EIG event returns to Copenhagen in October

In what is the world’s largest iGaming event, some 1500 representatives of the industry’s pioneering as well as start-up companies will gather to network and scout for new markets, players, partners and products.  As always, government regulatory developments are closely watched, with a lot of interest in the French, Italian and American markets right now. 

Says the event director of EIG, Ewa Bakun: “With France recently issuing online gaming licenses and Italy working on expanding their regulatory frameworks, the industry is looking closely which countries will follow suit, what regulatory models will be put in place and how this localised regulation will affect the global gaming industry. USA is another hot market, with California and New Jersey taking a lead in proposing bills that will regulate intrastate internet gaming.”

Online poker in California
The long-anticipated regulation of online poker in California makes the keynote address at EIG of the State Senator Roderick Wright a highlight of the event.  Ewa Bakun:  “with California desperately looking for more tax revenue, the momentum is building up to regulate internet poker.  Senator Wright recently proposed a bill that, if passed, would authorise three entities or hubs to provide intrastate internet poker.  However, the bill faces strong opposition from various stakeholders, including local card clubs and Indian tribes.  If passed, it would be a revolutionary development providing the industry with the first foothold in the USA - the biggest iGaming market in the world.  Senator Wright, who is the person driving the change on the ground, will provide an update on those developments.“

New comptitors, new partners, new markets
According to Ewa Bakun, innovation and reinvention are part of the iGaming industry’s continuous growth and lately new sectors have joined the gambling industry. “Media and entertainment brands, land-based casinos, social, casual, skill, computer and MMORPG games developers and lotteries have started venturing into the online gaming space which not only brings new players into the gaming arena but enables current stakeholders to expand the reach of their brands and move into new markets.”

The role of social media, in particular, is the talk of the industry, says Ewa Bakun and continues:  “None of the operators have really managed to find out the right approach when it comes to successfully utilising the social media networks, but the consensus seems to be that social and community elements need to be fully integrated into the gaming proposition, not just added as widgets to the site. Betable, which is a relatively new social betting site backed up by powerful investors, including the founders of Skype, will provide one of the examples of how this can be done, while social gaming operators will provide tips on how to replicate the success of the likes of Zynga at EiG.”

Denmark’s Danske Spil can lead the way
In the host country of Denmark the licensing regime is due to be enforced in January 2011, the date now being questioned due to taxation issues.  Says EIG’s Ewa Bakun:  “Danske Spil, whose CEO will keynote at EiG, is a powerful lottery and an important stakeholder in the market and a significant new entrant benefiting from the regulations and preparing for online launch. Danske Spil's venture into online gambling illustrates how lotteries across Europe can benefit from the licensing regimes now being considered or put in place by regulators in various European countries.”

Programme highlights and leading speakers include:
· USA regulatory keynote: When and how iGaming will be regulated in the USA – the California perspective
Senator Roderick Wright, State of California
· Impact of localised regulation in Europe, with particular focus on France and Italy
· EiG MegaDebate 1: iGaming vision for 2015 – discussing emerging B2B and B2G business models and future growth areas in iGaming
H.C. Madsen, CEO, Danske Spil
Jim Ryan, CEO, PartyGaming
Nicolas Beraud, CEO, Mangas Gaming
Petter Nylander, CEO, Unibet
Mor Weizer, CEO, Playtech
Gigi Levy, CEO, 888 Holdings
Pontus Lindwall, CEO, Betsson
· Start-Up LaunchPad: Discover ‘The Next Big Thing’ in iGaming
· Partnership and competition: Media and entertainment brands, lotteries, social/casual games meet gambling
· Innovation in products, CRM, online marketing, branding

Event website:  www.eigexpo.com
Event dates and location:  19-21 October 2010 -  Bella Center, Copenhagen

For the interviews and media accreditation, please contact:
Marketing Manager: Yeemay Huang 
Tel : +44(0)20 7370 8579
Email: [email protected]