Welcome to Casino Life ... and welcome to London for most of you reading this, as we assemble for this years first exhibition and conference extravaganza. I think this is my 15th ICE in its various forms and each year it seems to get bigger and better - albeit less fun. Why? Well, time is money and if you discount day three when most people are high-tailing it back to their jobs elsewhere in the world, exhibitors – and attendees - have only a few hours to tour the show, meet old friends, recover from hangovers (Day two) and get some business done. Add up the staff hours, stand rental, build cost, catering, flights, hotels and it all starts to add up. Work it all out per hour and the costs are staggering – so hence the seriousness of it all. ICE after all is the show when most deals are sealed (allegedly) and somehow the fun seems to take a back seat. Or perhaps I'm getting old and it used to be better when execs were more approachable (ie visible – not in endless meetings in their stand village) and you could pose with the storm troopers / Willy Wonka without huge queues.
So here's an idea, although some may say it's heresy. ICE should have a press day – yes, another day added at the start – to allow true interaction, proper demonstrations and truly spotlight the new products – the innovations – allow the new staff who have been appointed to inspire, to do their funky thing and show! Too radical? OK, so make Day One for Press and VIPs only until lunch... then make the show go on until 1900 and then throw open the bars. We are here in London, in Docklands, to see a show, to meet up, to do business in one of the most amazing businesses in the world – so lets maximize it. Keep the audience on site until midnight... who wants to rush back to the West End for a party starting at 1900 where you'll meet the same people – in the same clothes?
OK, I'm toying with an idea, but it would be fun watching some of the press having to work for a change and review product live - plus do some proper interviews rather than churn out the manufacturers press releases. Yawn.
Back to this issue and our front page proudly shows Interblock – whose founder, Joc Pececnik, and CEO, John Connelly, we interview within. I remember seeing the first Organic roulette way back, sitting in a production shed in Slovenia and thinking "Wow! This looks odd – but how cool that it hasn't got brass handles". Most auto-roulettes at that time looked like a mahogany coffin cut and shut spin-off from an undertakers. Our lead interview this issue is with Roger Maris, CEO at the Ritz Club who looks back with fondness at some of the highlights of the past – but is definitely looking forward to the future. Interesting that the Ritz club will be opening an office in Hong Kong. I catch up with Carlos Campos at the Gran Via in Madrid four years after we last spoke to catch up on developments. Another development we are proud to have toured in our hard hats is the Hippodrome and Peter White chats to Simon Thomas who is as busy as ever. Roy Ramm has formed his own company, wittily entitled Extra Yard Ltd. and we enjoyed finding out how he is continuing to apply years of police and security experience to the casino industry. John Carroll is a veteran of ICE and every other gaming show besides so it was high time we spoke to him about how he represents some of the key gambling equipment manufacturers in the world. Finally we catch up with JJ Woods of Atlantic Casino Consultants to see what's happening in the Emerald Isle, and Victor Royer, Stateside who can tell you why Millennials gamble!
Try and pop in to see us on our stands at ICE: D6-C ND6-D SD5-B & SD5-A
Glyn Thomas
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