The Australasian Gaming Expo is the “must attend” event of the year

Every year since 1990, the Australasian Gaming Expo has attracted top gaming and hospitality industry executives to the Sydney Convention and Exhibition Centre at Darling Harbour in New South Wales.

On 13, 14 and 15 August this year, the Gaming Expo is set to show again why it’s easily the largest gaming event and one of the largest trade events in Australia.   More than 160 companies have signed up for 15,000 square metres of exhibition space – which is about the size of an Australian Rules football field. Last year well over 2,000 visitors attended each of the first two days, with more than 1,200 backing up for the third day.  They came from every Australian State and Territory, along with a big contingent from New Zealand and international guests from South Africa, the United Kingdom, the United States, Macau, China, Singapore, Taiwan and elsewhere around the Asia-Pacific region.

And their efforts are well worthwhile.  93% of visitors surveyed last year saw the Expo as an opportunity to see new products and technology, while 98% said they saw what they wanted at the Expo.

Owned and operated by the Gaming Technologies Association, the Australasian Gaming Expo has earned its reputation as the showplace for innovations and new technologies for gaming in casinos, clubs and hotels.   The major attractions are the new games from poker machine suppliers, who look forward to August each year to unveil their world’s best, latest and greatest games and machines.  Association members Ainsworth, Aristocrat, Aruze, Bally, IGT, Konami, SHFL entertainment and WMS Gaming are certainly the stars of the show, each putting on the razzle-dazzle for their customers around the region.

But poker machines are not the only attraction, with 160 exhibitors proudly showcasing Audio Visual equipment, ATM Equipment, Building Services, Cash Handling & Equipment, Cleaning & Waste Services, Consultancy Services, Entertainment Systems, Flooring & Floor Coverings, Food and Beverage, Furniture, I.T., Interior Design & Fitout, Maintenance Services, Management Services, Marketing Services, Membership Management Systems, Paging & Communication Systems, Point of Sale Systems, Promotional Games & Systems, Seating & Staging Systems, Security Systems & Hardware   , Signage & Displays and Staff Uniforms.  So there’s definitely something for everyone.

Interest this year has been intense, and 20 of the 160 exhibitors are first-timers at the Gaming Expo.  They’ll be part of a project where over 750 poker machines and a mountain of signage and equipment is moved in to Darling Harbour, installed, connected, tested, used and compared by the most demanding critics and then moved out again – all in only a few days.  The logistics of the event are awesome, even by exhibition industry standards.  But paramount in all this is the safety of all the people involved – whether stand builders, exhibitors, visitors or venue staff.  In particular, all stand builders hold safety accreditation and all contractors and exhibitors undertake a safety induction conducted by the venue.

With such a huge show floor, getting around can be a challenge.  Apart from suggesting comfortable shoes, the organisers have carefully designed the floor plan to provide visitors with the easiest possible access to all exhibiting companies.  Uninterrupted 4-metre-wide aisles down the centre of the show floor and across each of the 3 exhibition halls mean that sight lines and convenient access are easy to achieve.   When they enter, each visitor receives a printed Show Map which includes a detailed floor plan and list of exhibitors – which are also displayed on signage at each entrance and in the foyer.

The event website www.austgamingexpo.com includes an interactive floor plan which is updated in real time, along with a list of exhibitors which can be sorted by company name, stand number or category – and provides contact details for each exhibitor and their website address for further information.  The event website is also optimised for mobile devices, so all its features are available on smartphones for convenient navigation around the show floor.

Among the new exhibitors, Charlie’s Cookies in stand 2304 is all about seriously delicious gourmet cookies, so they’re also bound to raise more than a few eyebrows – and appetites.   Charlie’s make an award winning muesli slice and popular chocolate salted caramel slice, and as they say they’re “putting joy into life… one bite at a time”.

Next Payments in stand 2103 has its head office in Melbourne and describes itself as “one of the most exciting and innovative businesses in the payments sector”.  Its product range includes ATMs, cash handling equipment and integrated loyalty products.

For many years now, the Innova Group have participated in the Australasian Gaming Expo.  Innova Group is in stand 1320 this year and manufactures and supplies quality, flexible furniture solutions for the multi-purpose function room market.   Their products, including tables, chairs and a multitude of event-related accessories, are flexible to suit a range of applications and are sure to attract attention on the show floor.

Goplay Commercial Playgrounds in stand number 3335 is based in Craigieburn Victoria.  Goplay designs and constructs specialised playground equipment for hotels, food chains, clubs, resorts and indoor play centres.   Goplay provides information and support to ensure that the right playground equipment decisions are made.  As Goplay says, “catering for child’s play is anything but simple.  Play is as diverse and colourful as the imagination.”

There’s definitely something for everyone at the Australasian Gaming Expo.  Exhibitor categories include:

Audio Visual equipment:

• 2308 - Big Screen Video
• 3430 - Technoprom

ATM Equipment:

• 1247 - Banktech
• 1231 - Cashpoint
• 1321 - DC Payments
• 2103 - Next Payments

Building Services:

• 1126B - Bergstrom Architects
• 2410A - Boden Projects
• 2242 - Brand + Slater Architects
• 2125 - Meridian Construction Services
• 3324 - Merlot Constructions (Aust)
• 1142 - Network Refurbishments
• 3114 - PaynterDixon
• 1157 - Rohrig Constructions
• 1152 - Whitcon

Cash Handling & Equipment

• 2402 - Crane Payment Solutions
• 3104 - ecash
• 2334 - Futurelogic Australia
• 1402 - JCM Global
• 2111 - MEI
• 1126 - Methodical Services
• 1225 - Microcoin
• 1249 - Sprintquip
• 1322 - VFJ Currency Equipment

Cleaning & Waste Services

• 3331 - Mil-Tek Waste Solutions
• 1150 - Odour Control Systems

Consultancy Services

• 1218 - BMM Compliance 
• 2331 - GLI Australia 
• 1127 - Evolve Compliance Partners
• 2407 - rawsuga

Entertainment Systems

• 3335 - Goplay Commercial Playgrounds
• 1235 - Nightlife Music

Flooring & Floor Coverings

• 3321 - Brintons Carpets
• 2101 - Ezi-Flor
• 1333 - Feltex Carpets
• 1201 - Signature Woven Concepts

Food and Beverage

• 1143 - Bite Size Coffee Treats
• 2304 - Charlie’s Cookies
• 2221 - Global Coffee Solutions
• 2240 - Good Nuts
• 1125 - Hennessy Coffee
• 3110 - Perfect Fry Company
• 3113 - Premier Hospitality
• 2324 - Riva Ice Cream Dispensing
• 2410 - Robert Oatley Vineyards

Furniture

• 1144A - Allstyle Furniture Group
• 1226 - B Seated Global
• 3320 - Capital Design Works
• 2326 - Gasser Chair Co Inc.
• 1320 - Innova Group
• 1214 - Interloc Lockers + Seating
• 3420 - James Richardson Corporation
• 2405 - Karo Australia
• 1211 - Nufurn Commercial Furniture
• 2207 - PHaT Sourcing
• 2320 - Ricmar Commercial Furniture
• 1128 - TCDC Wise

Information Technology

• 3423 - biz4mobi Mobile Phone Apps
• 3323 - Infosign
• 2321 - JEM Computer Systems
• 1113 - OSS - System One
• 1114 - PC Corporate

Interior Design & Fitout

• 2323 - Australian Interior Landscapes
• 1206 - Plantscaping Solutions
• 2122 - Rhinoplay
• 2403 - Split Watermelon Design

Maintenance Services

• 1150 - Odour Control Systems
• 1302 - Transcity Group

Membership Management Systems

• 1145 - Unicard Systems

Paging & Communication Systems

• 2205 - Blufi/Boomerang/Playcom
• 1205 - LRS - Long Range Systems

Point of Sale Systems

• 1217A - Bepoz Retail Solutions
• 2322 - InfoGenesis
• 1228 - Jensen Data Systems
• 1144 - Micros Fidelio Australia
• 2106 - NCR Hospitality
• 3336 - POS-TEC
• 1129 - Sharp Electronics Group
• 1156 - SWIFTPOS/Toshiba Tec
• 1405 - Task Retail Technology
• 1140 - Worldsmart Future

Security Systems & Hardware

• 3401 - Armaguard Group
• 3301 - AST - KeyWatcher
• 2123 - Exact Security
• 2325 - ICU Security Cameras
• 1216 - Kappalyn Security

Seating & Staging Systems

• 1244 - SICO South Pacific

Signage & Displays

• 3111 - Allpride Signs & Marketing
• 1207 - Display Me
• 1217 - Flexicast
• 2406 - Fremont Design
• 1227 - Multiscreen
• 2216 - Orion Art
• 1154 - SWS Signage
• 2204 - T & C Visual Displays
• 2305 - The Bright Group

Staff Uniforms

• 3303 - Advance Design Clothing Co
• 1240 - ZigZag Apparel

A detailed, sortable list of all exhibitors is available at www.austgamingexpo.com.

Exhibition entry is complimentary to gaming industry executives, courtesy of the Gaming Technologies Association.  The exhibition is open from 10am on Tuesday 13^th, Wednesday 14^th and Thursday 15^th August and closes at 5pm on the Tuesday and Wednesday.  (4pm close on Thursday 15^th.)   Trade suppliers are not eligible to attend the event unless exhibiting and nobody under 18 years of age (including infants) may enter the Exhibition.

More information and Visitor registration are available online at www.austgamingexpo.com or call the Gaming Expo Help Line on 02 9211 7430.

The Gaming Racing & Wagering Australia conference will operate alongside the Gaming Expo at the Sydney Convention and Exhibition Centre.   Day one of the conference will be the day before the Gaming Expo, on Monday 12^th August and features the leading experts in the Australian and Asian gaming sector.  Day two focuses on digital marketing strategies and day three will bring together the market leaders of the local sports betting racing and wagering companies in Australia.  Further information is available at www.gamingdownunder.com.

Note: The Australasian Gaming Expo is a trade exhibition, for management representatives of Gaming Industry Organisations only including government, regulatory, research and support bodies, clubs, hotels, casinos, resorts and similar Hospitality Industry venues.  Trade suppliers are not eligible to attend the event unless exhibiting.