Sports Betting Operator Issue 002 Volume 1

SPORTS BETTING OPERATOR

VOLUME 001 ISSUE 002

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North America’s Gaming Technology Marketplace May 13-14, 2020 New Orleans, LA, USA

N E W S

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F E AT U R E S

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E V E N T S

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I N T E R V I E W S

EDITOR’S LETTER

Sports Betting Operator rings in the new year with it’s second edition, continuing it’s endeavor to engage its readers with features and event information relating to the global sports betting industry.

David McKee reviews FanDuel’s decade in the industry, and their rise to the top of the daily fantasy sports (DFS) market. FanDuel’s well-managed approach allowed them to navigate the continuously evolving DFS marketplace, from changes in regulations, through various DFS scandals and the Supreme Court’s repeal of the Bradley law.

Yaniv Serman, Senior VP and Head of Business Development at 888 Holdings caught up with David McKee following the recent G2E conference in Las Vegas.

He discusses the firm’s growth in the digital sphere of gaming, with a focus on social gaming, online bingo and sports betting. The sports segment at 888 has had double-digit growth since 2012.

Also at G2E Las Vegas was former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie speaking about his experiences leading the legalization of Sports Betting in America. One of his major achievements was to fight for the repeal of the PASPA, the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act. Governor Christie covered a host of issues relating to vital state and national regulations and how they impact the sports betting industry.

Alastair Graham, CEO at AgeChecked joins us for a discussion on age verification for consumers, and operator compliance. A concept that developed from a family holiday grew into much needed industry solution.

Richard Hogg, CEO of BetGames TV speaks with SBO about the firm’s expansion from the Baltics through Europe, South Africa and across to South America. They attribute their growth to several factors, most notably sportsbettingoperator.com

ABOVE: Bill Healey, Editor, Sports Betting Operator

keeping close to their customers, and offering a unique suite of games.

Kate Chambers, Managing Director of Clarion speaks with Peter White about the ever-expanding ICE London Exhibition. Phenomenal growth in the number of attendees and exhibitors has been well managed by the Clarion team allowing them to maintain the high standards expected by attendees.

We also speak with Stewart Darkin, Managing Director at Casino Beats,

by SBC about their inaugural event in Malta, and their upcoming event in March 2020 which is expected to be quite a lot larger. Dennis Algreen, Marketing Director at SBC continues by highlighting the benefits of tradeshows to the industry. A key upcoming conference for them is Betting on Sports America 2020, which will be their second year.

1XBETdiscusses “The Fun, Fast and Fiscal needs of Millenials” and how the market should address the needs and desires of the younger generation -capturing the audience.with a focus on trends and the “next big thing”.

SBO highlights The Best Damn Sports Show Around”, featuring the “The Coach and the King”. The two hosts, Lenny “The Coach” Herron and P.B. King, return after a hiatus to restructure.

Sports Betting Operator wishes you a very Happy and Prosperous New Year.

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CONTENTS VOLUME 001 - ISSUE 002 3

Editors Letter

6 Quick On The Draw FanDuel has shot to the top of the sportsbetting market by David McKee 16 One-Stop Shop Holdings aims to meet the needs of gaming’s growing digital sector

by David McKee 20 Rt Gov. Christie Bets On Sports

By: Victor H. Royer 24 Agechecked Bill Healey chats to Alastair Graham, CEO, AgeChecked 28 Turning Vision Into Reality Richard Hogg, CEO, BetGames tv. Interview

by Bill Healey 36 “The Best Damn Sports

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Show Around” Is Ready For Re-Launch Featuring “The Coach and the King” Lenny “The Coach” Herron and P.B. King

CONTACTS

39 Ice London 2020 Kate Chambers, Managing Director, Clarion Gaming talks to Peter White

North American Associate Editor David McKee

44 Welcome To The Heart Of The Mediterranean Stewart Darkin, Managing Director, CasinoBeats, SBC talks to Bill Healey 47 Betting on Sports America 2020 Dennis Algreen, Marketing Director, SBC talks to Bill Healey 49 The Fun, Fast And Fiscal Needs Of Millennials Are No Joke, Claims 1xbet

Publisher Peter White Managing Editor Bill Healey

International Editor Damien Connelly Tel: 44 (0) 1892 740869 E: peter@odminternational.com W: www.sportsbettingoperator.com

Editorial Policy: The views and opinions expressed in Sports Betting Operator remain principally the views of contributors and do not necessarily reflect those of the editor or publishers.

The publishers wish to avoid inaccuracies and, whilst every precaution has been taken to ensure that information contained in this publication is accurate, no liability is accepted by the editor or publishers for errors or omissions, however caused.

Unless otherwise stated, articles appearing in this publication remain the copyright of the publishers and may not be reproduced in any form without the publisher’s written consent.

Printed in the UK by MPC Ltd.

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LEAD FEATURE: FANDUEL

QUICK ON THE DRAW FanDuel has shot to the top of the sports-betting market by David McKee

F

anDuel is a name that was embedded into the

public consciousness after it and rival DraftKings blitzed the TV airwaves with advertising for daily fantasy sports (DFS) during the 2017 National Football League season. (As early as 6

MAIN: Ribboncutting at Valley Forge Casino Resort, March 13, 2019

2015, FanDuel was buying 10 percent of ESPN’s ad time.) While DFS was at first a money-losing proposition, due to high startup costs and an evolving number of markets in which it was legal—including a major conflict with the State of New York over whether it was sports betting or not—the DFS sportsbettingoperator.com

LEAD FEATURE: FANDUEL purveyors have caught an immense second wind from the U.S. Supreme Court’s legalization of sports betting, a movement which is growing from state to state. “They’ve been experiencing remarkable growth in terms of users as well as revenues,” Eilers Research analyst Adam Krejcik said of FanDuel, “It’s a sector we’re quite bullish on.”

It took a decade for FanDuel to climb to the top of the mountain. It was founded in 2009 by five Edinburghbased members of struggling newsprediction site Hubdub. The goal was to create a pay-for-play service, not one that relied on advertising.

The following year, starting with 10 contestants, it held its first FanDuel Fantasy Football Championship. The prize pool was a humble $40,000 … but by January 2013 FanDuel had obtained $11 million in startup capital, followed by another $70 million in September 2014. At first FanDuel had to overcome financier skepticism.

“It was yet another case of people looking at something as a hobby and underestimating the fans’ willingness to spend money,” said one exec.

By mid-2015 the company’s value had shot up to $1 billion. This set off a round of acquisitions, first the analytics company numberFire, then mobile application maker Kotikan (which built

sportsbettingoperator.com

ABOVE: FanDuel betting terminal at Valley Forge

BELOW: Former Philadelphia Eagles tight end Brent Celek places the first bet at Valley Forge

mobile apps for FanDuel) and finally DFS competitor, e-sports-focused AlphaDraft. When Zynga scuppered its sports division, FanDuel was quick to sweep up much of the newly unemployed staff.

The key to the success of the DFS business model in America was to stay within the parameters of the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act. Player rosters must be drawn from more than one team and payout amounts must be specified in advance.

Games of chance are not eligible.

“Our investors have seen us be pretty conservative with our approach on what is or isn’t legal,” then-CEO Nigel Eccles told Sports Business Journal.

The operative word with DFS was “daily”—the same-day turnaround in wagers that lured players en masse.

About this time, the DFS industry weathered a series of scandals after it was revealed that 91 percent of the winnings were going to 1 percent of players and that DraftKings employees were using inside information to bet on FanDuel. (Employees of both DFS companies are now forbidden from wagering at competing sites. An attempted, 2017 merger of FanDuel and DraftKings was aborted after the Federal Trade Commission moved to 7

LEAD FEATURE: FANDUEL

THE FOLLOWING YEAR, STARTING WITH 10 CONTESTANTS, IT HELD ITS FIRST FANDUEL FANTASY FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP. THE PRIZE POOL WAS A HUMBLE $40,000...BUT BY JANUARY 2013 FANDUEL HAD OBTAINED $11 MILLION IN STARTUP CAPITAL, FOLLOWED BY ANOTHER $70 MILLION IN SEPTEMBER 2014. block it, having determined that it would create a DFS monopoly.

No such concerns stood in the way of FanDuel’s 2018 acquisition

by Paddy Power Betfair, a move that providentially coincided with the U.S. Supreme Court’s overthrow of the Bradley Act, opening the floodgates to professional and collegiate sports betting. In the U.S., Paddy Power Betfair operates as FanDuel Group, retaining the tremendous brand recognition that comes with the FanDuel name. “This combination creates the industry’s largest online business in the U.S., with a large sports-focused customer base and an extensive nationwide footprint,” said Paddy Power Betfair CEO Peter Jackson. FanDuel Group includes TVG Network, Betfair Casino, and DRAFT, sportsbettingoperator.com

ABOVE: Former Chicago Bear defensive star Brian Urlacher cuts the ribbon on opening day Blue Chip Casino, Hotel & Spa, Indiana

the former being the largest onlinewagering service for horse racing in the United States. TVG will also be the vehicle for FanDuel-branded, sports-betting television shows. “We are going to be investing heavily in content,” CEO Matt King told Bloomberg.

FanDuel has two of the most successful walk-up sports books in the U.S.: Its Meadowlands book—with 10 tellers and 27 video screens— dominates New Jersey’s retail betting, having done turn-away business at its opening, next door to MetLife Stadium, home field for the New York Jets and New York Giants football teams. Said King, “Our experience operating the top sports book in New Jersey at the Meadowlands Racetrack will serve us well as we enter Philadelphia and 9

LEAD FEATURE: FANDUEL

BY MID-2015 THE COMPANY’S VALUE HAD SHOT UP TO $1 BILLION. THIS SET OFF A ROUND OF ACQUISITIONS, FIRST THE ANALYTICS COMPANY NUMBERFIRE, THEN MOBILE APPLICATION MAKER KOTIKAN (WHICH BUILT MOBILE APPS FOR FANDUEL) AND FINALLY DFS COMPETITOR, E-SPORTS-FOCUSED ALPHADRAFT compete for customers in an area with some of the most passionate and knowledgeable sports fans.” FanDuel also partnered with Minute Media to create a crowd-sourced sports page, The Duel. “FanDuel is founded on the idea of bringing fans closer to the sports they love, and now, together with Minute Media, we’re letting fans into the press box,” remarked King.

A partnership with Boyd Gaming at Valley Forge Resort Casino, near Philadelphia, has been a pace-setter both for terrestrial wagering and in the mobile-wagering sphere, which is where the real money lies. FanDuel has extended its alliance with Boyd to two Diamond Jo-branded casinos in Iowa, as well as Blue Chip and Belterra resorts, in Indiana. It is also 10

ABOVE: Former Minnesota Vikings great John Randle autographs a jersey at Diamond Jo Northwood OPPOSITE FROM TOP TO BOTTOM: FanDuel sports book at Diamond Jo Dubuque, video screens and FanDuel logo at Diamond Jo Northwood; ribbon-cutting at opening of Diamond Jo Dubuque sports book with (at right) former Green Bay Packer wideout Antonio Freeman

partnering with the Greenbrier casino in West Virginia (owned by that state’s governor) and Tioga Downs in New York State.

We sat down with FanDuel Director of Publicity Kevin Hennessy to take the pulse of his company.

How did FanDuel’s involvement in daily fantasy sports prepare it for realworld sports betting?

FanDuel has one of the largest user bases of cord-cutting, Millennial sports fans who have an affinity to put money on sports. We revolutionized the fantasy-sports industry and created a trusted brand with a top customerservice team and loyal customer base.

We are similarly revolutionizing sports betting and, unsurprisingly, FanDuel is sportsbettingoperator.com

LEAD FEATURE: FANDUEL

leading the charge in the U.S. sports betting market. FanDuel has the experience and the know-how to be a market leader in the sports betting industry as it evolves.

Tracks and tribal casinos in California have come together in support of sports betting. What is the probable size of the California market? Would it be the largest in the U.S.?

Too early to tell at this point.

Is there a profile of the sort of customer who prefers walk-up wagering to mobile betting?

It’s more about personal preference.

We notice customers in our retail sports books that come to enjoy the lively atmosphere of the facility and watch games with their friends, but they still bet using the FanDuel sports book app at their table. There are also retail customers that prefer to come in on their lunch break or after a night shift to cash their winning tickets, as opposed to using the app. That is why we offer retail and an online/mobile sports book to meet the needs of sports bettors however they prefer to wager.

If a state does not legalize mobile wagering, is it still a market worth pursuing?

Absolutely. Our retail ventures in states that do not yet have mobile, like New York, have seen strong performance. sportsbettingoperator.com

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LEAD FEATURE: FANDUEL

Having retail locations in these markets teaches us about the sports betting habits of customers in the state, allowing us to deliver a first-class sports betting retail experience to other states as they open up. We learn new things as each state legalizes sports betting so we can improve our

ABOVE: FanDuel sports book at Meadowlands Racetrack

at Valley Forge Casino on March 13 – just in time for March Madness.

It was an exciting day for FanDuel.

It was our second retail opening and it was our first with our partner Boyd Gaming. The team at Valley Forge and Boyd corporate have been tremendous partners. It led to opening

product offerings.

We have seen states from Nevada to New Jersey to West Virginia already show that legal sports betting can be safely regulated with proper age restrictions, advanced consumer protections and responsible gambling safeguards. If a legislature is serious about eliminating the illegal market, protecting consumer interests and maximizing revenue, then an open, competitive sports-betting market with a mobile component is the only rational choice.

four additional FanDuel Sportsbook locations at Boyd Gaming properties in the Midwest.

When did the FanDuel Sportsbook at Valley Forge open and how was the opening night?

We opened the FanDuel Sportsbook

What type of sports betting is provided in Pennsylvania and New Jersey?

Our online and mobile platform

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Could you give us a bit of a background on your role with FanDuel, and what the responsibilities entail?

I am director of publicity for FanDuel Group. On a daily basis, I interact with consumer and sports media about FanDuel’s various capabilities in DFS and sports betting. I also coordinate the openings of our retail and online sports book’s across the country.

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LEAD FEATURE: FANDUEL

is available in New Jersey and Pennsylvania, in addition to retail locations at Valley Forge Casino and the New Meadowlands Racetrack. We are the number-one mobile sports book in both states.

We offer 50 percent more markets per event than other operators.

FanDuel Sportsbook offers a variety

jurisdiction?

We operate within a state’s specific regulations. For instance, in New York and New Jersey, you cannot place wagers on college teams that are based in those states. We work with regulators across the nation about how to define the right set of rules for the sports betting industry as it continues

of options including point spreads, money lines, over/unders, parlays, teasers, prop bets, round robins and an extensive list of live in-game wagers that make every sporting event even more exciting.

to grow, and determine the best path for success in each market.

Though it would vary by season, what are the more popular sports and events?

The most popular sports by handle are NBA basketball, NFL football, college basketball, major league baseball, the National Hockey League, college football, soccer, tennis, golf and mixed martial arts.

Are there restrictions on betting on local teams, depending on 14

Had you not advertised so heavily during your DFS-only years, would your terrestrial sports books now be doing such big business?

In the “DFS-only years” we dedicated spend to direct-response-focused TV ads to build brand awareness and acquire customers. During that time, we did build brand awareness around sports fans who have an affinity to put money on sports. Now, FanDuel’s marketing mission is to build a worldclass brand that gives sports fans more ways to win every day.

We’ve significantly matured our media practice, featuring a more sportsbettingoperator.com

LEAD FEATURE: FANDUEL

diversified investment mix, intelligent consumer targeting, personalized creative messages and advertising weights informed by commercial best practices. We are incredibly proud of our NFL campaign this year. The campaign showcases the reasons we are the most popular sports betting platform in a fun and entertaining

RIGHT: FanDuel mobile app

way, while inviting new users to give FanDuel a try with a simple and straightforward offer —if new users lose their first bet with us, we’ll give you that wager amount back the next day (up to $500).

Does the advent of legal sports betting in non-Nevada states push DFS into a back seat?

Not at all. DFS is still popular in New Jersey and Pennsylvania where sports betting has blossomed. FanDuel offers legal sports betting in only six states, but FanDuel operates its DFS product in more than 40 states. The FanDuel sports book has not impacted FanDuel’s DFS business, which remains a crucial focus for the company. sportsbettingoperator.com

RIGHT: Sports-betting terminals at Diamond Jo Dubuque

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FEATURE: CEO 888

ONE-STOP SHOP Holdings aims to meet the needs of gaming’s growing digital sector by David McKee

U

nder the leadership of CEO Itai Pazner, 888 Holdings has become a dominant force in the digital sphere of gaming.

Someone who has been instrument in 888’s success, which includes a wellpublicized partnership with the World Series of Poker (WSOP) is Senior Vice President, Head of Business 16

ABOVE: CEO, Itai Pazner

Development Yaniv Sherman. We caught up with him on the heels of Global Gaming Expo and took stock of where 888 is today.

How did you come to be at 888?

It’s been a long time ago. I celebrated 12 years in the company last Sunday so it’s been a while. I was actually approached by 888 a while back. They sportsbettingoperator.com

FEATURE: CEO 888 were looking for someone with an international business development track record. I was part a small company doing high-tech, simulatorgraphic software and had some international development, nothing that included gaming, nothing to do with online at that point. For some reason they decided to hire me and I was very taken by the sector and its possibilities, and the rest is history. It’s been a very interesting ride ever since.

What are your responsibilities?

I joined as the business-development team leader, sort of ran through business development in the company all the way to 2011, I joined the company’s operational management.

I oversaw all business-development initiatives. I then sort of took on additional roles in the company.

Today I am responsible for what is called the commercial-development division. They have many parts to it.

I oversee all business-development activities through one team that is also responsible for e-payments, M&As, market research, content, partnerships and sponsorships. The second part is delivery of our [business to business] line of business, both sales, development and a casino platform predominantly facing the U.K. That reports in to me. Third, is our U.S. business, developing our B2B and consumer-facing relationships: market access deals, sponsorships, media deal and operations. We have customers in the U.S., mainly Caesars, our strategic partner in Nevada and New Jersey, and the Delaware Lottery.

All these fall under my responsibility, both development and day-to-day management.

What is the importance of Dragonfish to 888’s business model?

Dragonfish is our B2B arm, established sportsbettingoperator.com

in 2009. It’s important to us because it’s diversified our market-to-market approach, especially since we’re not a typical B2B outfit that sprays and tries to get as many fish in the net. We have always gone for, especially in the U.S., bigger, strategic partnerships that were aligned with our interests. In the U.K., we bought a bingo business in 2007 that’s become the leading bingo and casino platforms that we have. We have dozens of partners on the platform, so it’s very important for the company.

What is the role of branded Web sites like 888ladies and WinkBingo?

These are two of our bigger, U.K.-facing bingo sites. Wink is a brand that we acquired in 2010. 888ladies is a brand that we developed in 2008. We’ve since acquired a couple of other brands, like CostaBingo, which was acquired last December. Again, it gives us the ability to diversify the revenue stream.

Alongside Wink and 888ladies we have some of our leading B2B brands like IcelandBingo. These are our licensees so they coincide and are part of our U.K. mission.

WinkBingo has a very cartoon-inspired look. What sort of things does 888 do to make the game experience fun besides the game offerings themselves?

You’re right in the sense that Wink has a very entertaining beat to it. We’re being very careful in working with regulators and third parties to make sure that we address and cater to the right crowd. You have to be a certain age and that is designed as such. The theme that was sort of relaunched about a year ago was trying to address a Millennial attitude: lighter, funner and very women-oriented. Sort of a girl’s night out meets a bingo parlor.

If you’ve been to the U.K. and visited one of these places you know they’re 17

FEATURE: CEO 888

a lot about entertainment and not just the games themselves, as it used to be. We’re trying to align ourselves with that trend.

Why are chat rooms important to your bingo sites?

Bingo has been the original social game. In the U.K. and the U.S. as well, people would come there to chat, to eat, to socialize. The chat online was a way for us to connect all these people.

In the U.K., starting in 2006, I believe, there was a smoking ban imposed on the bingo halls, which drove a lot of people online. We wanted to maintain that social activity. So chat is the centerpieces of traditional, online bingo. The players can chat with one another. We have chat games.

They’re rewarded also for trivia and activities, and also play some casino games alongside their chat activities in the bingo games. So it’s a very rich environment. Chat is very important as a social product of bingo.

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ABOVE: Senior Vice President, Head of Business Development Yaniv Sherman

Casino games are 60 percent of your business and sports betting 18 percent.

Do you see the sports-betting sector increasing as the U.S. market expands?

Definitely. Sport has been an important vertical for quite a few years now. We’re growing at double-digits since 2012. In the U.S., current opportunities are very much aligned with it. So we definitely see sport can change and grow twofold as this business becomes a separate business line but also a very effective gateway to other products, sport being the more broad-based, recreational destination the way we shape it. And then we were able to offer other products to the players and sort of extending their experience, retention and activity with us. It’s doubly important to us. We definitely see our future in the sport-casino business and we hope to grow that vertical growth from $8 million to coming up to almost a hundred million, within just six years.

So we hope to maintain that trend and that growth.

How significant is social gaming, which your Mytopia sector represents?

That was a business that wasn’t trading that well and we’d have to go back to basics. Basically, we don’t have a social business anymore. It requires different focus, difficult competitors in the markets right now and we sort of stuck our focus around real-money gaming, so we don’t have specific activities in social today. We may venture in the future, the trajectory is the other way around with real-money gaming getting legalized in the U.S. That is the bigger opportunity from our perspective right now.

How is your relationship with Caesars Entertainment growing?

It’s been a very good one. There have been through, on their side, quite a few transitions, from growing a very sportsbettingoperator.com

FEATURE: CEO 888 big social business alongside their real-money gaming, then selling it and being acquired by Eldorado [Resorts].

But all through that we’ve able to grow the business, the WSOP brand, Harrah’s in New Jersey, we created the first-ever, connected, interstate, poker network, which saw tremendous success in the past two years. We’re basically, by far, the biggest Internet poker network in the U.S. today. It’s been a great partnership with WSOP, and we’re looking forward to landing it hopefully as new states go live and more opportunities come open.

What does your partnership with Facebook entail and how much has it expanded since 2012?

Facebook had sort of a pilot built around real-money gaming. We were one of the pioneers that sort of experimented, the reason being its reputation and track record as a gaming innovator, as a regulated company. I don’t think that specific activity had a material effect but, since then, Facebook has become a very significant part of our marketing game plan. We’ve been in constant contact with them, advertising them worldwide, especially in the U.S. But we’ve been active with Facebook in every regulated market that we’ve ventured

into with great success. They’re very progressive thinkers. It’s created a lot of value.

What will the acquisition of BetRight do for 888?

It will turn 888 into a full-stack, onestop, gaming-platform operator. We’ve been looking at this space for I would say three years at least, ever since we hit that growth curve. In 2012, we decided we should focus on marketing and growing the vertical. Hence we licensed the trading and sports engine from a third party. But when we got to a certain size we thought it would be high time to embark upon a strategic review. We looked at every asset for a transformational deal, like we were bidding with William Hill and BwinParty, to much smaller ones. When we got to BetRight we were at a very good point in time. We were very much taken by their team and their technology.

Coupling that technology, which is a very state-of-the-art sports technology and trading with 888’s back office, and global footprint and scale, it created a very special sport proposition and we are going to roll it out in Sweden early next year and then through our global operations SportsSolution will accelerate our growth rate. So it’s very much in line with our strategy and we’re excited about that.

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FEATURE: GOVENOR CHRIS CHRISTIE

GOV. CHRISTIE BETS ON SPORTS By: Victor H. Royer

F

ormer New Jersey two-term Governor Chris Christie ( R ) – a vocal supporter of Sports Wagering nationwide in the United States – gave an enthusiastic address to the recently completed 2019 G2E Gaming Convention in Las Vegas.

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Although at the Gaming Convention Gov. Christie was primarily preaching to the already-converted, he was justifiably proud of his – and his State’s – accomplishments in leading the fight that eventually resulted in the Supreme Court overturning the much-hated PASPA – the Professional sportsbettingoperator.com

FEATURE: GOVENOR CHRIS CHRISTIE and Amateur Sports Protection Act of 1992.

In a 6-year court battle, costing the State of New Jersey some $8 million in legal fees, the Supreme Court decision in favor of New Jersey’s petition resulted in Sports Wagering becoming available nation-wide, and not merely limited to Nevada, and (with more narrow operations) also the States of Oregon, Delaware and Montana, which – along with Nevada – were grandfathered in when PASPA became law in 1993.

In the United States, Sports Wagering is a $100 Billion per year business. Big Business by any means – most of which was being wagered illegally, except for the small portions legally wagered in the abovementioned States, grandfathered in

by PASPA. This enormous amount of money was thought to profit not only off-shore Sports Books, and USA domestic illegal sports betting operations, but that the profits from these illegal operations were also being funneled to organized crime and terrorists worldwide. However, by overturning PASPA – thanks to the

he called as “screwed up” – largely because they did not allow for mobile wagering.

According to Gov. Christie – a proponent of mobile wagering – sports bettors in Pennsylvania simply drive across the border to New Jersey, where they sit in that State’s wagering sites and bet on the games using their mobile devices. This has the effect of siphoning off Pennsylvania’s potential profits, which can then cause a cascade of failures, all of which can lead to an unwelcome interference from the US Federal Government.

As an example of legislative footdragging and sloppiness, Gov. Christie also cited the State of Illinois, which has already legalized sports-wagering since the summer of 2019, but has not even drafted – as of the time of this report – related regulations to include mobile wagering. These kinds of delays, which – for Illinois – may take up to two years to finally correct, means, according to Christie, that the State’s casinos will lose millions in taxable revenue, while also causing additional delays in implementing the legal infrastructure to fully take

efforts by Gov. Christie’s fight for New Jersey’s right to operate legal Sports Wagering – much of this flow of illegal sport wagering profits is becoming curtailed – although not entirely eliminated. At least not yet.

While Gov. Christie was proud to announce that the State of New Jersey experienced a $3 billion wagering success just in the first year of operation – and a record of $445 million in just this past September – he also had a strong warning for other States, whose sports wagering operations are either in their infancy, or still being drafted in their individual State’s legislative bodies. In particular, Gov. Christie pointed out the State of Pennsylvania, whose operations

advantage of what the overturning of PASPA made possible.

While Christie is fully committed to Sports Wagering, and is optimistic about it’s future – especially since five more US States, and the District of Columbia, are about to launch their own Sports Wagering operations by the end of 2019 – with six other US States already in the legislative process, or ballot initiatives for legalized Sports Wagering – he nonetheless warns that, like Pennsylvania, there exists a great danger to this emerging industry through legislative mismanagement and unnecessary delays in implementation. This, according to Christie, could spell a disaster of epic proportions.

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FEATURE: GOVENOR CHRIS CHRISTIE yet again, and Gov. Christie was adamant that States should carefully craft their individual Sports Wagering Acts in accordance with the State of Nevada, which served as the model of Gov. Christie’s New Jersey laws, and operations.

Gov. Christie also cited the currentlyongoing efforts by Sports Leagues in their attempts to enact fees for access to their data, which – according to Gov. Christie – makes them “dead wrong.”

Leagues, he says, should pay the same as the State of Nevada has paid, which was “zero” throughout that State’s entire 70-year history of legalized Sports Wagering.

At the 2019 G2E Convention, many of the major manufacturers, exhibited several variations on Sports Wagering, from self-contained wagering suites, to in-game options on Slots. While most of these innovations are yet to be widely implemented, the fact remains that unless the US States somehow “screw this up” as Gov. Christie said, the future of 21st Century Casinos will most certainly include a variety of Sports Wagering options, including those on Slots and other gaming Specifically, Christie warned that this combination of high taxes, sloppy operations, and legislative indecision – along with any kind of scandal due to these missteps – can easily compromise State’s Rights, and once again bring the Federal Government in, which could result in yet another ill-conceived Federal Legislation – such as the very unpopular Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act of 2006 which killed off the hugely poplar Live and Internet Poker boom, as well as online gaming, costing the US Taxpayers nearly a Trillion Dollars in lost taxable revenue since it was enacted.

This same kind of stupidity could easily afflict legalized Sports Wagering 22

devices. How quickly all of this will actually find its way into casinos is as yet unknown, as is the uncertainty of just exactly how well the US States will do now that PASPA is gone, and the door is wide open for each of them to get their slice of the $100 Billion US Sports Wagering market.

BIO Victor H Royer is President of Gaming Services & Research. He is a 36 year veteran of Las Vegas gaming, a 30+ year consultant to the gaming industry, author of 55 books, and more than 8,000 articles on casino games and gaming. In addition he has researched and authored hundreds of industry reports on the subject of player preferences, marketing, player development and customer relations.

He can be reached at: DrVHR@aol.com

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FEATURE: AGE VERIFICATION

AGECHECKED Bill Healey chats to Alastair Graham, CEO, AgeChecked When was the company founded and what was the inspiration behind starting the organisation?

The idea of AgeChecked germinated during a Christmas family holiday. I was sitting with my young nephew who was watching a children’s channel on TV. When my sister-in-law left the room, my nephew switched to the TV’s apps and started watching a gang of eight-year-old boys teasing a sixyear-old girl, really inappropriately, on YouTube.

There was something so wrong with the scenario; my nephew was still watching “children’s entertainment” on a TV, but now the content was technically unbroadcastable. There was no regulation stopping YouTube from showing this content to children, but that didn’t make it right.

So, I started thinking about the challenge of understanding the age of online customers and saw that this was an issue across many online industries, not just video sharing platforms. I thought that this would be technology space that would grow in importance and decided to create a team to build the solutions for what that thought would be a worthy endeavour.

We’ve evolved beyond just checking the age of an online user to providing a wide range of checks on customers of age restricted sites, but it was the age checking challenge that was the start of the business – hence our name!

What has been AgeChecked’s reaction to these tighter requirements for Gambling sites and how has the 24

ABOVE: Alastair Graham, CEO, AgeChecked

organisation assisted with operator’s compliance and is there more that can be done?

The new requirement for age verification for free-play, free-spins etc. meant that for the first time we could offer the range of solutions that we had built for the adult content industry to the gambling industry. These lightsportsbettingoperator.com

FEATURE: AGE VERIFICATION

THE GAMBLING COMMISSION FOUND THAT 11% OF 11-16 YEAR OLDS SAY THEY SPENT THEIR OWN MONEY ON GAMBLING ACTIVITIES IN THE SEVEN DAYS PRIOR TO TAKING PART IN THEIR SURVEY ON UNDERAGE GAMBLING touch, cost effective solutions, were specially designed for an affiliate market, where the age of the individual needed to be known, but not their identity. With the new requirement to stop underage users on free-play sites, these solutions became very relevant.

We also recognised that moving the Know Your Customer (KYC) requirements to an earlier stage in the onboarding process, would increase the requirement for solutions that could achieve high match rates in a seamless, fast customer take-on process. This is something that we continue to focus our development efforts on. There is always more that can be done to drive match rate optimisation.

How wide spread is underage online gambling in the UK? The Gambling Commission found that 11% of 11-16 year olds say they spent their own money on gambling activities in the seven days prior to taking part in their survey on underage gambling.

When gambling with real money, it is relatively difficult for children to gamble directly with their own details in the UK, when proper measures are in place. However, as there were no checks until recently for access to free-to-play games, it’s clear that many children have regularly accessed free-play gambling sites. With the new regulations still taking effect, it’s too soon to see the general reduction in the number of free-play gamblers due to children being excluded. sportsbettingoperator.com

How easy is AgeChecked software integrated into websites?

I’d like to think it is a straightforward process. Most new clients are interfacing with us successfully by the end of the day they start their integration testing.

Our APIs allow for multiple configurations of the service so, once integrated, additional functionality (e.g. coverage for another country or another verification method) can be switched on without additional integration.

How secure is the system?

We operate a highly secure system technically, we comply with ISO 27001, and also, in accordance with the Code of Practice of our trade body, the Age Verification Providers Association, we follow the UK-PAS:1296 requirement for data minimisation and effective age checks.

AgeChecked employs the highest industry security standards to ensure data is processed in a manner which ensures the protection of all personal data. Beyond that, we operate a privacy-by-design principle. Wherever possible, anonymous verification methods are used for age checks, rather than processes requiring the transmission of personal details.

Account data is anonymised to maintain confidentiality: all personal data is removed from our system once checks are complete.

Is AgeChecked available for use with operators outside of the UK? Yes, and of course any operator 25

FEATURE: AGE VERIFICATION

licensed to serve customers UK is required to complete age or identity checks, and any affiliates who refer UK customers to UK licensed operators need to age verify them.

How much information of users do you retain?

Essentially, as soon as a check has been performed, we destroy the data used for that process, retaining only the information required to demonstrate compliance – how we checked (the data source) and when we completed the check. In essence we maintain an audit trail, but do not store (and therefore put at risk) data sensitive to our clients or their customers.

Is AgeChecked fully compliant with GDPR? Yes. There are 6 key GDPR principles.

AgeChecked follows each of them rigorously when collecting and processing personal data. AgeChecked works only with GDPR compliant data providers who can demonstrate the accuracy of their data, including processes whereby individuals can request that data is rectified or erased if it is found to be inaccurate or incomplete.

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How does it work?

The aim of our system is to minimise the amount of friction created when a client’s customer is signing up or logging into their website. Whether we are seamlessly age checking individuals on affiliate sites, or ‘fast tracking’ a KYC process using our technology to recognise existing AgeChecked members on known devices, our goal is always to maximise customer throughput.

We have a wide range of methods for checking age or identity, maximising the chance individuals will have the sufficient information or proof to hand and thus increasing the match rate.

We can provide the service to operators as a ‘behind the scenes’ solution, invisible to the end users, however, we can also provide a hosted environment, to allow operators’ customers to verify themselves through alternative means, if the information supplied by the operator to us is insufficient to match the customer.

What is your experience to date of the Gambling Sector?

Recent changes to regulations, and a marked increase in the commitment of the gambling industry to safer gambling, has seen this sector take off to the extent that it is now our leading source of new business.

We’ve found the level of technical expertise in the gambling sector is very high, not something we see in all the sectors we operate in. It makes working with clients in the sector very rewarding.

Do you think there is a role for AI technology with the identification of online customers whom are at risk and need to stop and is that an area you would look to collaborate? sportsbettingoperator.com

FEATURE: AGE VERIFICATION Without doubt, AI will have a role to play in customer risk management. I see AI as something that will inevitably have a role within the AgeChecked platform, both in customer risk assessment and fraud analytics.

However, at this point in time, no plans.

Do you Gamble if, so what do you put your money into Casinos, e-Sports, Betting Shops, Sports Betting or Lottery?

Poker is my game.

leading age-verification provider to the gambling industry by offering a safe, secure and effective solution designed specifically to meet the requirements of the Gambling Commission as well as working collaboratively with operators to ensure they have the right customers who can enjoy gambling responsibly.

We also want to continue making in-roads into the KYC space. We have some great technology in the pipeline, that we’re looking forward to rolling out in 2020.

Investment in Technology and Innovation is essential in the growth of the organisation wouldn’t you agree?

I could not agree more. We are an innovation company.

Now the company has steady business growth what are amongst your prime objectives over the next 18 months?

AgeChecked is determined to be the

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19/12/2019 11:52

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FEATURE: BETGAMES TV RICHARD HOGG

TURNING VISION INTO REALITY Richard Hogg, BetGames TV. Interview by Peter White

H

e didn’t know it at the time but when Richard Hogg started having a flutter on the ponies in Hong Kong he was charting the course of his future.

Increasingly drawn into the world of sports betting, he has risen to the rank of CEO of BetGames.tv. The company, launched in the Baltics, has grown to operations stretching from South Africa to South America. He sat down with Sports Betting Operator to discuss the achievements and challenges (think EU regulation) that BetGames.tv has faced.

How did you get where you are today?

I have spent the last 20 years in the online betting and gaming industry. The industry was very much in its infancy when I was introduced to it, whilst I was working in Hong Kong as a CADD/ IT Manager for a large Civil Engineering company. My passion for Rugby and Horse Racing and my IT skills alerted a teammate at Kowloon RFC that I may be ideally placed to assist him develop and launch a Chinese, Soccer betting website. We did this during the course of 1999 and 2000.

Did you choose this industry or did it choose you and which are the areas you are most interested in and give you the most success?

The industry certainly chose me.

Whilst I was known to visit the local bookies and place my coupon on a

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FEATURE: BETGAMES TV RICHARD HOGG Saturday as well as a trip to the races, I never set out to be in the industry.

During my early years it seemed you would be born into bookmaking rather than enter it as a trade of choice.

The opportunities were somewhat limited at that stage as well as being somewhat frowned upon.

Tell us about BetGames.tv?

Betgames.tv has been established for over 7 years. It is an interesting concept and one which is very successful in many jurisdictions for a variety of reasons.

BetGames.tv offer customers a range of games broadcast live 24/7 from its studios in Vilnius. The dealers present a range of games based on regular card games, lottery games and other familiar games of chance . We offer the customer a range of fixed odds betting opportunities on the outcome of the games giving a unique and different offering.

In South Africa for example our games have been approved for many years whilst traditional casino games have not, thus giving players an addition opportunity to gamble other than on sports. We have our own branded areas in most of the retail shops in South Africa. To ensure we are able to offer a complete and trusted service we work with testing labs and regulators across the globe.

We ensure we design and operate our games to comply with the most stringent of licensing authorities.

BetGames.tv has licenses issued by the UKGC, MGA, Curacao, Latvia, Lithuania gambling commission with Sweden and Columbia in the pipeline BetGames. tv also has certificates for Italy and Bulgaria. We are open to all markets if the demand is there. GLi certify all our games. With a team of 160 and growing the business is well placed to enter more markets and continue sportsbettingoperator.com

ABOVE: betgames.tv� area in one of Hollywood Bets shops in South Africa.

its success across the globe with its portfolio of live games with players betting fixed odds on the outcome of games such as poker, baccarat as well as our own games such as Speedy7.

What most appealed to you about the role with BetGames.tv?

I met the team in Vilnius and was immediately attracted to the dedication and professionalism of everyone who works there. In addition, all of their clients have nothing but good things to say about them and their products. The product itself is original, and unique. The games are low risk for players and this is something which we see regulators looking at more and more. I feel it is an ideal opportunity for the company grow.

OPPOSITE: Richard Hogg, CEO, BetGames.tv

What makes you ideal for this role?

My experience in the industry has now spanned across 3 decades and 4 continents. I have worked across sports, and gaming on both the B2B and B2C side of the industry.

Having the right network and an understanding of marketing products and companies has stood me well in the past and I hope will continue to do so with BetGames.tv.

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FEATURE: BETGAMES TV RICHARD HOGG

I HAVE WORKED ACROSS SPORTS, AND GAMING ON BOTH THE B2B AND B2C SIDE OF THE INDUSTRY. HAVING THE RIGHT NETWORK AND AN UNDERSTANDING OF MARKETING PRODUCTS AND COMPANIES HAS STOOD ME WELL IN THE PAST AND I HOPE WILL CONTINUE TO DO SO WITH BETGAMES.TV What three words would you use to describe your role?

Commercial, Awareness, Strategic When and how did you first become interested in the gaming sector?

As a youngster I was fascinated by the bookmakers shops in the UK. Odds, and compilation particularly as at that stage there was no internet! Like many others I had a fail-safe system which failed and noted characters in the shops, such as “The Millionaire” who wasn’t but knew the winners of all the races after the event!

Can you describe your process of 30

ABOVE: Caption Hollywood Bets retail outlet Johannesburg

collaborating with clients?

Since I have been around for a few years, I tend to know most of my clients already, which makes thing easier. That said, inventory for betting and gaming websites is plentiful so it is still a challenge to try and ensure the product ends up where it needs to be.

What do you think the secret of good collaboration is?

At BetGames.tv we believe good relationships with all of our clients are of paramount importance in ensuring success. Our product is quite unique so we do tend to spend more time than usual in educating staff and advising sportsbettingoperator.com

FEATURE: BETGAMES TV RICHARD HOGG on the proposition. We have 2 annual events in Vilnius (summer and winter) in which we try to invite as many clients as we can. They get to meet and socialise with the entire team in a relaxed environment having given the an office and studio tour. And of course everyone is always invited to our stands at gaming events. Recently in Malta we had a VIP party in conjunction with SBC which was a fantastic event and very well received, especially the live demo of our new game Speedy 7 where a number of players won some lively prizes. We are hoping to top this with an event over ICE in London at the Sky Garden with BetRadar and Optima.

How do people react when you tell them your job?

My family and friends are still to understand what I actually do. Those outside of that circle are normally very interested when (and if) I tell them!

How many Betting Shops and websites does BetGames.tv provide for Globally?

Our retail solution is currently live across the whole of South Africa and much of the Balkans so literally 100’s of shops. In addition, it can be seen on 100’s of websites across over 40 countries in Europe, Balkans, CIS, Asia, Africa and LatAm. Our reach is growing daily.

What has been the reaction to your recently released Speedy 7 Live table game?

Those who have launched it have seen a sizeable increase in revenues. It has not eaten into the revenues from other games, rather added to them which is a great sign. Since our games come from live studios adding a lot of content isn’t really feasible so we tend to refresh existing content or replace old lesser performing content with new ideas. sportsbettingoperator.com

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FEATURE: BETGAMES TV RICHARD HOGG

AS A YOUNGSTER I WAS FASCINATED BY THE BOOKMAKERS SHOPS IN THE UK. ODDS, AND COMPILATION PARTICULARLY AS AT THAT STAGE THERE WAS NO INTERNET! In a sector where allot of companies offer a one stop shop of standardised layouts and games how does BetGames.tv differentiate itself from the mainstream supplier companies.

There is no other product like ours which is fully licenced and compliant.

Whilst there is a certain amount of placement and education which needs consideration as we grow this requirement dwindles. Slot providers have a lot more competition they face and getting content above the fold is increasingly different for them. Not only do we provide our content though its own tab, but we provide a mini game / widget which can be placed alongside other content.

Player engagement and interactivity are often a key determining factor in a game’s success wouldn’t you agree?

Yes, and this is something we try to 32

ABOVE: Hollywood Bets retail outlet Johannesburg

focus on heavily when designing our games and features. We have system (multiple) bet opportunities as well as the ability to set subscriptions for a number of game plays. Our retail solution allows for players to win cash on site and see the action live on the screens at the venues.

What are the benefits can BetGames. tv provide?

BetGames.tv provides a unique suite of games. They are live, they have fixed odds outcomes and the games are familiar and we see this as an opportunity to attract casino and sports players alike. Indeed, when placed within the sports betting we see a good cross -sell to casino. Whilst stakes tend to be low, they are more frequent.

What advancement in this sector can sportsbettingoperator.com

FEATURE: BETGAMES TV RICHARD HOGG we expect in the future?

In our particular sector we battle the advancements in mobile i.e. some countries aren’t ready for live content, so we look for ways to adapt to suit those conditions.

What are the big future challenges and opportunities for the business and the sector as a whole?

Keeping up with regulation and keeping customers interested in your product is a challenge for all amongst growing costs and competition.

How many exhibitions and conferences to you on average attend during a year and what ones do you consider best.

We tend to look at the calendar of events in advance of the year.

Spreading our attendance across the ones we see as relevant to our business. Some we may attend in person only whilst other we attend with a stand. Given the location of our clients we look to attend, ICE London, iGB Live, WGES, SiGMA, SBC / Casino Beats, an event in Asia, one in Moscow and one in Columbia. This year we are looking at India in particular as we have clients going live there.

How does it feel to be Award Winner of Rising Star in Casino Innovation at the SBC Awards 2019?

For me personally, I cannot take much credit for it, all the hard work was done by the team over the last 7 years. It is immensely satisfying, however, to see the joy and satisfaction on the two Aiste’s faces at the event when we were called out as winners.

Can you tell our readers about what you have planned for this Charity Boxing Event in 2020?

This was Daniel Beard’s idea. He simply asked me to help him and since I am better looking than him, I was a sportsbettingoperator.com

OPPOSITE: xxx xxx xxx xxx xxx xxx xxx xxx

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FEATURE: BETGAMES TV RICHARD HOGG this is a pre-requisite. As it stands and subject to injury the lineup is: Michael Brady (Bede Gaming) vs Tony Plaskow (Blackcow Tech) Mark Woollard (Pragmatic Solutions) vs Bryan Blake (Hexopay) Nick Wright (Gamesys) vs Leon Thomas (Microgaming) Luke Cousins (Koneksi) vs Serget Portnov (Parimatch) Daniel Beard (Partis) vs Vasilije Lekovic (Trustly)

natural fit to announce it at the awards formally. In short, on April 3rd 2020 we are hosting 12 boxers at The Hilton Park Lane in London. All the boxers are amateurs and “industry legends”. SBC are doing all the logistics and Daniel and I are simply promoting it now. All funds raised will go to Rob Dowling’s (of Pentasia fame) Oliver’s Wish Charity. Detail will be out before Xmas.

How did the idea for this charity boxing event come about?

DB: I am patron of Oliver’s Wish and have been looking for a way that our wonderful industry can get involved with the charity in a much larger capacity for a number of years. We have run a plethora of events, such as international rugby matches, marathon running, Iron man races therefore with the rise of popularity with white collar boxing I thought it would be the perfect match.

Who are your boxers and what must they do to prepare for the big night?

Are you looking for more boxers?

All our boxers are from the industry as 34

ABOVE: Above Richard Hogg and BetGames.tv COO, Aistéė Garneviciené

All fighters will be on an intense tenweek training build up camp meaning 3x weekly sessions. At the moment we have all the fighters required but certainly will be open to hearing about back up’s in case of injury.

What charities will be supported and how?

Oliver’s Wish is an umbrella charitable foundation and will be supporting SUDC, Sparks and cystic Fibrosis How can we book a table?!?! What other ways (if any) can the iGaming industry help make this event a huge success?

People can contact RH or DB directly, but we will have a website up via SBC’s own sbcevents.com so of course you can contact them directly. Given the event is likely to sell out very quickly we urge you to book soonest (we have 50 enquiries for tables already). We’d also encourage the industry to look at the sponsorship opportunities available and help us there. We can provide this via the channels above as well.

Why is it so important for the iGaming industry to show their support for sportsbettingoperator.com

FEATURE: BETGAMES TV RICHARD HOGG event like this and what interest have you received so far?

Oliver’s Wish http://www.oliverswish. org.uk is a charity very dear to the gaming industry’s hearts as it was setup by Rob Dowling (Conexus Group) after losing his son Oliver to SIDS a number of years ago.

The iGaming industry is built on friendships and solidarity and we can change children’s life’s by supporting and making sure we raise money and awareness for all the charities supported.

Additionally, from a boxing point of view, it takes a tremendous amount of guts and bravery to stand up in front of the whole industry and fight knowing everyone is watching. Boxing can be a dangerous sport so please do come along and make it a memorable night.

Regulation, a single point across the EU like it was supposed to be would be nice.

Have BetGames.tv a booth at ICE London 2020 and if so what can visitors expect to see?

Indeed we do, we have increased our booth size this year to match our growth where we will be displaying our range of games and inviting all to have a chat and drink with us. On top of this we are having a client party on Feb 5th at the Sky Lounge in London alongside Betradar and Optima.

If you could change anything in the world of gambling what would that be?

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sportsbettingoperator.com

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FEATURE: SPORTS BETTING RADIO

“THE BEST DAMN SPORTS SHOW AROUND” IS READY FOR RE-LAUNCH Featuring “The Coach and the King” Lenny “The Coach” Herron and P.B. King

W

hen it comes to On-Air personalities, there are very few bigger ones than Lenny “The Coach” Herron and P.B. King. They are the larger-than life cohosts of “The Best Damn Sports Show Around.” They have been on hiatus 36

ABOVE: L2R Lenny Herron and P.B. King

as they restructure the show to focus more on Sports Betting. As Herron says, “The show re-tooling is going great. We are a hot commodity and the phones are ringing off the hook.

Its a little bit overwhelming but also tons of fun. Everyone is wanting to be a part of this and wanting to help. So we are taking our time and making sportsbettingoperator.com

FEATURE: SPORTS BETTING RADIO sure we surround ourselves with strong partners who are aligned with our vision.” And what is that vision?

King is quick to point out that they are “Entertainers covering Entertainment in an entertaining way. We Cover, report, and interview all of the top storylines and players in Sports, Music, Film, and Gaming. Our goal is to have as much fun as we can with guests that people want to hear from. We want to disseminate good information and good advice. But most of all we want our listeners to be informed and entertained.”

Player profiling will be a top priority for the show. According to Herron, they will be profiling all the top entertainment figures, especially in the gaming world. “And during the times of the year when it seems everyone is betting on, for example, the NFL resulting in tight odds, our show will also manage to take time to involve games that no one is watching that often provide better value.” King was quick to add, “Yes, we understand that big games generate their own interest, but a good deal of interest and entertainment can be generated on less publicised games as well.”

The dynamic duo consider themselves uniquely qualified for a show like this. According Herron, “we both are avid sports fans, and so no matter how much we work...it never feels like work. We each have a ton of prior experience in entertainment that we both have gained since leaving college, all of which I consider to be big contributing factors in making our Radio Show a success? “For example,” Herron continues, “My Father was on staff with Kenny Rogers and Dolly Parton back in the 70’s and 80’s when they were on top of the entertainment world. So I grew up surrounded by superstars and I am very comfortable in that environment. I went on to travel sportsbettingoperator.com

WE BOTH ARE AVID SPORTS FANS, AND SO NO MATTER HOW MUCH WE WORK...IT NEVER FEELS LIKE WORK. WE EACH HAVE A TON OF PRIOR EXPERIENCE IN ENTERTAINMENT THAT WE BOTH HAVE GAINED SINCE LEAVING COLLEGE, ALL OF WHICH I CONSIDER TO BE BIG CONTRIBUTING FACTORS IN MAKING OUR RADIO SHOW A SUCCESS the globe many times over with some of the biggest acts in the world.

King took a different path. “My background is in operations and I have worked with many sports superstars and multi-gold and multi-platinum winning artists. Together we bring a comfort and familiarity to any situation we are in. But one thing we have in common is that we like to have fun and most of all, we enjoy making others have fun as well.”

One aspect of the show will be a heavy dose of interaction with listeners via phone-in’s, Twitter, and Instagram.

As King puts it, “Nowadays I think fans expect a good deal of interaction..

People want to be engaged and want to feel like they are a part of the show.

Plus we feel like engaged fans are loyal fans. At the end of the day, it really is all about about the fans anyway.

Of course sponsorships make the world go around, but the show is being particular about about who they bring on board. According to Herron, “we 37

FEATURE: SPORTS BETTING RADIO

MY BACKGROUND IS IN OPERATIONS AND I HAVE WORKED WITH MANY SPORTS SUPERSTARS AND MULTI-GOLD AND MULTIPLATINUM WINNING ARTISTS. TOGETHER WE BRING A COMFORT AND FAMILIARITY TO ANY SITUATION WE ARE IN. are in the process of sorting through our options. We are being very careful because we want to make sure it is a

on our staff. But most importantly, this would be another classic example of a good cultural fit. Hosting our show

good cultural fit for both parties. One sponsor we have signed already is an online dating app called DraftMate.

The beta version has been launched and is already in the app store. To our knowledge, it is the only sportsthemed dating app which allows people to connect with the mutual shared passion of sports. That is an excellent example of what we would call a good “cultural fit” for a sponsor.

Another cultural fit involves the studio that the show will call home base. Again, they are reviewing their options as part of the re-tooling. “I think that our show would be a hit at a major Resort Casino” says King.

“First of all, we are always happy and easy to work with. No divas allowed

would be a (relatively) low cost way to have their brand associated with all the top sports, music, gaming, and movie stars. Our attention to odds and sports betting should pay big dividends.

At the end of the day, Casinos are in the same business we are...the Entertainment Business.

The launch date for the re-vamped show should be sometime in late January of 2020. Herron explains, “We are in pre-production now and pretaping various bits and promos. Knock on wood, we are planning our official launch around the Pegasus World Cup at Gulfstream Park in Hallandale Beach, FL. We plan to do a ton of live remotes, interviews, and maybe even host a party or two.”

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sportsbettingoperator.com

FEATURE: ICE LONDON

ICE LONDON Kate Chambers, Managing Director, Clarion Gaming talks to Peter White The show keeps getting bigger numbers of exhibitors and visitors - how do you and your team manage it all?

You are correct, the ICE London brand is experiencing the most successful period in its history. In fact, since we moved from Earls Court to our home at ExCeL London, attendance has increased from 21,336 in 2012, (the last edition held at the Earls Court Exhibition Centre) to 36,093 (2019). Over the same period, the number of exhibitors has increased from 430 to 612, the net floor space has grown from 22,500sqm to 47,500sqm and in 2019 we had visitors from 155 nations – which in itself was a new record. In terms of physical size, ICE 2020 will occupy 39 of the 44 halls at ExCeL London and comprise sportsbettingoperator.com

ABOVE: ICE London 2019

49,500sqm of net floor space. There’s no secret ingredient or magic formula, but it is about having a talented and dedicated team that works extremely hard, that enjoys the industry and that works alongside, and in partnership with, our international community of exhibitors. Our stakeholders put so much effort into making ICE London a success and an awful lot of credit has to go to them. It’s their contribution that makes attending ICE London like ‘Stepping into the Future’.

This year there is the ‘Ampersand VIP Lounge’. Can you explain what members can expect, as well as how to join?

Ampersand is a free-to-join research 39

FEATURE: ICE LONDON one that helps to shape our events and ensure that we keep them on point.

and knowledge sharing initiative for professionals working in the global industry. It was launched to encourage free-flowing, open conversations and to brainstorm how to address the stand out challenges and opportunities the industry faces. The feedback that we get from Ampersand ensures that we are in touch with the real issues impacting all of our gaming verticals, which in turn means that we keep content fresh and relevant across all of our brands, not least ICE London/ICE VOX. Ampersand members receive a number of important benefits, including access to exclusive Ampersand drinks receptions, which are held alongside our global shows, entry to Ampersand Lounges at the ICE and iGB events and invitations to participate in the Ampersand Assemblies. Twice a year, Ampersand surveys its global membership base to gather intelligence on the biggest challenges in gaming.

Results are then independently analysed and delivered in authoritative Ampersand State-of-Play Reports packed with business critical insights.

ICE London represents the biggest Ampersand gathering of the year, by which time we hope to have increased membership to over 3,000. Ampersand is a really progressive initiative and 40

ABOVE: ICE London 2019

Responsible Gaming has had an increasing level of coverage in mainstream media worldwide over the last 18 months. What is ICE London providing to the industry on the exhibition floor?

We launched the Consumer Protection Zone (CPZ) in 2018 and the third CPZ will be over 30 percent bigger than its predecessor and located in a more prominent position next to the VIP Lounge in N1 at ExCeL London. The dialogue that we enjoy with the industry through initiatives such as Ampersand confirms how high up the agenda social responsibility is. The CPZ feature is an important part of the ICE London experience for many of our influential stakeholders and situating it next to the VIP Lounge will lead to more important connections being established between our charity partners and distinguished visitors. As well as hosting educational sessions at the CPZ, we will be working with exhibitors to arrange a programme of pop-up talks throughout the show, delivering a clear message that consumer protection is at the heart of the entire industry, and not just a feature on an exhibition floor. The developments have been extremely well received by sponsoring organisations and charities alike, with Lee Willows, cofounder and chief executive of YGAM, describing it as an exceptional platform to raise awareness.

This year we also have the ICE Esports Arena - can you provide visitors an insight into what they can expect to see?

In November, we confirmed that we would be co-hosting a $250,000 US prize money professional eSports tournament, which will be broadcast live to an online global audience in sportsbettingoperator.com

FEATURE: ICE LONDON excess of 5 million. This ground-breaking initiative, which is being undertaken in partnership with GG.Bet, will comprise an 800sqm state-of-the-art Esports Arena featuring a custom built stage, an educational auditorium, commentator ICE box, partner data.bet lounge, a themed bar and a betting hatch allowing players to ‘bet’ ICE and GG.Bet dollars in order to simulate eSports wagering. ICE London’s Esports Arena will provide visitors with the practical tool kit and strategic insights to take full commercial advantage of what is one of the industry’s fastest growing wagering sectors. The Esports Arena will be the one-stop shop to learn and experience everything about eSports and introduce a whole new world of bettors. Expert presentations will explain how to attract an audience that has perhaps previously been difficult to engage with. There will also be ‘how-to’ guides focussing on generating revenue and maximising ROI. We will have eight of the best Counter Strike teams in the world competing, playing real-time games which will be streamed to fans around the world, all of which will be live on the ICE London show floor. For land-based operators interested in how to produce a tournament, we will be effectively building an authentic eSports show live in front of them. Highlighting the level of production necessary to deliver a tournament on this scale, the Arena will allow delegates to go behind the scenes with our production team, as well as providing player interviews throughout the competition, showcase broadcast editing insights and deliver tournament structure and data/performance analysis. The educational auditorium will feature a full schedule of presentations on topics such as how to use eSports data to create odds, eSports recruiting and eSports wagering. It’s going to be one of the must-attend features at ICE London. It’s exactly what a leading sportsbettingoperator.com

RIGHT: Kate Chambers, Managing Director, Clarion Gaming

technology event should be doing and that’s enabling its delegates to ‘dive into the future’.

ICE VOX has proved both very popular and highly effective at gaining an impressive standard in speaker. What can delegates expect this year?

We have an amended format for the 2020 edition which runs across 3-4 February. The changes, which have been undertaken in consultation with delegates and members of Ampersand, include the addition of a second day to the International Casino Conference focussing on hospitality technology and innovation. There will also be an ICE VOX Keynote which will take place at the beginning of both conference days.

On a practical note, we have acted on market feedback to use single-space areas to improve sound, with all tracks taking place in the same location. In addition, the first floor of the Platinum Suite at ExCeL London will be set aside as a dedicated space where delegates can have client meetings away from the bustle of the show floor and to network with other senior members of the international gaming industry, including 41

FEATURE: ICE LONDON

legislators and regulators. Attracting delegates from over 80 countries, ICE VOX remains the most international conference in the world, enabling it to set the future agenda for the entire global industry.

In terms of how the agenda is looking currently, the most important judges for us are our stakeholders and, while the team here have invested a great deal of time and effort in building a programme of ICE VOX conferences – and while I’m proud of the quality of content that the team have lined up for 2020, what I’m really looking forward to is the feedback from our delegates, speakers and sponsors. That, for us, is what underpins everything we do. Our business is in serving the Gaming industry and, in keeping the ICE VOX programme at current as possible, I expect there to be an incredible amount of debate and what can only be described as a buzz when you get the right mix of speakers and content – the effect is something you can quite literally see: delegates leaning forwards on their chairs; reams of notes being taken, and, importantly, a host of attendees swapping stories over a coffee. That’s what I love about our conferences and something I know resonates with our delegates.

ICE London attracts visitors worldwide often looking for new entertaining gaming options and one sector that 42

ABOVE: ICE London 2019

has proven its universal popularity over many decades is Bingo. What can visitors expect to see at the Bingo Pavilion 2020?

We introduced the Bingo Pavilion in collaboration with the Bingo Association and Bingo Life magazine. ICE London is about the entire gaming industry and not simply one or two verticals.

Working with the team at The Bingo Association, we have been able to create a focal point for the bricks and mortar industry and a place to network and engage with leading innovators in the bingo space. Our role as organisers of the world’s most comprehensive and international gaming event is to provide a platform for all sectors of the gaming industry and the Bingo Pavilion is a case in point. The Bingo Pavilion will feature some of the industry’s most accomplished innovators and I am certain that, once again, it will be one of the most popular features on the show floor.

How would you summarise the appeal of ICE London – why should someone attend?

First of all, the scale of ICE London – which, in 2020, will occupy 39 of the 44 halls at ExCeL London – shows that it is an event that the industry takes extremely seriously. What this means in practice is that exhibitors use ICE London as the platform to unveil new technologies and to debut products. Our exhibitors, which cover every gaming vertical, really make ICE London special and everything that we undertake to give the brand added sparkle and intrigue revolves around what visitors will see and experience on the show floor. We have introduced a new format and new tracks for ICE VOX, our Totally Gaming Academy will be providing taster sessions of its courses and we have introduced major new features, not least the Esports sportsbettingoperator.com

FEATURE: ICE LONDON Arena that will co-host a $250,000 US prize money tournament. Add to this our Pitch ICE initiative for fledgling businesses and upwards of 70 first-time exhibitors and you have an incredibly exciting, vibrant and best-in-breed gaming technology proposition. The thread that ties the entire ICE London proposition together is the emphasis on the future. The 35,000-plus visitors who attend ICE London, many of them travelling thousands of miles to be with us, aren’t interested in the past – they want an insight to the future.

Whether delegates are interested in future technology, future regulation, future trends, future lifestyle changes, opportunities or challenges - ICE London is the place to be. Other events may be more comfortable with the status quo, but our passion, and that of our stakeholders, is to embrace what’s next; they choose to travel to London every February for a glimpse into the future.

ABOVE: ICE Vox lineup of speakers

BELOW: ICE eSports Arena

portfolio delivers a particular set of events tailored for the exciting affiliate market, including the iGB Affiliate Conferences, with of course iGB Affiliate London taking place alongside ICE London, and the icing on the cake that is iGB Live!, an event which has to be seen to be believed. These all make up the ingredients for the perfect calendar of Gaming events.

How is the 2020 conference programme shaping up?

We’re in a fortunate position at Clarion Gaming where the entire team believes in our shared values – one of which is that we help to build dreams. That may sound a little lofty, but I truly believe that, when you care about your audience and the industry they occupy, you’re in it for the long-term, you want to see your customers grow – and a crucial ingredient to that is the ability to listen. We talk to the industry a lot, not just through our Ampersand initiative, and that lets us see clearly where there are needs for new events. This is precisely the reason why ICE Africa and, then, ICE North America have been such successful launches – and I’m very much looking forward to our first ever ICE Asia in June, in cooperation with our friends at SiGMA. And that’s just our ICE events. Our iGaming Business sportsbettingoperator.com

INFORMATION ICE London (4-6 February 2020, ExCeL London, UK) and ICE VOX (3-4 February) represent the world’s largest gaming technology and learning event. Featuring world-leading innovators drawn from the betting, bingo, ca-sino, eSports, lottery, mobile, online, payments, social, sports betting and street gaming sectors, ICE London provides unique access to the entire gaming universe. To access the 600+ international exhibitors who will be at ExCeL London for three days of business development and learning, register for tickets at: www.icelondon.uk.com

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FEATURE: CASINOBEATS MALTA

Kresimir Spajic, SVP online gaming Hard Rock; Bill Pascrell III, Strategic Advisor/Public & Government Affairs, Princeton Public Affairs Group; Stefan Hamann, Advisor, Partiss Solutions; Johan Styren, CEO & co-founder, Dilanti Media; Dominic Mansour, CEO, Bragg Gaming

WELCOME TO THE HEART OF THE MEDITERRANEAN Stewart Darkin, Managing Director, CasinoBeats, SBC talks to Bill Healey What is new at CasinoBeats Malta 2020?

The inaugural CasinoBeats Malta in 2019 was a one-day event that proved hugely popular with delegates from both the Maltese igaming industry and further afield. So we’ve decided to build on that success by scaling it up to a full three-day conference and exhibition, which will take place at the InterContinental Malta in St Julian’s from 24-26 March.

A key part of that is a comprehensive agenda, with a speaker line-up of more than 100 industry leaders sharing insights on the issues shaping the future of the igaming industry. The exhibition floor will be 44

much bigger than at the first edition, with 40 leading suppliers showcasing their latest offerings, along with meeting areas and networking lounges to make it easy for people to discuss deals and make new contacts.

And as people who travel to attend these types of industry events want to enjoy themselves, we’ve also organised some evening networking parties in stylish venues, all of which are included with the ticket. We know from previous SBC events that delegates really value these opportunities, both as social occasions to catch-up with existing industry contacts and because they provide a chance to meet key decision makers in a relaxed environment. sportsbettingoperator.com

FEATURE: CASINOBEATS MALTA

What are some of the hot topics that will be addressed during the conference?

The team behind our CasinoBeats. com news website have an in-depth knowledge of the key issues and opportunities in the sector, as they are in regular contact with leading figures in the industry. We’ve used that knowledge to craft an agenda that has lots to interest both operators and suppliers.

The main themes are opportunities for the gaming industry in 2020, regulation and compliance, the future of slots, payments, and human resources. There are multiple sessions on each of those themes, looking at specific issues such as the prospects for live casino, the evolution of state lotteries online, innovation in slots, regulation in Malta, the casino opportunity in Japan, the sixth antimoney laundering directive, and the workplace culture in the igaming sector.

What do you hope attendees take away from CasinoBeats Malta 2020?

is a secondary consideration to the exhibition, but the conference element is central to every SBC event.

We know attendees find the knowledge shared by our expert speakers to be invaluable, so we have put huge effort into compiling a lineup packed with industry leaders. It includes senior staff from Videoslots, Genting, Betsson, William Hill, Kindred, Royal Panda, LV BET, GVC, LeoVegas,

As with all our events, we are sure delegates will go home from CasinoBeats Malta having gained some valuable insights on issues that directly influence their business and job role.

At a lot of trade shows, the content

Luckia and Dunder, among many others.

As well as learning something, we hope delegates will also make lots of useful new contacts. From specific networking events to informal

ABOVE: Stewart Darkin, Managing Director CasinoBeats, SBC

Tobias Svensen, CEO, CasinoGrounds; Ewa Kazmierska, COO, LVBet; Melvin Ritsema, Managing Director - Royal Panda; Chris Looney, Commercial Director, Red Tiger Gaming; Daniel Burns, Board Advisor, Big Time Gaming; Partner at Oakvale Capital sportsbettingoperator.com

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FEATURE: CASINOBEATS MALTA meeting lounges on the exhibition floor, we make it as easy as possible for attendees to meet the people they want and to build business relationships.

Dennis Algreen, Marketing Director, SBC

WHAT ARE THE TOP THREE THINGS TO DO AT CASINOBEATS MALTA 2020?

The 1,500 attendees will all have different priorities so it is difficult to pick out highlights for everyone, but the things I’m most looking forward to are: 1. The two leaders panels both look set to be fascinating. The first, on day one of the conference, will see a panel of operator CEOs and business leaders analysing the future of the online slots sector, while the second the following day will see a similar group examining the main opportunities in the wider gaming industry, considering poker, lottery, bingo and live casino.

How are the exhibitors and sponsors participating in the development of CasinoBeats Malta?

No event of this sort can thrive without being genuinely customer focused, which means developing strong relationships with the leading players in the industry. Through CasinoBeats. com, our London-based igaming trade shows and previous events in Malta, we have managed to build great relationships with key figures in both the Maltese and wider international casino sector.

They have proved eager to participate in CasinoBeats Malta 2020 as speakers, exhibitors and sponsors, which has helped us to ensure that we formulate an offer that is exactly right for delegates, in terms of content, networking and business opportunities. The input from these companies is crucial to the success of the event. Indeed, we have consulted many of these stakeholders to shape the agenda.

MALTA

2. Seeing the latest innovations and games from the companies taking part in the exhibition. We have a selection of high-profile, award-winning suppliers already booked in, together with some smaller businesses that will be introducing unique products to the international igaming market.

3. The official networking party at Infinity by Hugo’s on the Wednesday night will be a spectacular event, with great food and drink, and the opportunity to meet important industry decision makers. All in a stunning rooftop setting overlooking the Mediterranean.

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sportsbettingoperator.com

FEATURE: BETTING ON SPORTS AMERICA

BETTING ON SPORTS 2020 Dennis Algreen, Marketing Director, SBC talks to Bill Healey Why are trade shows important in our industry?

Trade shows can be a great opportunity for companies in any B2B market, but they are particularly effective in the sports betting and gaming industries. For exhibitors and sponsors the rationale is simple, SBC’s events are a chance to meet decision makers it would be difficult to reach via telephone, email marketing etc and to present new products and services to an engaged audience.

For senior executives from operators, the events serve a different purpose. Not only can they view all the latest technology over just a couple of days and meet some of the leading affiliates, they also have the chance to learn from their competition. The type of knowledge sharing that is a feature

our first ever U.S. event and even we were surprised by how successful it was, with more than 1,500 delegates descending on Meadowlands Exposition Center to learn more about the exciting opportunities in this new industry. Our approach for 2020 is to make the event bigger and better than the inaugural one!

That means eight conference tracks focusing on the key regulatory and operational issues influencing the growth of the U.S. sports betting industry, with state-by-state legislative developments, marketing, tribal gaming lotteries, technology and investment among the topics on the agenda.

The speaker roster will probably be the strongest ever seen at a dedicated sports betting trade show,

of the conference element of our trade shows is not really available anywhere else.

That is crucial for a young and fast-growing market such as the U.S. sports betting sector. At the first Betting on Sports America in 2019, we saw a huge transfer of knowledge from experienced European operators to their eager-to-learn newer U.S. counterparts, enabling them to make better-informed decisions about their businesses and to avoid some of the pitfalls seen in regulated markets on this side of the Atlantic.

with 200 experts from operators, regulators, suppliers, investment companies, state lotteries, the media and industry associations. It features senior staff from William Hill, Mohegan Sun, Penn National Gaming, Caesars, FanDuel, PointsBet, Rush Street Interactive, Hard Rock, Nevada Gaming Commission, MLB, NBA, VISA and SunTrust Robinson Humphrey.

Accompanying this will be a 61,000 sq ft expo, with more than 50 suppliers showcasing their latest innovations.

We had great feedback from the companies who exhibited in 2019, with most reporting that they had secured business off the back of the event, so we’re expecting the show floor to be packed with buyers again.

What is new at Betting on Sports America 2020?

Betting on Sports America 2019 was sportsbettingoperator.com

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FEATURE: BETTING ON SPORTS AMERICA We also have the Class of 2020 Sports Betting Hall of Fame induction ceremony, together with a number of evening networking parties in upscale Manhattan and New Jersey venues that will help attendees to make valuable new contacts in an informal setting. All of this is included with any delegate pass.

What do you hope attendees take away from Betting on Sports America

WHAT FIVE THINGS SHOULD DELEGATES LOOK OUT FOR AT BETTING ON SPORTS AMERICA 2020?

1. The comprehensive conference agenda genuinely has something for everyone in the industry established operators, lotteries and tribes looking to take their first step into the market, regulators, investors, sports leagues, affiliates, suppliers and the media will all find something to interest them.

The CEO panel on the future of the U.S. market and the Player Power session with professional gamblers giving their views on regulated betting markets look set to be particular standouts.

2. The Hall of Fame induction ceremony promises to be a great occasion, with Roxy Roxborough, Ray Lesniak, Jay Rood, Victor Salerno and Sara Slane all taking their rightful place alongside some of the giants of the industry.

3. As part of the investment track, we’ve introduced a pitch competition in partnership with SeventySix Capital, Sports Gaming Investment Fund and Stadia Ventures. This should be a showcase for some fantastic ideas and ambitious entrepreneurs.

4. S BC are renowned for our networking parties and we have some special events planned for BOSA 2020. Delegates should definitely keep their evenings free to make sure they can attend!

2020?

As at all SBC events, our aim is to ensure that all delegates learn something valuable and relevant to their business, as well as make numerous useful contacts. The indepth conference agenda, high-level speakers and extensive networking opportunities on offer will ensure that happens. Use of all the networking facilities at the venue and entry to the evening networking parties are both included with the event pass, so everyone can take advantage of them.

Last year, we wanted to help entrants to the U.S. market learn from the experiences of established European operators and we hope to do the same again. But this time we’ll also have all the success stories from the phenomenal last 12 months in the New Jersey market for delegates to be inspired by.

Can you nominate a specific personal highlight from Betting on Sports America 2019?

I should say something businessrelated here, as the event was so successful. From the opening party at Jay Z’s 40/40 Club to a speaker roster that featured the likes of New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy, there was no shortage of highlights.

But as a Danish NFL fan, meeting Morten Andersen was a real thrill. The legendary kicker was one of a number of high-profile former athletes who spoke at the event and he gave a great keynote address on the second day.

5. The expo element at our events is always fascinating, so attendees can look forward to seeing the latest platform technology, data solutions and affiliate innovations all in one place.

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sportsbettingoperator.com

NEWS: 1XBET

THE FUN, FAST AND FISCAL NEEDS OF MILLENNIALS ARE NO JOKE, CLAIMS 1XBET

D

elivering entertaining, trendy and disruptive gaming opportunities is “crucial for a generation that is used to not taking everything too seriously”, stated the 1xBet team when discussing how bookmakers can attract and hold the interest of the misunderstood millennial market. Highlighting the importance of mobile apps, instant data and unique bets on Brexit, the team explores why betting’s new blood is the injection of fun the industry needs…

The younger millennial market is a key focus for casinos and bookmakers in the US, Asia, Africa and beyond, how is 1xBet targeting this segment of players responsibly?

We are carefully studying this segment of the audience and paying special attention to it. The company understands that the time of the millennials has emerged, which means that it is not only important for the future, but also the present. This is a generation that is used to acting and is not afraid to take responsibility, therefore it is vital to build an effective communication strategy with them. Being open, giving all relevant information for decision making, together with using social networks and other communication channels are the most effective ways to communicate with millennials. sportsbettingoperator.com

Through all these channels, we can offer both potential and existing customers diversified content. And let’s also not forget that after millennials, when the so-called Generation Z are fully on their feet, they will be even more mobile in every sense.

On paper it often appears millennial players are swayed by trends and a quest for the ‘next big thing’, what can companies do to stay ahead of the curve whilst remaining true to their core player base?

There are two main routes that we use. The first is to keep abreast of all possible new products, to participate in various conferences, seminars and other events, while also exchanging experiences with colleagues and partners. The second is to set trends yourself by conducting deep market surveys and testing new products in different markets before launching them on a global scale. We combine 49

NEWS: 1XBET these methods and intend to refine them further in the future.

Speaking specifically about the demands of millennials, we highlight a variety of ways to interest them. Firstly, the presentation of material in a fun, colourful, multimedia form is crucial for a generation that is used to not taking everything too seriously. Secondly, with Esports betting, which is becoming more diverse and gaining popularity.

Thirdly, by providing unusual special bets on a variety of things that interest millennials - from talent shows and TV shows to the election of the US President and Brexit.

Where do you see the next big wins in terms of keeping fans loyal and how does your team balance creating engaging content with revenue?

1xBet offers a truly unique betting portfolio, which simply has no equal in the number of events. High odds also contribute to customer loyalty.

Millennials specifically also seek the personalization of proposals, as well as customisable betting options.

At this stage it’s obvious that every self-respecting bookmaker should have a mobile application. We have done everything so that our app is on par with the web version of the 1xBet website. Therefore, our customers always have the opportunity to place bets and have access to the data which interests them. Live betting and online broadcasting of matches are both particularly popular from our experience.

Finally, it is important to always be in touch with customers - that’s why our support service works 24/7, and our employees carefully monitor all possible channels for submitting information about 1xBet. Together, this ensures a steady growth in the audience of brand fans - and, therefore, 1xBet profit.

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Gaming is one of the earliest adopters of new technology - can the advances pioneered by gaming be translated to new avenues for players like we’ve seen with esports, live casinos, etc. and if so what does the next new gaming sector look like to you?

In 2019, it is impossible to compete if you do not use the most advanced technologies. This applies not only in gaming and betting, but in all other sectors as well. Technology can become antiquated quickly in almost any industry.

An exciting development is the unique interaction between the most popular sports and betting. For example, in American leagues, it’s possible during the broadcast to bet on how the attack of a basketball team will end. All this occurs while seeing the statistics of previous attacks from a particular zone appear on the screen. Such integrations offer unique opportunities for bookmakers and players.

Which sectors outside gaming do you admire in terms of their approach to the millennial market and how can the gaming industry adopt these ideas into its strategy?

Millennials really appreciate new technologies, which is why the IT sector is constantly evolving and offers them more and more new developments, services and products.

Forward-thinking IT companies are constantly striving to surprise, because today millennials have access to an increasing number of different technological innovations.

Of course, some gambling companies are following in these footsteps.

Those of them that can constantly offer technological innovations for the convenience and comfort of users will achieve greater success among millennials. sportsbettingoperator.com

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WE DON’T PLAY DIRTY

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