iGaming given a stately pedestal at G2E 2012

global gaming expo ready to roll in vegasThis year more than any other the subject of iGaming is at the forefront of everyone’s thinking in the state of Nevada. Way out in the desert remains the only place that meaningful online poker licences have been handed out and who knows – this time next year we could be gearing up to have a go during the Global Gaming Expo.

As it’s top of the agenda in the political halls of Nevada there are a number of different sessions focused on the iGaming industry at G2E 2012 (October 1-4, Las Vegas) and to give an indicator on how serious G2E is taking iGaming you only have to look at the headline act AKA keynote speaker – Jim Ryan. The co-CEO of bwin.party will focus on the “rise and potential of online gambling” in North America in his keynote on Wednesday October 3 at 3:15 p.m.

In all there are nine sessions focused on iGaming, the first of these entitled ‘Proactive Process: Responsible Gaming Online’ (Tuesday October 2, Room: Titian 2304, 8:00 a.m.), where Connie Jones, director of responsible gaming at IGT, will moderate a discussion on how to translate responsible land-based gaming onto an online platform. The panel of European-based gambling specialists will look at the best ways to make sure customers act responsibly and how to implement guidelines to make sure this takes place.

Directly following that is a session called ‘Migrating Online: How to Combine Your Land-Based and Online Databases’ (Tues. Oct. 2, Titian 2304, 9:15 a.m.). It plans to look at how using free-to-play sites can build up a valuable list of customers that can then be utilized when opening a real-play site. The panel will also look at how rewarding them can then increase the players visiting a land-based casino.

Mobile is huge growth area in the gambling industry and the organizers at G2E haven’t neglected this fact. Their session ‘Making it Mobile: Technical and Regulatory Challenges’ (Tues. Oct. 2, Titian 2304, 11:45 a.m.) sees a coming together of various speakers from Nevada who will talk about the links between social and mobile gambling as well as tablets vs. smart phones.

Moving into the afternoon, there will be a special G2E Future Watch session dedicated to ‘Convergence and the Future of Online Gaming’ (Tues. Oct 2., Titian 2204, 2:00 p.m.) as a panel discuss the results of a survey and how online will effect the future of gambling.

Sports betting is an interesting subject in the USA and speakers from William Hill US, Cantor Gaming, Income Access and Station Casinos will all be on hand to discuss this sector of the industry in a session entitled ‘Sports Betting Basics: Online and Land-Based’ (Tues. Oct. 2, Titian 2304, 2:00 p.m.). The panelists will analyze how North America can learn from the European market and also try to fathom the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA) 1992, and what it means for operators.

Rounding off Tuesday will be a session for those taking payments in the US and how to make sure you aren’t in contravention of the Unlawful Internet Gaming Enforcement Act (UIGEA). ‘Processing Payments: Challenges in the U.S.’ (Tues. Oct. 2, Titian 2304, 3:15 p.m.) although near the end of the day will give you the chance to try to completely eliminate all money laundering and the basics of processing payments.

A session for suppliers called ‘Supply Side: Evaluating Your Supplier Options’ (Wed. Oct. 3, Titian 2302, 9:15 p.m.) examines who is the right fit for you and how relationships with ‘white listed’ foreign suppliers would work.

Later in the morning the attention moves to ‘Parternships for Success: Models that Work’ (Wed. Oct. 3, Titian 2204, 11:45 p.m.). Here represents the best opportunity to hear from those that already have agreements and how the supplier-casino operator continuum plays out. The panel includes speakers from MGM Resorts International, Sportingbet and Williams Interactive, meaning that regulatory hurdles will be fully understood once it has played out.

Lastly ‘Online Certification: Ensuring Integrity’ (Wed. Oct. 3, Titian 2304, 2:00 p.m.) will help those attending try and understand the stringent standards that Nevada and other jurisdictions set out in order to make sure only the best operators get a licence.

To find out more about these and all the other sessions taking place then simply visit the website at this link.