Try to guess, my reader, how many countries were participants in 1st European Gaming Expo? 10 or 15? No! There were more than 275 representatives from 22 countries in The Hotel Rey Juan Carlos, in Barcelona last week. The event was coordinated by The River City Group and ATE, a business data supplier. While the U.S. is trying to destroy the market with up in the air regulations on gambling and banning internet casinos, Europeans think about development of this branch with a strong protection from governments in order to provide a more positive outlook on the issue of online gaming. Many European authorities are trying to mark its foothold in the region, so that is why it has every time a unique face. Thus authorizing leading land-based gaming trademarks in Alderney and The Isle of Man to operate is providing a positive face on the issue of online gaming. The main topics during the meeting were prohibition, cross-border gaming and Pan-European regulations but many more problems were concerned. Reliable online payment services is the most important issue because, according to Steve Donoughe, an executive from the Gaming Consultancy, people need to be sure that everything is legal and protected by law. This kind of feeling safe plays a crucial role in online gambling. Mr. Donoughe also commented on the recent policy changes from Us Banks and credit card companies which do not accept transactions made for gaming purposes. This caused a commotional stir running through the Industry, fearing a disastrous fall to the rightful trade. He summed it up by saying, “We can´t rely on the US to sort this out. We need a European solution.” So to conclude, we have nowadays two opposite points of view on online gaming industry. First, American point is rather negative being managed by few skeptically thinking authorities. Another, European, which is far more opened and even enthusiastically ready for something new in the field of using internet for online gambling. However, there are many voices in the U.S. about its legalization, too, so it is not hard to predict that in the near future changes will come.
Jun 20