2008 Canadian Gaming Summit


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Standardbred Canada invites you to attend the first ever Standardbred Wagering Conference presented in conjunction with the Canadian Gaming Summit. This conference will focus exclusively on Standardbred wagering in Canada and is the only event in North America that will deal solely with the issue of Standardbred horse wagering. Regulators, operators, officials, participants and customers will be asked to come together to discuss concrete plans to develop and grow Standardbred wagering.

The conference kicks off with a full day of sessions on Tuesday, April 29, and continues for a half day on Wednesday, April 30 with various industry meetings in the afternoon. Delegates are invited and encouraged to stay for the final day of the Canadian Gaming Summit on Thursday, May 1.

Standardbred Canada is the leader and voice for the Canadian trotting and pacing industry, committed to its development and growth. It is the official registry, record keeping and standards setting body for harness racing’s participants and customers.

Program Schedule

Tuesday, April 29 - InterContinental Montreal Hotel
8:00am–8:45am Standardbred Wagering Conference
Opening Breakfast & Welcome
9:00am–9:50am Turning The Ship
The panel will discuss reversing the greatest wagering decline in Standardbred racing history. Despite an increase in available products and technological advances, Standardbred wagering has been steadily declining over the past decade. The panel will discuss cause & effect of these wagering trends and compare these trends to Thoroughbred wagering. We’ll also compare the trends in the international racing scene vs. what’s happening in North America and discuss what the industry needs to do to slow down the decline and eventually reverse the trend.

Moderator
Darryl Kaplan, Editor TROT Magazine

Panelists
Geoff Want, former Chief Executive Officer, SkyChannel;
Jamie Martin, Senior Vice-President Racing, Woodbine Entertainment Group;
David Aldred, Executive Director of the British Columbia Standardbred Association;
Dean Towers, Bettor, Fan, Horse Owner

9:50am–10:00am Coffee Break
10:00am–10:50am Betting At Your Corner Store
Just imagine if wagering on racing would be as convenient as buying a lottery ticket at your corner store. If the industry developed a “lottery” style wager, what would be the ideal distribution outlets? The panel will discuss the future of off-track wagering and the technology needed to advance the cause of convenience for horseplayers and the general public.

Moderator
John Walzak, COO Ontario Harness Horse Association

Panelists
Dave Bryans, President of the Canadian Convenience Store Association;
Bassem Hamdy, Vice-President Solutions, Computer Methods International Corp.;
Benoit Forndran, Countries Manager/International Project Manager, Pari Mutuel Urbain;
Drew McDougall, Chief Executive Officer, TelePhoto Technologies
11:00am–11:50am The Takeout Revolution?
The issue of takeout rate is fiercely debated by horseplayers and track operators. The panel will evaluate whether the time has come to look at a new revolutionary model for takeout? Is the current pari-mutuel system broken? Are fixed odds and exchange wagering platforms the future and is “in-race” betting a possibility in growing the bet The Canadian Betting Exchange - fantasy or reality? This panel will evaluate whether the racing industry can reinvent Standardbred horse betting in North America.

Moderator
Greg Blanchard, Woodbine Entertainment Group

Panelists
Michael Lipton, QC Elkind & Lipton LLP Barristers & Solicitors;|
Chuck Keeling, Vice President Racing Operations, Great Canadian Gaming;
Roy Sproxton, Standardbred Horse Owner and bettor;
Rande Sawchuk, Associate Director Policy, Canadian Pari-Mutuel Agency (CPMA);
James Erikson, Professional Horseplayer
12:00pm–1:30pm Luncheon and Keynote Address
Larry W. Smith
President and Chief Executive Officer
Montreal Alouettes Football Club

Following a successful Canadian Football League career that spanned nine seasons, and included two Grey Cup wins, Larry Smith worked in senior management for John Labatt Ltd. In 1992, he returned to the CFL, this time as Commissioner. During a period of rapid expansion, Smith placed new teams in the United States, negotiated profitable TV contracts, eliminated debt and returned the league to profitability, all in a period of less than 18 months.

Smith then went on to tackle the Montreal Alouettes and the development of a three-year business plan. The Als moved back into the Molson stadium and today, the team is the CFL’s model franchise and responsible for reviving football across the province. In 2002, Smith took on a new mandate as President and Publisher of The Gazette, Montreal’s English daily newspaper and in April 2004, he returned to his first love, as Chief Executive Officer of the Montreal Alouettes Football Club.
1:45pm–2:45pm Wake Up & Smell The Coffee
The harness racing product hasn’t undergone many changes through the decades. The panel will discuss whether the product needs to change to stimulate growth in wagering. Should harness racing adopt different distances and field sizes like Thoroughbred racing? If so, what impact does this have on horsepeople. Does the customer want the product to change? Does the product need to change to entice a new generation of horseplayers and racing fans? Does the product have to change for betting to improve? What changes must be made immediately and what is the plan for implementation?

Moderator
Hector Clouthier, Executive Director of the Ontario Horse Racing Industry Association (OHRIA)

Panelists
Chris Roberts, General Manager, Georgian Downs;
Gerard Landry, Vice-President Racing, Attractions Hippiques;
Ron Francis, Broadcaster, Horseplayer, Former Horse Owner & Racing Fan;
Darryl MacArthur, Horse Owner, Trainer & Ontario Harness Horse Association Director
3:00pm–4:30pm Hitting the Homerun
For years Sweden has enjoyed wagering success with their V75 lottery style wager and racing product. Could Canada replicate this product and be successful? Are there other opportunities for packaging and selling a Canadian or North American Standardbred racing product? The panel will also take a look at potential markets for simulcasting an elite harness racing product.

Moderator
David Aldred, Executive Director BC Standardbred Horse Association

Panelists
Jeremy Pierce, General Manager, Harness Racing PEI;
Magnus Tuononen, ATG International Department, Sweden;
Leonard Pecker, Owner & Racing Fan
6:30pm–8:30pm Canadian Gaming Summit Opening Reception
Individuals registered for the Standardbred Wagering Conference are invited to attend the Canadian Gaming Summit Opening Reception.
Sponsored by:
Wednesday, April 30 - Palais des congrès de Montréal
7:30am–8:30am Canadian Gaming Summit Opening Breakfast
Individuals registered for the Standardbred Wagering Conference are invited to attend the Canadian Gaming Summit Opening Breakfast.
Sponsored by:
8:30am–10:00am Canadian Gaming Summit Welcome
and Opening Keynote
Individuals registered for the Standardbred Wagering Conference are invited to attend the Canadian Gaming Summit Opening Keynote.
Sponsored by:
10:00am–10:15am Coffee Break
Sponsored by:
10:15am–11:15am The Customer is King
Does racing properly service the needs of its customer base? Can we keep our big players with rebates & rewards? What types of reward programs, incentive and loyalty programs have been successful and how can these programs be developed to maintain customer satisfaction and loyalty? What are other gaming organizations and industries offering their customers for rewards & loyalty programs?

Moderator
Kelly Spencer, Marketing Manager Grand River Raceway

Panelists
Andrew MacDonald, Vice-President Marketing & Communications, Woodbine Entertainment Group;
Sandra Bohn, Director Marketing Operations, Casino Windsor;
James Erickson, Professional Horseplayer
11:30am–12:30pm Wagering’s New Frontier
With the recent Canadian Pari-Mutuel Association (CPMA) review, there has never been a more opportune time for the horse racing industry to collaborate on the development of new pari -mutuel wagers. The panel will discuss what new wagers are being explored in North America and around the world. CPMA representatives will discuss the impact of regulatory changes and how the industry can expedite the process so that these wagers can be approved and adopted at racetracks.

Moderator
Mike Hamilton, Host Race Night on The Score

Panelists
David Liston, Associate Executive Director, Canadian Pari-Mutuel Agency (CPMA;
Edward Rennell, General Manager, Harness Racing New Zealand;
Dean Towers, Bettor, Fan, Horse Owner
12:30pm–4:00pm Standardbred Canada Delegates Are Encouraged to Visit the Gaming Summit Trade Show Floor
6:00pm–11:00pm Race Night at Hippodrome Montreal
Exclusive to Standardbred Wagering Conference delegates, you are invited to join us at Hippodrome Montreal for a special race night and handicapping challenge hosted by Standardbred Canada.
  • Includes round-trip transportation from Palais des Congres; buses depart at 6:00 p.m. and return at 10 and 11 p.m.
  • Reception & Buffet Dinner
  • Wagering Card & Racing Program for the evening's harness races
Hosted by:
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