As in-person events begin to ramp up again, at least in Europe and the U.S., suppliers make some difficult choices about whether or not to attend and who to send.
Nearly all of the manufacturers and suppliers polled by Asia Gaming Brief for the upcoming September Print Magazine have expressed a strong desire to attend events in person.
Most are suffering from Zoom fatigue and after 18 months of teleconferencing have realized that digital formats don’t make up for social interaction.
The events provide an invaluable opportunity to meet with friends and colleagues and expand business networks. However, in the post-pandemic world it’s not so easy.
For colleagues in Asia, travel is still highly prohibitive. There are few flights and for many, stringent quarantine requirements are in place on return. Executives need to ask whether it’s worth spending 14 days or more in isolation for the sake of a three-day event.
For those in Macau, travel remains off the agenda, with the borders effectively closed to anyone outside of the Greater China region.
Then, there’s the unpredictable nature of the Delta variant. Colleagues in Australia had been looking forward to the return of the Australasian Gaming Expo in August, however, that was cancelled within just weeks to the event as the virus spread.
The country, which had fared well in controlling the virus due to its closed border policy, is now struggling to regain the upper hand, with much of the country back in lockdown.
Although the online gaming industry fared well during the pandemic and land-based operators are now seeing a strong bounce back once properties reopen.
Costs were also cited as an issue when determining what events to attend and where. Likewise how many people and who to send. Some said the decision is likely to be very much last minute.
AGB recently published an infographic on upcoming industry events.
Below we share a few snippets of AGBriefings Supplier Special Report contributions on the upcoming gaming calendar. The full version of the articles will be available in the September print magazine edition.
Among the events this month is a conference by the International Association of Gaming Regulators in Boston, while SBC will be holding a sports betting summit in Barcelona.
In October, the focus will be on G2E in Las Vegas, which is the show most suppliers have said they will attend.
In no particular order:
Jade Entertainment: Weighing the travel possibilities
Which show will we attend in the near future? This is the ultimate question. Even more so now we are tasked with handling the challenges of the “new normal,” with social distancing and an economic scenario like none we have previously experienced.
Whether we attend in-person events in the not-too-distant future or the wave of digital and online events currently? I am ready and willing to attend Live events but whether I am able is still unknown. After 18 months of lockdown here in Manila I have Zoom fatigue. As a company we have grown during the lockdown period and almost doubled our workforce. We have received an online sport betting license with which we are now live and we have been awarded a license for e-Sabong with which we will go live on September 7.
Like Jade, I believe other companies have also used this period to recreate and develop new products and services, which you need to touch and feel and learn from those who developed them.
But my main reason for attending live events is to come together with friends and network with new people and sometimes even have a beer. Do I feel comfortable going to a live event? I’m not completely comfortable yet, I have to trust the vaccine and the event organization that I will be safe.
Now the remaining question is, am I able to attend? I will be fully vaccinated so I can tick that box, but flights from Manila are limited and countries also have their own restrictions. Can I return home after the event, while the Delta Variant might cause harder lockdowns and restrictions. Is it worth coming back to 10 days in a quarantine hotel for a 3 day event?
I would very much like to be at G2E Vegas but at this stage, I might only be able to decide a few days before the event. For future events long term planning is still unknown.
BBIN: Return and reconnect
As live events around the world make a gradual comeback, BBIN, the leading igaming software supplier in Asia, has been actively preparing for the major events in the coming year of 2022, excited to showcase new ideas and innovations in ICE 2022 and other following events.
It has been almost two years since the whole world and the iGaming industry was thrust into the mode of digital and remote communication. BBIN expects that reviving live events will bring back the deeper connection and exchange that was missing in the digital transmission of virtual exhibitions and online meetings, which has great significance for every one of us.
Play’n GO: Back? We never left
Over the past couple of years, in-person events have had to take a back seat. Ever-changing rules and regulations have made it a mission (impossible) to plan upcoming events. But that doesn’t mean that we haven’t been working away behind the scenes, creating even more epic games and coming up with new ways to show them off.
It’s no secret that we love an event. We get to exhibit our upcoming games and latest innovations in our products and services (we’re looking at you OMNY). And we’ve been doing just that year after year with Play’n SHOW. From London to Malta, this event was the highlight of the year. But in 2020, this was not to be. Like with all things, there is a workaround. Around the world, the meeting room became the meeting Zoom, and with that Play’n SHOW went virtual.
Now that the rules are a little clearer and things are heading back to normal(ish), we’ve got plenty of events on the horizon, and one we’re particularly excited for is SiGMA where we’ll exhibit our latest games and products. Although we’ve had a blast coming up with new ways to show off our content in these weird times, we’re excited to get to see everyone face-to-face at SiGMA.
1xBet: Holland, Malta, England, Meet the team at leading shows!
For the last year and a half, representatives of the gambling industry have been holding meetings and exhibitions online. And although this format was far from optimal, it contributed to the globalisation of events because it was possible to connect to each other from anywhere in the world.
But nothing can replace live communication – and the 1xBet team is pleased to announce its presence at the world’s leading exhibitions dedicated to the gambling industry. We are open for meetings with old acquaintances, to exchange experiences and ideas, and to make new contacts.
Here is a list of events where you can meet the 1xBet team: iGB Live & iGB Affiliate Amsterdam; SiGMA Europe; ICE London.
Digitain: Setting deals in motion
We’re delighted to tell you that the next show we’ll be attending is the SBC Summit in Barcelona.
We recently sent a small team to the GAT expo in Colombia and they were struck by how happy the attendees were to be participating in a face-to-face show and we fully expect that to be one of the takeaways from Barcelona.
As well as being a welcome sociable experience, SBC Summit Barcelona will also deliver real business benefits, according to Digitain’s Chief Business Officer Simon Westbury. He describes exhibitions, such as the SBC Summit as “intrinsic” to the sales process and suggests that all parts of the iGaming platform and content provider’s commercial team will welcome their return.
JCM: Next stop Vegas
Dave Kubajak, JCM’s senior vice president of sales, marketing and operations, says the company has been grateful to once again gather with customers in person this summer, first NIGA then OIGA, and now G2E Las Vegas is our next stop.
“We are excited because at G2E we will wow the world once again with new technologies designed to enhance the guest experience, boost security, and increase efficiencies across the casino floor and in the count room.”
Continent 8: Live in 22 states and ready for G2E Vegas
We’re excited to be exhibiting once again at G2E Vegas, October 5-7 2021, at Booth #2413.
Our experienced team attending the show includes our Managing Director for the region Nick Nally and Sales Directors Jorge Morales, Graeme Price and Chad Ives alongside a number of colleagues who are eager to meet with customers, partners and prospects face-to-face.
It’s been an exceptionally busy period for Continent 8 in the region; we are now live in 22 states with more sites set to launch this year, with a first-to-market strategy to enable customers to capitalise on the fast-growing market.
Pinnacle Solution: ready for the new normal
It may have been quiet for Pinnacle Solution and the wider industry on the events front over the last year, but behind the scenes our teams have been busier than ever adapting and improving our product offering so we can continue servicing our clients with the best sportsbook solutions.
Our esports-specific betting view, named the Esports View, will be showcased for the first time at an event at the SBC Summit. A game-changer for operators, this layout has been designed for esports bettors by our team of esports experts.
Following SBC Summit Barcelona, Pinnacle Solution will be back in attendance at the biggest events in 2022, kicking off with ICE London, and many more events to be confirmed soon.
AGS: Showcasing new products at G2E
The next event that AGS is attending is the Global Gaming Expo (G2E) October 4-7 in Las Vegas. We look forward to showcasing our many new slot, table, and interactive products, and we are eagerly anticipating reconnecting with customers and partners.
At this year’s Global Gaming Expo, in Booth No. 1253, AGS will showcase an array of slot, table, and interactive products designed to drive revenue, player engagement, and operating efficiencies.
Stay tuned for the full version of the Supplier Special Report featured on the September edition of AGBriefings magazine.
