May 2015 Infinity Gamaing Magazine

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MAY 2015

21 JUSTIN CHAMBERLAIN Infinity talks to the CEO of Core Gaming

02 ZEUS FEATURE What could a Greek God have to do with Gaming?

WOODS TALK Andrew Rosewarne Director of Gaming NMi

Opinion Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in all external articles are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of The Infinity Gaming Magazine Any content provided by our feature writers or authors are of their opinion, and are not intended to malign any religion, ethic group, club, organization, company, individual or anyone or anything.

INFINITY GAMING

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MAY 2015

4 EDITOR NOTES Lana welcomes you to the new look magazine, a new format after 5 years.

6 OUR WRITERS It has always been our pleasure to enjoy the superb writers on our rosta.

13 PARIS CASINO? Could the French capital be ready to legalise casinos?

42

18 DUTCH ONLINE New Dutch Minister promises to move online gambling onwards.

WOMEN IN GAMING AWARDS The 6th Annual awards ceremony coming in June

38

EFFECTIVE PRESENTATIONS Martin R. Baird and another superb article

20 LESSONS FROM INSURANCE Professor Nelson Rose with another superb article on gaming law.

24 AUSTRALIAN GAMBLING Australians will gamble $6 billion a year says new study.

on acquiring skills for life.

34 JOHN EDMUNDS We catch up with new writer John Edmunds about some tips for new spiring executives in the industry.

41 CYPRUS CASINO First license to be issued by February 2016 says government.

49 CAESARS Struggling casino giant asks for more time on bankruptcy hearing date.

INFINITY GAMING

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MAY 2015

A note from the editor CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Christina Thakor-Rankin Martin R. Baird John Edmunds Andrew Tottenham JJ Woods Professor Nelson Rose

Get ready it’s nearly

CONTACT US Clever Duck Media Newmarket 20 Centrix@Keys Keys Park Road Staffordshire WS12 2HA UK Tel: +44(0)1543 478 889 claire@cleverduckmedia.com

time for the 6th Annual Women in Gaming Awards.

Lana Thompson - Editor

Welcome to the May edition of the Infinity Gaming Magazine, we hope you like the new look.

We hope you are all enjoying the fab

In this issue of the magazine we are

weather we are all having and managed

delighted to bring you interviews with

to fit in a round of golf here and there

Justin Chamberlain CEO of Core Gaming

and watch the Masters. What a sur-

who tells us why Core Gaming is a real

prise on the winner and an outstanding

deal and Andrew Rosewarne Director of

young talent.

Gaming at NMi.

Our industry is not short of young tal-

And so it keeps coming with our superb

ent and we have been busy with prepa-

line-up of contributing writers from

rations for the 6th Women in Gaming

Martin R. Baird, Christina Thakor-Rankin

Awards and received some outstanding

and JJ Woods, John Edmunds and Pro-

nominations and will announce finalist

fessor I Nelson Rose all offering expert

shortly.

opinion.

Do not forget to join the Wig evening -

So, “To Infinity and Beyond!”

industry Networking event for Business women.

Regards, Lana

INFINITY GAMING

PRODUCTION Clever Duck Media Newmarket 20 Centrix@Keys Keys Park Road Staffordshire WS12 2HA UK

PUBLISHING Infinity Gaming Magazine is operated by © Clever Duck Media Ltd ® Company Reg. No. 687 1018 (Registered in England) V.A.T reg. no 972 6372 91 ADVERTISING: Sponsorship Opportunities Colin@cleverduckmedia.com Business Partnerships Svetlana@gaming-awards.com

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MAY 2015

Infinity Gaming Magazine

A magazine is only as good as the content inside and with some of the leading specialists within th prducts, technology and current affairs with the sector the Infinity Gaming Magazine is delighted t

Martin R. Baird Martin R. Baird is chief executive officer of Robinson & Associates, Inc., a Boise, Idaho-based consulting firm to the global gaming industry that is dedicated to helping casinos improve their guest service so they can compete and generate future growth and profitability. Robinson & Associates is the world leader in casino guest experience measurement, management and

improvement. For more information, visit the company’s Web sites at http:// casinocustomerservice.com and www. advocatedevelopmentsystem.com or contact the company at 208-991-2037.

Robinson & Associates is a member of the Casino Management Association and an associate member of the National Indian Gaming Association.

With over 16 years’ industry experience building high-performance teams and successful businesses around the world, John Edmunds is passionate about enabling people and technology deliver superior business results. As Chief Marketing Officer at FutureLogic, John was at the heart of FutureLogic’s digital transformation from hardware supplier to software solutions provider and subsequent acquisition by JCM Global. As an experienced thought-leader, strategist and writer, John is a regular contributor

to numerous gaming publications and has been guest speaker on technology discussion panels and industry forums in Buenos Aires, Las Vegas, London and Toronto.

John works with technology companies in the US and UK helping deliver superior business results and connecting start-ups and lower middle-market firms with private equity development and growth capital. John can be reached on +1.818.398.8028 or johnedmunds1975@gmail.com.

JJ Woods Director of Operations founded and set up Atlantic Casino Consultants which consults Worldwide, He is also an expert on the Irish Gaming Market and the impending Casino Legislation. He was born in Ireland but left in the Seventies to live in London and for a career in Banking that lasted nearly four years after which he joined the Casino Industry in London where he trained and has over the last 30 years been involved

in the setting up, design, management, and opening of Casinos Worldwide.

John Edmunds

JJ Woods

general manager and CEO

INFINITY GAMING

JJ is also an Author on Gaming and has written for several magazines, spoken at gaming conferences was selected as a Judge for the World Gaming Industry awards and has appeared on TV and Radio discussing Gaming issues. He can be contacted through the website... www. atlanticcasinoconsultants.com

MAY 2015

Contributing Writers

he gaming industry. With specialised articles covering customer service, the gaming law, new to showcase our superb line-up of contributing writers.

Christina Thakor-Rankin Christina is Principal Consultant at 1710 Gaming Ltd, a specialist betting and gaming consultancy, delivering a range of services including licensing and compliance (incl. regulation, money laundering and social responsibility), business start-up, training and strategic re-engineering, project management, research, business analysis and development, to start-ups and established multi-national

operators and providers, gambling regulators, law enforcement and government agencies, media, and specialist interest groups and associations within the sector, in both established and emerging markets across the world.

Prof. Rose is recognized as one of the world’s leading experts on gambling law, and is a consultant and expert witness for governments, industry and players.

His latest books, INTERNET GAMING LAW (1st and 2nd editions), BLACKJACK AND THE LAW, GAMING LAW: CASES AND MATERIALS and GAMING LAW IN A NUTSHELL are available through his website, www.GAMBLINGANDTHELAW.com.

#191 © Copyright 2013, I. Nelson Rose, Encino, California. All rights reserved worldwide. Gambling and the Law® is a registered trademark of Professor I. Nelson Rose, www.GamblingAndTheLaw.com.

www.1710gaming.com

Professor I. Nelson Rose

Would you like to feature here?

Infinity Gaming Magazine is always looking for new feature writers, if you have something to say and feel the global gaming industry would be interested then drop us a line and we can explain the benefits of working with a global reaching industry publication.

Fore more details on becoming a feature writer contact Paul Jordan our Editor at madia@cleverduckmedia.com

general manager and CEO

INFINITY GAMING

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MAY 2015

The Gods & Gambling – the good, the bad, and why it’s ugly

By Christina Thakor-Rankin

A

often played a key part in some religious

victim by gambling and chance; entertain-

practices.

ment for bored Roman soldiers stuck in

The victor, Zeus - got Heaven and earth,

In fact so strong was the association that

has been a fundamental part of the human

the runner-up Poseidon - the Seas, and

for many cultures gambling had its own

psyche since before records began.

poor old Hades lost and got landed with

dedicated deity. The Greek god of gam-

Hell and the Underworld.

bling was Hermes - for The Romans - For-

Faced with unpleasant or difficult deci-

ccording to the ancient Greeks the

world was created on the toss of a dice.

the hinterlands of the empire - gambling

tuna, the Egyptians -Thoth, the Chinese

sions, humans have turned to the theoreti-

The ultimate precedent of gods and gam-

-Li-Nezha (or Nataku), the Aztecs -Macuilx-

cal ‘Magic 8 ball’ to help them out. Not only

bling having been set, the rest, as they say,

ochitl, and the Najavo Indians – Nohoilpi,

has this helped to provide an answer, it has

is history. The records of ancient cultures

and so on.

provided an answer which completely ab-

are peppered with examples of gambling.

solves the decision maker of any responsi-

What is curious is that history shows that

Whether it be by way of emulating the gods

bility or retribution.

not only was gambling associated with the

and the Hindu tradition of gambling at Di-

usual themes of aspiration, gain, entertain-

wali to herald a fortuitous start to the year;

Surprisingly the justification for gambling

ment, obsession and addiction – far from

Old Testament figures making decisions by

as an acceptable means of decision-mak-

being the religious pariah it is today, gam-

‘Casting Lots’; the rather gruesome Aztec

ing is provided by no less an authority than

bling not only co-existed with religion, it

practice of determining the next sacrificial

the Old Testament itself. The practice of casing lots to determine or interpret the will of god is explained in Prov. 16:33 as: “The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from the LORD.” Gambling is acceptable because the outcome is determined by god, not man.

What is interesting is that in these early Biblical times, gambling was acceptable not only as a means of decision-making, but decision-making which resulted in profit and loss. Examples of casting lots, or can be found in several books of the Old Testament, including Leviticus, Acts, and Chronicles. Whilst they include descriptions of casting lots to make decisions, some of these decisions relate to mate-

ZEUS The world was created on the toss of a dice. The victor, Zeus - got Heaven and earth, the runner-up Poseidon the Seas, and poor old Hades lost and got landed with Hell and the Underworld.

INFINITY GAMING

rial gain or profit, such as the allocation of tribal inheritance in the -

MAY 2015

The practice of casing lots to determine or interpret the will of god is explained in Prov.

16:33 as: “The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from the LORD.”

Promised Land, or the division of be-

decide who would be the new disciple

With most of the ancient cultures, the

longings. At no point does God ever

to replace Judas Iscariot following his

gods were moulded in the image of man

condemn this practice – in anything

suicide: ‘the lot fell to Matthias’.

– the divine pantheon was essentially

according to the Book of Leviticus, it is

little more than humans with super-

condoned “Aaron shall cast lots for the

Given that gambling was not only a

powers - little surprise then that they

two goats, one lot for the Lord and the

common but acceptable practice in Bib-

could be appeased with gifts and sac-

other lot for the scapegoat.”

lical times, and even in Christ’s own life-

rifices, indulged in fights and petty jeal-

time, what happened to turn a mecha-

ousies, licentious behaviour, and used

Far from being an unsavoury practice,

nism used to determine the will of god

gambling for both entertainment and

gambling was the means to answering

into the wages of sin?

decision-making.

this practice continues to be mentioned

The answer perhaps lies in the nature

Humans simply picked the ones most

well into the New Testament, the last re-

and structure of monotheistic religion

suited to their needs and situation at

corded act of casting lots being used to

itself.

any given time. These gods literally

the question ‘what would God do?’ And

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MAY 2015

were all things to all men and all wom-

acceptable practice right through to the

interpreting the will of God at Pentecost

en. And this is the beauty of polytheism.

New Testament, and what caused things

(Pentecost being a long established

Worship and religion can be tailored to

to change?

Jewish festival, Shavuot). In Christian-

meet the needs of the individual. Poly-

ity, Pentecost is not a festival, it marks

theism supports multiple practices and

Firstly, the Old Testament is based

the first coming of the Holy Spirit,

interpretations.

largely on the old Hebrew bible of the

which saw those it visited speaking in

ancient Israelites, which is generally ac-

‘tongues’, which only true believers

Move to monotheism, however, and eve-

cepted to have emerged from the much

could understand. The role of the Holy

rything changes. The concept of mono-

older bronze-age Canaanite pantheon

Spirit is to dwell in believers, bestow

theism does not allow for multiple con-

– a polytheistic belief system. Secondly

spiritual gifts (blessings), provide salva-

cepts, choices or interpretations. There

Christianity and the Bible as we know it

tion, and most importantly to reveal the

can be only one god, one interpretation

today came into being some 325 years

will of God.

of the truth. So, how is it that the Bible

after the actual events described at the

seems to view casting lots as a perfectly

Council of Nicaea.

The coming of the Holy Spirit effectively replaced the traditional practice of cast-

GAMBLING Is it a sin or just an activity that men of god have decided is against moral fortitude.

INFINITY GAMING

The role of the Council was amongst

ing lots, with a spoken tradition which

other things to agree the date of Easter,

only the initiated would understand.

establish consensus, the hierarchical

This change was necessary if the early

structure of the church going forward.

church was to meet its objective of consensus and structure – one god, one

Up until the New Testament casting lots

truth – one designated leader whose

was the accepted way of determining or

role was to interpret and communicate

MAY 2015

Gambling provides the very real prospect of those who are bad or sinful profiting from the good and without any visible retribution. a situation which would turn the message of God only rewarding those who live a good and righteous life on its head.

through an established hierarchical

visible retribution – a situation which

bling exposing shortcomings in their

structure, without the danger and chal-

would turn the message of God only

own interpretations and teachings.

lenge of different and contradictory in-

rewarding those who live a good and

terpretations.

righteous life on its head. This cannot

God is omnipotent and nothing hap-

be allowed. Consequently, religion has

pens by chance – everything is in ac-

Having only one central interpreter or

no choice but to portray gambling as an

cordance with God’s will. Only the good

translator of God’s will in the absence

unacceptable practice, or run the risk of

and the righteous shall be rewarded.

of clear guidance does not mean that all

one of its most fundamental messages

of the difficult questions have or can be

being challenged.

answered. Most situations can however

Anything other than an anti-gambling stance would mean having to address

be covered with the, some might say,

Interestingly, the anti-gambling direc-

the tricky situation of the good, losing

convenient response, of ‘God works in

tive does not seem to come from God. It

out to the bad – and that would be a

mysterious ways’ or ‘it is not for us to

is presented more as a directive on why

very ugly indeed.

understand or question the will of God’.

gambling should be avoided, (‘the love of money is the root of all evil’, the pur-

Unfortunately, one of the few areas

suit of wealth taking focus away from

where this response carries little or no

religious, social and moral obligations)

traction is gambling.

- not God says gambling is wrong.

Gambling provides the very real pros-

This self-protection measure is critical

pect of those who are bad or sinful

if those who administer the faith are

profiting from the good and without any

to avoid the very real prospect of gam-

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MAY 2015

INFINITY GAMING

GAMING NEWS

MAY 2015

Paris to consider opening casinos

A

ccording to France’s daily

casino in Paris.

newspaper Le Parisie, the French government are to con-

and frauds,” an unnamed source told the newspaper.

The study will be conducted after the

duct a study into whether there should

Ministry of Internal Affairs asked the

“The time of opacity is over,” the un-

be a fully-fledged casino within the capi-

prefect Jean-Pierre Duport to evaluate

named source continued. “Today, the

tals city limits.

which should be allowed the previous

challenge of Duport’s mission is to

set-up of networked small “cercles” or a

create a transparent and controlled offer

full blown casino.

of gambling games,” and this could be

Following the closure of both the Aviation Club and the Cercle Cadet six

done by either creating a casino in Paris,

months ago Paris has no longer any-

“The legal status of the cercle and

or by reviewing the legislation imposed

where for gamblers in the city to go and

the way some them conducted their

to the cercles.

according to the newspaper the govern-

operations have contributed to the

ment are to evaluate the possibility of a

emergence of various illegal practices

Revel owner Straub threatens to quit

M

any thought that the

comply with fire regulations.

“I’ll pack my bags and this resort will sit

finalised sale of the Revel

However now the New Jersey environ-

here for three years,” he said. “People, if

to Florida developer Glen

mental agency wants to start fining

you’re going to stand in our way, we’re

Straub was the end of the long story

Straub for parking the large mobile

packing our bags and headed down

of the failed casino resort, well think

generators next to the casino, this has

south…I’m starting to buck up against

again as it now turns out that it is only

now riled the developer so much he is

a lot of details that cause people to go

the beginning.

threatening to pack up and head back

out of business…I can see why Caesars

down south.

shut down Showboat.”

is owed some $20 million by the Revel

He is saying that unless the state

Straub won the battle for the resort

decided to pull the power from the

regulators back off and let him run the

paying $82 million for the property

resort and Straub being fined $5,000 a

resort the way he wants he will leave

that only three years ago cost $2.4 bil-

day for failing to keep fire regulations

and let the seaside town suffer with the

lion to build.

operational, the Florida developer

most expensive eyesore ever built.

Following the electricity company that

then brought in external generators to

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MAY 2015

WOODS TALK

BY JJ WOODS

INTERVIEW WITH ANDREW ROSEWARNE Director of NMi Gaming which is an independent specialist in testing and certifying games in multiple locations head-quartered in Bangor, UK.

Can you tell us about NMi Gaming and the services it offers to the Gaming Industry?

How competitive is the market?

There are a lot of labs servicing various markets around the world but you

Being a large lab we

NMi is a centre of international exper-

can count on one hand those with the

tise in testing, certification, calibration

resources to cover the range of new ju-

and training in the fields of metrology

risdictions that are regulating gaming.

and gaming. The company has been serving the gaming industry for almost

The addition of a new jurisdiction usually

can offer a full portfo-

40 years since we started type-testing

comes with a hefty bill for due diligence

roulette wheels for Holland Casino in

and investigative visits by the regulator.

lio of services to gam-

the early 1970s, and has laboratories in

Then you need an internal team to con-

ing customers which is

Italy, the Netherlands, Canada, and the

tinually monitor changes to laws and rel-

United Kingdom.

evant legislation across the world. At last

increasingly valued by compliance managers.

count we were engaged with law firms in Our services include RNG testing, gaming lottery, iGaming, mobile, social gaming,

So we certainly can’t compete on price and

live dealer, retail and casino auditing, RTP

we do worry about what I call “the race to

monitoring, change management, security

the bottom”

compliance auditing and PCI-DSS services.

INFINITY GAMING

10 countries.

system and game testing including VLT,

MAY 2015

Andrew Rosewarne is Director of Gaming at NMi, the independent specialist for testing, certifying and training in the fields of metrology and gaming.

NMi provides independent auditing and testing of gaming equipment, software and businesses from labs in 4 countries.

ANDREW ROSEWARNE Andrew has been working in gaming compliance for almost a decade, founding and operating an independent test lab in 2008 before its merger with the NMi group in 2010. online gaming, VLT and casinos, as well as

we have.

most demand for game testing and how important are the other forms as far as NMi Gaming is concerned?

It’s still a very competitive market but there

Online gaming is showing the most

Information Security is also a growing

have been a few developments recently

growth at the moment in terms of newly

business for us. It’s a rare set of regulations

which have shown the benefits of working

regulated jurisdictions and new en-

these days that doesn’t list explicit require-

with a well established lab and we are see-

trants to the market. It is our most global

ments in this area and require some form

ing reputable operators valuing service,

sector and we interact daily with regula-

or periodic auditing or scanning to ensure

coverage and knowledge as well as cost

tors and customers in all corners of the

the safeguarding of customer data, and of

efficiency in recent times.

world.

course reputable operators have a lot to

Being a large lab we can offer a full portfo-

We are also particularly strong in the Fixed

quently want to go beyond the minimum

lio of services to gaming customers which

Odds Betting Terminals (FOBT) / Video Lot-

level.

is increasingly valued by compliance man-

tery Terminal (VLT) / Server Based Gaming

agers in a complex regulatory landscape.

(SBG) market which is generally the street

especially among labs servicing single jurisdictions who don’t have the same costs

the traditional draws, so our skills are readily transferable.

lose by any sort of security breach and fre-

The areas for games testing are Online Gaming, Land Based Casino’s , Lottery and Bingo. Is it fair to say that online gaming has the

market.

How many Jurisdictions does Nmi Gaming currently work in?

Lottery is another big market although

At last count we were approved to work

when we talk Lottery we now mean a multi

in about 80 jurisdictions. We’re also

discipline gaming monopoly, operating

working on approval in at least another

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MAY 2015

WOODS TALK with JJ Woods speaking to Andrew Rosewarne from NMi continued

The big European online jurisdictions of

is a global industry with the same prod-

ICE in London is our primary showcase. It’s

Italy, Spain and Denmark have now been

uct taken around the world so we can’t

well attended, covers all the sectors and is

joined by the UK as high demand areas

afford to rest while we have customers

a great place to do business.

and we’re still seeing plenty of demand for

with global ambitions.

the traditional Alderney, Gibraltar, Malta

G2E is a great place to meet people.and we

and Isle of Man. We are also experiencing

It’s no secret that the Netherlands and Por-

lots of demand for Canadian certifications.

tugal are looking like likely markets and

The UK, Netherlands and Italy have lively

the industry would love some additional

We visited more than 20 gaming shows

street markets which is why we have labs

US opportunities after the initial opening

last year and others that deserve a men-

in those countries although we receive

of Nevada, New Jersey and Delaware in

tion are EIG, the iGaming Supershow and

land based work from all over Europe.

close succession.

the Canadian Gaming Summit.

NMi Gaming is well established in the market both at home and abroad, Is your ambition to be a truly global product ? and where do you see emerging markets?

I need to be a bit careful what we say here

NMi Gaming is unique in some ways in that you supply your services to Manufacturers, Operators and Governments who write the legislation that insists on the testing of Gaming Apparatus. On that basis is NMi Gaming’s first port of call for the Government ruling that Jurisdiction?

That is certainly the aim. At the moment we are focused on Europe and North America but online gaming in particular

INFINITY GAMING

because customers share their plans and hard won market intelligence with us and wouldn’t expect to see it here in print.

What Gaming shows, exhibitions do you feel are the most important to demonstrate your product?

always enjoy our visits to Vegas.

MAY 2015

EXHIBITION NMi stand allowing customers to understand their services.

“It’s no secret that the Netherlands and Portugal are looking like likely markets and the industry would love some additional US opportunities.”

If you are going to write rules around gaming you need someone to test they are complied with and we do get consulted on emerging and changing legislation. Regulations around the world vary considerably and are designed

comes , and probably several new design slot machines spinning before they are certified and passed to go on a Casino Floor , is this an accurate description and are the testing labs large areas?

to address the risks identified by individual jurisdictions. We don’t advise

A modern testing lab is much broader

governments what level of assurance to

than that, and while part of the op-

apply, but we can advise them on what

eration does look as you describe with

is happening in other areas, what works

banks of machines with wires leading

well and what is unnecessarily onerous.

into various pieces of test kit, other ar-

If they have a particular goal in mind we

eas look more like a traditional office or

may be able to advise on how to achieve

development house.

it but we’re not lobbyists and we don’t push for unnecessary regulation.

My understanding is that a testing lab visually can have several online games running constantly producing figures and various out-

NMI HQ NMi based in Bangor UK

And that’s just the UK. A large proportion of our work has nothing to do with slot machines and focuses on continual assurance around enterprise level software systems and the businesses they support.

Could you explain the actual certification process in respects that : Does NMi Gaming issue the certification solely or is it a joint certification from the Government of that jurisdiction also.?

There are areas in which we are certifying bodies and other areas in which

Our “lab” in Bangor houses over 40 staff

we just provide a test report allowing

comprising test engineers, mathemati-

the regulator to make a decision. We

cians,softwareanalysts,softwaredevelop-

provide the same level of diligence re-

ers, regulatory experts, paralegals, CISSP

gardless.

and CISM security professionals, CISA and ISO 27001 auditors and business analysts.

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MAY 2015

Dutch Minister promises movement on internet gambling regulation The newly appointed replacement Klass DiJkhoff has promised to ensure that online gambling regulation and licensing will continue forward while he is in office.

I am committed to completing and processing the regulation of online gambling. The new secretary said that he supports all the provisions that have been put forward by his predecessor.

Following the resignation of Fred Teeven

ment.

the former Nederland’s Secretary of State Justice in regard to allegations

Speaking to Dutch media DiJkhoff

of misleading the parliament in a com-

stated that his office was committed to

pensation claim in 2001 to a convicted

completing and processing the regula-

drug trafficker the newly appointed re-

tion of online gambling. The new secre-

placement Klass DiJkhoff has promised

tary said that he supports all the provi-

to ensure that online gambling regula-

sions that have been put forward by his

tion and licensing will continue forward

predecessor.

while he is in office.

It is understood that some 200 online Fred Teeven widely regarded as the cre-

gambling operators have expressed

ator of the Nederland’s online gambling

interest in taking part in any legalised

bill retired following the allegations

online gambling that is allowed in the

and fears amongst supporters for on-

country. Estimates say that over 1 mil-

line gambling in the country were that

lion Dutch nationals play online with

it would now be stalled have be laid

unregulated online gambling sites at

to rest following DiJkhoff’s announce-

present.

INFINITY GAMING

MAY 2015

19

Pennsylvania sees third online gambling bill introduced Pennsylvania state representative Tina

measure in his bill but was strongly crit-

Davis had introduced a third online

icised for it as the logistics were difficult

gambling bill for review after state Rep-

to implement.

resentatives John Payne and Nick Miccarelli introduced their bills also this year.

“A responsible internet gaming sysBoth Davis and Paynes bills allow for

tem must be created in order to pro-

total online gambling where Miccarelli’s

tect Pennsylvanians and the success of

However the Davis bill has a few lit-

only allows for online poker. The new

the established gaming industry in the

tle added differences to the other two,

bill by Davis would charge operators a

Commonwealth, which has generated

moth notably it would only allow state

28% tax rate and a $5 million license

more than $7 billion in state tax reve-

players to gamble online once they have

fee for three years and a renewal would

nue, and created more than 16,000 jobs

physically registered with a land based

be $500,000 for another three years.

statewide.”

been done to approve their participa-

“Considering efforts across the country

Although the new bill has supporters

tion with online gambling.

to legalize internet gaming, it is impera-

observers believe the best chance of

casino within the state and checks have

tive that we maintain the integrity of our

success will come with the Payne bill,

This is not the first time an idea like this

gaming industry amid inevitable federal

Payne is the chairman of the House

has been considered, California Assem-

pre-emption and competing states,” Da-

Gaming Oversight Committee, meaning

blyman Mike Gatto introduced such a

vis said.

that his bill may have the best chance.

Safecharge & Tain sign deal SafeCharge has announced it has sealed

management strategy. These fraud pre-

risk to our licensees and

a partnership deal with TAIN AB, a turn-

vention rules are processed in real-time

boost their sales revenue

key solution provider for the e-gaming

allowing TAIN’s risk team to instantly

by enabling them to offer

industry.

handle transactions that are flagged for

fully localised payment

Manual Review or Rejected, thus cutting

services including the ac-

TAIN a developer of platforms and on-

the rate of chargebacks and eliminating

ceptance

line gaming solutions since 1999, has

potential fraud attacks.

local payment methods

recently opened up a number of new

of

applicable

from their players.”

international markets. Thanks to Sa-

“Our partnership with TAIN to improve

feCharge’s network of alternative pay-

the player’s deposit and withdrawal ex-

ment methods, TAIN will now give its

perience is well aligned with its strategy

White Label licensees access to a va-

to continue to deliver technologies for

riety of local and alternative payment

an improved conversion funnel,” com-

methods.

ments David Avgi, CEO, SafeCharge.

Via these methods, TAIN will be able

“TAIN is a key partner to collaborate

to markedly boost its reach, optimise

with as both companies are technology

conversion rates, and (of course) to

driven service providers and this op-

generate higher revenues. SafeCharge

portunity enables us to further extend

was selected to provide payment ser-

the reach of our technologies.” Chris-

vices and risk solutions because of its

ter Fahlstedt, CEO, TAIN: “SafeCharge

strength in fraud prevention, payment

is our partner of choice as it provides

processing and rapid integration. On top

advanced technologies and applied

of the payment facilities, a special fraud

expertise in the eGaming market. This

screening profile has been designed for

collaboration will both reduce the fraud

TAIN according to the company’s risk

INFINITY GAMING

20

MAY 2015

Lessons from the Insurance Industry #191 © Copyright 2013, I. Nelson Rose, Encino, California. All rights reserved worldwide. Gambling and the Law® is a registered trademark of Professor I. Nelson Rose, www.GamblingAndTheLaw.com.

Professor I. Nelson Rose

Licensed gaming is slowly becoming just another legal business; which is a very good thing.

Many of the strangest restrictions in

In the past, other industries struggled

Looking just at the required three ele-

the law arose from centuries of gam-

with becoming respectable in the eyes

ments, insurance has prize, chance and

bling being seen by society, or at least

of the law. This usually took the route

consideration. After all, a policy holder

by opinion-leaders and law-makers, as

of trying to show they were not forms of

is merely betting a small sum with the

an activity that was simply not respect-

gambling, even if they were. They also

expectation of winning a larger sum if a

able. Gambling debts were unenforce-

knew they had to come up with argu-

certain contingent future event occurs.

able, and courts would no more allow

ments on why they were actually good

casinos to advertise than they would

for society. The best examples are trad-

Systems similar to modern insurance

brothels. A gaming license was simi-

ing in securities and commodity futures,

are at least 3,500 years old. Shippers,

lar to James Bonds’ “license to kill”: It

and insurance.

merchants and financiers developed

merely protected the operator from being prosecuted for what was otherwise an illegal act.

INFINITY GAMING

schemes to share the risk and spread Insurance is, of course, gambling.

unexpected losses caused by pirates and shipwrecks.

MAY 2015

During the Nine Years’ War of 1688 to 1697, insurers took wagers on which cities would be the targets of military action. wide-open wagering.

People would

On April 4, 1792, the House of Com-

take out life insurance policies on ce-

mons debated The Lottery Bill, to help

lebrities. During the Nine Years’ War

reimburse loyalists who had suffered

of 1688 to 1697, insurers took wagers

during the American Revolution. The

on which cities would be the targets of

standard arguments were raised about

military action.

the evils of gambling, whether the state should profit from the vices and weak-

Probability theory, on which both insur-

nesses of its citizens, the dangers of

Insurance as a separate contract first

ance and gambling is based, was devel-

competitions of foreign lotteries, and

developed in Genoa in the 14th cen-

oped in the seventeenth century at the

the discussion of lotteries as a “volun-

tury, and was again focused on marine

behest of professional bettors.

tary tax.” But then one Mr. Rose (proba-

shipping. The long history of maritime

bly no relation) defended the lottery by

insurance made it the least susceptible

Conventional gambling and insurance

declaring “that the evils complained of

of being viewed as merely gambling in

came together with the creation of “lot-

formerly existed... but he had reason to

more modern times.

tery insurance” and “insurance offices.”

think they existed no longer. They had

Lottery tickets were extraordinarily ex-

not arisen from lotteries themselves,

The Great Fire of London, in 1666, ap-

pensive, at least £10, more than a year’s

but from the illegal insurance offices

pears to have led to the creation of the

wages for most workers. So, shares in

that had been opened. Those offices

first fire insurance.

full tickets were sold for much less,

were now put an end to...”

similar to how full tickets for Spain’s “El Insurance probably would have been

Gordo,” which cost €200, are sold today

What finally led to a crackdown on in-

ignored by lawmakers if not for two de-

in half-, quarter- and smaller slices.

surance was the unseemliness, and

velopments. Owners of fire insurance

danger, of people buying life insurance

policies seemed to be having a few too

But hustlers figured out how to sell

many fires. And operators found ways

chances for even less. “Clients” could

of turning insurance into pure gambling.

“ensure,” for one shilling, that a particu-

The argument that the purchaser of in-

lar number would not be drawn from

surance is actually trying to avoid risk

A gambling fever swept England in the

the state lottery wheel on a particular

did not work in this case.

17th and 18th century. As UNLV scholar

day. These “policies” paid £10 if the

owners do not think they have lost bets

David G. Schwartz put it, men would bet

number was drawn.

when they do not have a fire, any more

on anything: “on whose grandmother

on well-known strangers.

Business

than when they hire security guards

would live longer or whether a surgeon

The practice spread to America. Even

who never have to draw their guns. But

might successfully save a particular pa-

today, the illegal numbers racket is of-

while a theater has a business reason

tient.”

ten called “policy.”

for insuring against the death of its boxoffice draw, even the biggest fan does

This turned what was merely a way

Parliament made sporadic efforts over

for merchants to lessen their risks into

the years to eliminate lottery insurance.

not.

INFINITY GAMING

21

22

MAY 2015

In the U.S. and England, courts and leg-

State lotteries can’t make this argument.

islatures developed the “insurable in-

But they were originally sold as ways of

terest” rule. You cannot take out a life

helping education or the elderly. They

insurance policy on someone you have

successfully shifted their image, to the

no connection with. That would be too

public, as being merely another form

much like making a bet that another

of entertainment; while legislators and

person would die. Plus, government is

governors see lotteries as essential to

afraid that you might be tempted to do

balancing state budgets.

life insurance policy on someone you have no connection with. That

something to try to increase your chances of winning.

You cannot take out a

Insurance eventually overcame its gambling roots because it was seen as creat-

would be too much

The insurance industry won its battle to

ing a benefit for the general public, as

remain legal by showing that true insur-

an efficient way of spreading and less-

ance was different from pure specula-

ening risk.

another person would

Still, insurance had to be outlawed if the

die. Plus, govern-

tion.

This is similar to the arguments that

sole purpose was merely to make mon-

advocates for Internet poker are mak-

ey by betting. Pure speculation was not

ing today.

only of questionable morality, but also

Poker sites would like to

have online casino operators as allies.

considered

economically

inefficient,

But they know they have more chance

because it did not contribute anything

of winning over religious conservative

to the greater society.

Republicans and paternalistic liberal Democrats if they show that poker is a

Advocates for expanding gaming need

game of skill.

to study history, to see how insurance succeeded. Insurance is, by far, the larg-

Of course it is an easy argument to

est form of legal gambling. In fact, by

make. As noted poker author Richard

some standards, the insurance industry

Sparks observed: “I’ve been outplayed

is the largest industry in the world.

far too often on the Internet not to have learned the hard way that poker is, very sadly, a game in which skill predominates.”

INFINITY GAMING

like making a bet that

ment is afraid that you might be tempted to do something to try to increase your chances of winning.

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24

MAY 2015

US online gambling market estimates slashed Morgan Stanley has lowered the valuation of the US online gambling market following delays in legislation

Morgan Stanley has lowered the valua-

the hassle for limited tax revenue,” Mor-

tion of the US online gambling market

gan Stanley wrote in their report. “We

following delays in legislation in many

continue to believe that there is a mate-

states that are considering legalising

rial runway for growth, but results have

online gambling in some form or an-

been disappointing.”

other along with the potential low risk of online gambling again being ban-

According to the report the firm believe

ner nationally by the RAWA supporters

that by 2020 thirteen more states will

which the bill is currently being heard

join the online gambling industry in

in committee.

the US making up the estimated $2.7 billion. However at the current rate of

In total Morgan Stanley has cut the es-

states implementing legislation to al-

timate by almost half from $5 billion by

low for online gambling many observ-

2020 to just $2.7 billion.

ers feel that number is ambitious unless a major political shift is made towards

“Legislative processes continue to be slow as lawmakers remain unconvinced that online gaming is currently worth

INFINITY GAMING

supporting online gambling more.

MAY 2015

Australia to generate over $6 billion in gambling revenues from south-east Asia,” Mr Little said.

It is expected thou that Monday will

The resorts will both be up and running

New research has shown that Australia

Australia has not had a new casino

by 2019 and the estimates for making

will generate over $6 billion a year in

since 1996, when the Reef Hotel Casino

the $6 billion will all depend on the

gambling revenues by the end of this

opened in Cairns, IBISWorld senior in-

success of both resorts.

decade. Fuelled by a growing Asian

dustry analyst Spencer Little said.

market and a VIP market moving to new locations IBISWorld the market research

However with James Packer building his

company say that Australia has the po-

$1.3 billion Barangaroo on Sydney Har-

tential to generate $6.2 billion a year by

bour resort and the $8.2 billion Aquis

2021.

Great Barrier Reef Resort on the Gold Coast the estimates of revenues reach-

“IBISWorld believes the opening of

ing $6 billion a year may not be that far

these new casinos is reflective of

from reality.

strength in an industry being bolstered by high levels of domestic spending as

“Both groups have signalled their in-

well as increasing levels of foreign gam-

tention to build luxurious, resort-style

bling dollars,” it said.

casinos to attract wealthy VIP gamblers

Casinos Austria online gambling revenues fall Casinos Austria which has been relying

Casinos Austria which has been relying

on their online gambling business for

on their online gambling business for

their profits over recent years has seen

their profits over recent years has seen

a decline for the first time in 2014 after

a decline for the first time in 2014 after

releasing their annual figures.

releasing their annual figures.

The online platform win2day dropped

The online platform win2day dropped

1.6% in revenues for the year with

1.6% in revenues for the year with

management attributing the decline to

management attributing the decline to

stronger competition even thou the firm

stronger competition even thou the firm

operates the only legal online business

operates the only legal online business

in Austria. However many overseas op-

in Austria. However many overseas op-

erators offer their services to national

erators offer their services to national

players in which is seen as a grey area

players in which is seen as a grey area

on legality.

on legality.

However the good news for the gam-

However the good news for the gam-

bling operator is that their lottery busi-

bling operator is that their lottery busi-

ness which earns the most profit for the

ness which earns the most profit for the

company saw sales rise in 2014 by 2%

company saw sales rise in 2014 by 2%

to 586 million euros.

to 586 million euros.

INFINITY GAMING

25

26

MAY 2015

All too often operators are driving the race to the bottom by squeezing the games development community on margins and thus selecting content that they can get at the best price

Interview with Justin Chamberlain CEO of Core Gaming Justin many thanks for speaking to us, can we start off by asking you what is Core Gaming and how did it come into existence?

CORE Gaming is a HTML5 games development studio serving regulated online

ket such as Openbet, VF, GTS, and now through our RGS platform partner GECO

The company specialises in the mobile business, who are your customers?

gaming markets, historically by developing and mobilising third party con-

We develop mobile content for third

tent, but with our focus now shifting to

parties such as Williams Interactive, Big

proprietary games content.

Time Gaming, Mazooma, and we serve that content to operator customers such

We develop table games, slot games,

as Sky Vegas, William Hill, Ladbrokes,

Scratchcards and now Virtual Sports

and Paddy Power amongst many others.

products, which we distribute across platform providers that serve the mar-

INFINITY GAMING

How competitive is the sector

MAY 2015

focused in regulated European markets,

CORE GAMING HQ

JUSTIN CHAMBERLAIN

however we have recently struck a deal

Core Gaming based in the midlands and not London, the company take a different look at business.

The flamboyant CEO of mobile games developer CORE GAMING relaxes on his pool table.

erator, Sunlotto, which will witness our

with a licensed Chinese Lottery Opproducts gaining market share in China in late 2015 and beyond.

This deal is considerable for CORE as it will place our products into one of the biggest and exciting markets in the

now?

Some operators are also choosing to ei-

world in late 2015. We also of course

ther development content in house, or

continue to monitor the most exciting

Extremely. The operator has an abun-

selecting single games developers for

emerging market opportunities and we

dance of choice when it comes choos-

bespoke relationships.

may well make investments in those

ing slots content and game contents

markets as and when the regulatory and

providers, some of that choice we re-

All of this makes selling good content

technical frameworks and deployed in

spect and admire, others not so much,

harder than ever but we feel we will be

those markets.

but that doesn’t seem to sway an opera-

heard above the noise by focusing on

tor in their selection process.

quality relationships, and quality games designed with passion and purpose.

All too often operators are driving the race to the bottom by squeezing the games development community on margins and thus selecting content that

Does Core Gaming focus on solely the UK or Europe business or further?

they can get at the best price.

Interestingly Core Gaming is not London based unlike so many other gaming companies, what is the reason for being based in the midlands?

The reason is historically we, as a busi-

To date our business has been solely

ness, grew up in the midlands so to

INFINITY GAMING

27

28

MAY 2015

Justin Chamberlain CEO of Core Gaming

ENGINE ROOM Developers and designers at Core Gaming offices in Knowle West Midlands hard at work with the latest rpojects

speak. We have been based in this

ent pool to pull from within a 50 mile

area for the past 8 years and when we

radius and testament to this is the fact

migrated our skill sets to HTML5 there

that I grew the business 10 fold over

seemed no reason to relocate.

2012/13 increasing the staff count from 4 to 40 people in under 2 years. For all

Is there an advantage not being located in London, apart from the office cost?

the negative portrayals of the Midlands when compared to power houses such as London I think it actually offers a great deal to prospective employees of

The midlands actually serves us very

CORE Gaming and offers a fantastic life-

well and the advantages over a London

style choice.

location are numerous, including; much lower overheads, within 100 miles of several international airports, and several major cities within a 50 mile radius

The company started in 2007 how has the business changed in that time Justin?

offering all of the amenities, services and facilities that London can offer.

The company has changed only in respect of what programming languages

Most importantly we have very rich tal-

INFINITY GAMING

we use, and the size of the business

MAY 2015

Gaining the license allows us to compete with our peers in the game development community but with the endorsement of the UKGC as a body recognising CORE as an established, trusted and proven member of the community.

What are the secrets to developing a great game for people to play and engage in and what are the dangers of developing a bad game?

The secret, I am not sure! And if I did know I wouldn’t be spilling the beans for a publication interview of course ď Š What we like to do at CORE in order to develop a great game is listen to our customers, what do they like, what do they want for their customers etc. They all have different requirements and different ideas of what makes a great game, we try to listen.

From there we work with the customer to develop the game experience they want to see, which to date has proved a

CEO

successful recipe for us.

Justin Chamberlain explains exactly why Core Gaming are in the lead when it comes to Mobile development of games.

Is the companies strongest area slot games?

Traditionally yes, but we have recently diversified our portfolio this year with table games such as Roulette, Blackjack, 3 Card Brag, with Scratchcards,

itself. The core values of the company

vices of course.

of remained constant throughout, being

and most importantly of all with Virtual Sports games.

that of developing class leading content

But in terms of developing great com-

and serving our customers to the very

pelling content, no there are no limits

We have an extremely unique approach

best quality and standards we can.

other than our imagination for sure! We

with Virtual Sports technology that will

are constantly trying to challenge the

witness CORE bringing true exciting

norm, push the boundaries, create, in-

innovation to this lucrative market in

novate and experiment with both game

2015.

Mobile development is there a limit to how far it can go or is it really only our imagination that stops us?

play and logic, game mechanics, maths profiles, creative approach and audio in

Developing for mobile actually presents

an attempt to stand out from the crowd.

Is the companies strongest area slot games?

us many limitations, screen size limitations, broadband speed restrictions and the constant battle against the ever changing landscape of mobile operating systems, new browser and new de-

Only recently Core Gaming received their new UK Gambling license, what does that mean to the company?

(Continued overleaf)

INFINITY GAMING

29

MAY 2015

We have been approached on the sub-

tional land based industry, that has led

ject of Social many times over the past

to a vibrant and exciting games devel-

3 years but the answer has always been,

opment community in the UK.

and will remain to be, no. We under-

industry!

How do you see Core Gaming moving forward this year and in the coming few years?

stand and know our strengths and it

As for Sweden, I hold the Swedish in

has taken me 8 years to get the recipe

very high regard with respect to the

right for a successful games develop-

quality of gaming content that comes

Having built a business and reputation

ment business in the real money gam-

out of that country and recently asked

on developing other peoples content,

ing space.

the CEO of a Swedish games developer

CORE is now focused on original con-

why so many great games and studios

tent creation from 2015 onwards. We

I simply wouldn’t jeopardise that now

come out of the country. The response

already have a suite of successful prod-

and divert our skillsets into a market

confirmed what I thought was the case,

ucts in the market and we are develop-

that a) we know very little of, b) is in my

that being that the Swedish spend many

ing 20 more games for live environment

opinion mature already, and c) many

months of the year in the dark, literally,

this year alone.

bigger and higher profile names than

and gaming therefore become a pre-

CORE have tried and failed at, burning

dominant past time during long dark

Some very big productions slots, more

tons of cash on the way.

winter months.

table games, Scratchcards and Virtual Sports games are just some of the ex-

The UK, Sweden and maybe Malta are the three hotbeds for development of gaming by supplier and developer what makes those regions so far ahead than other European countries?

From that past time an incredible devel-

citing and innovative games the market

opment community has developed and

will see come out of CORE this year and

matured over the past 10 years or more,

into 2016.

and long may it be the case because the content coming from that part of the world is exceptional and keeps us all on

If you could have one wish to help your business what would it be?

our toes.

The UK I think personally is due to the

A 32 hour day!

fact the we brits are an entrepreneurial

As for Malta, I have no idea other than to

bunch generally speaking, and when

perhaps guess that it’s something to do

you also consider that we have a very

with the amount of Swedish people that

mature gaming market from the tradi-

now live there due to the online gaming

INFINITY GAMING

31

GAMING NEWS

MAY 2015

Caesars lose over $1 billion in Q4 of 2014

I

t may be an improvement on last

$2.22 billion.

year but Caesars Entertainment recorded a loss of $1.01 billion in

the previously announced financial restructuring plan,” said CEO Gary

Currently the largest part of Caesars

Loveman, who recently announced

the fourth quarter of 2014, which is

Entertainment, Caesars Entertain-

that he was stepping down his role

better than the same period in 2013

ment Operating Corp which runs 30

and be replaced by Mark Frissora in

when the ailing casino giant reported

casino operations is in Chapter 11

July.

a loss of $1.76 billion.

while they try and restructure the huge debt of $23 billion.

However the numbers did not meet

“With more than 80% of first lien noteholders supporting the plan,

analyst’s expectations and shares fell

“As we begin 2015, we are highly

we are committed to working with

on the news, revenues for Caesars

focused on enhancing performance

additional creditor groups to build

in the period climbed 6% to 2.13

at CEOC through a series of cost

greater consensus and complete the

billion, but was off expectations of

initiatives and the implementation of

restructuring process as quickly as

Florida to see new gambling expansion bill

A

new gambling expansion

that’s all I’m going to say about

Currently Indian tribes have the

bill is set to hit lawmaker’s

it,” House Republican Leader Dana

exclusive rights to offer gambling

desks on Tuesday 3rd March

Young of Tampa said of the 100-plus

In Florida with Balckjack and for

page piece of proposed legislation.

that right the tribes pay at pres-

by House Republican Leader Dana Young in a 100 page blue print to expand gambling in Florida.

ent $200 million a year in to state Casino operators Las Vegas Sands

coffers. However that right is due to

and Genting will be hoping that

expire by the end of this year and

However at present the sponsor

there will be something in there

only have until the 31st July to sign

of the bill is keeping very quiet on

for them as they have tried and

a renewal of the current offer or

exactly what is contained in the bill

currently failed to develop casino

they will have to cease all gambling

that in recent years has seen many

resorts in the state.

within thirty days of the current

others present gambling expansion

The proposal is still being drafted

agreement expiring.

bills and eventually failed to push

but should be filed by Tuesday,

At present the tribes and state

through.

when Young said she’ll hold a “me-

are locked in negotiations on how

dia availability” and answer ques-

much the tribes should pay for the

tions from the press.

privilege of having blackjack which

“Everything is on the table and

INFINITY GAMING

33

34

MAY 2015

Hanging with our writer & consultant John Edmunds John Edmunds joined our family of contributing writers last month, this month we find out a little more about the gaming industry veteran.

What attracted you to the gaming industry?

validators to operators across Northern

tor in your career?

Europe. At this time MEI were seeking to launch their new Cashflow SC bill vali-

Throughout my career I have been very

It was more luck than judgement as I

dator into the European casino gaming

fortunate to have worked with a number

happened to be in the right place at the

market and I was asked to lead the sales

of extremely talented individuals who

right time. On leaving Liverpool Univer-

efforts. Since then I’ve been having a lot

have shared many lessons about busi-

sity in the UK, I was lucky enough to get

of fun in many different roles at both

ness and life. On occasion, the lesson

a place on Mars’ Management Training

MEI and for the last 10 years at Future-

Program which provided trainees the

Logic, helping build sales and grow their

opportunity to work in different parts of

gaming businesses. Even when oppor-

the business. One of these placements

tunities outside the industry come up,

was with Mars Electronics International

it’s very difficult to ignore the energy,

(MEI), recently acquired by Crane Pay-

innovation and personalities there are

ment Innovations (CPI) where a Busi-

in gaming.

ness Development Manager position came up selling coin accepters and bill

Who was the most important men-

Think win - win -win - Businesses prosper when all sides benefit

INFINITY GAMING

JOHN EDMUNDS Industry veteran and gaming consultant John Edmunds offers some tips on success

MAY 2015

has been pointed out to me in advance

building what became a highly profit-

and broaden their value proposition.

by someone who’s generous enough to

able International business for Future-

Whilst we are seeing a consolidation

want to prevent me tripping up. Other

Logic. More recently, this culminated in

across the industry we must not forget .

lessons have been more painful where

my move to the US as Chief Marketing

the learning is to avoid making the same

Officer for FutureLogic Inc. where I had

mistake again.

the opportunity to get to know the US side of the FutureLogic’s business and

Can you offer some advice for advancing your career to someone just getting started in gaming?

But over the last 16 years there have

be on the successful sell team for JCM

been two people who stand out as hav-

Global’s recent acquisition of Future-

•

ing taken the time to want to smooth off

Logic. get to know the US side of the

– Listen to and understand what other

my rough corners, share their advice and

FutureLogic’s business and be on the

people need and want and learn from

give me self-confidence when they saw

successful sell team for JCM Global’s

other peoples’ successes and failures.

that I needed it. The first is Jim Brendel,

What do you most enjoy about your job/the gaming industry? What is the most challenging part

•

now Chairman of Suzo Happ Group. Jim saw something of a rough diamond in me in 2004 and was instrumental in my move

Listen, understand and learn

Be proactive – Step up, reach

out and be the person who injects energy, drive and urgency.

to FutureLogic to set up and run their Eu-

I most enjoy working with my colleagues

ropean business, Jim continues to provide

to help customers solve their business

•

advice and friendship which I value with

challenges and grow their top and bot-

where you want to end up and how you

equal measure.

tom lines. Ideally this is through the

plan to get there.

Have a vision – Be clear about

company’s products and services but The second is Eric Meyerhofer, now CEO

more importantly it is finding a way to

•

of Gamblit. As President, CEO and more

provide added value to their business.

and prioritise what’s most important.

recently Chairman of FutureLogic, Eric

As the market contracts, competition

You can do anything but not everything

has been a great coach and mentor over

intensifies and companies end up work-

so prioritise the most important.

the last 10 years, helping focus my en-

ing twice as hard for half as much. To

thusiasm and channel my hard work into

stay ahead, companies must innovate

•

Prioritise – Take on too much

Think win-win-win – Businesses

About John Edmunds With over 16 years’ industry experience building high-performance teams and successful businesses around theover world, John industry Edmunds is passionate about enabling people andand technology superior business reWith 16 years’ experience building high-performance teams successfuldeliver businesses around sults.

AsJohn Chief Marketing Officer atabout FutureLogic, wasand at technology the heart ofdeliver FutureLogic’s transformation the world, Edmunds is passionate enablingJohn people superiordigital business refrom supplier to software solutions and subsequent acquisition JCM Global. As an exsults.

Ashardware Chief Marketing Officer at FutureLogic, Johnprovider was at the heart of FutureLogic’s digitalby transformation perienced thought-leader, strategist and provider writer, John is a regular contributor toJCM numerous gaming publications from hardware supplier to software solutions and subsequent acquisition by Global. As an expeand has been guest speaker onand technology discussion and industry forums in Buenos Aires, Las Vegas, rienced thought-leader, strategist writer, John is a regularpanels contributor to numerous gaming publications London and Toronto. and has been guest speaker on technology discussion panels and industry forums in Buenos Aires, Las Vegas, London and Toronto.

John works with technology companies in the US and UK helping deliver superior business results and connectingworks start-ups lower middle-market firms private equity development and growth capital.

John can be John withand technology companies in the US with and UK helping deliver superior business results and conreached on +1.818.398.8028 or johnedmunds1975@gmail.com. necting start-ups and lower middle-market firms with private equity development and growth capital. John can be reached on +1.818.398.8028 or johnedmunds1975@gmail.com.

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The Ritz Club 150 Piccadilly, London W1J 9BS +44 (0)20 7499 1818 www.theritzclub.com @TheRitzClub

GAMING NEWS

MAY 2015

AGA calls for Attorney Generals to be tough on illegal gambling

T

he boss of the American Gaming Association (AGA) has called on all US Attorney Generals at the National Association of Attorney Generals to help with the “Stop Illegal Gambling — Play It Safe” initiative that the AGA has launched this week.

Geoff Freeman the Chief Executive of the AGA said. “The illegal gambling industry is fuelling criminal networks and large criminal enterprises that profoundly harm your state, your schools, your consumers and your law enforcement.”

Focusing against online sports betting, internet sweepstakes and all illegal online gambling that Freeman says generates over $150 billion a year to offshore gambling operators working in the illegal online gambling market.

Freeman said that the multi-billion dollar illegal gambling sector “is the mothers milk for a host of criminal activities,” and said illegal gambling funds human trafficking, drug trafficking and money laundering.

The meeting of Attorney Generals will look at a host of other topics that can cause problems for the US such as at intellectual property, cyber security and 3-D printing, however Freeman and the AGA want the meeting to focus more on illegal gambling and be more focused on stamping out illegal online gambling.

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Lock Poker closes down The Lock Poker website seems to have finally locked up shop after being offline since the 17th April.

Players trying to download the software receive an error message not being able to connect to server even thou the download link is working.

Also the chat option is offline for the same period of time, even thou Lock Poker still holds a Curacao eGaming license it has been slow in paying players back their deposits as far back as 2012 and in some cases 2010!

Pokerscout the independent online poker tracking site reported little activity on Lock Poker in the days running up to the closure with some 10 players active on the site and at the height over 24 hours only 20 players online.

According to poker forums the amount of deposits held by Lock Poker range from $10 million to $15 million, but there is no way to verify these claims.

It seems the site which has been named as a rogue site as far back as 2010 by some online poker listing sites has finally had its day, the problem is now will those players ever see their money again?

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MAY 2015

Effective Presentation Skills Are A Must For Executives

By Martin R. Baird

Casino executives and senior manag-

“I feel I am a boring speaker.”

ers are expected to have a multitude

agers who report to executives above them. A study by AT&T and Stanford

of skills. More than I care to list here.

These fears and challenges can be over-

University shows that the top predic-

But there is one skill that eludes many

come with proper presentation skills

tor of professional success and upward

of them – the ability to give an effective

training.

Indeed, they must because

mobility is one’s enjoyment of and skill

presentation.

casino executives and the properties

in making presentations. Face it, those

they work for have much to gain from

who are good at delivering information

They shouldn’t feel badly about this.

effective presentations.

Having the

to others are the ones who get noticed.

They have lots of company. Most peo-

skills to present information and speak

The ones who get noticed are the ones

ple fear standing in front of other peo-

to groups ranging from seven direct re-

who have opportunities sent their way.

ple and giving a presentation. They fear

ports to 70 people at a departmental

Strong presentation skills are a neces-

giving a speech more than they fear

meeting is critical. It is vital to the over-

sity for those that want to move up the

death.

all success of both the presenter, that

ladder of success.

person’s department and, ultimately, In fact, I recently conducted a survey

the casino.

concerning the challenges of public

Overcoming one’s fears is another benefit. I cannot think of a better boost to

speaking and the responses were quite

Let’s say you have an idea that would

one’s self-confidence than facing a fear

telling. Here’s how real people describe

improve the efficiency of your depart-

and overcoming it. In this case, I mean

the hurdles they face.

ment or save the casino money. You want to present your idea. Over and

“Insecurity with spontaneous ques-

over again, I’ve seen casino execu-

tions.”

tives and senior managers have great ideas but, due to their lack of presen-

“Lack of organization.”

tation skills, the ideas are discounted and never acted upon. It has been well

“Not ever feeling like I am completely

documented that people are influenced

prepared.”

more by the delivery of a presentation than they are by the actual information.

“All eyes are on me.”

But if you combine worthwhile information – your outstanding idea – with an

“Sweaty, twitchy, unsteady voice.”

effective presentation, your potential for success goes up exponentially. Be-

These fears and challenges can be overcome with proper presentation skills training. Indeed, they must because casino executives and the

“I feel much more uncomfortable speak-

sides, it really feels good to have your

ing in front of groups of people who are

idea accepted and implemented. Who

older, maybe wiser and of high status.”

wouldn’t want that?

properties they work

“I feel that as I am speaking, everyone is

Potential promotions are another bene-

for have much to gain

internally criticizing a variety of things

fit of having the needed skills and ability

about me.”

to provide effective presentations and this should be of interest to senior man-

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from effective presentations.

MAY 2015

dealing with the fear of public speaking

thus, no one on the receiving end re-

Take the time to develop your presen-

and turning it to your advantage. If be-

ally cares. The average attorney prob-

tation skills and you can be the person

ing comfortable with making presenta-

ably bills at $200 an hour. Casino ex-

who says the following.

tions is the top predictor of professional

ecutives’ time is worth much more than

success and giving presentations is the

that. If there are 10 executives in the

No. 1 fear, clearly there is an advantage

meeting, that’s a minimum of $2,000

to be had here. Overcome your fear,

spent and for what? For nothing!

“I am fine with public speaking.”

“Public speaking seems the same to me

become an effective presenter, boost

in front of two people or 200. There has

your self-assurance and good things will

That doesn’t even include the hours the

to be a connection and if done correctly,

happen.

presenter spent getting ready for his or

the size of the group is meaningless.”

her show and tell. Imagine what could There are also benefits to your casino.

be accomplished if some of the pre-

“Getting to a comfort level with public

Presentation skills are one of the most

senters at these meetings captivated

speaking can lead to greater self-confi-

important skills to possess in the age

their audience and made convincing

dence in other areas of work and life.”

of information, and casinos should

arguments.

want their senior management team

would get done.

Ideas would flow.

Work

to do well in this area. Public speaking development should be part of the

Effective presentation skills are not a

property’s strategic business plan.

A

luxury, they are a necessity. Casino ex-

high-quality presentation skills program

ecutives need to be comfortable shar-

will increase motivation, self-image

ing ideas and information in a way that

and confidence while also sharpening

creates buy-in and enthusiasm. Casinos

organization, planning and communica-

that offer presentation skills training to

tion skills. This can give the casino a leg

their senior team visibly demonstrate

up on competitors that don’t appreciate

that they value their employees. The

the value of presentation development.

cost of the program is not an expense, it’s an investment in a casino’s people.

I am fine with public speaking.”

“Public speaking seems the same to me in front of two people or 200. There

There also can be a cost savings for the

It’s an investment that will pay hand-

casino. Plenty of information is passed

somely.

has to be a connection and if done cor-

along at casino conferences and executive meetings.

I know from personal

Now back to my survey. Certainly not

experience that some of these sessions

everyone who responded hated public

are a waste of time because the speaker

speaking. Some were comfortable with

does such a poor job of organizing the

it and I suspect they either have a lot of

presentation and delivering it.

The

speaking under their belt or they have

presentation is difficult to follow and,

been through training. Probably both.

rectly, the size of the group is meaningless.”

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39

GAMING NEWS

MAY 2015

Cyprus casino license to be offered in February 2016

C

yprus will be issuing its first ever license for a casino resort by February 2016 said Energy and Commerce Minister Giorgos Lakkotrypis. Following a May vote on a bill to legalise a casino resort on the southern part of the island where casinos previously have been outlawed, then 9 months later the first and maybe only license will be issued.

“After voting the legislation we will give one month for those interested to be informed and then go to the bidding procedure,” Lakkotrypis said in parliament. “The documents are effectively ready.”

It is expected to be passed by the majority of MPs after clearing the first hurdle of the House Commerce Committee, it may need some amendments to keep everyone happy but the vote is expected to legalise casinos.

Ladbrokes Q1 results fail to hit expectations

Should it be approved the bill will allow for a casino resort of international standards with a 5 star hotel or hotels with a capacity of at least 500 rooms, the casino will have a minimum of 100 gaming tables and 1,000 slot machines.

The bill will allow the chosen operator to decide where to build the resort and pay an annual fee for licensing of €2.5 million for the first four years rising to €5.0 million annually for the following four years. The operator will also pay 15% tax on gross income.

MP Costas Costa said the party respected the position of the majority and to that end it participated in the discussion in a bid to introduce specific amendments to protect the social issues.

“Today we suggested the creation of a fund with part of the state’s proceeds to tackle problems that could emerge,” Costa said.

Ladbrokes announced its results for the first three months of 2015 showing a decline in profits from £18.4 million for the same period in 2014 to £14.3 million this year, representing a fall of 23%, the betting firm blamed unfavourable football and horseracing results.

It is also a steep decline from the last three months of 2014 which brought profits of £35.6 million. The second largest bookmaker in the UK said the results were off from their target margin of 17%, instead a standing at 15.7%.

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42

MAY 2015

WOMEN IN GAMING AWARDS WINNERS 201 01

04

07

02

05

08

03

06

09

01

Industry Pride of the Year

04

Hodan Fourie & Michaela Michaylova PokerStars & Unibet

02

03

Affiliate Manager of the Year

05

Excellence in Customer Service

07

Innovator of the Year

Melissa Zalbeigi

Emma Loveday

Betsson

News UK

Hidden Talent of the Year

08

Inspiration of the Year

Melanie Hainzer

Elizabeth Dutton

Cath Riley

Leo Vegas

Playtech

Grosvenor Casinos

Affiliate Team of the Year

06

Industry Achiever of the Year

09

Leader of the Year (iGaming)

Carly Sawers

Joanne Jones

Maria Hedengren

PokerStars

The Ritz Club

NetEntertainment

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MAY 2015

14 - WHO WILL BE THE WINNERS THIS YEAR? 10

13

11

15

12

15

10

11

12

Leader of the Year(land based)

13

14

Team of the Year (iGaming)

Dubravka Burda

Linda Arbman

GTECH

Mr Green

Star of the Future

14

Team of the Year (Land Based)

Bea Stevens

Fiona Regan & the HR Team

Aspers

Grosvenor Casinos

Marketing Excellence Award

15

Nora Felin

ners 2014. Will you be standing proud

Mr Green

on the 5th June at the 6th Annual

The roll of honour for WIG Win-

event?

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43

GAMING NEWS

MAY 2015

AGA offers to help Japan with Casino Resorts

I

n what seems like a last ditch of-

and entertainment,” the Japan Times

bill to be passed into law before

fer to revive the Japanese casino

reported him saying. He went on to

the Japanese parliament called the

resort bill the American Gaming

say U.S. casino operators “would

“Diet” ends on the 24th June. Many

Association (AGA) has offered to pro-

all be well suited to be partners in

say that is the bill is not passed this

vide any support possible in helping

Japan” because of their experience in

year there is little to no chance of re-

to legalise gambling in the country.

the sector.

sorts being built in time for the Tokyo Summer Olympics in 2020.

“We can be helpful by providing

With analysts predicting that Japan

information and experiences” from

could be worth $40 billion a year in

The main opposition to the bill and

the United States, Geoff Freeman the

revenues should resorts be legal-

is a junior partner in the government

AGA’s president and chief executive,

ised making it the second largest

coalition is the Komeito, a Buddhist-

told Japanese reporters last week.

gambling destination behind Macau,

influenced political party with 35

many US and Asian based casino op-

seats in the lower House of Repre-

Mr Freeman said that bringing inte-

erators are offering to spend as much

sentatives. They oppose the bill to

grated resorts to Japan “can provide

as $10 billion in developing resorts.

introduce gambling on social issues

not only gaming experience but also high-end experience like nightlife

and draggin more Japanese into gamHowever time is running out for the

bling addiction.

Playtech hire 600 global staff in Omni-channel push

P

laytech is adding a further

industry’s leading omni-channel

investment as part of the Play-

300 employees to its 4,000

technology offering.

tech ONE strategic roadmap and is

strong global workforce in

Playtech is currently concentrating

Playtech’s fastest growing product

the next eight months as it prepares

its resources on several significant,

vertical. Ahead of a number of deals,

to undertake several large-scale

soon-to-be-announced, global

and in order to strengthen support

omni-channel projects in the UK and

government and non-government

for existing sports-driven contracts,

emerging markets.

omni-channel contracts. This has

Playtech Sports has been reorgan-

Playtech’s global headcount has

meant that a large number of devel-

ised with all omni-channel sports

grown by more than 600, or more

opers, operational, product, IT and

capabilities and technology efforts

than 20%, between January 2014

customer support staff specialists

merged into, and operated as, one

to March 2015 as a direct result of

are required to ensure their success-

division.

the company’s success and invest-

ful delivery.

ment in Playtech ONE, the gaming

Sports betting will see the largest

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GAMING NEWS

MAY 2015

Dutch Minister promises movement on internet gambling regulation

F

ollowing the resignation of Fred Teeven the former Nederland’s Secretary of State Justice in regard to allegations of misleading the parliament in a compensation claim in 2001 to a convicted drug trafficker the newly appointed replacement Klass DiJkhoff has promised to ensure that online gambling regulation and licensing will continue forward while he is in office.

Fred Teeven widely regarded as the creator of the Nederland’s online gambling bill retired following the allegations and fears amongst supporters for online gambling in the country were that it would now be stalled have be laid to rest following DiJkhoff’s announcement.

Speaking to Dutch media DiJkhoff stated that his office was committed to completing and processing the regulation of online gambling. The new secretary said that he supports all the provisions that have been put forward by his predecessor.

It is understood that some 200 online gambling operators have expressed interest in taking part in any legalised online gambling that is allowed in the country. Estimates say that over 1 million Dutch nationals play online with unregulated online gambling sites at present.

Mohegan Tribe to build casino in South Korea In what is the first international venture the Mohegan Tribe has signed an agreement to develop a casino resort at South Korea’s Incheon Airport.

The Mohegan Tribal Gaming Authority the gambling development arm of the Mohegan Indian tribe will work with Las Vegas-based Miura Holdings to develop an 800-acre parcel owned by the Incheon International Airport Corp.

Under the pans the development will have its own private jet terminal, a two-tower luxury hotel complex with 1,000 rooms, and a 18,500-square-meter casino with 250 tables and 1,500 slot machines.

Amaya Gaming name new COO & CMO Amaya Gaming has announced a shuffle of senior executives at The Rational Group of companies namely PokerStars & Full Tilt Poker with a new Chief Operating Officer and Chief Marketing Officer.

Israel Rosenthal will become the new chief operating officer, with Gino Appiotti taking on the role of chief marketing officer.

Both new placements have come from within the owning company of Amaya Gaming with Rosenthal previously serving in various operations at Rational prior to his appointment to his new position, with Appiotti, who served for three years as president of Southern European for Rational.

Alex Payne the previous CMO is moving to Ebay’s European business and Ashkenazi is moving into the wider Amaya Gaming business.

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GREAT PLACE TO PLAY GREAT PLACE TO WORK If you have a passion for excellence, there could well be a place for you on The Rational Group team. The Rational Group employs industry-leading practices in customer service, product development, payment security, game integrity and player fund protection, and also holds more online poker licenses than any other e-gaming company. We apply the same high standards to looking after our people: The Rational Group is currently ranked the 14th best large company to work at in the UK by the Great Place to Work Institute.

The Rational Group operates gaming and related businesses and brands including PokerStars, Full Tilt Poker and the European Poker Tour. These brands collectively form the largest poker business in the world comprising online poker games and tournaments, live poker competitions and poker programming created for television and online audiences.

NO AGENCIES – DIRECT APPLICATIONS ONLY For full details of our vacancies and details on how to apply, please visit www.rationalgroup.com/about-us/careers Rational Services Ltd, Douglas Bay Complex, King Edward Road, Onchan, IM3 1DZ

GAMING NEWS

MAY 2015

Caesars ask for 6 more months to deliver recovery plan

C

aesars Entertainment Corp the bankrupt operating division of the gambling giant is to ask a Chicago bankruptcy court judge to extend their reorganization plan by another six months.

The casino part of the company that has a mountain of $18 billion debt wants to wrestle itself free of much of that with their exclusive plan that would be set forth to creditors.

At present the company has until May 15th to deliver a recovery plan for the operational part of the business but lawyers say that because of the 173 business entities, dueling creditor groups, legal challenges and a pending investigation from the court-appointed examiner looking into the company’s past transactions, it would be impossible to deliver by the current date.

If granted that would allow Caesars until the 15th November to announce their plan and give creditors until January to make comments and any opposition to them.

The judge in the case will hear Caesars request on the 29th April and make a decision sometime after that.

Abbiati hires Angus Noble Angus Noble has been appointed Sales & Commercial Director at Abbiati the casino equipment manufacturer.

Mr Noble has been a consultant for some two years and previously was Commercial & Manufacturing Director for nearly 10 years at TCSJohnHuxley.

“I am proud, delighted and very excited to be joining Abbiati at this time. The Abbiati brand is one of the finest in the industry and I very much look forward to playing my part in the further development and growth of this terrific company.” Said Mr Noble on the role.

CEO Giorgio Abbiati commented: “We are very pleased that Angus has agreed to join us as we strengthen our senior management team. Following our recent strategic review we are looking to sharpen our commercial focus across all our markets and areas of our business and this key appointment is a major step along that road.”

Bwin.party show loss for 2014 Bwin.Party announced its annual results for 2014 showing a decline of 29% in its online poker business which was instrumental in the online gambling company showing a loss for the year.

The struggling online firm which is in talks with at least one investor over a takeover showed a pre-tax loss of €97.7 million compared to a profit of €44.9 million in 2013. Revenues sank to €611.9 million for 2014 compared to €652.4 million the year earlier.

However the company has said that they have reached their goal of reducing costs by €30 million in 2015 and aim to reduce by another €15 million this year.

So far this year the company said its betting volumes are ahead of last year, but adverse results were not increasing profit margins making a 12% drop on profits already for the year.

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