‘Get the industry in order, or we don’t deserve to flourish,’ says Rank

Rank CEO Henry Birch talks up the prospects for UK gaming, but warns that this success is dependent on society’s favourable view of the industry. The head of Rank Group offered staunch words to UK gaming this week, warning that if gambling addicti...
http://coinslot.co.uk/2016/10/21/henry-birch-rank-ceo/

UK’s second virtual reality arcade opens in Cornwall

VR Cornwall has opened in Penzance, offering what is only the second virtual reality arcade experience in the country. The new VR experience is the brainchild of Matt Harding, who has a background in website development but has maintained an interes...
http://coinslot.co.uk/2016/10/21/virtual-reality-arcade-cornwall/

Residents criticise Brighton’s West Pier Trust

Brighton’s West Pier Trust has been criticised by the town’s residents, including bestselling crime author Peter James, for failing to make more effort to preserve the remaining structure of the stricken pier which this year celebrates its 150th ...
http://coinslot.co.uk/2016/10/21/criticism-brightons-west-pier-trust/

Playdium makes dazzling UK debut at Stamford Bridge

Playdium, the smart jukebox which is widely regarded by US operators as representing the ‘next generation’ entertainment platform, was unveiled to an audience of UK operators at last week’s Autumn Coin-Op Show (ACOS), held at the home of Chelse...
http://coinslot.co.uk/2016/10/20/playdium-makes-dazzling-uk-debut/

MFA Bowling expands portfolio to 33 FECs

National ten-pin bowling group, MFA Bowl, has announced the takeover of a local community asset Horsham Superbowl, after signing a 25 year lease with Horsham District Council. The chain will assume all operations at the leisure complex including the...
http://coinslot.co.uk/2016/10/20/mfa-bowling-expands-portfolio/

Blueprint aim to make its mark on UK gaming

Blueprint Gaming’s Simon Barff explains why innovative homegrown branding continues to play the leading role in the company’s success. It’s been another busy year for Blueprint. Still reeling in the success of its Aurora Cabinet - only 18-mont...
http://coinslot.co.uk/2016/10/20/blueprint-aim-make-mark-uk-gaming/

PMI: London returns with networking app

Performance Marketing Insights returns to Westminster Park Plaza in London from 25-26 October, offering a full insight into the most cost-effective ways of getting results via performance marketing. Seminars focus on online, biddable media and affil...
http://coinslot.co.uk/2016/10/20/pmi-london-returns-networking-app/

What have you done for me lately?

The chief executive of the British Beer and Pub Association, Brigid Simmonds, has been commenting on proposed changes to the Late Night Levy, which would make it possible for local authorities to target specific streets with tax payments for venues t...
http://coinslot.co.uk/2016/10/19/brigid-simmonds-politics/

Industry’s leading lights attend G2E 2016

The world’s largest gaming convention, the three-day Global Gaming Expo (G2E) took place at the Sands Expo and Convention Center on 27 September. G2E’s trade-show floor is known as a showcase for companies to display new gaming technology, espec...
http://coinslot.co.uk/2016/10/19/industrys-leading-lights-attend-g2e-2016/

Confidence returning: Single-digit revenue growth for Merlin

Consumer confidence in Alton Towers is returning, as Merlin Entertainments reports a single-digit increase in revenues for the first nine months of the year. Merlin Entertainments, Europe’s largest operator of theme parks and city attractions, has...
http://coinslot.co.uk/2016/10/19/single-digit-revenue-growth-merlin/

Harker welcomes green light for Rhyl regeneration

Rhyl amusements operator has welcomed the green light being granted to a £4.5m investment in the first phase of Rhyl’s waterfront regeneration programme. Les Harker said the investment, which would pay for the project’s ‘Hospitality Zone’ o...
http://coinslot.co.uk/2016/10/19/harker-welcomes-rhyl-regeneration/

Flood-hit operator welcomes promenade survey

A Southend operator has welcomed the decision to carry out an underground inspection of an area of promenade outside his FEC that is prone to flooding. Martin Richardson, owner of the Happidrome Arcade, has already been forced to spend thousands of ...
http://coinslot.co.uk/2016/10/19/operator-welcomes-promenade-survey/

Pleasure Island amusement park to close this month

A huge hole will be left in Cleethorpes’ visitor economy at the end the month, when one of its biggest amusement attractions closes for good. Cleethorpes’ Pleasure Island is to close its gates for good at the end of the season after nearly a qua...
http://coinslot.co.uk/2016/10/19/pleasure-island-amusement-park-close/

Lib Dem Lord tasks May to crack down on B2s

Lord Clement-Jones has hit back at comments made by Malcolm George, CEO of the Association of British Bookmakers, who wrote in the Financial Times that FOBTs are “like many other gaming machines.” This “disregards the enormous human misery tha...
http://coinslot.co.uk/2016/10/19/lib-dem-lord-tasks-may-crack-b2s/

Hundreds to lose jobs as Ladbrokes and Gala merge

As many as 700 people could lose their jobs as a result of the merger between Gala Coral and Ladbrokes. The news - which has emerged after staff revealed an internal email from Gala Coral chief executive Carl Leaver - comes as the companies look to ...
http://coinslot.co.uk/2016/10/19/hundreds-lose-jobs-ladbrokes-gala-merge/

Gambling Commission calls for ‘two-way conversation’

In a plan to increase communication between consumer, regulator and operator, the Gambling Commission has presented its ‘two-way conversation’ plan. The Gambling Commission has released its ‘two-way conversation’ plan for communicating with ...
http://coinslot.co.uk/2016/10/19/gambling-commission-conversation/

Council launch £2.7m bid for Southport pier revamp

Sefton council has announced its intention to submit a £2.7m bid to help revitalise Southport Pier and Seafront as part of the Coastal Communities Fund (CCF). If successful the funding would be targeted towards undertaking essential structural repa...
http://coinslot.co.uk/2016/10/18/southport-pier-revamp/

Bacta convention 2016 draft agenda unveiled

The draft agenda for Bacta’s 2016 Convention has been unveiled, with the gathering due to take place on 24 November at the QEII Conference Centre, in Westminster. The 2016 Bacta Convention will once again be headlined by a keynote speech from Gamb...
http://coinslot.co.uk/2016/10/18/bacta-convention-agenda-unveiled/

Brighton Pier ‘transforms’ new owner’s balance sheet

The newly named Brighton Pier Group sees an immediate improvement in both profit and market value after acquiring the historic attraction in April. The new owners of Brighton Pier returned to profit this summer after a reportedly “transformational...
http://coinslot.co.uk/2016/10/18/brighton-pier-balance-sheet/

Amaya and William Hill merger talks abandoned

UK bookmaker William Hill and Amaya, the Canada-based online poker giant, have walked away from talks of a possible £4.5bn (E5bn) merger. Earlier this month, the two companies responded to press speculation by confirming they were in discussions re...
http://coinslot.co.uk/2016/10/18/amaya-hills-merger-talks-abandoned/

Blackpool Pleasure Beach announces new 4G rollercoaster

Executives at Blackpool’s Pleasure Beach have revealed plans for a new £16.25m rollercoaster. Temporarily dubbed ‘Construction 2018,’ the two-and-a half-minute ride that will run at 50mph and put punters through 4.3Gs, is scheduled to open in...
http://coinslot.co.uk/2016/10/18/pleasure-beach-4g-rollercoaster/

Enterprise Amusements: from adversary to accompaniment

Leisure 2000 in Paignton achieved ‘group’ status this summer, when its owner Gary Bond took over operations at his sole competitor, Enterprise Amusements. Gary Bond, owner of Leisure 2000, a successful arcade on Paignton’s seafront, has recent...
http://coinslot.co.uk/2016/10/18/enterprise-amusements-adversary-accompaniment/

Saltmarsh Coast in a bid for tourism fund

The Saltmarsh Coast, an area of land along the estuary outside of Chemsfold in Essex, could be the subject of a £420,000 tourism scheme, if Maldon District Council’s bid is successful. The local authority unveiled its plan last week to secure mon...
http://coinslot.co.uk/2016/10/14/saltmarsh-coast-ibid-tourism-fund/

Merlin fined £5m for 2015 rollercoaster crash

A court has ruled that management at Alton Towers was to blame for the Smiler rollercoaster crash last summer, issuing a £5m fine to its operator, Merlin Entertainments. The judge said the “needless and avoidable accident” that left five pass...
http://coinslot.co.uk/2016/10/14/merlin-fined-5m-2015-rollercoaster-crash/

Teenager given community order for Skegness Pier change machine scam

A teenager who scammed a faulty change machine in Skegness Pier’s amusement arcade and assaulted one of its employees has been given a 12-month community order. Skegness resident Billy Appleyard and his girlfriend had discovered the change machine...
http://coinslot.co.uk/2016/10/14/skegness-pier-change-machine-scam/

Revamped Kursaal opens with amusements and adult gaming

The historical Kursaal amusement park has completed its £1.3m renovation.   The iconic Kursaal indoor amusement park in Southend has officially reopened after the completion of a £1.3m upgrade. Renamed MFA Fantasy Park by operator MFA B...
http://coinslot.co.uk/2016/10/14/revamped-kursaal-opens/

Bollom family praised for artistic outreach

The Bollom family has been drawing praise from residents local to their Mumbles Pier this month, after they provided new space for an art gallery that had been left without space. When the owner of the gallery’s former residence opted to sell the...
http://coinslot.co.uk/2016/10/14/bolloms-praised-artistic-outreach/

Wexel Gaming’s linked bingo games pay out over £1m

Wexel Gaming is celebrating its digital linked bingo product paying out its one millionth pound in prize money. The company’s games are spread across the length and breadth of the country, including terminals at Cashino, Showcase, Nobles, Tyne Tee...
http://coinslot.co.uk/2016/10/14/wexel-gamings-linked-bingo-1m/

Neveplast Go-Kart: good things fit in small spaces

As the manufacturers of the Neveplast Go-Kart track celebrate a strong summer in global sales, the UK market gives its verdict on the product. A new product that has been gaining commercial traction at both indoor and outdoor venues around the globe...
http://coinslot.co.uk/2016/10/14/neveplast-kart-leisure-engineering/

Maggi golf day continues charitable success

Maggi Maggi recently held is annual charity golf day, with a number of industry luminaries turning out to support good causes while testing their skills on the links. The company’s marketing co-ordinator Stephanie Smith provided a report of how th...
http://coinslot.co.uk/2016/10/14/maggi-golf-charitable-success/

Flintshire quarry could be transformed into holiday park

Acorn Leisure, owners of the Misty Waters site near Lloc, have submitted in plans for a scheme to build a holiday park at Maes Mynan quarry near Caerwys. Plans have been submitted to build nearly 50 luxury lodges, and units for more than 130 static ...
http://coinslot.co.uk/2016/10/14/flintshire-quarry-holiday-park/

Weak pound sees export boost for machine suppliers

Comparatively slow economic growth in the EU combined with a strong demand for British goods and services elsewhere in the world means that the UK’s biggest trading partner is declining in importance while UK exports benefit from the weak pound. S...
http://coinslot.co.uk/2016/10/14/weak-pound-sees-export-boost/

Manufacturing could be set for a budget boost

Speculation is growing that recently appointed chancellor of the exchequer, Phillip Hammond, will unveil a major boost for British manufacturers during his upcoming Autumn Statement. Due to be announced on 26 November, Hammond’s first budget since...
http://coinslot.co.uk/2016/10/13/manufacturing-set-budget-boost/

Corbyn’s re-election disarms high street traders in Barrow-in-Furness

The Labour leader’s restoration is already ruffling feathers in the Cumbrian town of Barrow-in-Furness, whose local businesses depend upon the nuclear deterrent that Corbyn so despises.   With the news that Labour’s pacifist leader, Jer...
http://coinslot.co.uk/2016/10/13/corbyns-re-election-barrow/

Work begins of Felixstowe Pier’s new FEC

With a temporary home finally secured for its amusement arcade, the project to build Felixstowe Pier’s new FEC has begun in earnest. Work on operator Pier Amusements’ multi-million pound project to create a new family entertainment centre on Fel...
http://coinslot.co.uk/2016/10/13/work-begins-felixstowe-piers-fec/

Expanding on amusement heritage – Konami at G2E

Having upped its development and manufacturing capabilities, Konami Gaming took the floor of the Sands Expo by storm this year: with a number of unique amusement-inspired and skill-based products. Konami Gaming demonstrated by-far its most expansive...
http://coinslot.co.uk/2016/10/13/amusement-heritage-konami-g2e/

Bacta in tune with PPL to achieve level playing field for operators

A bacta delegation comprising chief executive John White, David Gershlick and NSM’s Martin Agabeg, has met with the PPL in order to develop a co-ordinated plan of action to combat some, non-bacta operators who are failing to ensure publicans an...
http://coinslot.co.uk/2016/10/11/bacta-ppl-level-playing-field/

Ether: the new coin on the block

It’s not only the banks who are forging new cryptocurrencies in a bid to rival Bitcoin’s dominance. A new digital money, Ether, has slowly been gaining traction in cyberspace over the past 12 months before undergoing a dramatic appreciation in Ju...
http://coinslot.co.uk/2016/10/11/ether-cryptocurrency/

Welsh secretary says Barry Eye set for iconic status

Barry Island Pleasure Park has opened its new ferris wheel ride – dubbed the ‘Barry Eye’ – to visitors after several months’ delay. The 29-metre high ferris wheel will receive an official launch next month, but guests including Welsh Sec...
http://coinslot.co.uk/2016/10/10/barry-eye-iconic-status/

Music heavyweights to launch ground-breaking jukebox initiative at ACOS

The forthcoming Autumn Coin-Op Show (ACOS), will serve as the backdrop for a major new partnership designed to reinvigorate the UK jukebox sector. The initiative will see Sound Leisure, Soundnet and TouchTunes, the world leader in digital jukebox te...
http://coinslot.co.uk/2016/10/10/ground-breaking-jukebox-initiative-acos/

Eurocoin Systems at ACOS: Joined-up solutions for UK operators

Nick Veitch, managing director of the Eurocoin Group, introduces the company’s new division Eurocoin Systems, which develops, installs and supports the main networked payment & management solutions for UK operators. Coinslot: What Eurocoin Sys...
http://coinslot.co.uk/2016/10/10/eurocoin-systems-solutions-operators/

Brighton’s i360 reopens after teething problems

Brighton’s i360 attraction, which closed for two days, reopened on 14 September. The closure came after the observation pod broke down three times in five days, with about 200 people trapped for more than an hour on 11 September. British Airway...
http://coinslot.co.uk/2016/10/10/brighton-attraction-teething-problem/

E-Service clients report 'Mission Accomplished' on new £5 upgrades

With the new £5 polymer bank note entering circulation just under a month ago, UK operators explain how E-Service supported them through the currency change. The new £5 polymer bank note entered circulation on 13 September, and operators across t...
http://coinslot.co.uk/2016/10/10/e-service-clients-report/

SB Machines delivers statement of intent to drive development of seaside market

In an exclusive interview with Coinslot, Paolo Sidoli discusses the importance of industry exhibitions, the changing face of amusement arcades and the growth of the UK as an entertainment hub. The UK’s seaside resorts have long been viewed as a no...
http://coinslot.co.uk/2016/10/10/sb-machines-development-seaside-market/

Laver given go-ahead for £18m resort

A plan to build a new £18m leisure park at the sight of a former quarry in the Staffordshire Moorlands has been approved. The local district council planning committee approved the plan in mid-September, with operator Laver Leisure the brains behind...
http://coinslot.co.uk/2016/10/10/laver-given-ahead-18m-resort/

Surveys complete problem gambling picture

A new set of surveys has been published by the NHS, revealing the status of both gambling participiation and problem gambling in Wales and Scotland. Often used as the bellwether of problem gambling in England by the Gambling Commission and many ot...
http://coinslot.co.uk/2016/10/10/surveys-problem-gambling-picture/

Professional Leisure Services - Ahead of the Game

With the new five pound note now in the field, a number of operators and machine suppliers are looking for reassurance that they will have the latest in cash handling technology ready to accept this and any further new currency being introduced over ...
http://coinslot.co.uk/2016/10/10/professional-leisure-services-ahead-game/

IAAPA 2016 indoor exhibit space sells out

The indoor exhibit space at IAAPA Attractions Expo 2016 has sold out, with a limited amount of outdoor space still available to companies wanting to participate in the attractions industry’s global marketplace. More than 1,000 exhibitors will sh...
http://coinslot.co.uk/2016/10/07/iaapa-2016-indoor-exhibit-space-sells/

Changes in Novomatic UK’s management structure

Employing around 3,800 people, Novomatic UK, the country’s largest gaming industry operation, comprising manufacturing, operating and distribution, has announced senior management changes. Novomatic UK has undertaken a strategic realignment of its...
http://coinslot.co.uk/2016/10/07/novomatic-uks-management-structure/

Total iGaming spend could reach $1trn by 2021, say analysts

Juniper Research, specialists in data forecasting for mobile and digital markets, projects mobile and online gaming wagers to almost double in five years.   Analysts at Juniper Research have caused a stir among industry execs this month wi...
http://coinslot.co.uk/2016/10/07/igaming-spend-1trn-2021-analysts/