Debate on the Harmonization of European Gambling Legislation
London, 2 December 2009

Speakers:

Robin Le Prevost
Head of eCommerce Development,
States of Alderney

Jason Chess
Partner, Betting and Gaming, Wiggin LLP

Dr. Joseph Borg and
Dr. Trevor De Giorgio
Lotteries & Gaming Authority, Malta

Quirino Mancini
Sinisi Ceschini Mancini & Partners, Italy

Momtchil Monov
Associate, Ulys Law Firm, Brussels

Tom Lippiett
Associate, Berwin Leighton Paisner UK

Media Partners

Journalists from these leading igaming trade publications poased questions to the panel during the debate:

GTECH G2 hosted a breakfast debate on the harmonization of European igaming legislation.

View more video excerpts from this event. | View photos from this event. | Read the transcript of this event.
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GTECH G2 invited speakers who are in favour of igaming law harmonization across Europe and who are for state controlled igaming legislation. iGaming business media and industry observers posed questions.

This modified Lincoln-Douglas-style debate presented arguments for European Union harmonized iGaming policy and for State controlled iGaming policy. This highly charged topic has been raised in Brussels lately following the controversial Santa Casa decision which seems, to some, a reversal in the EU’s approach to iGaming.

Breakfast and networking started at 10am with the Debate starting at 10:45 am following an introduction by the Moderator and a summary on DCMS in relation to the revision of UK gambling laws.

The GTECH G2 Executive Debate Series was organized by Lyceum Media on behalf of GTECH G2.
For further information please contact Jodie Thind, events @ lyceummedia.com, +44 (0)207 976 6469.

Operators and Regulators Thrash It Out atGTECH G2
Thought Leadership Debate on European iGaming Legislation

4 January 2010 (Stockholm, Sweden) – A capacity crowd of operators, regulators and industry observers gathered in London last month to discuss European iGaming legislation as a panel of legal experts and regulators from France, Italy, Malta and the UK debated the merits of the possible creation of an EU regulatory framework among the 27 EU jurisdictions versus the merits of purely State controlled igaming regulation. The event was hosted by GTECH G2, the igaming division of lottery industry giant GTECH.

“It’s clear that regulatory change will possibly be the greatest influence on shaping the online gaming sector over the next few years - this is why we decided to host this seminar on the topic of regulation.” said Leigh Nissim, Commercial Director, GTECH G2. “As a highly regulated entity with over 200 gaming licences world-wide, GTECH embraces these changes and we’re keen to work with our customers to maximize the opportunities that that regulation presents.”

Chaired by Robin Le Prevost of the States of Alderney, the debate was lively and insightful.

“In the current state of discussions and EU law, 27 member states have more or less 27 different conceptions of gaming and it’s just as simple as that,” said Debate Panelist Momtchil Monov, Associate, Ulys Law Firm. “When you speak to the Poles, when you speak to the Bulgarians, when you speak to the French, they don’t share the same views. I would say a mutually satisfactory compromise is not that easy. Negotiations are very difficult.”

The debate posed five resolutions to a panel of pro-European legislative harmonization representatives and then posed the same question to a panel of representatives who favour exclusivity for State-regulated gaming markets. Depending on the panel’s view of the resolution, they had five minutes to either argue an affirmative or negative point of view on the resolution posed. This was the first time these issues had been discussed in a structured debate format.

Posing the argument in favor of State-controlled igaming legislation were Quirino Mancini and Momtchil Monov. Representing the argument for the European harmonization and mutual recognition of iGaming legislation were Dr. Trevor De Giorgio, Dr. Joseph Borg and Tom Lippiet. GTECH G2 thanks its esteemed guests for their participation in the debate.

“The purpose of this debate was not to resolve issues, but to open our eyes to both sides of the argument,” said event moderator Michael Caselli. “And I think we did a great job on opening up our eyes to both the State controlled initiatives and the EU wide regulatory initiatives.”

GTECH G2’s next Thought Leadership Seminar will be announced in early 2010.

- ENDS-

For further information:
GTECH G2
Larry Colcy
+44 (0) 207 976 6469
G2@lyceummedia.com

About GTECH G2 (www.gtechg2.com)
GTECH G2 brings together — under one brand — the combined expertise of GTECH and its extensive lottery insight with leaders in the interactive gaming world providing a complete gaming portfolio of poker, bingo, casino, sportsbetting, fully managed services and instant games. The group includes Boss Media (www.bossmedia.com), a leading innovator in software and systems for Poker, Casino and Bingo entertainment; Finsoft (www.finsoft.com), a leading provider of enterprise-wide real time trading solutions for the commercial sports betting industry – both interactive and retail; St Minver (www.stminverltd.com), a fully managed service provider of Internet games to media, lifestyle, and other brands; and Dynamite Idea (www.dynamiteidea.com), a developer of unique, innovative digital instant and side games. Consolidating combined talent and expertise into one premiere brand means that GTECH G2 can provide a flexible digital solution to all customers, large or small, wherever they may be.

Speakers' Bios

Debate Chair

ALDERNEY
Robin Le Prevost
Head of E-Commerce Development for The States of Alderney

Robin Le Prevost, a highly successful Business Development Manager was born in Guernsey one of the British Channel Islands. Having spent a significant part of his early working life working abroad, Robin returned to the Islands in the early 80’s. Working in a mixture of finance and start-up projects Robin joined the local government owned Guernsey Telecoms as Business Development Manager in 2000, a company, which was bought out by the global giant Cable and Wireless in 2002.

During Robin’s time with Cable and Wireless he assumed responsibility for the islands growing e-gambling community and in 2005 left C&W to set-up his own consultancy in the sector and was subsequently head-hunted to represent the interests of the Government of Alderney in promoting that Island as the leading Jurisdiction in the EGambling sector.

State Controlled

ITALY
Quirino Mancini
Partner at Sinisi Ceschini Mancini

Quirino Mancini is a partner at Sinisi Ceschini Mancini (www.scm-partners.it), a general practice firm with offices in Rome, Milan and Genoa with a consolidated specialist ractice in telecommunications, new media, sports & entertainment.

Over the past decade he has developed an almost unique know-how and experience in matters related to national/EU gaming & betting law advising and assisting several Internet and land-based casinos, gaming houses and sportsbook companies in connection with their Italian business deals/operations and market entry projects, as well as acting on their behalf in all related licensing, regulatory, compliance, administrative, affiliate and contractual matters. He also advises on a regular basis market analysts, investment banks and venture capital funds directly or indirectly involved in the Italian gaming business.

Co-founder of www.gaminglaw.eu, an information and commentary portal focusing on legal and regulatory issues under European and national gaming laws.

FRANCE
Momtchil Monov
Associate, Ulys Law Firm, Brussels

Bar Admission: Member of the Brussels Bar

Education: 2002 – 2007 Free University of Brussels, Brussels, Belgium

Diplomas obtained – Bachelor of Law and Master of Law (magna cum laude, cum laude)

2007 – 2008 College of Europe, Bruges, Belgium

Diploma obtained – LL.M. in Advanced European Legal Studies (cum laude)

Most Recent Professional Experience:

2008 – 2009, Dechert LLP, Brussels, Belgium, Associate
2009 – To Date, Ulys Law Firm, Brussels, Belgium, Associate

EU Controlled

MALTA
Dr. Joseph Borg
Director Legal and Enforcement of the Lotteries and Gaming Authority - Malta

Dr. Joseph F. Borg is currently the Director Legal and Enforcement of the Lotteries and Gaming Authority - Malta and has been occupying this post for almost two years. Before joining the Authority, Joseph, acted as a Legal Counsel to Vodafone Malta Limited for three years.

Joseph was conferred with an LL.M. in Information Technology and Telecommunications Law at the University of Strathclyde (Glasgow), with Distinction. Earlier, he was awarded the LL.D. from the University of Malta, after writing and successfully defending a thesis entitled, 'Protection of Trademarks Against Domain Names'. In November 2000, Joseph graduated with a Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Legal and Humanistic Studies. Joseph went on an Erasmus Exchange in 2002 at the Facolta di Giurisprudenza of the Universita' degli Studi di Bologna.

He has recently completed a Regulator Development Program organized by the International Gaming Institute at the University of Nevada in Las Vegas.

MALTA
Dr. Trevor De Giorgio
Manager at the Legal and Enforcement Directorate within the Lotteries and Gaming Authority - Malta

Dr Trevor De Giorgio is currently occupying the post of Manager at the Legal and Enforcement Directorate within the Lotteries and Gaming Authority - Malta. Trevor has been occupying this position for over a year and is responsible for the European and International affairs of the Authority. Prior to joining the Authority, Trevor worked as a Parliamentary Assistant to Dr. Simon Busuttil MEP at the European Parliament in Brussels and eventually was an associate with Ganado Sammut Advocates.

Trevor was conferred with an MA in European Law at the University of La Sapienza (Rome). Earlier, he was awarded the LL.D. from the University of Malta, after writing and successfully defending a thesis entitled, The Constitutional Implications of a Hung Parliament'. In November 2003, Trevor graduated with a Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Legal and European Studies.

UK
Tom Lippiett
Associate, Berwin Leighton Paisner UK

Tom is a UK qualified lawyer specialising in gambling regulatory and general commercial issues. In addition to providing comprehensive advice on the position in the UK, he advises clients on worldwide jurisdictional issues in the gambling sector, with a particular emphasis on the legal aspects of betting and gaming in Europe and Asia.

Drawing on his detailed understanding of the European free market, Tom has advised a number of clients on the variety of legal issues surrounding the European Union (and its member states') laws on gambling. Further afield, he has also assisted the major Asian-facing operators on the variety of regulatory issues resulting from trading in the region, and globally.

On the transactional side, Tom has also provided regulatory assistance on several large gambling transactions, including a number of the gambling-related AIM floats, the sale of Betclick to Mangas Capital and the deal between Playtech and William Hill Online.

Tom's general commercial, contractual and regulatory legal advice extends to a number of leading betting and gaming companies, including Sportingbet Plc (for whom he prepares a monthly regulatory briefing to the Board), Gala Coral and leading Asian operators SBOBET and 188bet. He is a regular contributor to the mainstream and trade gambling press and speaker at the leading conferences on the subject of gambling and European law. He has also given TV and audio interviews on betting and gaming law.

Summary: UK Gambling Law

Jason Chess
Partner Betting & Gaming, Wiggin LLP

Jason is head of the gambling practice at Wiggin LLP having specialised in electronic and television gambling for a number of years. Jason represented Littlewoods in the first major hook-up between an e-gambling operator and a television platform when it contracted with ITV and has continued to advise a number of major e-gambling providers including PartyGaming, WagerWorks/IGT, Carmen Media, GTECH/G2, PokerStars and others. As well as advising gambling providers Jason also advises a wide range of media owners on gambling matters, for example ITV, Virgin Media, Five, Fremantle, BT, UKTV, Bauer, Dennis Publishing, IPC and others. Jason was educated at University College Oxford where he took an MA and MPhil and later at the College of Law Chester. He lives in Gloucestershire with his wife and three children.