The year in review

we needn’t labour the point. The pandemic’s impact on the events sector has been huge. And, although the Global Gaming Expo (G2E) returned to Las Vegas in October, 2021 only saw land-based events return properly towards the end of the calendar year. Expect far, far more in 2022 – and not just because populations around the world have been vaccinated, but because events companies simply have to make things happen; and even more so when you factor in virtual event overload. ICE London will be the first major watermark for gambling events in 2022 and we at Gambling Insider hope to see you all there.

THE UNITED STATES OF IGAMING

While Asia’s return to full force – namely Macau’s – is yet unclear, the picture has long been painted in the US. Some analysts expect Macau to return to 2019 levels in 2022 but there is no guarantee these volumes will return sooner than 2023, especially as travel restrictions continue across Asia. In the

US, not only is Las Vegas thriving, but casinos across the country; with sports betting and iGaming inevitably on a similarly upward trajectory. Though technically not in the US, throw Canada into the mix and North America’s revenue growth will be off the charts in 2022. Land-based US gaming will continue to boom – this much is evident. But if I were asked specifically which sector will grow the most, it’s an easy guess, although one much of the US market is perhaps yet to fully understand. Online casino has already shown its value (to the industry, not necessarily to bettors!) in that it adds huge revenue and is a stable source of income in the face of adversity. It survives both land-based closures and sporting swings, such as heavy favourites winning and fixtures being cancelled. IGaming in 2022 will continue to thrive in the US and will become the industry’s big winner. For all the hype, sports betting’s margins are miniscule by comparison. As more and more states legalise the practice, the greater question is just how much regulatory input there will be to prevent huge player losses.

NO REAL CHANGE FOR THE UK?

As a final point, the UK market is shrouded in mystery – or perhaps more accurately a lack of clarity – heading into 2022. The Gambling Commission and UK Government have both been reviewing various aspects of the UK sector for some time, and heading into 2022 we’ll know more about exactly what is to happen to the makeup of the market. And yet my prediction for 2022, despite all the unavoidable furore and speculation the region will create, is that very little will actually change.

In Italy, gambling advertising was banned on 1 January 2019. Nearly three years later, that market is thriving. The advertising ban, as we explored in our July/August edition, had little to no impact on actual gambling levels. In the UK, we might just see the same happening in 2022. If the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport introduces some vote-winning policies, like a gambling sponsorship ban in football, or even a total advertising ban, will players stop betting with Ladbrokes, Bet365, William Hill, Paddy Power and the like? Of course not.

Even the reduction of the maximum stake on fixed-odds betting terminals from £100 ($138.25) to £2 in 2019 has arguably done very little to actually change gambling habits – certainly compared to something as influential as the Covid-19 pandemic.

While B2 machines (effectively the category for fixed-odds terminals) saw revenue plummet, shops simply started taking more revenue in via B3 machines.

Gross gaming yield may dwindle somewhat, but that will probably happen anyway when accounting for the maturity of the market. In essence, it will be business as usual in the UK in 2022; and, as the world aims to put the coronavirus pandemic behind it, much closer to business as usual for the gambling industry as a whole.

REMOTE REVOLUTION

As working life returns to a state of normality, the approach to remote vs of ce life has evolved dramatically. Isabella Aslam speaks to Malta-based CSB Group’s Head of Human Resources and Employment Advisory Services, Dr. Elaine Dutton

Hybrid versus remote working – a popular subject, anyone?

As we sit down with Elaine Dutton to discuss society’s new working conditions, there’s a lot to cover. Dutton firstly confirms she and the CSB Group employees are mostly remote working (for the time being). Having just finished her maternity leave when the lockdown restrictions were announced, she explains how she was looking forward to returning to the office. “I was very eager to get out of the house and meet my colleagues and employees,” she tells Gambling Insider. “That’s what HR is about, meeting physically and having contact with people, but then we went completely remote see who they are working with; it’s a normal part of who we are as human beings.”

Agreeing that speaking to a blank set of initials [on Zoom] takes the human interaction away from a meeting, Dutton explains: “It does, it’s the reality of what we are experiencing. Employees need their camera on because we want them to be there. We used to be able to see people in the corridor, recognise if that person looks a bit tired, and go and have a chat with them and see what’s going on. You have to prompt people on Zoom and ask for a chat because these natural steps are removed when it comes to remote working.”

In terms of different formats,

and within the space of a few months, I returned to a completely different format; with things like Zoom.”

Dutton admits remote working had its challenges at the outset; however, the turnaround was a successful one. “It was insane in the beginning, but we transitioned very fast within a matter of days. One issue we overcame was people’s reluctance to turn their camera on in Zoom meetings; we had to put it as a policy. If you’re having a team meeting with nine people, you can’t have two people with their camera on and seven off. It doesn’t help people build that level of trust, especially when you have new employees on board. They need to