Segev LLP is a familiar name in the gaming industry and founding partner Ron Segev is a familiar face at the Canadian Gaming Summit, speaking on a variety of topics around gaming law.

That will be no different this year. Ron Segev, managing partner Alon Segev and partner Marius Adomnica will speak on a range of panels on subjects such as regulatory and legal developments and how Alberta may look to approach a commercial gaming market.

In the lead-up to CGS 2024 in Toronto next week, we spoke to Ron Segev about what makes the event tick and some other subjects he’s keen to dive into with 3,000 other industry experts.

CGB: What elements of Canadian Gaming Summit work so well for your organisation, and why is it important for you to be there this year?

Ron Segev (RS):  The Canadian Gaming Summit offers a unique opportunity for us to connect with the global gaming community that is interested in the broader Canadian opportunity. It’s an opportunity for us to engage in insightful discussions, and share our expertise on a prominent platform. This event serves as a networking hub for top-tier talent, innovative technologies, and established and emerging market leaders, making the ideal show for us.

CGB: What’s your key objective at this year’s event and what are the main products/services you’ll be promoting?

RS: We are a globally recognised full solutions North American business law firm built for the gaming and betting industry. Throughout the event, we’ll be emphasising our core offerings, which include comprehensive legal support for gaming and betting companies, as well as our proficiency in public and private corporate finance and M&A transactions. Our firm is dedicated to delivering out-of-the-box thinking backed by a solid foundation of high-quality legal work.

Our Gaming and Betting Practice Group is comprised of highly skilled and experienced attorneys who are recognised as leaders in the field. We have decades of experience paired with a deep understanding of the gaming industry and our team serves as the go-to resource for legal support in North America. We pride ourselves on being at the forefront of industry trends and regulations, ensuring that our clients receive the most up-to-date and relevant legal advice.

CGB: What would you highlight as the biggest opportunity in the betting and gaming industry over the next couple of years?

RS: Two letters: AI. There is significant growth potential for operators, software providers, and ancillary service providers that can come with embracing technological advancements in artificial intelligence. With the increased emphasis on responsible gambling and regulatory compliance, seeing how regulators will respond and work alongside operators making use of these technologies will be interesting to monitor. We are also seeing liquidity in private and public capital markets open up. We have already seen an uptick in investments and M&A in 2024 and expect the trend to continue through the end of the year and into next year. With access to more capital, we are expecting our clients to grow into new product offerings and new markets by acquiring bolt-on complementary businesses and investing in talent and technology.

CGB: What elements of your business do you feel are best placed to take advantage of that opportunity?

RS: We’re poised to assist with all areas of a gaming and betting business and provide guidance to emerging and growth companies to established market leaders. We’re ready to advise and assist by providing comprehensive legal advice tailored to the specific needs of our clients including complex regulatory and compliance matters, complicated commercial and IP work, and finance and M&A transactions.

CGB: What areas of the business should we be looking to for innovation in the next 12 months?

RS: Leveraging big data and machine learning algorithms, there’s an opportunity for betting and gaming companies to deliver highly personalised experiences to their users. By analysing user behavior and preferences, operators can tailor game recommendations, promotions, and rewards, ultimately enhancing player satisfaction and lifetime value. Doing so while adhering to the regulatory framework of a licensee or registrant’s applicable jurisdiction will be a challenge going forward but we believe those will be overcome as adoption of AI is already in full swing and can’t be simply ignored.

CGB: What new technology do you feel will have the biggest impact for stakeholders?

AI can revolutionise various aspects of the gambling industry, from customer service chatbots to predictive analytics for identifying problem gambling behavior. By harnessing the power of AI, stakeholders can streamline operations, improve user experiences, and enhance regulatory compliance.

CGB: What core challenges do you help solve for your customers/partners?

RS: Every client’s core challenge is sustained growth and profitability. All of our work is focused on assisting our clients overcome this challenge to achieve success. Clients’ strategies to achieve growth can differ but we can assist with realising on all strategies: private and public equity and debt financings, M&A, strategic partnerships, hiring key talent, marketing initiatives, entering new markets, aligning with new solutions providers and developing new products and services. Whatever the strategy our team has the gaming and betting-specific skills and experience to assist clients with all legal needs to execute globally.

CGB: Who have you especially enjoyed working with over the past year (partner/client) and why?

RS: Over the past year, we’ve particularly enjoyed working with the sweepstakes industry and companies utilising AI in their businesses. Their innovative approach to new product offerings and market strategies aligns with our enthusiasm for working with innovative companies.

CGB: What are you hoping to learn from the conference at the Canadian Gaming Summit and which elements of the agenda will you be focusing on the most?

RS: We are eager to learn more about the latest developments and trends shaping the gambling industry in Canada and beyond. We’ll be attending sessions related to regulatory updates from regulators, First Nations gaming, emerging technologies, and best practices for responsible gambling