The 2015 Global Gaming Expo’s third day concluded with two significant programs, several breakout seminars, and a handful of speed sessions. As the final keynote speech was slated for Thursday, most participants concluded their conference experiences on Wednesday. Three days packed with seminars, speeches, discussions, and panels provided an abundance of information for most interested individuals.
CEOs
The American Gaming Association (AGA) sponsored a roundtable of CEOs that marked the start of Wednesday. The discussion featured Mark Frissora, CEO of Caesars Entertainment, Gavin Isaacs from Scientific Games, and Greg Carlin from Rush Street Gaming, who convened to tackle pressing issues in today’s gaming industry.
The panel’s discussions primarily revolved around social gaming and the strategies land-based casinos can adopt to seamlessly combine with gaming apps and online gaming for a holistic customer experience. The panel also highlighted the importance of attracting millennials and leveraging non-gaming amenities to bolster profits for struggling properties when gaming revenues are low.
The trio of male CEOs also engaged in a conversation about current American legislation, touching on topics like sports betting and the negative impact illegal sports betting has on casinos. Frissora expressed his backing for a federal law aimed at outlawing the illegal sports betting industry, while Carlin predicted that the industry would be entirely legal in the United States within a decade. Isaacs, on the other hand, emphasized the importance of consumer protection in the legalization of sports betting.
Social and Internet Gaming
The seminar “Making it Mobile: Leveraging Technology in Casino Marketing” was one of the early sessions of the day, addressing social and online gaming. It emphasized the concept of the integrated resort, which merges land-based experiences with social gaming, and acknowledged the impact of the growing trend of online gambling. Representatives from SG Interactive and Aristocrat joined the conversation, discussing strategies to engage players on mobile platforms and connect these experiences to casino brands.
The seminar titled “Online Reservation: Tribal View of iGaming” was among the most attended morning sessions. It included a discussion about Internet gaming led by leaders from Indian Country. The panel, moderated by Victor Rocha from Pechanga.net, featured representatives from the Cherokee Nation, San Manuel Band of Mission Indians, Comanche Nation, and Foxwoods.
The discussions centered on federal laws and state legislation that could negatively affect tribal casino operators. Conversely, some bills provide chances for tribes to merge their gaming activities with online options, which could benefit their businesses and communities.
The subject of online poker regulation has gained more importance than in previous years, particularly as California is among the states seeking to regulate it within the next year. The discussions have been enthusiastic, with unanimous agreement that Indian tribes must be included in any gaming-related decisions that concern them.
The afternoon’s biggest panel was titled “Convergence in Action: Video, Social and Emerging Gaming Meet Casinos.” Panelists included Roger Gros, Publisher of Global Gaming Business, Allon Englman, Vice President of Scientific Games, and representatives from OpenWager and Interblock Gaming. The discussions covered topics such as integrating social gaming into casino brands and land-based opportunities, and engaging millennial customers through mobile and internet games.
Skill Games
Throughout G2E this year, numerous panels discussed the distinction between skill games and games of chance. The panel titled “Skill-Based Gaming’s Potential for Transforming Slot Play” addressed a range of topics, including online gaming. The panel was moderated by Gamblit Gaming CEO Eric Meyerhofer and featured speakers such as Frank Legato, Editor of Global Gaming Business, and David Rebuck, Director of the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement.
The seminar was prompted by the Nevada legislature’s approval of implementing skill-based games into land-based casinos. Rebuck discussed the possibility of New Jersey following suit to enhance the profitability of Atlantic City casinos.
The games in question demand a higher level of skill compared to the majority of casino slot games and have the capacity to attract a new breed of gamers who are in search of a more cerebral challenge. The potential integration of these games with online gaming could be advantageous for both land-based and online operators and could stimulate the enactment of more pro-gaming laws at both state and possibly federal levels.
