Conference day 1, Monday, 4th October 2010

last modified: 24/09/2010

9:00

REGISTRATION

10:00 - 10:15

OPENING BEGE & EEGS

10:15 - 10:30

SPEED MORNING NETWORKING
Meet industry representatives from this part of the world!

10:30 - 10:45

CONFERENCE KEYNOTE SPEACH
KALOYAN KRASTEV, Chairman, State Commission on Gambling, Bulgaria

10:45 - 11:45

Panel 1: Countries’ profile
Eastern European Gaming reforms and liberalization of outdated systems

• Up-to-date information directly from the Eastern Europe markets: boom toward them or get away from?
• Changes in the regulatory environment influencing gaming sector: who and how can resist?
• Industry or Government should do more?
• How do governments see the role of gaming industry in filling financial black holes?

Speakers:
Serbia: MIRJANA ACIMOVIC, President, Serbian Association of Gaming Organizers, Authorized Technicians and Producers of Gaming Equipment (JAKTA)
Romania:CRISTIAN PASCU, Executive President, Romanian Gaming Association of Organizers and Producers (RGAOP)
Greece:NIKOLAOS KALLINIKIDIS, Representative Speaker, Greek Gaming Association (OSIPE)
Croatia:DANKO VOJNOVIC, Secretary, Croatian association of automat clubs (HUAK)
Macedonia (FYROM): GJORGJI DAMJANOVSKI, Managing Director, HTL Makedonija DOOEL – Novomatic Group of Companies

Moderator:
Bulgaria: ANGEL IRIBOZOV, Chairman, Bulgarian trade Association of the Manufacturers and Operators in the Gaming Industry (BTAMOGI)

11:45 - 12:25

Panel 2: Countries’ profile
Central European Gaming reforms and liberalization of outdated systems

• Gambling in Germany: overview of the latest liberalization developments
• European fundamental principles related to the functioning of the EU internal market and to the competition rules.
• Legal situation on the Polish gambling market and serious doubts arising from the new Polish gambling law concerning its compatibility with the EU law.

Speakers:
Austria:HELMUT KAFKA, President, Austrian Gaming Association
Germany:CLAUS HAMBACH, Founding & Managing Partner, Hambach& Hambach Law Firm, Germany
Poland: OKTAWIA BUDNIK, Lawyer, Polish Chamber of Commerce of Producers and Operators of Amusement Equipment

Moderator:
HRVOJE VINCETIC, Indipendent Casino & Gaming Professional

12:25 - 13:00

Panel 3: Building bridges between EU Member States finding the proper balance

• Searching for new principles of solidarity in the continuing times of economical downturn
• The regulatory landscape in Europe: balancing rights and responsibilities
• The future of the gaming industry: is the industry holding the right cards?

Speakers:
ROBERT W. STOCKER II, Chair of the Gaming Law Committee of the American Bar Association
HELMUT KAFKA, President, Austrian Gaming Association/Vice-President, EUROMAT

Moderator:
NADIA HRISTOVA, Member of the Management Board, BTAMOGI

13:00 - 14:00

LUNCH BREAK

14:00 - 14:55

Panel 4: Calling for online gaming: conversations in the online room

• Where Online Casino business will be in 2-3 years time (legal situation in EU/US)
• What are the drivers for Online betting will be in 2-3 years time
• Online and Land based operators cooperation and opportunities
• Short overview of how to start such business and what is the critical mass to make it profitable
• Online gambling regulation in Bulgaria – the 2010 draft law
• Online gambling regulation in the Czech Republic – developments since 2008
• Online gambling regulation in Poland – the 2010 online gambling amendment to the 2009 Gambling Act, the interplay between the EU Commission and the Polish government
• (Non-) applicability of the recent ECJ case law in the CEE region (especially to the multi-license systems)

Speakers:
MARTIN LYCKA, Legal Adviser, Betfair
MATT JELLICOE, CEO, Offsidegaming
INDREK JURGENSON, CEO, Olympic Entertainment Group

Moderator:
OLGA FINKEL, Managing Partner, WH Law

14:55 - 15:15

Panel 5: European gaming resorts: Case of Slovenia
Slovenian gaming industry started success story in 1985 due to self management system and casino company HIT gained later a superb business figures with the opportunity to realize the first European great scale gaming destination resort. In 2007 Harrah’s offered Slovenian government big challenge to invest with HIT one billion USD. Why partners failed? What got wrong? Why Slovenian government didn’t do work his homework- some changes of Gaming Law. Slovenia is still the only country with state and private owned casinos competing among them. Bad government gaming strategy choices lead to industry crisis and casino losses and even bankruptcies. What other countries could learn from Slovenia fails.

Speaker:
BORIS NEMEC, Astra, gaming research and consulting

15:15-15:30

Presentation 6: The structure of State Commission on Gambling of the Republic of Bulgaria

Speakers:
MILAN ILIEV, Head of Department “Methodology, Analyses, Forecasts and Gaming Equipment”, Bulgarian State Commission of Gambling
PLAMEN GEORGIEV, Head of Control on Gambling Activities Department, Bulgarian State Commission on Gambling

15:30 - 16:00

COFFEE BREAK

16:00 - 16:45

Panel 7: They ‘ve heard know about us, but do they know enough about us at all? Contribution to popular understanding of the gaming industry

• Positive vs. negative –do you know enough to tell you know enough?
• Some key strategic considerations in relation to managing public opinion and public awareness
• Business like any other business - highlighting gaming industry issues and insights
• Positive word of mouth - a powerful force at any time
• Times when casinos were only for rich clients with lots of money and were existing only on the films like James Bond

Speakers:
JOSEPH WEINERT, Vice President, Spectrum Gaming Group
ANETA NEDYALKOVA, PR Agency Anettevents
MAXIM BEHAR, Chief Executive, M3 Communications Group Inc.
NELLY BENOVA, Managing Director, Apeiron Communication

Moderator:
MILENA ATANASSOVA, Manager, Magicaevents

16:45 - 17:30

Panel 8: Responsible gaming
National and International approach to Responsible Gaming: responsible play

• Approaches that the Gaming Industry provides to protect vulnerable public.
• Partnering for Success: how experts drive responsible gaming to be effective?
• Contribution to problem gaming – promotion of responsible gaming behavior in Bulgaria.
• Informed player choice – is Eastern Europe aware of the best practices?

Speakers:
JENNIFER SHATLEY, VP Responsible Gaming Policies & Compliance, Harrah’s Entertainment
NADIA HRISTOVA, Member of the Management Board, BTAMOGI
HELMUT KAFKA, President, Austrian Gaming Association/ Vice-President, EUROMAT

Moderator:
NADIA HRISTOVA, Member of the Management Board, BTAMOGI

17:30 - 18:15

Panel 9: An exploration of the current situation in the wiped out industries

• Russia: loopholes and challenges searching of the neutral zones. A destination – casino.
• Ukraine: Organization of European Soccer Championship 2012 in Ukraine. Changes in the gaming law in Ukraine. Casino licensing for the 5-stars hotels in Kiev.
• Belarus – the advantage of the gaming restrictions

Speakers:
LYUBOV LOGINOVA, Chairman of Board of Directors, Alsart Group of Companies
YURI ROZENTAL, Director, European Marketing, MGM Grand

Moderator:
JOSEPH WEINERT, Vice President, Spectrum Gaming Group