With MPC now a ‘dead duck’, it’s time for the industry to work on its image, writes David Snook.
The Australian industry now needs to repair its public image - that was the consensus of opinion in the aisles of the Australasian Gaming Expo as it opened its doors to the industry in Sydney on August 20.
It was generally accepted that the proposed introduction of a mandatory pre-commitment (MPC) by players to curb their spending on machines was a ‘dead duck’. That was brought about by the technological impracticality of the proposed trials in the Australian Capital Territory around Canberra.
Before that can be organised, there would be a general election and, barring another hung Parliament with the anti-gaming minorities holding unwarranted power, the issue would become voluntary instead of mandatory. “In the past couple of years we have had no fewer than 35 front pages of bad publicity on this issue,” noted Nigel Turner, head of marketing at IGT Australia. “We now need to address that situation and work to build a better image for the industry.” It was a view shared by many in the hall as the three-day show opened at the Sydney Convention and Exhibition Centre in Darling Harbour. The show held about 180 exhibitors, which organiser Ross Ferrar, CEO of the Gaming Technologies Association, said was actually better than last year. “The show is about the same size, but last year we had a few gaps on the floor; this year there’s none.”
This feature can be read in full in the September 2012 issue of InterGaming magazine.
