for Rothwell, it’s the extent of Coinslot JANUARY 30 - FEBRUARY 5, 2015

the continued worldwide appeal of ICE that differentiates the show from other similar events. “That international appeal attracts so many lovely people from all over the world - and they have significant means to invest.”

But don’t be fooled: this international reach doesn’t distract Rothwell’s focus on the homefront. To this end, the company will showcase a number of brand-new titles specifically targeted at British operators.

“We have some great new products for the UK pub and club market,” he declares, “along with a brand new range for the UK arcade and bingo markets all housed in our Tempest MK2 cabinet and our new Titan slant top cabinets.”

The recent growth of community games was much in evidence at EAG, and Storm has been quick to respond to this development.

“Community gaming is becoming more and more popular in the UK arcade and bingo sector,” states Rothwell. “As a result, we’ll be showcasing our new multigame Popeye community product which has a number of ground breaking new unique features.”

Whilst the sheer scale of ICE and the number of exhibitors could easily overwhelm a relative newcomer to the scene, Rothwell seems confident that the show will provide a platform to coming success.

“We’re looking to expand,” he declares. “That’s the plan: expansion in all ways.”

as we are the industry’s largest and most important spare parts and components supplier.There are many choices that both manufacturers and operators can make: we are there to support our customers to make their component and spare parts decisions based on their requirements.

CS: ICE is an international show - and Suzo Happ a global business. Are there any specific regional markets outside the UK that you aim to target?

HW:We are here to support our customers all around the globe.At Coinslot you see the dayto-day work we do in the UK as you support the UK market.An Italian publisher would see the work we do in Italy, a Romanian publisher the work we do in Romania, etc.We are truly global yet extremely focused and dedicated.That gives the impression that we target certain markets.

CS: You cater to a plethora of component requirements. Are there any specific markets areas for which you anticipate particular growth in the coming year?

HW:We don’t just offer a wide range of components - we also offer these in different levels of integration.The role Suzo-Happ is playing in increasing its vertical integration service serves as a good example. For instance, our pushbutton panel saves manufacturers having to integrate pushbuttons individually in their machines.This kind of vertical integration has been extended to include contract manufacturing services. Manufacturers have the choice of how much manufacturing integration SuzoHapp offers, from part-machine manufacturing to complete outsourcing of machine hardware requirements.This enables manufacturers to focus more on higher return business aspects such as their software and or their games.

CS: How will the recent acquisition of Comesterogroup affect the Suzo-Happ offering at ICE? HW: Comesterogroup fits in perfectly. Our coin handling and money changing business has been immensely strengthened thanks to Comesterogroup. Looking outside of gaming,Comestero has significant market shares in growth markets for us, such as vending and retail.This is of key importance to us as a group as a whole. Last but not least – our customers will benefit more from the wider choice we have and the dedicated service we offer around the global.

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Essential Guide to ... ICE Totally Gaming 2015 Market Analysis THE DEVELOPER

BINGO

Gamesman to launch ‘Target 25k’ at ICE This year’s ICE has special meaning for the team at Gamesman. After technical director James Cove was diagnosed with Mesithelioma, the company will launch a charity campaign to fund research towards the disease. amesman, the international gaming equipment components and systems manufacturer, is taking its biggest ever presence at ICE 2015, the company’s ‘home show’.

The increased presence reflects Gamesman’s growing influence on the world stage as managing director Mark Smith explained: “I’m delighted with the progress we’ve made since joining forces with Esterline two years ago and - I have to say - equally confident about the future.The last 24 months

G

THE CRYSTALS, THE OFFICIAL CHEERLEADERS OF ENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUE, CRYSTAL PALACE FOOTBALL CLUB, WILL BE AT ICE TO HELP GAMESMAN LAUNCH THE TARGET 25K CAMPAIGN

Coinslot JANUARY 30 - FEBRUARY 5, 2015

There’s more to ICE than mere product, says Mark Jepp of Majestic Bingo. Operators and manufacturers alike should look across the divide to the casino stands for inspiration, insight, and forward planning. ith a history as machine manager both for Mecca and Gala Bingo, director Mark W Jepp of Majestic Bingo travels to ICE 2015

have gone incredibly quickly which is probably indicative of how much has been achieved.We are more efficient across the board and we have leveraged off a wider pool of technical expertise from Esterline.

There’s no doubt that we go into 2015 as a strong business, with strong financial backing from our parent company.”

As well as using ICE to engage with customers and introduce products including a new LCD/touchscreen solution and a wide range of dynamic push buttons decks and

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ICE: A glimpse of the future

toppers, Gamesman also have a much more personal objective this year.“Last summer our technical director James Cove was diagnosed with Mesothelioma, an aggressive form of lung cancer,” stated Smith.“James, who is only in his early forties, has been with us from the very beginning of our journey and is a much-loved part of the Gamesman fabric. Mesothelioma receives very little by way of government funding so we have set ourselves a target of raising £25,000 between ICE 2015 and ICE 2016 which will go to a Mesothelioma research charity.”

“We are going to use ICE to kick-off the campaign with the help of members of the Crystals, the official cheerleaders of Premier League, Crystal Palace Football Club.Target 25k will be event-led and, like James, it will be positive and involve a sense of humour. We are open to any suggestions so please drop in at our stand N3140 and/or email fundraising ideas and suggestions to mark.smith@gamesman.co.uk.”

With 18-years experience of exhibiting at ICE, Smith has developed an unorthodox approach to the task. He explained:“We spend 50% of our time at ICE marketing products and 50% simply talking about the industry and listening to what our customers and potential customers have to say about the issues impacting them. Our job is to understand their issues, to interpret them from a technology perspective and then present them with a solution.”

with different show objectives in mind.

“Obviously what I’m looking to get out of ICE is quite different from when I was with Mecca and Gala,” he told us. “They’re both big corporate entities and I’m still at a stage where I’m building Majestic, so massive investment in the latest innovations is something that will come further down the line.”

That said, his business doesn’t necessarily rule out the cutting edge. “We’ve had our first TITO machines through the door - and if it was economical I would enable our entire machine portfolio,” he added. “But for now, our primary objective remains building a base of good quality product.”

It’s here that ICE serves as the perfect shop window.

“There’s always something new to see at ICE - and not just at the big heavyweight exhibitors, I also like to take in the smaller providers,” Jepp remarked. “I think it’s important to look at the peripheries and take in what new people are bringing to the party.”

In Jepp’s eyes, staying abreast of the latest machine offering is vital to his business - and to the bingo sector in general. “I think machines are far more of an integral part of the bingo offer than, say, the pub sector, where machine gaming is increasingly becoming more of an ancillary activity.”

To this end, Jepp also pays heed to the the wealth of casino product also on show.

“That’s been a major change in the past decade or so,” he argued. “I used to go to G2E in Las Vegas, and in the early 2000’s the product offering was almost irrelevant to our sector: now, that’s radically changed - and the games, the cabinets, the way these companies promote - these are all things we can take away, learn from, and potentially implement ourselves.”

Indeed, whilst ICE will feature products which have no place within the UK bingo hall in its current form, Jepp views the price of attendance as worthwhile if he is able to pick up on technological trends as a whole.

“What the casino industry showcases is often what we’ll pick up on a few years down the line,” he stated. “As such, ICE provides us with a window into the future.”

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Essential Guide to ... ICE Totally Gaming 2015 Products CRANE PAYMENT INNOVATIONS

STORM GAMES

CPI showcases new SCR note recycler at ICE

Storm Returns

US payment solution provider Crane Payment Innovations will utilise ICE 2015 to showcase its latest note recycler: the MEI SCR note recycler.

PI will exhibit at ICE 2015 with the largest portfolio of payment systems in the gaming industry including the new MEI SCR note recycler, which has been yielding impressive results across multiple field trials. SCR will be released to the European AWP market, beginning with Germany, in the first quarter of 2015. CPI is now entering commercial agreements with the OEMs. SCR is the latest extension of the reliable SC product line, which has achieved an installed base of more than 1.5m units worldwide. It follows the same winning formula as the Cashflow SC and SC Advance note acceptors, raising performance expectations to deliver a more efficient, secure and cost-effective way to handle cash payments.

By combining proven components with new technology, SCR opens new possibilities for what note recycling can offer as part of a total cash management solution.

SCR is equipped with the same acceptor head and 600note cashbox as SC Advance. Two 60-note recycling drums, which utilise the same mechanics hardened with other CPI products, provide the capacity to meet the

C

needs of diverse applications. And from top to bottom, SCR’s architecture has been fortified with several innovative features that offer a new level of security to the market.

In games that traditionally pay jackpots in coins, SCR virtually eliminates hopper starvation by paying out higher value notes instead - using the same notes it accepts and stores on its recyclers from previous transactions. As a result, SCR requires less maintenance and can run for longer periods of time, lowering the overall cost of operation.

STAND: N3-320

REFLEX GAMING

A strong showing Reflex Gaming travels to ICE after a successful EAG, which saw it display a host of new titles, including Royal £100 - the company’s flagship digital compendium. eflex Gaming, the largest independent supplier to the pub retail sector, enjoyed R an extremely successful EAG. The company showed a comprehensive range of product designed for the UK market from Category C hi-tech and Category C Lite through to B4 and both analogue and digital options.

The latest Category C titles for the pub retail sector included Showtime, Maid of Money, Chilli Con Carnage and a darts-themed title called Treble Top. Reflex’s most recent games Chilli Con Carnage and Treble Top have received full retailer approvals and Showtime has received exceptional early test results. Maid of Money received Coinslot JANUARY 30 - FEBRUARY 5, 2015

full retailer approvals at the latter part of 2014 making this an incredible streak of top-performing games.

These reel-based titles are backed up by the exciting Cat C digital compendium called Royal £100, which was first unveiled at ACOS. It is housed in Reflex’s Video Atom cabinet and is a completely new concept for Reflex, as it is available to rent on a two-year contract, during which time it will be supplied with fresh proven content from Reflex, including hi-tech and slot-style games.

“The reaction we have received from customers so far has been everything we could have hoped for and Royal £100 is performing extremely well on test,” said Quentin Stott,Reflex managing director.“We enjoyed seeing our UK and international customers at EAG. It is six months since we set up Reflex Gaming VoF in partnership with experienced Dutch game developers and sales people and now we have a strategy for the Netherlands, we hope that this model may extend to other markets going forward.”

From Titan to Popeye; Spanish bars to UK pubs; it’s all going down a storm for Storm.

Games will be returning to the ICE show again this year after a successful 2014 debut Swhichtorm attracted a wide range of both new and existing customers from the UK and overseas. The company’s initial ICE outing saw it gain foothold in Europe and even as far as Africa and Asia.

“We have some exciting new products to show this year including The Titan: a stunning new widescreen slant top cabinet, along with a new Popeye themed linked community product for the UK arcade and bingo markets,” stated Storm’s product director Paul Rothwell. “We will also be showing the very latest range of multi-game Street Casino branded Category C and Category B4 products for the UK pub and club markets which now feature a library of 16 game titles for the operator to choose from, all housed in our brand new Tempest mark 2 widescreen cabinet.”

Visitors to the Storm stand will also be able to see a range of export products for the Spanish bar and arcade markets, a new development for the Dutch market, along with a multi-game video lottery product developed for a variety of other export markets.

“The team are all really looking forward to meeting again with customers this year at ICE and having the opportunity to show this latest range of products,” said Rothwell.

STAND: N1-241

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Products NOVOMATIC UK Suzo-Happ will be giving cause for celebration at next week’s ICE.

Suzo: more than components he Suzo-Happ team invites visitors to come to their stand (in the same position as last year) to celebrate the company’s sixtieth anniversary.

This will be the first ICE that Comesterogroup will be exhibiting as part of the Suzo-Happ family.

Comesterogroup is a household name for change machines and cash-in machines, with more then ten different models with machines such as Rock and Swing, and the RM5 HD coin-selector which is a firm favourite with customer.

ICE will also mark the first international exhibition for Suzo-Happ as exclusive global distributor for TransAct.The Epic 950 printer from TransAct is the perfect solution for ticket-in, ticket-out (TITO) applications.

The extended Suzo-Happ product range

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will also be on proud display.

This includes the Bill-to-Bill bank note recycler that is the preferred choice for a whole range of applications around the world.

Suzo-Happ is known as the ‘hopper and topper company’ and offers more choice with its Pro brand which includes the Vision Pro, Printer Pro and Billiard Pro. Suzo-Happ is also increasing its vertical integration service, which has been extended to include contract manufacturing services.

Finally, Suzo-Happ will also be exhibiting the solutions of further key distribution partners, such as ELO, Innovative Technology, MEI and Assa.

STAND: N4-110

INNOVATIVE TECHNOLOGY

Innovative get SMART at ICE Innovative Technology will be counting the days to ExCel with cutting edge technology on their agenda in London. nnovative Technology will use ICE 2015 to launch their latest ‘state of the art’ coin Ihandling unit, SMART Coin System.A com-

ment industries.The SMART Coin System’s bulk coin feeder reduces operator refill time by around 20 per cent: a typical 25 bined bulk coin validator, mixed coin minute refill is reduced to just 5 minutes, dramatically reducing operator collection hopper and recycler the SMART costs.

Coin System is set to revoluThe SMART Coin System eliminates the tionise coin handling. need for a coin mech and all plumbing The unit validates, discrimirequired by traditional coin hopnates and stores mixed coins,elimpers, allowing simple product inating coin starvation and the need integration.Added security is for multiple hoppers. Boasting a created from locking the coin market leading coin hopper capacfeeder to the hopper, and new ity (1500 x €1) and fully audited multi-frequency sensing techefficient refills the SMART nology allowing for greater Coin System is designed to fraud detection. Designed for eliminate coin starvation and maximum efficiency and valisignificantly reduce operator dation speed the unit validates, collection costs. discriminates and stores mixed With an impressive pay in coins for a huge range of curspeed, and a market leading mixed rencies; accepting coins of 18 coin pay-out speed of 12 coins per 28.5 mm diameter. second, the SMART Coin System is perfect for the high volume demands of the gaming and amuseSTAND: N1-550

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Novomatic UK sets out its stall for ICE 2015 The UK arm of Austrian heavyweights Novomatic AG are due for another show-stealing performance at ICE, fielding a raft of new titles from some of the most widely recognised brands in British gaming. ovomatic UK, part of the Novomatic group of companies, is looking forward N with high anticipation to another spectacular showcase event at ICE Totally Gaming 2015.The Group will be promoting a host of new product launches from brands including Astra Games, Bell-Fruit Games, Empire Games, Gamestec and Mazooma Interactive Gaming.

Among the ICE debutantes will beAstra’s stunning new video-based Cat C, Community £100 bonus.This is a six-strong compendium of feature packed games comprising Space Kings, Winwall, Cashanooga, Bars Attacks, Thunderflash Cash and 10,000BC. It will be joined by Cat C video iPub Casino Slots.Also showing will be video Cat B3 products Slotto 500 and iBet Jackpot 500 plus a quartet of reel-based

Cat C games including House of Fortune Multistake, Gold Vault Streak, Bullion Bar Streak and the well-known Electrocoin favourite Bar X. Sister company Bell-Fruit Games will head to ExCeL with a bumper crop of strong new titles including Cat C models Queen We are the Champions, Queen Forever, and Deal Or No Deal Dropzone.They are joined by the B4 game Deal Or No Deal Box 23,the lo-tech Cat C pairing of GoldenWinner and Queen Greatest Hits,plus Deal Or No DealWin Fall Casino.

And, advises BFG, visitors can expect to see some additional surprises come show time.

Empire Games, meanwhile, has high hopes for a brand new trio of titles at ExCeL. They comprise the Odd Bods single-player in ticket redemption format, alongside Cat D three-player Gold Run and Cat C Lite

three-player Over the Rainbow.

For national operator Gamestec, the big promotional push at ICE 2015 is focused on iPub Casino Slots.With a choice of 35 great games on board and its intuitive menu, the fully connected platform is generating an incredible 2.5 million plays every week. And with updated content every month, it’s delivering brand new gaming experiences to a growing army of players in the UK pub sector.

Visitors looking for the latest digital content for online and mobile on the Mazooma Interactive Gaming stand will have nine titles to peruse.They comprise Cleopatra Queen of Slots, Gemstone Jackpots, Mighty Trident, Cops ‘n’ Robbers, Happy Fruits, Rainbow Reels, Rumble in the Jungle, Spinderella and Clockwork Oranges.

Commenting on Novomatic UK’s ambitions for ICE, CEO Zane Mersich said:“The importance of this exhibition should never be understated, both in terms of the way it delivers an invigorating start to the New Year and its role as an inspirational showcase for new ideas and concepts.As always, the Astra Gaming Group and its constituent brands will reflect those values with a world class portfolio of gaming products that are as exceptional as they are truly innovative.”

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Listings NEWCO NOT SO NEWCOMERS ON THE SCENE ith a combined 45 years’ experience in amusements, Ian Pawson and W Tony Cartner have set up 7s Above with a focus on affordability. Second-hand machines are top of their range, with rental options also proving popular with customers.

At their first EAG this January, a rental version of the old Lara terminal attracted interest from punters. The bookie’s cabinet is available in both a Cat C £100 jackpot version or B4 £400 option, giving renters additional flexibility depending on their business-type.

“I think rental options are more and more on people’s radar,” said Pawson.

“Because obviously it’s a massive benefit to cash flow, and as we know, cash flow’s not been as easy for people to get their hands on lately.”

APPOINTMENT NEW FD AT INNOVATIVE Technology Ihasnnovative announced the arrival of a new finance director, in the form of Tom PenningtonBrookfield. He succeeds retiring incumbent, Alun Evans.

“Having spent 10 years in accounting practice and 6 years in various different types of business, I am thrilled to have the opportunity to work in such an entrepreneurial company that is at the start of its next growth phase,” said PenngintonBrookfield.

Managing director Aidan Towey said, “As the newest member of the board, Tom will bring a fresh approach to our global operations. He will not only fulfil his financial duties, but he will also play an active role in a number of projects throughout the business as we work towards our future growth aspirations.”

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CLASSIC CASH HANDLER TO BE RETIRED strosystems has announced that it will cease to support its GBA HR1 A note acceptors from 1 March 2015. The

device, which is widely used across the coin-op industry, became officially obsolete in 2009, although the cash handling company has continued to provide spare parts and maintenance since then. However, Astrosystems now reports that key components have gone out of production, ruling out effective aftersales.

JUKEBOXES A COMING JUKEBOX REVOLUTION? K jukebox manufacturer JayBox have hinted at a major new product release U in the next year which could revolutionise the sector.

The Penrith-based manufacturers have been reticent to release specific product details, but have each confirmed a seminal project in the pipeline.

Early indications suggest a product unveiling at EAG 2016. “We’re keeping it close to our chests,” said managing director Graham Bolderson, “but suffice to say the technological elements involved are extremely advanced.” Indeed, Bolderson is convinced that their next-generation box will place them well in terms of capability. “We came to this industry as early pioneers and at the absolute cuttingedge of technology,” Bolderson continued. “Our new box will represent a quantum leap forward and place us at the fore.”

TICKETING JUST THE TICKET! icketing has now got the added ‘wow’ factor with a range of custom designs Tavailable from UK Amusement Supplies.

The novelty tickets come in a full spectrum of bright and zingy colours, as well as popular arcade slogans such as ‘Winner Takes All’ and ‘Points Make Prizes’. AGC and FEC owners can also opt for eye-catching images such as fruit machine icons on their own fully customised tickets.

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range even more affordable for players and operators with a new switchable Cat D/ Cat C Lite kit now on the market.

These low stakes versions of the popular game will be available from Novomatic Group distributors RLMS Sales, Crown Direct and Deith Leisure.

Amusements Supplies is selling custom tickets at a reduced price, with prize shop software as a free extra with all purchases.

EXPORT EUROPEAN SALES FOLLOW UK LEAD

CATEGORY C FINE HEADWIND FOR BLACKBEARD’S DEPARTURE

Sales continues to do brisk busi4 Seven Gaming is gearing up for the ness abroad, thanks in part to develop- 2 full release of its latest creation, with a JingNC countries consistently emerging into number of major retailers delivering the the European marketplace.

A good percentage of what we sell goes abroad, it always has,” said technical director, Tom Clarke. “Overseas it’s mainly European countries: France, Spain and a lot into Hungary. So we’re quite well spread. There’s always different developing countries and we’ve always dealt with all of them anyway.”

Often these countries will use the UK industry as a litmus test for new machines, which they will then pick up second hand for their own use.

“I think they want to buy machines that are mainly used.

Because they are developing, where a machine has been successful in the UK for maybe three or four years. They don’t want to buy a brand new machine, they’re happy to buy a three or four year old machine and obviously that’s what we’ve got in stock and that’s what we can sell to them.”

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CAT C LITE ASTRA STRIKE GOLD WITH SWITCHABLE KIT games developer Astra Games is making its classic Gold Cup Leading

thumbs up for Blackbeard’s Bounty over the past few weeks. CLMS, Greene King and Machine Insite have all confirmed retailer approvals for the company’s latest hi-tech Cat C machine.

“We are obviously thrilled at how well Blackbeard’s Bounty is performing on site and to receive the seal of approval from three of the UK’s key retailers is most important for this latest model,” said 24 Seven managing director Simon McCarthy.

“We anticipate more approvals over the coming weeks on this model. This latest news rounds off a great show at EAG where our distribution partners Wessex Coin and Blue Monkey Sales did an excellent job and all of our products in the Cat C and B3 sectors were very well received by customers.”

The release of Blackbeard’s Bounty will be accompanied by a new chrome and black finish for the company’s iPlay cabinet, which received its premiere outing on the Wessex Coin stand at EAG. The game will also be available as a rebuild machine from G Squared Games.

“Following on the success of our previous model Wok Around the Clock, 24 Seven is clearly in its stride supplying the competitive retail sector,” said McCarthy.

“Our main challenge for this year will be a heavier commitment to design and development in order to increase the number of new releases from 24 Seven into the UK market.”

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Tamar Gaming are a leading provider of amusement and gaming equipment throughout South Devon and Cornwall.

We are currently recruiting for the above positions that will be based at our Ivybridge depot.

Service Team Leader You will need to be hands on, organized and committed to delivering excellent service to our customers. You will ideally have some form of supervisory/service experience together with electrical engineering knowledge and expertise. You will at times be required to work weekends and evenings for which a van we be supplied.

Service Engineer You will be responsible for servicing and repairing our full range of machines. You will be required to work 80 hours on a fortnightly shift pattern over 7 days. You will need to be exible as from time to time you will be required to work overtime.

Previous experience in a similar role and a full driving license is essential for both positions.

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Data Leisure Sales

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REFLEX GAMING £100

7X4 TOURNAMENT ..........................................£795

SHOWTIME ................................................ £2,275

6X3 TOURNAMENT ..........................................£795

HIT THE DRACPOT ..................................... £2,225

7X4 PRINCE .....................................................£795

TREBLE TOP .............................................. £2,225

6X3 PRINCE .....................................................£795

CHILLI CON CARNAGE ................................ £2,225

7X4 WINNER ....................................................£695

TABLE TOP ................................................ £2,225

6X3 WINNER ....................................................£695

MAID OF MONEY........................................ £2,225 WIZARD OF ODDS ...................................... £1,395 BEST OF BRITISH ....................................... £1,395

BELLFRUIT GAMES

GALLOPING JACKPOTS .............................. £1,100

WINFALL .......................................................£2,850

LADY LUCK TRAIL OF RICHES ....................... £995

DOND TURBO ...............................................£1,550

SNOW WHITE & 7 TENNERS ......................... £995

DOND POWERPLAY .......................................£1,500

DOUBLE AGENT ............................................ £795

HAPPY HOUR (INC DONGLE) .............................£995

LADY LUCK TRAIL OF RICHES (HORIZON) ...... £725

TAKE A CHANCE (INC DONGLE) ........................£995

SNOW WHITE HORIZON................................. £725

STRIKE GOLD (INC DONGLE) ............................£895

ALICE IN WONDERLAND ................................ £645

RAPID ROUND ..................................................£550 DOND BANK ON IT ...........................................£550

CLUB B4

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DOND LIVE......................................................POA

SPANK THE BANKER ........................................£495

FIDDLE OF FORTUNE ................................. £1,945

DOND EAST WING WEST WING ........................£495

BEST OF BRITISH (ATOM CAB) ................... £1,945

DOND RED HOT ...............................................£450

HOT SHOTS ............................................... £1,945

RED MIST ........................................................£450 PLAY THE GAME ..............................................£400

MISCELLANEOUS £100 CAT C

MAKE OR BREAK .............................................£450

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Contact Karl or Steve on Tel: 01706 883838. Fax: 01706 883839. E-mail: karl@dataleisuresales.co.uk Coinslot JANUARY 30 - FEBRUARY 5, 2015

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Coinslot January 30 - February 5, 2015

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Comment Email: je@gbmedia.eu

Making momentum pay The cheque books are out in the wake of EAG, but will the spending continue? Joseph Ewens suggests some upcoming developments which may spur further deal making. t’s deal season for the coin-op industry.While there are areas that EAG will always be aiming to improve upon, there’s no denying that it provides a key catalyst for business.

Crown, SG Gaming, Reflex and JCM have all been involved in post-show tie-ups, no doubt powered by discussions in and around the show.The hope will be that this early momentum continues well into the year and there are certainly some likely candidates that may fuel further investment.

The jury is out on TITO, but the word

I

from EAG was that the industry was waiting on tenterhooks for a couple of major players to take the leap, then the whole pack may jump on board.This would necessitate some serious new cash handling hardware and provides the perfect environment for more deals to be done. Not to mention the prospect of new pound coins in the near future.

All this adds up to the conclusion that 2015 may well be the smart time for manufacturers to lock in new partners on favourable deals ahead of certain market upheaval in the coming years.

Planning for success This year, we may see several new bingo halls established - now we just need to keep them there, suggests Imogen Goodman. he amusements industry has some enviably active campaigning bodies under its belt, but sometimes it’s good just to know when you’re ahead.

That was the message from Miles Baron, chief executive of the Bingo Association, who declared this week that it’s time to reap the rewards of last year’s duty cut by investing in new bingo halls.

It’s good to see such a surge of positivity, and it was particularly encouraging when Baron said that he expected to see at least one venue set up in the near future.

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If these important sites are to survive, though, we need to think about planning regulations as they stand. Currently, a whole host of entertainments venues can change use without planning permission, paving the way for more and more closures of these vital assets.

This isn’t just a bingo issue; a recent CAMRA survey found that pubs are closing at a rate of 29 per week, and WMCs have been under threat for a while. New bingo halls are a heartening sign, but we must also take steps to keep them there.

Capital gains When is it fair game to promote your products in a competing venue? Chris Webster asks the question. id you hear the one about a Betfred bookie walking into its neighbouring Cashino asking to leave some promotional leaflets? Well,we did and even without a punchline,it’s still very funny.

Whether it’s audacious,a concerted marketing push,or just a few eager,enthusiastic local employees trying to think outside the box - it’s simply too odd to analyse without reducing it to a level of stupidity.

When you read our front page lead,you have to ask yourself:why would Betfred do that?Why would they think it’s viable?Why would they even consider it acceptable?

In a climate where the bookies - primarily FOBTS - are under such aggressive assault by

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the anti-gambling lobby,that kind of perceived cross promotion is clearly not good practice for the local AGCs.Image-wise,the association is negative;business-wise,the promotion is damaging;and as far as community relations is concerned,well you don’t want to name the high street bookie as your best mate.

Nothwithstanding the actual nerve of asking to leave free bet promotions in the AGC; the fact is, it’s a vacuous marketing ploy - ill-thought and pretty dumb.

Betfred do so much well in their marketing, but this latest couple of incidents is not up to their standard - and, in truth, it’s not up to many sensible business standards.

Uppers and downers this week in the press While the FT takes a weighty look at the coastal sector, a couple of low key drug busts make the headlines around the UK and Ireland.

joseph ewens media watch he Financial Times has been asking how TBritish seaside towns can reinvent themselves, taking the Port of Lowestoft as a case study of the changing landscape. Its pier features a rundown arcade filled with slot machines and traditional amusements, while on the other a wind turbine slowly beats the air as a helicopter takes off to visit offshore oil rigs. The scene is a good illustration of how Britain’s seaside towns are trying to reinvent themselves following the decline of traditional industries.

The economic regeneration of coastal towns has risen up the political agenda as the UK Independence party has gained support among the older and poorer voters without university education who disproportionately live along the coast.

According to a forecast by Chris Hanretty, Benjamin Lauderdale and Nick Vivyan, political scientists who produce seat-by-seat forecasts, the seats that UKIP is most likely to gain at the general election are along the east coast, including the constituencies of Great Yarmouth, and Boston and Skegness.

Associated British Ports, which owns the Lowestoft property, sees the area as an offshore energy hub. This clustering provides jobs and investment - the old fish market hosts a wind turbine business while the

remains of the fishing fleet has a sideline in transporting engineers out to the oilfields.

Britain’s seaside towns have suffered as cheap flights and package holidays abroad tempted their visitors. At the same time the surplus accommodation, now unused by holidaymakers, was turned into cheap housing. This attracted poorer adults and young people, says Steve Fothergill, an economist who studies coastal towns.

This combination has left some seaside towns struggling. A recent report by the Office for National Statistics found that, on average, the population was more likely to be older and more likely to be disabled while those of working age were less likely to have a job.

But the decline was not universal. “These towns are remarkably resilient,” says Mr Fothergill. “Get the model that they’re on the skids out of your heads - there’s a range that looks strong and healthy.”

Elsewhere in the press, there have been some narcotic developments, including a report in the Irish Herald that a local grandmother has been fined for selling cocaine outside her local bingo hall.

Helen Heaphy (50) of Fairhill, Cork pleaded guilty before the district court to two charges. She was charged with possession of cocaine and pos-

session of the drug for sale or supply at Deanrock Business and Technology Park in Togher. Both charges related to the evening of 9 July last year.

Deanrock is the site of one of Ireland’s most successful UK-style bingo operations, Rock Bingo.

Garda Inspector John Deasy said Heaphy was stopped outside the bingo complex and arrested when she was found to be carrying what Garda Danielle Hegarty suspected were controlled drugs. She made no reply when she was first arrested and charged.

Cork District Court was told last September that the small quantity of cocaine involved had an estimated street value of €350. Judge Leo Malone accepted jurisdiction in the case after hearing evidence of the value of the drugs involved and the outline details of the case.

The director of public prosecutions had ruled that, in the circumstances, the case could be dealt with at district court rather than circuit court level.

Judge Malone questioned what the defendant was doing with cocaine outside a Cork bingo hall.

Heaphy’s solicitor, Frank Buttimer, said there was no suggestion the drugs were ever going to be brought inside the bingo complex. “It happened outside the bingo hall. At the request of someone she carried it to give to (them). It was a stupid act

2405-p30-31-Comment_Coinslot NEW 27/01/2015 16:01 Page 2

Coinslot January 30 - February 5, 2015 31

Arabian camels found in betting shops!

Global Bet will be presenting the world’s first Virtual Camel Race. To launch their Virtual Camel Race, a real racing camel - worth over £10,000 - will be making a special appearance at ICE on 4 February 2015 between 3pm-4pm.

8 Email: je@gbmedia.eu

TO COMMENT ON ANY ARTICLE

GAMING INDUSTRY NEWS

quote unquote Most of the trade bodies are supporters and helpful to us and they’d like to see us have more money, but it’s quite hard squeezing money out of gambling operators.

We hold a fairly large gun to the head of the industry and by and large they, very kindly, put one hand up and the other in their pocket!

[Smiles] ANTHONY JENNENS OBE, GAMCARE

which placed her at risk of imprisonment,” Mr Buttimer said.

He said his client had cooperated fully with the gardai and had major family responsibilities. “She is 50 years old now. She is separated. She is both a mother and grandmother with family responsibilities,” he added.

Judge Malone was told Heaphy had complied fully with all bail conditions including that she reside at her Fairhill home and stay away from the Rock Bingo complex in Togher. The latter bail restriction has since been lifted. Heaphy is a keen fan of bingo and following talks, she was allowed by the owner of the complex to attend bingo nights.

Leafy Blackburn has also been caught up in an amusements drug scandal, as the site of a former arcade has been revealed as an illicit cannabis production site by the Lancashire Telegraphy. A farm described by police as ‘sizeable’ has been discovered at a former gaming arcade in Blackburn town centre. Dozens of plants were found after around ten officers raided Campbell’s Amusements, in Lord Street West.

PC Gary Hennighan, who spearheaded the operation, said it was difficult to say how many plants were

inside until utilities firms had made the site safe. He said: “We have acted on community intelligence at Campbell’s Amusements and executed a warrant. We discovered a sizeable cannabis cultivation and required the utilities companies to make the building and the electrics safe before we could start to look at the extent of it.

“There was someone on the premises to let us in and two people have been arrested on suspicion of cultivation of cannabis, a controlled class B drug. The smell coming from the building was pointed out to us by a number of people and we did a bit of digging to secure the warrant.

“We believe the people who had access to the building did so legally but that will be part of the investigation process. The building hasn’t been in use for about 18 months. When we come across something like this there are always concerns about electricity and fire risks so we can’t get a proper look straight away.

All I can say is that it was sizeable.

“Drugs are a big problem and these operations can only work with the public reporting this kind of behaviour. We take it seriously and act upon it.” Two men from Accrington, aged 53 and 39, were arrested and questioned.

“Clearly targeting machineplayers playing on lowstake machines and trying to get them to cross the road and play high-stake machines flies in the face of any pretensions towards responsible gambling, and as a marketing strategy, frankly it just seems a bit daft.”

NICK HARDING, PRAESEPE

“We have to adapt to the changing face of crime.

Whereas before, night break-ins were the biggest worry, now we’re seeing gangs targeting pubs in the daytime while they’re open.”

ALAN OSBORNE, GAME SERVICES GROUP

“I think that the effect of Butlins in Minehead is almost incalculable. Their decision to spend roughly £30 million on redevelopment in Butlins, Minehead is absolutely crucial to the area.”

IAN LIDDELL-GRAINGER, MP FOR BRIDGWATER AND WEST SOMERSET

“A number of major pub companies believe that they can avoid the resulting malaise by investing in outof-town pubs which are really ‘quasi-restaurants’.

Unfortunately, these businesses too are already starting to suffer the effects of the tax disparity with supermarkets and they will clearly, in our view, be unable to escape the consequences of an unequal tax system.”

TIM MARTIN, J D WETHERSPOONS

Bingo Association to capitalise on duty cuts in 2015 Last year’s reduction in Bingo Duty marked the start of a new epoch for the industry, and Miles Baron, chief executive of the Bingo Association, hopes to keep the ball rolling with a vital influx of investment.

miles baron politics s other organisations set the wheels in motion for a tough A year of campaigning, for the bingo industry, much of the hard graft is out of the way. After the halving of Bingo Duty brought in a welcome wave of capital,the Bingo Association are seizing the opportunity to reflect on progress and push for further growth.

“Last year we obviously wanted change, because we were lobbying for it and we got it,” said BA chief executive Miles Baron. “Now we’re looking for some time to make that good without having to worry about what may or may not happen in other areas of the gambling industry.”

Stimulating investment in bingo clubs is top of the agenda, with Baron suggesting that plans for new venues are already underway.“I don’t want to be too specific, but I believe we’ll see significant investment in new bingo clubs in 2015,” he said.

“One will be the catalyst for more and I fully expect at least one to be up and running in the very near future.”

Along with new bingo halls, there are also several fresh faces in government and other areas of the industry, motivating the BA to start the year with a spate of discussions and introductions.

“High on the agenda for 2015 is establishing relationships with a whole new group of people,” said Baron.“It’s always productive to talk to people,

because communication is a crucial part of what we do at the trade association.”

So far this year, Baron has had meetings with Mark Lloyd, the new head of Gambling Taxes at the Treasury, Helen Grant at DCMS, and Claire Sweeney, who is going to be the public face of the BA’s new official charity, Variety.

Beyond nurturing these new relationships and bringing people up to speed with the industry, Baron is keen to monitor other industry developments.

“We’re not running any specific ‘flagship’ campaigns right now,” he commented. “What we’re doing is keeping an eye on the progress of bingo in pubs and clubs to see how that develops.

We see benefits and positives in the Greene King application, but we also see some drawbacks.”

Baron is particularly interested to see how legislators and the public will interpret research into B2 gaming machines carried out by the Responsible Gambling Trust. He also hopes to take advantage of a rare period of calm in order to start building up the sector after a difficult few years.

“What we would wish for in bingo this year is a landscape of stability where there aren’t too many tax changes and regulatory changes,” Baron said.“We want to take the benefit that we got in the budget last year and make it work for us; we don’t want to be side tracked by on-going speculation around regulation and taxation.”

”

2405-p32-newsweek_Coinslot NEW 27/01/2015 14:33 Page 1

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Coinslot January 30 - February 5, 2015

Newsweek C5 TO PRESENT 5TH ANNUAL ONLINE GAMING FORUM ow in its fifth year, the C5 Annual Regulatory Forum on European Online Gaming purports to explore the rapid changes affecting an increasingly lucrative sector of the industry. After a year of regulatory reform, including Gambling Act amendments in the UK, the forum will provide insight on how to capitalise on online gaming opportunities whilst safely complying with rules and regulations.

The forum will take place on 2 February in Crowne Plaza,

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

ICE to host 2nd annual Game to Watch competition Mayer said:“Gaming’s currency is brilliant ideas and Game To Watch is a fantastic opportunity for independent developers to pitch their newest products and see if they capture the imagination of the industry’s smartest minds.”

Judges include Bruce Bale, head of social gaming and development at Sky Betting and Gaming; Shane Stafford, the creative director of Paddy Power; Mark Clohessy, BetClic Everest Group’s casino and games product man-

our shortlisted game development hopefuls will be pitching their ideas to an all-star cast of industry judges at the second annual Game to Watch competition.

The competition, which will take place at 4:30pm on Wednesday 4 February as part of ICE’s Game Design & Development Conference, aims to give a platform to the most innovative independent designers around.

ICE marketing director Jo

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London, featuring expert speakers from the European Commission alongside UK politicians and industry-leading operators.

A statement on the C5 website read: “With an influx of regulation competing against the rapid growth of online gambling, it is imperative now more than ever

before that operators and service providers fully understand the regulatory landscape.”

LEGO’S MINECRAFT STEALS THE SHOW AT TOY FAIR ego Minecraft has been voted Toy of the Show in the Editors’

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Choice awards at Toy Fair in London this week. More than 400 journalists came together at the event to vote on the products which had caught their eye the most, with the Corgi James Bond Aston Martin DB5 from Hornby just missing out on the top prize. “We are really proud of Minecraft as it has

ager, and Yariv Lavi, director of business development at 888 Holdings.

“We are delighted to once again stage the Game to Watch competition and to have attracted such a stellar list of judges,” added Mayer.

Conference attendees will see each of the finalists make their pitches before answering questions from panel members. Judges will then decide upon - and announce - the winner of the ICE Game to Watch 2015.

been built on consumer demand,” said Lego’s brand director Angie Tutt. “We asked consumers for their feedback to develop this range and we are delighted to have recognition of that

effort with the Editors’ Choice Toy of the Show Award.” Toy Fair, which ran from 20-22 January this year, is the UK’s only dedicated toy, game and hobby trade show.

EDITORIAL Edition Editor: Joseph Ewens Email: je@gbmedia.eu Tel: 01273 699 900 Contributing Editor: Chris Webster Contributors: Imogen Goodman, Nick Norton Editorial Director: Ken Scott Email: ks@sjc.co.uk Tel: 01273 699 900 ADVERTISING SALES Kathryn Norris Email: knorris@gbmedia.eu Tel: 01257 277400 Fax: 01257 271329 SUBSCRIPTIONS Sarah Haworth Tel: 01257 277400 DIGITAL VERSION Marc Lawton Email: mlawton@gbmedia.eu Tel: 01257 277400 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 Oak House, 1st Floor, Suite 4, High Street, Chorley, PR7 1DW

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Calendar FEBRUARY 2015 1-5 Spring Fair NEC Birmingham UK www.springfair.com

2-4 ICE Conferences ExCel London UK www.icetotallygaming.com/conferences

3-5 ICE Totally Gaming ExCel London UK www.icetotallygaming.com 11-15 IAAPI Amusement Expo Bombay Exhibition Centre Mumbai India www.iaapi.org

MARCH 2015 18-19 FADJA Peru Westin Lima Hotel & Convention Centre Lima Peru www.fadja.com.pe

18-20 Enada Spring Rimini Fiera Rimini Italy www.enadaprimavera.it TBC FER Interazar 2015 Madrid Spain www.ferinterazar.com TBC Irish Gaming Show Moran Red Cow Conference Centre & Hotel Dublin Ireland www.irishgaming.ie

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, 2015 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.