“Our staff reported high levels of customer interest across the board”

(Exclusive interview).- Global Gaming Expo took place in Las Vegas this month, and David Orrick, Director of Industry Relations at Merkur Gaming, talked with Focus Gaming News at the expo.

Global Gaming Expo is one of the best opportunities for companies to gather at the same event and showcase their latest products. The 2018 edition of the show was the best ever for Merkur Gaming, and its Director of Industry Relations, David Orrick, explained which products received the most attention and said that next year will be even better.

How did Merkur perform in G2E 2018? Where does this year’s show rank among the recent years’ G2Es?

With a very strong team, a great booth and – most importantly – new products and multiple new games, this was a really great edition of G2E. That poses the question ‘was this the best G2E ever?’ and the definitive answer came from Merkur Gaming Americas CEO, Charles Hiten. ‘was this the best G2E ever? So far … until next year’

How was the public’s feedback at your booth? Which products received the best response?

In a word ‘Fantastic’. The visitors to our booth were enthusiastic and excited most particularly by the international launch of our new curved cabinet, Allegro. That name derives from an Italian music notation meaning ‘to play briskly and brightly’. Also, our many new games that were being shown for the first time anywhere. The African-themed Savanna Stampede, Crash Stacks that is based on American currency images, a four-title suite of Egyptian games Jewels of the Nile and, displayed specifically in the Allegro cabinet, the sci-fi themed Secret Area 150, Asian Tower, a game of risk and reward, and the highly colourful Neon Panther. Those attractions, among the more than 120 games that we displayed, kept our booth extremely busy throughout the show and our staff reported high levels of customer interest across the board.

Merkur Gaming Americas is excited by the opportunities and confident that, as displayed at G2E, our gaming entertainment offerings will be a success.

What are the main challenges for Merkur in the US?

Having the right games, in the right places and at the right times. As we move towards our planned market entry into US commercial and tribal government markets, a process that has been and is proceeding in our accustomed well researched and step-by-step manner, we can see that those markets are prepared to welcome us as a top-level supplier. While there are, as always, challenges to be faced, Merkur Gaming Americas is excited by the opportunities and confident that, as displayed at G2E, our gaming entertainment offerings will be a success.

The company has attended several shows this year in Europe, Latin America and the US. What has the company achieved so far?

Trade shows are the lifeblood of our industry. Each one is different, in location, in atmosphere and in opportunity. We exhibit to represent our brand and all that stands for throughout the world of gaming, to present our products and to establish new contacts and build on existing relationships. During 2018 to date we can see that we have achieved our objectives, underlined our status as a tier one manufacturer and supplier and successfully expanded our business in many key international markets.

ICE Africa is an event that will bring together the entire African continent and allow exhibitors such as Merkur Gaming the opportunity to further expand into new, and often very different, markets in the region.

With ICE Africa just days away, what do you expect for this event? 

ICE Africa is an extremely exciting prospect. Whilst it is based in Johannesburg this is an event that will bring together the entire African continent and allow exhibitors such as Merkur Gaming the opportunity to further expand into new, and often very different, markets in the region. Having the famous ICE brand attached to the event is significant. It references the hugely ICE event in London, the largest B2B event in the gaming world, and promises an exciting event in South Africa, one at which Merkur Gaming is proud to play a major part.