There’s one thing that an economic slowdown doesn’t seem to slow down, and that’s regulatory change. Across the world we see the gaming and amusements sectors continuing to adapt to new rules, often brought about by new technologies such as e-gaming and VLTs; and despite a few territories, notably Russia, heading in the direction of prohibition, the general trend is toward liberalisation.

A chance visit to a printer of bingo tickets... and Gareth Phillips, now international MD of The Global Draw, was hooked on the gaming industry

Some of the most successful amusement machines are built around licences from film and TV. But does brand recognition always boost takings, or is the fame game over-rated as far as customers are concerned? Jon Bruford investigates

Key to the design of a successful VLT network – and to regulatory compliance – is the division of functions among the server, the player terminal, and other modules. The VLT system from Austria’s Amatic Industries, for example, illustrates this. On the game server, protected by 128-bit SSL encryption, the random-number generation is performed and the outcome of games is calculated.

The Merkur Inspired joint venture’s Slant Top Evolution cabinet, recently approved by regulator the AAMS (and the duo’s third VLT cabinet to receive that endorsement), is to be rolled out to venues operated by Sisal Slot, including the Wincity chain of gaming halls. With a widescreen 26-inch top display and a 22-inch touchscreen, the Slant Top Evolution (pictured) operates on Inspired’s Open VLT platform. It joins the joint venture’s Storm and Prospero cabinets on the AAMS-approved roster.

Billiard cloth manufacturer Milliken is sponsoring the Seminole Pro Tour series of pool events in the U.S., which is now offering its largest-ever sum of prize money at $137,000. The five-tournament tour will use Milliken’s SuperPro cloth. Marketing manager Stuart Gardiner said: “We think the Seminole Pro Tour is the best up-and-coming event in the U.S. and are very excited to be part of it.”

The Valley National 8-Ball League Association (VNEA) in the U.S. has elected new officers as it gears up for its 32nd annual international pool championships. Dave Hawkins takes over from Mike Fowler as president. VPs are Tom Elum, Judy Mehle, and Ed Borgia, while Marshall Kohtz is a director at large, Stefan Reichert from Germany’s NSM is manufacturer director, and Dave Courington is secretary.

Despite winning the world snooker championships seven times, Stephen Hendry will have to qualify again for this year’s British championship after dropping out of the top 16.

Three petitions lodged by Italian courts and relating to restrictions on collections from gaming and betting are pending before the European Court of Justice (ECJ). The first of these was lodged by the court in Santa Maria Capua Vetere on 11 July and relates to the criminal proceedings against Raffaele Arrichiello.

Venues may soon be able to show films and play recorded music without a licence, under a red-tape-cutting plan being prepared by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport. The DCMS is conducting a public consultation into regulated entertainment, which also includes theatrical and dance performances, live music, and indoor sports.

Allstar Vending is bringing the latest interactive technology to the humble sticker. Its latest line of dinosaur stickers has an augmented-reality (AR) feature – users place them in front of the camera on a computer or iPhone, then visit the Website Allstardino.com to manipulate the depicted dinosaur in 3D.