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 Gambling911 recently reported that Global Interactive Gaming Summit and Expo (GIGSE) organizers are considering hosting their next conference in Atlantic City or New York City. If their sources prove to be true, and organizers decided on one of those locations it would be the first industry event to take place on US soil since the passage of the UIGEA in 2006.
It is likely that the conference would take place in New Jersey since it became the first state to legalize some form of internet gambling earlier this year. Online gambling execs have feared hosting an event out of the US because law enforcement could see such an event as the perfect opportunity to apprehend those in charge of "unlawful" online gaming sites. Recent legislation however, has eased some of these fears and the mood of industry leaders are changing.
"Most European operators are not afraid to come to the United States anymore," claims Joe Brennan, Jr., head of the Interactive Media Entertainment & Gaming Association, an organization that hopes to make New Jersey the first state to legalize online sports betting and poker.
GIGSE attracts hundreds of attendees each year and is known to boost the economies of its host cities. A conference in Atlantic City would do a lot to help reinforce the positive impact of the online gaming industry in New Jersey and would perhaps provide a much needed boost to New Jersey's struggling economy.
Whether or not GIGSE decides that a stop in the US would be worth the risks remains to be seen. We'll find out soon enough as they are expected to release the schedule for next year's event in the near future.
As always stay tuned to Casinofan for more news and updates.
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