IGE 2009 Smaller, But of Higher Quality

Traditionally the biggest expo for the gaming industry in Europe is ICE in London and it took place 27-29 January at Earls Court expo center. This classic London show changed its name this year to IGE - International Gaming Expo, so as to reflect the new developments in the gaming industry and specifically the active entry of online games that are already developing as an equal market to the classical land-based games.

The initial reports from the organisers are more than positive. A record number of 23,080 people were reported to have visited the three sectors of the exposition - ICE, ICEi and ATEI in the first two days alone, which marked a growth of 1.1% compared to 2008. According to the organizers of IGE 2009, there was a clear trend of increased interest in the technologies of online gaming and games with low bets at the expense of the classic casino market. Along with the operators from Great Britain, the biggest flow of visitors came from Italy, Austria, Germany, Spain, the Netherlands and USA.

Peter Rusbridge, Executive Director of the organiser Clarion Gaming, indicates: “IGE isn’t the biggest gaming event in the world, but it is the most comprehensive, involving exhibitors from all corners of the gaming landscape. The ability to see so much quality and variety at a single exhibition is IGE’s key selling point and one which engaged with buyers who attended from throughout the world .”

Within an area of 21,800 square meters 335 exhibitors showed in Earls Court the latest technological achievements in all fields of the gaming business including the entertainment sector, online gaming and classical casinos. The participants, represented by all major companies, unanimously agreed that the exposition had been extremely useful to them and despite all fears generated from the global financial crisis, they were able to establish good contacts and make some successful deals. “Smaller, but of higher level” was the opinion of all exhibiting companies which indicated that this time their pavilions were visited by a smaller number of clients, but these were the decision makers from serious companies.

In respect of the technologies, the experts’ assessment was that there were no surprises in the land-based casino sector, where most of the companies adopted a secure and more conservative approach, exhibited improved versions of their best products and offered their clients more reliable solutions adapted to the new conditions and involving lower risk.

Aristocrat demonstrated their latest products, incorporated in a modern Viridian cabinet and based on the new platform Gen7. They also showed their latest development Bank Buster from the series Hyperlink, that includes three new games: King of Asia, Ladies Day and Tigress.

The leading products in the exposition of the US leader, IGT were the cabinets G20 upright and G22 slant top, presented with games based on their new AVP platform. The assortment list included games with the Stacked Wilds option, games from the series – 2 lines for 1 credit, as well as series of 20- line and 40-line slots with free rounds as a bonus. The other US leader, WMS Gaming promoted two new cabinets, already seen at the G2E: the two monitor Upright Blue Bird 2 and the two monitor Slant Top Blue Bird, both compatible with the new CPU-NXT2 platform. In respect of new games, WMS continues to add new titles to their well known series: Super Multi-Play, Money Burst, Spinning Streak, G+, Cascading Reels, Wrap Around Pays, Hot Hot Super Respin, etc.

The leading German manufacturer Atronic exhibited its new product - a two monitor 17’’ Upright Cabinet E-sense. The cabinet is a further advanced development of their Harmony series, especially intended for the Eastern European market.

The focus of the exposition of Novomatic was their new Slant Top model Super V+ Gaminator, that was presented with a number of new video slot titles from the Coolfire I and Coolfire II series, integrated in various multi-game versions. Another important accent in the selection of the Austrian manufacturer was the new multiplayer platform Novo Unity II, integrating various popular casino games in different configurations, including Russian Roulette, Baccarat, Black Jack, Texas Hold’em Poker, etc.

The Bulgarian companies were again befittingly represented at the London Expo by three leading manufacturers of gaming equipment - Casino Technology, Euro Games Technology and Gaming Technologies.

Casino Technology surprised their clients with the presentation of a brand new dual monitor slant top model Tangra Touch, based on a new hardware platform. The machine has an innovative design and offers a number of new options to achieve a higher level of interactivity and comfort for the player. Along with the other new product in the group of uprights, Gemini Sensa, the Bulgarian manufacturer offered a wide range of possibilities to operators to diversify the slot floor, as well as a list of more than 10 new video slot titles and 2 new multi game versions - Multi Gemini 8 and Gamopolis 2.

EGT presented to the London audience its new product from the Vega Vision+ series – a stylish dual monitor slant top, in a combination with some new video slot offerings - The Great Egypt, Lucky Buzz, The White Wolf and Queen of Rio.

At its stand, Gaming Technologies presented their most recent multi games, integrated in the series Lucky 4 Cash and The 5 Jewels. The 4- level system Lucky 4 Cash, including one progressive and three mystery jackpots works in combination with the multi game 7 Lucky Gold, which offers four video slot games and three American type pokers. The latest product of the same series – 7 Lucky Platinum, which includes 7 different games, can also be linked to the system. The second jackpot system - The Five Jewels, is connected to the two multi games from the 5 Lucky Diamonds series. The products from this series make it possible for players to select among 5 games and to participate in the winning of five jackpots.