IMGL Masterclass London 2015

IMGL Masterclass London at ICE
ExCel London
February 4, 2015
Platinum Suite Conference Area, Room #1
One Western Gateway Royal Victorian Dock
London E16 1XL

Complimentary to all gaming professionals attending ICE
Click here to register your intention to attend the Masterclass at ICE.
Venue Overview
Platinum Suite Floor Plan

Be sure to visit IMGL on the expo floor at stand #SD2 - B.

Programme

(as of 27 January)

Wednesday 04 February 2015

Location: Platinum Suite Conference Room #1

10:00 – 10:15
Refreshments & Networking

10:15 – 11:30
President’s Opening Address
Joerg Hofmann, President, IMGL and Senior Partner, MELCHERS, Germany

Shared Liquidity: How can markets and operators find enough players and cash to make it work?
With the growth of internet poker and the regulatory environment, the question of sufficient liquidity becomes an ever larger issue. Smaller jurisdictions have established regulated poker markets but don’t have the sufficient population to provide the liquidity, thus the need to pool to obtain sufficient liquidity. Larger jurisdictions are looking at entering the regulated market, which could change the equation. This panel will discuss the impediments to pooling and the regulatory regimes’ impacts on pooling and the effect on the growth of internet poker.
Moderator: Justin Franssen, Head of Gaming, Sports & Entertainment Practice Group, Kalff Katz & Franssen, The Netherlands
Speakers: Fredrik Ekdahl, Director of Public Affairs, Pokerstars, Isle of Man
Nicholai Lodberg, Legal Advisor, Danish Gambling Authority, Denmark
Richard Schuetz, Commissioner, California Gambling Control Commission, California
​Guido Schluetz, Gambling Regulation Expert, Germany

11:30 – 11:45
Refreshments & Networking

11:45 – 12:45
Regulation Meets Science: How to Implement Sound Consumer Protection Policies in Real Money and Social Gaming?
According to conventional wisdom, games of chance ‘cause’ addiction. However only a small minority of the population suffers from problem gambling. Certain population groups are significantly more vulnerable than others. What are the risk factors? Are ‘near misses’ particularly dangerous – be it in real money gaming or social gaming? Which implementing measures can regulators take to reach results that really make a difference? And will we see the emergence of problematic and addicted behavior also in relation to other technologies and forms of telecommunication?
Moderator: Simon Planzer, Partner, PLANZER LAW & Lecturer in Law, University of St.Gallen HSG, Switzerland
Speakers: Dr. Michael Aitken, Reader in Psychology, King's College London & Affiliated Lecturer, University of Cambridge, United Kingdom
Marja Appelman, Chief Executive, The Netherlands Gaming Authority, Netherlands
Joseph Cuschieri, Executive Chairman of the Lotteries and Gaming Authority, Malta Gaming Authority, Malta
Luc Delany, CEO, International Social Games Association, United Kingdom

13:15 – 14:00
President’s Opening Remarks
Joerg Hofmann, President, IMGL and Senior Partner, MELCHERS, Germany

Mergers and Acquisitions: Where Will the Market Go and How Will it (and Governments) Deal with the Change?
We now see the mergers and acquisitions in the gaming industry cross traditional market lines. With operators acquiring social media companies, suppliers acquiring internet providers, and multiple other combinations, the licensing and regulatory impacts of these transactions are only now coming to the forefront. This panel will address the global regulatory and licensing impact of these transactions (including the required spinoff or segregations of certain entities) and the effects of these transactions on the industry as it continues to grow worldwide.
Moderator: Marc Ellinger, Partner Blitz, Bardgett & Deutsch, L.C., Missouri
David McLeish, General Counsel, Playtech Ltd., United Kingdom
Katie Lever, General Counsel, Scientific Games Corporation, Nevada
Diane Mullenex, Partner, Pinsent Masons, France
Robert W. Stocker II, Member, Dickinson Wright PLLC, Michigan

14:00 – 14:15
Refreshments & Networking

14:15 – 15:00
Need to Know: New Opportunities and Emerging Jurisdictions
A series of rapid-fire presentations from leading gaming law practitioners outlining key developments in a number of important i-gaming jurisdictions including key emerging markets.
Moderator: Nick Nocton, Director, Jeffrey Green Russell Limited, United Kingdom
Colombia, Mexico, Panama & Spain: Santiago Asensi, Partner, Asensi Abogados
India: Gowree Gokhale, Partner, Nishith Desal Associates
The Americas: Sue Schneider, Partner, iGaming North America and Malta iGaming Seminar, Missouri
Australia/Australasia: Jessica Azzi, Associate, Addisons Lawyers, Australia

15:00 – 15:15
Refreshments & Networking

15:15 – 16:15
Global I-Gaming-What Does Compliance Mean
With the growth of i-gaming & the emergence of new jurisdictions throughout the world, i-gaming operators are becoming more concerned about compliance especially with the laws of jurisdictions in which their games are offered either as a B2B, B2C or B2G. Gaming regulators are also very concerned about integrity & compliance matters as they affect their registrants. The panel will address a number of areas of concern including, how the regulated & regulators should deal with the application of multi-jurisdictional laws & what due diligence should a registrant carry out. What if an operator or supplier has failed to comply? Can it redeem itself through rehabilitation?
Moderator: Michael Lipton, Q.C., Senior Partner, Dickinson Wright, LLP, Canada
Phill Brear, Gambling Commissioner and Head of Gambling Regulation, Government of Gibraltar
Mark Clayton, Shareholder, Greenberg Traurig, LLP, Nevada
Andre Wilsenach, Executive Director, Alderney Gambling Control Commission, Alderney
​​Franz Wohlfahrt, Attorney at Law, Law Office of Dr. Franz Wohlfahrt, Austria

Closing Remarks
 

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