IGA: Discussing the future of US gaming
Reporting from the Indian Gaming Tradeshow and Convention (IGA), Gaming America discusses a litany of panel topics affecting US gaming at every level.
It’s hard to sum up the lessons of a gaming conference in a single quote. But Joseph Bunevith, VP, Government and Regulatory Affairs at Gaming Laboratories International, came close in ‘The Future of Gaming, What’s Next?’ panel at the Indian Gaming Tradeshow and Convention in Anaheim, California in April when he said: “It’s a big industry. It’s moving fast.”
The diversity and quickly changing nature of the American gaming industry was on full display at IGA this year, with panel discussions covering a wide gamut of issues and concerns. This story is our attempt to capture some of the interesting and varying tidbits we caught along the way.
Will Congress pass legislation for responsible gaming advertising?
This question was posed in Bunevith’s panel, with him bringing up talk of a federal law outlawing risk-free bets or free bets. It was noted in the discussion that the United Kingdom already has regulations on gaming advertising, but that gambling is more interwoven into the society there than in the US.
Bunevith’s fellow panelist, Jonathan Michaels, Principal of Michaels Strategies and former SVP, Strategic Development & Government Affairs at Sightline Payments, said he highly doubted federal legislation would go anywhere – and how could it? Congress can’t get even the most basic of bills passed these days. But he did warn that he thought there would be a Congressional hearing at some point about responsible gaming advertising and, when it happens, “it will be ugly.”
The value of iGaming versus sports betting
This topic came up a few times in various panels. The general consensus seemed to be that sports betting, while popular and getting a lot of press, might not be the revenue generator many had hoped for. Bunevith said he feels like sports betting continues to be legalized in part because Americans know illegal sports betting is already happening in the country – it’s depicted in television and movies.
But iGaming? It has no similar narrative around it, which he felt makes its legalization a tougher sell at the legislative level.Indeed, in the ‘Future of Gaming, What’s Next?’ session, panelists were asked to speculate how many states would legalize iGaming in the next five to 10 years. Everyone was pessimistic about the chances of it spreading very far, despite being universally regarded conference-wide as the future of gambling in America and, perhaps more importantly, a proven revenue generator.
However, it was also acknowledged that iGaming faces a serious criticism when it’s discussed by legislators; the possibility that iGaming activity could “cannibalize” brick-and-mortar casinos. Melissa Blau, Director at iGaming Capital, expressed deep skepticism of the cannibalization argument, saying similar fears existed when iGaming was legalized in New Jersey and it never happened. She advised listeners to be skeptical of any studies saying that iGaming would hurt brick-and-mortar facilities: “These studies are flawed.”
When will we really go cashless?
Another discussion – common at gaming conferences – was around the future of cashless payments and the tremendous opportunities it provides. But time and again, speakers bemoaned the fact that cashless transactions in the gambling world are not comparable to cashless transactions in other industries. Said Michaels: “The product isn’t what you anticipate.”
Cashless transactions aren’t frictionless like they are when you buy your coffee using your phone at Starbucks. They’re clunky, tiresome and long. What’s more, Michaels said, some casino operations approach cashless transactions as an opportunity to make money, by charging patrons a cashless fee. He seemed to think that was short sighted, noting that Penn Entertainment doesn’t do that – and that customers wouldn’t expect to be charged for going cashless.
Esports: A new opportunity?
Pearl Aguinaldo, Senior Director of Marketing for the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians, which operates three casinos in Southern California, presented on the Tribe’s practice of holding esports tournaments in its casinos’ sports bars, which were designed for sports betting, but have proven to be the perfect venue for these gamers. She told attendees at the panel that their tournaments can garner 200 to 500 gamers, making for a windfall for the food and beverage department.What the Tribe didn’t expect is that some of their top 20 gamblers would stick around to watch the esport contests, suggesting that esports offers another entertainment option for casinos for high rollers.
Aguinaldo said that for other casinos looking to get into the esports game, it’s important to be “authentic.” Gamers need a space “where they feel comfortable,” she said.
Cybersecurity remains a concern
On a final note, Darwin Braunagel, a Senior Manager of Business Development at Eide Bailly Technology, spoke in his panel, ‘Game Changers: Exploring AI and the Technologies Redefining Gaming,’ about the perpetual concerns about cybersecurity in the gaming industry. He noted that there are roughly three and a half million job openings in cybersecurity. He said there is a hope that AI could reduce the need for cybersecurity personnel, if we can get it the technology to where it needs to be, to be effective.
Players trust our reporting due to our commitment to unbiased and professional evaluations of the iGaming sector. We track hundreds of platforms and industry updates daily to ensure our news feed and leaderboards reflect the most recent market shifts. With nearly two decades of experience within iGaming, our team provides a wealth of expert knowledge. This long-standing expertise enables us to deliver thorough, reliable news and guidance to our readers.
Latest News
