Deregulation Fuels ICE Development

ATE, organisers of the International Casino Exhibition (ICE) which takes place at Earls Court 2, London, are preparing for another record-breaking event.

A 12 year period of constant growth has seen net floor space increase from 828sqm to around 10,000 sqm, exhibitor numbers rise from 13 to over 160 and attendances multiply from 303 to over 7,000 (17,000-plus if cross-over visitors from the co-located ATEI soft gaming expo are included). The 2005 edition is set to welcome its 50,000th dedicated casino buyer through the doors on January 25 to 27, as well as expanding on the 150 different nations already represented throughout the show's history.

Proposed deregulation of the UK gaming industry, which is currently passing through the House of Parliament and on schedule to be law by Spring of 2005, will make ICE 2005 the most significant in the history of the exhibition.

By the end of October, 162 companies from a record 32 nations had confirmed their stand space at ICE 2005 and the show's organisers are predicting this figure will rise well beyond the all-time high of 166 set in 2004.

Of the 162 registered so far, around two-thirds (107) are based outside the UK. Leading the international field is the USA with 14 exhibiting companies, closely followed by the Netherlands with 10.

50 exhibitors have opted to increase their ICE presence for 2005.