The latest and greatest Australasian Gaming Expo (AGE) is set to take place next week at the Sydney International Convention Centre, from Tuesday 13 – Thursday 15 August.
The very first AGE was held in Sydney in 1990. The Expo has grown to be one of the world’s largest gaming and hospitality trade shows, spanning 19,000 square metres of the ICC.
AGE 2023 was a record year, counting nearly 7,700 visitors and a combined 9,600 visits over the three-day event, which was a 10 per cent increase on the previous record, set pre-COVID, in 2019.
Last year also saw the introduction of the combined Gaming Machine Manufacturers Cocktail event for AGE visitors, organised by the Gaming Technologies Association, mustering the traditionally separate parties hosted in previous years by the individual companies.
More than 7,500 people are expected to visit this year, and the Gaming Technologies Association, organisers of the AGE, report that on average 10-15 per cent of visitors each year come from overseas.
Its success is seen in the bringing together of manufacturers, service providers and government with venue operators and players, to understand the current market, trends and challenges.
They will come to see over 200 exhibitors, including multinationals with footprints in the UK, Germany, France, Rome, Switzerland, USA, Canada, South America, India, South Africa, China, Japan, Taiwan, Singapore and the Middle East including the United Arab Emirates.
Exhibitors span the gamut of hospitality and support services, led by major installations by manufacturers, and showcases by complementary gaming equipment providers.
There is virtually every product available for venues, seen in facial recognition and ID scanners, loyalty cards, paging and visitor management systems, technological exhibits in audio visual, entertainment activities, and IT products and services, money management through ATM providers, cash transfer systems, and financial services. And an emerging category is charging equipment for portable devices – evolving toward charging for vehicles, and solar power generation.
An important niche is the food and beverage offerings, adding to other hospitality support services vending equipment, signage, security, hygiene, printers, apparel and cleaning services.
On the venues themselves, see professionals in construction, architecture and design, plus the elements of flooring, furniture, cabinetry, staging, play equipment, landscaping and plants.
Vital to operations, staff-oriented exhibitors come in Human Resources and workforce management, travel agents, and marketing and promotions.
Government and regulators are also represented on the Expo floor and in seminars.
“It is the unique mix of manufacturers, service providers, venue operators, players plus government and regulators in the one spot that is driving the growth of the AGE,” offers GTA CEO Jinesh Patel.
Celebrating 35 years and a solid pandemic bounce-back, Patel offered thanks to the AGE’s supporters, who have contributed to the post-COVID recovery and record numbers.
“There is now a greater need for people to reconnect for networking and to see tangible technology advancements including those to tackle anti-money laundering and gambling harm mitigation measures.”
