The second day of the 2015 Global Gaming Expo, following a first day packed with conferences, provided a wider variety of experiences. The Expo officially opened, giving attendees the opportunity to explore the Sands Expo Convention Center floor, and browse the extensive array of vendor offerings.
On Tuesday, the State of Gaming Address by Geoff Freeman, the President and CEO of the American Gaming Association (AGA), was the first item on the agenda. He discussed the condition of the gaming industry in America, mentioning that Moody recently upgraded its outlook on various markets. He also pointed out that seven out of the eight operators in the downsized Atlantic City are now turning a profit. Freeman emphasized the four AGA initiatives, one of which includes the 2015 Bank Secrecy Act Conference that took place in June. He also highlighted the “Play It Safe” program designed to combat illegal gambling.
Next up was the keynote speech by Jeffrey Ma. Known for founding the renowned MIT blackjack team, Ma has also made a name for himself as a respected business strategist and expert in data analysis. In his speech, he shared various lessons he’s learned throughout his journey. He emphasized the importance of accepting failure, making well-researched, objective decisions, and removing emotion from the decision-making equation. His speech was enhanced by the inclusion of celebrity anecdotes and blackjack-related comparisons, providing both entertainment and education for the audience.
Everi Holdings also hosted a charity tournament in support of various charities, including the Cleveland Clinic Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health and the Animal Foundation. Furthermore, they made a generous donation of $40K to Save a Warrior, a foundation dedicated to assisting veterans and military members dealing with PTSD.
The celebrations were crowded and featured participation from celebrities including Las Vegas performers such as George Wallace and Carrot Top, Robin Leach, and many others. The total amount donated to charities was around $80K.
Sports Betting and Daily Fantasy Sports (DFS)
Several seminars scheduled for Tuesday centered on sports betting, along with the emerging trends in eSports and fantasy sports within the gaming industry.
Throughout the day, a central theme discussed was the potential and future of casinos collaborating with online platforms for social gaming, online casinos, and poker, as well as lottery and sports offerings. There are abundant opportunities to link these diverse sectors, cultivate player loyalty, and leverage various technological resources to forge integrated resort experiences.
An important discussion also took place regarding regulations related to sports betting and daily fantasy sports in the United States. The legal stance on the emerging eSports industry remains ambiguous at both state and federal levels, but this could potentially change as discussions with lawmakers at all levels to revise the laws to accommodate DFS are being considered. There was much speculation about the potential future of such legislation, particularly considering the astonishing number of players already engaging in these games.
Several prominent figures in sports betting and daily fantasy sports attended the discussions, particularly the afternoon session that explored whether these two sectors mainly represented business risks or opportunities.
Jason Robins, CEO of DraftKings, participated in a panel discussion with Chris Sheffield from Penn National Gaming and Jeff Burge from CG Technology. They addressed the crossover audience between sports betting and Daily Fantasy Sports (DFS), which is below 15 percent. They also noted that a small portion of sports bettors engage in live sportsbooks, emphasizing instead the importance of mobile betting in the industry. The panel acknowledged Nevada’s pioneering role in adopting mobile sports betting as an alternative for players.
Online Gaming
Some seminars focused on Internet gambling, albeit fewer than the previous day. The morning session examined grey markets, including a study of offshore online gaming sites exploiting unclear regulations and predicting the future of such companies.
An afternoon dialogue provided a platform for candid discussions about the worldwide perspective on online gambling. The latest changes in the UK, particularly the introduction of the new point-of-consumption tax and the highly regulated market, attracted special attention. The challenges faced by Canadian provinces in legislating and regulating online gambling were also a significant topic of interest.
Moreover, Asia was considered, as regulations there have escalated and somewhat impacted areas such as Macau, known for live gaming. The transformation of international online gaming laws and regulations was of specific interest to both live and online executives, as these changes will determine their futures.
