Mobile Gaming Conference Corner
Published: Wednesday, August 16, 2006 Online-Casinos.com
CONFERENCE CORNER
Gambling focus shifts to Asia in light of current legal situation in US
Conference organisers are licking their lips at improved prospects for Asian markets following the BetonSports legal hassles in the United States, and the effect this will probably have on online gambling companies operating in that area and needing to diversify.
In particular the mobile gambling, gaming and lotteries market is becoming a key product in gaming and gambling company portfolios. With Europe leading the way with mobile applications, the ultra tech-savvy Asia-Pac market is building momentum and has considerable potential.
Marvin Tort from Kirschner Games is enthusiastic about the opportunities ahead; “Asia is on the verge of a mobile gaming boom, with major advances in technology and content resulting in new synergies. And with this, mobile entertainment, including gaming, has risen to a new level. Even market expectation is at a new high, as people anticipate far more entertaining and interactive games on any mobile platform”.
“Mobile gaming technology is moving faster than the law. There is great need for legal consistency across jurisdictions and that is going to be a very big challenge” states lead speaker at the 2nd Annual Mobile Gambling Summit Asia, Yap Wai Ming from the Stamford Law Corporation.
Charles Palmer from Mfuse highlights connectivity as being key to the success of mobile gambling in the Asia region; “There is a substantial difference between running a service over a few handsets, to scaling it to a mass market, multi-language service which is fully supported in the target regions. Mfuse applies extensive focus on the download and connectivity aspect of mobile gaming, he says.
The main driver for mobile gambling activity in the Asia-Pac market is the $64 000 question that the conference will seek to answer. Might it be lotteries which have already seen some success in the region? Bruce Gibson, senior consultant with Juniper Research comments “Mobile lotteries don't need 3G networks and are applicable in developing as well as developed markets, and Asia has both."
In the short-term the focus is set to be on land grab whilst companies define their legal set-up and marketing strategies for a culturally diverse region. Michael Setters, Director of the 2nd annual Mobile Gambling Summit – Asia says, “While mobile gambling has not necessarily reached the levels stipulated in various research reports there is undoubtedly a concerted effort by companies to include a mobile gambling product in Asia within their portfolio.
"We have seen an unprecedented spike in activity of interested companies and the industry has moved beyond the technical issues that once slowed growth…the market is ready, now it is up to gambling companies to take it to the players.”
These and other speakers will be sharing their views with the likes of China Gloria Lottery, Ongame, SportingBet and World Poker Tour in Hong Kong between October 31 – November 1 at the mformobile 2nd annual Mobile Gambling Summit – Asia. Full information can be found at www.mformobile.com/gambling
