Gamers Are the New Gamblers: Industry-First Conference Spotlights Convergence of Esports & Casinos

LAS VEGAS, Sept. 21, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- The pace of integration between America's leading entertainment destination and America's fastest-growing form of entertainment is accelerating.

The recent announcement by Millennial Esports of the first dedicated esports arena in Las Vegas is the latest in a progression of partnerships between the casino and esports industries. The past year has seen Vegas mark a number of milestones toward becoming an esports hub, including:

• Opening the nation's first esports lounge within a casino resort.
• Hosting multiple marquee esports events drawing tens of thousands of fans.
• Starting the process for allowing the first legal bet on an esports match in the United States.
• Nevada Governor Brian Sandoval's convening of a special commission to explore the opportunities esports presents for the casino industry.

"Esports & Casino Resorts," a two-day conference hosted on the Las Vegas Strip at the SLS on October 25th and 26th, will provide stakeholders in both the esports and casino industries an opportunity to analyze the progress to date and evaluate the potential for additional cooperation in Vegas and beyond.

Full details, including a complete program and speaker list, are available at Naruscope.com.

"The majority of the adult population in the U.S. grew up with video games," noted Chris Grove, a partner at conference producer Narus Advisors. "While some may consider esports a niche phenomenon, the fact is that video gaming resonates deeply with a broad and diverse audience that casino operators should find attractive."

That broad audience is one of the reasons that wagering around esports is already a large and lucrative market. According to research from Narus Advisors, some $5.5 billion will be wagered by esports fans on the outcome of esports matches and other esports-related gambling in 2016.

Attendees of Esports & Casino Resorts will hear a range of expert voices from both the esports and casino industries address topics such as: Hosting successful competitive esports events and social events, insights into the demographic makeup of esports fans, strategies for bringing esports on to the casino floor, the current landscape for esports betting, developments in mobile esports, and analysis of the current investment and marketing climates surrounding esports.      

"Gamers and sports fans want to wager on outcomes, so if you are a regulated gambling operator, the esports opportunity can't be beat," said gaming lawyer Jeff Ifrah of Ifrah Law.  "Because esports is new and different, some traditional land-based gaming operations are slow to respond; that leaves esports open for forward-looking regulated gambling operators."

Scheduled speakers include representatives from Amazon, Deutsche Bank, The Downtown Grand, Eilers & Krejcik Gaming, ELEAGUE, Entiva Group, ESPN, Fantini Research, Gamblit Gaming, GameCo, The Gamer Agency, Genius Sports, The International eGames Group, Ifrah Law, IGT, IME Law, Leet, Magid Advisors, Millennial Esports, Mohegan Sun, oneLIVE, Poker Central, Quantum Gaming Concepts, Spectrum Gaming Capital, SierraMaya360, Team Liquid, Turner Sports, Twitch, Unikrn, UNLV, Versus Sports, and WME | IMG.

To learn more and register for "Esports and Casino Resorts" visit:http://naruscope.com/

To learn more about casino and esports sponsorship opportunities, contact [email protected].

ABOUT NARUS ADVISORS

Specializing in esports, DFS, and regulated online gambling, Narus Advisors provide clients with a roadmap to expand their revenue, audience, and brand presence. The agency was formed by gaming and entertainment industry veterans John Caldwell, Chris Grove, and Steve "Chops" Preiss. Collectively, the partners bring diverse yet complementary experience to every client engagement, including high-level business strategy, content creation and promulgation plans, driving sales and sponsorship, and guidance through emerging markets.

SOURCE Narus Advisors

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http://naruscope.com