SEPT OCT 2022
Editor's Letter
It is that time of the year again: network time, pitch time, partnership time and maybe even M&A time. I'll stop short of saying party time á la Joey Tribbiani. Although, I'm sure plenty of our readers will grace the industry networking scene at G2E Las Vegas - or any other show you're attending over the next few months.
With so much of our sector heading to Las Vegas for the trade show, there is of course a much larger migration to Las Vegas and the wider North American market in progress, on an industry-wide scale. That's why our main theme for the September/October edition is Coming to America, addressing this migration from a 360-degree viewpoint: the supply side, the operator view and the affiliate take.
On our cover, Interblock Global CEO John Connelly is symbolically welcoming you to G2E and the American market. In our exclusive interview with the industry veteran, he talks us through how Interblock went from a European table game supplier to a global company with a US hub. Joining him are suppliers Yggdrasil, BetConstruct, Relax Gaming and Kambi, operators Betfred and Kindred Group, consultancy Fast Offshore and affiliate BestOdds.
It's a wide-reaching topic, so we've provided as comprehensive an outlook as we can on the European firms looking to tackle the North American market in the coming months and years: how the market will pan out, the pitfalls to avoid and more.
Earlier in the magazine, we celebrate the winners of our inaugural Global Gaming Awards Asia, with the Global Gaming Awards Las Vegas also set to take place during G2E week. Asia's growth is not lost on this particular Editor so, while we have a heavy US focus in this issue, expect more on the Asia-Pacific region in the November/December edition of the magazine.
Elsewhere in the issue, I'd like to single out industry experts Gustaf Hoffstedt and Alex Czajkowski for their best articles yet; the former arguing against state-run gambling companies, the latter arguing in favour of penny slots in Las Vegas.
Dr Joerg Hofmann rounds off the magazine in our Final Word section with - a hopefully promising in the long term – regulatory update in Germany. We also have a Product Review section packed with land-based offerings, and a UK horseracing section featuring industry veterans Lee Richardson and Clive Cottrell. While we hope you enjoy G2E, we know you'll enjoy reading!
Life after M&A
Pariplay CCO Enrico Bradamante speaks to the GI Huddle about its recent acquisition by NeoGames, finding the right balance in Europe and its aims for the ever-growing North American market.
Global Gaming Awards Asia 2022: Winners revealed
The winners of the inaugural Global Gaming Awards Asia have been revealed. A virtual event in its first year, the Awards recognise the efforts of operators and suppliers working in the Asia-Pacific region.
Coming to America
Interblock Global CEO John Connelly speaks to Gambling Insider Editor Tim Poole about the key factors a gambling company has to consider when moving from Europe to the US. It's a journey many will emulate in the coming months and years.
The supplier story so far
Gambling Insider speaks with leading executives from Relax Gaming, BetConstruct, Kambi and Yggdrasil to hear how European suppliers are progressing so far in North America.
Beware the shake out
Stephen Crystal, Head of North America Development for Betfred, speaks to Gambling Insider about the operator’s migration from Europe to the US, and how the brand hopes to achieve long-term success there.
Uniting a fragmented market
Liv Biesemans, Group Deputy General Counsel at Kindred Group, discusses Kindred's development in the US via its flagship Unibet brand.
The nation’s second-favourite betting sport
Lee Richardson MBA, CEO of Gaming Economics and regular Gambling Insider contributor, addresses the overall state of horseracing in the UK, which is facing a critical juncture ahead of the Gambling Act review
The American CHALLENGE: An affiliate’s take
BestOdds Co-Founder Will Armitage discusses the challenges European affiliates face moving into different US markets
The consultant’s viewpoint
Ron Mendelson of iGaming consultancy Fast Offshore outlines how European operators have fared to date in the US market; in particular, zoning in on industry giants Flutter, bet365 and Entain
Looking ahead to G2E 2022
Gambling Insider previews the highly anticipated G2E 2022, which takes place at The Venetian Expo in Las Vegas this October.
Big Question: How have companies developed risk management strategies to reduce live trading debt?
We asked Jeevan Jeyaratnam, COO, Abelson Odds and David Bonnefous, Director of Operations, Sportnco.
Do you know who I am?
Oosto CMO Dean Nicolls talks through facial recognition inside casinos, and the purposes it has beyond the security offering.
Roundtable: Innovation in Live Gaming
Industry leaders from Evolution, Atmosfera, Amusnet and Pragmatic Play discuss how live gaming has evolved, why the vertical is so popular and what the future holds.
The holy grail of the sport
Lee Richardson asked what’s next for horseracing in our previous article; Racecourse Media Group Director of Marketing Clive Cottrell speaks exclusively to Gambling Insider Editor Tim Poole about attempts to bring the sport to a younger audience.
The US payments problem
PayNearMe VP & Head of Marketing Anne Hay, and VP for iGaming and sports betting Leighton Webb, talk through how deposits and withdrawals are affecting acquisition and retention rates in US markets.
Advertising responsibly in India: what businesses must comply with
Regular Gambling Insider contributor Ranjana Adhikari and her associate at IndusLaw, Arjun Khanna, assess the advertising landscape for online gaming in India.
The case for burning gambling profits
Gustaf Hoffstedt, Secretary General for the Swedish Trade Association for Online Gambling, contemplates the morally contentious points associated with being a state-owned gambling organisation.
We love penny slots
Gambling Insider contributor and industry marketing veteran, Alex Czajkowski, discusses how macroeconomic indicators can influence the determination of optimal wager amounts. Our industry’s main job is to sell experiences, he argues, not just to maximise revenue generation...
Attracting & retaining players
Aruze Gaming President Rob Ziems discusses the supplier’s Muso 55 and Muso 32 cabinets, ahead of the duo's moment in the sun at G2E.
Unlocking game aggregation in North American markets
Pariplay Managing Director Adrian Bailey explains why aggregation platforms can offer game innovators a fast track to market, by circumventing complex regulation to provide the latest in localised content.
A lot can happen in six years
Soft2Bet’s Director of PR Hamza Afifi discusses how the company has grown since starting out six years ago, as well as entering new markets and in-person industry events.
Gambling with compliance?
SmartSearch Managing Director Martin Cheek explores the ever-important issue of anti-money laundering amid the growing number of fines for gambling companies.
Final Word
Regular Gambling Insider contributor and Partner at Melchers Law, Dr Joerg Hofmann, gives an update on Die Gemeinsame Glücksspielbehörde der Länder (GGL) – The Joint Gambling Authority of the Federal States.
