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Gambling911.com has learned that Global Interactive Gaming Summit and Expo (GIGSE) organizers are contemplating holding their next conference in either Atlantic City, New Jersey or New York City. If so, this would mark the first time since legislation was passed in 2006 banning some forms of online gambling that such an industry event would be taking place on US soil.
The conference would be held in one of the two locations since New Jersey looks to become the first state to legalize Internet gambling.
For years, online gambling execs have feared traveling to the US out of concerns they might be apprehended by law enforcement authorities.
“Most European operators are not afraid to come to the United States any more,” claims Joe Brennan, Jr., head of the Interactive Media Entertainment & Gaming Association, which is helping New Jersey in its efforts to get online sports betting and poker legislation passed in the state.
More importantly, such a conference would attract a more diverse group of individuals from throughout the United States.
GIGSE, the first conference ever held by the sector, has long attracted hundreds of attendees while boosting the economies of host cities such as Toronto and Montreal. The conference reached its peak in 2005, the last year in which Gambling911.com attended.
Gambling911.com is credited with helping boost GIGSE's profile back in its heyday. During the SARS scare of 2003, Gambling911.com insisted all expected attendees of GIGSE stay home due to the mounting number of SARS cases in Toronto, the event's host city that year. Enough people heeded the warnings and GIGSE ended up postponing the conference and moving to another venue in Montreal. It was that move that helped generate more attendance since Montreal was seen as an attractive alternative to Toronto (especially when it came to partying and strip clubs). Despite GIGSE incurring thousands of dollars in added costs and lost revenues, the organizers were applauded for their swift action.
An Atlantic City conference would help to reinforce the positive impact of a multi-billion dollar online gambling industry on New Jersey’s struggling economy.
- Jagajeet Chiba, Gambling911.com
