Leading gaming operators to speak at EiG 2009

EiG 2009 will be opened by Denmark’s Minister of Taxation, Kristian Jensen, who is leading the proposed changes to Denmark’s regulation of online gaming, one of many major announcements expected to be made at EiG.

David Yu, CEO of the ever-innovative Betfair, will provide his insights to the future of iGaming as part of the strongest ever line-up of online gaming leaders.  Sitting with him on the Industry Leaders’ CEO Panel is Norbert Teufelburger, co-CEO of bwin, voted the most influential igaming company in 2009 in the Power 50.  They will be joined by 888 Group’s CEO, Gigi Levi; PartyGaming’s CEO Jim Ryan; Ed Andrewes, MD, Ladbrokes eGaming; and Henry Birch, CEO, William Hill Online.

Other notable news makers speaking at EiG comprise the former CEO of PartyGaming, Mitch Garber, who, in an interesting development, has joined as CEO of Harrah’s Interactive Entertainment; and  Elizabeth Parize, the CEO of acquisitive Mangas Gaming group who have made several high-profile purchases lately, will be speaking about her view of the macro environment in online gaming to 2012.

The full speaker line-up for EiG 2009 is comprised of over 90 of the world’s industry experts including top-level decision makers from Betclick, Blue Square, PKR, Intertops, Poker Heaven, eGaming 2.0, Virgin Games, Paf,  Barriere Interactive Gaming, Bodog, Sbobet and dozens more.

Key topics to be discussed at EiG include customer retention and acquisition; the ever fragmented and shifting regulatory landscape across Europe and the world and a focus on product innovation and distribution channels to reach a wider audience.

Keith McDowell, Managing Director, bodog Europe and a speaker at EiG comments: “I look forward to attending this year's event in Copenhagen and providing some thoughts around how we see gambling and mainstream entertainment converging over the short- to medium-term future.”

Another EiG speaker, Clive Hawkswood, CEO of RGA, comments: “Probably more than ever, the industry is faced with a whole range of opportunities and challenges in the EU, the US and elsewhere.  EiG has become established as the international event where every sector of the industry comes together to take stock and consider how best to address those issues.”

Looking outside the industry, the organisers have managed to secure a keynote from renowned author of “Billion Dollar Lessons – What you can learn from the most inexcusable business failures of the last 25 years” and business expert, Paul B. Carroll who will offer practical advice on business mistakes to avoid as EiG delegates plan for the future.

Christian Lindholm, the ‘godfather of mobile phone users’ and creator of the Nokia Series 60 user interface, will offer a further keynote on the evolution of mobile gaming; while Google’s James Cashmore, key decision maker behind the reversal of banning online gaming adwords, will be a  Keynote for the Online and Affiliate marketing track.

Mark Walker, Global Head of Conferences at Clarion Gaming, comments: “EiG is defined by being fresh, providing insights from those creating the big news in the online gaming market, and bringing together the most high-profile selection of experts in their fields to help spread learning across the industry.  We feel, this year, we have achieved it more than ever, securing the participation of almost all of online gaming’s leading decision makers.  Each week, I get more excited to hear what they have to say, and more confident that everyone attending EiG’s conference sessions will leave more enthused and better prepared for the challenges they face over the next 12 months.”