LONDON — The Amusement Trades Exhibition International will likely return to its longtime home - Earls Court - in 2009, reported InterGame, a UK- based trade magazine. If so, the event would see a repeat of the controversial floor plan that puts amusement exhibits upstairs and the International Casino Exhibition downstairs.

Shortly after the London Show this past January, a vocal group of unhappy exhibitors met with Clarion Events, ATEI's owner, and urged them to move the event to the Olympia, an alternate hall that interestingly is owned by the same company as Earls Court (EC&O Venues). The group strongly suggested a split between ATEI and ICE. According to InterGame, Clarion responded by making an effort to consult with more exhibitors to get their opinions - and reported that "apparently only 50% wanted to move to Olympia."

"No official statement concerning a conclusion has been made by Clarion," the publication said, "but it is likely that a repeat of the highly criticized 2008 layout will happen in 2009."

For more of the story, visit: Vending Times

DES MOINES, IA — Some 79 manufacturers, distributors and operators will likely go to trial in Polk County this September, as plaintiffs against the State of Iowa in the continuing TouchPlay videogame controversy. They are seeking up to $900 million in damages to compensate for the Iowa Legislature's decision, two years ago, to outlaw the previously legal slot-style games.

The opposing parties failed to reach an agreement earlier this month during three days of negotiation, according to the Des Moines Register. The paper said talks between both sides are ongoing; plaintiffs' attorneys remain hopeful that a settlement will eventually be obtained. Several operators in other counties have settled cases with Iowa in this matter, the publication noted.

For more of the story, visit: Vending Times

LAS VEGAS — The National Dart Association's 23rd annual Team Dart Tournament attracted the world's best soft-tip dart players to the Riviera Hotel & Casino here. The nine-day event, which concluded last weekend, featured individual and team matches; players competed on the latest electronic dartboards.

Amusement and Music Operators Association president Lloyd Williamson of Williamson Sugarloaf Inc. (Winona, MN) attended opening ceremonies on Monday, April 21, and accepted a plaque of recognition as one of the group's original founding sponsors. (NDA is a subsidiary of AMOA.)

For more of the story, visit: Vending Times

Stinger REPORT Skinny!

As noted in this week's Off-The-Top introduction, AMOA is in the midst of developing a new service program that will offer members a very low-cost entree into having a presence on the Internet

In essence, AMOA will be offering members hands-on help in creating a website for their company...at a minimal cost. Using a template that was created in the developmental phase of this program, members will be provided with a website address, accompanied by a series of pages that will contain information on the member's company and services.

AMOA is finalizing the details with WebCampOne, owned by AMOA Past President Jim Pietrangelo, who will work directly with interested members on creating the site.

AMOA is working to make it as easy and quick as possible for itsmembers to have a website. Right now, the envisioned price tag is $50for creation of the site, with a $50 annual renewal fee.

More details will be forthcoming, but if you as an AMOA member havewanted to tell your customers to "visit our website for moreinformation about us," you will soon no longer have any excuses!

Contact Jack Kelleher at 800-YES-AMOA (937-2662) or via email at: This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it for more information.