Some of the biggest names in the casino supply industry have already indicated support for the new London Casino & Gaming Show (LCG), said show director Nicola Lazenby.
“We are signing contracts this week,” said Lazenby “and in the next few days we should be able to release names.”
Lazenby and her chairman, Martin Burlin, told us that they had been encouraged by the reaction of the UK and European casinos to what they term ‘our boutique event’ that will be staged a few days (January 14-16) ahead of the big international show, ICE, now moved to Barcelona (January 20-22).
A bricks-and-mortar-only casino expo, LCG will be held at London’s ExCeL, the until-now traditional home of European gambling shows and the long-time home of the Entertainment, Attractions and Gaming Expo (EAG), which will cohabit ExCeL at the same time. Also new for 2025, and again co-habiting ExCel will be the Social Immersive Entertainment Expo (SIE).
Appealing to three interlocking sectors simultaneously, said Burlin, would effectively widen the base of the event to appeal to the widest possible audience on behalf of show owners Bacta.
The trade association has already been joined in sponsoring the show by its European counterpart, Euromat, the umbrella organisation for no fewer than 18 amusement and gaming trade associations from 12 separate European countries.
Talks are continuing, meanwhile, with other affiliated industry organisations to lend their support for LCG.
“We are feeling more confident every day,” said show ambassador Nick Harding, “that our original thoughts that the casino business in Europe needs and deserves its own event on a smaller and more focused footprint, free of the internet gambling and betting interests that might threaten to overwhelm everything else.
“We want to see every aspect of the bricks-and-mortar casino on the floor of the show, from not just slots and live tables, to a representation of every aspect of the day-to-day activities; uniforms, roulette equipment and other table games (automated or otherwise), F&B, glass suppliers, lighting effects, payment systems, and security.”
Nicola Lazenby added that the three-show configuration would extensively enlarge what was once just the EAG expo footprint at ExCeL. “We expect to be taking up as many as ten of the venue’s halls in just the first year.”
All three shows would have their own workshops, seminars and breakout events, said Lazenby, and there were already indications that a number of evening social events would be put in hand.
“We are even having approaches to see if live international gaming events can be run during the exhibition, which will add a great deal of excitement.”
