The trade show 'wars' which have broken out over the London casino show event in 2011 and succeeding years, continue to edge towards the current ICE Totally Gaming show for next year.
Following the announcement that Novomatic had pledged support for ICE at Earls Court in 2011, TCS John Huxley, the major casino equipment supplier has also announced its intention of supporting ICE, which is organised by Clarion Events. Now the big Spanish manufacturer, R Franco, has similarly moved to support Clarion.
There has been a proposal to launch a new European trade show for the casino industry, coming from Reed, the major show organisers who are responsible for the G2E show in Las Vegas and G2E Asia, held in Macau.
Reed, backed by the American Gaming Association, is seeking support for a G2E Europe, competing with Clarion. They are using as their main background for the bid the possibility that at some time in the future the Earls Court complex will be demolished.
Clarion, however, insists that it will be at least several years before anything happens to their venue and alternatives will be available for an ICE Totally Gaming in that event. For the moment, at least, the industry appears to be backing the status quo at Earls Court.
