Phil Clegg and Simon Liddle report back from the ever-impressive G2E event in Las Vegas.
THIS was a completely different G2E to those that took place a few years ago.
The signs were there in 2012 that the industry was beginning to bounce back from the recession. Last year that message was clear. This year the buzz was definitely back. Some stands were so packed out, especially on day one, that you could hardly navigate your way around them.
The vast majority of exhibitors - at least those that InterGaming spoke to - were more than happy with proceedings. Visitors too appeared upbeat and ready to spend. International attendance was back to pre-2008 levels; indeed it could be that those levels were surpassed.
The main talking point, of course, was mergers and acquisitions, with some of the industry’s biggest fish being swallowed up by even bigger fish. Many people in those companies were uncertain about their future, but there was also a feeling that this convergence could create a whole new raft of opportunities.
Time will tell, but as the new behemoths regroup, there will surely be room for start-ups to find new niches. On the trade show floor, there were plenty of innovations. Nothing to change the face of gaming, but plenty to keep the visitors engaged. TCS John Huxley launched no less than seven new products at G2E Las Vegas.
“The momentum is building,” the company’s Tracy Cohen told InterGaming. One of the main features at the show was the global launch of Gaming Floor Live, a complete network platform and gaming table management system.
“When the system was installed in a mega resort in Macau it became evident that 75 per cent of dealers were not performing to their optimum level,” said Cohen. “This makes a big difference in terms of revenue.”
The company is aiming for GFL to become the industry standard. “We are facilitators now,” added Cohen. “We are in the business of solving the problems of our customers. There will be lots of roll-out in the future – we are working on some innovative things.”
Read the full article in the November issue of InterGaming
