UNLV, a top tier 2.0 research institution, is excited to host its inaugural Gaming Startup 2 Day Bootcamp in Las Vegas at Black Fire Innovation. This program will inspire, engage, and inform entrepreneurs and drive collaboration and networking with industry professionals.

Entering the gaming and gambling space is unique and complex. What is the overarching state of venture capital post-Covid and amid global unrest? Learn the legal aspects to establish your startup organization and how to navigate the complexities of compliance in a highly regulated innovation space. Have your imagination and innovation sparked with roundtables with industry executives. Understand market assessment go to market strategies and get the insights in esports, sports wagering and more. How do you assess human capital needs in your startup and establish a culture that will drive innovation?

For any entrepreneur entering the gaming space, this is a must-attend program.

This two-day onsite event will start at approximately 8:30 a.m. each day. Exact details will be emailed prior to the start of the program.

Registration fees include:

• One registration for one individual to attend the two-day seminar
• All course materials
• Continental breakfast and lunch both days
• Access to speakers who will be joining us both in person and online

A certificate of completion from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas will be awarded and delivered electronically at the end of the program.

Course Content

• State of Venture Capital – Silicon Valley Bank - What does the general venture capital marketplace look like; current trends in investments
• Business 101: Legal Structures – Explore the pros and cons of various legal business structures; learn how to establish the right type of structure for your organization based on its goals
• Business 101: IP and Confidentiality - Intellectual property is often the most valuable asset in your startup. How do you legally protect your IP?
• Business 101: Organization Structures  - Structuring your business is critical. What type of organization structures should you implement to keep your business lean, diversified and able to scale at speed?
• Prototype Production  - Building a prototype can one of the most daunting tasks an entrepreneur can do. How do you overcome fear, manage costs and control scope throughout the production process?
• The Role of the Incubator & Accelerator - What do incubators and accelerators actually do? How do you choose the right partner?
• Regulatory Compliance Structure  -  How will you establish your regulatory team and how will it fit into the overarching structure of your organization?
• People & Culture & Sociology - Assessing your human capital is critical to the success of your organization.
• Market Assessment - How can you accurately assess the marketplace for your innovation? What are the key factors to consider when entering into the market considering speed, sustainability and scalability?
• Go to Market - Key examinations of audience, channel distribution, pricing models, packaging, messaging and cost per customer acquisition

Roundtable Discussions

• Sports Wagering Roundtable - Engage in a roundtable discussion with sports wagering experts and learn about the current gaming ecosystem and what customers and operators are looking for
• Innovation Cycle Roundtable - Join in an engaging roundtable discussion on the innovation cycle including ideation, selection, development and commercialization
• eSports Roundtable - The latest examination of esports and the current trends driving innovation and market acceptance

Date & Location:

This is an in-person, two-day seminar that will take place at Black Fire Innovation at 8400 W. Sunset Rd., Suite 400, approximately 20 minutes from the Las Vegas Strip.

Gaming Startup Bootcamp will take place July 25 - 26, 2022. The program will begin at 8:30 a.m. on Mon. July 25, and will conclude for the day around 4:30 p.m. The program will begin at 8:30 a.m. on Tues., July 26, and an informal and optional happy hour will conclude the program.

Transportation to Las Vegas and hotel stay are not included in the cost of registration.

Educational Partners:

Dr. Bo Bernard is Executive Director at the IGI, where he oversees all research and academic functions. Dr. Bernhard has delivered over 200 keynote addresses in clinical, regulatory, government, and policy settings. He has published in the top journals in both the business sciences (including Cornell Quarterly) and the social sciences (including a guest edited special volume of American Behavioral Scientist), and currently serves as executive editor for a leading peer-reviewed academic journal, Gaming Research and Review.

Joe Bertolone is Vice President of Sports Betting at IGT. His 25-year career in the industry started as the Chief of Administration at the Nevada Gaming Control Board and then as the first Chief of the Technology Division for the same agency. Bertolone is the former Executive Director of the ICGR.

John Lukasik is the Customer Research and Marketing Analytics Manager for Penn National Gaming. He previously held the position of Director of Race, Sports, and Esports for Caesars Entertainment, where he oversaw operations at the Linq, Cromwell, and Flamingo. He brings with him nearly a decade of experience in the gaming industry, where he has worked primarily in gaming operations.

Dr. Robert Rippee is currently the Executive Director of UNLV's Black Fire Innovation Hub, as the visionary guide for teams of students, faculty, staff, and partner stakeholders in fulfilling the vision and mission for economic development and diversity through problem-solving based idea creation, innovation, acceleration, and commercialization.

Alan Feldman is one of the world’s leading experts on responsible gaming. As Distinguished Fellow in Responsible Gaming for UNLV’s International Gaming Institute, Feldman develops programs and policies to advance related knowledge and capabilities within the industry and regulatory community.

Gregory Gemignani is an attorney who has provided direct gaming and regulatory instruction to operators, governments, and regulators in dozens of jurisdictions and has provided onsite instruction in South Africa, Japan, Puerto Rico, Oregon, Minnesota, California, and Ghana. 

Becky Harris is a Distinguished Fellow in Gaming and Leadership at the International Gaming Institute. Harris is a recognized expert on sports betting, gaming policy and regulation, legislative affairs, and workplace sexual harassment prevention. She is the former Chairwoman of the Nevada Gaming Control Board.