The ATM Industry Assn. (ATMIA) has confirmed its support for new efforts to ban cashless retail businesses in New York City, Washington, D.C., and Philadelphia. At least two states are also said to be considering similar proposals. The motivation for such efforts has focused on the potential disenfranchisement of poor and unbanked consumers, ATMIA noted “The issue is far broader than the poor and unbanked segment of the economy pointed to by these legislative measures,” says David Tente, executive director of ATMIA USA. “Cashless retail severely limits consumer payment choice and eliminates the favored payment method for 26 percent of…
Author: Matt Harding
The ATMIA has wrapped up another record-breaking trade show with its US Conference 2019. The event, which ran from Feb. 19-21 at Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort in Orlando, Fla., attracted some 105 exhibitors and more than 1,100 attendees. “We haven’t grown year over year every year, but over time we keep growing,” said David Tente, executive director of ATMIA USA. “And the last two years have seen record-breaking attendance.” As Tente noted, the show boasted an expanded lineup of seminars and workshops. “We had five workshops this year, compared to four last year and a few of the sessions were…
The International Pizza Expo is right around the corner and no matter how you slice it – with 500 exhibitors and more than 80 seminars – it’s a big trade show. Held March 5-7 at the Las Vegas Convention Center (with additional educational sessions from March 3-4), the Pizza Expo will feature two keynote speakers: Chris Bianco, founder of Pizzeria Bianco and “a driving force in the artisanal pizza movement,” and Sammy Mandell, who started Greenville Avenue Pizza Company in Dallas. Among the education sessions: a “Stromboli Done Right” demonstration; a New York-style dough demo; and seminars on handling employee…
Batman, Wonder Woman and Superman are getting arcade upgrades thanks to a new collectible card series from Raw Thrills via its popular Injustice Arcade game. The new Series 2 cards consist of updated visual designs for 100 heroes and villains, as well as 10 new rare team cards like League of Assassins and Teen Titans. The Series 2 pack totals 200 cards and can be purchased here. Locations that currently have Injustice Arcade will receive a software kit (shipping now) with the Series 2 cards. According to Betson, a leading distributor for Raw Thrills, the kit also includes a new translate featuring…
Tastemakers’ Arcade1Up replica machine – a new cabinet featuring classic games – won the Toy Association’s “Tech Toy of the Year” award at the 116th North American International Toy Fair, held in New York City on Feb. 15. According to Forbes, the available cabinets include Street Fighter, Rampage, Asteroids and Centipede. The company’s website (www.arcade1up.com) also lists Mortal Kombat, Final Fight, Space Invaders, Golden Tee, Karate Champ, Galaga and others. The replica machine maker is expanding its lineup in 2019 to include Ghosts n’ Goblins, 1944and Strider. Their cabinets come in stand-up versions that retail for $299 and desktop units at $199.…
Sideswipe Brewing, located in Columbus, has teamed up with Arcade Super Awesome to add about 40 arcade games and pinball machines to its taproom facility, according to the Columbus Dispatch, effectively making it an arcade bar. Sideswipe added 1,500 sq. ft. by expanding into the space next door, allowing it to put in a second bar – creating more space for the busy business, which has tripled in size since opening five years ago. The company preserves arcade games and pinball machines, and had some of its games at Sideswipe in the past. Among their new pinball machines are Ghostbusters,…
The Omni virtual reality treadmill developer Virtuix recently hit 1 million plays on its Omniverse gaming platform, the company announced. It also just released its 20th game, Bull Runner, which simulates the Running of the Bulls festival in Spain. Virtuix says it has shipped more than 3,000 Omni units to more than 500 locations in 45 countries since it launched in late 2017, and upon surpassing 1 million plays, published six key lessons learned from running VR at location-based entertainment venues. One takeaway is that operators ought to offer better games, not more. Virtuix found that 80 percent of Omni operator revenue comes…
Co-located with the Amusement Expo March 26-28 at the Westgate Hotel and Las Vegas Convention Center, the National Bulk Vending Assn. recently published a schedule of events for Expo-goers. Among the notable additions: the NBVA-only industry gala reception (March 26 at 5:15-7:15 p.m. in Westgate, Ballroom A); the members-only breakfast (March 27 at 8-9:30 a.m. in Westgate, Pavilion 11); and the awards dinner and elections (March 27 at 6:30-10 p.m. in Westgate, Pavilion 11). NBVA president Scott Ausmus of National Entertainment Network also announced some changes from last year’s event. The group’s awards banquet will be less formal, featuring a…
As an old-school jukebox flips discs to play Run-DMC’s Tricky, Oscar-winning actress Charlize Theron steps up to a pool table, making one-handed shots – Budweiser in hand. She throws a bullseye at the dart board as onlookers hold their faces in disappointment. She knocks the record high score on a video boxing machine and finishes off with an arm-wrestling contest. All without spilling a drop of her beer. The ad, which aired during the Oscars last night, promotes the brand’s limited-edition Reserve Copper Lager, created to celebrate the 85th anniversary of Prohibition. And what better place to do so than…
Just in time for Mobile’s Mardi Gras celebration, the 1980s and ’90s-themed Game Over Retro Pub opened its doors on Feb. 14, according to Fox 10 News. Featuring Super Mario Brothers, Big Buck Hunter and Street Fighter II on the arcade side of things, among other games, Game Over also has a craft Philly and burrito food menu and full bar. The bar is open from 4 p.m.-2 a.m. and is kid-friendly until 9 p.m. Follow the business at www.facebook.com/gameoverretropub.