Mayo 10, 2024
problem limiting US FEC operators
HE most pressing issues facing
North American FEC operators are on sales, marketing strategies and generally providing a better
experience tor their quests.
The positive view comes from Sebastian
Mochkovsky, CEO of Sacoa USA, who some years
aro moveo to Norm America to nead uo the debit card developer's operations. Close to the market, therefore, Mochkovsky is well placed to identity the positives and negatives that
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"At the back-end level, the main issue is the lack of labour. It is very difficult to get people who want to work, or the salaries demanded
are so nien that there are some auractons that simply don't justify having that employee at the front; they won't generate adequate revenues to
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Mochkovsky said that the emerging trends
trom the market show a move towards the combination of the traditional arcade with elements that cannot be played at home, such as
Vinual realty. escare rooms and acuvites suchi as ninja courses. "There is a determination to get people away from playing with their social media
or nome rames and zer out or tne nouse anc into entertainment centres."
And the entertainment centres themselves are evolving with the demise of the traditional shopping mall, he said. "There is evidence of some change in the pattern of retall, ariven by the online shopping experience. People can buy the same products at lower cost, with the
roller skating based rec in Union, Missouri, a new Sacoa location
convenience or nome deliverv.
"Shopping malls are evolving themselves, being reinvented with large entertainment
spaces were tnose oir box stores are now abandoned. This is helping to bring people back into the mall.
"There are also cinemas and other entertainment options; people can eat well In comortable seats and enjoy a movie with their dinner.
"These locations compete with the online
Danorms. a nou?n unere is no comparison with the quality of the screen and the size of the screen, as well as that of the sound that surrounds the show."
These alternative entertainment venues, Mochkovsky said, are further supplemented by the rash of bar arcades opening across North
America, Iney also cive space to coln-operarea.
procues. New ocanons are pomoine up across North America. It is a trend that appeals to the social aspect of gaming, combining it with the
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we know of bar arcades but with a different quality in terms of food and entertainment. Take for example Your 3rd Spot, which includes bar, arcade, bowling and a variety of gastronomic
oners. In nas revored posiuve chancesi
since the installation of our Sacoa technology in its facilities."
your sro soor is an Innovanve dining-entertainment venue in Atlanta, Georgia, with plans to
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Illinois, Tennessee, New York,
Washington DC, North Carolina, Florida and Virginia. Typically, the location with offer all-in
Sebastian Mochkovsky
44 | MAY 2024 iNTERGAME WWW.INTERGAME•
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A recent Sac
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entertainment and dining at one price, the tun coming from low-tech table games to pinball, air hockey, football, shuffleboard and dozens
or Video rames. I aiso nas cowing anc even curling. It gives up to three hours of gaming on over 8u options.
Mochkovsky is not as enthusiastic about the prospects offered by the new technologies in
The vriak nelo as many or nis comoatriors ini the amusement industry. "These elements in some places have fallen short of the expected
oolecaves. I is very desirable, out nortoo many people are buying it.
"This is a technology that is trying to enter the FEC market and some games are successful, but many also fail. This remains a concern for operators because of the high cost and the high maintenance of the masks, which when they break you have to go out and buy new ones,
reducine the oronts.
For his own sector, the cashless gaming industry, Mochkovsky sees nothing but further
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methods won't reduce. It remains in many places at over 50 per cent of income. Some very high-tech, ultra-modern locations see people buying more online, reducing cash payments. But in
environments sucn as reus, mere is Sull a lot Ot cash. The trend towards cashless is increasing irrevocably; I cannot see it diminishing."
overal, the rec ousiness cemonstrates trends suggesting continued growth in certain segments, particularly those offering unique experiences and incorporating advanced technologies that may include VR/AR. "It is important to consider factors such as economic conditions and regulatory changes that may influence the numbers of installed games."
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