Bacta 全國理事會會議在倫敦以外地區首次成功召開，並計劃擴大規模

事實證明，巴克塔在利茲舉行的地區全國委員會會議取得了巨大成功，促使約翰·博洛姆總統將這一做法擴大到其他地區，包括布里斯托爾和蘇格蘭。會議期間，成員們進行了問答環節，涵蓋了無現金遊戲、賭注和獎品審查以及 D 類機器等關鍵主題。關於 EAG 貿易展的討論強調了維持 1 月初日程以促進復活節設備訂單的重要性。此外，還提供了會員普查的最新進展（回覆率為 80%），以及與 PPL 和 PRS 就音樂許可費問題進行的持續鬥爭。

Bacta's groundbreaking venture to host its National Council meeting outside of London proved to be a resounding success in Leeds, with President John Bollom enthusiastically declaring the extension of this practice to better connect with members across the country. Bollom hinted at potential future meetings in Bristol to cater to southwest England and south Wales, as well as the north-west, possibly in Manchester or Blackpool. An excursion to Scotland was also mentioned, demonstrating Bacta's commitment to fostering closer ties with its members in that region.

巴克塔在倫敦郊外主辦全國委員會會議的開創性嘗試在利茲取得了巨大成功，總統約翰·博洛姆熱情地宣布擴大這一做法，以更好地與全國各地的成員建立聯繫。博洛姆暗示，未來可能在布里斯托爾舉行會議，以滿足英格蘭西南部和威爾士南部以及西北部的需求，可能會在曼徹斯特或布萊克浦舉行。會議還提到了蘇格蘭之旅，這表明 Bacta 致力於與該地區的成員建立更緊密的聯繫。

Following the formal National Council meeting, local members were invited to a special Q&A session where they engaged in discussions on key industry topics affecting Bacta operators. The meeting witnessed a compelling turnout of operators from far-reaching areas, including Northumberland, Cumbria, and Blackpool.

全國委員會正式會議結束後，當地成員受邀參加特別問答環節，就影響 Bacta 業者的關鍵產業議題進行討論。來自諾森伯蘭郡、坎布里亞郡和布萊克浦等偏遠地區的業者出席了這場會議。

Bollom began the session by introducing the National Council members present at the Marriott Hotel in Leeds, marking the first meeting held outside London. Among them were Vice President Joseph Cullis, James Miller, Nick Harding, Peter Davies, Elizabeth Speed, Tony Boulton, Dean Harding, Jeremy Godden, Jonathan Lauder, Commercial Director Rob Gibb, and Communications Director George McGregor.

博洛姆在會議開始時介紹了出席利茲萬豪酒店的全國委員會成員，這是第一次在倫敦以外舉行的會議。其中包括副總統約瑟夫·卡利斯、詹姆斯·米勒、尼克·哈丁、彼得·戴維斯、伊麗莎白·斯皮德、托尼·博爾頓、迪恩·哈丁、傑里米·戈登、喬納森·勞德、商務總監羅布·吉布和傳播總監喬治·麥格雷戈。

George McGregor, Bacta's Communications Director, advised members to proactively engage with all candidates ahead of the upcoming general election. He further conveyed that the government's decision on the White Paper on gambling was imminent, expected "within days." Bacta, he emphasized, was actively advocating for a review of stakes and prizes.

Bacta 傳播總監 George McGregor 建議成員在即將到來的大選之前主動與所有候選人接觸。他進一步表示，政府即將就賭博問題白皮書做出決定，預計「幾天之內」。他強調，巴克塔正在積極倡導對賭注和獎金進行審查。

The Q&A session delved into various topics, including Category D machines, low stakes in seaside locations, and the highly anticipated subject of cashless gaming. Mark Horwood, UDC's Managing Director, passionately advocated for retaining the EAG trade show in early January, allowing ample time for operators to acquire and install new equipment for the Easter holiday. He expressed concerns about a proposal to shift the show to February, emphasizing the urgency of order processing for Easter.

問答環節深入探討了各種主題，包括 D 類機器、海邊地點的低賭注以及備受期待的無現金遊戲主題。 UDC 董事總經理 Mark Horwood 熱情主張在一月初保留 EAG 貿易展，以便營運商有充足的時間在復活節假期購買和安裝新設備。他對將展會推遲到二月的提議表示擔憂，並強調復活節訂單處理的緊迫性。

Bollom acknowledged the importance of EAG to Bacta's financial well-being and confirmed that the show would remain in mid-January 2025. However, he remained noncommittal about subsequent years, indicating that he would take Horwood's concerns into consideration. Other speakers stressed the significance of timely order processing for Easter, highlighting the impact on operator profitability.

Bollom 承認 EAG 對 Bacta 財務狀況的重要性，並確認該展會將在 2025 年 1 月中旬舉行。 不過，他對隨後幾年的情況仍不置可否，表示他會考慮 Horwood 的擔憂。其他演講者強調了復活節及時處理訂單的重要性，強調了這對營運商獲利能力的影響。

In response to a question from David Snook of Coin-op Community, Bollom acknowledged that the relocation of ICE from London to Barcelona next year presented opportunities for EAG. "We are investigating the possibilities," he said. "We would seek to expand our land-based gambling content at the show. We are working on this issue very hard because now is the time that would-be exhibitors are making decisions about where they will go."

在回答 Coin-op Community 的 David Snook 的問題時，Bollom 承認明年 ICE 從倫敦搬遷到巴塞隆納為 EAG 帶來了機會。 「我們正在調查可能性，」他說。 “我們將尋求在展會上擴大我們的實體賭博內容。我們正在非常努力地解決這個問題，因為現在是潛在參展商決定他們要去哪裡的時候了。”

Tony Boulton of Merkur UK updated the meeting on the association census, reporting an impressive 80% response rate. This census, the first of its kind for Bacta, aims to gather comprehensive data on the size and structure of the industry. Boulton urged any companies present who had not yet completed their surveys to do so promptly. He emphasized the crucial role this information plays in shaping the organization's strategies and enhancing its ability to effectively represent the industry in negotiations.

Merkur UK 的 Tony Boulton 更新了協會人口普查會議的最新情況，報告的回覆率為令人印象深刻的 80%。此次普查是 Bacta 的首次普查，旨在收集有關行業規模和結構的全面數據。博爾頓敦促所有尚未完成調查的在場公司立即完成調查。他強調這些資訊在製定組織策略和增強其在談判中有效代表行業的能力方面發揮著至關重要的作用。

Martin Agabeg, representing the Music Users' Group, shared the ongoing challenges faced by the sector in its disputes with PPL and PRS over fees. "We are fighting to get a decent deal for all of us," he said. "The Spotify issue remains a bone of contention. But we are dealing with monopolies – and it is very difficult to get through to them."

代表音樂用戶團體的 Martin Agabeg 分享了該行業在與 PPL 和 PRS 的費用糾紛中所面臨的持續挑戰。 「我們正在努力為我們所有人達成一項體面的協議，」他說。 “Spotify 問題仍然是爭論的焦點。但我們正在與壟斷企業打交道，而且很難與他們打交道。”

Bacta's unwavering commitment to fostering open dialogue and strengthening its relationships with members was evident throughout the meeting. The organization's willingness to experiment with new formats and extend its reach beyond London demonstrates its dedication to serving the diverse needs of its members across the country. As Bacta continues to navigate the evolving industry landscape, its ability to adapt and innovate will undoubtedly prove invaluable in safeguarding the interests of its members and ensuring the long-term success of the sector.

在整個會議期間，Bacta 堅定不移地致力於促進公開對話並加強與成員的關係。該組織願意嘗試新的形式並將其影響力擴展到倫敦以外的地區，這表明該組織致力於滿足全國各地會員的多樣化需求。隨著 Bacta 繼續駕馭不斷變化的行業格局，其適應和創新能力無疑對於維護其成員的利益和確保該行業的長期成功具有無價的價值。