LAS VEGAS, Nevada –(Press Release) --June 15, 2001 -- Following Nevada Governor Guinn's signing of a bill legalizing Internet gaming, the Interactive Gaming Institute of Nevada (IGI) announced today that, for the first time, traditionally licensed gaming will embrace Internet gaming at the ``Interactive Gaming Exposition and Conference' scheduled for September 26-28 at the Bellagio Hotel in Las Vegas.
Keynote speakers already committed to appear at the September conference include Brian Sandoval, Chairman, Nevada Gaming Commission; Christie Hefner, Chairman and CEO, Playboy Enterprises, Inc., which operates PlayboySportsBook.com; and Phillip Muhl, Senior Vice President/Business and Legal Affairs for Disney, who will discuss their new venture, skillgames.com.
Las Vegas Attorney Anthony Cabot, an internationally recognized authority on the legal and regulatory issues involving Internet gaming, will be chairman of the conference. Cabot heads the gaming law practice of the Nevada law firm, Lionel Sawyer & Collins, which has the largest such practice in the nation.
Founded in March 2001, IGI was officially launched last week after the passage of a bill by the Nevada Legislature that included provisions allowing the Nevada Gaming Commission to develop a process for the approval of interactive gaming applications.
``We formed IGI to serve as a bridge between the gaming licensees in Nevada who will be eligible to apply for an interactive gaming license, and the technology companies who have the capability to make the licensee's plans a reality,' said Richard Fitzpatrick, CEO of IGI.
``This historic conference is the first step in bringing together these two unique, diverse groups so they can pursue the most significant new gaming opportunity in decades,' Fitzpatrick said.
The Interactive Gaming Exposition and Conference will include presentations by key decision makers, panel discussions that explore a variety of perspectives on technology and regulatory issues, and a series of in-depth workshops that look at some of these complex topics.
At the conference, Marc Falcone of Bear Stearns & Co. Inc., will oversee an investor showcase where presidents, CEOs and CFOs will have the opportunity to explain how the implementation of interactive gaming may affect their publicly-held companies. These corporate presentations will provide attendees, investment analysts and journalists with important, up-to-the-minute information on a wide range of gaming and technology companies, which may be directly affected by Nevada's new law.
Fitzpatrick sees the Expo portion of the Interactive Gaming Exposition and Conference as being particularly valuable. ``We are actively recruiting high-technology companies who have never considered utilizing their expertise for gaming purposes. A lot of work is already underway by various tech companies to address issues like authentication, server security and location.
"These firms will have an opportunity to demonstrate the viability of applying their innovations to interactive gaming. This will also offer gaming license holders and the public policy makers who attend our event an opportunity to see, touch and question various technological options,' he explained.
On Wednesday, September 26, the Nevada Gaming Commission will hold its regular monthly meeting in Las Vegas. That evening, the Interactive Gaming Exposition and Conference will open, allowing companies to demonstrate their technology. The Expo, Educational Conference and Bear Stearns Corporate Presentations will take place all day on Thursday and until Noon on Friday, September 28.
IGI was founded by the Internet Business Alliance of Nevada (IBAN), a non-profit, statewide alliance of information technology, networking, communications, and e-commerce businesses and their employees, suppliers and investors. The creation of IGI was announced at a legislative hearing in Carson City, on March 30, 2001.