The ninth Global Interactive Gaming Summit and Expo (GIGSE), a shadow of its former self, drew to a close yesterday in Montreal. The River City Group, a division of the London Show organisers Clarion Events, changed the theme for this year’s GIGSE from ‘Ahead of the Curve’ to ‘It’s a New Game’ following the moves against online gambling in the United States. The number of attendees dropped by nearly two-thirds, with many past delegates not wanting to risk a forced stop-over in America.

Before GIGSE started this year, River City’s President and CEO Sue Schneider published a message stating, “We’re sensitive to the economics of many of you who are struggling with reduced revenues and staff cuts as you adjust to today’s new realities. We’ve made the commitment, in this critical year, to keep prices low for both delegate registration and exhibition space.” Commenting after the event on the attendance, she said that unfortunately people were really afraid to come.

For those that did brave the Summit, the future of the industry still looks uncertain. There are moves in the US to challenge the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act as unconstitutional, and a push to make games of skill such as poker beyond the scope of the Act. Also uncertain is whether River City will organise the tenth GIGSE event in Montreal. Europe has a much better climate when in comes to interactive gaming. (E-06.08.07)

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