Germany will have a trade show in January 2013 after all.
We understand that a new show, as yet unnamed, will be held from January 15-17 – what would normally be the dates for IMA – and will be run by Reed Germany, the managers of the IMA show which was this year cancelled by its owners, the trade association VDAI. This was because of the intense pressure being exerted on the AWP sector by the authorities.
As reported in InterGame several weeks ago, the withdrawal of the IMA show was blamed on the 16 German Bundeslander which were uniting and threatening to impose heavyweight restrictions on arcade licenses.
But intensive pressure was brought by other exhibitors at IMA, who felt that a two-year gap was not good for the industry. Reed is understood to be reacting to the popular demand for a trade event, effectively an IMA show without the AWP sector.
It will again be held at the Dusseldorf Exhibition Centre, where the annual German trade show is normally held. Effectively it will represent sports betting, sports gaming, bowling, amusement and support products and services.
