The UNLV Gaming & Hospitality Education Series 2018 kicks off this week with a morning of discussion devoted to sports betting and esports. Split into two panels, the first asks the question; Supreme Decision: What Does the Expansion of Sports Betting Mean to Nevada?
In the event preamble, the UNLV stated: “For many years, Nevada was the capital of sports betting in the United States. Now that the Supreme Court has invalidated a law that prohibited sports betting outside Nevada (and three other states where only lottery sports betting is legal), how will Nevada respond?
“Can it remain the capital of sports betting by focusing on the expertise it has accumulated throughout the years? Or will other states usurp Nevada’s position? Nevada has had many ‘firsts’ in gaming, and mobile sports betting was another. Understand what the state can do to remain the prime mover in a vastly expanded sports betting industry.”
Moderating the session will be John English, partner, Global Market Advisors with speakers comprising Joe Asher, president and CEO, William Hill US; Matt Davey, CEO at SG Digital; Lee Richardson, founder and CEO, Gaming Economics; Mark Lipparelli, founder and CEO of Gionco Ventures, LLC and former Nevada State Senator; and Vic Salerno, president, USBookmaking.
The second segment aims to address the esports phenomenon by asking; Can Casinos Cash In? Said the UNLV: “One of the activities enjoyed by millennials is playing video games, which includes the genre of esports. Over the past 10 years competition in esports has ramped up so it now approaches traditional sports. In the effort to attract a younger audience the gaming industry has already invested millions in eSports, from hosting tournaments to building eSports centers.”
Experts at this session will explain about the opportunities and challenges that casinos will face when considering the implementation of eSports activities, including the possibility of instituting betting on eSports.
Moderator for this panel is Robert Rippee, director, Hospitality Lab, UNLV International Gaming Institute. Speakers include Drew Brunson, vice president of esports, Caesars Entertainment; Ben Fox, partner, Gameacon; Alex Igelman, executive chairman, Millennial Esports; and Rahul Sood, CEO, Unikrn
