The Amusement Network

29/09/2025

In this week's Norman archive: it's 2006 and Paul Williams, then MD of Sega Amusements Europe, was in full sales mode at .

Paul is stepping down at SEGA after 30 years (https://www.amusementnetwork.co.uk/n/n559/paul-williams-steps-down-as-ceo-executive-chairman-at-sega-amusements-international-ltd).

Good luck Paul – we will miss you at the shows!

📸 https://www.amusementnetwork.co.uk/gallery/103/atei-2006

29/09/2025

📰 This month’s column from Joyce is packed with stories from across our industry:

🎗️ Carnaby Gaming’s Kevin Griffiths braved 26 miles of Yorkshire rain to raise funds for the Alzheimer’s Society – and he’s already eyeing up his next challenge.

🙏 A personal tribute to the late Bernard Hart, whose career spanned jukeboxes, game design, and decades of innovation – leaving behind a legacy of hard work and character.

🍻 Sterling Amusements’ John Marriott and Game Coin’s Pas Petruccio took in Oktoberfest with Blueprint – and let’s just say Munich won’t forget them anytime soon.

Read Joyce's September column:

Carnaby Gaming’s Kevin Griffiths recently completed a charity walk in aid of the Alzheimers Society raising the total of £431.00. The 26mile walk started at Malham in the Yorkshire Dales and finished there too, and true to form the British weather playe

29/09/2025

Ahead of The Autumn Coin-Op Show and , we spoke with Paisley Jones, Marketing & Media Manager at NOVOMATIC Gaming UK about what’s next for the sector.

What’s coming: the new NOVO Cash X10 kiosk, fresh & content, Bigger Bass Bonanza, and the Novo Unity™ range with NovoLive™ Studio.

Why ACOS matters: “It’s a cornerstone of the UK calendar… Sponsoring the 10th anniversary party is our way of giving back to an industry built on and collaboration.”

On responsibility: embedding safer gambling tools, compliance features, and into every product.

On regulation: “The challenge is balancing rules with the ability to innovate. Reform should enable growth, not stifle it.”

Read the full Q&A 👇

Interview with Paisley Jones – Novomatic Gaming UK

29/09/2025

🎯 Easy Target? The industry is once again in the political spotlight.

Labour’s deputy leader hopeful Lucy Powell told The Guardian she backs higher gambling to fund the abolition of the two-child benefit cap — echoing former PM Gordon Brown’s support for similar think-tank proposals.

Meanwhile, at the conference, members voted for a dramatic increase in — from 21% to 42% — alongside tighter controls on advertising, marketing and sponsorship.

It’s clear the sector is being treated as a “cash cow” for Treasury revenues. But as calls for higher taxes gather traction, the danger is that the debate drifts further from evidence-based policy, fairness, and the realities of an industry already among the most tightly regulated.

That’s why events like the upcoming in Liverpool are so important. We must ensure policymakers hear the other side of the story — about the jobs, communities and local economies our sector supports.

www.amusementnetwork.co.uk

20/09/2025

This week's archive from Norman: Park Avenue Open Day 2001 where the sun shone at one of the industry's most popular events...
📸 https://www.amusementnetwork.co.uk/gallery/84/park-avenue-open-day-2001-part-2

20/09/2025

The brand-new App is now live on the App and Google Play Stores.

✅ For exhibitors: schedule meetings, showcase your brand, and generate buzz months before the doors open.
✅ For visitors: interactive floor plans, personalised agendas, real-time updates, plus exhibitor & product directories to make the most of every minute at ExCeL London.

Phil Gibbs, Exhibition Support & Marketing at EAG, said: “The app provides stakeholders with the tools they need to be fully prepared months in advance and able to embrace every opportunity to maximise Return On Opportunity.” 👉

The marketing team driving EAG Expo 2026 has confirmed that the event app is ready for download. Launched four months ahead of the show opening at ExCeL London, the app has been produced following requests from exhibitors eager to fully harness the busine

20/09/2025

Genting UK has unveiled ambitious plans to revive the historic Trocadero with a casino, restaurants, bars and entertainment complex set to open in October 2026.

Spanning 37,000 sq ft, the development will preserve the Grade II-listed facade while delivering...
A 16,000 sq ft multi-level casino floor 🎰
Dining and bar options from street-level to basement 🍸
Sustainable retrofit and public realm upgrades along Coventry Street 🌱

Beyond entertainment, the project is designed with responsibility and community in mind: 24/7 CCTV, a casino management plan and inclusive design for a 25+ audience.

The economic impact could be significant: up to 350 new jobs in hospitality and leisure, plus a much-needed boost to West End footfall and regeneration. 👉

Historic West End venue Trocadero is set for an exciting new chapter. Genting UK has revealed plans to convert approximately 37,000 sq ft of currently vacant space in the Grade II-listed building on Coventry Street into a casino, restaurants, bars and ente

20/09/2025

Last week marked the official launch of Carnival Golf and Games, part of the Funstation UK Group.

The ribbon was cut by the Mayor of High Wycombe, Majid Hussain, who hailed it as “a fantastic addition to our local area.”

Guests enjoyed crazy golf, games and electric darts, alongside live circus acts, stilt walkers and a Greatest Showman tribute – all creating a true carnival atmosphere!

A highlight of the evening was the venue’s support for Rays of Sunshine Children's Charity, with a £2,500 donation presented to help bring joy to seriously ill children across the UK. Seeing wish child Kaiden and his family enjoy the night was unforgettable.
👉

High Wycombe has welcomed a brand-new entertainment venue as Carnival Golf & Games, part of the Funstation Group, officially celebrated its grand opening this month.

15/09/2025

We bring you... the Funworld World of Games distributor meeting held in Austria in 2004.
📸 https://www.amusementnetwork.co.uk/gallery/101/funworld-distributor-meeting-2004-part-one

15/09/2025

🚨 Big reveal incoming at Europe 2025

SEGA Amusements is gearing up for its largest-ever showcase in Barcelona (23–25 Sept), with two stands packed with innovation, new launches, and proven hits.

🟢 Headline debut: Cyberpunk 2077: Turf Wars – a neon-drenched, adrenaline-charged shooter from in partnership with .

🟢 Other highlights: High Five Tickets 🎟️, Ferris Fantasy 🎡, Big Sea Fishing 🎣, Zombie’s Ready Deady Go 🧟, and more.

🟢 Redemption & Prize Games: New modular Mini Cube Prize World, Capto Crane Bonus Wheel, plus a wave of new licensed plush, lifestyle tech & redemption prizes from Prize International.

With support from partners like ICE and a stacked line-up of attractions, SEGA is positioning itself as a must-visit exhibitor for operators looking to future-proof their arcade floors.

SEGA Amusements is preparing for its largest-ever presence at IAAPA Expo Europe, taking place from 23rd to 25th September 2025 at the Fira Gran Via Exhibition Center in Barcelona. With two stands (2-1260 & 2-1555) packed with innovation, the company will s

15/09/2025

🔍 Everyone’s Job: Social Responsibility in Focus

We sat down with Simon "Brad" Bradbury, Head of Social Responsibility & Compliance at Bacta, to reflect on his first six months in the role – and how he’s reshaping support for operators on the frontlines of , compliance, and customer care.

Brad’s message is clear:
👉 Social responsibility isn’t someone else’s job: it’s everyone’s.
Through initiatives like the MSO team, SR Exchange events, and partnerships with organisations including and Beacon Counselling, Bacta is embedding a culture where responsibility is part of everyday operations, not a seasonal campaign.

As Brad put it:
“Success will one day be when we no longer need initiatives like Safer Gambling Week or the SR Exchange, because those principles are fully embedded in the way we do business.”

Until then, there’s more to do, and the whole industry has a role to play.

We are proud to bring you this exclusive interview with Simon 'Brad' Bradbury, bacta's Head of Social Responsibility & Compliance

15/09/2025

🎮 Big news for UK amusements: Japan’s Inc. has acquired Indigo NewCo Limited – the business behind Inspired Entertainment, Inc.’s UK arcade operations – in a deal worth £18.6m.

The acquisition includes 100+ AGCs & FECs plus around 125 mini-sites in high-traffic venues from holiday parks to motorway services.

For , this marks a clean exit from UK arcade operations as the company sharpens focus on and .

For GENDA, famous for its arcades in Japan, it’s a launchpad to scale across the UK and introduce Japanese-style entertainment, from high-performing redemption to “Kawaii”-inspired prize games.

With nearly 1,000 arcades & 14,000 mini-sites worldwide, GENDA’s international push just took a major leap forward.

👉 A cultural crossover moment for the UK high street?

In a deal that will be of particular interest to those in the UK amusements sector, GENDA Inc. of Japan has announced the acquisition of Indigo NewCo Limited, the operating company behind Inspired Entertainment’s UK amusement arcade business.