Bacta 全国理事会会议在伦敦以外地区首次成功召开，并计划扩大规模

事实证明，巴克塔在利兹举行的地区全国委员会会议取得了巨大成功，促使约翰·博洛姆总统将这一做法扩大到其他地区，包括布里斯托尔和苏格兰。会议期间，成员们进行了问答环节，涵盖了无现金游戏、赌注和奖品审查以及 D 类机器等关键主题。关于 EAG 贸易展的讨论强调了维持 1 月初日程以促进复活节设备订单的重要性。此外，还提供了会员普查的最新进展（回复率为 80%），以及与 PPL 和 PRS 就音乐许可费问题进行的持续斗争。

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.

巴克塔在伦敦郊外主办全国委员会会议的开创性尝试在利兹取得了巨大成功，总统约翰·博洛姆热情地宣布扩大这一做法，以更好地与全国各地的成员建立联系。博洛姆暗示，未来可能在布里斯托尔举行会议，以满足英格兰西南部和威尔士南部以及西北部的需求，可能会在曼彻斯特或布莱克浦举行。会议还提到了苏格兰之旅，这表明 Bacta 致力于与该地区的成员建立更紧密的联系。

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.

全国委员会正式会议结束后，当地成员受邀参加特别问答环节，就影响 Bacta 运营商的关键行业话题进行讨论。来自诺森伯兰郡、坎布里亚郡和布莱克浦等偏远地区的运营商出席了此次会议。

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.

博洛姆在会议开始时介绍了出席利兹万豪酒店的全国委员会成员，这是第一次在伦敦以外举行的会议。其中包括副总裁约瑟夫·卡利斯、詹姆斯·米勒、尼克·哈丁、彼得·戴维斯、伊丽莎白·斯皮德、托尼·博尔顿、迪恩·哈丁、杰里米·戈登、乔纳森·劳德、商务总监罗布·吉布和传播总监乔治·麦格雷戈。

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 传播总监 George McGregor 建议成员在即将到来的大选之前主动与所有候选人接触。他进一步表示，政府即将就赌博问题白皮书做出决定，预计“几天之内”。他强调，巴克塔正在积极倡导对赌注和奖金进行审查。

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.

问答环节深入探讨了各种主题，包括 D 类机器、海边地点的低赌注以及备受期待的无现金游戏主题。 UDC 董事总经理 Mark Horwood 热情主张在一月初保留 EAG 贸易展，以便运营商有充足的时间在复活节假期购买和安装新设备。他对将展会推迟到二月的提议表示担忧，并强调复活节订单处理的紧迫性。

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 承认 EAG 对 Bacta 财务状况的重要性，并确认该展会将在 2025 年 1 月中旬举行。不过，他对随后几年的情况仍不置可否，表示他会考虑 Horwood 的担忧。其他发言者强调了复活节及时处理订单的重要性，强调了这对运营商盈利能力的影响。

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 的问题时，Bollom 承认明年 ICE 从伦敦搬迁到巴塞罗那为 EAG 带来了机遇。 “我们正在调查可能性，”他说。 “我们将寻求在展会上扩大我们的实体赌博内容。我们正在非常努力地解决这个问题，因为现在是潜在参展商决定他们要去哪里的时候了。”

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 的托尼·博尔顿 (Tony Boulton) 更新了协会人口普查会议的最新情况，报告的答复率为令人印象深刻的 80%。此次普查是 Bacta 的首次普查，旨在收集有关行业规模和结构的全面数据。博尔顿敦促所有尚未完成调查的在场公司立即完成调查。他强调这些信息在制定组织战略和增强其在谈判中有效代表行业的能力方面发挥着至关重要的作用。

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."

代表音乐用户团体的 Martin Agabeg 分享了该行业在与 PPL 和 PRS 的费用纠纷中所面临的持续挑战。 “我们正在努力为我们所有人达成一项体面的协议，”他说。 “Spotify 问题仍然是争论的焦点。但我们正在与垄断企业打交道，而且很难与他们打交道。”

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.

整个会议期间，Bacta 坚定不移地致力于促进公开对话并加强与成员的关系。该组织愿意尝试新的形式并将其影响力扩展到伦敦以外的地区，这表明该组织致力于满足全国各地会员的多样化需求。随着 Bacta 继续驾驭不断变化的行业格局，其适应和创新能力无疑对于维护其成员的利益和确保该行业的长期成功具有无价的价值。