After a long, three-year wait, the Australasian Gaming Expo finally returned to ICC Sydney in August, where it was warmly welcomed back by those in attendance.
Exhibitors and visitors alike expressed their excitement and in some cases relief as the Australasian Gaming Expo (AGE) returned to ICC Sydney in early August for the first time in three years.
Covering 9,000 square meters of space with over 220 exhibitors, the return of AGE saw more than 7,300 delegates walk through the doors between 9 and 11 August to take in the latest and greatest the Asia-Pacific gaming industry has to offer.
Walking the AGE floor, Inside Asian Gaming took the time to speak with many of these exhibitors and visitors, who were overwhelmingly positive about the event’s long-awaited return.
“It’s fantastic,” said Neale Johnson of Hennessy Coffee on the Coast. “It’s been three years in the wilderness but we’ve really been looking forward to this and to getting some good business out of it.”
Danny Gladstone, Chairman of Ainsworth Game Technology, added, “It’s good to see the world opening up and business as usual. Everyone has gone to a lot of effort to make the show look good.”
Buyers were just as keen, with Rebecca Bell, Venue Manager of Flying Horse Entertainment Venue at Ballarat & District Trotting Club, telling IAG she was there looking at, “Gaming [products], a kids’ play space – we’ve got a fairly large redevelopment on the cards with about AU$4 million worth of fitout to do, so it’s good to be here.”
Geoff Sheedy, General Manager of Sussex Inlet Bowling Club, said, “I’m looking at updating our gaming system and other areas. I’m big on entertainment areas outside for kids and families as well so there is plenty to look at for sure.”
AGE also featured a robust two-day seminar program, which included two panel sessions organized and moderated by Inside Asian Gaming, which was Official Media and Production Partner of AGE in 2022.
The well-attended sessions included one titled “Slots: the convergence between ANZ and Asian studios, themes and mechanics”, which featured Light & Wonder’s Senior Vice President of Global Product Management, Nathan Drane, and IGT’s Senior Director Product Management – APAC, Charles Seo, discussing the latest trends in ANZ and how these games are influencing the entire Asia-Pacific region.
The other, “Contrasting Australian gaming regulation with other Asian jurisdictions”, featured former head of Victoria’s gaming regulator, Peter Cohen, VP and Managing Director Asia for Light & Wonder, Ken Jolly, and Partner at Addisons Lawyers, Jamie Nettleton. Topics of discussion included the recent regulatory issues facing Australia’s casinos, how these might impact the industry as a whole and how Australia’s regulatory approach differs from other markets such as Singapore and the Philippines.
Fortunately, having waited a long three years to come together again, it is now less than 12 months to the next AGE, with the expo to celebrate its 32nd year from 15 to 17 August 2023.
