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Summer is here and with it come a raft of depressing headlines - particularly in the UK, concerning the "credit crunch" and the "housing crisis". In the coin-operated amusement business we know only too well that times have been hard for some time now. This month UK operator Gamestec secured new financing, following a couple of very difficult years for the management team, as they fought the twin perils of the UK smoking ban and the highly unhelpful gaming act. This follows the news that another leading UK operator is pulling out of the UK single site business altogether.
Where does this leave the rest of the industry? Are we seeing the gap widen still further between the gambling and amusement sectors? Will people have to choose which side they are going to be on in future? And when it comes to gaming - how many of the traditional AWP suppliers will become ever closer to the casino sector, whether it be in casino-style cabinets or server-based gaming? As with all difficult situations, we will shift and adapt and make the most of the new opportunities that present themselves. Some will move quickly to try to profit from this change - they need to ensure that they are not doing the industry more harm than good. For the rest, perhaps a return to core values is the way forward - let's offer good value entertainment that can be enjoyed by the masses and not just by the minority.
Stephanie Norbury
Will you be visiting the InterGame Expo?
- 20 - 22 August, 2008
ENTERTAINMENT ARENA EXPO - Romania - 09 - 11 September, 2008
GAMEXPO - Hungary - 10 - 12 September, 2008
AMOA INTERNATIONAL EXPO - USA - 17 - 19 September, 2008
ENTERTAINMENT INDUSTRY - Ukraine - 24 - 26 September, 2008
FER-INTERAZAR - Spain - 30 September - 02 October, 2008
BEGE 2008 - Bulgaria
