Gaming Investment Forum

A very interesting event at Global Gaming Expo: the Gaming Investment Forum.

Sponsored by the leading bank in gaming investment, Deutsche Bank Securities, and Goldman, Sachs & Co, it allows investors, analysts, stockbrokers and investment professionals to learn about the financial future of leading gaming companies. This forum features chairmen, presidents and CFOs explaining expansion plans, market situations and company strategies.

We'll publish soon more information on this forum.

P2P: Online Gambling's Fastest-Growing Sector

Verbatim from http://www.globalgamingexpo.com

Title: 20704: P2P: Online Gambling's Fastest-Growing Sector
Date: Wednesday, October 6, 2004
Start Time: 2:00pm
End Time: 2:50pm
Description: P2P gambling has exploded in popularity in the last two years. This session provides a glimpse at the major P2P growth areas: betting exchanges, poker and games of skill. How big are the markets? Who's playing? What's next? It also will provide an overview of the U.S. legal climate for P2P games.
Speaker(s): Martin D Owens Jr. - Law Offices of Martin D. Owens, Jr.
Mark Balestra - Vice President, Publishing - River City Group

Market Explosion: The Next Generation of Gaming Customers

Verbatim from http://www.globalgamingexpo.com

Title: 20603: Market Explosion: The Next Generation of Gaming Customers
Date: Wednesday, October 6, 2004
Start Time: 10:25am
End Time: 11:15am
Description: First it was baby boomers, then Gen X and now Generation Y. But what works in a gaming setting when you appeal to a younger audience, and why? Learn about the new emerging markets and their potential for profitability.
Speaker(s): Mark Yoseloff - Chairman & CEO - Shuffle Master Gaming
Glenn Buxton
Todd Moyer - Senior Vice President, Marketing - Trump Marina

Player Profile: Who Really Gambles on the Internet?

Title: 10705: Player Profile: Who Really Gambles on the Internet?
Date: Tuesday, October 5, 2004
Start Time: 3:00pm
End Time: 3:50pm
Description: Finding and keeping loyal players is the No. 1 challenge of online gaming operators. Learn the latest profiles of the typical online player and what attracts them to gamble. How do you target product niches or geographic/cultural specialties to build a solid operation? Hear the details from those who successfully attract online gamblers worldwide.
Speaker(s): Sue Schneider - President - River City Group

10904: Market Research: Portrait of an American Gambler

Verbatim from http://www.globalgamingexpo.com

Title: 10904: Market Research: Portrait of an American Gambler
Date: Tuesday, October 5, 2004
Start Time: 2:00pm
End Time: 2:50pm
Description: This session will cover some of the latest market research regarding consumer attitudes and gaming. Remaining competitive in today’s environment means knowing much more than just demographic data and trip history information about your customer. These speakers will cover behavioral and attitudinal information on casino customers — data relevant to consumers’ decisions concerning gaming facilities and gaming habits.
Speaker(s): Peter Yesawich - Chairman & CEO - Yesawich, Pepperdine, Brown & Russell
Stephen Szapor - Chief Operating Officer - The Innovation Group

10704: International Intrigue: Internet Gaming Developments

Verbatim from http://www.globalgamingexpo.com

Title: 10704: International Intrigue: Internet Gaming Developments
Date: Tuesday, October 5, 2004
Start Time: 2:00pm
End Time: 2:50pm
Description: Even as politicians in the United States resist all efforts to legalize Internet gaming, other jurisdictions are getting into the act. In the U.K., for example, the proposed draft gambling bill legalizes Internet gaming, a development that promises to make that country one of the leading Internet jurisdictions in the world. This session will explore how the growing legitimacy — and regulation — of Internet gaming has caused this pattern to be replicated in the U.K. and beyond.
Speaker(s): Thibault Verbiest - Lawyer - Paris Bar and Brussels Bar
Bill Galston - Consultant - Gambling Governance Limited
Paul Miltenberger - CEO - WagerWorks
Paul Mathews - Vice President, Marketing - WagerWorks
Julian Harris - Principal - Harris Hagan, Gambling Law Specialists

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My thoughts: hot topic. Wouldn't be better for players, businesspeople and IRS to have a licensed, regulated, and taxated online gaming environment? You bet! Hoping this seminar can open some minds...

11203: Game Protection: Advantage Players

Verbatim from http://www.globalgamingexpo.com

Title: 11203: Game Protection: Advantage Players
Date: Tuesday, October 5, 2004
Start Time: 10:25am
End Time: 11:15am
Description: This panel discussion will focus on the techniques and processes and that have been successful in evaluating and effectively dealing with advantage players. How to decide who is a threat will impact future legal decisions, “counter measures”. The panel will discuss concepts and resources that are in use today with emphasis on properly managing advantage play as well as the importance of good communication between the casino floor and surveillance.
Speaker(s): Douglas Florence, CPP - Casino Segment Manager - VERINT-Loronix Video Solutions
Ted Whiting
Tony Cabbot
Max Rubin

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My thoughts: this is one of the most interesting symposium offered at G2E. A "must" for people interested in casino security and profitability, especially because it's not dealing with criminal but overskilled players.

To avoid pr strike-backs ("Casino X is banning winners, it just wants losers at its tables"), we should consider the importance of good communication between the casino floor and the players as well.

10703: Networked: Gaming and Television

Verbatim from http://www.globalgamingexpo.com

Title: 10703: Networked: Gaming and Television
Date: Tuesday, October 5, 2004
Start Time: 10:25am
End Time: 11:15am
Description: With the recent poker boom, television has become more aware of the gaming industry and the innovative programming it can provide. Experts at this session will examine where and how gaming has been successful on TV and its prospects on some of the major networks. The viability and possibilities of interactive gaming on TV will also be discussed.
Speaker(s): Ana Garcia - Investigative Reporter - KNBC-TV in Los Angeles
Joe Weinert - Managing Editor - Gaming Industry Observer
Roger Gros - Editor - Global Gaming Business
Mark Bradley

The American Casino: Will Europe Ever Accept It?

Verbatim from http://www.globalgamingexpo.com

Title: 40105: The American Casino: Will Europe Ever Accept It?
Date: Monday, October 4, 2004
Start Time: 2:15pm
End Time: 4:15pm
Description: The European gaming industry has, for the most part, been insular. But that is changing — or soon will — as the U.K. is liberalizing its gaming rules even as the European Commission is threatening to end some long-held gaming monopolies on the continent. The obvious beneficiaries of this change are the giant, well-capitalized U.S. gaming corporations that are looking around the world for expansion opportunities. This session will explore the prospects for American operators in Europe. Will they be able to simply replicate what they’ve developed in Las Vegas and be successful? And, if they are, how will that success change gaming in Europe?
Speaker(s): David Marshall - Director - Accor Casinos
Julian Harris - Principal - Harris Hagan, Gambling Law Specialists
Ian Gosling - Vice President and CEO - Hyatt Regency Casinos, Greece
Steve Donoughue - CEO - The Gambling Consultancy, Gaming Consultants
Iain Wilkie - Partner and European Leader of Hospitality, Leisure and Gaming - Ernst & Young
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My thoughts: the British market has some similarities with the American one. American casinos should understand they are not targeting European players, but they are targeting British, French, German, Italian, Spanish, ... players. Las Vegas casinos will be able to leverage their gaming knowhow, but local issues need to be considered.

Replicating verbatim the Vegas model abroad will not work, because customers are different.

Global Gaming Expo (G2E)

I suppose you'll not be suprised to read that the Global Gaming Expo will be held here in Vegas, on October 5-7 2004.

Gaming leaders, developers, marketers and experts will join at the Las Vegas Convention Center to share results, achievements and forecasts for the bright future of gaming: landbased, riverboat and online.

Discounted registration rates are available until September, 20th. Plus, there are interesting and very affordable ($25) "same suit" networking lunches for diamonds
(Native American Leaders, on 10/5), Spades (Marketing Directors, on 10/6), and Clubs (Slot Managers, on 10/7).

You'll find soon some highlights of the conferences available. For further information: http://www.globalgamingexpo.com