The Casino Esports Conference returns, taking place Nov. 6 and 7 in Atlantic City, with a theme of igniting innovation at the intersection of esports, technology, and immersive experiences as part of redefining the future of gaming.
The conference at the Resorts Hotel & Casino will also touch on the cybersecurity issues that recently hit the casino industry hard with cyberattacks against MGM Resorts International and Caesars Entertainment. That session was scheduled before the reported hacks.
Brothers Ben and Ari Fox are hosting the conference, which launched eight years ago and has been held across the country. The Fox brothers are also the founders of Gamecon, a consumer convention that started in 2013 in Atlantic City.
This year’s conference will dive not only into esports, but also virtual reality, sports wagering, igaming, and immersive experiences. The focus will be on different verticals in the gaming space that are revolutionizing the industry.
Several CEOs, government-related people, and industry innovators will also address the various topics. Here is the list of speakers and link to registering.
“Since the CEC began in 2017, we’ve been pushing the industry to innovate and think outside of the box on how to attract younger audiences and build a better infrastructure,” Ari Fox said. “Right after the pandemic, the bigger companies like MGM, Caesars, and corporate-run businesses started cutting and cutting, but this is coming to a head on the Strip. We’re now looking at a backlash about taking the fun out of Vegas. There’s a disconnect between paying their employees to be in a happy space, providing better service and hospitality, and what younger customers are looking for. There’s a big problem in the industry that has to be addressed sooner than later and that’s what we’re trying to do at the CEC.”
The conference starts with a session on sports betting and leveraging data with technology. It will look at the size and overhead of the bigger sports-wagering companies and why their profits are larger.
That will be followed by a session on igaming and how it can adopt more advanced technology to build for the future. It also addresses whether esports has a role in igaming.
Another session will discuss mainstream-media claims that the esports bubble has burst and look at its future in relation to gambling. The first day ends with a session Identifying positive trends in esports and what this means for the future.
“It’s been legal in New Jersey, but no one has been able to accomplish anything there with esports,” Ben Fox said. “It’s being left by the wayside, but it needs to be addressed, because it could be making money right now. Many of the casinos are confused and scared; they don’t understand it. My brother and I are looking to help them do that. It’s time for them to start hosting and making money on these events. It’s the same story in Nevada. Esports hasn’t taken off there either. The operators are focused only on the things they are used to and don’t understand this enough to feel comfortable to start doing it.”
A session on cybersecurity will discuss some of the pitfalls and mistakes being made and how blockchain and artificial intelligence can help in its defense.
“A lot of discussions will be about different ways to protect your property from attacks,” Ben Fox said. “The technology is out there, so they don’t have to deal with such loss of revenue. Cyberattacks will bring you down and Vegas has gone through its licks. It goes beyond the casinos getting hammered. Their customer base with personal information are also being hacked. If you go to the back of the house, you’re seeing archaic infrastructure when it comes to technology.”
There will be a discussion on how casinos are managing and focusing on new younger customers 21 and higher.
Another session will delve into how igaming and sports-betting products can work together. It will deal with what the merging of both looks like for the consumer and whether more choices mean more revenue for operators. Also, the question, can igaming improve the odds of repeat customers, will be answered.
On day two, the first session deals with some of the at-home and on-property technology that can enhance the experience for younger players in sports wagering and igaming. It includes a look at bigger screens at sportsbooks and virtual reality, augmented reality, and immersive and amusement experiences.
The conference will have demonstrations of virtual reality and immersive experiences.
A session on promotions and offers for bringing online users into casinos will address some of the best ideas for doing so.
A law panel discussion and keynote speech are sponsored by the Archer law firm.
A session will deal what responsible gaming, integrity, and authenticity mean to the industry and its future. Do there need to be cultural changes in the workplace for gambling establishments? If so, what are some of the steps the industry has taken and can take? The panel will answer these and other questions about the casino culture.
The final CEC session will cover diversity and inclusion, discussing women in gaming, what can be done to improve their roles, and how the industry can build a larger database to improve relations with all genders and races. It will also tackle how religious beliefs play into the offerings of casinos.
The CEC will host a conference with a focus on tribal nations March 19-21 at Agua Caliente Resort Casino in Rancho Mirage, California.
