"We want to let people in Latin America know that they are important to G2E"

The first edition of GET In Online Buenos Aires, which took place last Wednesday at Scala Hotel Buenos Aires, was attended by around 200 operators, suppliers, regulators and laboratories, as well as other key players within the industry. Twelve speakers spoke about the regional market’s latest advances.

One of the attendees was Korbi Carrison, Global Gaming Expo's (G2E) event director, who shared with Yogonet her view on the event, G2E and other gaming industry-related topics. 

"First of all, the fact that this event is happening now, right on the cusp of the online gaming opening here in Argentina, the timing is perfect. I think Alan [Burak, CEO and founder of GET In] did a fantastic job of bringing together all of the different components, like the regulation, the marketing, the operations," she commented. "I think it's really important that the event discussed responsible gaming, because that's something that often is overlooked, and it's so important not only in land-based casinos, but as different markets move to online gaming it's important to have help available for people who might need it."

Why have you decided to attend GET In Online Buenos Aires?

We decided to attend this event because the LatAm market is very important for G2E. G2E is the Global Gaming Expo, we want to serve the markets all over the world, not just in North America. Our mission is to bring together operators and suppliers, so they can do business together. We want to let people in LatAm know that they're important to G2E. One way to demonstrate this is to get to know people like Alan and also operators in the market. Alan is a great supporter for G2E and we recognize the good work that he is doing in all of the LatAm markets, so we want to support him on that.

How will the U.S. sports betting landscape and all the changes it is bringing be reflected at this year’s G2E Las Vegas?

It was important last year, and it's important again this year. Many states are trying to decide whether or not they want to offer legal sports gambling in their state, and there are so many questions that they have. If they should, if they shouldn't, how to go about regulation and implementation, who are the technology providers that match well with for their particular jurisdictions. So we are looking to build on the education that we presented last year, and dig a little bit deeper into all of the different questions that the operators may have.

This will be the second G2E Sports Betting Symposium, and it has eight dedicated sessions, including a tour of several technology vendors that make products specifically designed for sports betting markets. The format is the same but all of the content is new, it really goes to the next level.

Will the Innovation Lab return as well?

G2E’s Innovation Lab is included again [formerly known as AGA Innovation Lab], and some of the themes that will be discussed this year will be disruptive technology and new uses for existing technology. We are really focusing on Innovation Lab sessions being short, very to the point and focused on things that are new. Things that might not yet be ready for the expo hall floor, but the concepts and new technologies that we believe will really propel the industry forward.

You highlighted the importance of responsible gaming earlier, what will its place be at G2E?

At G2E every year we partner with the NCRG (National Center for Responsible Gaming), and they produce two full days of education that's connected to G2E. We work very closely with them because the entire industry - operators, industry suppliers, everyone believes that responsible gaming education is important.

Do you have any estimated numbers for this year?

It's early to be projecting, but we have every reason to believe attendance will be at least as many as last year, where we were nearly 28,000 industry professionals at G2E.

As new generations of players and emerging technologies keep growing, do you think G2E and other global events of the gaming industry are evolving into something new? 

We are always evolving, and you may see a few subjects that are the same at G2E this year. It could be completely different for next year. It really all depends on what our attendees want to learn and what they want to see at G2E. We are very open to feedback, hearing ideas on what people want to learn. Personally, it's important and very interesting to see for this market that is just about to enter online gaming, how the thought process happens, how the market is preparing and what they want to learn. Although online gaming happens all over the world, it's not widespread in the United States yet, which is due to different states feeling like maybe now is not the right time. Right now there are four states where casino online gaming is legal, one is brand new, but there could be more coming. So, for me as an event organizer, I look at what Alan produced on Wednesday, and it's really a good recipe for the future, if and when different states legalize online gaming, touching on all of the topics.

GET In Online Buenos Aires 2019 - Networking