With a better layout and attention paid to exhibitors' teething problems last year we're expecting a great show. G2E set the scene with some cracking new content and Europe is about to rediscover the Pzazz that a casino industry can bring when economies swing upward, and technology and creativity collide.
On that subject, each year seems to bring a new emerging market for casinos but for this years show we have two - Japan and India. Both countries seem to have tentatively grasped the nettle of gaming legislation and special sessions over the ICE event will bring the industry up to speed on the detail.
Other broad subjects that look destined to grab our attention will be the rise of social gaming and its emergence as a keystone of both Slot manufacturers and casinos alike to spread their message... and of
course mobile gaming - which seems to have finally lived up to expectations.
Back to this issue and I would like to welcome our guest editor, industry stalwart Jens Halle. We no longer have our coffee and end of show cigarette as the lights go down - but perhaps a glass of something cold and bubbly for this year may be in order.
Duncan Savage, Managing Director of the Rainbow Casino and a long-time contributor to the magazine talks to Peter White about the successful acquisition of the remaining Gala Casinos. I catch up with Ainsworth UK's Managing Director Robert Dijkstra during the Slot Summit Paris. Meanwhile, Robert Ambrose reports on AGEM's donation to Drexel University.
Here in Kyiv, the mood is getting uglier and the fires are burning higher.
Subject to no "State of Emergency" being declared I hope to be in London this weekend to catch up with casino colleagues ahead of ICE.
We hope you have a great show and look forward to meeting some of you over the three days.
