East Coast Gaming Congress 2015

East Coast Gaming Congress 2015: Conference Takeaways

Created by Alana Levine, Communications Manager

iGaming Institute Keynote Address

iGaming at 1.5 – Baby Steps?

Challenges & Opportunities

Roadmap for the Future

The Next Generation of Gambling

Chief Executive Outlook – Session One

Highlighted Sessions:

iGaming Institute Keynote Address“We’re in a new episode of Star Wars – new technology & new players” – Yaniv Sherman

Speakers:

- @brennantom

@EastCoastGaming kicks off with Yaniv Sherman with a historic and future look at iGaming #ecgcigi @Proactive_RISK

Yaniv Sherman, Senior Vice President, Head of Business Development, 888 Holdings

iGaming Institute Keynote Address“We’re in a new episode of Star Wars – new technology & new players” – Yaniv Sherman

Key positions and trends:

“The US market is all about commitment” – Yaniv Sherman, 888 Holdings

“The market is a Darwinian one – survival of the fittest” – Yaniv Sherman, 888 Holdings

Facts and takeaways:

New Jersey and Delaware are experiencing different growth patterns – with the absence of sports betting

Players are more sensitive to online hurdles. Regulation is paramount in order to funnel unregulated traffic to where it belongs

In New Jersey, 11 brands are live today and more are expected to launch soon. The question is profitability and scalability. This can only be achieved with the regulation of out-of-state play

- @AlanaL_IA of Income Access

Yaniv Sherman keynote speaker at #ecgcigi recaps evolution of US igaming and operating in a new episode of Starwars

iGaming at 1.5 – Baby Steps? The most experienced operators and regulators in US iGaming discuss the current state of the industry

Moderator:

Eugene Johnson, Senior Vice President, Spectrum Gaming Group

Speakers:

Tom Balance, President and COO, Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa

Mario Galea, Founder and CEO, Random Consulting

Jim Ryan, Chief Executive Officer, Pala Entertainment

Rebecca Satterfield, iGaming Project Lead, Delaware Lottery

Thomas Winter, Vice President, Online Gaming, Landry’s Inc./Golden Nugget

iGaming at 1.5 – Baby Steps? The most experienced operators and regulators in US iGaming discuss the current state of the industry


“Being able to grab onto efficient channels and eliminate the inefficient channels is key. Efficient advertising will allow companies to grow and prosper” –Rebecca Satterfield, iGaming Project Lead, Delaware Lottery

“80% of online players are new, and not from brick-and-mortar [casinos]. These are new and pure online customers. They are not the same demographics. It is not cannibalization” –Thomas Winter, Vice President, Online Gaming, Landry’s Inc./Golden Nugget


The next expansion phase in the market will be the interactive channel. It will be a delivery system to electronic device, and it will allow for multi-channel engagement

There have been growing pains as the industry matures, particularly in terms of geo-location and payment methods. However, this is to be expected in a maturing industry. The millennials will want to enjoy this market online

Online is not a strong acquisition instrument, but instead it’s a great retention and activation tool


Winter: Play online to kill time and to gamble - different from land based interests of having a social experience #igaming #ecgcigi

Challenges & OpportunitiesAn expert panel of operators, vendors and player advocates discuss the problems and potential solutions required to fulfill the promise of legalized iGaming

Moderator:

Victor Rocha, Owner & Editor, Pechanga.net

Speakers:

Jon Friedberg, President and CEO, Overlay Gaming

Joe Pappano, CEO, Vantiv Gaming Solutions

Kim Little Sutherland, Director, Identity Management, Lexis Nexis

Dana Takrudtong, Vice President of Sales, GameAccount Network

Challenges & OpportunitiesAn expert panel of operators, vendors and player advocates discuss the problems and potential solutions required to fulfill the promise of legalized iGaming


“Infrastructures need to be in place to marry information already entered. The ability to use the information across multiple sites and functions. This will be the balance but will also involve many complexities” – Joe Pappano, CEO, Vantiv Gaming Solutions

“Operators who are asking for a credit card need to ensure that customers are comfortable doing so. Social allows customers to get into the game with social at much less risk. It will get your customers comfortable” – Dana Takrudtong, Vice President of Sales, GameAccount Network


Geo-location and under-age players have been the two main concerns for financial institutions. Now, new codes surrounding digital gaming with the Credit Card companies are in progress. The foundation is being laid

Unregulated sites are asking for far less information than regulated sites. It is, however, important to distinguish serious players from casual ones. Serious players understand the need for serious information and validation IDs

Players want to interact in a different way, but casinos need to continue to focus on how to monetize a single experience for a player. The omni-commerce approach is key


Making payment in and out process easy, quick, smooth and reliable key to increasing results in regulated #igaming - @JonFriedberg #ECGCiGI

Roadmap For the FutureEminent legislators, regulators and legal experts debate the issues and chart the future

Moderator:

Lynne Levin Kaufman Esq., Partner, Cooper Levenson, Attorneys at Law

Speakers:

Gideon Bierer, Managing Partner, Partis Solutions

Honorable John Burzichelli, Deputy Security, New Jersey State Assembly

Honorable Raymond Lesniak, Senator, New Jersey State Senate

David Rebuck, Director, New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement

Honorable Jim Waldman, Former Representative, Florida House of Representatives

Gil White, Herzog and Neeman, Outside Counsel to 888 Holdings

Roadmap for the FutureEminent legislators, regulators and legal experts debate the issues and chart the future


“The biggest challenge with iGaming in the US is that this is an industry that is still looked at as being born out of sin. The new world of internet gambling is a world that is regulated and is regulate-able. Maybe even regulated more than brick and mortar [casino] gambling.” – Gil White, Herzog and Neeman, Outside counsel to 888 Holdings

“Forward-thinking casinos are not waiting for politics. They are being creative” – Gideon Bierer, Managing Partner, Partis Solutions


Internet gambling is regulated more efficiently and effectively than land-based casino operations. It does not cannibalize land-based gambling

Don’t underestimate the power and interest of the state lotteries in iGaming. State lotteries are out there moving forward, and will be a very powerful group in determining the future

The trick is to have mobile, internet and brick-and-mortar casinos attract players in a consolidated manner. The challenge is to also join the dots. Operators need to consolidate their customers

-@gfritschie

"Biggest problem is Sheldon Adelson" Lesniak on why NJ has not become a hub for iGaming in U.S. #ecgcigi

The Next Generation of GamblingWhat will the casino of 2025 look like as gaming, gambling and mobile converge on the floor?

Moderator:

William J. Pacrell, III, Partner, Princeton Public Affairs Group

Speakers:

Jeff Connors, President, Traffic Generation Limited

David Chang, Chief Marketing Officer, Gamblit Gaming

Kurt Freedlund, President, Lotto Interactive

Travis Foley, Executive Vice President, Operations – Americas, BMM Test Labs

Peter Yesawich, Vice Chairman, MMGY Global

The Next Generation of GamblingWhat will the casino of 2025 look like as gaming, gambling and mobile converge on the floor?


“You will continually reinvent what you have or you will be left behind. Why people will come to Atlantic City or Las Vegas in years to come will be drastically different than today” – Jeff Connors, President, Traffic Generation Limited

“Always design for younger audiences because the old audiences want to be young” – David Chang, Chief Marketing Officer, Gamblit Gaming


Comfort is an extremely important factor for millennials, and operators need to create their product with that in mind

Research shows that millennial behaviours will remain the same in years to come – they will be social in how they interact with technology

There is a significant opportunity to have tournaments and skill-based games, such as E-sports

"Millennials will not age into our products. - K. Freedlund #igaming #ecgcigi”


Chief Executive Outlook – Session OneThe challenges, opportunities, projected expansions, regulatory trends and outlook of East Coast gaming

Moderator:

Michael J. Pollock, Managing Director, Spectrum Gaming Group

Speakers:

Greg Carlin, Chief Executive Officer, Rush Street Gaming

David S Cordish, Chairman, The Cordish Companies

Brian Hansberry, President, Delaware North

Mark Juliano, President, Sands Bethlehem

Bobby Soper, President, Mohegan Tribal Gaming Authority

Chief Executive Outlook – Session One The challenges, opportunities, projected expansions, regulatory trends and outlook of East Coast gaming


“Instead of thinking like a casino operator, think like a developer” – David S Cordish, Chairman, The Cordish Companies

“Atlantic City is kind of like Dracula – you can’t kill it” – Mark Juliano, President, Sands Bethlehem


It’s what you do to complement gaming that makes the resort a destination. Every resort has the same machines, games and rules. It’s what you do to complement these games that makes the difference

The proximity to densely populated markets in New York and New Jersey is key to success. Casinos are becoming strong regional destinations, not just for the gambling, but as event centres and places for vacations

There is a lot of positive movement in Atlantic City. This is evident with Resorts’ improvement in revenue over the last two years

CEO panel at #ecgcigi "think like a developer" @cordishco #gaming #casino

- @KGsmindgrapes

https://twitter.com/hashtag/ECGCiGI?src=hash



For more Information, please feel free to email me via [email protected]

A special thanks to all the amazing speakers, organizers and attendees!