This year was the 13th edition of the International Casino Exhibition - ICE 2006, and was also the sixth time that an i-gaming zone – now known as ICEi – had been incorporated into the London event. January’s show was the first to take place under new ownership, following the acquisition of ATE by Clarion Events in Summer 2005. In all, 186 exhibitors from 33 countries occupied the grounds of Earls Court 2, comprising 142 (29 nations) in ICE and 44 (12 nations) in ICEi, with 10,064 square metres net (108,292sq.ft.) overall of floor space, including 898sq m. (9,663sq.ft.) dedicated to ICEi.

The international exhibitors numbered 127, up from 98 in ICE and 29 in ICEi last year, taking up 68% of the show floor space and outnumbering domestic exhibitors by a ratio of more than 2:1. Exhibitors stretch from Argentina to Australia, Canada to the Czech Republic, South Korea to South Africa and the United States to the Ukraine. Outside of the host nation, the United Sates had the most exhibitors with 19 (19 in 2005), followed by the Netherlands on 10 (11 in ’05), Russia 9 (7), Spain 9 (8), Canada 8 (5), Slovenia 8 (8), Sweden 8 (6), Austria 6 (4), Australia 5 (6), France 5 (4) and Italy 5 (3).

Novomatic – Austrian Gaming Industries once again had the largest ICE stand, taking up a colossal 1,104sqm. (11,879sq.ft.), followed by IGT-Europe with 504sqm (5,423sq.ft.), Atronic International with 396sqm (4,261sq.ft.) and TCSJohnHuxley with 330sqm. (3,551sq.ft.). Five more companies – R. Franco, Interblock, Gaming Partners International, Unidesa Gaming & Systems and Aristocrat Technologies Europe – had stands of 200sqm. (2,152sq.ft.) or more and a further 15 had a presence in excess of 100sqm. (1,076sq.ft.). The biggest exhibitor in ICEi was Boss Media, with 80sq m. (861sq.ft.) of floor space.

This year's London expo had more bars, restaurants and seating areas available on Level 2 of Earls Court 1, accessed via ATEI - the amusements expo sister show - as well as a business technology centre with free Internet access available to all show attendees. There were 26 b2b publications with stands at ICE/ICEi 2006. The organizers have named the dates for next year's event as Tuesday 23rd to Thursday 25th January 2007. For the following years, the event have dates as follows: 22-24 January 2008, 27-29 January 2009, and 26-28 January 2010.

There were 18 countries, represented by 32 companies, making their first appearance at ICE/ICEi, and representing 17.2% of the total floor space. Of these, 78.6% came from 22 countries outside the UK, as compared to 18 in 2005. Amongst the newcomers were: Belatra from Belarus, Cadillac Jack from USA, Eurogames Technology from Bulgaria, Fair Play Gaming UK, Villart Industrial Group Ltd., Russia, and Zest Gaming from Italy.

As well as extended visitor facilities, ICE 2007 organizers were extremely busy signing up next year’s exhibitors with an increased floor plan to take care of the great demand for floor space in the growing gaming sector. Karen Cooke, ATE Head of Exhibitions was assuring gaming companies that could only get into ATEI this year, that with about 20% additional floor space for ICE 2007 they will certainly be located at the world's largest casino expo. (E-01.31.06)

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