Thanks to the impact of the UIGEA, this year’s GIGSE (Global Interactive Gaming Summit and Expo) was much smaller than usual, but the 650 iGaming executives that did attend the three day conference in Montreal took on some important subjects and, of course, partied as only the iGaming business knows how.

“The conference is definitely smaller than last year,” said CryptoLogic’s Justin Thouin.

“But it’s still a great medium for networking and to cultivate new opportunities. [The] UIGEA pretty much reshuffled the deck; some saw it as a threat whereas others, as an opportunity to open new doors—especially in continental Europe and Asia—creating new frontiers in iGaming.”

“There are quite a few attendees, considering all the commotion lately,” said GIGSE organizer Sue Schneider.

“The industry is changing—forty percent of our exhibitors are new faces this year. There are people in new markets and new products are being launched. All in all it was perceived as fresh energy.”

iGaming Business’ Marketplace handbook was a hot item and delegates went home with goodie bags full of presentation notes and seminar summaries, but the most important and popular publication—the one in every serious partier’s pocket or handbag—was the Lyceum Media Guide to Montreal.

Montreal has loads of cool stylish spots to eat and drink, so it was easy to choose places for the crowd. Hopefully most people got the chance to go to some of the places it recommended.

On Tuesday night, after Finsoft’s drinks reception, everyone stumbled into the popular late night ristorante and bar (turned nightclub) Buona Notte on Rue St. Laurent, where an authentic Italian dinner was digested with a shot of eye-watering Sambuca (as Nancy Krause from River City Group can verify).

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