The 2007 International Casino Exhibition (ICE), which opens its doors on 23-25 January at London’s Earls Court Exhibition Centre, is on course to become the biggest and most comprehensive display of casino products and services in its 15-year history. 

The organisers, Clarion ATE have succeeded in growing the show by 36 percent they claim in a press release this week. In addition to occupying its established 10 000 square metre Earls Court 2 home, the casino display will also cover around a quarter of the 12 500sqm ground floor of Earls Court 1.  

The Remote Gaming, or online gambling company exhibitors take up a further 1 500sqm. of remote gaming exhibits in ICEi and low payout gaming products and services in ATEI. The non-payout element of ATEI (amusements, electronic leisure and ancillary equipment) is being staged on Level 1 of Earls Court 1, reached via escalators from the ground floor. 

Clarion ATE’s Head of Exhibitions, Karen Cooke commented: “Restructuring of the London Show floor plans has enabled us to expand ICE to meet exhibitor demand. This has allowed an expansion of the show in three ways: firstly, existing exhibitors have been able to grow their presence for the first time in several years; secondly, we can now accommodate new companies on the show floor who have previously been turned away due to lack of space; and thirdly, a significant number of ATEI exhibitors have recognised the huge potential in the international casino market and have opted to move their stalls from the low payout arena into the burgeoning high roll market.” 

ICE 2007 will welcome 28 new companies from 19 countries, covering the complete spectrum of land and online casino gambling.
 
The organisers’ latest figures, as of the end of October, reveal 164 companies drawn from 33 countries having confirmed their stand space at ICE ’07, occupying a total net area of over 12 250sqm. 

In the ICEinteractive sector thus far 36 exhibitors and 16 jurisdictions have snapped up 1 220sqm, swelling the overall ICE numbers to 200 exhibitors from 38 territories taking 13 470sqm. of floor space, with the organisers confidently predicting further substantial growth in the three months leading up to the show.

Domestic manufacturers and suppliers form the greatest proportion (29.3 percent) of the confirmed 164 ICE exhibitors, with 48 UK-based companies signed up.  

US-based companies account for the largest overseas representation (18 exhibitors), followed by Spain with 11, Slovenia with 10, the Netherlands (nine), Italy (seven) and Austria (six). Australia, Belgium and France are currently each represented by five exhibitors, Russia by four, with Bulgaria, Canada, the Czech Republic and Germany each providing three. Argentina, Israel, Japan, Korea, Latvia and South Africa will all have at least two exhibitors on the show floor, with remaining exhibitor territories including Belarus, Brazil, Croatia, Cyprus, Estonia, Ireland, Isle of Man, Kazakhstan, Serbia & Montenegro, Slovakia, Sweden and Taiwan. 

Karen Cooke concluded: “With this growth comes the obvious benefit to operators that they can visit London and find all their needs in one place. And with so many new and existing companies offering an ever wider range of new equipment and services, it’s clear that there has never been a better time for industry professionals to attend ICE.” 

For more information, latest show news, exhibitor lists, floor plans, travel information visit www.ice-exhibition.