Half a century of innovation and entertainment.
TOWARDS the end of last year, TAB Austria, one of Europe’s leading providers of gaming equipment, celebrated its 50th anniversary. What began in 1962 has steadily evolved to become a market leader of gaming and amusement technology.
In 1962, an ambitious young couple named Annemaria and Siegfried Dattl sought to earn a little extra money in order to realise their dream of owning their own flat. Annemaria’s parents ran a small cinema in Haid, Upper Austria, and it was there that the pair took the opportunity to place their first soccer table. This proved to be extremely successful and soon they increased their number of amusement machines.
In addition to their expanding amusement and gaming business, which had become known as Dattl Automaten, in 1972 Annemaria and Siegfried opened a bar with a totally new connect. There, people could watch a movie and dance to modern music afterwards. The Golden Submarine became a major draw, earning a reputation for great entertainment and a lively atmosphere. Building on the knowledge they had gained in these early years, Annemaria and Siegfried’s company entered into a period of rapid growth.
At the start of the 1980s, the company faced a number of political obstacles in the local Upper Austrian market. The rapid and dramatic rise in fees forced the company to find new opportunities in order to continue. The most important factors in the success of Dattl Automaten have been its endurance, creativity and - not to be overlooked – optimism. The company expanded into other parts of Austria and entered new markets, like the Czech Republic, Yugoslavia and Germany. With this growth in export business, the company became TAB Austria.
This article can be read in full in the February issue of InterGame.
