Park Avenue hits the 30 plus participants mark again
Ask Global, E -Service and Storm Games are the latest additions to the list of participants at the 2024 gathering at the Park Avenue Open Day on Wednesday 5 June. It’s now 31 companies represented at the old capital of the UK amusements industry, fittingly in the capital London.
“We’re now at near capacity for the Open Day,” said a considered John A Stergides, the man organising the annual summer gathering of the leading luminaries of the amusements and gaming industry at west London’s Park Avenue.
Capacity? Well, even the young Stergides had to smile. “There’s no limit to who can join us – either in the showrooms or for those visiting for the day,” he said laughing. “The more the better. But we do have a really comprehensive range of products on display from over 30 businesses already.”
And indeed they do. Electrocoin and UDC are opening their doors again on Wednesday 5 June, and it’s probably going to be one of the most eagerly anticipated Park Avenue events in years – maybe decades.
“There’s so much going on in the industry at the moment – we’ve got consultation documents coming out over the next few weeks and Park Avenue will be the first time that the industry can get together to discuss them,” Stergides said.
Park Avenue is the one industry event that merges social with product in a way that has never been replicated by any event on the industry calendar. “I think that’s probably fair to say,” remarked Stergides the younger. Stergides the older, however, would certainly say that – it was exactly that blend and model John Stergides senior wanted to create when Park Avenue was first launched in the late 1980s.
“I think my father recognised the importance of the industry getting together and discussing industry matters outside of that competitive environment. Of course product’s important – but it’s a showcase and one that clearly works because there is strong business done during the day. But, it’s the conversation, the debates, the opportunity to push new ideas forward – that works in the Park Avenue environment.”
It’s certainly a message that should be taken on board by the likes of the Gambling Commission, and indeed the DCMS. It’s only down the road from the government offices, and while it might be a longer train journey for the regulator – if it wants to get a full understanding of how the land based gaming and amusements sector thinks – it will never get a better forum than Park Avenue. It’s a must-do event for the Gambling Commission – now that’s an invitation and challenge from Coinslot.
Stergides junior, though, is less bullish. “The Commission would be more than welcome to Park Avenue and I think the industry would be delighted to see them here. It’s a gathering that reflects how the industry feels and thinks and there’s time for considered conversation,” said John A Stergides.
And there’s also time to see SR developments in the products and innovation – and investment – the industry is putting into raising the entertainment offering for the players.
“By the time Park Avenue comes around, we will have a far better understanding of the direction of travel for new regulations and a fair idea of what can work, and what changes need to be applied to other measures to enable them to work. I think Park Avenue will raise the bar this year in terms of discussions on the future of the industry.”
For a full list of current participants at Park Avenue Open Day 2024, see page 5.
