It’s been an uneven recovery in the gaming world. Asia remains mostly closed for all but essential travel, while Europe and North America are back in full swing.
Pent-up demand has been strong, pushing U.S. gaming revenues to record levels, with no real sign of a slowdown, while activity in Europe has also picked up as countries reopened for business.
The U.S. sports betting potential continues to capture the imagination of both the land-based and online spheres, driving mergers & acquisitions, as well as partnerships with sporting leagues.
In our final Supplier Special Section of the year, we hear about some of the key highlights from 2021 and what the New Year is likely to have in store for the industry.
The online sector has boomed and is expected to continue to do so, with ongoing restrictions on movement in many countries fuelling the trend towards all things digital. Companies have spent the year improving their offerings and introducing more and better content.
In the land-based world, new product offerings have focused on optimizing gaming machines to comply with the “new normal.” Standalone electronic table games in particular have seen strong growth, allowing the thrill of the table in a less crowded environment.
Suppliers also tell us about their enthusiasm for the return of live events and being able to mix with colleagues and make new contacts.
Barcelona, Las Vegas, Amsterdam and Malta were just a few of the venues hosting conferences and exhibitions.
Asia Gaming Brief is planning on adding Manila to that list in March with the return of the ASEAN Gaming Summit and we hope to see as many familiar faces as possible there.
