With WGES Barcelona now behind us, the next iGaming event I’m focused on is iGB Live!, taking place in Amsterdam Wednesday and Thursday, July 17th and 18th.
There are a number of changes for this year’s edition of iGB Live!, but the one change I want to be sure you’re aware of is entry into every corner of the event is 100% free of charge. Yes, that’s right—passes are free, even for the “HQ” portion of the conference tracks, a zone of iGB Live! that was “paid-for” only in years previous.
Another point I’d like to make is the sessions are mostly split into two categories this year, “iGB Live! HQ” and “iGB Affiliate Amsterdam,” a much more manageable layout than the seven or eight conference tracks that used to run during the event.
As I map out my own schedule for iGB Live!, I wanted to share with you six sessions that caught my attention and that the CalvinAyre.com crew will be covering. Just because I like the topics does not mean you will like the topics, but hopefully my recommendations will pique your interest and help you formulate your iGB Live! plan of attack.
For those who cannot make it, I invite you to catch our daily highlight videos from the event for your dose of the latest in iGaming.
Wednesday, July 17th- Day 1
1) 11:30-12:00- “Blockchain is overhyped and operators don’t need it” (HQ)
I know what you’re thinking…why in the world would she ever recommend this panel?
Don’t be fooled by the title, the point of this session is to spark a debate amongst the panelists (and the audience) regarding the importance of blockchain for the iGaming industry. For anyone that follows my work, you know I strongly believe blockchain will change iGaming as we know it and I cannot wait to see how iGB Live! delegates respond to this session.
I also want to mention panelist Simit Naik, Director of Business Services for nChain, will be making his debut at an iGaming event and has a wealth of knowledge in blockchain applications, especially from a Bitcoin SV perspective. I urge you to chat with Naik after the panel if you’re interested in learning how the Bitcoin SV blockchain can improve your business and save you money.
2) 14:30-15:00: “Affiliates do not have enough liability” (HQ)
This session will dive into iGaming affiliates and compliance—whose job is it to remain compliant, the affiliate’s, the operator’s, or both? The notion of having to apply for an affiliate license in markets such as the regulated U.S. market can be scary, especially for some of the smaller affiliates out there, a topic this panel also promises to address.
Most importantly, the panelists listed as participating in this session, at least at the time of writing, are Lee-Ann Johnstone of Affiliate INSIDER and Shaun O’Neill of XL Media, two highly experienced professionals within the iGaming affiliate industry. Both Johnstone and O’Neill have been through the many evolutions of the industry and will be able to provide an honest and realistic perspective for affiliates of all levels.
3) 15:30-16:15 “On the tools: Top tips for Facebook Live from a social media powerhouse” (iGB Aff)
You’ve got to love a little fresh meat at these events! Access to perspectives on anything, especially marketing strategy, from outside iGaming is a wonderful way to get those creative juices flowing. Clarion has always done an outstanding job bringing on board “outside-in” speakers and iGB Live! 2019 is no exception to the rule.
I have never had the opportunity to listen to a session dedicated to Facebook Live and to be honest, I have yet to use the feature for work or personal reasons. In this day and age people are not patient with content and I find this extremely relevant when I’m covering a conference and our content takes more than 12 hours to be released. Perhaps using something like Facebook Live until the polished content comes out is the answer.
Thursday, July 18th– Day 2
4) 11:30-12:00- “Innovations in technology and AI – the future of iGaming” (iGB Aff)
I always enjoy hearing about predictions for the future of iGaming. Innovative tech making headlines is an indicator of what we can expect to unfold down the line in iGaming and this session promises to touch on big data and artificial intelligence, one of the hottest topics in the industry today.
5) 13:30-14:00- “U.S. sportsbetting and affiliates’ Place at the Table” (iGB Aff)
There is so much unfolding in the regulated U.S. market at the moment, with more information coming out on what seems to be a daily basis. I always try to catch a session dedicated to this developing market at every event I attend throughout the year, just to keep on top of it all.
What caught my attention in particular for this panel was the bit focusing on the DOJ Wire Act re-interpretation, a subject that isn’t talked about very much but likely should be.
6) 14:15-15:00- “Braziliate Marketing: How to find your place in Brazil’s iGaming Boom” (iGB Aff)
Everyone wants a piece of the Brazilian iGaming market, but the question is how do we get it?
From what I understand, the only way to actually succeed in Brazil is with local contacts and expertise. Alessandro Valente, the presenter of this session, has five years of experience dealing with the iGaming Brazilian market and I look forward to absorbing some of his native expertise on the subject.
