Location, location, location: Blueprint MD Andy Tipple on how ARE succeeded in attracting operators from Scotland and Ireland

Coinslot: A new show, new location, new style venue, new timings. How would you rate ARE’s debut and what were the highlights?

It was a great debut. We were extremely pleased with the venue, the numbers were good and the evening event was a really enjoyable and productive way to close the first day of the first edition of ARE. Increasingly, exhibitors are looking to maximise every minute of their time at an expo and the opportunity to extend productive networking time well into the evening was a real plus. Having a show in Manchester was a hit with operators based in the north and a key take away were the customer numbers we met with from Ireland and Scotland. Sales were positive and putting all these elements together we will definitely be returning for the second edition of ARE. It was a great success which ticked many boxes.

Coinslot: There was a very positive vibe around the new show, does it have the potential for good footfall and business opportunities in the coming years?

I think the location is a clincher for this show. In our preview to ARE we talked about the danger of being London-centric with Park Avenue, ACOS and of course EAG all taking place in the Capital. Manchester is far more accessible for large swathes of the industry and I’m also keen on the timing. Many operators struggle to attend EAG in January and ARE provides a reassuring backstop to visit a trade show albeit one that’s on a slightly smaller scale.

Coinslot: You gave strong backing to ARE particularly with the quality of product you took to Manchester. Talk us through some of the crowd pulling innovations in your portfolio?

Our comprehensive product line-up reflected Blueprint’s commitment to performance, sustainability, and most significantly future-readiness. We showed the Revolution, Revolution 49”, Velocity, and the iconic Poker 23 – a collection that speaks directly to today’s operational challenges and tomorrow’s opportunities. The key highlight and major talking point was our new dynamic game menu, which represents a major enhancement in player navigation. It introduces search functionality, tabbed browsing, and game previews —enabling customers to understand the content before they play. It’s a leap forward in the user–experience which gives players greater control and boosts engagement. The new menu design will be available on both the Revolution and the Velocity cabinets.

Coinslot: Were there any notable wins from the two days – new agreements, installations, partnerships?

Sales were very positive and far outweighed our pre-show expectations.

Coinslot: The staging of ARE was particularly timely given the latest declarations made by the Gambling Minister on the 80/20 rule and her less than favourable tones on AGCs. From your conversations over the two days, what is the mood around the industry?

For once the White Paper took a bit of a back seat  and whilst I did have a number of conversations about Technical Standards they were dwarfed by discussions surrounding product innovation and operator plans for the remainder of the year.