Planning ahead
by Jack Bulavsky
Planning ahead
AGEM Report by Jack Bulavsky
AGEM looking to 2006 with more focus on the industry and its needs
Happy New Year! On behalf of the AGEM membership, let me wish you well and sincerely hope that 2006 is good for you. We extend special greetings and heartfelt thoughts to our fellow employees, business partners, and friends throughout the Gulf Coast region who continue to recover from Hurricane Katrina.
It's a new year and AGEM is looking forward with a new set of goals established during a strategy session held this past summer. The session was led by Michael Meczka of MM/R/C, Inc.
The group covered a variety of topics including gaming shows, regulatory issues, emerging jurisdictions, charitable contributions and events, political, public relations, and problem gambling.
Mission minded
Before the session got underway, it was suggested that AGEM create a mission statement that reflects the group and its purpose. The following was created:
The Association of Gaming Equipment Manufacturers (AGEM) is an international trade association representing manufacturers of electronic gaming devices, systems, and components for the gaming industry. The Association, as a good corporate citizen, identifies and acts upon issues relating to education, trade show representation, regulation, manufacturing and licensing standards, and the expansion of responsible gaming for the benefit of its members and the industry.
"AGEM continues to grow its membership and this increases our political stature," said Walt Stowe, AGEM president. "The group is five years old and we have made a great progress in determining who we are, where we're going now, and where we want to go. There are still many issues and ideas that need to be better understood if we are to grow to our full potential. The future is quite exciting."
Among regulatory issues discussed during the session, it was determined that AGEM would remain aggressive on reciprocity agreements between states. For emerging jurisdictions, AGEM will monitor business expansion and travel to these markets to meet with legislators and business leaders.
This same issue carried over to the political arena. AGEM will remain active in Nevada while working to create an even stronger image and awareness within other state legislatures. It was also decided that AGEM should prepare an economic benefits and employment survey detailing AGEM's positive influences and strengths.
"Our members are terrific corporate citizens who contribute to the overall welfare of their communities," said Stowe. "This sometimes goes unnoticed and it's incumbent upon us, as AGEM, to let the community and business world know who our members are and what they are doing."
At the same time, Stowe said AGEM will increase its own public relations efforts to give the association a greater awareness within the industry.
AGEM will continue to support and donate to problem gambling organizations. AGEM is a platinum corporate member of the Nevada Council on Problem Gambling, and has contributed a minimum of $25,000 for the next four years to support the efforts of the National Council on Problem Gambling. The group has also donated $50,000 to the Problem Gambling Center in Las Vegas, the largest of its kind in the state. It provides treatment to individuals, regardless of their financial situation. AGEM will also review problem gambling programs in other states and countries.
Talk of the shows
One of the main topics discussed was the current trade show industry. AGEM has increased its communication with a number of leading trade show organizers around the world requesting a stronger exchange of information.
AGEM realizes its representatives provide the collective anchor for every significant gaming trade show around the world, and as the world's leading slot machine manufacturers and gaming suppliers, it is thankful for the opportunity to create such successful shows and conferences.
However, with that in mind, AGEM believes there should be an even greater level of cooperation with trade show organizers. AGEM feels it is important to include input from board members when any significant decisions related to trade shows are considered. From AGEM's perspective, the most important decisions are show timing (month and date), marketing efforts, attendance, rates, and show services.
AGEM board member Marcus Prater said AGEM supports post-show debriefings so that "our members can share their feelings about the positive aspects of the show as well as areas that fell short of our expectations. We want to provide feedback so all future shows and events can become even more successful."
Current AGEM members include: AC Coin & Slot, Aristocrat Technologies, Atronic, Bally Gaming and Systems, Cadillac Jack, ECS America, Inc., GTECH, Gaming Partners International, Gary Platt Manufacturing, IDX, IGT, JCM American, Konami Gaming, KSK, MEI, Progressive Gaming International, Shuffle Master Gaming, Summit Gaming, TCS America, TransAct Technologies, Unidesa, Wells-Gardner Electronics, WMS Gaming and 3M Touch Systems.
Jack Bulavsky is executive director of the Las Vegas-based Association of Gaming Equipment Manufacturers (AGEM). If you're interested in learning more about AGEM, contact Jack at (702) 434-4597 or visit www.agem.org.
AGEM Report by Jack Bulavsky
AGEM looking to 2006 with more focus on the industry and its needs
Happy New Year! On behalf of the AGEM membership, let me wish you well and sincerely hope that 2006 is good for you. We extend special greetings and heartfelt thoughts to our fellow employees, business partners, and friends throughout the Gulf Coast region who continue to recover from Hurricane Katrina.
It's a new year and AGEM is looking forward with a new set of goals established during a strategy session held this past summer. The session was led by Michael Meczka of MM/R/C, Inc.
The group covered a variety of topics including gaming shows, regulatory issues, emerging jurisdictions, charitable contributions and events, political, public relations, and problem gambling.
Mission minded
Before the session got underway, it was suggested that AGEM create a mission statement that reflects the group and its purpose. The following was created:
The Association of Gaming Equipment Manufacturers (AGEM) is an international trade association representing manufacturers of electronic gaming devices, systems, and components for the gaming industry. The Association, as a good corporate citizen, identifies and acts upon issues relating to education, trade show representation, regulation, manufacturing and licensing standards, and the expansion of responsible gaming for the benefit of its members and the industry.
"AGEM continues to grow its membership and this increases our political stature," said Walt Stowe, AGEM president. "The group is five years old and we have made a great progress in determining who we are, where we're going now, and where we want to go. There are still many issues and ideas that need to be better understood if we are to grow to our full potential. The future is quite exciting."
Among regulatory issues discussed during the session, it was determined that AGEM would remain aggressive on reciprocity agreements between states. For emerging jurisdictions, AGEM will monitor business expansion and travel to these markets to meet with legislators and business leaders.
This same issue carried over to the political arena. AGEM will remain active in Nevada while working to create an even stronger image and awareness within other state legislatures. It was also decided that AGEM should prepare an economic benefits and employment survey detailing AGEM's positive influences and strengths.
"Our members are terrific corporate citizens who contribute to the overall welfare of their communities," said Stowe. "This sometimes goes unnoticed and it's incumbent upon us, as AGEM, to let the community and business world know who our members are and what they are doing."
At the same time, Stowe said AGEM will increase its own public relations efforts to give the association a greater awareness within the industry.
AGEM will continue to support and donate to problem gambling organizations. AGEM is a platinum corporate member of the Nevada Council on Problem Gambling, and has contributed a minimum of $25,000 for the next four years to support the efforts of the National Council on Problem Gambling. The group has also donated $50,000 to the Problem Gambling Center in Las Vegas, the largest of its kind in the state. It provides treatment to individuals, regardless of their financial situation. AGEM will also review problem gambling programs in other states and countries.
Talk of the shows
One of the main topics discussed was the current trade show industry. AGEM has increased its communication with a number of leading trade show organizers around the world requesting a stronger exchange of information.
AGEM realizes its representatives provide the collective anchor for every significant gaming trade show around the world, and as the world's leading slot machine manufacturers and gaming suppliers, it is thankful for the opportunity to create such successful shows and conferences.
However, with that in mind, AGEM believes there should be an even greater level of cooperation with trade show organizers. AGEM feels it is important to include input from board members when any significant decisions related to trade shows are considered. From AGEM's perspective, the most important decisions are show timing (month and date), marketing efforts, attendance, rates, and show services.
AGEM board member Marcus Prater said AGEM supports post-show debriefings so that "our members can share their feelings about the positive aspects of the show as well as areas that fell short of our expectations. We want to provide feedback so all future shows and events can become even more successful."
Current AGEM members include: AC Coin & Slot, Aristocrat Technologies, Atronic, Bally Gaming and Systems, Cadillac Jack, ECS America, Inc., GTECH, Gaming Partners International, Gary Platt Manufacturing, IDX, IGT, JCM American, Konami Gaming, KSK, MEI, Progressive Gaming International, Shuffle Master Gaming, Summit Gaming, TCS America, TransAct Technologies, Unidesa, Wells-Gardner Electronics, WMS Gaming and 3M Touch Systems.
Jack Bulavsky is executive director of the Las Vegas-based Association of Gaming Equipment Manufacturers (AGEM). If you're interested in learning more about AGEM, contact Jack at (702) 434-4597 or visit www.agem.org.
