Gaming is a firmly established global business with a strong all-weather capacity for reinvention. Not surprising since the impulse to gamble remains one of the most persistent and alluring activities since ancient times. Outstanding results from grandiose integrated resorts through to proliferating online, interactive and mobile technologies are testimony to the combined impact of popular desire, product inventiveness and corporate leadership. The foremost consideration – to meet customer and player demand for quality, convenience and variety – is reinforced through evolving standards of anticipation, delivery and protection.

Despite the current caution in sombre and uncertain times, long term projections remain stable; bolstered by newly emerging markets in the Americas, Europe and Asia-Pacific. A strong, flexible and multi-faceted industry, building on its ability to generate new ideas and to deploy creative product portfolios, is constantly stretching the boundaries of opportunity for investment and capital growth. Such activity is proving revenue rich in the long term. It is so deeply rooted in the fabric of societies that operators, embracing cultural diversity as new domains unfold, find a switched-on, vibrant environment for business development.

To nurture a steady rise in loyal custom, constantly reinforcing memorable experiences and cultivating brand identity, is an endless quest for the edge. And an ever growing range of participation in gaming is slowly encouraging greater mainstream acceptance. Social responsibility goes hand-in-hand, reinforced by both self-monitoring and government regulation, which in turn is enabling more economic potential to be realised. Implementing safeguards becomes all the more vital to industry integrity and to its global aspirations, while adherence to corporate responsibility and governance enhances the perception of legitimacy.

Casino & Gaming International projects a panorama of these interests. Quarterly coverage provides scope for critical business thinking and analysis, not least in relation to the impact of trade and legal issues as jurisdictions either mature or seek to open up. Equally, attention is paid to how the industry evolves and operates, with a wide range of contrast to demonstrate the extraordinary variety and value that constitutes gaming. Therefore the major gaming ventures around the world, including the mega complexes planned over the years ahead, are examined with due exposure given to the inexhaustible ingenuity and commercial success of remote gaming.

While granting some degree of circumspection, 2009 nevertheless promises to be a year of tremendous promise. Since the world is becoming a smaller place the possibilities, as they say, are endless. Casino & Gaming International will continue to seek new perspectives and insights that contribute to understanding one of the most dynamic and creative industries today. In that spirit we are naturally keen to improve design and content, to ensure a widening base of contributors and companies in keeping with the industry’s trends and demands, especially since maintaining confidence in this difficult period has never been more important.

We particularly appreciate the precious time that has been devoted to CGI by all participating to date: those valued efforts will surely continue to impress as the excitement of gaming forges ahead and new landmarks are achieved.

Stephen Lawton, Editor of CGI.