AB UK articles from January 2005

AB UK archives from January 2005

From the editor.(British Amusement and Catering Trades Association plans to divest the shows)(Brief Article)(Editorial)
January 1, 2005... IN 1999, the last time it was suggested that BACTA sell off its commercial interests, there was something approaching an uproar in the UK market. This time things are a little different, or at least we hope they are. Part of the problem...

Leisure Link Group, the UK's largest machine management company, has just signed a new five year deal with BAA (British Airport Authority) to cover both Aberdeen and Edinburgh airports.(UK News)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... LEISURE Link Group, the UK's largest machine management company, has just signed a new five year deal with BAA (British Airport Authority) to cover both Aberdeen and Edinburgh airports. The Leisure Services sector of Leisure Link will continue...

Some major changes to flagship stands at the forthcoming ATEI show will see the Maygay space being utilised by Revolution, the distribution company from Leisure Link, the former Maygay owners.(UK News)
January 1, 2005... SOME major changes to flagship stands at the forthcoming ATEI show will see the Maygay space being utilised by Revolution, the distribution company from Leisure Link, the former Maygay owners. Similarly, the JPM stand will now house Games...

Crown Direct has signed a distribution agreement with Felix Group plc.(UK News)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... CROWN Direct has signed a distribution agreement with Felix Group plc to distribute its Everyone's A Winner sales promotion cabinet. Felix has already entered into agreements with prize suppliers who account for over 4,000 high street retail...

ATE Group put up for sale as BACTA claims time is right.(UK News)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... THE sale of ATE Ltd., revealed in an official press release, is unlikely to be put to an EGM and is expected to raise 20m [pounds sterling] for BACTA. A bid in 1999 was turned over at an EGM in a show of hands. The sale of the commercial arm of...

Gamestec office gone for a Burton?(UK News)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... GAMESTEC is reported to be reviewing its operations at its Burton factory and may be making up to 70 redundancies in the near future. Glynn Mellor, Chief Executive Officer, said: "The group will maintain a presence in Burton, with the...

PMT on the rise as it secures UK distribution for Konami.(UK News)(PREMIER Machine Trading)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... PREMIER Machine Trading is looking forward to a bright 2005 after securing some big distributorship deals and new sales staff. PMT has been appointed as the ilk and Ireland distributor for Konami. The firm already distributes products for...

Further casino caps certain as DCMS retreats further.(UK News)
January 1, 2005... AS ab:UK was going to press, the government announced a limit on the number of large and small casinos at eight of each, following the previous capping of the number of regional casinos to the same level. This is to ensure that the risk of...

IBN showcases world's first music download for cash.(UK News)(Inspired Broadcast Networks)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... INSPIRED Broadcast Networks and Revolution Entertainment launched a new aspect to their downloading juke box, The Music, at an event in a London nightclub last month, and performed the first ever digital music download for cash. Thanks to...

IT has emerged that around three quarters of small to medium-sized businesses in the leisure industry are now at risk of court action under the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA), according to new research published today by RNID, the largest charity representing the nine million deaf and hard of hearing people in the UK.(UK News)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... IT has emerged that around three quarters of small to medium-sized businesses in the leisure industry are now at risk of court action under the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA), according to new research published today by RNID, the largest...

Bell-Fruit, Mazooma and QPS are not expected to be affected by the sale of 50 per cent of Atronic to lotteries and gaming systems giant GTECH of the US.(UK News)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... BELL-Fruit, Mazooma and QPS are not expected to be affected by the sale of 50 per cent of Atronic to lotteries and gaming systems giant GTECH of the US. The American company bought a controlling share in Atronic at the beginning of December...

Leisure Link Group, the UK's leading machine management company, and The William Hill Organisation have announced that they have agreed terms for Leisure Link to supply William Hill with fixed odds betting terminals in a new, three-year contract.(Uk News)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... LEISURE Link Group, the UK's leading machine management company, and The William Hill Organisation have announced that they have agreed terms for Leisure Link to supply William Hill with fixed odds betting terminals in a new, three-year...

UDC has, for the past 18 months, been steadily augmenting its product range by adding new products sourced from overseas.(Uk News)
January 1, 2005... UDC has, for the past 18 months, been steadily augmenting its product range by adding new products sourced from overseas. Companies from around the world will be working with UDC at the ATEI, including Benchmark USA, Bromley of Chicago,...

UK market uncertain about adverse effects of smoking.(Uk News)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... OPERATORS are unsure what effect a smoking ban in pubs will have on the income from AWP machines. They feel that it will depend upon the final wording of a Bill and whether the ban is on all pubs or only on those offering food. John...

Golf game Tees up live tournaments.(Uk News)(Golden Tee inks a deal with Sprint)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... AS ab:UK went to press, Golden Tee LIVE--the latest innovation from Incredible Technologies--went live in 200 cities in the US. Golden Tee LIVE utilises real-time, wireless technology and IT has signed a deal with US telecom giant Sprint so...

Cocktail cabinets hope to shake up operators at ATEI.(Uk News)(Digital Tables to introduce table-top video games)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... DIGITAL Tables, a company with experience in the consumer sector, will launch its table-top video games to the coin-op industry at ATEI, both on its own stand and that of distributor Deith Group. The cocktail-style, retro-themed tables are...

The Entertainment Industry & Sport Equipment Show 2005, is to be held on February 10 to 13, 2005, at the AEC Antalya Expo Center, Turkey.(International News)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... THE Entertainment Industry & Sport Equipment Show 2005, is to be held on February 10 to 13, 2005, at the AEC Antalya Expo Center, Turkey. Many of the companies exhibiting will be showing equipment and accessories for the international coin-op...

Polish-based manufacturer/ distributor Nowopol Ltd had the biggest exhibition stand at the recent Surexpo--a huge 162sq.m.(International News)(Nowopol Ltd )(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... POLISH-based manufacturer/ distributor Nowopol Ltd had the biggest exhibition stand at the recent Surexpo--a huge 162sq.m. Sharing its stand with UK firm Astra, Nowopol was the only company to exhibit completely new gaming machines, Mississippi...

The Danish trade association (DAB) has re-approved John Brochstedt as Chairman and the association Board had all its motions passed by the 100 delegates who attended its recent annual general meeting.(International News)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... THE Danish trade association (DAB) has re-approved John Brochstedt as Chairman and the association Board had all its motions passed by the 100 delegates who attended its recent annual general meeting. DAB also celebrated good news from the...

New German gaming law to knock down the wall game.(International News)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... AFTER 50 years of waiting, Germany s getting a new gaming law. Fun games are out and revised AWP legislation is in, according to proposals released by the government last month. The new law will create payout machines that are more akin to...

Norwegian operators get six months.(International News)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... THE Norwegian government has given private operators a six month reprieve from its monopoly on gaming machines. The ban on private operation was due to start in the New Year, however, following an Oslo court decision claiming the monopoly...

Rudolph to deliver presence in international markets.(International News)(endorsements of Lou Rudolph)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... TAKING arcade classics and putting them into multi-game cabinets is not a new idea, but the latest twists are coming from American producer Ultracade, which has just enlisted the help of one of the US industry's best known characters in the...

Estonia begins to question a rise in gaming addiction.(International News)
January 1, 2005... ACCORDING to a recent survey by Estonian market research company Faktum, Estonia, which only has a population of one million adults, has about 25,000 gambling addicts and around the same number are regarded as being at risk. The news...

Belgians join forces to fight link-up.(International News)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... THE four Belgian trade associations held a meeting last month to work out a common strategy to lobby against the latest raft of damaging proposals from the Gambling Commission. The UBA, AMA, UPIA and the BLABLA have drafted a letter to send...

Cranes to fall foul of hidden Mississippi gaming code?(International News)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... TWO major US chains, Wal-Mart stores and Shoney's restaurants, have both pulled crane machines from their stores in Mississippi after a local paper in the town of Starkville published a story suggesting that they are illegal under Mississippi...

The Italian black market for illegal machines is still thriving.(International News)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... THE Italian black market for illegal machines is still thriving. A number of casino style slots have been confiscated in Venice and Florence, however, operators are simply changing the names of the games to foil the police, who have a list of...

The two German operators' trade bodies--the BA and the Forum--have finally signed an agreement to join forces.(International News)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... THE two German operators' trade bodies--the BA and the Forum--have finally signed an agreement to join forces. After all that talking, BA President Karl Besse and Forum Chairman Ulrich Schmidt have decided to "speak with one voice," according...

Next year's general election in Norway could have a further bearing on the future of private AWP operation.(International News)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... NEXT year's general election in Norway could have a further bearing on the future of private AWP operation. As reported in this issue, operators have been given a six-month reprieve until the results of the government's appeal are known. A new...

There are 117,000 new-style AWPs in Italy, but only around 20,000 are connected to the network despite the November 1 deadline imposed by the government.(International News)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... THERE are 117,000 new-style AWPs in Italy, but only around 20,000 are connected to the network despite the November 1 deadline imposed by the government. No fines have been raised yet against operators who have not connected, instead all...

The Hilton Group wants to open a Las Vegas-style casino.(Casino News)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... THE Hilton Group wants to open a Las Vegas-style casino costing 200m [pounds sterling] in northern England. The hotels and gaming company has held talks with local government officials in Blackpool. Hilton, which already has a...

Five operators in line for NEC 'super' casino development.(Casino News)(National Exhibition Centre)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... FIVE global casino operators have been shortlisted to develop a Las Vegas-style complex at Birmingham's National Exhibition Centre. The 300m [pounds sterling] scheme will see a lakeside area being transformed into a leisure and...

Guildford casino bid in the balance.(Casino News)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... GUILDFORD, in Surrey, has been granted permission for a seven-storey, multi-million pound casino complex. Following two years of applications, appeals and inquiries, a government planning inspector has over-ruled borough council planners...

Leicester poll rejects casino but council plans ahead.(Casino News)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... A POLL conducted by the Leicester Mercury shows that 486 people opposed to the idea of a super casino in Leicester, with only 150 in favour. The poll was launched at the suggestion of the city council, to gauge public opinion. Labour...

Stakes are raised in MGM's bid for Sheffield casino site.(Casino News)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... THE casino group hoping to build a 180m [pounds sterling] gambling complex in Sheffield has launched a charm offensive to fend off competition, in the wake of the government's decision to limit the number of super-casinos to eight. Focus...

Glasgow weighs up casino benefits.(Casino News)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... THE development of a large casino complex could have a damaging impact on a city already "blighted by addiction", Glasgow councillors have claimed. Anxious councillors from all the party groups are now pressing for further research into...

The cap doesn't fit as Sands suggests further changes.(Casino News)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... A CAP of eight regional casinos under new UK gaming legislation is not going to be enough, maintains Las Vegas Sands, one of the world's largest casino operators. The company is proposing four amendments to the Gambling Bill, which it...

Grosvenor Casino The Octagon, Stoke, is proving popular with visitors.(Casino News)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... GROSVENOR Casino The Octagon, Stoke, is proving popular with visitors since its opening in August this year. Amy Collier, PR manager at Rank, told ab:UK: "It's one of our luckiest casinos at the moment as it had two Super Stud Poker...

Rank has submitted plans for a casino development in Oldham, Greater Manchester.(Casino News)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... RANK has submitted plans for a casino development in Oldham, Greater Manchester, next to a Mecca Bingo on King Street which it hopes to open "in a couple of years." The company said in a statement: "If approved it will give us the...

Speaking exclusively to ab:UK, Taiwan-based ICT's Patrick Kuan revealed.(Spares)
January 1, 2005... SPEAKING exclusively to ab:UK, Taiwan-based ICT's Patrick Kuan revealed: "We are going to exhibit U77 bill acceptors MCD-900 counterfeit detectors, MCA-32X coin acceptors, and ND-500 note dispensers at ATEI 2005." The company will be...

GeWeTe part of the Gauselmann Group in Germany, debuted a coin changing machine.(Spares)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... GEWETE part of the Gauselmann Group in Germany, debuted a coin changing machine at the recent UK Preview 2005 in London. The 2p changer is manufactured entirely in Germany and was developed specifically for the British market. A hi-tech...

Russian-based cabinet manufacturer Villart Industrial Group will exhibit at the ATEI show in London for the first time later this month.(Spares)( Villart Industrial Group )(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... RUSSIAN-based cabinet manufacturer Villart Industrial Group will exhibit at the ATEI show in London for the first time later this month. Villart's President Roman V. Shirokov stated: "This is a logical step in the rapid development of the...

VTL and Munzprufer share space at ATEI to push wares.(Spares)(Validation Technologies Ltd)
January 1, 2005... A FULL range of cash handling solutions will be on show on the stand of Validation Technologies Ltd. and its strategic partner WH Munzprufer Berlin Gmbh at ATEI 2005. "We've had a whirlwind year since our first ATEI under the VTL banner in...

Brent offers new Acoustic Solutions.(Spares)(Brent Electronic)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... BRENT Electronic, the Namco--owned market provider of spares, components and auxiliary products, will show a select range of key lines at ATEI. Products will include the brand new SP150 CD-Audio Jukebox from Acoustic Solutions--a...

LED firm Forges closer links with the local community.(Spares: Forge Europa)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... LIGHTING specialist Forge Europa has become the first electronics company in the country and the first manufacturer in the north west to be awarded the highly prestigious CommunityMark. The award commends the commitment that the firm has...

MEI will exhibit increased Cashflow at London show.(Spares)(MEI Europe)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... MULTI-protocol abilities will be at the heart of MEI's offering for the AWP market at this year's ATEI. The MEI Cashflow 9500e coin acceptor, incorporating an enhanced microprocessor, will be unveiled to support both an increased number of...

Morrison moves up at Money Controls.(Spares)(Tony Morrison promoted as director of sales development)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... MONEY Control's commercial manager Tony Morrison has been promoted to director of sales development. Morrison will also be in charge of all matters relating to UK sales and the restructuring of the technical support team to enhance its pro...

Eurocoin pens distribution deal full of Eastern promise.(Spares)(Kortek Inc.)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... EUROCOIN has signed a distribution agreement with Asian monitor manufacturer Kortek. Kortek's new Seoul, South Korea, factory boasts the capacity to produce more than 100,000 monitors per year. Eurocoin signed the distribution...

Heber Limited, designer and manufacturer of the Pluto and Firefly electronic control systems, used its first visit to the EELEX show in Moscow last month to preview a new addition to its existing product range.(Spares)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... HEBER Limited, designer and manufacturer of the Pluto and Firefly electronic control systems, used its first visit to the EELEX show in Moscow last month to preview a new addition to its existing product range. The Axis product range is a...

Still with Heber, Sarah Price has joined as sales administrator.(Spares)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... STILL with Heber, Sarah Price has joined as sales administrator and will be focusing on providing customers with high level of sales support, from sales order processing through to co-ordination with the despatch department. Meanwhile,...

Ant & Dec's Saturday Night Takeaway.(Products)(Bell-Fruit Games)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... Bell-Fruit Games ANT & Dec's Saturday Night Takeaway is the latest AWP from Bell-Fruit Games and is based on the TV duo's top-rated show. It is highly themed in both visuals and sounds. The "Undercover" characters are featured in the...

Tin Can Alley.(Products)(Pan Amusements)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... Pan Amusements PAN Amusements, specialists in electronic shooting galleries added a new product to its portfolio at the IAAPA show in November. The smaller shooting gallery Tin Can Alley was shown alongside more established products from...

X Rated.(Products)(Red Gaming)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... Red Gaming RED Gaming's latest AWP, with a 25 [pounds sterling] jackpot, X Rated, will soon be making its way to single sites, LBOs and arcades. Red Gaming continues to build on its run of machines in the new Genesis cabinet. The...

Barmy Army.(Products)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... Barcrest Games BARCREST Games' latest AWP for the pub and LBO market, Barmy Army, has received impressive test results and numerous early approvals. With its fun audio and exciting imagery, Barmy Army is a new game. Key features of...

Devil in Disguise.(Products)(Gamesoft )(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... Gamesoft CARDIFF-based AWP manufacturer Gamesoft has launched Devil In Disguise in the new ergonomically designed and vertically front opening casino style Advance cabinet. The machine is selling very strongly on the back of...

Tekken 5.(Products)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... Namco NAMCO'S eagerly awaited combat video sequel Tekken 5 has been launched in Europe. First seen by the coin-op industry at Preview, gameplay on Tekken 5 owes much to the original roots of Tekken but includes a number of new...

Skill bill: we at ab:UK know how hard it is to make sure you get to, and get around, all the trade shows. But never products every month. This month ... SWPs.(Sales Pitch)
January 1, 2005... Game: IND:E From: Channel 1 Pitcher: Ian Shreeve WHY should you have IND:E on your estate? Simple--IND:E offers the opportunity to expand your business on new and existing sites and is the best revenue generator in its class....

The Gambling Bill is still rumbling through Parliament and is likely to be subject to more amendments, but ab:UK got together with some interested industry figures including representatives from the casino industry and GamCare when the Bill was first published to pick through its main points.(Panel Discussion)
January 1, 2005... MS: 27 per cent of people coming to counselling for problem gambling are citing FOBTs as playing a role in their problem--they have overtaken fruit machines. DJ: But why are they so addictive? MS: Speed, interaction, the ability to...

Turning Japanese: the JAMMA show always turns up a few useful ideas for the rest of the coin-op world, ab:UK columnist David Snook visited the show yet again and delivers his customarily forthright views on the Tokyo experience.(Snookered)
January 1, 2005... IT'S eight years since I last went to Japan. To be truthful, the horrendous journey is a big turn off and I don't particularly like the country anyway. That's probably unfair. Outside of a brief excursion to Osaka and Kobe many years ago, I've...

What's the deal? ab:UK's Simon Binns gets an insight into what it takes to be a croupier--and comes away convinced he is better suited to the playing side of the table.
January 1, 2005... THERE are some days I am glad I am a journalist. Today is one of them. I've been invited, along with a bunch of other backs, to the Grosvenor Casino The Octagon its Stoke, by those lovely people at Rank to hone my skills as a croupier and...

Sweet 16 ... going on 21: every year, it seems, the ATEI has one particular type of game that stands out among all the others in the payout machine market. Recently multi-players have dominated, but if the Preview show is anything to go by, this year a new style of game is about to come of age ...
January 1, 2005... IT is amazing to think that a law as well-worn as the existing 1968 UK Gambling Act could still spawn a new genre of machine, but that is what has happened with Section 16/21. Next ATEI, you can expect to see this concept portrayed in a number...

Breaking rank: under new ownership, RLMS Sales re-introduced itself to the industry at the London Preview in October with a brand new sales team. Managing Director Rolf Nielsen spoke exclusively to Alex Lee about the role of RLMS Sales within the UK distribution scene.(Interview)(Interview)
January 1, 2005... It's been said by some people for some time that the distributor is becoming an unnecessary link in the chain. Manufacturers are selling direct to selected operators these days, a situation that is becoming more common. Missing out the...

Globetrotter.(Brief Article)
January 1, 2005... AT the impressive launch of Urban Digital Vending, the introduction of the facility to download individual tracks from inspired Broadcast Network's The Music juke box, Globetrotter ran into Revolution Entertainment's Lee Gregory, IBN CEO Norman...

Show diary.(Calendar)
January 1, 2005... 2005 January 19-22 IMA 2005, Nurnberg Fairgounds, Nurnberg, Germany. Contact: Sandra Roth, Reed Exhibitions Deutschland GmbH, Volklinger Str. 4, Dusseldorf, 40219, Germany. Tel: +49 211 901 91134 Fax: +49 211 901...