NOV DEC 2021
Editor's Letter
Have you ever wondered what happens when you pay for something? I'm talking about the millions of micro transactions occuring in the blink of an eye: where your money goes, how it gets there, who it passes through and how much technology was involved in that complex-yet-immediate process.
Maybe you haven't. But the folks at Global Gaming Award-winner Sightline Payments, Shortlisted nominee Global Payments and other companies of a similar ilk certainly have. Payments has become an increasingly influential aspect of the gaming sector over the years and, as such, we are closing our final issue of 2021 with an in-depth focus on the topic.
It's become well publicised by now that, following the Covid-19 pandemic, cashless gaming has soared - especially so in the US. In this issue's cover feature, we delve further into cashless, while also touching on main payments themes such as variety and security. In short, everything you to need to know.
And what more do we have to entice your heavily sought-after attention, when you could quite easily be watching Squid Game on Netix, listening to an audiobook or hitting re-opened casinos, bars and restaurants the world across? Well, we like to think we've got every major area covered: remote work or returning to the office? The future of esports betting? The latest must-know trends in data and compliance? As always, we've got your back.
Elsewhere, Gambling Insider brings you an exclusive interview with Betting & Gaming Council Chair Brigid Simmonds, market focuses on the Netherlands, Spain, and the UK, and there's also a Q&A with a mysterious chap who goes simply by the name of 'The Premium.'
On a more social note, how wonderful to be back at industry tradeshows, physically meeting people – both new and old faces - generating new business and sharing stories about lockdowns being a thing of the past. The iGB Live! Show in Amsterdam brought a feeling of nostalgia but, with SiGMA around the corner in Malta and ICE London just a few months away, we'll soon all be 100% accustomed to being back in the company of our gaming peers and colleagues.
At SiGMA, you are encouraged to pick up a copy of our Malta Focus magazine, or our Gambling Insider and Gaming America titles at other shows. You won't regret it.
Global Gaming Awards London 2022 Return In-person
The time has come to welcome the most prestigious Awards ceremony in the gambling industry back to London
Payments in Kind
Peter Lynch delves further into the world of gaming payments with the help of several payments specialists, who provide their expert analysis in this booming sector
2021: The Year In Review
Gambling Insider Editor Tim Poole looks back on 12 months that accelerated the winds of change, brought players back to casinos en masse and saw online gambling’s emphatic surge continue
2022: What Lies Ahead?
Is it a bird? Is it a plane? No, it’s Tim Poole with Gambling Insider’s 2022 industry predictions
Remote Revolution
As working life returns to a state of normality, the approach to remote vs office life has evolved dramatically. Isabella Aslam speaks to Malta-based CSB Group’s Head of Human Resources and Employment Advisory Services, Dr. Elaine Dutton
Disruptions and User Experience
Yggdrasil CEO Fredrik Elmqvist speaks to Tim Poole about the evolution of gaming, the importance of user experience and how key disruptions have impacted the industry
Big Question
After enjoying rapid growth throughout the early stages of the pandemic, what does the future look like for esports?
All You Need is Balance
Brigid Simmonds, Chair of the Betting & Gaming Council, catches up with Tim Poole to discuss how alcohol and gambling compare, advertising, social media abuse and driving industry change
Helicopter View
With the departure of former CEO Richard McGuire and CFO Tom Hearne, Gambling Insider speaks to Sportech’s new leadership, CEO Andrew Lindley and CFO Nicola Rowlands
Regulation; Innovation
Stephanie Attias, CEO and Founder of Regulate-Me.com, discusses the regulatory challenges and innovative opportunities facing iGaming payments
Casinosaurus Rex
Regular Gambling Insider contributor Paul Sculpher assesses what would happen if a UK casino today were to be run the same way as in 1994
A Messy Start, But A Start Nonetheless
Gambling Insider contributor and Founder of Gaming in Holland Willem van Oort discusses the convoluted launch of the regulated Dutch online gaming market. After many years of political wrangling, it opened on 1 October, but not without some unexpected and perhaps unwelcome last-minute surprises...
M&A in the Spanish Gambling Market
Regular Gambling Insider contributor Xavi Muñoz Bellvehí ([email protected]), gaming lawyer at Spanish law firm ECIJA, analyses the M&A options for entering the Spanish gambling market
Operating at Scale
David Brohan, Gaming & Leisure Analyst at Goodbody, says 888 Holdings’ acquisition of William Hill’s international assets highlights the trends dominating today’s gambling market
The Four P’s Plus of Gaming Marketing
Online marketing and iGaming veteran Alex Czajkowski provides a gaming industry twist to the four P’s of marketing
Not Just A Dream
Part two of Alex Czajkowski’s column discusses personalised, scalable and automated content
Payment Orchestration
Mark Patrick, Global Head of Payments, CellPoint Digital, argues that the future of iGaming payments is local
Beware of Vanity Metrics
Eriks Petersons, Digital Transformation Director at Ciklum, discusses how iGaming businesses can move forward via the power of data
Roundtable: Data and Compliance
Industry leaders from Continent 8 Technologies, Internet Vikings and W2 discuss compliance risks within gaming, as well as the storage and protection of data, with Peter Lynch
“Money Talks”
Mystery man, The Premium, talks with Isabella Aslam about his sports betting consultant service, high customer returns, his celebrity persona and why he will never share his true identity...
A White Paper, Not A White Flag
Lee Richardson MBA, Gaming Economics CEO and Co-Founder of the Big Betting Balagan, discusses the upcoming UK Gambling Act review
Ukranian Gaming: A Debut Year
Andrey Astapov, Managing Partner at Eterna Law, assesses Ukraine’s first year of legalised gambling
The Supply Chain
Interblock CEO John Connelly speaks to Gambling Insider about continuing the supplier’s growth, despite pandemic-enforced obstacles
Leveraging Real-time Technology
Robert Filić, Director of Player Engagement Platform at Bragg Gaming-owned Oryx Gaming, discusses casino experiences, real-time data and boosting engagement levels
Revenue Sharing Business Models
NSoft CFO Igor Marković writes exclusively for Gambling Insider, delivering insight into revenue sharing business models in the betting industry
Final World. 2021: Closing Remarks
RavenTrack Managing Director Adam Rowley reflects on 2021 within iGaming, and looks ahead to 2022 for both operators and affiliates
