The host, the German Amusement and Vending Industry Association (VDAI) is proved right by IMA's success: this year 8,850 trade visitors from Germany and abroad came to catch up on new developments in the amusement and vending machine industry. Growth could be reported in every area: IMA 2008 showed an increase in visitor numbers of eight percent, exhibitors numbers grew by 15 percent and exhibition surface by almost 20 percent. Just under 19,000 sqm of exhibition surface were booked (2007: 16,000 sqm).The new Gambling Ordinance passed two years ago created the basis for a large range of new commercially-operated amusement machines with cash prizes. Screen-based machines and multigames continue to be very popular. But even the classic wheel or cylinder-based machines attract the interest of many customers. Together, these two segments make up a large proportion of the machines exhibited. In other exhibition segments, such as décor and accessories, and furnishings for amusement arcades in general, interest continues unabated.

Next year, bowling will also take up considerable space at the fair: IMA 2009 and the trade magazine Bowling Business will cooperate to stage Bowling World 2009 for the first time parallel to the trade fair. During the four days of the fair manufacturers and service providers from the bowling and related sectors present their products and concepts. "Bowling continues to be a trend - especially in combination with amusement machines," explains IMA Director Petra Lassahn. "A large number of creative design solutions offering a good combination of the two are available to exhibitors today." Moreover, this sector is of great interest to the "classic" IMA visitors looking for new areas of business.

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