Operator News
Spain – GLI roundtable attracts 36 European regulators
By Phil - 7 June 2013Gaming Laboratories International (GLI) and its European entity, GLI Europe BV, welcomed 36 regulators and guests from 20 jurisdictions and associations across Europe to its annual European Roundtable.
The event was staged May 13 to 14 in Barcelona, Spain and featured in-depth discussion from the world’s leading experts on topics covering land-based and online gaming and their potential impact on jurisdictions.
GLI Europe Managing Director Martin Britton said: “We are absolutely delighted to have welcomed so many regulators and guests from such a wide range of jurisdictions and associations. Our sincere thanks go to all of our world-class experts who shared their incredible knowledge to make the Roundtable a resounding success yet again.”
GLI President and CEO James Maida opened the event and introduced the Roundtable’s keynote speaker, William Scott, Vice President of Business Development & Strategy at GTECH. Scott spoke about the evolution of gaming from land-based to online, and what new products and technological developments are on the horizon for the industry. He also spoke about how this will change the client experience and challenge regulations as they currently stand.
The opening session focused on ways for regulators to stay compliant in the modern era as server-based, downloadable and cloud gaming; security; encryption; authentication; and social networking integration impact jurisdictions. GLI Europe Director iGaming Development Filippo Ferri moderated panelists NCC Group Associate Director Lloyd Brough, NCC Group Business Development Executive Aneil Prabhakar and GLI Europe Technical Director John van Schaijk.
Next GLI Senior Compliance Engineer Matt Toler demonstrated GLI’s newest excluisve tool, GLiCloudSM, a casino floor inventory management and tracking system. Toler would return later in the Roundtable to give an overview of all of GLI’s exclusive and award-winning tools.
Helping attendees understand what regulators must do to ensure compliance, data security and player protection as operators cross the bridge from bricks to clicks was WH Partners Sr. Advisor Joe Borg and panelists Reuben Portanier, CEO, Malta Lotteries & Gaming Authority; Gregory Kuhlmey, Head of Compliance, Dictao; and William Scott.
Next, G3 Magazine Editor Lewis Pek, IGT Executive Director of Product Compliance Steve Kastner, Octavian Online Head of System Development Department Anton Makeev and William Scott discussed how new technology innovations fit into gaming systems and operations.
Alex Iliopoulos, Senior Compliance Engineer for GLI Europe, then moderated the panel, “iGaming Change Management Processes,” where panelists Pokerstars Director of New Markets Ian Feather, Betfair European Compliance Manager Chris Harley and Subdirector General Adjunto de Inspección del Juego, (DGOJ) España Javier Guergué discussed best-practices concerning change management processes relating to iGaming platforms.
The barriers to standards were the focus of the last discussion of day one with GLI’s General Counsel & Senior Director Government Relations Kevin Mullally and panelists Policy Action Group Managing Partner Wes Himes, Kalff Katz & Franssen Gaming Lawyer Alan Littler, United Kingdom Gambling Commission National Compliance Manager Stuart McPhee and DGA Special Advisor Kristian Wind.
iGaming took center stage for the Roundtable’s second day. The question of social gaming regulation was presented by Mullally and panelists Neil Howard, Deputy Director of Compliance of the Alderney Gambling Control Commission; Reuben Portanier, CEO of Malta Lotteries & Gaming Authority; Vicenç Martí , CEO of Akamon Entertainment; Andy Rogers, Managing Director at Enteraction; and Janis Ungurs, Director of Law Department at the Latvian Lotteries & Gaming Supervisory Inspection.
NCC Group Business Development Executive Aneil Prabhakar then presented an overview of the crucial steps in the ISS security audit process presenting some real life examples of what can go wrong with network security.
Toler then led a presentation on the proper forensic steps regulators should follow in the event of a device malfunction referencing simulated and real life scenarios.
The next session looked into the future as the Policy Action Group’s Managing Partner Wes Himes and Managing Director Morten Ronde gave a broad look at what is “in the works” on legislation front in jurisdictions across Europe.
The Roundtable ended with a review of GLI’s tools for regulators, presented by Toler.
GLI’s Roundtable series is produced through GLI’s world-renowned training program GLI University, nominated as “The Educational Development Programme of the Year in the Land-based Casino Sector” in the Totally Gaming Awards 2013. Next, GLI will present the Latin American and Caribbean Roundtable this August in Peru.
