Behind banking and drugs, the gambling industry is probably the most highly regulated and restricted in the world. Banking is number one for obvious reasons. States need total control over the money supply as the source of their power, so the banking system is monopolized by a central bank with the power of monopoly note issue. Drugs come in second, and only since 1906 under Teddy Roosevelt. What began as a move to protect consumers against impure drugs and food has now morphed into a gigantic unfeeling bureaucracy led by the FDA that prevents terminally ill patients from trying whatever drugs they want, approved or not.

Every regulatory regime starts out with the “protect consumers” excuse. Even if initially heartfelt and genuine, it sets a precedent that always keeps growing into unending rule books. At this point, it is debatable if the FDA actually kills more people than it saves with its regulatory burdens.

The point is, there is always healthy suspicion when bankers get together for a conference (think Bilderberg), and so, too, with Big Pharma conventions. But there is also what to watch out for at gaming conferences, because there is a lot of regulatory navigation going on that will be coming from interested parties. While regulation is framed as a way to protect the consumer, is more often than not a way to protect a given company’s market share against competition, thereby ultimately hurting the consumer.  So while there will be a lot of fruitful apolitical discussion on industry trends at the iGaming North America Conference that begins today in Las Vegas, attendees should be aware of hidden agendas at some of the panels.

Perusing the schedule, what follows are the sections where a healthy suspicion is in order, versus the apolitical parts of the conference that look to benefit the industry as a whole as opposed to certain players within it. The emphasis will be on agendas to watch out for.