Following the departure of longtime CEO Paul Williams, Sega Amusements International has appointed Siraj Elkhawad to the position. Justin Burke was also promoted as the company’s COO and Nigel Allison was promoted to manufacturing and R&D director. The company said the leadership changes reflect their “ongoing commitment to growth, innovation, and delivering unparalleled value to its customers worldwide.” Elkhawad has more than 27 years of experience in the amusement industry with more than six years as Sega’s finance director and nearly 20 years as its financial controller. “My focus will be on building on our strong financial foundations to drive…
Author: Matt Harding
The Pelican Group, a California-based vending and amusement management company, has announced it won a bid to manage the game rooms at more than 400 Regal cinemas. “I am proud to provide our operators this top-of-the-line long-term business opportunity,” said Richard Scherer, owner and CEO of The Pelican Group. Added Adam Rymer, chief commercial officer at Regal: “Regal’s partnership with The Pelican Group to manage our amusement program marks an exciting step forward for our theatres nationwide. This initiative will bring the game rooms at Regal cinemas into the modern entertainment era with state-of-the-art equipment, advanced card system technology, and…
Charlie Keegan is now the CEO of Five Star Parks and Attractions, the company announced. He’s been on their board since February 2023 and brings more than 30 years of international experience in entertainment, leisure and hospitality. “I’m honored to serve Five Star Parks and Attractions at such an exciting time,” Keegan said. “This is a company with incredible momentum, a strong culture, and a clear mission to deliver joy through unforgettable experiences. I look forward to working with the team to build on that foundation and take our parks to new heights.” Most recently, Keegan led DistrictPlay, his advisory…
Jared Kushner, President Donald Trump’s son-in-law, is joining up with Saudia Arabia in a deal to buy the publicly-traded Electronic Arts video game giant. According to CNN, Kushner’s Affinity Partners and the Kingdom’s public investment fund Silver Lake will be putting up $55 billion to acquire the company that produced such consumer hits as Madden NFL (the deal is scheduled to conclude in the first quarter of 2027). CNN reported that Kushner said he grew up playing videos and now enjoys playing them with his children. “I couldn’t be more excited about what’s ahead,” he reportedly stated. (CNN also advised that Electronic Arts…
LAI Games and Ubisoft are building on their past success Virtual Rabbids with a new unattended attraction called Ubisoft All-Star VR. The first demo of the 2-4-player game was shown recently at IAAPA Expo Europe. The companies say the new attraction “represents a major leap forward in arcade VR” and “features groundbreaking driving and steering haptics, high-precision motion by D-BOX and a stunning cinematic LED wall that makes it a true showstopper on any game room floor.” Players can choose from a lineup of Ubisoft heroes like Ezio from Assassin’s Creed, Sam Fisher from Splinter Cell or even the Just…
Shaffer Distributing Company’s director of business development, Adam Kleinhenz, was honored with AAMA’s Shining Star Award at the association’s gala. The award recognizes those who “demonstrate exceptional dedication and impact within the amusement industry.” “I’m incredibly honored to receive this award,” Kleinhenz expressed. “It’s meaningful to be recognized personally, but even more rewarding to see the effort of the AAMA, and the work it does to improve our industry, acknowledged as well.” Scott Shaffer added: “We are so proud of Adam for his work with the AAMA. He always puts 100% of his heart and soul into what he believes in. I’m…
The Bowling Proprietors’ Association of America will host Bowling University’s School of Entertainment Center Management starting this week. The event runs at their International Bowling Campus in Arlington, Texas, from Oct. 5-10. Industry experts like Megan Burtch and Daniel Mueller will be on hand with topics like “Discover Your Redemption Merchandising Skills” and “F&B Trends and Operations.” It’s everything you’d need to know to run a successful bowling entertainment center. For questions and details, you can contact [email protected]. While you may have missed out on attending this one, you can check to see if last-minute spots are available or plan…
The New Jersey Attractions Association will have their East Coast Gift & Variety Show from Feb. 25-26 in 2026. It’ll be held at the Golden Nugget in Atlantic City. This will be the 31st annual show for the Jersey association and is dubbed “the trade show to keep you connected to the amusement industry in the tri-state area.” Expect the annual scholarship awards party and much more. For exhibitor information, contact NJAA Executive Director Kimberle Samarelli at [email protected] or call 732-904-0580. Additional details will be announced closer to the event.
Semnox Solutions has successfully launched its complete venue management system at Pop Culture Arcade in the Netherlands, the company reported. The project was done in conjunction with their partners at Uplay, a machine distributor in the region. “Launching Pop Culture Arcade as my first venture in the Netherlands has been incredibly rewarding, particularly with the exceptional product and service support provided by Semnox through their collaboration with Uplay,” said owner Danny Merkelbag. “The technology platform perfectly aligns with our vision for creating an engaging gaming destination.” It was also Semnox’s first installation in the country, which Vinayaka Kamath, the business…
Betson’s 14th Annual Northwest Amusement Showcase in Portland was held Sept. 19, welcoming attendees from all over the Oregon trade and Pacific Northwest region in general. “The 2025 Northwest Showcase was one of our most successful to date,” said Steve Lamoreaux, a regional sales director for Betson Enterprises. “Having an opportunity to bring together owners, manufacturers, operators and industry leaders to showcase their skills and new products is something we always look forward to, and this year did not disappoint. The energy on the floor throughout the day proved again why this event has become a popular tradition in the…