Gaming industry professionals wishing to network with representatives from the NBA, La Liga, William Hill USA and many more at the inaugural Sports Betting USA (14 – 15 November, New York City) are reminded that the Early Bird rate closes Friday 6 October at 16.00 GMT. Interest in Sports Betting USA is growing as the prospects of achieving a legal sports betting sector in the USA are more attainable with the Supreme Court considering arguments in the NJ sports betting case.

The Clarion Gaming organised event, a meeting and information sharing platform between the world’s of sport and gambling, will provide practical advice in order to help casinos understand what it entails to launch and operate a sports book and start to make the necessary investments in technology and expertise. Sports Betting USA has brought together betting experts from both the operating and supply side, including Art Manteris, VP Race and Sports Operations, Station Casinos, Red Rock Resorts; Joe Asher, CEO, William Hill USA; Vic Salerno, President, USFantasy; Jay Rood, Vice President of Race and Sports, MGM Resorts International; Ed Malinowski, Director of Race & Sports Book, Stratosphere and Ed Andrewes, Owner, EAGCC consulting to Resorts Digital Gaming.

Vic Salerno, President, USFantasy, one of 50 authorities who will be sharing their vision and insight at Sports Betting USA, believes there’s an appetite among US citizens for safe and legal opportunities to bet on sport, citing the success of off-shore online bookmakers. He said: “The question is, would you rather bet with Caesars Palace or the State of New Jersey instead of an off shore bookmaker where you have no control of your money and have no guarantee of being paid?”

He added: “It (sports betting) has been successful in Nevada since the mid ’70’s and I will be explaining the Nevada model and how it could work in other jurisdictions. We have to educate the legislators and the regulatory authorities on how betting on games legally will help keep the game honest by seeing where the money is being bet and tracking who’s betting. This conference, the first of its type to be held in the United States, will hopefully be a guide for future forums and in the process achieve the legalization of sports betting across the USA.”