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Betting Show seminar programme offers free speech to all

Betting Show seminar programme offers free speech to all

Wednesday 4th August 2004

Having served as a popular platform for lively debate over recent years, the Betting Show Seminars will again run alongside the main show taking place at the NEC Pavilion, Birmingham on 19th-20th October and remain free to enter for all registered show attendees.

This year’s programme, headlined ‘The Changing Face of the British Horse Racing Product’ will run over both days of the show, the first day dedicated to traditional betting office issues with the focus on day two switching to the interactive market.

Whilst the final touches to the seminar programme are still being made by show organisers ATE, a number of high profile industry personalities have already been enlisted to help steer the debate and deliver keynote speeches. These include: Warwick Bartlett (Chairman) and Tom Kelly (Chief Executive), Association of British Bookmakers; Steve Donoughue, CEO, The Gambling Consultancy; Nicky Rust, Managing Director, Sky Bet; Clive Hawkswood, General Secretary, ARGO (Remote Gaming Operator Association); and Dr. Richard M. Marshall, Technical Director & Consultancy Team Leader, Rapid Mobile

ATE’s Penny Gruber, who is responsible for co-ordinating the seminars, commented, “This year’s Betting Show Seminars will once again bring together a wealth of expertise to discuss the issues driving the betting industry today. No stranger to controversy, these seminars will provide the ideal arena for debate, led by the industry, for the industry. In five round table sessions participants will have the opportunity to engage with senior Government representatives, betting shop owners, on-line and betting exchange operators, the associations and the supplier community as they air their differences and seek solutions.”

An outline programme of the seminars, recently released by ATE, is as follows:

Day One, Tuesday 19th October, The Betting Office 2004

11.15-11.30

Overview: LBO’s – winds of change

- The development of the LBO from 1961 to date

- What does the Gambling Bill mean for the betting industry?

- Facts and figures: who are the biggest players of tomorrow?

- What’s going to happen when racing owns the Tote: competition issues

- What’s going to happen to the Levy?

11.30-12.20

The Betting Shop – a dinosaur or still number 1?

- Developments in the FOBT sector: results of Mori report on their impact

- Is the high street outlet still the preferred choice of the British punter?

- Growth of new chains and market consolidation: what does it mean to the independent bookmaker?

- Virtual racing versus the reality: why should the punter prefer the real thing?

14.30-15.20

TV Coverage – what are we watching?

- Secure and consistent delivery? Latest on plans for the SIS/BAGS service to the LBO

- Can both commercial offerings survive, or will we move towards a single channel?

- Paid-for or free service – what does the future hold?

Day Two, Wednesday 20th October, Future of Remote Betting

11.30-12.20

The Interactive Market

- How will online betting be regulated? - Will the UK really lead the world in eGambling?

- Representing the industry: the trade associations fighting online betting’s corner

- Will the Government get the taxation right? - update on Customs & Excise report

- Online Betting market; growth areas, threats and opportunities

- Betting on the hoof with new mobile systems: a profitable extra line of business for the bookmaker?

14.30-15.20

P2P Betting – is the industry any closer to burying the hatchet?

- Is there any chance of a compromise on betting exchanges within the industry?

- Treasury Review on taxation of exchanges and their customers: what will the outcome be?

- Regulation – is the DCMS being complacent to claims of an unprecedented threat to the industry’s integrity?

- Regulation & Tax – Scrutiny Committee’s response and implications for betting exchanges

- Latest on proposed Betting Exchange Trade Association

For more information on The Betting Show 2004, including the latest conference programme updates, exhibitor information and online visitor registration, visit www.ATEOnline.co.uk/bettingshow

Press enquiries to Alex Fierek or Chris Jones at Scott & Jones Communications Tel: +44 (0) 1273 204817 Email: info@sjc.co.uk




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