In this exclusive interview, Valentin - Adrian Georgescu , CEO of Novomatic Romania, shared his impressions of the recent Entertainment Arena Expo (EAE), where the firm made a significant impact with its latest offerings. 

He highlighted the company's dedication to providing an unrivalled gaming experience for users, as well as the power to adapt to the changing needs of the market. 

From innovative gaming cabinets to strategic initiatives, Georgescu discussed how Novomatic is shaping the future of the entertainment industry in Romania and beyond. 

What new products have you introduced this year at the 16th edition of the Entertainment Arena Expo and how do you think they will impact the market?

The highlight at this year’s EAE were the V.I.P.s: Our brand new V.I.P. X™ cabinet series celebrated its premiere on the Romanian market at the show. This sophisticated product line is aimed at discerning gaming guests and casino operators who want to offer their visitors a high-quality gaming experience. The impressive V.I.P. X Royal™ 1.85, the V.I.P. X Dream™ 3.43 and the V.I.P. Lounge™ 2.32 offer exceptional luxury with exquisite V.I.P. comfort, extra high and wide gaming screens and a first-class sound system with comfortable seating. We also made a real statement for galactic gameplay: The exclusive V.I.P. Galaxy™ 2.65 takes the gaming experience to a new level of immersion. This ultimate luxury lounge chair features two 65" gaming screens and adjustable luxurious seating comfort. 

Our mission remains unchanged: to stand alongside our partners’ businesses and provide an unparalleled gaming experience to our customers. We promise our partners an offering focused on innovation and support and these are crucial elements of our strategy. Even in this challenging context, we have showcased our expanded portfolio of innovative products, strengthened relationships with current partners and explored new collaborations. We are confident that, this year as well, our personalised products and solutions contributed to supporting the industry and the success of gaming operators. 

What are the main trends in the entertainment industry that you have observed during the show? 

NOVOMATIC's particular advantage as one of the world's leading providers in the gaming industry does not only consist in its high-quality gaming content and devices, but also in the breadth of its own operations, which enables us to quickly recognise and react to market feedback and trends. Great examples from our portfolio are Linked Progressive mixes such as the high performing XTENSION LINK™, the mythical GODS & LEGENDS™ Link or our collection of classic titles featuring Linked Progressive mechanics and free games such as the GOLDEN LINK™. 

Despite this growth of Linked Progressives, we also innovate around our classic multi-games as they are core products in all of our key markets. While some regions show a strong focus on fruit games others prefer themed titles. Such core preferences are found quite stable in specific areas around the world. For example, historical and mystical themes like the NOVOMATIC classics Book of Ra™ and Lucky Lady™ are popular in Europe. 

What has been your overall experience at the Entertainment Arena Expo 2024 and what are the most valuable aspects about your participation?

The feedback from partners and visitors confirms that our strategy, which emphasizes adaptability and support, remains crucial to our success. We are committed to helping our partners with tailored solutions and ensuring they have the tools to maximize profits and improve customer experiences. Despite the challenges facing the Romanian industry this year, we continue to offer customized solutions and lead industry trends, a role we take seriously. We also encourage others to contribute innovative ideas to support the industry amid significant legislative changes. 

NOVOMATIC Romania continues to be a reliable partner, providing essential tools for profitability while adapting to changes and exploring new collaboration opportunities. This year, we introduced an exclusive offer to the Romanian market: the BECOME A NOVOMATIC PARTNER initiative, which presents a unique opportunity for a joint venture to acquire PREMIUM category gaming equipment in our country. Our RENT & WIN and BUY-BACK campaigns have also significantly enhanced the chances of securing exceptional, personalized offers. 

How do you see the future of the entertainment industry and what role do you think your company will play in it? 

We are proud of our continuous innovation and will carry on supplying our customers with state-of-the-art solutions for their land-based gaming offerings, from slot machines to casino management systems, cash-handling solutions and sports betting equipment. The area of online, mobile and social gaming activities in particular has also been booming for several years. We will therefore continue to focus on online activities in parallel. In this context, Greentube – NOVOMATIC’s Digital Gaming and Entertainment Division – has successfully expanded its international portfolio in the area of game development as well as system and platform technology through several strategic acquisitions. 

Our research and current developments show that online and land-based offerings complement each other superbly and address a variety of different player segments.