The ENADA Spring show, held each year in Rimini, Italy, closes today after another three-day run characterised by industry uncertainty and frustration.
The gaming industry continues to be rocked by repeated regulatory interference, this time two potential new pieces of legislation that would impose a huge tax levy on the VLT industry and create further technical requirements for the machines.
The family amusement industry, meanwhile, continues to be frustrated by what it sees as neglect on the part of the authorities to legislate appropriately for a sector that has for many years been unfavourably linked with the gambling business. Outdated regulations have stifled development of video game software, while a tendency to view ticket redemption - particularly video-redemption - through the same lens as video-based gaming machines has prevented this form of entertainment from rejuvenating the sector, as it has elsewhere.
There is an element of defiance among suppliers, however, with some keen to show that this grey area only exists because regulation is not fit for purpose, rather than video redemption causing any harm to consumers. Some of the latest and strongest performing video-redemption titles have been on show at the event this week.
Although the gaming market is in limbo, with investors waiting for the next round of legislation, some have suggested that this week has seen a renewed interest in family amusements as operators that in recent years have focused on AWPs, for example, are once again returning to family-orientated products.
There is a sense that both the gaming and amusement sectors are needlessly being held back and could, if given time to comply with a stable set of regulations, flourish once more.
