Mobile working is one of those terms we have bandied about for years. Of course, we have said, you can buy these machines and check on the data wherever you are in the world. Or, in my case - of course I can send you those pages from my laptop in France.

Proposals to help bingo clubs by a slight easing of restrictions on gaming machines were announced by Sports Minister Gerry Sutcliffe last month.

After its recent successes in Canada and the US, Milliken SuperPro pool cloth has received official certification by the Asian Pocket Billiard Union (APBU) - the governing body of pool in Asia.

The "Italian Open" PHOTO PLAY CUP was held on 8 June 2008 in Caorle. Italy's 13 top players challenged one another in four tournaments: Quiz Maniac, Roman Towers, Shanghai and Twins.

Simulation attraction and effects theatre specialist Simworx has reported a very successful attendance at the recent DEAL trade show held in Dubai, UAE, on the back of which the company has announced the opening of a new sales office for the Middle East region.

The organisers of this year's Hot Games Show have confirmed that booths are selling quickly. "The market in Southern Taiwan is booming and manufacturers are craving to demonstrate the latest equipment, so booths for the Hot Game Show are selling very quickly," confirmed Johnny Chang.

The Gauselmann Group has announced further expansion in Romania, only a few weeks after opening a Merkur Casino entertainment centre in Pitesti. Bacau in the Northeast of Romania has become the latest location for a Merkur Casino, the brand which is now available in no fewer than 11 European countries.

A new online bank catering for gaming businesses and enthusiasts has launched, offering fast and secure online payment and money transfer services. Ivobank is believed to be the first independent bank to launch since the dotcom boom in 2001 and the first to be authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority (FSA).

Aristocrat Technologies Africa is set to build a Systems Research & Development Centre to support African and European market requirements in the next few months.

Sound Leisure Retail (SLR) is now acting as UK distributor for the Dutch retail play equipment specialist Instore Kids Corner (IKC).

Nick Harding, chief executive officer of Aldgate Capital, is poised to make a high profile return to the low stake high volume gaming sector having agreed a £25m (?31.5m/$49.3m) price to purchase 31 Adult Gaming Centres (AGCs) from H.J.M. Caterers Ltd and E and J Hall Investments.

GTI Asia Taipei Expo 2009, which is scheduled to take place on May 7-9 at B & C Zones, Hall 1 of the Taipei World Trade Center will enter its 16th year; this is going to be the tradeshow with the biggest exhibition area and the most exhibitors in the Asian game industry with more than 4,000 exhibits. 

Since the beginning of the year Funworld has been distributing the Stacker prize vending machines from LAI Games throughout Europe, excluding Belgium, Great Britain, Spain and Norway. Funworld has supplied the two versions of the game: Stacker Club and Stacker Giant in a total of 14 European countries. 

Taipei County Commissioner Chou Shi-wei recently led a delegation of governmental officers to the US.  After returning to Taiwan, Commissioner Chou revealed that American companies showed great interest in investing in Taipei County and if foreign companies actually come, Taipei County will build more than 20 international hotels as well as a theme park, indoor exhibition center, showrooms, schools, and parks.  Chou intends to turn the "Crown Coast" of Taipei County into the best vacation site for Chinese tourists.

Money Controls' continuing success in the Italian amusement market has been underlined by two significant developments: the signing of a new five-year supply agreement with Maggi Coniature s.r.l. and a partnership with leading service company, Universal Services s.r.l.

Ritzio Group has announced the launch of International Parasport Foundation, a private charity organization to provide resources to advance the quality and opportunities for sportsmen with disabilities, and promote Paralympic sports in the society. The company established Parasport in an alliance with Switch Mobility and Finstar Financial Group, companies owned by Ritzio's President Oleg Boyko.

Purcell & Associates, one of Europe's leading Gaming Consultancy firms, based in Ireland, have initiated the Inaugural Irish Gaming Conference to provide a forum for national and international speakers to contribute to the development of the gambling industry in Ireland.

Inspired Gaming Group has announced the deployment of 60 new Open SBGTM terminals to the five-star NagaWorld hotel, casino and entertainment complex in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. This deal is the latest in Inspired's on-going expansion into the Asian market. It will involve the supply and installation of Inspired's latest multi-content gaming terminal to Silver Heritage Limited (SHL), the fastest growing operator of slots and sports bars in licensed gaming premises in the Asia-Pacific region.

Sound Leisure made a special delivery last month - of a Melody Jukebox with iPod to Colm Taylor of CLMS in the UK.

Enric Barba was elected Vice President of the electronic Leisure and Entertainment sector of SECARTYS. Enric Barba, General Manager of the B2B division of the CIRSA GAMING CORPORATION represented by the Unidesa mark, has been elected Vice President of the Electronic Leisure and Entertainment sector of SECARTYS (Asociación Española de Exportadores de Electrónica e Informática) - the Spanish Association of Electronics and IT Exporters".

GMM Business Solutions / PKF Malta & Co. have announced the 2nd Annual Race for Italian Market Conference to be held at the Aran Mantagna Hotel in Rome on the 5th December 2008.

WMS International has appointed René de Jong to the position of International Sales Manager based out of WMS International facility in Holland. 

Sound Leisure has signed a distribution agreement for its range of classic jukeboxes with GEMM Productions, who are based in Dubai.

TAB-Austria has recorded a high turnover growth with online devices in the first half of 2008.

Polish manufacturers and distributors of amusement machines have sent a stinging letter to the Ministry of Finance, explaining its position on recent developments in the sector.  The Economic Chamber of Producers and Distributors of Amusement Devices is unhappy with the new legislation proposed on games and mutual wagering.

Ritzio International, a leading European gaming clubs operator, reports the company has become the largest gaming provider in Belarus, heading the market with a record number of venues and gaming machines. Today Ritzio's Belarusian assets include 27 gaming clubs and 1300 machines.

On 24 July, the CUSTOM  Group underwrote a substantial increase in share capital, thus purchasing the  block of shares held by the majority shareholder of FASY FIN S.p.a. (sub-holding company for the  marketing activities of the FASY Group) who had, as of 18 July, already taken over the production  facilities in their entirety from FASY S.p.a.

Spain has launched "operation arcade". An increasingly frequent number of assaults and crimes are being committed against the amusement arcades in Spain. In Andalucia alone there have been thirty such crimes since January.

With a massive effort on a transatlantic scale, the UK's Datateam Publishing and Greata Entertainment of Panama are launching the first edition of Casino International Americano, a B2B magazine for The Americas region, specializing in Latin America. The August/September 2008 edition of the bi-monthly magazine will be launched in Lima, Peru.

Funworld, Europe's market leader for linked touchscreen terminals is continuing its remarkable success strategy with the new Photo Play 2009. The new system is however far more than a game update. It corresponds much more to a technology platform, which successfully supports funworld's innovative concepts for usage optimisation, such as online linking, the Master's tournament system, the Multiplayer Cup and profitable game co-operations.

This year's Preview show to be held on October 1 and 2 has already attracted some new exhibitors who have either never taken a stand at the show before, or are returning after a long absence.

Innovative Leisure Ltd., the UK based climbing attractions specialist, is currently enjoying an ever-widening customer base and an increasingly broadening end-user take up for its attractions, notably its mobile climbing towers.

Poker will be present at Fer-Interazar. The game of poker has exploded in Spain in recent times. Following the success of electronic roulette, now it's the turn of the electronic poker tables. Both options are providing arcades operating type "B" machines with new expectations of growth. After its presentation at the Málaga fair, the poker table "Top Poker Club" from the SLEIC company has been approved recently in Aragon, so it will be possible for it to be installed in this Autonomous Region later this summer.

Crown Direct's status as one of the UK's biggest machine distributors will be reflected at ATEI 2009, where it will occupy a mammoth 530 square metres (5,705sq.ft.) of floor space. The Crown stand, which will be the largest at the London coin-op event, is big enough to park 25 classic Routemaster buses or 56 London black cabs.

IMA is growing: next year, the International Trade Fair for Amusement and Vending Machines will open in Düsseldorf with more than 200 exhibitors and again occupy Halls 8a and 8b. This will already be the third time that IMA will be staged at the Düsseldorf Exhibition Centre since its transfer from Nuremberg.

Clarion Gaming, organiser of the European i-Gaming Congress & Expo (EIG) www.eigexpo.com, has announced its hour-long US Update session as part of the Legal and Regulation track. EiG has confirmed as panellists a number of key experts qualified in domestic and international law, a successful poker operator who runs a legal business within the US, and a prominent Washington insider and consultant.

International Game Technology has announced that its wholly owned subsidiary, IGT, has completed the previously announced purchase of substantially all of the assets of Cyberview Technology, Inc. The acquisition was approved by Cyberview's shareholders on July 4. In addition, IGT said that it has executed the also previously announced license agreement with Cyberview.  That agreement provides IGT access to certain Cyberview patents and technology not included in the asset purchase. International Game Technology.

Inspired Gaming International (Inspired), part of Inspired Gaming Group plc, has signed a deal with IceSkill, a leading US operator of interactive touch-screen entertainment machines. Together, IceSkill and Inspired will roll out 1000 Skill With Prize (SWP) terminals on Inspired's software platform. The initial deal covers 1000 selected venues with the opportunity to distribute exclusively more widely in the US. SWP gaming is a relatively new concept for the US market and this deal means that Inspired will be one of the few international players to take advantage of the opportunity.

Aristocrat Technologies Europe has added the prestigious Casino Porto Carras to the itinerary of its locomotive-themed Cash ExpressTM HyperlinkTM.

Clarion Gaming, organisers of January's Amusement Trades Exhibition International (ATEI) and International Gaming Expo (IGE), have announced a number of internal appointments across several customer-facing departments.

AUSTRIA

In a move to end the infringement procedure launched by the European Commission, Austria's Parliament has passed amendments to the country's main gambling law. The proposed changes have been approved by both Houses of the Austrian Parliament, and were notified to the European Commission in accordance with EU Directives. The amended Gambling Act is now waiting for comments by the European Commission and EU Member States. The law's three-month standstill period will expire on October 20.  Source: Euromat

GTI Asia Hong Kong Expo 2008 that was scheduled to take place on September 25-27 was cancelled due to the problems that occurred in the overall planning and the venue. The show was originally aimed at the Chinese market; however, the Chinese government has implemented a strict policy towards the game industry in recent times owing to the Beijing Olympics as well as other reasons. 

The 46th Amusement Machine Show in Japan (JAMMA) which is organised by JAMMA and JAPEA, will take place from 10am to 5pm from September 18-20 at the Makuhari Messe, Tokyo, Japan.  According to the information offered by the organiser, there will be a total of 49 manufacturers (one more than last year) exhibiting at the show, including Sega, Bandai/Namco, Taito, Capcom, Banpresto, RS, Atlas, ABC and other famous Japanese brands; however, the major brand Konami will be absent once again this year. 

Being a hot tourism spot, Dubai will cooperate with major American entertainment groups to build multifunctional theme parks in the hope of attracting 15 million visitors annually by 2015. Fully dedicated to developing tourism, Dubai has mapped out a 12-year leisure development plan costing nearly US$350 billion and featuring ski tracks, VR time travel park, and Jurassic World housing more than a hundred robot dinosaurs.

Stern Pinball, Inc. appeared in a show titled "Coin-Operated" on The History Channel's Modern Marvels. The show, which will run numerous times over the next year, spotlighted the modern day coin-op industry, including pinball. Every 15 minutes, Americans insert over 3.5 million coins into vending machines, so it is big business.  The show will run several times over the next 12 months.

Mike Rudowicz, president of the American Amusement Machine Association (AAMA) announced that the Amusement Showcase International (ASI), sponsored by the AAMA, and the International Pizza Expo are negotiating a cross-promotional agreement for next year's shows. Topics under discussion are promotional ideas and badge reciprocity. The shows, to be held next spring at the Las Vegas Convention Center have overlapping dates-¬ ASI runs from March 11 to 13, and Pizza Expo from March 10 to 12.

The board of directors of the National Automatic Merchandising Association (NAMA) in Chicago will merge its national and spring expositions into one large springtime event, starting with the April 28-30, 2010 trade show at McCormick Place North in Chicago. They aim to have the shows rotate between Chicago and Las Vegas. NAMA leadership cited a decision to create a more powerful event that would attract everyone in the industry.

New York Governor David Paterson has recently signed a law that requires clearer labeling of videogames sold or rented in New York. The New York chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) may respond with a lawsuit challenging the act on constitutional grounds. At least 12 other states courts have struck down similar laws as unlawfully infringing on First Amendment rights to free expression.

   The Entertainment Software Association (ESA) reported that the state of Minnesota has paid $65,000 in attorney fees and expenses incurred as a result of the group's successful challenge to Minnesota's unconstitutional videogame law. The ESA, which prevailed over similar unconstitutional laws in nine other jurisdictions, now has been awarded close to $2 million in fees and expenses spent in defending gamers', developers' and publishers' First Amendment rights.

Again this year, the traditional summer dinner organised by the Europer association for its members took place this July. At this year's event, as is now the custom, the annual report was presented of Europer's activities. This new report includes a letter of introduction from the Director General of Gaming in Catalonia, Merce Claramunt, in which she highlighted the success in disseminating the results of the studies of the market conducted for the 2007 yearbook "Rules of Gaming" published by the association. More than one hundred and fifty businessmen and associates attended the meal.

At last the Department of Gaming and Entertainment in the Basque Country's Autonomous Government has produced the protocol for the technical tests required to formally approve the licensees' betting machines. Kirol Jokoa and Ekasa, two of the three licensees, have already obtained approval and will start operating in September.

After several years in office, Edmundo Ahijón is ceasing as Director General for the Planning and Management of Gaming in the Madrid Autonomous Government. The reason is none other than the disbanding of the department, from now on its functions will be included within those of the General Directorate of Taxes headed by Fernando Prats Máñez. Such is the way that the Madrid Autonomous Government is continuing to prune its organizational structure.

The Government of the Balearic Islands has struck an almost fatal blow to the system that finances harness racing. The Consorcio del Juego Hípico de Mallorca, (the Majorcan Horse Racing Betting Consortium), chaired by the Minister of the Interior, Maria Ángeles Leciñena, approved the distribution of the profits derived from the Lototrot and Promotrot betting systems over the last two years and at the same time, registered the termination of the contract with the companies Cirsa SL and Troyjocs SL, charged with the operation and development of this kind of horse racing betting.

The President of the CRIGA Association of NewSlot machines owner-operators, Mauro Chinea, has said in a press release that CRIGA will oppose any possibility of introducing electronic payments for AWP machines in Italy because:

Is the game of poker to be allowed or not? Should the police deny the authorisation to hold a poker tournament, an appeal can be lodged with the Regional Administrative Court (TAR); but should the Court reject the appeal, the only recourse left is to the State Council. This is what the president of an amateur association called Poker One did when asking for the cancellation of the new Prohibited Games table issued by the Campobasso Police as it included the game of poker among the games of chance forbidden.

As part of the approval process of the directives for economic development, the government has accepted the agenda signed by Amedeo Laboccetta, member of Parliament, regarding the payment of the Unified State Tax (PREU) charged to dealers for the operation of NewSlot machines. As a condition, it has been requested to modify the amendment by deleting the beginning of the second paragraph of the directive, after the words: "to clarify", the words: "during the application" (in consequence what would be left is: "to clarify that the above-mentioned dealers"). The following is the text of the agenda.

Irish Minister For Justice, Equality & Law Reform, Dermot Ahern, TD, has published the Report of the Casino Committee - Regulating Gaming In Ireland!

In 2006, the Greek Government banned all electronic games - even those purporting to be amusement machines. The reasoning behind this was that amusement machines have for many years been a cover for unscrupulous operators to offer gambling on the sly.

DDJ may appear to be a relative newcomer on the scene but in fact the company was formed in 1996 to specialize in digital juke boxes that were really only just becoming to be known. With the company R&D hailing from New Zealand, the company now has manufacturing (and sales) facilities in Brazil; South Africa; and Shenzhen, China.

Rock-Ola recently enjoyed a successful exhibit at the International Billiard & Home Recreation Expo held in "Queen City" Charlotte, North Carolina.

Wednesday July 30, 2008, London: Soundnet has renewed its five licences with the Phonographic Performance Ltd (PPL) and sister collection society Video Performance Ltd (VPL).

Wurlitzer produced its first jukebox in 1934 and very soon became the most popular brand in the early days of jukeboxes, due to its ingenious designer Paul Fuller and the outstanding marketing activities of Homer Capeheart. In many countries Wurlitzer became synonymous for jukeboxes and still today the company's famous slogan from the 40s holds true: "Wurlitzer means music to millions".

NSM Music has followed up the launch of its on-line version of the Icon^TM digital jukebox with its first 3 G interface, sold to leading UK operator, Bob Rudd Leisure Ltd. The historical jukebox was installed at the "Alexandra Hotel" in Jarrow, Tyneside by NSM Sales Manager, Alex Kirby.

Over the past 30 years Sound Leisure has gained a reputation for designing and manufacturing world leading jukebox systems. Their home-market range of Classic Jukeboxes maintain the styling elements often associated with the golden age of dome-top jukeboxes including bubble tubes, chrome castings and subtle coloured lighting. Using the knowledge and skill built up over years of producing these wonderful machines Sound Leisure have now created the classic Digital Nostalgia Jukebox allowing this classic retro style into a hi tech digital market.

TAB-Austria is breaking new ground with new features for its MAX FIRE jukebox. The music industry is facing losses in CD turnover and is constantly searching for new possibilities of selling its music in a way to final customers. TAB-Austria has taken the opportunity with a unique development in the amusement and gaming industry.

With funworld's 2.1 Plus Kit operators can quickly and easily upgrade Photo Play 2.1 Generation terminals. A powerful processor and state-of-the-art software are elevating Photo Play SMART or SPIRIT 2.1 to the highest level, technologically. A multitude of new games and the integrated online networking make the 2.1 Plus Kit complete.

One worrying impact of the growth of digital signage and digital out-of-home media is the environmental cost from the ever-increasing power requirement. Though new technologies are appearing which will reduce power consumption across digital displays - the daylight readable, large format signs being implemented around the globe remain veritable power guzzlers (particularly when compared to the posters they are replacing - Although when one takes into account the energy needed to produce the paper, distribute it and then remove or replace and then recycle, the difference is not as great as sometimes cited.

Now available for boarding at gaming platforms across Europe, Money Train is Aristocrat's latest Hyperlink in the next generation Viridian cabinet. Retaining all the nostalgic appeal of the highly popular Cash Express, Money Train is designed to make new tracks across Europe picking up passengers with its railroading roster of games including the all new Turtle Treasure, Tigress and Tiki Talk, as well as Aristocrat favourite Indian Dreaming.

Gauss Enterprise was founded in 1991. It manufactures a variety of high quality games as well as supplying consultation, developing platforms and supplying accessories for the games. The best-selling product at the moment is Gauss' CGA/VGA Touch Games, Interface Card of Arcade games for PC and Multi-games. (Amusement Games 4 in 1).

The Italian manufacturer Magic Dreams has started delivery of machines to Argentina. These machines will be the first to be installed with the new multilevel mystery jackpot.

PokerTek, Inc., the industry pioneer and worldwide leader in automated poker tables and related software, announced today that its European Distributor, Cosmic Video Amusements, has already placed over 100 Heads-Up Challenge tables in ten countries across Europe.

Smart Industries first introduced a crane called "Bear Claw" almost 20 years ago. Now the Bear Claw is back with a new look and new features. The new Bear Claw is even more stylish than the original, with a matte black cabinet and classy design that will fit perfectly with upscale locations. 

London-based games designer, Project Coin has continued its Server Based Gaming development programme with the addition of two new games for use on its Players Choice terminal, which is being successfully operated in the Czech Republic. The duo of new games comprises Super 7's and Lucky Jokers Xtra.

Heber, one of the world's leading manufacturers of embedded and PC-based reel and video gaming control systems, is proud to announce the launch of two exciting new peripheral gaming controllers.

Reflex Gaming has announced that it has secured a licensing deal with London's world-famous nude dancing clubs, Stringfellows.

Digital jukebox specialist Sound Leisure has selected Zytronic's ZYBRID Projected Capacitive Technology (PCT) to deliver interactive Bingo and a host of other touchscreen-based services in its flagship ‘Milestones in Music' (MIM) jukebox system.

GLOBAL VR today announced the release of its new EA SPORTS PGA TOUR GOLF product, All-Access Pass, making all 25 EA SPORTS PGA TOUR GOLF Team Challenge Courses available for amusement/offline play.  Prior to the release of All-Access Pass, 11 of the 25 game courses developed for Team Challenge were available only to game cabinets that were online. 

NordicCC has produced a new edition in its Versus range: The Speed. The novel Compact Hockey is very eye-catching and reunites two of the characters from the first of the NordicCC in-house products: Blond and Scarlet.

Casino Rodos, located on the northern tip of the island of Rhodes in Greece, has followed an increasingly popular trend by specifying the MEI CASHFLOW SC for all new games.

SpongeBob sticker series Number 7 are now available at Allstar. This Emmy-nominated American animated television series is currently the most watched show on Nickelodeon and is now broadcast across the world.  It's the only Cartoon to consistently make the top 10 list in the Nielsen ratings. The series is set in the Pacific Ocean, in the fictional city of Bikini Bottom and on the surrounding lagoon floor.

Thermal printing specialist Axiohm has appointed Trident as sole distributor of printing mechanisms in the Nordic region.

Heads-Up Challenge has been developed with the close co-operation and input of one of the world's leading licensing brands ‘World Series of Poker', a leading name amongst the new age phenomenon that is Texas Hold ‘Em .

Sweden is a country with a relatively short casino history. The first casino was inaugurated in 2001 and its fourth in 2003. The four casinos form the Casino Cosmopol group, which is a subsidiary to Svenska Spel, the largest gaming company in Sweden. Svenska Spel is wholly owned by the Swedish State. The four casinos are located in Stockholm, Gothenburg, Malmö and Sundsvall.

Display Technology the displays, interface, embedded computer and touchscreen specialist is please to announce its new 22" Widescreen Gaming Monitor designed for portrait and landscape gaming applications. Manufactured for long-term availability, all aspects of the design from mechanical parts to future upgrading of the LCD panel can be controlled, so no change to the overall form and no external changes to the customer.

Konami Digital Entertainment B.V. has released the latest addition to the BEMANI music simulation collection, Dance Dance Revolution X (DDR X).

Unicum Gaming Group of companies has released the new The Alps+ series. The series include five brand new video slot 9-lines games: Anubis Secret, Dream of Knight, Lucky Magic, Submarine Adventure and The Big Money's Scent. "The Alps+ are the games with the advanced approach to artwork and game scenarios," commented Alexey Kuzmin, Unicum Gaming Marketing Director.