Gambling Sectors Room 115 Moderator: Scott Longley, Egaming Review, United Kingdom The emergence of a new sector: how has casual gaming evolved into a big player in remote gambling? This session addresses the following issues: What role does the casual gaming play in remote gambling and the broader sphere of entertainment? An examination the migration of casual gaming on multiple platforms; the marketing power of casual gaming in reaching mass consumers. What are the pros and cons of the community approach, so prevalent in casual gaming? What will be the future trends for casual gaming? What are the core ingredients to excelling the casual gaming experience? Developing effective pricing strategies to generate a more profitable and less marginal business model. Lawrence Gouett , CEO, GameVillage, Malta Scott Davies, Million 2-1, UK

Legal Room 116 Sponsored By: Jeffrey Green Russell Moderator: Wulf Hambach, Partner, Hambach & Hambach Law Firm, Germany Exploring and understanding the EU’s role in remote gambling No longer do you need to be confused about what is happening at a judicial, parliamentary or political level in the European Union, as this session sets it straight.. For those not well versed on the workings of the EU expect a clear and comprehensive update on developments so far. And for those of you who have been keeping a track of progress, this session also explores how developments can be put into current context of business operations and what the implications are for the future of online gambling in Europe. Wes Himes, Managing Director, Policy Action Group, UK

Marketing Room 117 Sponsored By: Income Access Moderator: Bryan Bailey, Casinomeister, Germany How can you best adapt your affiliate marketing to changing market conditions? In the current business climate, your affiliate marketing strategy has to be at its most innovative. You need to be sharp, adaptive and at the same time stay ahead of the pack. This session explores new ideas and new technologies enabling you to ensure you are constantly one step ahead of your competition. Brandon Berndt, Chan Poker, USA Geoffroy Dallennes, Poker Affiliate Manager, Victor Chandler, Gilbraltar Ebbe Groes, CEO, BetBrain, UK

Gambling Sectors Room 115 Innovation in sports betting There is a plethora of websites jostling for new and established customers in sports betting. But the customer is becoming savvy: how do you attract them and even when loyal some want more than the simple betting experience. So what can you do to enhance your brand and your product? What works and what will absolutely turn your customers off? This session takes a broad brush approach to tried and tested strategies that help you to create and maintain a more captivating brand. Per Widerstrom, CEO, Expekt, Sweden Matt Jellicoe , Business Development Director, Bodog, Canada/UK

Legal Room 116 Sponsored By: Jeffrey Green Russell Moderator: Nick Nocton, Partner, Jeffrey Green Russell Solicitors, UK Viva España! What does the future hold for remote gambling in Spain? Spain looks set to liberalise the remote gambling industry through autonomous regions throughout the country. The Spanish market is an attractive one with estimations that growth potential could increase as much as 240% on current levels. And with big joint ventures such as William Hill and Codere, Spain is preparing for an onslaught of remote gambling operators eager to get a bite of one of the most gambling entrenched cultures in the world. So what is the update on Spanish regulation and when will Spain be fully open for your business? Santiago Asensi, Partner, Asensi Abogados, Spain

Marketing Room 117 Sponsored By: Income Access Moderator: Thibault Verbiest, Partner, ULYS Law Firm, Belgium Focus on the big issues in advertising and sponsorship in Europe The spotlight has focused on Europe as the continent for remote gambling, but just how easy is it for you to deploy ground-breaking marketing strategies. The ongoing saga for the Unibet.com cycling team in April 2007, whereby the team was refused entry to two Belgian cycling races, highlights the concern and confusion of advertising and sponsorship for the remote gambling industry. This confusion is further exacerbated when you consider the executive arm of the European Union, the European Commission’s, written response to Unibet.com regarding their cycling team: "The consistency of the French approach is highly questionable, given that other teams sponsored by gaming operators in France, such as the Française des Jeux, are permitted to participate. Given that the main sponsor of the event is in fact a gaming operator, the PMU, all this is in breach of internal market rules." (cited in The Times, 4/05/07). So where exactly do you, as a remote gambling operator stand when it comes to creating your pan-European advertising and sponsorship plan? Jacques Hanegraaf , Director, UNIBET.COM Pro Cycling Team , Belgium Petter Nylander, CEO, Unibet, UK/Sweden

Gambling Sectors Room 115 Moderator: David Szetela, CyberArts Licensing LLC , United States Poker: Examining the differing viewpoints concerning the affect of rake backs on business Giving back cash to your players has become a common sight in online poker. But many see this as creating a competitive environment that does not need to exist citing price wars that are pushing down net revenue. So are rake backs an effective and clever customer retention tool that not only enhances the loyalty within your players but actually increases revenue? Or is it just damaging your overall profits? Eric Matsgard, VP Sales and Marketing, Boss Media, Sweden Daniel Svard, Head of Product Management, Ongame Network, Sweden

Legal Room 116 Sponsored By: Jeffrey Green Russell Moderator: Quirino Mancini, Partner, Sinisi Ceschini Mancini, Italy Just how good an opportunity is the UK for the online gambling industry? That was the question on everybody’s mind when Gordon Brown slapped a 15% tax on an industry that was heralding itself as the best regulated online gambling jurisdiction in the world. So, do the Brits have the best? Has there been a reasonable deluge of online gambling companies fighting to get their hands on a UK licence? If not, why not? Examine the first affects of The Gambling Act 2005. Julian Harris, Partner, Harris Hagan, UK John Hagan, Partner, Harris Hagan, UK

Marketing Room 117 Sponsored By: Income Access Moderator: Justina Cruickshank, Research & Business Development, Clarion Gaming, UK Whose space is it now? Can a Web 2.0 and social networking business model work for online gaming? The world has gone crazy for user generated websites. And it seems this is a phase that isn’t going to go away…not yet anyway. The Web 2.0 era was defined as big business when the likes of News International bought Myspace and Google bought Youtube; and Facebook and Bebo and Second Life and many others being hailed as next generation innovators. But does this world, where users rule and social networking has its own uniquely defined etiquette, belong or even can it belong in the online gambling industry? Can there be such a thing as an online gambling site that is Myspace meets Youtube meets an online gambling company? Explore this recent online phenomenon in this session. Wim Vernaeve , Co-founder, Gottabet, UK Jonas Odman, Managing Director, Gnuf, Malta

Gambling Sectors Room 115 Moderator: Nicky Senyard, CEO, Income Access, Canada Is bingo as big as the hype? In a highly fragmented market, the fight for profits is fierce, but is the share worth the effort? Those responsible for the biggest global bingo companies certainly think so as they reap the rewards of entering the market early. But there are sceptics who believe bingo is not nearly as successful as the media suggests. Why don’t you decide for yourself in this unique session that brings top bingo companies together to discuss the merits of their sector, their tips for success and why this sector will continue to thrive for years to come. Dominic Mansour , CEO, Bingos.com at NetPlay TV Plc, UK Patrick Southon, Managing Director, Foxybingo.com, UK

Legal Room 116 Sponsored By: Jeffrey Green Russell Exploring regulation the newly liberalised Italian market It wasn’t long ago that Italy was blacklisting foreign websites, but a surprising u-turn in 2006 saw the market open up and become available for remote gambling operators. But how easy is it to enter the Italian market? Are there still restrictions for foreign operators? After all, the European Commission is still investigating its infringement procedures against the country. Many operators applying for licences in 2006 felt the process was prohibitive and restrictive, is this the case or do you have a real opportunity to take your product to Italian citizens? Francesco Portolano , Partner, Portolano Colella Cavallo, Italy Graham Wood, Director, iGaming Consultancy, UK

Marketing Room 117 Sponsored By: Income Access User experience: putting your products to the test As competition in online gaming increases, the responsibility you have in ensuring your customers have a pleasurable gaming experience is insurmountable. It’s simple, customers vote with their feet – a situation that could lead to falling sales and a dwindling of respect in your carefully crafted brand. This session outlines the major pointers in getting to the heart of your users’ experience. Bjorn Bergstrom, Systems Analyst, Betsson, Sweden Jon Dodd, Co-founder and Director, Bunnyfoot, UK Louise Croft-Baker, Head of User Experience, Betfair, UK

Gambling Sectors Room 115 Moderator: Graham Wood, Director, iGaming Consultancy, UK In-running betting: the battle for the hearts and minds of the consumer Retaining customer loyalty and customer spend is increasingly important. Costs per acquisition are rising, competition is increasing and margins are potentially decreasing. In-running betting is rapidly becoming the glue that both attracts and retains customers for future on-selling. This session explores how this vital element can be delivered and how businesses need to reposition themselves for the intense battle for customers that lies ahead Richard Glynn, CEO, Sporting Index, UK

Legal Room 116 Sponsored By: Jeffrey Green Russell Moderator: Justin Franssen, Gaming Lawyer, Van Mens & Wisselink, The Netherlands Round up and forecast of future developments in the European legal landscape Gain insight from some of Europe’s most well-known and successful igaming lawyers as they debate the major developments in igaming law. And crucially, hear first hand what they anticipate to be the future of igaming in the year to come. Nick Nocton, Partner, Jeffrey Green Russell Solicitors, UK Quirino Mancini, Partner, Sinisi Ceschini Mancini, Italy

Marketing Room 117 Sponsored By: Income Access How can you more effectively retain your customers for more increased revenue? Getting to grips with how your customers experience your product is just one step in the long road to improving customer retention. As your competitors fight for a piece of your market, you have to be become more creative in your ideas. When the online industry first started, it was all about winning new customers. And while this is still the case, you’ve found that your customers are being enticed from every corner. In a world where loyalty strategies have become the marketing tool of not just the airlines, but mass companies such as Tesco, what innovative marketing strategies can you deploy to keep that ever fickle customer? Justin Thouin, CryptoLogic, Canada Nicky Senyard, CEO, Income Access, Canada

Matt Meeker, Co-founder, Meetup.com, UK
Jerome Touze, Co-founder, WAYN.com, UK