New amusement machines and new location at Düsseldorf attract record visitor numbers
Düsseldorf. For the first time after many years of stagnation IMA, the International Trade Fair for Amusement and Vending Machines is in a position to report a marked increase in the number of visitors. 8,384 trade visitors had already been welcomed in Düsseldorf. Paul Gauselmann, Chairman of the German coin-operated machine industry association (VDAI), is certain that it was the wide range of new gambling machines, in particular, that convinced trade visitors to make new investments. “At long last, the industry has come up with games that offer entertainment at quite reasonable expense,“ says Gauselmann. While in the Fifties gamblers had to calculate on up to six times their hourly wage to have a go at gambling enjoyment, today that amount has dropped to two hourly wages or less
The new Gambling Ordinance, although not meeting all the industry's expectations, allows for up to twelve gambling machines in amusement arcades and up to three in gastronomic establishments. In contrast to the lottery market under state monopoly, strict legal limitations continue to apply on monetary incentives in this area.
The new Gambling Ordinance, although not meeting all the industry’s expectations, allows for up to twelve gambling machines in amusement arcades and up to three in gastronomic establishments. In contrast to the lottery market under state monopoly, strict legal limitations continue to apply on monetary incentives in this area.
Next to this product segment, 140 exhibitors from 14 nations presented a broad range of electronic entertainment such as touch-screen games or driving simulators, sports and game units such as billiards, kickers and darts. Even the good old flipper game, with new modern features added, could be found at IMA. Money management systems and equipment concepts for modern amusement arcades completed the range of products shown at the fair.
Among the majority of trade visitors, the mood was one of guarded optimism for the new year. In their opinion, the downward trend of the last few years seems to have at least been halted. That downward trend had intensified as approximately 60,000 amusement machines had to be dismantled due to a change in legal requirements. Now, however, the future for the companies, most of them medium-sized, looks secure again after machines complying with the new Gambling Ordinance have entered the market since the middle of 2006. And a sense of security obviously provides a strong motivation for investments. As a result, the exhibiting companies report a marked improvement in orders. As a general summary, Paul Gauselmann says that with the Düsseldorf event a reversal of the trend was achieved. Furthermore he is certain that IMA will again pick up speed towards becoming more international. Clear signs for such a development could already be seen this year. With its generally good transport links, the North Rhine-Westphalian metropolis offers a European platform for the coin-operated game industry, including customers from eastern, central and southern Europe.
