The Amusement Network

15/11/2024

It's 1997 and Norman is in Singapore. This poor chap has a right old shiner... must have been a good night out!

📸 https://www.amusementnetwork.co.uk/gallery/68/singapore-1997

15/11/2024

Former Minister the Rt Hon Stuart Andrew MP to speak at Bacta’s annual convention... 🎙️

With three weeks to go, registrations are ahead of the same stage last year with members responding positively to Bacta’s ‘Going for Growth’ theme set against the new political landscape.

The keynote speakers, including Stuart Andrew, will feature in a panel which will explore the dynamics of the relationship between the industry and , the fate of the White Paper, and how we can collectively determine a future in which operators are not expected to wait over a decade before they can raise their prices...

Read more 👇

The former Gambling Minister the Rt Hon Stuart Andrew MP who was named Shadow Secretary of State for Culture, Media & Sport in Kemi Badenoch’s top team has agreed to speak at the forthcoming Bacta Annual Convention which is taking place on Thursday 28 No

15/11/2024

ARE you in!? 🤝

🕹️ The Amusement & Retail Entertainment Expo (ARE Expo), to be held for the first time in Manchester in April 2025, will be focused on new opportunities for the and sectors.

👾 ARE Expo organiser Swan Events wants to highlight the changing landscape in the UK leisure retail and gaming sectors and what this means for the industry...

Read more 👇

an Events is thrilled with the response to the new Amusement and Retail Entertainment (ARE) Show, an event designed to showcase the latest innovations in the amusement and retail entertainment sectors.

07/11/2024

SEGA Amusements International Ltd. has put its full support behind EAG 2025, taking booth space in both the and the co-located Social Immersive Entertainment Expo (SIE) which is being launched at Excel London (14th – 16th January 2025).

Justin Burke, Sales Director, confirmed: “We have expanded our total booth space this year to accommodate the increased diversity of the EAG and SIE.

“Our booth location is on the border of the two shows, and we have added the extra space ‘behind’ our normal booth which falls into the SIE show floor. I’m proud to have such a prominent presence at what will be the biggest ever edition of EAG.”

Read more 👉

Sega Amusements International has put its full support behind EAG 2025 taking booth space in both the amusements and the co-located Social Immersive Entertainment Expo (SIE) which is being launched at ExCeL London (14th – 16th January 2025).

07/11/2024

The Gambling Commission has published its 2024 Young People and Report – its annual study into children’s and young people’s exposure to, and involvement in, all types of gambling.

🎰 Headline statistics include...

• 27% of young people spent their own money on gambling in the 12 months prior to taking part in the survey
• The most common types of gambling activity that young people spent their own money on were legal or did not feature age restricted products, namely:
– arcade machines such as penny pushers or claw grab machines (20%)
– placing a bet for money between friends or family (11%)
– playing cards with friends or family for money (5%)

Find out more about the report 👉

The Gambling Commission has published its 2024 Young People and Gambling Report – its annual study into children’s and young people’s exposure to, and involvement in, all types of gambling.

04/11/2024

Did you know...

You can get the latest industry news in a weekly round-up when you become a member of The Amusement Network?

Members receive a weekly newsletter with the latest product announcements, our column from Joyce and a new Norman Leftly gallery... Just sign up here 👉

The Amusement Network is a network for professionals working on the coin-op amusement machine industry.

04/11/2024

Back to the year 2000 in this week's gallery! We bring you more classics from Norman's ATEI round-up...

📸 https://www.amusementnetwork.co.uk/gallery/64/atei-2000-part-two

04/11/2024

The long-dreaded Autumn has been announced and the impact on our sector has been explained in detail by Bacta... 💰

John Bollom, Bacta President said, "It is welcomed news that following significant pressure, the Government have backed down on increasing MGD. This had the potential to do significant damage to our industry and we are grateful to our membership for their support in lobbying the Treasury to drop this.

"That said, this budget will have consequences for our sector and the rising burden on businesses will be tough. Staffing will be higher as a result of the Employers’ National Insurance rise and the further hike in Minimum Wage."

Read about all the implications here 👉

Yesterday the Chancellor of the Exchequer delivered her first budget of this Labour Government. It comes after weeks of speculation around potential increases in Machine Games Duty and other business costs. See below our initial assessment of the implicati

25/10/2024

Hot off the press! 🔥 This week's gallery is from The Autumn Coin-Op Show ( ) 2024...

📸 https://www.amusementnetwork.co.uk/gallery/65/acos-2024

25/10/2024

What a show! The Autumn Coin-Op Show delivers the social element 💬

🥂 The enthusiasm was infectious and, despite concerns over Rachel Reeves' impending Budget, the industry was in celebratory mood as we raised a glass to bacta's 50th anniversary.

☀️ It was lovely to see Sonia Meaden, who joined the party in the Prince, where a cheque for £50,000 was presented to Rays of Sunshine by the bacta Charitable Trust.

🥇 Organiser Karen Cooke did a fantastic job once again, keeping everyone in check at set up, keeping their glasses topped up at the party and ensuring all were happy and content throughout.

www.amusementnetwork.co.uk

07/10/2024

See part II of Norman's adventure at ATEI in 1998... 📸 https://www.amusementnetwork.co.uk/gallery/62/atei-1998-part-two

It's 1998 and everyone is in London for ATEI!

Norman is out partying at the Bacta ball and enjoying a night out with industry friends... 📸 https://www.amusementnetwork.co.uk/gallery/61/atei-1998

07/10/2024

is calling... There are less than 3 weeks until the popular London event! 📅

🎟 The must-attend event that is taking place on 22nd and 23rd of this month at the ILEC Conference Centre has new exhibitors joining this year and more than 30 companies represented at what is surely one of the most popular shows on the calendar...

🍻 The Amusement Network can't wait to see you there and will also be on hand to help celebrate bacta's 50th anniversary at The Prince pub following the show on the 22nd.

We really hope to see you all there in a couple of weeks! Admission is free with a visitor or exhibitor pass 👇

Great products from the industry’s best providers. From start-ups to industry icons, ACOS is a launchpad for the New Year.

07/10/2024

Sega Amusements International has announced the appointment of James Farr as its new Sales Manager! 👾

James said, “I am pleased to be joining the team at Sega Amusements International at such an influential time. As the business continues to grow, it feels like the perfect time to work the vibrant and evolving UK location-based environment."

Read more 👇 https://www.amusementnetwork.co.uk/n/n284/sega-appoints-james-farr-as-sales-manager

Sega Amusements International has announced the appointment of James Farr as its new Sales Manager.

26/09/2024

It's 1998 and everyone is in London for ATEI!

Norman is out partying at the Bacta ball and enjoying a night out with industry friends... 📸 https://www.amusementnetwork.co.uk/gallery/61/atei-1998

26/09/2024

Blackpool's Coral Island Arcade to come to Weston... 🏴‍☠️

The former Marks and Spencer store in Weston-super-Mare, which has stood empty for five years, may soon be transformed into a major new .

☠️ Planning permission was previously granted in 2023 to convert the site into a pub and adult centre, but no progress was made. Now, fresh proposals suggest the space could be redeveloped into a "Coral Island" arcade, operated by the same team behind the popular Coral Island in Blackpool.

🎳 The new arcade is expected to feature a variety of attractions, including coin-operated machines, video games, bowling, crazy golf, virtual reality experiences, and food and drink options like a sweet shop.

Read more 👉 https://www.amusementnetwork.co.uk/n/n283/blackpool-coral-island-arcade-to-come-to-weston

26/09/2024

Bacta President John Bollom and Executive Director George McGregor are in Liverpool attending Labour's first Annual Conference as the sitting since 2009.

🎰 They will be taking the opportunity to press-home the imperative of gaining the earliest possible implementation of the land-based reforms that were recommended in the White Paper.

💰 They plan to push forward the need for a regular review of stakes and prizes and ensure that the Labour Party appreciates the industry's economic contributions in terms of taxation (while ensuring that arcades are not stung by an increase in MGD).

That doesn't leave much time for small talk, I have to say. Just make sure you don't mention the sausages – I mean hostages... 🌭

12/09/2024

It's 1997 and Norman is a busy man... he has left the Middle East and is now in for the JAMMA show. And judging from his photos, so is the rest of the industry!
Some great characters in this collection – a who's who of 90s coin-op if ever there was!

📸 https://www.amusementnetwork.co.uk/gallery/59/jamma-1997

12/09/2024

Boomerang Digital looks forward to exciting !

The Autumn Coin-Op Show (ACOS), set to take place on October 22-23, is on track for a record-breaking event, with pre-registrations already three times higher than at the same time last year.

📈 This surge in interest reflects the growing anticipation for the event, where key players in the coin-operated and amusements sectors gather to showcase their latest innovations and products.

🪃 Among the many exhibitors set to participate in this year’s show is Boomerang Digital, which will be showing its expanded portfolio for the first time.

Freddie Shreeve, Director of Sales at Boomerang Digital, shared his excitement about the upcoming event 👉

The Autumn Coin-op Show (ACOS), set to take place on October 22-23 is on track for a record-breaking event, with pre-registrations already three times higher than at the same time last year.