Supplier News
US – Sports Betting USA Content Director moderated a keynote discussion at NIGA in Las Vegas
By Phil - 24 April 2018
Clarion’s Ewa Bakun, Head of Industry Insight and Engagement, and the person behind the launch of the Sports Betting USA conference last year in New York, NY, led an expert panel discussion at the Indian gaming tradeshow NIGA held at the Las Vegas Convention Center on April 20.
Having monitored the evolution of the sports betting debate in the United States since the early days of the New Jersey challenge, Ewa has a unique insight into the evolving positions of all key stakeholders. Through her engagement with both international and US organisations at the intersection of sports and gaming, provided the broader context in which tribal decisions on lobbying and strategic positions should be taken.
The panel led by Ewa featured a diverse roster of panellists, including Dan Wallach, shareholder in the law firm Becker & Poliakoff; Dan Spillane, Senior Vice President and Assistant General Counsel at the National Indian Gaming Association; Steve Bodmer, General Counsel at Pechanga Tribal Government; Aurene Martin, Managing Partner at Spirit Rock Consulting and Debbie Thundercloud, Chief of Staff at the National Indian Gaming Association.
The discussion highlighted legislative and strategic options, so that the tribes can position themselves to take advantage of their unique political standing, using sports betting opportunities to grow their revenues and keep giving back to their communities. Looking beyond the hype, panellists were asked to take a realistic view of the sports betting potential for tribes in a range of regulatory scenarios.
