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By tradition, January’s IMA trade fair is a meeting place for the industry where plans are made for the year just started, contracts are concluded and information is exchanged. But in 2012, the German and wider European political and regulatory environments are likely to dominate the discussions of visitors to Düsseldorf.
For example, Daniel Günderoth, managing director of Top Game Spielothek in Lampertheim, near the German city of Worms, said: “At IMA 2012 I expect to find new innovative gambling systems and of course practical, functional ideas for implementing the regulations announced in the State Treaty on Gambling, such as gamblers’ cards and compulsory downtimes – and last but not least, interesting talks with colleagues about the problems related to the amusement tax.
“Each crisis also offers new opportunities. In future, these will lie in a stronger diversification of our company in the field of sports betting and catering chains as well as in a healthy expansion into market-oriented entertainment facilities, such as arcades with 12 devices. I could also imagine combining the areas just mentioned in a single facility.”
Freddy Fischer, managing partner of MSP, said: “I expect a great deal from the exchange of views with colleagues regarding possible scenarios for the future and business inspiration on alternative concepts and ideas.” In 2012, his group of companies will focus its investments on new devices with intelligent cash management for installation in hospitality establishments. “In this context we rely on our German and Netherlands industry partners and look forward to moving ahead together with these companies.”
Elfriede Lauser, managing director of Gustav Lauser, will also focus on the search for new, realisable ideas on how to confront the political situation: “The exchange with colleagues will be all the more important at this trade fair. From the industry, I expect solutions and support – after all, we are all in the same boat together: the industry, wholesalers and operators.”
Said Mario Hoffmeister, head of central communications at Gauselmann AG: “Basically, the industry in Germany is in a good position. Of course, the current political situation is a source of concern, but we are confident that the planned measures, some of which are totally unsuitable, will not go through. For this reason we start into 2012 with optimism – in spite of the dark clouds on the horizon.”
Bally Wulff is focussed more strongly on the gastronomy sector, and this will also be evident at IMA. “With the wall-mounted version of our GameStation and the special gambling packages for hospitality establishments, such as the Action Star Solid, we have devoted particular attention to the hospitality sector, a fact which is appreciated by both gambling guests and gambling device operators. The focus of our attention, however, is on innovative gambling establishments. Our gambling packages, in particular the new Magic Cashpot, have brought movement into the market, including new market share,” said Bernhard Eber of Bally Wulff Entertainment.
Volker Isenmann, a spokesman for NSM-Löwen Entertainment and its subsidiary Crown Technologies, said: “The current industry situation is largely overshadowed by the uncertainty caused by various politically-motivated legislative projects. In addition to the Amendment to the State Treaty on Gambling, individual state laws on gambling arcades that already came into effect for Berlin and Bremen and the projected state laws on gambling arcades in Bavaria, Baden-Württemberg, Hessen and Schleswig-Holstein must be mentioned.” His firm sees particularly interesting markets in cash gambling machines for arcades as well as for hospitality establishments.
The Austrian company Apex presents a newly-approved device at IMA for the first time. Said Udo Nickel, general sales manager for Apex Germany: “With our presence here we demonstrate the high importance we put on the German market. We believe in the future and are going to show that. Governments need money. Greece is going back to allowing cash winning devices and other countries are discussing such a step. In my opinion, the future for cash gambling in many countries lies with VLTs. Here the government remains in control and can see precisely how revenues are developing at the push of a button.”
