COS 2025 – Nova Gorica

Build-up Sponsors Areas

Opening Reception

THEME : Magical Numbers

Opening words

How do we (land-based casinos in Europe) stay relevant?

With rising staffing cost, rising taxes, rising rent, and rising of other fixed expenses; how do Land-based Casinos stay a relevant option to customers who -apart from the fact they don’t mind to play / gamble- are looking for a ‘competitive evening out’.

KEY-NOTE ADDRESS

A familiar face at COS (we proudly say!), Erwin van lambaart is capable like no other to expand on the opening words.

General Director of Casinos Austria AG

Chairman of the Management Board of Austrian Lotteries

Chairman of the European Casino Association

Erwin van Lambaart was born in Rotterdam, the Netherlands, on June 22, 1963. He is an experienced leader in the global hospitality, entertainment, and gaming sectors. Starting his career in 1985, Erwin has held various management roles, such as General Manager and Deputy General Manager, up until 1995.

Between 1995 and 1998, he served as the Directeur Délégué (Deputy Director) for Economy Hotels in Holland and was the Sales and Marketing Manager for the Benelux region. During this period, he also accumulated significant international experience in the hotel industry with Accor Hotels.

Erwin’s career continued to flourish from 1998 to 2011 as the CEO of Joop van den Ende Theater Productions, which is part of Endemol/Stage Entertainment Netherlands. He expanded his responsibilities by joining the Executive Board and becoming the Chief Content Officer of Stage Entertainment International from 2006 to 2012.

In 2012, he became the CEO of Niehe Media BV, a Dutch media and entertainment company, a position he held until 2014. Then, from 2014 to 2016, he led Sail Event Partners CV and ACE Concepts & Events BV as their CEO. In 2016, Erwin took the helm as the CEO of Holland Casino NV, where he confirmed his expertise in the casino and gaming industry.

On March 14, 2022, Erwin relocated to Austria to join Casinos Austria AG and Österreichische Lotterien GmbH as a Director of the Board. Then, on April 1, 2022, he was appointed CEO of both entities. The European Casino Association (ECA) appointed Erwin as its Chairman on February 7, 2023. Subsequently, on February 6, 2024, the ECA’s General Assembly re-elected him for an additional three-year term in this position.

PANEL DISCUSSION – Why my kids will visit a land-based Casino in 2040

PART 1 –

Forecasts – They are all wrong…but some are useful.

Description:

A deep dive into Gambling data available from most European Countries; both land-based and on-line gaming.

Bio:

Josh leads the wider team at H2 to track markets from both data and regulatory aspects with a particular focus on the impact of regulatory change on market revenue projections. He has an academic and applied background in data analytics and drives the continuous development of H2’s new and existing datasets and regulatory updates. Josh oversees over 150 markets worldwide and interprets constantly changing data and market developments to deliver accurate, up to the minute intelligence on the global gambling market.

Coffee Break

Breaking it down; how important are your top segments

Bio:

A 28-year gaming industry veteran, Nick Hogan is Co-Founder & CEO of data science firm, ReelMetrics. Nick co-founded ReelMetrics with partners John Boushy & William Schoofs in 2014, and, in just 9 years, has grown the organization to become the world’s leading aggregator of slot player, product & performance data.

Prior to ReelMetrics, Nick spent over a decade as Director & EVP Sales and Marketing at Gaming Support, a Rotterdam-based provider of yield enhancing slot peripherals and managed gaming services. Nick joined Gaming Support following 5 years with Mikohn Gaming, where he was responsible for the company’s Systems portfolio globally.

A self-confessed power nerd & Big Data junkie, Nick is a frequent industry speaker, co-host of the ReelCast podcast, and a recognized industrial authority in the fields of slot analytics, yield optimization, and player behavior.

The CASHDESK-less Casino

Case study from Swiss Casinos, where one of their beautiful operations will cease to operate a cashdesk the way we know it.

Lessons can de drawn from this insightful presentation.

Magical Numbers

THEME : Casino on-line Systems / CMS

KEY-NOTE ADDRESS

We are proud that Noah Acres, who is one of the leading visionairies on the field of Casino Systems, is willing to talk to European Land-based Casino Operators.

We are hoping for a bit of fireworks at the beginning of this day, which will be all about Casino On-line Systems.

The effect of Promo Play on the Bottom Line

After three COS editions where Professor Lucas contributed with presentations on his various Academic Researches, we are very proud that this year Prof. Anthony Lucas will deliver the outcomes of his academic research in front of the Audience.

BIO:
received his Ph.D. in 2000, following a ten-year career in the gaming industry where he worked in the areas of financial and operations analysis for Harrah’s, MGM, and Stations Casinos. Currently, Dr. Lucas is a tenured full professor on the faculty of UNLV’s William F. Harrah College of Hospitality, teaching courses in the areas of casino marketing, casino management, and statistics. He has coauthored four books, including Wiley’s Casino Operations Management, Introduction to Casino Management, and Principles of Casino Marketing. Having won several awards for his research in the fields of casino marketing and casino operations, Dr. Lucas has published 52 gaming articles in scholarly journals such as Cornell Hospitality Quarterly, Journal of Hospitality and Tourism Research, and the International Journal of Hospitality Management. He also actively serves as a consultant to gaming companies and government agencies, conducting research and delivering management seminars across the globe.

COFFEE BREAK

Less Cash with Cashless?

Unique ways to promote Mystery Wins – Making it MEMORABLE

LUNCH BREAK

The making of the Incheon Resort LED Experience

Augment the reality of the Player’s Experience

Coffee Break

Casino On-line Systems / CMS and Artificial Intelligence

the Do’s and Donts’ of Casino Loyalty Systems

CASINO LOYALTY SYSTEM OF THE YEAR!

AWARDS Dinner

THEME The Multi-channel experience

WHY does Homo Sapiens Play and Gamble

PART 2 –

Forecasts – They are all wrong…but some are useful.

COFFEE BREAK

KYC & AML: Know Your Criminals, Stop the Money Laundering!

DESCRIPTION :

This presentation provides a comprehensive introduction to the concepts of Know Your Customer (KYC) and Anti-Money Laundering (AML). Key topics include the importance of these practices, the legal regulations governing them, and a comparison of frameworks within the EU. Additionally, the session explores data providers in the industry, highlights the benefits of effective KYC/AML implementation for casinos, and discusses strategies for efficient process management and secure data handling. Learn how to protect your business while ensuring compliance and operational excellence.

BIO:

Silvio Frick, CEO of Sileo, based in Fahrwangen, Switzerland, since 2011. As a certified business informatics specialist with a pragmatic and hands-on approach, Silvio focuses on delivering practical solutions to complex challenges. Since 2019, Sileo has been developing innovative casino software, including the Octagon AML module, which addresses key compliance areas such as Know Your Customer (KYC) and Anti-Money Laundering (AML). Drawing from his experience in software development and regulatory requirements, Silvio offers insightful perspectives on effectively implementing KYC and AML obligations, empowering organizations to meet compliance demands efficiently.

The making of The Strip in Las Vegas

Discription:

In this presentation about Las Vegas, author Joris Dekkers will take you on a journey through time. He explores the evolution of casino resort development, from the heydays of the 1950s all the way to the modern era of megaresorts. Watch how Joris will unravel the astonishing story of customer experience in the capital of land-based gaming and entertainment.

Bio:

Having studied history for 7 years and being a passionate Las Vegas visitor and fan, for the last 2 years Joris Dekkers has thrown himself on fulfilling his dream: writing the definitive story of how the Las Vegas Strip came to be.

Dekkers has extensive experience in the iGaming world, having worked in various capacities at a myriad of gaming companies such as Kindred Group and Better Collective, as well as steering his own ships. He combines his expertise of affiliate marketing with an eye for elegance, entertainment and creativity.