Invitation to the GREF Conference 2019
“Exploring the boundaries between gambling and financial regulation”
Dates: 21-23 May 2019
Location: Amathus Beach Hotel – Limassol – Cyprus
The GREF Board has the pleasure of inviting you to attend GREF Conference 2019, to be held at the Amathus Beach Hotel in Limassol, Cyprus.
This year’s conference coincides with the 30th anniversary of GREF and we are looking forward to something special to celebrate this milestone.
Conference
In order to register for the GREF 2019 conference in Cyprus, please complete this registration form (link).
You only register for the conference with GREF, and you should separately book the hotel accommodation. The conference cost per delegate is EUR 420 for GREF members and EUR 520 for non-members.
Draft Agenda GREF Conference 2019
| DAY 1 – Tuesday 21 May 2019 | |
| 12:15-13:30 | Lunch (Amathus) |
| 13:00-14:00 | Registration |
| 14:00-14:30 | Opening remarks by GREF Chair Claire Pinson + Welcome address: Mr. Savvas Perdios, Deputy Minister of Tourism, Cyprus |
| 14:30-15:30 | Session 1: Alternative Payment Options Introduction: presentation of current state of play on payment methods authorized in GREF jurisdictions, both land-based and online – Kieran O‘Keeffe, Secretary General, EUROMAT – Industry Speaker – tbc – Speaker on Open Banking – tbc |
| 15:30-16:00 | Networking & refreshment break |
| 16:00-17:30 | GREF Working Groups (GREF Members only) -eGambling and Technical Issues -InfoStat -Responsible Gambling and Addiction |
| 17:30-18:30 | Overrun time/Time to freshen up |
| 18:30-20:00 | GREF 30th Anniversary Cocktail dinner (Amathus, Lighthouse Bar & Lounge) |
| DAY 2 – Wednesday 22 May 2019 | |
| 09:00-09:05 | Opening remarks by GREF Chair Claire Pinson |
| 09:05-9:45 | Keynote address: Tony Sio, Head of Marketplace Regulatory Technology, NASDAQ |
| 09:45-10:45 | Session 2: Parallels to be drawn between gambling-like financial products and gambling products Presentation of products presenting gambling and financial characteristics, restrictions on contracts for difference by the European Securities and Market Authority (ESMA) and by national financial regulators, etc. – One representative of the British Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) – tbc – One gambling regulator regulating gambling-like financial products – tbc – One representative from the Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC) – tbc |
| 10:45-11:15 | Networking & refreshment break |
| 11:15-12:15 | Session 3: Gambling payment blocking options by banks from a responsible gambling point of view: pro and cons – Dr. Jane Rigbye, Director of Education, GambleAware – Jack Symons, Chief executive, Gamban – Stuart McFadden, Head of Financial Difficulties, Monzo Bank – Dr. Michael Auer, Consultant, Neccton |
| 12:15-12:45 | GREF Conference photograph |
| 12:45-14:00 | Lunch (Amathus) |
| 14:15-15:15 | Session 4: Payment blocking or Payment disruption? State of play at the European level, focus on Norway, assessment of how financial regulation can supplement gambling regulation to block/disrupt payments. – Prof. Dr Julia Hörnle, Queen Mary University, London – Silje Sægrov Amble, Senior adviser, Norwegian Gaming Authority |
| 15:15-15:45 | Networking & refreshment break |
| 15:45-16:45 | Session 5: Virtual currencies and gambling regulation: the Maltese case Presentation about virtual currencies, presentation from the Maltese Financial Services Authority (MFSA) about their regulatory regime covering virtual financial assets and related services and service providers (ICOS, Security Tokens), presentation by the Maltese Gaming Authority (MGA) of its Sandbox Framework for the acceptance of Virtual Financial Assets and the use of Distributed Ledger Technology within the gaming Industry and its interactions with the financial regulatory regime, together with the auditing requirements imposed by the Maltese Digital Innovation Authority. – Gerd Sapiano, Senior Analyst, Securities and Market Supervision, Maltese Financial Services Authority (MFSA) – Carl Brincat, Chief Legal Officer, MGA |
| 16:45-16:50 | Closing remarks by GREF Chair Claire Pinson |
| 16:50-17:30 | Overrun time/Time to freshen up |
| 17:30-18:00 | Transfer to dinner location |
| 18:00-22:00 | Drinks and Dinner offered by the Cyprus Casino Supervision Commission (Carob Mills area, dinner at Karatello Restaurant) |
| 22:00 | Transfer back to Amathus |
| DAY 3 – Thursday 23 May 2019 | |
| 09:00-09:05 | Opening remarks by GREF Chair Claire Pinson |
| 09:05-10:00 | GREF Working Groups plenary feedback |
| 10:00-10:15 | Presentation IAGR – tbc |
| 10:15-10:45 | Networking & refreshment break |
| 10:45-12:45 | GREF Business Meeting and final remarks by GREF Chair Claire Pinson (GREF Members only) |
| 12:45-14:00 | Lunch (Amathus) |
Accommodation (cut-off date 22 April 2019)
You can reserve your hotel room in the Amathus Beach Hotel, or you can choose one neighbouring hotel, the Four Seasons, just a couple of minutes stroll away along the beach promenade. GREF has negotiated preferential rates but hotel availability is limited during this popular season, so the earlier you book the better. In any case, the rooms will be blocked until 22 April 2019, which is the cut-off date to receiving bookings.
Amathus hotel rooms at discounted GREF2019 prices start at EUR 184.50 per night, and Four Seasons rooms start at EUR 202.50 per night.
To book the Amathus, please use this link
Amathus Beach Hotel, 75 Amathountos Avenue, 4532 Limassol, Cyprus,
T: (+357 – 25) 832000
To book the Four Seasons, please use this link
Four Seasons Cyprus Hotel, 67-69 Amathountos Avenue, Agios Tychonas Community, Agios Tychon, Limassol, 3313
T: (+357- 25) 858000
Alternative hotel
Mediterranean Beach Hotel, Amathus Avenue, Limassol, Limassol (Lemesos)
T: (+357-25) 559999