IAAPA’s big annual Florida expo will be held from Nov. 18-21 at the Orange County Convention Center and there’s a jam-packed lineup of educational sessions and special events surrounding the international trade show. Among them is the Opening Ceremony on Nov. 18 from 8:30-10 a.m.; IAAPA Legends: Hall of Fame Celebratory Affair on Nov. 17 from 6-10:30 p.m.; a Leadership Breakfast featuring Mark Woodbury on Nov. 19 from 8:30-10 a.m.; and the Women in the Industry Lunch on Nov. 18 from noon-2 p.m. RePlay will have additional preview coverage in our November issue, so make sure your print subscription is up…

BMI Leisure will introduce their Party & Events module, a tool designed to make event management effortless, at the upcoming IAAPA Expo. “We wanted to take the stress out of planning,” said Steve Dekerf, the U.S. vice president of sales for BMI Leisure. “Our goal is to make event organization as fun and seamless as the experiences our customers create.” Party & Events is part of the company’s all-in-one software built for FECs, karting centers and trampoline parks – “helping venues work smarter, grow faster and deliver unforgettable experiences for both guests and staff.”  Learn more at www.bmileisure.com.

Rilix will attend the Social Immersive Entertainment Expo for the first time next year. The event runs from Jan. 13-15 alongside the EAG Expo at ExCeL London. “We are all very excited to exhibit at our first London Show,” said the company’s President Jim Wyatt. “Rilix has been a premier seller of unattended VR in South America and North America, and following our launch in Italy in 2025, EAG is a key part of our strategy to expand distribution throughout Europe. We’re looking forward to fostering strong partnerships and working together to grow the industry.” The Rilix Coaster already operates…

BuckFest 2025, featuring the Big Buck World Championship XVIII, was held in Nashville at Marathon Music Works from Oct. 10-11. With a prize pool of $125,000, there were a lot of big winners at the event, including Jordan Classen, the Saskatchewan resident who took home the coveted Pappy’s Jug, a gun trophy and $25,000. Classen is an avid player, having won the Rookie of the Year in 2022 and taking third place in 2024. The Canadian crew that he’s in is called the SaskBuckHunters and are “a mighty force having now delivered two different World Champions, multiple top four finishers…

The 2025 Hesch Scholarship Fundraiser Auction is now open for bidding, reports AMOA Coin-Op Cares. It will run now through Monday, Oct. 27. Among the donated items up for grabs: a TouchTunes Angelina jukebox; a Soda Slam game from Alan-1 and DSM Arcade; tickets to sporting events like Chicago Blackhawks and Green Bay Packers games; and much more. Click here to register and see what else is available to bid on. As of publishing, they were at just over $25,000 of a $70,000 goal, so get bidding!

The 41st Pinball Expo will start tonight, Oct. 15, at the Bumper Blast 2025 Party, taking place at Enterrium in Chicago from 7-10 p.m. Pinball Expo will run through this Saturday, Oct. 18. One highlight will be a Stern Pinball factory tour coming up this Friday, Oct. 17. Those taking part in the tour will receive a special surprise gift from Stern, expo organizers said. The company will also offer exclusive merchandise for tour attendees to purchase after their visit. Otherwise, there’s a jam-packed schedule of seminars, tournaments and more. “Events include the Monster League Hockey Cosplay Contest, Stern’s John…

The Portland Retro Gaming Expo will be held Oct. 17-19, bringing more than 300 exhibitors to the Oregon Convention Center. Spanning some 250,000 sq. ft., the show floor will feature thousands of arcade machines, pinballs and classic consoles, reports the Portland Tribune. The experience is curated by top local arcade institutions like Ground Kontrol, High Score Arcade and Next Level Pinball Museum. A highly-anticipated part of the event is a panel celebrating the 40th anniversary of the Nintendo Entertainment System, featuring the original voice of Mario and Luigi, Charles Martinet, along with the voice cast for characters like Princess Peach,…

Sacoa Cashless System is at TAAPE 2025 this week, from Oct. 15-17, in booth #G20 at the Impact Exhibition & Convention Center in Bangkok, Thailand. The Thai trade show will introduce Sacoa’s latest innovations to the Southeast Asia region. The company will have their Redemption Kiosk, KwikPay real-time telemetry and online solutions, too. “We are thrilled to be part of TAAPE once again and look forward to meeting operators from across Asia and beyond,” said Pol Mochkovsky, CEO of Sacoa International. “We invite everyone to visit our booth to discover how Sacoa’s newest developments can help streamline operations, boost profits…

Coinciding with IAAPA Expo, the upcoming Betson Technical University will be at the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Orlando at SeaWorld this Nov. 17-18. It’ll be held each day from 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m. The two-day course will cover topics including (but not limited to): a game system overview, digital multi-meter, basic soldering/splicing techniques, game maintenance, card reader 101, troubleshooting, wiring schematics and LCD repair.    Those who attend will get a free ticket to IAAPA. Contact Jasmine Fernandez for more information: 214-638-4900, ext. 2220, or email [email protected].

Matt Sifuentes recently joined LAI Games’ sales team as an account executive. The company reports that Sifuentes has a background in business-to-business sales, marketing and experiential engagement. “I’ve always been passionate about creating memorable experiences that bring people together – from professional sports to trade shows and live events,” he said. “LAI’s commitment to innovation in the arcade and entertainment industry perfectly aligns with that passion.” Sifuentes has worked for the Texas Rangers, Informa Markets and Vari. He can be reached at [email protected] or by phone at 214-558-3639.