Rachel Reeves' Autumn Budget removed the biggest worry for gaming machine operators and helped to set the scene for next month's major shop window for the British AGC and casino operators along with the rest of the UK industry.
Nick Harding, chairman of the EAG organising committee, said that the show took on fresh meaning with the removal of MGD doubts. But the Budget did come with some downsides, he points out.
"On the one hand, the government's decision not to increase MGD provides welcome breathing space at a moment when operators across the country are working hard to sustain footfall, reinvest in equipment and maintain vibrant leisure destinations.
"Stability in MGD, at a time when tax inflation has become the default in many industries, signals at least a recognition that coastal arcades, AGCs, bingo clubs and FECs form an important part of local economies, high streets and tourism ecosystems.
"However, this relief arrives alongside a set of fiscal pressures that cannot be ignored. Rising wage costs continue to challenge operators who depend on skilled, customer-facing staff to deliver the friendly and engaging environments that define the UK's land-based industry.
"Further concern comes with the announcement that seaside mayors may be granted new powers to introduce local 'tourist taxes'. For many coastal towns - where arcades, FECs and other leisure venues act as economic anchors - any additional levy risks suppressing visitor spend.
"Yet the defining characteristic of the land-based industry has always been its resilience. Good operators put their best foot forward, regardless of the external environment.
"And in 2026, the best place to take that first confident step will once again be EAG Expo at the London Excel (January 13-15)."
EAG, and its London Casino & Gaming show and Social Immersive Entertainment Expo, will bring together the full spectrum of the industry: the latest amusement machines, redemption innovations, gaming technologies, VR attractions, cash handling, social-interactive systems, management tools and family entertainment concepts.
Crucially, EAG 2026 will also feature a comprehensive seminar and learning programme, offering cutting-edge insights from industry leaders, innovators, analysts and operational experts.
The sessions are structured to provoke fresh thought and inspire creativity - the very fuel upon which every successful leisure business thrives.
Harding noted: "Despite the economic pressures, the sector remains full of opportunity. With stable MGD, a strong pipeline of new technology and the collective energy of an industry determined to evolve, the road to 2026 starts at Excel.
"EAG is where ideas turn into action and where operators will find the tools they need to drive performance in the year ahead.
"For exhibitors who may have been holding back making a decision as to whether to attend or not, it really would be an opportunity missed not to be there and the EAG sales team are manning the phones with all sorts of last minute exhibitor deals."