Exclusive Interview with Sue Schneider, global iGaming expert

Another exclusive interview by Szaló Réka, with global iGaming expert Sue Schneider.

Sue Schneider is one of the world’s leading experts on the internet gaming industry which she began monitoring in 1995. Starting as an owner of leading gaming consumer portal from ’95-‘99, she then launched River City Group, which produced the largest i-gaming events in the world as well as key industry trade publications, such as iGamingNews.com and the Internet Gambling Report.

She is a frequent speaker at international gaming conferences and has testified to both the US Senate, the US House of Representatives as well as the National Gambling Impact Study Commission in that country.

We are very grateful for your generosity to answer our questions. First I would like to ask you to shortly introduce yourself and tell us when and why you started working in this industry.

Schneider: My name is Sue Schneider. I started in the gaming industry in the early 90s assisting several gaming operators who were exploring developing facilities in Missouri. In ’93, I began editing a print riverboat gambling publication for the St. Louis area. We brought that publication online in ’95.

What are your roles in the gaming industry today?

Schneider: I serve as Editor-in-Chief of Gaming Law Review and assist several conferences with developing their i-gaming content.

You are the Former Editor of RGT-Online and before that you had also edited the print version of Rolling Good Times for two years. Why did you stop editing RGT-Online?

Schneider: I’ve always like the business side of publications over consumer publications which Rolling Good Times was.

Currently you are the CEO of the River City Group LLC. Will you please tell us more about this company?

Schneider: I sold River City Group to Clarion Gaming in 2006.

What is your opinion about the state of the gaming industry in general, and the online casino industry in the USA?

Schneider: It’s been very slow going. I was pleased to see that we added another state (Pennsylvania) to the ranks of legalized states this year. On the other hand, I used to think that sportsbetting would never be legal in my lifetime but I’m much more optimistic about that now.

What are your future plans on professional level?

Schneider: I’ve hit semi-retirement at this point and enjoying it thoroughly.

Which were the most difficult periods in your career so far and what do you consider your greatest success?

Schneider: I think the most difficult period was after the UIGEA was passed in the US Congress in the fall of ’06. It seriously impacted our lead event, GIGSE, which was in Montreal (but people didn’t want to fly anywhere near the US at that point.)

My greatest success, in my mind, was organizing the nascent industry into the Interactive Gaming Council. I chaired it between ’96-’04. It was often like herding cats but it truly did give the industry a single voice during that timeframe.

You are a frequent speaker at international gaming conferences. What is your experience and personal opinion about the present state of gaming industry in Europe and what do you think is the biggest challenge of this industry today?

Schneider: I think the biggest challenge in Europe is having to be licensed in every jurisdiction. The same is a major issue in the US. It drives up compliance costs with few systems that allow for a way to cut down on that bureaucracy. It’s a very expensive gesture for operators and suppliers.

Who is your favorite actor or actress?

Schneider: Meryl Streep.

Where would you travel the most in Central Europe?

Schneider: It’s hard to pick out one country. I love river cruises and a cruise up the Danube through several countries was one of my most pleasant trips there.