When do you expect to attend live conferences in the wake of COVID-19?

[MichaelCorfman]

All of the major gaming industry in-person conferences scheduled for late this year have now been cancelled and postponed to next year. Most recently, this past week, SiGMA postponed the last remaining such conference from November of this year to February of next year. and we posted that in the forum in this thread: SiGMA Group moves Europe summit to February.

Last week our poll asked "When do you think life in the wake of COVID-19 will return to normal in your country?"

This week I ask about when you are likely to mingle with others in the industry by attending industry conferences once again. Will it be in the first quarter of 2021 (possibly for for SiGMA in Malta or ICE or LAC in London), the second quarter of 2021 (possibly for the DMI Expo in Israel or SiGMA Manilla or ICE Asia), the third quarter of 2021 (possibly for iGB Live! or iGB Affiliate Amsterdam), or sometime later.

Be sure to share your thoughts about attending live conferences in the period ahead in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic.

Michael

[Renee]

I'll be very surpised if it's any time next year for us due to the restrictions our govt have placed on us leaving the country, so I chose first half of 2022. I may be a bit pessimistic about this but our govt seems pretty hell bent on keeping us locked inside our country so....

[drifter8]

First half of 2022 is more realistic to me.

Time will show and the testing on new vaccine.

[baldidiot]

Not really in a rush to go myself. We only go to LAC (out of convenience) so it'll depend when that ends up being...

Tbh though if they end up keeping it in Feb or even a couple of months later I might swerve it anyway depending on how things are looking - being in a giant hall of thousands of people from all around the world isn't currently that appealing!

[Emil_the Websmaster]

not earlier than in 1 year i think

[Triple7]

Summer of 2021.

[mickyfu]

I think I'd have to be living next door to the conference to bother attending again. They seem to get worse and worse every year, for this I blame the Gambling Commission + the big companies that jumped on the Sky Vegas gravy train. I was highly disapointed at the last LAC I visited. Certainly not worth the 4 hour flight and 1000s it costs in expenses. Also I was disapointed at the parties, small venues that had practically all the seating booked up by the sponsors + the lack of free beer. Also when trying to get a beer at the conference, I was told I could not have one till 2pm and looked upon as though I was a raging alcoholic.

[TheGooner]

Could the industry actually work out that conferences offer very little to online gambling affiliates and the bottom line ?

[RooW-LotteryOffice]

I agree! Pessimistic, but realistic!

[Former Member 14]

when trying to get a beer at the conference, I was told I could not have one till 2pm and looked upon as though I was a raging alcoholic.

That made me laugh

FFS give the guy a beer!

[UpYourGame]

I've spoken with IGB and they have quite a lot of procedures in place for LAC 2021.

Time will tell though, the thing is Covid is here to stay so we have to learn to adapt and overcome.

I do feel like mid to late 2021 will be the best bet to host a show though.

[Christiaan]

I think it will be Q4 of 2021. Although it could also be 2022 before any conference can happen with many people from all over the world.

For me I will already be happy if travel gets safe again and I can go visit my family in a normal way without having to go in quarantine and tests.

[golfbettingsystem]

Going to be some time yet I suspect, I’ve gone for 2nd half of 2022. Even with a vaccine next year there’ll likely still be a lot of caution and by then I suspect everyone will have had to have found better virtual solutions for a lot of things.

[gil.langelaan]

In the end of 2021 I guess. Earlier I'm not sure. Because of the situation with closed boards, flights and so one.

[Pokerface]

It would have been nice to consider at least LAC in the spring however the way things are going globally and in particular the UK most recently it would seem doubtful that events in the spring will be viable. Late 2021 or early 2022 may be more realistic now.

[Nenad]

Also, I would say that either late 2021, or beginning of 2022 will be the time when thing will starting to get to normal again. Lot's of businesses rely on online platforms and meetings, so it would always stay as a backup solution.