From February 6 to 8, ExCeL London will for a last time host one of the most anticipated events of the year in the gaming and entertainment sector: ICE London 2024. The major expo, set to relocate to Barcelona starting next year, will once again bring together leading names in the industry under the same roof to showcase their latest innovations and trends. Among them will be Konami, ready to exhibit a wide portfolio of products for attendees to discover.
In an exclusive interview with Yogonet, Konami’s Eduardo Aching, Vice President, International Gaming Operations, offers an inside look at the expectations and innovations that Konami plans to bring to the event. From advanced technologies in iGaming to the SYNKROS casino systems and the latest slot machines from the DIMENSION line, the company promises a stacked lineup of novelties for ICE.
What will be the main novelties that your company will present and focus on at ICE London this year? Will you be showcasing any new products or services this time around?
At the heart of this year’s ICE booth is Konami’s iGaming and SYNKROS casino systems technology. Konami continues to see growth in these product sectors, which we also aim to deliver to our longtime casino customers across Europe. Representatives from both our iGaming and SYNKROS systems product segments will be available throughout ICE 2024 to connect with customers and show the latest new releases.
In addition, Konami’s ICE stand is covered in the latest land-based game releases, which are popular with players around the globe. We look forward to showing a new mix of linked progressive series available on Konami’s proven reliable DIMENSION slot machine hardware.
Given ICE London’s status as one of the major global events in the industry, what are your expectations for the expo, and what are the company’s key goals for the event?
ICE 2024 comes at an important time for Konami and the customers we serve. Last year’s show hit record attendance, with very high levels of interest across Konami’s business including iGaming, casino systems, and omni-channel gaming—where I believe we’re gaining good attention due to the quality we can offer.
Our Konami team and exclusive distributors look forward to a busy time at ICE 2024, connecting with customers and finding innovative ways to partner.
How would you describe the industry’s and your client’s current demands at the time?
Across nearly every industry, we are seeing the desire for consumers to engage with brands both online and through traditional brick-and-mortar locations. Konami helps today’s casinos achieve this through our owned Remote Gaming Server (RGS), which integrates with popular Internet Gaming Servers (IGS) to deliver top Konami slot games to online players.
When used in conjunction with traditional land-based Konami slots, the online Konami slots provide an omni-channel delivery of the games players already recognize and enjoy. We hope to work with more of our customers to deliver this omni-channel strategy in 2024 and beyond.
Concurrently, our land-based games product pipeline continues to be the greatest area of global demand. Successful omni-channel expansion relies upon a traditional land-based footprint, which Konami has long supported in the field and remains consistently committed.
Konami at G2E 2023
The event comes as we enter a new year for gambling. What is your assessment of how the sector developed in 2023, and what should we expect from it in 2024? What role will the company play in the upcoming 12-month period?
During 2023, Konami Gaming saw increasing momentum across different product sectors, and continued efforts toward strengthening partnerships with casino customers. Konami’s traditional land-based product is building back with more creative entertainment options.
Our iGaming team is also reaching more social gaming and for-wager sites with Konami’s popular slot brands. Additionally, Konami’s SYNKROS casino management system is seeing strong global interest for its latest tools and technology, spanning mobile solutions, reporting and analytics, compliance, and more.
Konami is committed to deepening connections with customers in 2024, through the biggest game library yet for our DIMENSION line of cabinets; dozens of recognizable iGaming themes; and the industry’s leading reliable casino management system, backed by a highly robust marketing suite.
What other industry events does the company plan to attend this year?
Konami has a full schedule this year, attending a wide mix of events including the Indian Gaming Tradeshow & Convention, G2E Asia, Peru Gaming Show, Australasian Gaming Expo, G2E Las Vegas, and more.
