With the latest edition of ICE just around the corner, to take place January 20 – 22 at the Gran Fira Barcelona, NOVOMATIC is ready to unveil an impressive lineup of new gaming products aimed at captivating both players and industry professionals.
The opportunity is a major one for the NOVOMATIC Spain team, set to take advantage of the event’s relocation to its home turf following an extensive tenure at ExCel London. At the show, the team expects to welcome more attendees, including Spanish stakeholders who will be drawn by the increased convenience.
To learn more about the company’s plans for the show, and what sets it apart in the competitive Spanish market, Yogonet held an exclusive interview with Bernhard Teuchmann, Managing Director of the Product and Technology Division at NOVOMATIC Spain, ahead of ICE Barcelona.
What are your expectations for the upcoming edition of ICE? Do you anticipate it to feel different from past shows being the first one to be held in Barcelona?
The fact that ICE is going to be held for the first time in Spain makes this edition very special for us. Our objective consists of presenting to our Spanish customers our complete product catalog but also using the occasion to show them the immense power of innovation and creativity of the whole NOVOMATIC group.
Although the surroundings will be different, compared to the last ICE editions, once inside the exhibition hall, we will all concentrate on our work and we expect everything to be running as usual.
For NOVOMATIC Spain in particular, which opportunities does ICE relocating to the country open? Do you anticipate more presence of Spanish stakeholders and interest in this market as a result?
Absolutely, we expect many Spanish customers who usually did not travel to London and this opens many opportunities for us. ICE in Barcelona is also very attractive for other Spanish stakeholders, such as the representatives of the regional gaming boards who will have the possibility to see the real nature of our industry and all its cutting-edge technology. Overall, ICE in Barcelona should have a generally positive impact on the Spanish gaming market.
What will be the main products and services the company will highlight this time around? What should attendees approaching the booth expect from NOVOMATIC Spain?
We will showcase the latest NOVOMATIC and GiGames products, both for arcades and bars. In addition, we will complete our offer with arcade products from APEX and for the first time, we will present the latest bar and arcade models from BALLY WULFF, as from now on we hold the exclusive distributorship for this brand in Spain.
NOVOMATIC Spain has always stood out due to its large variety of solutions for Spanish operators and this occasion will confirm once again our image as the most reliable technology partner.
How would you describe NOVOMATIC’s presence in the Spanish market? What company products are seeing the best adoption from local customers?
Our extensive and proven experience in arcades makes our products stand out in this segment. For that matter, one of our biggest slot launches is XTENSION LINK Volume 2 in the highly sophisticated Black Edition II 1.49 J cabinet.
We are also acquiring visibility in the bar segment by investing in innovation with machines such as NOVO LINE Supra Cash and the new Impera Cash Fusion, which will capture the attention of our customers due to its innovative game content and stunning animations.
How would you describe the Spanish industry’s current demands and where do you see the market headed? Are there any specific trends, verticals, etc. that you see gaining momentum?
The market is becoming more and more competitive as the total number of gaming machines in Spain is not growing. Customers are trying to maximize the profitability of their installed machines and are willing to renew their venues with the best-performing products.
We see a trend towards games with various progressive jackpots and premium cabinets. Besides, many Spanish arcade operators are professionalizing the management processes by equipping their facilities with state-of-the-art technology.
There is a strong demand for alternative payment methods and all kind of systems to improve the control and better react to potential changes. Also, the bar segment has changed and the traditional bar machines with mechanical reels have been substituted by video slot machines.
It is an exciting market and NOVOMATIC is very well positioned due to its innovative product offer and the long-term relationships with the main customers and stakeholders.
