The Bacta Pub Summit which takes place on the opening day of EAG (13:00 hrs, 14 January, North Corridor Room 8) continues to reinforce its status as a ‘must attend’ event with Andrew Green, Policy Manager for Pub Operations at the British Beer and Pub Association joining the list of Summit advocates.

Speaking to Coinslot in the week preceding EAG he confirmed: “Bacta’s Pub Summit offers a great opportunity every year to hear from, and meet with, all the key stakeholders that have an interest in gaming machines within the pub sector. For me, the key benefit is the insight and information-sharing from the across the sector and I always come away having learned something very useful.”

The economic pressures on pubs was highlighted in a recent survey by property group Altus which claimed that the number of active pub businesses in England and Wales had fallen blow the symbolic 40,000 figure for the first time. Highlighting the significance of the cost pressures on pubs and acknowledging that they were likely to increase in the year ahead he believes the machine income can provide a lifeline for some pub businesses. He explained: “Whilst it is not the main source of income for a pub, it is vital to so many of them, especially in the current economic climate. In some instances the income can make the difference between making an overall profit or a loss. However, for gaming machines to remain an attractive option for pubs, their operating costs have to be reasonable, and they need to reflect the technological improvements that we hope to see in the future such as cashless payments.”

In terms of achieving the regulatory changes that the industry continues to lobby for Green noted: “The BBPA engages closely with Bacta on those issues where we can combine our resources and influence to benefit our respective members. Currently this includes the target of cashless payments for gaming machines and ensuring there are robust barriers that help prevent under-age use. Longer term, a change to stakes and prizes is key in order to maintain their value to pubs and their attraction to customers.”

The introduction of the Social Immersive Entertainment Expo to the EAG experience has come at an opportune time for more progressive pub companies and operators looking to add something new to what is an ultra-competitive sector. Andrew Green confirmed: “Pubs are always looking at how they can innovate and adapt their offer to best reflect the desires of their customers and the communities they support. For some pubs, competitive socialising in its many forms will be a great option to consider for improving footfall and maintaining viability as a business.”

Underlining the importance of the Summit to the supply chain Peter Davies Inspired Entertainment Managing Director Leisure, and Chair of Bacta’s Gaming Council said: “It is one of the key opportunities of the year to bring suppliers/operators together with the on-trade. It has grown in popularity year-on-year and 2025 is poised to be the most significant yet given that we have a new government in place and the absolute need for clarity regarding the progress and status of the previous government’s white paper.”

Describing the EAG Pub Summit as an invaluable opportunity to debate the challenges and solutions impacting the sector Matt Bicknell, Managing Director Regal Gaming Technologies stated: “There is a growing recognition of how vitally important machine income is to the viability of many thousands of pubs throughout the country. We are standing shoulder to shoulder with our PubCo customers and over the last two years have deployed over £40m of capex into the sector. I believe that the industry can work productively alongside colleagues from the on-trade to achieve shared objectives and the Pub Summit is an important part of that collaborative process.”

Nick Rudd Managing Director of the Rudd Group added: “The Pub Summit is a highlight of EAG for us. This unique gathering creates an unparalleled opportunity to have meaningful, face-to-face conversations with key decision-makers and industry leaders, all focused on addressing the challenges and opportunities facing the sector. What makes the Pub Summit so important is its collaborative nature. With so many influential voices in the same space, it allows us to collectively discuss and decide on the best approach to emerging products, technologies, and regulations.”