The 2018 Australasian Gaming Expo kicked off earlier this week at Sydney’s International Convention Centre. After enjoying a successful first year in 2017, this year’s event was extended by a day – this made way for double the content to be explored.
Ross Ferrar, Chief Executive of the AGE, said: “we’re making it easier than ever to make valuable business connections, with a range of networking opportunities and a dedicated networking lounge to bring together the whole gaming and hospitality community.”
This year the event focused on the future of the gambling market in Australasia and covered topics associated with new technology, gaming, hospitality and customer service. The topics included:
- Gaming machines and pub valuations
- Streamlining F & B
- Optimising social media
- Understanding millennials and generation Z
- Technology disruption and innovation
- Gaming products of tomorrow
Australasian Gaming Expo Discussions Threaten Pokies
While all the topics resulted in riveting discussions, the gaming products of tomorrow definitely sparked the most curiosity. In fact, the discussions unveiled that the casino floors of the future will not resemble the current set up. The casino floors of the future will not feature many standalone pokie terminals – an Aussie favourite.
However, this doesn’t mean that pokies will seize to exist; instead, a new innovative pokie machine concept will take over. According to Damian Quayle, CEO of the Star Sydney, the next generation of pokie terminals will combine traditional pokie elements with innovative technology.
The new generation pokies will also aim to attract the millennials. Attracting and entertaining millennials has proved difficult despite introductions of skills-based gambling machines. The reason for their lack of interest is their need for more interaction and immersion. The AGE discussions confirmed that the new generation pokie terminals will be immersive and far more interactive than they are now. However, the discussions failed to highlight how new technology will be used.
In addition, the discussions revealed that it was about time that pokie gaming providers relook at their products. However, stats convey that the software providers were in no rush to deviate from the current recipe. Eilers & Krejcik Gaming reported that pokie creators from 569 casinos worldwide sold up to 22 500 pokies!