Chinn challenges government
WHILE the Rimini show was in full swing last week, those with an interest in the UK market were trying to digest details of the UK’s Budget announcement.
InterGame caught up with Neil Chinn of Astra, who felt that Gordon Brown’s latest announcement left some crucial unanswered questions.
“Section 16 and 21 operators need to know where they stand,” he said. “And when will there be a triennial review? The bookies are the real losers of the Budget. Now we, as an industry, need to take some chances and push the boundaries. The government is making the market stagnant as nothing will happen until the new Act is finally brought in.”
GamCare takes initiative
MIDDLESBROUGH Council is the first local authority to sign a contract with GamCare to provide a helpline and face-to-face counselling services for problem gamblers.
Southend and Leicester are among others also signing up.
GamCare’s initiative is supported by the Gambling Commission, and Richard Caborn, Sports Minister, said: “It is vital that help and advice on responsible gambling is readily available for anybody who needs it, wherever they live. By developing its work with local authorities throughout the country GamCare is providing a valuable local service for local people.
GamCare Chairman Anthony Jennens said: “We are delighted to be involved with Middlesbrough and other councils in this excellent initiative. We very much hope that all councils will have the same attitude and follow those which have already signed up, as soon as possible.”
Merlin aims for magic darts
US-based Merlin is in the process of holding talks with conventional darts organisations around the world about how they can generate new revenue streams by taking on Merlin's boards.
In Australia, for example, Merlin is already working with the DFF (Darts for Fun) federation, which is the first of its kind to embrace steel-tipped electronic darts. Although Pope admits the UK is an ‘intimidating’ market with no tradition of electronic darts (as opposed to, say, France and Spain which have around 10,000 soft-tipped darts players each), Merlin has managed to enlist the services of England captain and 2006 World Darts Championship semi-finalist Martin ‘Wolfie’ Adams to promote the Wild Bull board.
LCI completes Ambassadeurs sale
THE sale of London Clubs International’s Les Ambassadeurs Club plc was approved the company’s EGM yesterday.
Completion of the £115m disposal is expected to take place today.
Source: eCoinOp UK
Friday, March 31, 2006
Wednesday, March 08, 2006
Smoking, Venues under threat + More
Max Box can plug smoking gap - Felix
FELIX Group is hoping that its Max Box can help plug the revenue gap for pub operators when the smoking ban comes into force next summer.
Since the recent announcement, Felix has seen a sharp rise in enquires from the licensed trade - not only with regard to how to replace lost revenues directly from cigarette machines but also with regard to creating other new income streams from selling mobile top-up, digital photo-printing and surcharging cashpoints.
Felix’s new Max Box, a unique multifunction kiosk that delivers all these and additional digital services in one unit, was launched at the ATEI trade show in January and also demonstrated at the recent On Trade Summit.
Keith Thorne, machines manager of brewery SA Brain & Co, which has over 200 pubs in Wales and West England, said: “If the smoking ban is imposed we see the Max Box as a useful alternative revenue stream to cover the potential loss of revenue across all other types of machines, and the general downturn in trade that many venues expect to experience.”
The Max Box is installed and managed by Felix at no cost to the venue and gives the venue a share of the revenue generated by its range of functions and content. It can also serve as a digital jukebox and includes a version of Felix’s Everyone’s A Winner game.
Commenting on the smoking ban and its impact on licensees, Andy Egan, founder and chief executive of Felix, said: “Reaction to the proposed ban on smoking clearly indicates that the industry as a whole will need to be more inventive with regard to generating revenues. The ban will potentially see the entire culture of the licensed trade having to change and we believe products like Max Box will seamlessly take over the space currently occupied by the cigarette and quiz machine - delivering a new range of digital products to customers and, in turn, delivering new revenue streams to landlords.”
Wetherspoons stubs out smoking ban trial
PUB chain JD Wetherspoon has ended its experiment to extend its smoking ban beyond 49 of its pubs after plunging alcohol and slot machine sales and a poor reaction from regular customers.
Profits from 37 pubs converted to non-smoking dropped by 20 per cent for the three months to January 22. Revenues dropped 7.6 per cent with alcohol sales down by 17 per cent and fruit machine earnings down by about a quarter.
John Hutson, chief executive, said that no more smoking bans would be introduced until the industry is compelled to do so by legislation.
"We have decided to await the complete ban imposed by the government in 2007," he said.
"On the big question of does a non-smoking Wetherspoon pub work, the answer is yes."
Jim Clarke, the finance director, said: "There is no doubt we have lost smokers to pubs next door. That can't happen, of course, under a universal ban."
Rank helps Scottish bingo smokers
RANK Group is taking action to proactively support the members of its 14 bingo clubs in Scotland in the run-up to the government’s smoking ban. The legislation comes into play at 6am on Sunday March 26.
Rank has teamed up with NHS Health Scotland to take advice on the most effective way to support smokers who may be thinking about kicking the habit.
Pat Mitchinson, marketing director, said: “Research shows that a large proportion of bingo players are smokers. Because of this, we decided to take a proactive stance and really support them through the change to make the transition as smooth as possible. The Scottish ban will affect 14 of our clubs, as well as the latest addition to the estate, Fountain Park (Edinburgh) when it opens at the end of March.
By the time the English legislation comes into play next summer, the bingo industry will be in a strong, well-informed position to gauge the business impact of the new legislation.”
Rank has teamed up with NHS Health Scotland which has provided leaflets and written materials which are now available in all of the clubs in Scotland, and customers and staff are free to pick-up if they so wish. They are also providing specialist smoking cessation advisors in every club for one hour per week to offer more in-depth advice to anyone looking to give up.
Compensation Bill crucial - Cam
THE House of Commons in London was the venue for the annual parliamentary luncheon held by the British Association of Leisure Parks, Piers and Attractions on February 27.
BALPPA chairman David Cam told delegates that the Compensation Bill was ‘extremely important’ to BALPPA and was something the association had been campaigning for for many years as a way to alleviate an ever-increasing number of spurious insurance claims and to help with spiralling insurance premiums.
But, he said, BALPPA did not feel the Bill went far enough and was suggesting an amendment to incorporate the concept of personal responsibility and appropriate behaviour to reduce needless accidents.
A level playing field with overseas competition with regards to VAT levels was another area Cam highlighted. UK attractions are currently being seriously disadvantaged compared to facilities elsewhere in Europe, he claimed, due to a lack of funding from the Heritage Lottery Fund and other award making bodies in relation to the private sector.
Leisure venues under threat
ENTERTAINMENT venues across the country are feeling the effects of new licensing laws which are threatening the future of a number of leisure venues across the country, according to a leading barrister.
In a government drive to promote public order and safety, and control crime and nuisance, all types of public entertainment including dance and live music can now only be permitted under a new, multi-purpose licence.
However, Sarah Clover of Birmingham’s No5 Chambers believes that the ‘inflexible and inappropriate’ nature of this legislation may inflict crippling costs and restrictions on many of the UK’s best loved entertainers.
“The Licensing Act 2003, which came into force last November, is best known for its introduction of 24-hour licensing; however its implications are far more wide reaching,” said Clover.
“The new Act in fact combines six old licensing regimes into one ‘pick and mix’ application form for establishments to indicate which particular licensable activities they would like to apply for; whether it be sports; plays; alcohol; late night refreshment, and so forth.
“The public perception of these new all-inclusive licences often breeds fear and uncertainty amongst the local community that their local entertainment venue is expanding into a late night live music and drinking destination, and this can often result in objections.”
Source: eCoinOp UK
FELIX Group is hoping that its Max Box can help plug the revenue gap for pub operators when the smoking ban comes into force next summer.
Since the recent announcement, Felix has seen a sharp rise in enquires from the licensed trade - not only with regard to how to replace lost revenues directly from cigarette machines but also with regard to creating other new income streams from selling mobile top-up, digital photo-printing and surcharging cashpoints.
Felix’s new Max Box, a unique multifunction kiosk that delivers all these and additional digital services in one unit, was launched at the ATEI trade show in January and also demonstrated at the recent On Trade Summit.
Keith Thorne, machines manager of brewery SA Brain & Co, which has over 200 pubs in Wales and West England, said: “If the smoking ban is imposed we see the Max Box as a useful alternative revenue stream to cover the potential loss of revenue across all other types of machines, and the general downturn in trade that many venues expect to experience.”
The Max Box is installed and managed by Felix at no cost to the venue and gives the venue a share of the revenue generated by its range of functions and content. It can also serve as a digital jukebox and includes a version of Felix’s Everyone’s A Winner game.
Commenting on the smoking ban and its impact on licensees, Andy Egan, founder and chief executive of Felix, said: “Reaction to the proposed ban on smoking clearly indicates that the industry as a whole will need to be more inventive with regard to generating revenues. The ban will potentially see the entire culture of the licensed trade having to change and we believe products like Max Box will seamlessly take over the space currently occupied by the cigarette and quiz machine - delivering a new range of digital products to customers and, in turn, delivering new revenue streams to landlords.”
Wetherspoons stubs out smoking ban trial
PUB chain JD Wetherspoon has ended its experiment to extend its smoking ban beyond 49 of its pubs after plunging alcohol and slot machine sales and a poor reaction from regular customers.
Profits from 37 pubs converted to non-smoking dropped by 20 per cent for the three months to January 22. Revenues dropped 7.6 per cent with alcohol sales down by 17 per cent and fruit machine earnings down by about a quarter.
John Hutson, chief executive, said that no more smoking bans would be introduced until the industry is compelled to do so by legislation.
"We have decided to await the complete ban imposed by the government in 2007," he said.
"On the big question of does a non-smoking Wetherspoon pub work, the answer is yes."
Jim Clarke, the finance director, said: "There is no doubt we have lost smokers to pubs next door. That can't happen, of course, under a universal ban."
Rank helps Scottish bingo smokers
RANK Group is taking action to proactively support the members of its 14 bingo clubs in Scotland in the run-up to the government’s smoking ban. The legislation comes into play at 6am on Sunday March 26.
Rank has teamed up with NHS Health Scotland to take advice on the most effective way to support smokers who may be thinking about kicking the habit.
Pat Mitchinson, marketing director, said: “Research shows that a large proportion of bingo players are smokers. Because of this, we decided to take a proactive stance and really support them through the change to make the transition as smooth as possible. The Scottish ban will affect 14 of our clubs, as well as the latest addition to the estate, Fountain Park (Edinburgh) when it opens at the end of March.
By the time the English legislation comes into play next summer, the bingo industry will be in a strong, well-informed position to gauge the business impact of the new legislation.”
Rank has teamed up with NHS Health Scotland which has provided leaflets and written materials which are now available in all of the clubs in Scotland, and customers and staff are free to pick-up if they so wish. They are also providing specialist smoking cessation advisors in every club for one hour per week to offer more in-depth advice to anyone looking to give up.
Compensation Bill crucial - Cam
THE House of Commons in London was the venue for the annual parliamentary luncheon held by the British Association of Leisure Parks, Piers and Attractions on February 27.
BALPPA chairman David Cam told delegates that the Compensation Bill was ‘extremely important’ to BALPPA and was something the association had been campaigning for for many years as a way to alleviate an ever-increasing number of spurious insurance claims and to help with spiralling insurance premiums.
But, he said, BALPPA did not feel the Bill went far enough and was suggesting an amendment to incorporate the concept of personal responsibility and appropriate behaviour to reduce needless accidents.
A level playing field with overseas competition with regards to VAT levels was another area Cam highlighted. UK attractions are currently being seriously disadvantaged compared to facilities elsewhere in Europe, he claimed, due to a lack of funding from the Heritage Lottery Fund and other award making bodies in relation to the private sector.
Leisure venues under threat
ENTERTAINMENT venues across the country are feeling the effects of new licensing laws which are threatening the future of a number of leisure venues across the country, according to a leading barrister.
In a government drive to promote public order and safety, and control crime and nuisance, all types of public entertainment including dance and live music can now only be permitted under a new, multi-purpose licence.
However, Sarah Clover of Birmingham’s No5 Chambers believes that the ‘inflexible and inappropriate’ nature of this legislation may inflict crippling costs and restrictions on many of the UK’s best loved entertainers.
“The Licensing Act 2003, which came into force last November, is best known for its introduction of 24-hour licensing; however its implications are far more wide reaching,” said Clover.
“The new Act in fact combines six old licensing regimes into one ‘pick and mix’ application form for establishments to indicate which particular licensable activities they would like to apply for; whether it be sports; plays; alcohol; late night refreshment, and so forth.
“The public perception of these new all-inclusive licences often breeds fear and uncertainty amongst the local community that their local entertainment venue is expanding into a late night live music and drinking destination, and this can often result in objections.”
Source: eCoinOp UK
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