ICE concluded in London a successful 2008 edition

The International Casino Exhibition became this week the center of attraction of the global gaming industry. In the three-day event, exhibitors talked about a very good business level but with few public from Latin America.

Among the highlights, it is important to remark the important business volume and the quality of roulettes and electronic table games showcased in the different stands. Manufacturers assured that Europe is a good place for these developments, as well as Asia and Latin America, and in this ICE edition they managed to share the attention with slot machines.

Besides, the great slots brands are betting to server-based games and, from London, Aristocrat joined this career with new developments, at the same level as brands such as IGT, Bally, Atronic or WMS.

The shortage of Latin American public was remarkable among exhibitors dedicated to this region, who agreed that this year there was a decrease of Latin operators, and the big public came especially from Europa, and, in a lesser extent, from Asia.

The growth of ICE as an exhibition, in particular ICEi (the exclusive i-gaming area of the event), managed to divert attention to ATEI, which this year was limited to the first floor of Earl Court exhibition center. Besides, the importance that organizers brought to the Internet betting industry had its impact among exhibitors, which backed the event, considered one of the most important of the sector.

The first figures handed in by organizers, based just in the first two days of the event, point that, globally, both shows grew from 22,237 visitors in 2007 to 22,838 in 2008, which represents an increase of 2.7%.

Visitors to ICE increased a 8.9%, with an additional of 765 professionals registered, compared to last year, which sets a record for the event, reaching 9,370 visitors in the first two days.

The space dedicated to I-gaming also had a record to remark, because, compared to 2007, it registered 2,555 executives, almost 25% more than in 2007.

Peter Rusbridge, president of Clarion Gaming (organizer of the event), pointed: “We always say that our exhibitions reflect the industries they belong to. Numbers of the first two days bring a big sample of the business volume managed in this important industry. ICE continues its organization supported in its status as one of the strongest casino events worldwide, and we are very pleased with ICEi development, both for the quality of the exhibitors and the visitors present this year”.