Jon Bruford reports on this month's gaming show at the Crocus Expo Center:

Did Moscow's World of Games 2006 survive the insecurity plaguing the Russian casino industry, or is the once blossoming market heading for a single major trade show – or even none at all?

By the standards of previous international trade shows, World of Games 2006 was a disappointment. Not in terms of its organisation, which was again almost universally praised by exhibitors, and certainly not in terms of its venue at the Crocus Expo Center, outside of Moscow. The real disappointment was in 'foot traffic'. It was one of the quietest trade shows I have ever seen in any industry, all the more remarkable considering the hustle and bustle for which the casino and amusement industry is renowned.

The show has become the first high-profile victim of insecurity bred by Russia's government and its inability to make firm and fast decisions – and to act on them – regarding casino industry regulation. In short, Russia's Duma is killing the casino industry. One company at World of Games revealed that its top man was due along on the final day to make the decision over whether the company would even continue to exist, based on interest at a near-ghost town of a show.

Some companies, however, defied the doom and gloom hanging over much of the industry in Moscow, and left the show buoyed with full order books or simply a positive feeling thanks to the extra time they could spend with existing customers; in this way, for many companies, the show was a great success. Exhibitors had breathing space and some with more technical products for example, benefited greatly from this.

Highlights included Jens Halle of AGI proving himself to be the industry's consummate showman, backing up the company's stand on intellectual property piracy with action. Austrian Gaming Industries had the large stand and impressive games that we've all come to expect of them but at World of Games, AGI had something special up their sleeves. They have taken the piracy problem in Russia very seriously and this was a statement of intent from the company.

Managing Director Jens Halle has long talked of the problems in CIS countries with intellectual property theft and lack of protection compared to the west for companies, and he illustrated his point perfectly by completely destroying a selection of counterfeit machines with a mechanical digger. It was a great show for the press, and sent a serious message to the thieves of AGI's hard work: They're mad as hell, and they're not going to take it any more!
© Jon Bruford

(E-06.19.06)

© Copyright 2006 CasinoCompendium



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