Politics dominated the IMA, Germany's major coin machine trade show which opened its doors on Tuesday for a four-day run-through to this evening.

With the German industry under pressure from a five-year moratorium signed by 15 of the country's 16 states which will decimate the trade, industry leaders and politicians were at the show in numbers. Word from the show floor suggested that operators would now restrain spending, unsure of the outcome of the political and legal battle which will follow.

The show was well attended by visitors; we noted tradespeople from the US, UK, Netherlands, Belgium, Turkey, Austria, Switzerland, Sweden, Norway and other surrounding countries.

Payout machines of the AWP type dominated the show, all of them of the multi-game video-based variety, plus a strong showing of i-gaming companies planning to come back into Germany after other legislation - this time more favourable.

A full report of the IMA show will appear in our March issue, but extra reporting will be in next week's Show Dailies which will be produced in conjunction with the London ICE Totally Gaming. Photos from the show are now available online.