Where once the gaming industry was epitomised by the world-renowned attraction of Las Vegas, today it is a vast, global enterprise embracing both terrestrial and remote markets. As it continues to expand, with a capacity to renew and respond flexibly in demanding circumstances, unique opportunities and prospects have evolved and more is anticipated in the year ahead. Technology, in common with many other sectors, exercises a major influence on innovation and commercial advantage, impelling the gaming industry toward a mainstream legitimacy: Increasing player accessibility safeguards and stringent social responsibility codes, often self-imposed, are increasingly a norm of regulation as it gains traction around the world.

The impulse to gamble is, of course, one of the ancient traits of human activity and that has absorbed countless inventive formats and forms of gaming entertainment ever since. The immense range of interest from grandiose integrated resorts through to proliferating online, interactive and mobile games is testimony to the combined impact of popular desire, product inventiveness and corporate leadership. The fundamental, to meet customer and player demand for quality, convenience and variety, is reinforced through evolving standards of delivery and protection. That has nurtured a steady rise in loyal custom, and through constantly reinforcing memorable experiences has cultivated brand identity so essential to the cutting edge.

The Americas, Europe and Asia-Pacific continue to demonstrate a strong pull on operators’ search for the next market entry as the boundaries for capital growth expand. In the process, three key developments are clear: First, that regulation has become the verifiable means to mainstream acceptance and an important economic factor for states’ revenues and gaming business expansion; second, that social technology and adaptive attitudes and interests have been and will continue to be primary in rapidly advancing egaming creativity and to the re-inventive reach of terrestrial casino entertainment; and thirdly, that the centre of gravity for gaming – in common with the wider global economic shift – is inexorably Asian-oriented.

Published quarterley, and received at senior level throughout the entire industry, Casino & Gaming International (CGI) aims to reflect the progress of these interests and provide scope for critical analysis and informed business comment. Attention is paid to how the gaming industry fares in differing jurisdictional circumstances, whether regulation is well established or is in prospect. New perspectives and insights are constantly sought to enrich the range of business intelligence available and to enable contributors to impart their experience and understanding within the business community. In that spirit, moving with the pace and surprises the gaming industry is capable of, we strive to create a widening base of input which ties in with both current trends and growth prospects through our quarterly coverage.

Stephen Lawton, Editor of CGI.