The 8th edition of the traditional exhibition in the field of gambling was definitely a special one, but we interviewed some of the participants, to see what was so special about it. Here it is…
Valentin Adrian Georgescu, CEO of NOVOMATIC Romania
What was new at this edition of E-Arena?
NOVOMATIC has participated at Entertainment Arena Expo since 2007. This year we were pleasantly surprised by the large number of visitors and their interest in the NOVOMATIC products and services.
Are you satisfied with your company’s participation in this event?
This yearly event has become a tradition for NOVOMATIC and is another means by which we want to stay close to our current and future collaborators. At this year’s edition, NOVOMATIC has met the demands of its customers’ requests with personalized offers, but also with the presentation of its latest news – the VIP II and VIP III game equipments, the Panther roulette and sports betting terminals of the TIP&CASH type. So far, the feedback is positive.
How do you see the evolution of the gambling industry in our country from now on?
Gambling has grown and developed a lot since the moment this segment appeared on the market, in the sense of improvement of equipment quality, increasingly more operators in this field entering the market, and, of course, the continuous regulations and continuous improvement of the legislative system in this context. For the next years we believe that the gambling market will benefit from an even better development and functioning, maintaining the same ascending trend of achievements adn results.
Dan Iliovici, CEO of ROMBET
What was new at this edition of E-Arena?
First of all, many foreign visitors. I noticed there were many international companies in the field of online games present and very interested by the new opening of the Romanian market. We were happy to receive many visits at our booth and to talk to our guests from Italy, Austria, USA, Great Britain and Germany. And there were prestigious companies as well, for instance Scientific Games, they had the first presentation at such an event within the “Exact Time in Gambling” conference, where Rombet was a partner and a co-organizer of the event. Many of the persons present for the first time in Romania said they hadn’t imagined we had such a vibrant gambling industry and such big events. I also noticed at this edition that the surface available to the exhibitors had been significantly extended, a sign that the gambling industry benefits from a new dynamic stage, as a consequence of the latest regulations in this field.
Are you satisfied with your company’s participation in this event?
For us this was a new success. We were happy to see that the interest for associations in this field is increasing: we answered as detailed as possible to questions from potential members and we made the connection between investors and companies from our country and from abroad.
Within “The Exact Time in Gambling” conference, ROMBET had two presentations, one by Dan Iliovici, CEO, and the other by Anchidim Zăgrean, VP, and took part in extremely constructive debates, about the new legislation and responsible gaming.
We would like to thank Mrs. Odeta Nestor, president of the National Gambling Office, Mr. Daniel Florea, deputy and member in the Parliament Juridical Commission, as well as Mr. Marian Ivan, inspector for competition within the Competition Council – Services Division for their presence. They encouraged the gambling industry for more transparency, a solid dialogue with authorities and congratulated the business persons for the positive trend on which they set the gambling field in Romania.
We are also proud of all Rombet members who participated to E-Arena with interesting booths and exciting presentations – DGL Pro, Newton, Armin Bet, Mario Star. Congratulations to all of them! At the same time we would like to mention the success the representatives of the American company Scientifc Games had – a giant in this field, with over 8,500 employees and incomes of $ 3 billion, who, invited by ROMBET, had a technical presentation, in view of introducing some slots monitoring systems on the Romanian market.
How do you see the evolution of the gambling industry in our country from now on?
With the completion of the new legislative framework, we expect a solid development of our industry, particularly on the online games and limited risk machines – AWP side, but not only in this area. We expect, and hope, that the public interest foundation project dedicated to responsible gambling will finally get started, Rombet being one of the promoters of this program.
Anton Lakatos, General Director at INNOGATE
What was new at this edition of E-Arena? Are you satisfied with your company’s participation in this event?
This edition of Entertainment Arena Expo, which just ended, was a new opportunity to meet again our customers and partners and to present to them for the first time our broadened portfolio of products available with the completion of the merger procedures between GTECH and IGT, resulting in the creation of a leader company. We noticed the interest and appetite the INNOGATE booth visitors had for the quality products we displayed and distribute, in each of their attempts to be different on a highly competitive market. We were delighted to see how appreciated the new game machines we presented were. The revolutionary AXXIS cabinet, introducing the TRUE 3DTMtechnology exclusively, the CrystalDualTM multigame, with its reputation to have set new standards in the industry and the legendary S3000TM have all sparked the visitors’ interest.
Essentially, INNOGATE offers value for money, but also access under increased flexibility conditions to premium products which can satisfy the real and important needs of the client. The diversity of the game machines mix available has the potential to create the so desired differentiation by means of the unique sales offer, and this is exactly what we offer to our customers.
How do you see the evolution of the gambling industry in our country from now on?
In the context of the recent legislative regulations, the completion of which is still postponed, due to the publishing of the long awaited norms for the application of law #124, we can notice trials of repositioning and rethinking the business methods in the attempt to identify how to best suit the new conditions. In the immediate and near future there will still be important changes in the market structure, and those who take the best strategic decisions will have the chance to consolidate their positions and, at the same time, to develop business perspectives and plans very resistant to other potential changes in the environment, which won’t take too long to occur.
David Coldea, Sales Manager at BAUM GAMES
What was new at this edition of E-Arena?
First of all I think that it had the biggest number of visitors in the last years. From another point of view it brought to us, BAUM GAMES, a record number of visitors and especially new customers.
Are you satisfied with your company’s participation in this event?
We were satisfied each time, but, every year the satisfaction is greater. This is also due to the success of the Dracula’s Games at E-Arena.
How do you see the evolution of the gambling industry in our country from now on?
Now that the things have settled a bit from the legislative point of view, we hope to have a more predictable period.
Gyula Csortan, General Director at ALFASTREET
What was new at this edition of E-Arena?
We noticed a series of novelties both in the organization and in the exhibitors’ offers. The exhibition surface was bigger than the previous years, the visitors registration and monitoring more rigorous and there was a big video screen placed at the entrance. Another novelty was the conference organized by Rombet on the topic of Responsible Gambling.
Are you satisfied with your company’s participation in this event?
Definitely! Alfastreet was present at all EAE editions so far, this event is for us an important milestone in the yearly calendar. This is the best opportunity to connect to our current customers, to identify potential customers and find out the latest trends in the field.
How do you see the evolution of the gambling industry in our country from now on?
The present period indicates a dynamic of the market, generated mostly by the recent legislative changes and by the legalization of online betting. I am confident that these changes will have positive effects and that adapting to the new conditions will bring along new opportunities as well. I can say that EAE 2015 was an example in this regard.
Marius Stoi, General Director at DGL PRO
What was new at this edition of E-Arena?
I think that this edition of E-Arena was at a much higher level than the previous editions, both in terms of number and quality of exhibitors, booth presentation and, not in the list, quality of visitors. The novelties were the equipments presented, of course. This time, all involved companies came with their top products.
Are you satisfied with your company’s participation in this event?
Personally, i am very satisfied by the participation of DGL PRO at this event. Besides the fact that we have tightened and our connections with our old customers and confirmed their confidence in the evolution of our product, we managed to attract new customers as well, both from the country and from abroad.
How do you see the evolution of the gambling industry in our country from now on?
The gambling industry evolution is under the sign of legislation. We don’t have yet a comprehensive legislative framework, as we know we are still missing the application norms. The conditions for enetering the gambling area have become rather tough anyway, so the sorting of those involved in it will lead to the raising of this industry’s level, fact proven by this year’s edition of E-Arena as well.
Dragoș Buriu, General Manager at NEWTON Slots
What was new at this edition of E-Arena?
Honestly? A lot of systems, but experience shows. Of course, besides the experience, there is also the ability to develop the system in order to meet the requirements of each particular organizer. It is not easy, we have been working for two years on this system and we know very well that it’s a long way from producing a system to producing a good system, and it takes a lot of work. I say that having our own development team, made up of 10 programmers and a technical team made of 14 technicians.
Are you satisfied with your company’s participation in this event?
I can say i am more than satisfied. The participation to the event proved once again the power with which we exist on this market and the fact that nothing can knock us down from our leader’s position. As you probably already know, we have the best monitoring and jackpot system currently existing in Romania. The exclusivity contract signed with the Amatic company has also brought an increase in our customers portfolio and we are talking here names such as Maxbet, Metropolis, Gameworld, Eldorado and many others. These are just a part of the customers who appeared to be more than willing to exploit the new models of the Austrian producers.
How do you see the evolution of the gambling industry in our country from now on?
I think that the best word for it would be “diversity”. The clients want more and more to see something else as well. Having a room with only one type of game doesn’t do the trick anymore, the customers want to see the operators making available a wide range of slots to choose from.
The new standards in a game hall are jackpot and, of course, total control. You can no longer expect to be able to operate in 2015 without having a system offering you all the data in real time on your phone, laptop or other gadgets.
Edgar Isaakyan, STORM Group Partener
What was new at this edition of E-Arena?
Entertainment Arena Expo is for our company a sure and stable project, this year it was the fourth edition we took part in. Storm Group is a brand behind which there are four services departments corresponding to the gambling industry and more. Beyond the legislative auspices, we found an impressive evolution and desire to change from the side of the economic operators, with reference to criteria, profit growth strategies, game halls design improvement, increase of customers comfort, etc.
Consequently, the products displayed at this exhibition totally meet the current requirements concerning the development of any business, whether we talk about the gambling sector or other sectors. On this occasion, we brought once again to the visitors’ attention the management systems (CMS) adapted to the new rigors of the National Gambling Office, but adaptable to the players’ needs as well. Furthermore, we developed the collaboration with Spintec d.o.o. for the Karma™ roulette, in the sense that we have the Rent option active for this product. The new entry in the Storm Group company is the audio&video marketing project, a quite new concept in our country, but determinable for promoting and increasing the profits of any business. And, not in the least, the flavoring systems, already known to the consumers of this type of things, which, in a very short time have proven that they are indispensible when you want superior quality services.
Are you satisfied with your company’s participation in this event?
The consequence of our participation in Entertainment Arena Expo was beneficial for promoting our company’s products, in the sense that the positive feedback appeared right away, leading to the establishing of new commercial relations and to the development of our existing ones.
How do you see the evolution of the gambling industry in our country from now on?
Closely connected with the legal regulations in the field of gambling, we will surely witness the merger of medium and small economic operators, but also new economic operators entering the online games segment. Legislative stability is of maximum importance for the entire industry to regain its balance and to follow its own natural course.
