Following a strong showing at EAG 2026, Kashing MD Karen Rossouw reflects on renewed industry confidence, growing demand for contactless payments and why QR technology is proving to be a powerful revenue driver for indepen-dent operators. Against a backdrop of rising business costs Karen explains how Kashing’s frictionless payment solutions are helping pubs, clubs and leisure venues engage across demo-graphic groups not least the all-important Gen Z which has the power to make or break a business.
Coinslot: How did the show go for you this year: did it meet your expectations?
Karen Rossouw: Overall, I think it was a great show not just for Kashing but for the industry as a whole. After surviving all of the disruption of COVID and the challenge of component shortages, it felt good to be back amongst familiar faces.
Fundamentally, EAG 2026 was a chance to show our existing customers that we’re still innovating. For us, it was about proving that even in a tough market, there are still plenty of opportunities to grow if you have the right tech in place and providing you are sensitive to the nuances of the industry and the needs of operators.
Coinslot: Any key developments finalised at EAG – new agreements signed, new appointments, installations agreed etc?
Karen Rossouw: Reflecting on the three days I think the biggest and most significant takeaway was the feedback from our current clients. Despite the cost-of-living talk, several customers using our bespoke contactless kits had their best-ever December turnaround.
We’ve signed several new deals to roll-out our tech across more estates. When independent operators see that their peers are increasing revenue effortlessly while the rest of the market is struggling, they want to secure that same stability and consistency of income for their own business.
Coinslot: What were the stand highlights – which products caught the attention and what was the reaction to your portfolio of products?
Karen Rossouw: Our focus on mechanical pool tables was a massive draw. Essentially, we’ve made it very simple for traditional tables to take card and phone payments. The QR code system, in particular, was a key talking point. Gen Z, a demographic that can make or break a consumer-facing business, simply don’t carry cards, let alone coins: instead, they pay by phone.
The Kashing system lets them scan and play instantly without the faff of downloading an app. Crucially, our data shows the frictionless nature of QR payments results in an increase in sales. The immediacy of QR makes it easier for the customer to spend but also, much cheaper for the operator, as it cuts down the time and the cost of handling coins.
Our customers are finding it eye-opening to see how and when their machines are being played. Digitalising the credit play data provides greater insight into the playing habits of the end user which is invaluable when businesses are working continuously to grow their machine income.
Coinslot: It’s going to be a defining year for the business – new legislation and new regulation. How did you gauge the general mood of the industry and what were the main talking points?
Karen Rossouw: I would describe the mood as being ‘bullish.’ Yes, the government continues to make it difficult to run a business with taxes and increased overheads and the hospitality sector is feeling the pinch, but independent operators are a super-resilient bunch. The main talking point was how to stay profitable when costs are rising.
The consensus is that you have to modernise. If you make it hard for a customer to pay, you lose the game. We’re here to make sure our customers are the ones capturing that spend.
Coinslot: Now the show is over, what’s on your agenda going into spring in terms of new products, new projects and more exhibitions?
Karen Rossouw: We’ve got a busy spring ahead getting new installations live. Our priority is helping more pub and club owners get their mechanical tables and machines up to date with contactless. We’ve proven that the tech works and that the ‘QR transition’ is seamless for the end-user.
We’ve survived the hard years, and now we’re focused on helping our customers do the same by providing them with the tools that improve the bottom-line. It’s exciting times for the business!
QR kings
Karen Rossouw said……. “The Kashing system lets them scan and play instantly without the faff of downloading an app. Crucially, our data shows the frictionless nature of QR payments results in an increase in sales……
