BACTA Show Rumours Rife

Speculation at the London ATEI last week surrounded the future of the show. When BACTA, the trade association, sold the ATEI and ICE shows to Clarion Events at the end of 2004, it was shut out from running a show for four years. The 'non-compete' clause ran out with the 2008 event.

BACTA officials were keeping quiet on rumours that it was investigating the possibilities of running its own show again in 2009. The gossip even suggested that BACTA was in secret negotiations to buy the show back from Clarion.

The rumours were fuelled by the continuing disenchantment of many ATEI exhibitors with the layout, the gradual encroachment of the casino show and high prices for stands.

David Snook

ATEI 2008 Draws Mixed Response

ATEI is now into its second year of the upstairs/downstairs divide and the past week has shown clear evidence that organiser Clarion Gaming still hasn't got the set up quite right.

Grumbles about low visitor numbers, clients not being able to find stands and a feeling that the show was becoming more focused on casino equipment with amusement as an afterthought, could be heard from every corner of the exhibition hall.

Whether this is the case or not is up to Clarion to comment, but what is clear is that things need to change if ATEI is to remain ‘one of the best’ international coin-op exhibitions in the show calendar.

A full report will appear in InterGame International March issue.