A huge exhibition space dedicated to operators in the gaming world, but also the opportunity to attend seminars, meetings and discussions. From 14 to 16 January at the ExCeL in London the new edition of the Entertainment, Attractions & Gaming Expo will take place, which this year will host the Social immersive entertainment expo and the London casino and gaming show. Martin Burlin, president of Eag Expo, goes into detail.
What will be the main focus that will be addressed during Eag 2025?
“A new year is about to begin and expectations for the 2025 edition of Eag Expo will be the biggest since the event was launched in 2010 and will feature two new dedicated sections. The Social Immersive Entertainment Expo and the London Casino and Gaming Show will sit alongside Eag as a natural expansion, offering new revenue streams for both operators and manufacturers. Once again, the show will be packed with innovation. Research conducted prior to the 2024 edition showed that exhibitors were planning in excess of 1,000 product launches at Eag a figure which underlines the scale of the opportunity for operators to use Eag to source the very latest products and keep their customers’ entertained. Whether Eag visitors are interested in children’s rides, gaming, virtual or augmented reality Eag is all about innovation in out of home entertainment. It’s the perfect way to start the business year!”
What will be the main topics addressed in the seminars of the Social immersive entertainment expo?
“The creation of the Social Immersive Entertainment Expo (Sie) will provide an invaluable additional focus for Eag visitors as well as attracting a new audience to the show. Sie will focus on the trends that are driving the future of out of home entertainment including all forms of Immersive Entertainment, Competitive Entertainment and Social Entertainment including the dramatic growth in Competitive Socialising – which according to the most recent Sector Pulse Report conducted by OakNorth Bank has experienced a 38% increase in the number of venues since 2018. Sie will also feature a two-day seminar programme where ideas and examples of successful applications will be discussed. The programme will include sessions focusing on the emergence of free roaming Vr hardware, an exploration of new generation Vr including the emergence of Xr attractions in the sector, and an overview of the eSports scene, including an analysis of how operators are applying systems to the business mix.
What visitors and exhibitors want is the chance to make new contacts, have new conversations and see new product sectors. Being in the out of home entertainment business is about being open to new ideas, new technologies, new experiences and new ways of doing things. Many of the companies in the Social Competitive Entertainment space are headed-up by young entrepreneurs who are creating an entertainment proposition which is targeted at a younger demographic.
It’s an exciting new world and there will be a host of new ideas and products that will help challenge and shape thinking. The introduction of the Social Immersive Entertainment Expo is a huge step forward for Eag and I cannot stress enough how much of a game changer it represents as operators from across the out of home entertainment space look to create new revenue streams.”
What strategies will Bacta pursue in 2025 to raise standards across the industry and how important is Eag 2025 to reflect on this subject?
“Eag and the industry at large benefits hugely from the fact that Eag Expo is owned in its entirety by Bacta which is the leading trade association representing the land based amusements and gambling entertainment sectors in the Uk. What this means in practical terms is that Eag reflects the issues, topics and features that are important to the industry as opposed to those that have a profit focus. As a consequence Eag will always reflect those core themes which help to raise standards. As an example, the 2025 show has a Bacta session on safety compliance with children’s rides, it has a briefing on the development of the Bacta Portal which is a cornerstone of the industry’s work on social responsibility. It will also feature a Hub dedicated to safer gambling with space donated to charities and not for profit organisations that are active in the Sr space. Exhibitions such as Eag represent a unique opportunity to bring industry sectors together, help to raise standards and provide the tools necessary to implement best practice.”