The three-day World Gaming Executive Summit kicked off this morning at the W Hotel in Barcelona.
A cool refuge from the sweltering heat of Barcelona in July, the conference suite at the W is a refrigerator-like oasis of five-star calm. Fittingly, the opening day of the World GES is a subtle affair, refreshingly free of the customary chutzpah so often associated with the world of online gaming.
But looks can be deceiving, as around 200 C-level delegates gathered to debate how the industry is moving forward and how it is to maintain momentum.
Opening the event, Gambling Compliance editorial director Andrew Gellatly suggested that the online gambling markets across Europe were “levelling out”, most notably in Spain and Italy where online accounts for less than 10 per cent of gaming revenue. In the UK it is more than 20 per cent.
The first session of the day saw representatives of the EU Commission’s Experts Group discuss the latest regulatory developments. Birgitte Sand, director of the Danish Gambling Authority, outlined the likely proposals that will come from the Group, focusing on consumer protection and responsible gambling initiatives.
Reuben Portanier, CEO of the Malta LGA, stressed the focus on anti-money laundering and anti-match fixing proposals. Portanier also highlighted the importance of the more experienced jurisdictions welcoming and assisting fledgling jurisdictions.
He highlighted the group’s technical expertise – most notably with regard to consumer protection – and commented that eventually the political agenda will take over. Ultimately, the Experts Group will have no option but to follow in the wake of the political manoeuvring, he said.
Phill Brear of the Gibraltar government backed Portanier, adding that the much-feted Fox report had been entirely diluted once the MEPs had reviewed and edited it. It was ultimately “filled with isolated statement after isolated statement,” said Brear.
Francesco Rodano, head of remote gaming for the Italian regulator, AAMS, spoke about cross-border liquidity and the importance of know-your-customer protocols. Rodano said that, within Italian borders, KYC was functioning well – the problem, he said, was beyond Italy’s borders. Brear agreed perhaps too emphatically, his obvious scepticism about Rodano’s claims raising a laugh across the floor.
As the beaches and squares of Barcelona ready themselves another day of unforgiving heat, the World GES - for all its cool, calm demeanour - is warming up nicely.
