Project’s Tony Boulton believes last week’s FOBT stake cut represents renewed opportunity for businesses on Britain’s high street, however, with no changes to Cat C and D, Electrocoin’s John Stergides predicts the country’s manufacturing sector will continue to shrink without the necessary attention. There appear to be many ways to view the Triennial Review.
The amusements industry’s manufacturers are anticipating a “new audience of machine players” following the reduction of the maximum stake on FOBTs to £2, presenting a fresh opportunity for operators of all entertainment venues to attract new business.
Project’s Tony Boulton believes the stake cut will cause players to glance up from FOBTs and take a look at what other experiences are available from Britain’s high street gaming offer.
“Looking ahead, the new FOBT stake presents our customers with a great opportunity to attract a new audience of machine players,” he explained. “AGC and bingo operators are highly skilled retailers accustomed to delivering a first class customer experience. They have worked tirelessly to create high quality and welcoming environments built around a sense of community, friendship and social responsibility and I am confident their brand of gaming entertainment will prove popular with players.”
Electrocoin’s John Stergides echoed this sentiment, stating that the move will “limit the closing of thousands of retail and entertaining businesses in the high street and at the seaside”. However, while changes to FOBTs will help pubs, arcades and bingo halls, Stergides predicts the lack of movement on Cat C and D will lead to further shrinkage in the manufacturing sector, which has been under pressure – not only due to a lack of regulatory attention – but also because of new technology which is without the same limitations.
“There has not been any improvement or upgrade in stakes and prizes for Cat D, therefore technically the machines entertainment element and popularity have regressed,” said Stergides. “Prior to the ‘new’ gaming act, there used to be the Triennial Review in stakes and prizes to keep in line with inflation and new technological and market trends, and to be able to provide good value for the players when playing low stake prize machines.”
Indeed, while still officially called a Triennial Review, this last assessment of the industry has taken five years to materialise. With such a long time
in between changes, Stergides remarked that “the market has been overtaken by online games, smart phones, and FOBTs”, all which resulted in “the closure of factories, distribution centres, and operating suppliers to pubs, arcades and bingo halls”, causing a only a handful of small factories to remain.
“Prior to the gaming act there were 30-40 factories/distribution centres in the UK, exporting all over Europe and outside of Europe. The UK was the leader in producing low stake, low prizes machines known as AWPs, which provided players with a game of chance combined with entertainment, skill and fun,” Stergides concluded, before suggesting a way forward for the industry. “In order to be able to go back to designing games with features and with entertainment, the industry requires new standards. Players enjoy having the chance to win a small prize, with a fun challenge whilst socialising, as long as it is with money they can afford to play with – they are effectively buying a time and challenge. Now is the time for the DCMS and all associations representing all aspects of the land-based industry to unite and move forward.”
Coinslot May 25th – May 31th 2018, 2578 Page 4
