Spectrum Gaming Michael Pollock, Managing Director, Spectrum Gaming Group Interview for Sports Betting Operator by Bill Healey

SPECTRUM GAMING

Michael Pollock, Managing Director, Spectrum Gaming Group Interview for Sports Betting Operator by Bill Healey

hrough its twenty eight

Tyears consulting in the ever-evolving gambling industry, the Spectrum Gaming Group has continued its global growth advising both public and private sector clients. In our chat with the firm’s Managing DIrector, Michael Pollock, he takes us through their projects in casino gambling, sports betting and igaming.

Can we commence this interview with a brief introduction to Spectrum Gaming Group? Certainly. Spectrum Gaming Group is a non-partisan consultancy that specializes in the economics, regulation and policy of legalized gambling worldwide. We have

ABOVE: Michael Pollock Managing Director, Spectrum Gaming Group provided independent research and professional services to public- and private-sector clients since 1993. We have worked in 40 US states and territories and in 48 countries on six continents. Our clients include 22 US state and territory governments, six national governments, 21 Native American entities, numerous gaming companies (national and international) of all sizes, suppliers, lotteries, financial institutions, developers and other gaming-related entities.

Can you explain to readers the outline details of the New York Gaming Report? This is one of many comprehensive reports that Spectrum has produced for a variety of states and countries.

In 2019, the New York State Gaming Commission retained Spectrum to undertake a comprehensive, statewide gaming study that forecast the potential of casinos in New York City and digital sports betting, forecast the potential of existing gaming without expansion, assessed the current and prospective economic impacts of the gaming industry, provided recommendations on gaming-tax policy, examined the social impacts of expanded gaming, and recommended changes regarding the distribution of horse-racing revenue and live-racing requirements.

Sports Betting is clearly an area that Spectrum Gaming has a lot of invested expert consultants. What are the main areas that the organisation has assisted Sports Betting Operators in recent years? In 2018, prior to the major decision by the US Supreme Court that overturned rules that limited legal sports betting, Spectrum spotted an emerging trend and formed the Spectrum Gaming Sports Group to address a variety of issues related to the emerging legalization of sports betting. Since its formation, our Sports Group has performed multiple analyses, including:

• Providing market projections and regulatory insights and guidance for the Puerto Rico Fiscal Agency and Financial Advisory Authority; the Governor cited our report in announcing sports betting legislation (2019)

• Undertaking an independent analysis/business case of the economic impacts of regulating and operating sports betting through the DC Lottery (2018) • Projecting the size of the prospective sports betting market in

Arkansas (2018), District of Columbia (2019), Georgia (2019), Louisiana (2019), North Carolina (2019) and

New York (2020)

• Advising National Basketball

Association, Major League Baseball with financial analysis and policy implications of sports betting in the

United States (2018)

• Undertaking a California gaming tribe with statewide and local market sports-betting market projections if sports betting were offered at landbased facilities and online (2018)

• Writing the RFP for Rhode Island

Lottery regarding requirements and selection of sports betting service provider (2018)

How can you get hold of a copy of the Spectrum Gaming Sports Betting Report? The report is publicly available, and can be found here: https://gaming.ny.gov/ pdf/Spectrum%20New%20York%20 Gaming%20Study%20Main%20 Report,%20Final.pdf

How would you compare the landbased casino market of today to the one you first joined? The casino industry in the United States has enjoyed remarkable growth over a period of roughly four decades and now includes approximately 1,000 casinos and revenues in excess of US$80 billion. The industry has certainly evolved in its offerings as well, and now includes emerging digital verticals in sports betting and igaming. The most notable change has been in the growth of non-gaming revenue streams, including lodging, dining, entertainment and conventions and meetings. They

are no longer afterthoughts, but are now central to the business model. The most notable static area has been a relentless commitment to effective regulation. The industry’s success depends on public acceptance of its products, and that has not changed, nor do I expect that it ever will.

What do you think the secret of good collaboration is? In any endeavour, the secret to good collaboration is a not-so-secret focus on melding respective strengths. The casino industry has done this, as land-based casinos have cooperated and collaborated with digital B2B providers to create win-win situations. Such collaborations naturally require a willingness for all partners to recognize that they cannot do it all by themselves, and must recognize that they must yield to partners who are better at supplying certain services. How is Spectrum Gaming assisting the gaming industry through this crisis? Interestingly, we have found that demand has increased for certain services, most notably the need to analyse trends in digital gaming, most notably determining how gaming operators can augment and, in certain instances, replaced their physical visitors with virtual visitors who come in through digital doorways. At the same time, we have been formally and informally advising governments as to how gaming can – and cannot – be the solution to their own fiscal problems. The most important lesson we try to impart is: Gaming is, by definition, a long-term solution. Be very wary of applying a long-term solution to a short-term problem, such as filling an immediate fiscal gap. The solution would outlast the problem, and that needs to be fully considered.

TOTAL DESIGN WORKS FOR YOUR EVENT

We offer the design and print for various different promotional material that you will need for the next event you exhibit at

Contact us today to discuss your requirements

• Brochures • Leaflets • Roller Banners • Pop Up Counters • Pop Up Exhibition Stands • Flags • Gazebos

TOTALDESIGNWORKS

0330 223 0550 info@totaldesignworks.com 34-36 High Road, London E18 2QL www.totaldesignworks.com