2006 at last saw the coin-op industry receive a much-needed boost, with stake and prize levels increased from 30p to 50p and maximum payouts on AWP machines rising from £25 to £35.

Since October, Gamestec, one of the UK's leading gaming and amusement machine operators, has been undertaking a controlled trial on the new £35 AWP's with a number of their customers. Initial results from these trials have been extremely promising with the increase in stake and the introduction of the £35 jackpot having positive impact on our retail business.

Since the changes, results have shown that players are beginning to commit to the new 50p stake as over 30% of all games being played are played with the new stake level.

Gamestec currently have over 10% of their AWP's featuring the 50p / £25 jackpot on sites across the UK and so far this has produced a positive uplift in revenue of approximately 5%. Where retail customers have tested machines with the £35 jackpot and the 50p stake, there has been a further 2% income growth on top of that seen on the 50p stake £25 jackpot estate.

Whilst the £35 jackpot is encouraging, its impact on the business has been very restricted due to the current license duty changes. This situation is expected to change when the chancellor's new budget is announced in March 2007 and the full benefit of these changes will be realised.

Gamestec believes that these changes are more than just a "band aid" for the coin-op industry and consider the increases to be just one part of a complex puzzle, which will help to rejuvenate the AWP sector.

With such a promising start to the new stake and prize programme, early indications demonstrate that the player is prepared to commit to the 50p stake in return for a higher payment on quality games. The challenge for 2007 is for the game designers to pick up on this positive move and ensure that the new developments continue to move the market in a creative manner as we approach the new gaming legislation.