With less than two weeks separating us from ICE’s last edition in London – the major gambling expo relocates to Barcelona starting this year – Yogonet caught up with Merkur Gaming to learn more about the international gaming brand’s plans for the event, taking place at the ExCel exposition centre, February 6 – 8.
In conversation with Yogonet, Athanasios “Sakis” Isaakidis, Chief Executive International of Merkur Gaming, discusses which brand novelties will take center stage this year, in addition to the recent Gauselmann Group rebrand to Merkur. Moreover, the Chief Executive talks about the latest industry trends, along with what the last year meant for the gambling sector.
What will be the highlights of Merkur’s showcase at ICE London this year?
Certainly, alongside our popular and proven products, a range of impressive innovations will take center stage on our exhibition floor. In addition to a unique new cabinet and a new variation of our successful ZONIC cabinet, we are proud to unveil several new Linked Progressives that are just waiting to be admired and tested at ICE. We invite you to experience these innovations at firsthand and visit us at stand N4.
What are your expectations for the expo, the last one to be held in London before its relocation to Barcelona starting next year?
We are certain that ICE 2024, just like in all the preceding years, will be a true highlight for the entire industry. The exhibition is the perfect place to engage with customers, colleagues, and industry representatives, collectively paving the way for a successful future for the international gaming industry.
And the fact that this is the last ICE in London for the time being makes this expo experience even more special this year. That’s why we’ve put a lot of our energy over the past few months into making this ICE a truly exceptional experience – namely with an impressive product portfolio worthy of the ICE grand finale.
Do you anticipate the recent Gauselmann Group rebrand to Merkur playing a key role at the showcase? Why is this corporate update important for the brand?
Because now the entire corporate group benefits from the radiance of the Merkur brand. The brand has firmly established itself internationally and has become an integral part of the gaming industry worldwide.
The fact that the entire Group now carries the popular brand name reflects the internationalization and success of Merkur. With this new chapter in the company’s history, the Merkur Group is laying crucial groundwork for an even more successful future.
Merkur at ICE London 2023
How would you describe the industry’s and your client’s current demands at the time?
The demands are clearly aligned with the desires and needs of the players. We consistently observe a fundamental change is taking place in this area, in which we must fulfill the needs of an entirely new and more individualistic generation with our gaming solutions.
That’s not always easy, but through targeted market observations and a development process that keeps changing needs in focus, we continually manage to bring products to the market that ensure unstoppable gaming enjoyment – for all generations of players.
The event comes as we enter a new year for gambling. What is your assessment of how the sector developed in 2023, and what are your expectations for 2024?
The year 2023 was marked by unpleasant political decisions and overregulation of the gambling industry on all levels. We consistently find ourselves confronted with restrictive regulations that diminish the joy and excitement of the gaming experiences.
People want to be entertained, and if we fail to entertain gaming enthusiasts due to these limitations, they will turn to illegal gambling. Nobody can want that. The demand for fair and appropriate treatment of the gambling industry is significant, and it will continue to play a major part in 2024.
What other industry events does the company plan to attend this year?
As every year, ICE marks the kick-off for a promising exhibition year for Merkur Gaming. In the subsequent months, events such as the Irish Gaming Show and Belgrade Future Gaming are on the agenda before we pack our exhibition gear for the Peru Gaming Show in June.
Following a stop in Bucharest for the Entertainment Arena Expo in September, the next major highlight is the G2E in Las Vegas in October – just to name a few of our exhibition plans.