London's International Casino Exhibition (ICE) has continued its record of sustained growth for the eighth consecutive year as organisers Clarion Gaming revealed the final attendance at the 2008 show reached an all-time high of 12,972. The figure, comprising 10,111 unique ICE-dedicated visitors and a further 2,861 in the co-located remote gaming show ICEi, represents an annual growth of 7.9 per cent. Cross-over figures also reveal a further 6,960 buyers from the co-located ATEI (soft gaming expo) visited ICE 2008, boosting the gross attendance to 19,932.
One of the most remarkable statistics from the show was the geographical spread: no fewer than 115 national territories were represented by visitors, five more than the previous year, with five jurisdictions - the Marshall Islands, Nicaragua, Rwanda, Tuvalu and US Minor Outlying Islands - all represented for the very first time. By including ATEI cross-overs, visitors on the show floor combined to represent a global audience of some 127 territories. International and UK-based visitor levels both grew, with the non-UK contingent up 1.5 per cent to 7,337 and domestic visitor numbers rising 18.2 per cent to 5,526. Growth was recorded across several geographical regions, most notably the Far East/South East Asia whose visitor numbers increased by 18.8 per cent year-on-year from 231 to 284. Middle Eastern and North African representation grew by 11.2 per cent to 198, with continental Europe and the CIS up 2.4 per cent to 5,663 and Southern & Central Africa up 1.5 per cent to 134. Attendance levels rose across more than 58 countries with 29 new national records set. In addition to the five debut nations, the show welcomed back its first visitors from Azerbaijan since 1997, from Saint Vincent since 2001 and from the Seychelles since 2003.
Outside of the United Kingdom, the USA narrowly retained its top ranking status, with a 2.7 per cent year-on-year growth in visitor numbers taking its tally to 501. Narrowly missing out on top spot was Austria, whose 14.0 per cent increase place the country second with 596 visitors. Sweden (457 visitors) leapt into third place courtesy of a 25.6 per cent rise in attendance. The remaining top ten overseas nations included Germany (447 visitors, -7.3%), Slovenia (392, +2.1%), Spain (387, +18.0%), Italy (385, +4.1%), France (381, -1.6%), Netherlands (294, -27.2%) and Malta (221, +40.8%). Bulgaria increased its visitor count by 40.8%, up to 209, whilst a further nine nations - Canada, Israel, Irish Republic, Russian Federation, Serbia, Greece, South Africa, Romania and Australia - were all at the show in force, each represented by more than 100 visitors.
Karen Cooke, Clarion Gaming's Head of Exhibitions, said: "ICE and ICEi continue to demonstrate their huge appeal to operators from every jurisdiction in the world, whether land-, cruise- or remotely-based. Much of the credit for the attractive powers of the show must go to the exhibitors who year-on-year continue to surpass themselves in the depth and breadth of their innovative displays." She added: "We will continue to work in close partnership with all of our stakeholders, exhibitors and visitors alike, to ensure that 2009 is better still and we look forward in particular to the input into the show's future development by the European Casino Association."
07 February 2008 BRAND NEW GAMES PLUS TECHNOLOGY LEADING CABINETS
AGI’S ICE ’08 WINNERS’ GALAXY: BRAND NEW GAMES PLUS TECHNOLOGY LEADING CABINETS
The Novomatic booth at ICE hosted world debuts for a Winners’ Galaxy of new and diverse games plus two innovative, leading technology cabinets that proved to be the sensation of this world class show. Once again, AGI introduced the latest standards for top style gaming equipment: Elegant style, leading technology and ultimate player comfort make the new products top attractions for every gaming floor.
At London’s ICE Austrian Gaming Industries GmbH (AGI), wholly owned subsidiary of the Novomatic Holding, unveiled a total number of 19 brand new slot games – 15 of which for the Coolfire™ II platform and 4 for the Coolfire™ I platform – a plethora of new multi-game mixes, two brand new additions to their family of multi-player games and the Flexi-Link multi-level jackpot system manufactured by the Australian company Independent Gaming Pty. Ltd.
Super-V+ Gaminator® – Performance by Design With the new Super-V+ Gaminator® AGI introduced at ICE a multi-game machine especially designed for the top performing Coolfire™ II gaming platform. The hottest multi-game mixes ever continue to be unleashed in this new casino star, making it the new standard multi-game cabinet for international markets.
Extra wide screens for maximum player attraction, (plus the innovative third screen used for animated guest attraction or jackpot level display) most elegant style and top quality standards distinguish this multi-game machine made with pride in Austria. The Super-V+ Gaminator® provides a continuously growing choice of stunning game combinations bringing utmost flexibility to the operator.
AGI presented this new cabinet linked to the Flexi-Link jackpot system of the Australian company Independent Gaming Pty Ltd. Flexi-Link is the next genera¬tion of computer jackpot link systems, featuring multi-level mystery jackpots that maintain and enhance player attraction by visibly notifying the maximum possible cash value of forthcoming jackpot wins. At ICE AGI launched the hot-tempered Samba Nights™, the first of a new range of in-house-developed AGI-themes for this gripping jackpot system and an innovation that received fantastic feedback.
New slot games: Imagination unlimited New games for AGI’s highly successful Coolfire™ II platform are in great demand and no less than 15 cool game innovations were presented at ICE in attractive Super-V+ Gaminator® multi-game mixes:
The new Coolfire™ II games:
• American Poker™ II • Beetle Mania™ deluxe • Fruits on Fire™ deluxe • Grand Roulette™ deluxe • Haute Couture™ • Holmes & Watson™ • Lucky Lady’s Charm™ deluxe • Lucky Pin-ups™ • Luxury Express™ • Plenty on Twenty™ • Queen of Hearts™ deluxe • Rich Witch™ • Shogun™ • Sissi - Empress of Austria™ • Sizzling Hot™ deluxe
Multi-player product innovations AGI presented two brand new additions to their internationally successful multi-player game family. Novo Texas Hold’em Poker™ and Novo TouchBet® Live-Black Jack are the first products based on the innovative Novo Unity™ II multi-player platform. Novo Texas Hold’em Poker™ combines state-of-the-art gaming technology with best quality craftsmanship and top security for Poker gaming fun in best style and Novo TouchBet® Live-Black Jack offers a high-frequency 3D-card game for great live gaming fun for up to 250 players and top profitability for operators in two fascinating versions, each selectable by the operator: Common Dealer Hands and Variant Dealer Hands.
07 February 2008 ICE launch shows Security FreeFall
Concerned about counterfeits but still want to use real coins or colourful tokens?
Digitall Coin Ltd officially launched at ATEI and ICE a new range of products specifically designed for the gaming market. The FreeFall® Coin and Token Acceptor family. This product family is based on a unique proprietary patented laser technology, consists of a 3,5 inch and 5,0 inch devices and is one of the fastest, safest and most precise coin and token detector against counterfeit and frauds in the market. Its specific design reduces the dirt deposition and the need for cleaning. The coin path makes the coin completely “free to fall” into its final destination. FreeFall®, thanks to its design, can really read up to 10 coins per second and provides anti fishing protocol too. "We believe that we are bringing to the Gaming market a technological “quantum leap” toward safety.
For more information please view the companies website:-
06 February 2008 New 22" Widescreen Gaming Monitor
Display Technology the displays, interface, embedded computer and touchscreen specialists is please to announce their new 22” Widescreen Gaming Monitor. 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.
The new 22” monitor delivers a cost-effective touch and non-touch solution and features a dustproof narrow bezel design to protect against dirt and dust and a slim profile that makes ideal for gaming and kiosk style applications. The DT22W monitor also features a brilliant wide-viewing-angle LCD panel, with high brightness, contrast, fast response time and enhanced video design.
In addition to the quality and cost benefits, the DTL range offers a long lasting life cycle with a 3 year guarantee. Display Technology has one of the widest ranges of TFT LCD interface solutions in Europe, with in-house custom design facilities and worldwide support with offices in UK, Germany, Turkey and USA.
05 February 2008 Ardac Elite draws visitors to ICE stand
Money Controls’ Chief Executive, Mike Innes, declared ICE “a big success for the company”, a comment based on both the number of visitors to its stand and their positive reaction. The centrepiece of the stand was the Ardac Elite bill and ticket acceptor. Launched before last year’s show, Ardac Elite has now been extensively proven in the field and is enjoying unprecedented success with both OEMs and casino operators. So much so, that at the last count, there were over 30,000 units deployed worldwide. Mike was particularly pleased with the welcome visitors gave to the new 4-way barcode reading option for Ardac Elite: “It’s frustrating, for customers and casino operators alike, when valid tickets are not accepted on first-time insertion; with this new option, whichever way a ticket is inserted Ardac Elite will read it.” Mike regards a second new feature, the display on a PDA of a full-colour image of the last-note inserted, as equally important for casino operators: “With Ardac Elite, disputes can now be resolved in seconds, with no need to remove the cashbox: all floor staff need do is connect a PDA to the USB socket on the front of the Ardac Elite for instant proof of what note was inserted last.” Last-note display and other advanced features are possible thanks to Ardac Elite’s unique image capture and data processing technology: a full-colour, whole image is taken of every bill and barcode ticket inserted. “With first-time acceptance rates in excess of 97% for street grade notes and for barcode tickets, you can see why operators are delighted with Ardac Elite,” continued Mike. “On top of that, it has proven to be remarkably reliable and needs virtually no maintenance, maximising in-service availability.
