IGC Looks Forward To G2E
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VANCOUVER, British Columbia -- (PRESS RELEASE) -- The Interactive Gaming Council welcomes the higher profile for online gaming firms and their suppliers, as well as substantial conference content, at next week's Global Gaming Expo in Las Vegas. IGC staff will meet prospective members at our booth, #5219.

"G2E is a huge event for the land-based gaming industry, but in recent years there hasn't been much emphasis on the rapidly growing segment of interactive gaming," said Rick Smith, executive director of the IGC. "This year, however, I'm pleased to see that the organizers have brought back the iGaming Business Pavilion, which is a great way to focus attention on the companies that enable our part of the gaming industry to function - the software developers, the providers of payment solutions, security specialists, marketing and legal firms, site hosting services, and others."

The seemingly unlimited growth of online poker and the increasing popularity of online skill games will be major topics of discussion at this year's G2E. One of the seminars in the I-Gaming track is called "New Games on the Horizon." Experts will try to predict what games will appeal to online players in coming years.

Other I-Gaming sessions will be devoted to the U.S. legal climate, the reforms of the UK Gambling Bill, and the World Trade Organization dispute between Antigua and the U.S. over online gaming. Officials from some of the leading jurisdictions for interactive gaming will also discuss their approaches to regulation.

On Sept. 14, the IGC's Smith will participate in a session called "Interactive Gaming: Today and Tomorrow." He will be joined by Andre Wilsenach of the Alderney Gambling Control Commission and three legal experts on the topic: Michael D. Lipton of Canada, Frank Catania of the U.S., and Anthony Coles of England.

"The misguided policies of the U.S. government continue to prevent large domestic casino operators from involvement in the online gaming segment," said Keith Furlong, deputy director of the IGC. "Fortunately, G2E recognizes that we deserve a prominent role in such a major trade show and conference. After all, we are all part of the same global gaming industry. Our members simply deliver the product in a different manner."

Smith said: "The surge of popularity in online poker and the almost weekly announcement of public stock offerings by Internet gaming companies in the UK have made this a very exciting time for interactive gaming."

About the IGC

Formed in 1996, the IGC is the leading trade association for the international interactive gambling industry with its membership operating or supplying services to most of the reputable interactive sites on the World Wide Web. Based in Vancouver, Canada, the IGC champion's fair and honest interactive gambling environments. To help parents protect their children, IGC members are encouraged to participate in the self-labeling system of the Internet Content Rating Association. The IGC has developed a Code of Conduct for members, and a program called Helping Hand to assist problem gamblers.

For additional information on the Interactive Gaming Council, visit the website at www.igcouncil.org