GeoComply Solutions Inc. (“GeoComply”), the market-leading geolocation, fraud, and risk solutions provider, is pleased to announce its second Challenger Series Summit, in partnership with Citi’s investment bank, to be held in Las Vegas, on October 8th, 2023, before G2E.

Following the success of the inaugural New York Challenger Series event, held on May 8th, 2023, GeoComply and Citi are continuing the momentum, supporting early-stage companies and start-ups in the gaming industry by gathering industry founders and entrepreneurs to share their valuable knowledge and insights.

GeoComply’s Challenger Series is designed to provide companies targeting the US-regulated gaming market with expert advice from founders and entrepreneurs with decades of personal experience on topics that include hyper-growth, payments, product innovation, marketing, post-exit strategy, and more.

Feedback from New York Challenger Summit was exceedingly positive. Attendees remarked on the quality of panelists who spoke on relevant topics for their emerging businesses. The carefully curated thought leadership panels and additional time for networking allowed attendees to forge meaningful relationships within the gaming community.

GeoComply Co-Founder David Briggs commented, “We are so thankful for all the industry leaders who shared their time and expertise at our first event. The ability to bring together top gaming founders and entrepreneurs in one room to speak on tackling the North American market and its challenges is an invaluable experience for all emerging business owners. Our goal is to continue to support this community and build this space for connection and relationship-building.”

What: The Challenger Series – Vegas Summit

Where: Bellagio, Las Vegas, Nevada

When: October 8th, 2023, 2 pm – 6 pm PST

Presenters: Paul Liberman (DraftKings), Lesley Eccles (HelloRelish Inc), Joey Levy (Betr), Nik Robinson (Big Time Gaming), Nan Wang (Sleeper), Matt Davey (Tekkrop Capital LLC), Scott Longley (Clear Concise Media), Anna Sainsbury (GeoComply), David Briggs (GeoComply), Andrew Fabian (Citi)

Attendees will have the opportunity to meet founders, market leaders, and visionaries during and after the event which will end with a networking cocktail hour on the Bellagio balcony overlooking the city.

The Gaming Americas Quarterly Meetups by Hipther Agency are designed to keep you up-to-date with what is fresh in the North American and Latin American gambling industry.

The meetups feature several panel discussions per region and topics that are joined by key industry experts, CEOs, C-Level Executives, Business Development Managers, and sometimes government officials/regulators.

The Gaming Americas Q3 Virtual Meetup that took place on September 13 brought back the quarterly US Legislation Round-up with our favorite experts, Bill Pascrell, III (BP3), Partner at Princeton Public Affairs Group, Martin Lycka, SVP for American Regulatory Affairs and Responsible Gambling at Entain, and Jeremy Kleiman, Gaming Attorney and Member at Saiber LLC.

Gaming Americas Q3 Session 2: US Legislation Round-up

Speakers: Bill Pascrell, III (BP3) | Martin Lycka

Moderator: Jeremy Kleiman

Watch the Session on YouTube and HiptherTV!

In this edition of the US Legislation Round-up, moderator Jeremy Kleiman immediately delved into the major developments of the past quarter. He invited Bill Pascrell to kickstart the conversation with insights into Florida’s online sports betting launch, thanks to the Seminole-Hard Rock collaboration.

Bill shared his unique perspective, having represented Hard Rock International for the last 11 years. He revealed that while Hard Rock had initially launched betting, legal challenges forced a temporary shutdown. However, recent legal developments suggest that Hard Rock is poised to relaunch on September 19th. Bill credited this success to Jim Allen, Chairman of Hard Rock International and CEO of Seminole Gaming, as well as the entire Hard Rock Team and the Seminole Tribe.

Bill also touched upon the legal complexities surrounding this case, especially regarding the Indian Gaming Act. He expressed excitement about Florida becoming the largest state in the nation to launch sports betting, emphasizing the enormous opportunities it presents.

Jeremy followed up by asking about the regulatory framework and potential collaborations with Hard Rock. Bill explained that opportunities for collaboration, both online and in retail, hinge on the Indian Gaming Act’s provisions. He also hinted at the possibility of ancillary services and additional partners.

Martin Lycka joined the conversation, emphasizing that Florida’s unique regulation is an example of the intricacies in US gambling and sports betting laws. He discussed the tax rates and restrictions in Florida and how four key states, including New York, California, and Texas, will shape the future of the US market.

The discussion then shifted to California, where Bill discussed the need for a ballot referendum due to the state’s complex political landscape and gaming entities.

Regarding Texas, Bill shared that it has no history of gaming, with many Texans crossing state borders for gambling. Regulatory attempts in the state have thus far failed, with potential regulation expected in the spring of 2025.

The conversation touched on the crucial role of professional sports teams in shaping gaming regulation. Bill emphasized that these teams will be license holders for venues and possess significant political influence.

Martin pointed out the cultural contrasts in Texas, a conservative state with popular sports teams eager to embrace sports betting. He also drew attention to New York’s high tax rate, which poses challenges for operators.

Jeremy shifted the discussion to responsible gaming, with Martin informing us that September is the Responsible Gambling Education month in the US, underscoring the importance of responsible gaming education throughout the year.

In summary, our panel of American gaming specialists provided a comprehensive session with valuable insights into US gambling legislation. They highlighted both the challenges and progress in key states, setting the stage for the future of the industry.

Watch the full US Legislation Round-up for Q3 on HiptherTV

Stay tuned for Session 3 of the Gaming Americas Q3 Meetup and the special focus on “AI Issues”!

BMM Testlabs, the world’s original gaming test lab and product certification consultancy, is pleased to announce that BMM Testlabs Spain has been approved as a testing and certification laboratory for the games and lottery industry by Paraná; State Lotteries.

Marzia Turrini, Executive Vice President, EURSAM, commented: Paraná State Lotteries (LOTTOPAR) initiated a public call for accreditation earlier this year, inviting interested laboratories to apply for the license to serve in this jurisdiction for betting and lottery games. This is the first jurisdiction regulating laboratories in Brazil, which demonstrates understanding of the importance of the testing and certification of gaming devices in the region. BMM is excited for the opportunity to serve in this Brazilian jurisdiction and would like to thank LOTTOPAR for their support during the application process.

Paraná State Lotteries signed an accreditation agreement authorizing BMM Testlabs to collaborate with lottery and fixed-odds betting operators, including sports betting, for the purpose of testing and certifying gaming products and systems. This accreditation extends to electronic games, lottery systems, gaming machines, online platforms, and other related components.

The accreditation signing ceremony on Friday, September 15, 2023, was attended by Daniel Magarios (Sales Manager for South America, BMM Testlabs), Analice Castor de Mattos (lawyer representing BMM Testlabs Spain), Daniel Romanowski (Chief Executive Officer, LOTTOPAR), Rog&#e9;rio Nogueira (Chief Financial Officer, LOTTOPAR), Fabio Veiga (Chief Operating Officer, LOTTOPAR), Rafael Halila (Chief Technology Officer, LOTTOPAR), Stefanny Fernandes (Chief of Staff, LOTTOPAR), and Simone Marin Israel (Operations Directorate, LOTTOPAR).