Sweeping Changes

Vol . 23 • No . 11 • NOVEMBER 2024

Roger Gros , Publisher | rgros @ ggbmagazine . com X : @ GlobalGamingBiz

Frank Legato , Editor | flegato @ ggbmagazine . com X : @ FranklySpeakn

Jess Marquez , Managing Editor jmarquez @ ggbmagazine . com

Monica Cooley , Art Director mcooley @ ggbmagazine . com

So another G2E is in the books . I was involved in G2E for 17 years , helping out with the conference program from the start in 2001 , so I ’ ve been to every one , except for 2021 when you were required to be vaxxed during the pandemic . But I was in the house , however , doing podcasts in my hotel suite , so I give myself half credit for that .

Like every year , G2E is a great place to catch up with old friends , network with the top brass and learn about the trends and issues that will impact the gaming business in the future . But I don ’ t think I ’ ve ever seen a more contentious G2E than what occurred this year .

Sweepstakes was the main point of contention . This segment of wagering has exploded in the last year , going from almost nothing to more than $ 4 billion in five years . Sweepstakes casinos run under the cover of social gaming . There ’ s nothing to buy ; you get a limited amount of coins when you sign up and play the games — which are often provided by legitimate game developers .

But then , when you run out of coins , you have an option to buy a different level of coins . Some sites call them “ gold ” coins , but they still theoretically have no value even though you pay real money for them . Then you are entered into a “ sweepstakes ” where you can win money just like you would on a real-money slot machine . But since the winnings are awarded as part of a sweepstakes — just like Publisher ’ s Clearinghouse — somehow it is legal .

At G2E , there were passionate arguments on both sides . And some of the proponents of sweepstakes are often recognizable and legitimate casino operators — online and land-based . But the fact that a player has to risk money to win money means sweepstakes are outright gambling . At Publisher ’ s Clearinghouse , you kind of knew you had to buy some magazine subscriptions to have even the slightest chance . At a sweepstakes casino , you definitely have to buy some of those “ gold ” coins to participate .

But the bottom line is that sweepstakes operators are unregulated , untaxed and have little to no KYC — although they would argue that point . If they were willing to become regulated , pay taxes and have a robust RG and KYC plan , we ’ d be OK with that . But of course , if that was the case , why wouldn ’ t they just become real-money online gaming ?

Watch for our January issue , where we ’ ll present both sides of the issue by speaking with those who are in favor of sweepstakes and those who are opposed . It should be an interesting topic .

Another contentious issue was the relationship of sports betting operators and players . Most of the legal sportsbooks in the U . S . have rules that prevent expert sports bettors from participating in any meaningful sense . The terms and conditions that you are forced to agree with to participate are sometimes hundreds of pages long and hide the fact that sportsbooks have the ability to prevent a good player from wagering any significant amount of money . Some people say that sportsbooks have every right to limit the way their players wager because of the sometimes onerous tax rates that they pay the states . Others say that as a regulated entity , sportsbooks should treat every player the same , no matter the regulatory handicaps under which they operate . Our friend Richard Schuetz is the CEO of American Bettors ’ Voice , an organization founded by professional gamblers Gadoon “ Spanky ” Kyrollos and Billy Walters , which hopes to give bettors a seat at the table in the discussions between sportsbook operators and regulators . Will this group have success in reaching some kind of consensus with sportsbooks ? Too early to tell but still a battleground .

As always , responsible gaming was a hot topic , as experts outlined that the industry is attracting younger players — one keynote speaker said the average age for the online gambler is now 34 years old ! This suggests that the industry must have a plan for sustainable growth by developing effective responsible gaming practices to maintain its appeal to that younger demographic . But how do we get there ?

Yes , another milestone G2E is in the books , and now we look forward to the ICE trade show and conference to be held for the first time in Barcelona , Spain . We ’ re confident that ICE will address the issues raised at G2E and help us understand where the industry is going at such a great speed .

Terri Brady , Sales & Marketing Director tbrady @ ggbmagazine . com

Beck Kingman-Gros , Associate Publisher & COO bkingros @ ggbmagazine . com

Lisa Johnson , Communications Advisor lisa @ lisajohnsoncommunications . com X : @ LisaJohnsonPR

Columnists Frank Fantini | Dave Forman

EDITORIAL ADVISORY BOARD Rino Armeni , President , Armeni Enterprises

• Dike Bacon , Principal / Partner , HBG Design

• Lauren Bates , President , Global Gaming Women

• Mark A . Birtha , Senior Vice President & General Manager , Hard Rock International

• Brendan Bussmann , Principal , BGlobal Advisors

• Alex Dixon , CEO , DRA / Q Casino

• Daron Dorsey , Executive Director , Association of Gaming Equipment Manufacturers

• Sally Gainsbury , Director at Gambling Treatment & Research Clinic & Professor of Psychology , University of Sydney

• Stephen Martino , Vice President & Chief Compliance Officer , MGM Resorts International

• Bill Miller , President and CEO , American Gaming Association

• Walt Power , CEO , Grand Ho Tram

• Rob Russell , Senior Gaming Analyst , Regulatory Management Counselors PC

• James Siva , Chairman , California Nations Indian Gaming Association / Vice Chairman , Morongo Band of Mission Indians

• Michael Soll , President , The Innovation Group

• Kresimir Spajic , Chief Executive Officer , Betfred Sportsbook

• Katherine Spilde , Executive Director , Sycuan Gaming Institute , San Diego State University —————— GGB Magazine 1000 Nevada Way • Suite 204 • Boulder City , NV 89005 702-248-1565 • 702-248-1567 ( fax ) www . ggbmagazine . com

The views and opinions expressed by the writers and columnists of GLOBAL GAMING BUSINESS are not necessarily the views of the publisher or editor .

GLOBAL GAMING BUSINESS is published monthly by Clarion Gaming International , LLC . Printed in Nevada , USA . Postmaster : Send Change of Address forms to : 1000 Nevada Way , Suite 204 , Boulder City , NV 89005 Email : subscriptions @ ggbmagazine . com

Official Publication

4 Global Gaming Business NOVEMBER 2024

GGB Magazine November 2024 | страница 7

THE AGENDA

Sweeping Changes