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East Coast Gaming Congress Announces Revised Schedule for 25th Annual Conference September 21-23 at Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Atlantic City

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3 years ago

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The 25th annual East Coast Gaming Congress will feature more than 50 speakers, including top CEOs, the Governor of New Jersey, and scores of industry experts as it convenes September 21-23 at Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Atlantic City.

Several hundred gaming industry leaders, legislators, regulators, educators, suppliers, gaming lawyers, media, and other stakeholders will attend the conference’s Silver Jubilee to learn more about the trends, challenges, and critical issues facing all segments of the gaming industries.

The luncheon will feature a keynote address from Hon. Phil Murphy, Governor of New Jersey, and will also include the presentation of a Lifetime Achievement Award to industry veteran Virginia McDowell.

Bill Miller, President and CEO, American Gaming Association, will provide an update and analysis on national issues.

The revised schedule, announced today, includes:

Wednesday, September 21

5:00 pm – 7:00 pm        Registration

6:00 pm – 8:00 pm        Welcome Cocktail Reception, Hard Rock Café, SPONSORED BY: Sightline

Thursday, September 22

7:00 am                          Continental Breakfast

8:15 am                          Atlantic City Mayor Marty Small, Sr.

James T. Plousis, Chairman, New Jersey Casino Control Commission

Opening Keynote: Bill Miller, CEO, American Gaming Association


8:50 am – 9:40 am         Sports Betting: Which Model Is Working Best?

Now legal and active in 31 US jurisdictions, it seems no two states have the same sports betting model. From an online-only model to a model offering dozens of skins to one offering tax rates four to five times higher than others, states have created their own schemes in an effort to maximize results. But which model is working best? And should this be measured by GGR – or by state tax receipts? Do high tax rates matter? Operators and legislators debate.

Moderator: John Atkinson, Director of Business Development, Sports Illustrated Sportsbook/888 Holdings

 

  • Senator Jon Ford, State of Indiana; President, NCLGS
  • Gina Smith, Deputy Director of Gaming Compliance, Virginia Lottery
  • Elizabeth Suever, Vice President, Government Relations, Bally’s Corporation
  • Andrew Winchell, Director of Government Affairs, FanDuel

 


9:45 am – 11:15 am        Industry Leaders Roundtable I

In the first segment of our ECGC signature roundtable events, these top executives from leading gaming companies gather to discuss the status and future of their industry.

Moderator: Lynne Levin Kaufman, Partner and Co-Chair, Gaming & iGaming Group, Cooper Levenson

James F. Allen, Chairman, Hard Rock International and CEO, Seminole Gaming

David Cordish, Chairman, The Cordish Companies

Jay Dorris, CEO, PCI Gaming Authority

Jason Guyot, President and CEO, Foxwoods Resort Casino

E. Brian Hansberry, President, Delaware North, Gaming


11:15 am – 11:45 am      Networking Break


11:50 am – 12:40 pm     Analyze This

Sports betting and igaming operators are spending tons on advertising and promotions. Is this smart? Casinos are facing competition from digital gaming and now even their own state lotteries. What does their future hold? Traditional casino companies have bought digital providers, technology companies and even media companies. How are these acquisitions panning out? Join a panel of distinguished Wall Street analysts and investors for a no-holds-barred discussion of the gaming industry from a financial perspective.

Moderator: David Isaacson, Senior Vice President, Spectrum Gaming Capital

 

  • Gabriel Fineberg, Vice President, Beach Point Capital Management
  • Colin Mansfield, Sector Head – US Gaming & Leisure, Fitch Ratings
  • Joel Simkins, Managing Director, Houlihan Lokey
  • Teddy Swigert, Managing Director, Credit Suisse

 

 

12:45 pm  – 2:00 pm      Luncheon – Keynote Speaker: New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy

                                                – Lifetime Achievement Award Presentation to Virginia McDowell


2:00 pm  – 2:50 pm        Is Gaming Growing Responsibly?

Gaming is still growing, thanks to high-growth segments such as sports betting, ilottery, and igaming. But are legislators, regulators and operators ensuring that responsible-gaming programs have the necessary resources to keep pace with the rise in the number of gamblers and their increasing expenditures? What technology is – or should be available – to help both programs and gamblers? Are research projects adequately assessing the behaviors associated with the new generation of gaming?

Moderator: Marlene Warner, Principal, Spectrum Safer Gaming Advisors, and Executive Director, Massachusetts Council on Gaming and Health

 

  • Shawn Fluharty, Minority Whip, West Virginia House of Delegates
  • Elizabeth Lanza, Director, Office of Compulsive and Problem Gambling, Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board
  • Lia Nower, J.D., Ph.D., Director, Center for Gambling Studies, Rutgers University
  • Richard L. Taylor, Jr., Responsible Gaming Program Manager, BetMGM


2:55 pm  – 3:45 pm         The Northeast Cauldron

Casino operators throughout the intensively competitive Northeast not only have to compete among themselves these days, but also with digital gaming operators (both casino and sportsbook), rapidly evolving state lottery games, and, in some cases, the rapid spread of unregulated gaming devices in retail locations. How do land-based casinos continue to thrive in this environment, and do they view other forms of gaming as an opportunity or a threat? Operators from four states assess the state of play in the region.

Moderator: Joseph Weinert, Executive VP, Spectrum Gaming Group

 

  • Anthony Faranca, President, Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Atlantic City
  • Eric Hausler, CEO, Greenwood Racing (PARX Casino)
  • David Martinelli, Jr., Chief Marketing Officer, Mohegan Gaming & Entertainment
  • Robert Norton, President, Cordish Gaming Group

 


3:45 pm  – 4:00 pm         Networking Break


4:00 pm – 5:30 pm          Industry Leaders Roundtable II

In the second segment of our ECGC signature roundtable events, these top executives from leading gaming companies gather to discuss the status and future of their industry.

Moderator: Juliann Barreto, Chief Operating Officer, Spectrum Gaming Group

 

  • Kevin Jones, Chief Strategy and Legal Officer, Resorts World Casino and Genting Americas
  • Jette Nygaard-Andersen, CEO, Entain
  • Ray Pineault, President and CEO, Mohegan Gaming & Entertainment
  • Thomas Reeg, CEO, Caesars Entertainment
  • Jay Snowden, CEO, Penn National Gaming

 

 

6 pm – 8 pm                     Silver Anniversary Celebration, Council Oak Steaks & Seafood, Hard Rock Hotel &
Casino,  SPONSORED BY: Meet AC


Friday, September 23

7:00 am                             Continental Breakfast

8:30 am                             Keynote Address – Howard S. Mittman, President, 888 US, Inc.

8:50 am – 9:40 am           The Best Things in Gaming Right Now Are …

Sports betting is growing rapidly … historical horse racing is expanding where slots cannot … esports is just beginning to tie itself to gaming … the movement to cashless casino gaming is starting to take root. So, what exactly do casino operators and suppliers think are the best things going for the gaming industry at large?

Moderator: Lucas Levenson, Attorney, Cooper Levenson, Attorneys at Law

 

  • Brooke Fiumara, Chief Executive Officer, OPTX
  • Grant Johnson, Chief Executive Officer & Chairman, Esports Entertainment Group
  • Mandi Hart, Chief Client Solutions Officer, Sightline Payments
  • Deron Hunsberger, Chief Commercial Officer, Ainsworth Game Technology

 


9:45 am – 10:35 am        State Regulators: Keeping Their Promise to Keep Pace?

When new technology brings forth new games, new ways to play those games, or new ways to transact money, gaming operators and suppliers want it – now! Ultimately, state gaming regulators determine whether – or how fast – such technology can be offered to the consumer. Are the regulators doing this quickly enough? Do they have the physical and human resources needed to keep pace in the rapidly evolving gaming industry? Regulators discuss this critical issue.

Moderator: Cyrus Pitre, Chief Enforcement Counsel, Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board

 

  • Stephen Cook, Chief Counsel, Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board
  • Cathy Judd-Stein, Chair, Massachusetts Gaming Commission
  • John Martin, Executive Director, Maryland Lottery
  • David Rebuck, Director, New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement
  • June E. Taylor, Chair, Ohio Casino Control Commission

 


10:35 am – 10:55 am     Networking Break


10:55 am – 11:45 am      Whither Igaming?

The limited rollout of igaming nationwide stands in stark contrast to the rollout of sports betting. Whereas 30 jurisdictions launched sports betting within 3½ years of the Supreme Court overturning the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act in 2018 – including 21 that offer digital betting – only six states have launched igaming in the 8½ years since it began in 2013. One reason for the states’ caution toward igaming may be their concern for their casinos. Is such concern justified? Why the slow rollout of igaming? Will the rapid adoption of digital sports betting speed up the adoption of igaming?

Moderator: Sherry Amos, Principal, Spectrum Gaming Hospitality Group

 

  • Howard Glaser, Global Head of Government Affairs and Legislative Counsel, Light &  Wonder
  • Jeffrey Millar, Commercial Director, North America, Evolution
  • Richard Schwartz, Chief Executive Officer, Rush Street Interactive
  • Luisa Woods, Vice President, Marketing, Gaming & Entertainment, Delaware North

 


11:55 am – 12:45 pm     Creating One Industry: Lotteries, Gaming

Lotteries and casinos have historically been separate industries. The Digital revolution is changing that. As ilottery and lottery courier services emerge, and as lotteries delve into sports betting and other shared verticals, what are the implications for policies and profits? At the same time, lotteries and casinos share a common challenge: unregulated slot machines.

Moderator: James A. Carey, Jr., Executive Director, New Jersey Lottery

 

  • Scott Bowen, Government Affairs Specialist, NeoPollard Interactive; former Commissioner, Michigan Lottery
  • Peggy Daniel, US General Manager, The Lotter/New Jersey Lotto LLC
  • Drew Svitko, Executive Director, Pennsylvania Lottery
  • Richard Weil, President, Richard Weil Group; Principal, Spectrum Gaming Lottery Group

 

Schedule is subject to change. For additional conference or sponsorship information, visit http://www.ecgc.us or contact Donna Vecere at [email protected].

The full conference schedule and registration is at www.ecgc.us. ECGC is organized and produced by Cooper Levenson, Attorneys at Law; Spectrum Gaming Group; Esports Entertainment Group; and Sports Illustrated Sportsbook.

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Adam Fonsica Co‑Founder & COO at Random State

Random State obtains Ontario iGaming licence

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May 19, 2025

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Random State (“RS”), the Swedish studio behind next‑generation iLottery and multiplayer bingo content, has been granted a Gaming‑Related Supplier – Manufacturer licence by the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO). The approval, effective 14 May 2025, authorises RS to offer its games and platform services to licensed operators across Ontario.

“Securing the Ontario licence is a milestone our entire team has worked tirelessly toward,” said Adam Fonsica, Co‑Founder & COO at Random State. “Ontario not only validates the quality and integrity of our technology; it provides a launchpad for our broader North‑American expansion. We can’t wait to introduce our eInstant titles and multiplayer bingo hub to Ontario players later this year, together with a soon‑to‑be‑announced operator.”

The licence clears the way for RS to roll out its full product portfolio in Ontario:

Interactive eInstants – instant‑win games that re‑imagine traditional lottery mechanics with modern gameplay and rich visuals.

Multiplayer bingo – a complete suite of 90-, 75-, 80/60/40‑ and 30‑ball variants, featuring progressive jackpots, Pot Booster and real‑time chat hosting.

Turn‑key iGaming platform – advanced Player Account Management (PAM), certified RNG, gamification engine and a WYSIWYG game‑configuration tool that lets operators launch new games in minutes.

Random State expects its first Ontario go‑live in Q3 2025, delivering both eInstants and multiplayer bingo on day one.

The post Random State obtains Ontario iGaming licence appeared first on Gaming and Gambling Industry in the Americas.

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BCLC

Surrey Resident Wins Record-Breaking $80-Million Lotto Max Jackpot

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3 days ago

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May 16, 2025

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Justin Simporios is normally a sound sleeper who “can fall asleep anywhere” – but he had a very sleepless night, after learning he won an $80-million Lotto Max jackpot from the May 9, 2025 draw. This is the largest lottery jackpot ever won in B.C. and is also the largest jackpot ever won by a single individual in Canada.  

“It was 10:30 p.m.,” recalled Simporios of the moment he realized he won. “I saw that someone won $80 million in Surrey. I was joking and told my wife ‘we’re millionaires!’ and she told me to stop making that joke. After, I manually checked each number before scanning [using the BCLC Lotto! I cried and shouted, ‘we’re millionaires!’” 

The Surrey resident woke up his wife to share the news. “She was in complete disbelief and a bit mad at me because our daughter wasn’t feeling well.” Simporios’ wife luckily agreed this was a good reason to wake her.  

While still in disbelief about his win, Simporios is ultimately most excited to share his windfall with his family. “I want to help my family and my wife’s family. I’ll pay off my sister’s medical school debt and help my mom retire early – just giving my family a head start in life.”  

Giving back to the community in Surrey and B.C. is also a key priority for Simporios. “I’ve struggled before and needed help. Even if I can give an ounce of happiness, I want to help where we can. This feels like a dream.”  

As an avid LA Lakers fan, Simporios mentioned he would like to see LeBron James play before James retires. He also plans to visit his family in the Philippines for a family reunion. “My wife and kid have never visited!”   

On how it feels to win a record-breaking jackpot?   

“The biggest change will be having more time with my wife and family. We want to live with a purpose – to help the community around us.”  

Simporios purchased the winning ticket at the Walmart Supercentre in Central City on King George Boulevard in Surrey. 

So far in 2025, B.C. lottery players have redeemed more than $101 million from Lotto Max. Lotto Max is a nationwide lottery game drawn on Tuesdays and Fridays after 7:30 p.m. (PST).  

Players can purchase tickets at lottery retailers or at PlayNow.com. Winning numbers and group release forms can be found online at www.bclc.com. Players can check their lottery tickets anytime, anywhere on iOS and Android devices. Learn more about the BCLC Lotto! 

BCLC offers socially responsible gambling entertainment while generating income to benefit all British Columbians. Players can visit PlayNow.com to learn how to set time and money limits. 

The post Surrey Resident Wins Record-Breaking $80-Million Lotto Max Jackpot appeared first on Gaming and Gambling Industry in the Americas.

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AGCO

AGCO calls on media platforms to step up the fight against unregulated online gambling sites

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4 days ago

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May 16, 2025

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The Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) has contacted more than a dozen traditional and digital media platforms, calling on them to stop promoting unregulated online gambling and sports betting sites like Bodog to Ontario residents.

Operated by Il Nido Inc., Bodog is an offshore operator actively targeting Ontarians by advertising on popular traditional and digital media platforms. Despite blocking players in Quebec and Nova Scotia from accessing their unregulated gambling and sports betting sites, Bodog continues to allow Ontarians to access these sites while advertising heavily on traditional and digital media platforms targeting Ontarians.

Under the Gaming Control Act, 1992, Bodog and other online gambling sites are required to register with the AGCO and sign an operating agreement with iGaming Ontario in order to operate in Ontario. Ontario’s regulated igaming framework requires operators to meet comprehensive requirements related to game integrity, player protection, anti-money laundering and information privacy. Bodog’s efforts to direct Ontarians to unregulated gambling undermine player protection and other safeguards which exist in the regulated market, as well as fair market principles.

By airing ads for Bodog and other unregulated operators, legitimate media platforms are providing a veneer of legitimacy to unregulated and high-risk sites and creating confusion for Ontarians. The AGCO is therefore calling on these platforms to take a stand against the promotion of unregulated online gambling sites and remove the ads. By doing so, broadcasters and digital media companies will help reduce the risks these sites pose to Ontarians and support the long-term sustainability of Ontario’s regulated igaming market – all key objectives of the AGCO.

The AGCO will continue to work with its partners – both in Ontario and internationally – to combat these unregulated sites and protect the public.

“The AGCO is committed to protecting Ontario players and ensuring they have the safest experience by playing on regulated igaming sites. By refusing to carry advertising from unregulated and high-risk operators like Bodog, media organizations can exemplify social responsibility and play an important role in protecting Ontarians and supporting Ontario’s regulated market.”  – Dr. Karin Schnarr, Chief Executive Officer and Registrar, AGCO.

The post AGCO calls on media platforms to step up the fight against unregulated online gambling sites appeared first on Gaming and Gambling Industry in the Americas.

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