Sunday, April 02, 2006

"With only one week to go before we gather in Costa Rica for our conference," indicated Chris Dauer, Director of Conferences for The Sports Network, organizer of the event, "there is no necessity for somewhat customary and industry accepted last-minute discounts or entreaties regarding attendees, exhibitors or speakers. We have a formidable lineup of speakers, experts within the industry on an international level, and exhibitors whose offerings are key to the success of anyone within the gaming industry. We are," he continued, "stressing the learning experience and the ability of attendees to network with their peers and vendors, not to mention the speakers, a critical ingredient of our success. Further, we chose a first-class venue because it is equally important that everyone be able to enjoy and relax when the speaking sessions are over and the exhibits have been closed for the day."

The IGCE conference program will kick off with Mark Mendel, the lead attorney for Antigua in the case against the U.S. in the WTO, debating renowned gaming law expert I. Nelson Rose, about what the ruling really means for the industry. "Although we will be covering a host of topics from payment solutions to marketing, skill games to technological advancements," added Melissa Kearns, Assistant Director for Conferences at TSN, "there is an obvious emphasis on the legal situation world-wide. Consequently, legal and regulatory issues in the U.S. and internationally take on an added significance and it is important to address new definitions of the legal morass which all must travel. That is why we have a panel that includes experts such as Joseph Kelly, Esq., Professor of Business Law / SUNY College at Buffalo; Eileen Petersen, Chair, Virgin Islands Casino Control Commission; Michael Lipton, Esq., Partner, Elkind, Lipton & Jacobs; and Dr. Carlos A. Fonseca Sarmiento, Partner, Chehade, Fonseca, Servat, Suarez, & Varela Abogados.

"Although there is quite a bit more, as can be seen from a visit to the conference site at igconference.com," Ms. Kearns continued, "we anticipate standing-room-only for our final session. When analyzing and examining the gaming industry today, and what the future holds, one should start with questioning and interacting with some of the preeminent participants, organizations that have helped to set the height of the bar. We called upon offshore and online gaming operations that were the first, and remain the leading, drivers of the interactive gaming industry. This session will examine the state of the industry from the perspective of some of its key spokespeople, moderated by one of the leading sports business journalists in the U.S. Panelists include Mickey Richardson, CEO / BetCRIS; David Carruthers, CEO / BETonSPORTS.com; Alex Czajowski, Marketing Director/Sportsbook.com; Bobby Goodoien, CIO/CTO / Tradewinds and moderated by Terry Lefton, Editor-at-Large / Sports Business Journal."

A spokesperson for The Sports Network, parent company of the IGCE, indicated that supplemental and complementary events, such as the kickboxing tournament slated for Costa Rica, will become a mainstay of every conference. Plans are already underway for a major poker tournament in Dublin, Ireland at the IGCE Europe scheduled for September 10-12 at Fitzpatrick Castle. He also added that there will be a concert featuring a well-known Las Vegas entertainer but that details will not be released until some time in July.