The award, which is sponsored by Coin-Op News Europe, will be presented each year to a person, company, association, publication or exhibition, involved in the international amusement industry, in memory of the late Mary Openshaw, who worked for many years as a journalist in the industry.
Ireland's amusement and gaming industry has been particularly busy in recent months, ahead of AmEx 2004. The demand for a wide variety of product has fuelled interest in the Irish market and representatives of many British based distributors have had to visit Ireland more frequently in order to take care of customer requirements.
On show will be a selection of amusement, gaming, novelty and redemption equipment, all of which continue to play an important role in the fast growing Irish coin-op market. Jukeboxes, pool tables, touchscreen games, pushers, cranes, kiddie rides, pinball, vending machines, currency handling equipment, spares and accessories, will all be presented by exhibitors.
The new Northern Ireland gaming legislation gives AmEx 2004 an added boost and a definite Northern Ireland aspect. The legislation will allow the use of £25 all cash jackpot machines in arcades and deal with a number of other related issues. The ongoing deregulation of the UK gaming industry will also have an effect on the trade in Northern Ireland.
Southern operators have learned to live with the 1956 Gaming & Lotteries Act but say that the introduction of modern legislation would boost the industry further, protect existing jobs, create additional employment and encourage investment. In spite of many broken promises from successive Governments in relation to updating the 1956 Act, the industry has survived, bringing much needed amusement, leisure and entertainment facilities to Irish people and visitors alike.
Visitors from all over Ireland and further afield will be presented with a selection of equipment to suit their requirements. In addition to the exhibition there will be a full programme of seminars, meetings, business presentations and social gatherings, continuing the show's reputation for bringing together Irish and international manufacturers, distributors and operators in a businesslike atmosphere.
Seminars on Tuesday 2 March will include;
- Kiddie Ride Technical & Engineering Seminar SB Machines 12.30 - 13.30
- Digital Audio & Digital Video Jukebox Technical Seminar Sound Leisure / Automatic Amusements 14.00 - 15.30
- Golden Tee 2005 - Sharing The Success Electrocoin / Incredible Technologies
On Wednesday 3 March there will be an NSM Chameleon Product Presentation NSM / Q Leisure 11.00 - 12.30.
Exhibitors at AmEx 2004 will include Almotech, Amusement Machine Services, Amusement Sales & Service, Atari Expo, Brent Sales, Britannia Leisure Services, Cash Automation, Conway Bros, Cromptons Leisure International, Crown Direct, Electrocoin Sales, Excel Leisure, Franco Gaming / RSL, FX Simulation, Genesis, Happ Controls Europe, Harry Levy Amusements, ITM, J.H.S. Associates, Jaybee Blake, JCD, Kimble, Maggi & Maggi UK, Master Billiard Supplies, MDM, Mitchells Childrens Rides, Money Point, Oasis Retail Services, Olympic Sales Bundoran, Pat Gilson, Premier Machine Trading, Pool Ireland, Q Leisure, Rowe International Corporation, Sammy Europe, SB Machines Leisure, Scan Coin, Sound Leisure, Spiros Poker, Star Leisure, Superleague (Ireland), Suzo International (UK), TCS Funtime, The Deith Group, The Novelty Capsule Company, Thomas Automatics and Tobyco.
Trade media supporting the show include Coin-Op News, CoinSlot International, EuroSlot, G3, Gametime International, Highwaygames.com, InterGame, Slot Tech, TRH Zabavy, Vending Times and Your Guide. AmEx is organised by MD Associates and sponsored by IAEA - The Irish Amusement Equipment Association (Member Of Euromat). Opening hours are from noon to 7pm Tuesday 2 March and 6pm Wednesday 3 March.
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