Open Day preview: John A. Stergides: We’re expecting a large attendance this year and alot of people want to take stock of what will happen with the Gambling Review.

You know the summer’s started when Park Avenue Open Day is coming up. And this year is going to be a stormer. Great product for summer season purchases, great food and a networking day where the Gambling Review will be the hot topic. Electrocoin’s John A Stergides walks us through the day.

Chicken, lamb, salmon, meat skewers, veggie kebabs, feta cheese, tabbouleh, potato salad … no wonder Park Avenue Open Day is an industry institution. The menu alone is enough to draw in the crowds.

And they’ve been coming for nearly 40 years, most though picking off the a la carte menu – the best of the summer product offerings for late season purchases.

Electrocoin has been at the centre of the one industry event that seems to be etched into the diary – it’s first week in June slot heralds the official start of the summer season.

Making it all happen this year is Sales & Marketing Manager John A Stergides – and he’s serving up a biggy. Nearly 40 participants showing their best, the trade bodies, even international visitors are flying over for the day – Elmac, Stern and operators from Belgium, Holland and Spain.

It’s going to be a significant Park Avenue this year as the industry gets its collective heads together to assess where we all stand in the liberalisation of gambling regulation and legislation.

“We’re expecting a large attendance this year; a lot of people want to take stock of what will happen with the Gambling Review now we have a General Election,” advised Stergides.

Many sense a significant step backwards – not surprising really given the history of reform in the industry has actually had only one gear for the past 15 years – reform has reversed so much the industry has almost time travelled to the 19th century.

“The government proposals a few weeks ago were very enc

ouraging, it would have been a boost especially with more B3s on the floor,” Stergides said. “It was a surprise decision to call the election and we’re back to guessing. I think everyone’s looking forward to next week just to canvas opinion”

Park Avenue has built a reputation around its networking pull – a few hundred people will be walking through the old street capital of the amusements and gaming industry. With that kind of tradition, you’d expect a lot of product on display.

And there will be no disappointment on that front. With co-hosts UDC next door, and Electrocoin filling the showrooms with several hundred machines from nearly 40 companies – there will be choice.

“There will be a wide range of product this year. Obviously a lot for the seaside sector, but also manufacturers are well represented with our main sponsor Novomatic UK joined by machine specialists Blueprint and Reflex. There’s systems and cash handling – it’s a good spread again,” Stergides noted.

And what about Electrocoin – is it a host with the most this year? Stergides smiled. “We’ve got some excellent machines to show. One to watch will be DDR 20+. That’s always an attention grabber. There’s strong demand as you’d expect for the dance machine. It’s the top quality with all the commercial licences.”

And there’s a new shipment in t

his week, no mean achievement given the demand. Electrocoin are believed to be one of the only businesses – in the world – getting the machines at the moment.

And, as you’d expect, there’s plenty more from the Electrocoin stable. And good performers according to the figures recorded so far.

The list is a familiar one: Skill Cut Winner, Mr Do’s Skill Cut Plus, Spinning Cyclone, Magic Seven Keys and Rocket Launch are all lined up.

For cashless there’s the Intercard system and gaming is well represented with the Bar X 7 Refurb and the Bar X Tablet System.

And what would a trip to Electrocoin be without pinball. The latest Jaws game is on site and – there’s only a chance – but the John Wick pinball might be arriving in time for Park Avenue.

Open Day Preview published in the below issue of Coinslot

Coinslot – May 31st – June 6th 2024 – Issue 2891 – Pages 12 – 13