Arcade operators in the UK are looking for alternatives to AWP machines.
At the London Open Day last week, United Distributing Company showed no AWP machines and chairman Derek Horwood commented: "We only showed novelty and redemption games. This has set the tongues wagging among the visitors.
"There’s nothing sinister in our motives, and we aren’t operating to a hidden agenda. It’s just that we have noticed an ever diminishing demand from our customers for AWPs for the past couple of years and an increase in requests for novelty games and skill machines suitable for FECs. We are catering for our customers’ needs."
This underscores a trend that was becoming evident last season. At the January ATEI in 2007, both Harry Levy and UDC reported strong demand for novelty and skill games. FEC owners all over the country realised that the mix of patrons to their premises was beginning to change and more family groups were coming in to have fun and win prizes.
The equipment on display in the UDC stand in the January ATEI further reflected this trend. The advent of the September 2007 change in legislation and the smoking ban in public premises had only served to point the way, and indicated this growing interest to UDC sales director Michael Green and managing director Mark Horwood.
