CONFERENCE PREVIEW
UNESCO World Heritage site, no visit to the city is complete without taking the time to visit its fabulous tourist attractions. From the iconic Colosseum to the splendour of the Vatican via the Pantheon and the Trevi Fountain, October has to be an opportunity to expand your visit and make some memories.
Details of the conference and hospitality program are being added all the time to the website. You can find out all the key information you need at www.imgl.org/events/imgl-iagr- 2024-autumn-conference/ . We look forward to welcoming you in just a few weeks.
Reflecting on Florida
It was a rich buffet of legal and regulatory feasts when IMGL members and guests gathered in Tampa Bay in April. In the days before the conference, news broke that Japanese baseball pitcher Shohei Ohtani’s translator had been embezzling his client’s money to fund a gambling habit. This ensured that the topic of integrity in sport was high on the agenda and the presence of sports writer David Purdum and Integrity Services Director, Jill Exley of Sportradar gave the audience much to chew over in a fascinating session. Tribal gaming was also in the news with the Seminole tribe’s agreement with Florida governor Ron de Santis a potentially game-changing development for tribal sports betting across the US. We were fortunate enough to have Joe Webster who represented the tribe as our moderator. He was joined by Jamie Hummingbird, Chairman of the National Tribal Gaming Commissioners and Regulators and others for an insightful panel which may herald far-reaching changes into the future. Panellists also examined first nation developments in Canada where much is changing as politics provides more opportunities for its minority communities. Technology is rarely off the agenda in the gaming industry and it was well represented on the agenda in Tampa. Whilst a lot of attention has rightly been paid to the role of tech in the online space, it was the brick and mortar segment which was under the spotlight here. The potential for cashless to reduce fraud, cut costs, improve the customer experience and deliver greater protections were clear from the discussion. It centered around regulatory developments which are needed to exploit the potential and deliver confidence to those who will need to invest in it.
Despite offering some of the biggest sports betting markets worldwide, horse racing is not a topic which is often discussed. That was put right in Florida with an informative session on the latest trends in the industry. The colocation of race tracks and casinos, so called “racinos” are a popular way for tracks to boost revenues but raise questions regarding their license and operations. Historic sporting events were also reviewed as a way to provide content for slots operators. Lotteries are played by millions of people worldwide yet are viewed by many people in a different way from other forms of gambling. Lotteries often escape the kind of scrutiny other forms of gambling are subject to but regulation and the protection of certain groups are still pertinent, however, and in some parts of Canada, jackpot-style competitions are effectively outlawed. Lottery courier services have become a thriving business in some parts of the US but raise important regulatory questions. Lotteries, prize draws and jackpots organized over social media regularly spring up but who is responsible for controlling them? Finally, no program would be complete without a look at the new markets which are opening themselves up to regulated betting and gaming. This time around, it was Latin America which was the focus. Brazil is the biggest game in town with millions now able to bet legally presenting a huge opportunity for international operators. In practice, things may not be straightforward and panellists were on hand to provide advice not just about the world’s largest Portuguese- speaking country but about Peru, Argentina, Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands too.
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IMGL MAGAZINE | SEPTEMBER 2024
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