The Sports Betting & Gaming India Summit 2018 (SGBI), will be held on 27 & 28 February 2018 at the beachfront luxury 5-star Park Hyatt Goa Resort & Spa, India. We outlined and defined the potential market that is poised to offer explosive opportunities in a June 2017 special report, Emerging Markets: Sports Betting & Gaming India. As the date is fast approaching this is a ‘last call’ to operators, providers, and support services companies to make plans to attend this groundbreaking event. Event organizer Eventus-International has spent nearly a year assembling a panel of over forty industry experts and speakers. This virtual brain trust will share knowledge and lead discussions that will focus on every crucial aspect of gaming and betting in preparation for the eventual legalization and regulation of the activities in the home of the world’s largest democracy.
The agenda will inform in detail on the current situation in the country where potentially hundreds of millions of people bet and gamble illegally with only lotteries and horse racing operating in the daylight. Key stakeholders will examine the case for legislation and regulation with an emphasis on consumer protection, responsible gambling, and the commercial opportunities that would result from a robust legal framework that ensure betting integrity.
The platform was designed to facilitate a candid and open debate and discussion on the future of all forms of betting and gambling in the country. Earlier this year, the Law Commission of India produced a public report mandated by the Supreme Court to study the possibility of legalized betting in India. They noted that leaving gambling out of their consideration might make the entire exercise futile as the two are so closely related. The report stated in part: “The recommendation made by the Committee that betting should be legalized by law, involves the enactment of a Law which is a matter that may be examined by the Law Commission and the Government for such action as it may consider necessary in the facts and circumstances of the case.” (PDF)
Among other issues that the Commission stated needed further study were whether legalized betting and gambling would lower the incidence of illegal activity in the country and if foreign betting and gambling companies should be allowed to ‘have a foothold’ in India. While the summit is focused on the Indian gaming market rather than the global marketplace, participants are registered from around the globe, showing the great interest in tapping what may become one of the last Greenfield opportunities left. In order to make investment decisions, business leaders need to know the current situation as well as what the future holds in India. Eventus International Managing Director, Yudi Soetjiptadi said: “With participants from countries like Australia, Malta, United Kingdom, Hong Kong, Germany, South Africa, Taiwan, Philippines, Switzerland, Bulgaria, Latvia, United Arab Emirates, India and many more; SBGI will indeed be a global platform for the gaming market in years to come.”
Eventus International is an independent professional event producing company that specializes in exhibitions and conferences across Asia and Africa.
