The new French amusement industry trade association, AFOR, is to direct a campaign to have ticket redemption machines permitted in the country.
France remains one of the very few countries in the world that does not permit redemption. AFOR has applied to join the European federation of amusement trade associations, Euromat, in a bid to harness its support for relaxing the very restrictive laws in France.
Benjamin Duplan (pictured), who runs the family operating and distribution business Saff Amusement, established in 1948 in the south of France, near Lyon, told InterGame: “We have a repressive regime in France as far as redemption is concerned. Virtually everything was banned when in 1983 AWP machines were adjudged illegal and since then the authorities simply haven’t recognised what was left of the industry after that.”
Now with a new trade association, headed by operator Marc Doumayrou as president and with a committee made up of active operators, it is hoped by Duplan and his colleagues that some recognition will be given to the industry.
“We are permitted only to give a maximum of five credits in any automatic machine,” he said. “All we are seeking is the right to operate ticket redemption to encourage family entertainment. It will help the few operators that are left - about 150 in all of France - to employ people, help local businesses to employ people and help our tourist venues to entertain.”
The business in France, he said, currently consisted of amusement devices in bars and cafes - there are very few arcades - with kiddie rides at supermarkets and some games at bowling centres, camp sites and cinemas.
