October 25th, 2007
See you in Barcelona
It’s getting closer to EiG 2007, with less than a week to go until the opening. Ongame Network will be there, and Ongame Zone will post reports continously. Ongame Network will also host a opening night party in the fabulous Casino de Barcelona. Watch this space!
October 4th, 2007Day 2 of the EIG Expo a blast!
In sharp contrast to the Conference side of the EIG, the Expo was a blast. A lot of good stands, many interesting conversations and of course we at Ongame Network were extremely pleased that the Final of our Poker Event that we began the night before at Casino de Barcelona went off without a hitch. It caught a lot of people’s attention to say the least.
Ongame Network’s own Marketing Coordinator and Expo Guru Lisa Envall proved unstoppable (after having entered on a last-minute withdrawal from one of our VIP guests) and won the event beating renowned Swedish poker player and journalist Dan Glimne heads-up. All the six finalists took home nice prizes in the form of money-can’t-buy VIP Lounge tickets to some of the most coveted football games in Europe as well as various digital gadgets.
Stay tuned for pictures from the EXPO hall. Unfortunately we are not able to upload them just yet.
October 2nd, 2007What a mess in the US!
Martin Owens, lawyer at the Law office of Martin Owens, provided a detailed, yet easily digested, description of the US legal apparatus, the status of the UIEGA act, and the approaches taken to overturn it.
After having listened, one does not give the UIEGA snowball effect act many chances in someplace warm to ever be effectively enforced. But as one attendee pointed out, that has proven uncessary since the banks will pull out at slightest indication of trouble anyway. Also, Martin Owens didn’t give Barney Frank’s IGREA bill, which has gained a lot of support lately, much chance of overturning the UIEGA either. Albeit it may fail simply based on the fact that the Senate cannot afford to lose face by overturning an act before it is even put fully into practice or appear to concede to “blackmail” from foreign gaming interests.
The salvation however, may come through the increased interest shown by the states themselves to regulate and hence allow certain types of gambling. And since gambling laws ultimately fall under state – not federal – jurisdiction this is where the battle needs to be won in the first place.
October 2nd, 2007The European Union gaming law landscape isn’t harmonizing any time soon…
That’s the conclusion one can draw from this year’s first panel debate which saw several legal experts paint a rather dull picture of a European Union not intending or interested in harmonizing gambling laws across Europe. If the markets open up, the panel concluded, it will happen through individual nations taking steps towards legalization through licensing. The UK has taken the first steps, let’s hope others will follow.
Further details into the ongoing procedure in Norway where the government is planning to pass legislation that prevents banks from conducting transactions to online gaming companies, similar to the approach of the UIEGA, were also provided. It does not look good for Norway…
E-gaming left behind in the Web 2.0 revolution?
As the opening speaker, the 888.com CEO, Gigi Levy, spent 30 minutes giving examples of important web trends that the e-gaming industry has not been particularly good at capitalizing from.
Blinded by many years of solid growth based on exceptional achievements within other areas such as marketing, Gigi claimed complacancy has lead to the entire industry missing out on the ongoing web 2.0 revolution. And catching up must be one of the primary goals of any e-gaming company in the years to come. Good stuff!
The temperature is rising…
Literally. It appears Barcelona has decided to offer the e-gaming industry sunny weather and clear skies this year. Rather appropriate considering the up-beat vibes buzzing in the lobbies, hallways and buffet restaurants of the hotels situated in an around the convention area where the opening remarks will be held in just over an hour. Such a difference in mood from last year…
The Ongame Zone is attending the opening speeches and will of course write a line or two about what is being said right here in the blog.
