The European Parliament and the laws it comes up with are often rightly mocked within the pages of our national press. Only cheese from Greece has the right to be named Feta, andbananas must have the right kind of curve. It’s easy to laugh at the edicts coming from Brussels until they have a direct effect on your own livelihood and then the joke is not so funny.

Harry Levy Amusements has completed a ground-breaking installation at an entertainment complex in Riga, Latvia. The Go Planet centre – which is situated on the outskirts of the city – does not have any gaming machines but boasts the very latest in amusements.

Talarius’s Quicksilver estate of Adult Gaming Centres is now 200-strong following the purchase of two venues from The Wilson Fun Company. The deal was completed on December 13 for an undisclosed sum. Both AGCs, which have been trading as Main Street Amusements, are in Gillingham, Kent.

Scheduled for May 10-12 at B and C Zones, Hall One of the Taipei World Trade Center in Taipei, Taiwan, GTI EXPO 2007 will have its official exhibitor registration in the middle of December. The first priority will be given to over 30 VIP customers to reserve their booths.

Electrocoin will launch Chase HQ.2 at the London Show, an updated version of the 1988 heavyweight Chase HQ. While retaining the ‘old-school’ feel of the original, HQ.2 will thrust a host of new features and effects on modern players including impressive 3D graphics, forced-feedback steering, linkable play, nitro boost, exciting new courses and immersive sound effects.

The BAPTO competition attracted 60 teams from all over the UK & Ireland, with nearly 400 players descending on the Pontins complex in Blackpool.

Astrosys International, supplier of currency validators, has announced the appointment of Debbie Robb to the position of General Manager of its European regional office, Astrosystems Ltd.

Next Gaming has announced the appointment of James Illingworth as director of international sales.

SAM Leisure recently hosted a visit to its state-of-the-art manufacturing facility in Vitoria, Spain. The UK team of Gary Drage and Liam Barrett accompanied Eve Oliver of Mitchells & Butlers, representing Hollywood Bowl, and John Daniel of Leisure Link, their machine supplier.

JPM International has signed a perpetual game content distribution licence with Games Warehouse to deliver video-based games to more than 6,000 server-based terminals in clubs and pubs across the UK.

The Board of GamCare has appointed Nicola Crewe-Read (née Weiner) as Director of Communications with immediate effect.

The 19th Rimini Fiera will take place from Thursday March 22 to Sunday March 25, 2007. The Spring show is sponsored by the AAMS (Italian Gaming Board), supported by Euromat and organised in association with ASCOB, Assotrattenimento Fidart and Sicon.

Over one million multiplayer games have been played on Photo Play’s linked online terminals during the last quarter. Part of this success can be traced back to the innovations made available by System 2007 and the new PRO generation.

Mick Kennedy has been promoted to the post of Head of Sales – UK and Ireland at Brent Sales. The move follows the announcement that John McKenzie is stepping up to the role of Managing Director at Namco Europe as from 1st January 2007.

Cyberview Technology, a leading provider of secure downloadable server-based systems to the gaming industry, has named David Purvis (pictured) as Managing Director of United Kingdom sales and operations.

Scientific Games has signed a letter of intent to purchase Games Media and related companies.

AmEx 2007 - The 28th Irish Amusement & Gaming Trade Exhibition, will be held at the Lynch Green Isle Hotel, Dublin on Tuesday 6 and Wednesday 7 March 2007. Opening hours will be from noon to 6pm both days.

Merit Entertainment is now shipping its 2007 software for both ION and Force in the USA, as well as the new 17” eVo and Edge game systems.

Inspired Gaming Group has launched its server-based gaming (SBG) AWP/fruit machine, named The Player. Inspired will be rolling out 25,000 of the new terminals over the next three years to major pub retailers.

Display Technology, the embedded computer and touchscreen specialist, has appointed Andy Morgan as its gaming industry specialist, focusing on the UK and Europe.

Despite being at the cutting edge of digital delivery systems, Sound Leisure has also invested heavily in its hand-built range of classic retro jukeboxes.

Dave Ellwood has been appointed North West Vice-Chairman of BACTA. Ellwood has been a member of BACTA for 17 years and has served on the committee for three years, supporting current Chairman Simon Shaw.

Last month over 150,000 businesses and organisations throughout Wales were mailed with information about the smoking ban, which is due to take effect in Wales on April 2 next year.

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.

The investment and inspection delegation from Taiwan’s electronic game industry travelled to three places in Central and South America including the city of Panama, San Pedro Sula in Honduras, and Guatemala City.

Subsino, which is renowned for its development capability, is one of the major game developers in Taiwan. Each year the firm launches a good number of popular video reel slot games as well as kiddie rides.

ShiYu Industry held a new factory inauguration ceremony on October 20th, 2006. At the same time it also organized the first large-scale e-Game Exhibition. More than 1,000 guests from the global e-game industry attended the inauguration ceremony including Michael Rudowicz, Chairman of AAMA, Michael Green of the Britain-based UDC, and representatives from Bandai Namco, Sega, Taito and Konami.

Astro, one of the leading game developers in Taiwan, entered the second stage of its application to GLI (Gaming Laboratories International) in December 2006 for a licence for its new model of gambling game.

The number of Spanish exhibitors who will be at the ATEI this year will be sufficiently large for them to occupy third place among the participants, after the British and Italians. The changes made by the organisers in the design and location of stands, which are spread over two levels, seems to be one of the reasons why more than one veteran exhibitor has decided not to participate in the London Fair.

The Council of State of the Autonomous Regional Government of Madrid has approved the law for regulating bets, which includes those placed on sporting events, competitions or other previously determined types, and allows those companies within the sector to market the game of bingo and casinos over the internet.

Last month saw the official creation of Patrojoc, the employers’ association for private gaming in Catalonia. It has its own statutes and will be presided over by Juan Lao Hernández, who is also Chairman of the Conei Group.

In conjunction with Ocio y Recreativo Andaluz (ORA), Comatel has run a number of training sessions for the technical staff of companies operating in the lesiure and amusement sector in Andalucia. During these four days, more than 200 people attended the short courses.

The Austrian manufacturer TAB Austria, originally known for its Silverball touch-screen and the Max Fire jukebox series, has now become active in the German cash payout sector. The multi-gambler Golden Island Fire has been launched with classic reel games, Roulette, Poker and Keno.

Austrian Gaming Industries GmbH (AGI), a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Novomatic Group of Companies, has achieved trade-fair success at the G2E in Las Vegas, according to its own information. Expansion was the prevailing theme of this year’s AGI trade-fair appearance at the G2E: a wide product range, a larger AGI team than ever before, and an extended presentation area met with great interest from visitors.

The Gauselmann Group has now entered the British market with a cash payout machine. The name of the machine is Criss Cross Runner and it has been specially developed for Merkur Gaming, the export subsidiary of the Gauselmann concern, by the development company Mega.

At the end of June this year, following the uproar caused by a legal inquiry into the leading protagonists of the gaming system on offer in Italy, the government appointed a Commission of Enquiry formed by leading representatives from the Ministry of Economy and Finance.

SAPAR’s President, Paolo Dalla Pria, recently declared: “We have quickly shifted from a system without rules to a system built upon too many rules and regulations that make both the distribution and the management processes slow and complicated.”

During November the financial police, placed at the disposal of the Public Prosecutor’s Office in Venice, have been seizing distribution permits for the Black Slot-type machines that had been stockpiled in warehouses, awaiting distribution but not yet granted a permit for use.

NMi is the number one European Testing Laboratory for Gaming Instruments and one of a trio of leaders in the European Casino market. Our certificates are accepted worldwide from the Baltics to the Balkans, from Britain to the Russian Steppes. Our influence is paramount, working with most of the major manufacturers in the gaming market. NMi will attend the ICE Show for the 6th commencing time. Visitors can find us at stand number 3244.

3M United Kingdom has announced that its capacitive touch-screen technology has been implemented in Unicum slot machines to address player demands for a more intense and immediate gaming experience. 3M technology was selected for its high quality, reliability and capability, as well as global support to speed development and delivery, and maximise uptime in the field.

Pan Amusements, world leader in the manufacture of electronic shooting galleries, used the IAAPA exhibition in Atlanta to showcase its new Pirate themed gallery and confirm new sales, especially from the USA.

For the third time, the United States Mint will attempt to circulate $1 coins to the public. This time, in accordance with the Presidential Coin Act of 2005, the Mint will produce coins that commemorate the American presidents in the order in which they served.

Atlanta, Georgia was the site for the 2006 IAAPA Attractions Expo Annual Conference and Trade Show, held from November 15-18. Approximately 22,000 visitors from 89 nations, similar to the 2005 statistics, attended the yearly exposition.

Almotech Ireland, manufacturer of the Mystro digital audio/video jukebox, is making its second trip to ATEI accompanied by its UK distributor, Adelphi Coin.

Astra Games will introduce the MK 3 cabinet, a sophisticated blend of classic casino curves with the latest in component technology and robust security.

Ainsworth Game Technology will use the 2007 ICE Expo as a platform for the official European launch of its new Slimline cabinet.

Camlock Systems, one of the world’s leading designers, makers and suppliers of innovative locks and locking systems to the gaming, gambling and amusement industries, will exhibit its latest products on Stand 3815 at ICE 2007.

Barcrest Group will be showing a new, enhanced version of the Horizon cabinet, which is now being introduced for the UK and will become available for Europe later this year.

Exhibiting under the trademark corporate banner of ‘Bandai Namco Games’, Brent Sales and Namco Europe are planning their biggest showcase for several years at the forthcoming ATEI. The company’s stand – number 2140 on Level 1 of Earls Court 1 – is 33 per cent larger year-on-year and will feature in excess of 50 machines covering a broad spectrum of family entertainments.

Digital Center plans the introduction of several new machines at this year’s ATEI. One of the latest machines will be the new Fashion-ID. It has a full-metal cabinet, a small footprint and a compact body.

Excel Leisure, the Manchester-based manufacturer of pool tables, has joined forces with Garlando of Italy, the famous manufacturer of football tables, to form a new division dedicated to distributing Garlando’s complete range of domestic products to the UK market.

GennaGroup is able to provide support throughout the various phases of product to final realisation. Over the years GennaGiochi has built solid and lasting working relationships with its clients and suppliers.

International Currency Technologies (ICT) will show its new generation of bill validators, the L Series, at the ATEI/ICE 2007 show.

Inspired Gaming Group has chosen January’s ATEI 2007 event as the official public launch of its latest terminal to its estate, The Player video AWP.

Trials in pubs in the North East and North West of England of the JayBox internet jukebox have proved the business case for this new British product.

Jolly Roger will be exhibiting four new rides for the first time at this year’s ATEI. On show this year will be Rupert The Bear – a fantastic new licensed character ride featuring the new 21st Century Rupert. This ride features a single seat alongside Rupert, fun sound-effect buttons and a video screen option.

JPM International, will have a line-up of more than 40 different products at the ATEI, including the brand new Prestige cabinet which houses dual-screen video, and a new machine for the UK club market.

January 2007 will see Playsafe Monitoring celebrating 21 years in business and its 20th year at ATEI. It will also see the launch of several new and very interesting concepts and products for Playsafe.

ATEI will see TYE (stand 1930) unveiling some new big names that have recently been added to its licence portfolio, making it one of the most enviable in the industry.

WH Münzprüfer Berlin will show an extended range of payment systems for gaming and amusement machines at ATEI on stand 1841. The proven electronic technology of the 3.5ins electronic coin selector EMP 800 is now also available with fast coin acceptance.

The latest range from Mazooma will be shown on the Bell-Fruit Group stand 830. A multitude of new video AWP games will be displayed in the new 5 Gaming console demonstrate that Mazooma is at the cutting edge in video content.

Cash handling specialist MEI will be unveiling the MEI GEO note acceptor at ATEI, boasting superior reliability, coupled with a modest cost.

OM Vending the Spanish company, based in Navarra, will share stand 1938 at the London show with Instance Automatics (UK partner company) as it did last year.

Photo Me can be found on stand 1700 at ATEI. The company purchased Deith Group in January 2006 and now represents many of the industry’s best-known and most successful manufacturers.

The new Sacoa PlayCard Wireless System is a simple and fast solution that needs no wires running to or from the games or turnstiles. The information is transferred between the server and the game controllers through the Sacoa Access Points distributed through out the store.

Sound Leisure will once again push the boundaries of digital jukebox capabilities at ATEI. Last year the company unveiled its Milestones in Music, which has broken all records in cashbox performance. This year, a new milestone has been reached and operators can prepare to be amazed.

SAM will present at ATEI updated proven products and important new concepts. The Magno American pool table, showed last year as a prototype is now in full production, spreading worldwide in all SAM markets, as is the Baby Air, the bespoke children’s air hockey that became the best selling SAM niche table of 2006.

Pyramid Technologies will display the latest bill acceptors at the 2007 ATEI show in London. Pyramid will feature the new stacking cashbox version of the Trilogy bill acceptor, winner of the 2006 AMOA Innovator Award.

Sega Amusements Europe Ltd. will be taking the largest stand space ever seen outside of Japan for the company at the forthcoming ATEI in 2007. The growing company will be spread over 500sq metres and offer visitors a range that will be sure to give plenty of choice to operators for the coming year.

Among the exciting new products on show from Whittaker Brothers at this year’s ATEI will be Camptown Races, an eight-player compact pusher with low coin entry positions to allow customers of all all ages to comfortably play the machine.

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.