Amanda Henrickson, with her 15 years of industry experience, recently joined Bay Tek Entertainment as its director of sales. She most recently served as director of strategic sales and marketing at QComp Technologies. In her new role, Henrickson will oversee the entire Bay Tek sales organization, including distributor and national account management, Hyperdeck virtual reality direct sales and the customer support team. “Amanda brings the perfect blend of strategic thinking, leadership and genuine enthusiasm for people,” said Holly Hampton, the company’s vice president of amusement products and services. “She understands that at Bay Tek, success is built on relationships, and…

Toy Chest XL Winner’s Club Edition and Ker Plop are among the latest games from Smart Industries that’ll be in the company’s booth #824 at the upcoming IAAPA Expo in Orlando. The new model of Toy Chest is a “fresh take on our proven, high-earning crane platform,” they said. “Featuring a bold, modern design and enhanced lighting and graphics, this edition is engineered to stand out in both family-friendly locations and nightlife environments, delivering strong player appeal and operator performance.” Operators will also get a first look at Ker Plop at the show. Learn more about their machines at www.smartind.com.

Shaffer Distributing recently sent out their IAAPA checklist. Not only are games they represent in their booths #2004 and #2006 but all over the trade show floor. Among the newest games are Jackpot Racer from Raw Thrills, GI Joe from JET Games, Dippin’ Dots Drop from Bay Tek, Ubisoft All-Star VR from LAI Games, Franken Slam from UNIS and Ghostbusters from Team Play. Click on the “IAAPA checklist” link above to see their full list.  Learn more by contacting [email protected].

David Cohen, past president of AAMA and AAMCF, and his wife Jane Taubenfeld Cohen will soon be honored with the Sunrise Champion Award at the Sunrise Association’s Dare to Dream Benefit. The award honors members of the Sunrise community who “go above and beyond in their dedication, generosity and commitment to bringing the joys of childhood to children with cancer and their siblings.” The pair first connected with Sunrise through AAMCF in 2018. “The amusement industry is all about joy, connection and community, values that perfectly align with Sunrise’s mission,” said Tina Schwartz, executive director of AAMA. “David’s years of leadership…

Sacoa Cashless System has reported that Tomás “Tomi” Hofmann, a key figure in the company’s history, passed away in Buenos Aires, Argentina, on Oct. 29. Hofmann “played an essential role in developing many of the projects that positioned the brand as a global leader in cashless technology,” the company wrote. He retired in 2019 as director of R&D at Sacoa PlayCard. “His open mind has been contributing to make the projects a reality,” said Jorge Mochkovsky, director of Sacoa. “Each challenge was for him a new endeavor, and we are proud to have worked side by side – as humans…

Be sure to stop by booths #231 and #431 at IAAPA Expo to see the debut of five new games from LAI. They include Ubisoft All-Star VR, Phantom Vanguard, Cube Clash, Kaiju Rampage Unite and Hyper Grid. Here’s a bit more about each game directly from the company: Ubisoft All-Star VR– Step into your favorite Ubisoft worlds in this next-gen multiplayer VR attraction featuring iconic characters, motion tech, and cinematic visuals. Phantom Vanguard– Join the Modern Combat universe in a cutting-edge arcade shooter blending tactical missions, adaptive weapons, and immersive dual-screen action. Cube Clash– Compete head-to-head in this dynamic two-player…

The team at Betson Enterprises will be busy at IAAPA booth #615 – and elsewhere during the week in Orlando. In addition to having trade show specials for financing and leasing the latest arcade machines, they’ll host their own Betson Technical University and also take part in an IAAPA fun run event. Betson Technical University will run Nov. 17-18 (a free ticket to IAAPA is included). It features the company’s skilled in-house technicians sharing their knowledge, experience and best practices. The two-day course is for owners, GMs and even those new to the industry. Betson will also support the 2025…

The eatertainment venue Fairway Social in Alpharetta, Georgia, modernized their coin-op location and went with Intercard, the company recently reported. Fairway Social is primarily a golf entertainment facility with AR simulators in private bays, but they also have a 27-game arcade with Pop-A-Shot, Skee-Ball, Golden Tee and Big Buck Hunter, among others. Intercard’s Tyler Henson did the system installation with the company’s industry partner Alpha-Omega Amusements and Sales. Learn more at www.intercardinc.com and www.fairway-social.com.  

DSM Arcade and the beer maker Pabst Brewing Company have partnered to bring a new look to Perfect Pour. The Pabst Blue Ribbon Edition of the game will make its public debut at the AVS Companies booth #1918 at IAAPA Expo.  “We’ve been developing the gameplay of Perfect Pour since 2022, and it’s proven to be a hit with players and operators alike,” said Dan Fessler, founder of DSM Arcade. “Now we’re taking that proven formula and pairing it with the legacy and personality of one of America’s most iconic beer brands.”  The new edition of the game features vintage-style cabinet art, HD graphics and effects and a redesigned cabinet…

Go-kart operator K1 Speed recently opened what they called “Southern California’s first indoor multi-level karting track.”   K1 Speed Culver City not only has a multi-level track but two event rooms for parties and meetings, an arcade and the gastropub-inspired Paddock Lounge.   “It feels right to introduce Southern California’s first multi-level indoor go-kart track in a city so deeply connected to the entertainment industry,” said co-founder and CMO Susan Danglard. “This new center truly provides our guests with a blockbuster racing experience like no other.” Learn more at www.k1speed.com/culver-city-location.