Czech Republic

In the Czech Republic, the growth of machine gaming and the rise of electronic gaming machines (VLT's) have prompted a comprehensive overhaul of gambling legislation, which is expected to be completed by the end of 2008. Ernst&Young has been contracted by the Ministry of Finance to hold a public consultation on all gambling regulation to be completed by 18 July so as to enable the firm to propose new gambling regulation to the Minister of Finance.

CMI's MCT line has two product ranges. One Product range is a combination of network technology (creating a cashless system) combined with a change machine (pay-in/pay-out terminal). The second product range is a high-speed coin/bill recycling system (MCT 300,MCT 400, MCT 500 MCT 600). The aim of these products is an efficient , secured and quick money circulation on the floor.

Euroslot interviews Custom Engineering

Euroslot interviews AllStar Vending - supplier of novelties and tattoos

The recent IMA and ATEI exhibitions have proved that Austrian touchscreen giant funworld has entered a new era of cooperation. For the first time, the company, for so long synonymous with the Photo Play market-leading touchscreen games, showed itself to be a multi-product company with new brands and company sectors to tackle different areas of the gaming and amusement markets.

Ticket redemption, cranes and novelties can be seen as the “hard work” end of the market, requiring careful choice of prizes and subtle adjustments in certain countries to stay on the right side of grey areas of the gaming law. But, as Euroslot discovered, these machines can be more than just the family part of the arcade mix. Pick well and they can more than earn their place on the FEC floor.

We simply ask operators and end users to write and tell us what product they are nominating and why. This can be anything from a machine to a component. We are hoping to hear about all types of products from kiddie rides, through to AWPs, push buttons and more from any country in the world.

When young Paul Gauselmann started installing machines as a sideline in June 1957, probably nobody including himself would have thought that 50 years later the one-man show would have developed into today’s global player – the Gauselmann Group. Just in time for the anniversary this year the group succeeded in generating consolidated revenues of EUR 1.007 billion thus “cracking” the one billion line.

The Deith name is almost synonymous with the British amusement industry. For five decades now the family has been represented among the higher echelons of the UK distribution scene, although recent changes at Deith Group have seen the family’s involvement in the market lessen somewhat. Company founder Leon Deith has left the firm, and indeed the industry, to develop one of his long- standing hobbies into a business idea. In a somewhat surprising move, Leon has left the bells and whistles of coin-op behind and entered the champagne-swilling and canapé-crunching world of the fine art dealer.

If we take the theories of Charles Darwin to hold water (which, remarkably, is by no means a given in this day and age, with the state- sanctioned return of creationist teaching to schools on both sides of the Atlantic), then the existence and evolution of man, and every other species currently present on this planet for that matter, is the result of a constant battle, a fight for natural resources – food, air, light etc – that those around today have so far won and the likes of the dinosaurs and dodos have lost.

AWPS: Ace Coin Entertainments added four new £35 jackpot games to its British Dream Play compendiums now amounting to ten games being available for UK operators. The four new games for the UK consist of two low tech AWPs and two low jackpot Section 16/21 offerings and all can switch between £35 or £25 jackpots.

The IMA is back and everybody agreed it was a great success. The new venue in Dusseldorf is not only easy to get to for international visitors, it is also clean, modern and well organised. There was a slight hitch on the first morning of the show, however, when visitors were delayed at registration for so long that hot drinks had to be handed out to keep people happy in the long queues. Despite this, exhibitors seemed to be very pleased with the location and the turn out of visitors.

This year the fair promised to be different and it certainly was. We shall therefore try to capture the various opinions expressed by the Spanish exhibitors and visitors at this year’s show. Yet despite being located on the fringe, the Spanish companies were once again a point of reference for many visitors.Despite the efforts that had been madet by the organisers to explain the new layout, it was not an easy task redirecting those who were regular visitors to the event to the new locations. In this market the logical division of exhibitors into amusement companies on the first floor and gaming and gambling companies on the ground floor is not always that clear, and classifying some companies with an interest in both areas is a difficult task.

The doors to the world’s most comprehensive amusements show open on 23 January as organisers stage the 63rd edition of the annual Amusement Trades Exhibition International (ATEI) at London’s Earls Court Exhibition Centre. The show’s international flavour will be more pronounced this time round as Clarion ATE announces the highest ever proportion of international participation, with non-UK exhibitors outnumbering their domestic counterparts for the second successive year.

For decades now, the gambling sector in Ireland has bemoaned the fact that the regulation with which it must comply dates as far back as 1956 and is unable to cater for today’s gambling activities. But not for much longer. In a move likely to regulate the casino sector in Ireland and possibly update the rules for amusement machines, the Irish Department of Justice is currently reviewing its options, with the Minister for Justice Michael McDowell set to propose legislation later this year. Lucy Cronin from Policy Action reports.

An industry that does not evolve is in danger of becoming obsolete. At this most dangerous time for the amusement sector, signs of sterility are beginning to show. And this failure of the established market has left it wide open to attack from other industries hoping to profit from making attractive games.

Representatives of Euromat – the European gaming and amusement federation, met with MEPs in Brussels last month to launch a new book entitled The Future of Gaming and Amusement in Europe.

Josep Tarres is Managing Director of the Spanish company Digital Center, which is dedicated to the manufacture of photo cabinets. Digital Center has been a regular exhibitor at recent ATEI shows and some of its products continue to have an impact on visitors to the fair, such as Ping-pong Combat, which today remains a point of reference in the market.

Unfortunately, political events are having an ever-greater influence on social activities above all, bringing together professionals from several countries in the same place at the same time.

Like all components of the coin-op amusement sector, the video scene depends on currency. But as the second phase of the digital revolution takes hold, the small change of life is being sidelined by electronic payment.

The popularity of what has been called the “classic” school of amusement and the depth of feeling these games and experiences engender with the thirtysomething crowd have not been lost on a new and burgeoning industry – described under the name “retro” gaming.

It would be hard not to notice the sudden gold rush that has embraced the remaining amusement scene – a mad dash to grab land and stake out property. For amusement, the idea that we are worth anything is unusual and slightly disconcerting; many of the new investors are looking at consolidation.