“At a time when the industry was dominated by men, a few women bucked the status quo by establishing businesses that were objectively better than their male led competitors,” said AAMA’s Executive VP Pete Gustafson. That was Faith Guthrie.  Her life spanned three centuries – born in Kansas in the late 1800s, living throughout the 20th century and still working full-time into her 100th year.   She was a route operator in Southern California, starting her G&G Vending Co. in 1952 with the purchase of 10 Rowe cigarette machines for $1,203.17. Eight of them were on location, and that purchase price…

King Kong: Myth of Terror Island is the newest game from Stern Pinball. Designed by the company’s Keith Elwin and with art from the company’s new art director Jeremy Packer (aka Zombie Yeti), this King Kong game puts players into the Terror Island world.  In the gameplay, players join Ann Darrow, Jack Driscoll and Karl Denham on their journey to the island, which results in King Kong traveling back to New York City with “disastrous (and fun) consequences.”  The pinball features four flippers, four bank drop targets with a hidden standup target and original animations, music, sounds and speech. Additional…

H. Betti Industries recently announced that Todd Cravens is now president of Betson Gaming. He joined the company in January as its senior vice president of gaming and “made an immediate and measurable impact across the business.” “Todd has quickly proven himself to be a dynamic and transformative leader and a key member of our senior leadership team,” said Bob Geschine, president of H. Betti Industries. “In a short period of time, he’s elevated not just our gaming business but added value across the entire enterprise. We’re excited for what’s ahead as he takes this next step.”  Cravens was previously…

AAMA awarded AVS Companies as their 2025 Distributor of the Year at the Amusement Expo trade show last month.   “Winning the AAMA Distributor of the Year award is a tremendous honor for AVS Companies,” said Tony Shamma, vice president of sales at AVS Companies. “We are incredibly grateful to our industry peers for recognizing our dedication to excellence. This award is a testament to the hard work and passion of our entire team, and we will continue to provide the highest level of service and innovation to our customers.”  Learn more about them by emailing [email protected].  

Cosmic Air Park in Houston, Texas, recently upgraded its cashless software. Semnox Solutions installed their Parafait suite to enhance guest experience and streamline operations there.  “In our older generation parks, we were running multiple systems, which added complexity and costs,” said Shawn Meghani, owner of Cosmic Air Park. “For our new build, we needed a turnkey solution – one system that could run it all. After researching various providers, we chose Semnox because they not only checked every box but also offered the technological scalability to grow alongside our company.”  He added: “There is a learning curve, but they are…

The International Adventure & Trampoline Park Association recently announced the continuation of its exclusive partnership with The Insurance Center, offering IATP members access to discounted rates tailored specifically for trampoline and adventure parks.   “We are thrilled to continue our partnership with The Insurance Center, which has provided exceptional value to our members,” said IATP Chair Philip Slaggert. “Access to discounted, tailored insurance coverage is just one of the many benefits of being part of the IATP community. We’re committed to helping our members save and grow their businesses with the best resources available.”  To become a member, learn more about…

Bandai Namco Amusement Europe recently enhanced its business development and sales capabilities by adding Anna Gavrylova to its sales team. Based in the London office, she will “play a key role in expanding Bandai Namco’s presence in the Latin American and CIS regions.”  “She brings a wealth of industry experience in project businesses and a strong international background to the company’s business development team,” Bandai Namco said.   “A native of Ukraine, she is fluent in Russian and Spanish, which positions her perfectly to build strong relationships and understand the unique needs of customers in these diverse markets.”  Gavrylova officially joined…

Representatives from the AMOA once again were in Washington, D.C., to lobby for the industry on April 1. The association’s government relations leadership team, which included committee chairpersons Joe Jacobson and Bret Clostermery, AMOA past presidents Tim Zahn and Bob Burnham, and AMOA Executive VP Lori Schneider, conducted its first in-person visit to Capitol Hill with the 119th Congress now underway.   Led by AMOA legislative counsel, John Russell and Adriana Santoni Vicens with DGA Group, the delegation conducted productive visits with 12 different offices in both the House and Senate, Schneider reported.   “The sole focus of the April 1 meetings…

After years of “relentless dedication, love and hard work,” Jersey Jack Pinball has announced a Harry Potter game is coming this spring.  “This is not just a game. This is a once-in-a-lifetime moment – for our company, for our community, and for the countless fans around the world who have kept the magic alive,” the company’s founder Jack Guarnieri posted on social media. “The love, passion, and demand for this title have been unprecedented. Soon, we finally get to share with you something we’ve poured our hearts and souls into.”  They said they’ve worked for years behind the scenes to…

Rich Babich of The Game Exchange of Colorado is among the newest members of AAMA’s Amusement Industry Hall of Fame.  In 1974, at 23 years of age, he began his career in the coin-op industry working for Funway Freeway, a regional chain of mall arcades. Over the next two and a half years, he oversaw the development and buildout of a whopping 19 arcades. In that process, he had to create all the operating procedures and cash controls and was tasked with the responsibility of running most of the stores.     “Apparently, those 19 arcades didn’t give him enough to do,…