December 18 Infinity Gaming Magazine

InfinityGaming www.gaming-awards.com | ISSUE101

EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW LENA YASIR GAMING + ARTICLES + BUSINESS+ GLOBAL + ONLINE + NEWS+ AWARDS + etc

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22 AGEISM Lynn Pearce De Freitas

14 LENA YASIR INTERVIEW

30 THE FUTURE (PART 3) Liz Karter

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

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4 EDITOR NOTES Editor welcomes you to the latest edition of Infinity Gaming Magazine.

6 OUR WRITERS Meet our feature writers, the superb writers on our rosta.

08 IGA12 FINALISTS REVEALED 14 LENA YASIR INTERVIEW

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22 AGEISM Lynn Pearce De Freitas

FOBT - FIXED

26 FOBT FIXED

Teresa Tunstall

Teresa Tunstall

ARE ALL AWARDS EQUAL?

30 THE FUTURE Liz Karter

Christina Thakor-Rankin

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38 AWARDS EQUAL? Christina Thakor-Rankin

58 LEE-ANN JOHNSTONE

+ NEWS & MORE NEWS from the gaming industry

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A note from the editor CONTACT US Clever Duck Media Centrix@Keys Keys Park Road Staffordshire WS12 2HA UK Tel: +44(0)1543 478 889 PRODUCTION Clever Duck Media Centrix@Keys Keys Park Road Staffordshire WS12 2HA UK

Finalists revealed for IGA12!

PUBLISHING Infinity Gaming Magazine is operated by © Clever Duck Media Ltd ®

Lana Thompson - Editor

Welcome to the latest edition of the Infinity Gaming Magazine Welcome to the latest edition of the

What also is a must read is our latest

Infinity Gaming Magazine and we are

contributing writer Lynn Pearce De Frei-

delighted to announce inside the final-

tas, who covers the thorny topic of Age-

ists for the 12th International Gaming

ism.

Awards (IGA).

Not just that but we have Liz Karter covWe had some 600 entries this year, eve-

ering the third instalment of her latest

ry year we receive more and more it is

book along with Chistina Thakor-Rankin,

amazing, also we had nominations from

Teresa Tunstall and a Q&A with Lee-Ann

total of 43 different countries, making

Johnstone.

the IGA a true International awards ceremony.

Have a super month and Enjoy the magazine and will catch you all for the last

As we enter the finals few weeks of

edition of 2018 soon.

2018 (where did the year go?) we celebrate the very best within the industry

“To Infinity and Beyond!”

over the last twelve months and what a list of finalists they are, congratulations

Regards,

to you all, it is going to be one great cel-

Lana

ebration of innovation come 4th February.

The Editor Also inside the magazine we have the superb Lena Yasir, the vice President of Pragmatic Play speaking to us on her career and the rise of the company.

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Sponsorship Opportunities Colin@cleverduckmedia.com Business Partnerships Svetlana@gaming-awards.com Marketing & Advertising claire@cleverduckmedia.com Editorial Content & PR media@cleverduckmedia.com

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Infinity Gaming Magazine Contributing Writers A magazine is only as good as the content inside and with some of the leading specialists within the gaming industry. With specialised articles covering customer service, the gaming law, new prducts, technology and current affairs with the sector the Infinity Gaming Magazine is delighted to showcase our superb line-up of contributing writers.

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

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

www.1710gaming.com

Teresa Tunstall – Independent Gaming Consultant After many years of working in casinos in the UK and on USA ships as a croupier and inspector, Teresa turned from ‘poacher to gamekeeper,’ spending 16 years with GamCare, who offer help and support to those who develop problems with their gambling.

Teresa now works independently consulting on all issues relating to Social Responsibility and Problem Gambling.

Working closely with the betting and gaming industry, She developed strong links delivering Social Responsibility and Problem Gambling training around the world, from Antigua to Moscow, and Auditing in the UK.

To contact Teresa regarding consulting please email: Teresatunstall1@gmail.com

Lee-Ann Johnstone - CEO Best Odds Marketing With almost two decades of digital marketing and affiliate experience gained within retail, payments and blue chip iGaming brands, Lee-Ann has a wealth of expertise as an award winning digital marketing expert and business mentor. She is the creator of AffiliateFEST, founder of Best Odds Marketing a digital consultancy specialising in affiliate marketing and recently launched Affiliate Insider offering training, events and business development for the affiliate channel.

www.affiliateinsider.com|www.bestoddsmarketing.com

Lynn has creatively strategized and implemented B2C and B2B acquisition, conversion and retention marketing campaigns.

She joined Forwardslash, (an igaming marketing company) as Marketing GM: Creative Studio. She then went on to work for a sportsbetting company to launch a poker room and casino for a while, before being headhuntered to join a startup casino company in Prague, where she worked as the Marketing Operations Manager. Longing for the sea and sunshine, she relocated to Malta to consult for a B2B igaming software development company.

Lynn Pearce de Freitas

Lynn started off her igaming career consulting to LCI, a prestigious land-based casino in the UK, where she was responsible for the online marketing and projectmanagement of conferences, events, presentations, video production, and other activities.

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Interview with

Lena Yasir

Vice President at Pragmatic Play

Thank you for speaking with us today. Can we please start by telling us a few words about Pragmatic Play?

currently managing the commercial

aming industry.

hub for both Malta and Romania, which means that business development, account management and platform man-

Can you name some of your customers?

agement departments report directly Pragmatic Play is a leading multi-prod-

to me. We make sure all commercial

Pragmatic Play has worked hard to build

uct content provider to the iGaming

operations are running flawlessly and

a global customer base in regulated

industry, offering innovative, regulated

work closely with clients to inform them

markets all around the world, and can

and mobile-focused gaming products.

about the latest games and promo prod-

now boast a client list that includes

We strive to create the most engaging,

ucts we are developing. Moreover, we

many of the industry’s main operators.

evocative experiences for all our cus-

constantly research new opportunites

We’ve recently signed integrations with

tomers across a range of verticals, in-

to drive our expansion to new regulated

Kindred Group, PokerStars and Come-

cluding slots, live casino and bingo.

markets.

On, significantly expanding our reach.

At the same time, our games are also

Our commitment to consistently deliver top-quality iGaming experiences is just

How long has Pragmatic Play been operating?

one the advantages that set us apart

available in top online casino brands, including Casumo, Rank Group and GVC Holdings. Our products have earned a

in an increasingly competitive market-

As opposed to legacy providers, Prag-

deserved reputation for ‘stickiness’ by

place.

matic Play benefits from the agility that

keeping players consistently engaged

only a young brand can take to market.

and are frequently featured at the top

We leveraged our flexibility and fresh

of our clients’ landing pages.

As the Vice President of Pragmatic Play, what does your role entail?

approach to rapidly cement our position as one of the most reputable suppliers

As Vice President of Operations, I am

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of high-quality content to the global iG-

Pragmatic Play has recently announced a deal with ComeOn.

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What does this deal mean for both companies?

print in regulated markets continues

commercial side of the operations and

undimmed, and most recently we have

expanding the current team. I am in-

placed intensive focus on the Spanish,

volved in high-level decisions that drive

The ComeOn deal is very exciting for

Portuguese and Italian markets. Growth

strategic growth, product enhancement,

Pragmatic Play, as it gives us the op-

in those regions has been supported

promo tools and the business road map.

portunity to work with one of the most

through partnerships that include Mi-

innovative operators on the market.

crogame, Estoril and Bet.pt.

The agreement makes our entire portfolio available to ComeOn customers.

This way, we support our partner in expanding their offering, while they help us consolidate our reach in regulated

Lena, you have only recently joined Pragmatic Play. How different is your current role from your previous one?

You have a vast 10-year experience in the online gaming sector. What are your thoughts on how much the industry has expanded?

markets. We definitely look forward to enjoying a long and mutually rewarding

In my previous role I was responsible for

The iGaming industry has always been

business relationship with one of the in-

setting up the office in Malta and creat-

fast-paced, to say the least. There are

dustry’s most reputable operators.

ing and managing an account manage-

constantly new trends, emerging mar-

ment and support team. My role also in-

kets with unique propositions, and

volved marketing and compliance, but it

shifting customer preferences.

was mainly focused on driving revenue

clear that companies in this industry

What other major deals has the company done recently?

It is

and building client relationships. Here

have to master three essential skills in

On top of the recent ComeOn deal, Prag-

at Pragmatic Play, the company has a

order to dispute leadership: vision, cre-

matic Play has been extremely busy.

firmly established industry presence,

ativity and potential to innovate.

Our commitment to expand our foot-

and I am mainly focused on leading the

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Lena Yasir Exclusive Interview

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For a long time you have been based in Malta. How do you think having an iGaming hub has impacted the island?

Having basically an iGaming hub here has clearly enhanced the opportunities to network, forge lasting connections and create new ones. As the iGaming industry is so diverse and fast paced, networking opportunities are more valuable than ever before. Malta provides these in abundance.

What is it like to live and work on the island?

Working in the iGaming industry is different depending on the region. The UK has an established market and proven business model that works, but that has perhaps stifled innovation in recent years. The U.S., in contrast, is starting to consider the potential of a serious

2018 has been a defining year for Prag-

core enjoyment of spinning the reels, it

iGaming industry, but remains highly

matic Play, and we’ll definitely see 2019

provides an added layer of interactiv-

grounded in land-based gaming. Malta

develop at an even faster pace. Our fo-

ity to keep players coming back. This

has an ideal blend, with plenty of room

cus on growing in regulated markets

speaks perfectly about the innovation

for innovation and a healthy respect for

through the consistent delivery of in-

we bring to the industry.

the traditional methods. This freedom

novative and mobile-centric products

and potential for creativity give Malta

has been very successful for us. As we

something unique for employees. Of

continue to create engaging and immer-

course, on top of that, the environment,

sive content, we will naturally look to

location and climate make Malta an at-

increase the reach of our offering.

tractive place to live.

Back to Pragmatic Play, the company is very strong in Europe. Are there any plans to look into the US market, now that it is opening up more with sports betting?

On that note, what does 2019 hold for the company in terms of development?

Before we let you go, Lena, how do you see the coming year for the iGaming industry in general? Will it all be about the US market and sports betting or do you see other options there for the sector and for Pragmatic Play?

There is so much to look forward to in

We always look to be at the forefront of

2019 for the iGaming industry. Sweden

innovation within the industry, and at

will be regulated, obviously more states

regular intervals we release games that

in the US market will open to sports bet-

We are always assessing opportunities

consistently push the boundaries of the

ting, and I am sure there will be count-

in new and existing markets, and there

slot experience. While the fundamental

less other changes across the regula-

is of course plenty of focus on the US

ingredients of solid gameplay and excel-

tory landscape as well. As always, the

currently, following the repeal of PASPA.

lent underlying maths models are at the

industry is moving incredibly fast, and

If the right opportunity becomes avail-

core of the experiences we deliver to

one thing we can say for sure is that the

able, we will for sure explore the possi-

players, we are no strangers to bringing

iGaming industry will remain unpredict-

bility. While I can’t give too much away

forward new gameplay concepts in our

able and highly exciting! As for Prag-

at this stage, I will confirm that we are

games. To give just one example, one of

matic Play, the rhythm at which things

keeping an eye on this market. For a

our latest releases, Jade Butterfly, gives

develop in the industry keeps us always

Pragmatic Play has been growing so fast. Do you see this continuing into 2019, Lena?

players the ability to re-spin individual

striving for innovation and determined

reels if they feel a big win may be in

to provide modern and engaging i-Gam-

sight. While it does not distract from the

ing experiences.

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GAMING NEWS

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Teddy Sagi Sells Entire Stake In Playtech

T

eddy Sagi’s remaining shareholding in Playtech, the company he founded and built into a world class business, has sold his entire remaining shares.

Teddy Sagi took the decision to diversify his wealth in 2016 and move into real estate, co-working, e-commerce and new technology ventures.

Teddy Sagi said on the sale, “Playtech remains an exciting company with huge potential.”

Globe Invest, the family office of Teddy Sagi, confirmed that Brickington

Trading Ltd has sold its remaining 15,193,489 shares in Playtech. The deal was arranged by Credit Suisse Securities (Europe).

Globe Invest says, “Over the last few weeks, Brickington Trading Ltd has been working on this divestment.

The sale follows a smaller trade executed on the 12th November and is in line with our long term diversification strategy”.

Teddy Sagi and his family trusts took the decision to diversify their wealth in 2016 and agreed on a strategy of investing in real estate, co-working,

e-commerce and new technology ventures. Since then they have been reducing their stake in Playtech, and this final sale merely completes that continuum.

Teddy Sagi says: “My focus for the last few years has been in real estate, co-working, service apartments, e-commerce and advanced technology, cyber-security and innovation companies. I consider myself part of Playtech’s successful history, and I am proud of what we have accomplished together since its inception. I wish it every success in the future”.

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EXCITING ROLE FOR FRENCH SPEAKING CASINO MANAGER EXCELLENT SALARY AND BENEFITS

GAMING NEWS

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The Stars Group to Increase Digital Presence

T

he parent company of PokerStars, The Stars Group (TSG), recently entered into an agreement with Eldorado Resorts that will increase the digital reach of the gambling operator to about thirteen states in the United States.

Let’s delve into details here.

What does the deal between TSG and Eldorado Resorts entail?

The agreement is sought to create a win-win situation for both the organizations. It would grant TSG the choice to run online betting and gaming activities in those states where Eldorado owns casino properties. TSG will now be able to provide real-money gambling, which also includes online poker, through a license for twenty years. The agreement’s scope is confined only to the online space, and its implementation is highly dependent on each market’s landscape.

The pact presently covers eleven states, namely Florida, Colorado, Indiana, Illinois, Mississippi, Louisiana, Ohio, Nevada, Missouri, West Virginia,

and Iowa. This, when combined with TSG’s existing deals with operators in Pennsylvania and New Jersey, gives the company access to thirteen states.

What’s in store for Eldorado?

Under the clauses of the agreement, Eldorado is likely to receive a good share of revenue from TSG’s offerings. Eldorado is well-poised to get common shares worth one million, the price of which is quoted at 23.22 dollar per share. Eldorado will also receive common shares worth 5 million if TSG’s online gaming in each state meets the net gaming revenue mark.

The CEO of TSG, Rafi Ashkenazi, praised Eldorado as one the “fastest growing” gambling companies in the region. Gary Carano, the CEO of Eldorado, also responded by saying that the TSG’s geographic reach, product diversity, and proven abilities are what is going to help both companies make an impression on the growing online gambling market.

Eldorado has incrementally increased its geographical reach in recent years. The company currently owns twenty-eight gambling properties.

Much of it can be attributed to its acquisition of Isle of Capri Casinos for 1.7 billion dollars in 2016. The company also forged a definitive agreement to acquire casinos of Tropicana Entertainment for $640m in the spring of 2018.

Talking about TSG, its brand BetStars inaugurated its first online sports betting activity in New Jersey through a deal with Resorts Casino and Hotel in Atlantic City. Although pending, the deal with Pennsylvania is also sought to increase the geographical coverage of the casino operator further.

We can only hope that all state regulations are in line with the terms of the agreement so that gambling in the United States gets the muchneeded impetus to stand out in the global market.

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AGEISM in the workplace It’s fast becoming a global human rights issue.

By Lynn Pearce de Freitas

I

read an article the other day about a man, aged 69, living in the Netherlands, who very seriously went to court to have himself officially declared 20 years younger than he was, due to being “age discriminated against by Tinder”. I do not recall the entire story, but according to him Tinder did not allow someone his age to register. He said he wanted to find love, felt he was looking great and his health was more in line with that of a 49-yearold man, and he went to court to get 20 years taken off his age – and the case is being taken seriously!

The reason I am mentioning this article, is because I personally feel that older people are being marginalized in more ways than one. So, I started digging – and the issue is real – particularly in the workplace where the problem is global!

Patricia Brownell wrote an article in 2014, titled: Ageism in the Workplace:

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“Older workers make important contributions to the workplace, its productivity, and its culture. Work remains important for older adults for financial security, to give meaning to later life, to maintain social networks, and to promote lifelong learning.

However, ageist beliefs about the capacity of older adults to remain productive and contributing workers in the workforce can create barriers for older workers.”.

Legislation, such as the Age Discrimination in Employment Act, protects the rights of older workers in their work environment – but that legislation only works for older people who are currently working – it certainly does not guarantee an older person the right to employment, there is a lot of discrimination when older people apply for work, the chances are that they will be refused for all kinds of reasons, but the truth of the matter is that they are simply seen as being old, so regardless of their qualifications, they will not get the job.

Often older people are told that the company are not looking for someone as senior in their expertise as they are – basically, sorry – you have more than enough of the right skills, but you are just too old to work here!

I recall being headhunted by a global marketing company several years ago, with over 500 employees at the time. I was invited to address the entire staff – to give them an insight into my background, life and work experience – and as I stood up in front of everyone to give my speech, - one of my colleagues jokingly said that I had single-handedly raised the average age in the company from 21 years to 25 years!

My response was swift and sharp – I had also raised the brain power, which my audience totally loved! In fact, I still get thanked from those staff members on Twitter, LinkedIn and Facebook - whenever someone raises the issue of mentors, or people you admire – I get a stream

Office or Home?

of thanks, which makes me feel that I did a great job with them.

In many industries, especially in technology, you may feel “old” at 35 — even though you might continue to work full-time until you hit 75! In fact, Prince Charles works a 14-hour-day, according to his sons, who both admire him tremendously – and he has just turned 70!

23

intelligent, rational thought, relying on

society, reflecting the biases and ste-

everything you have learned in order

reotypes that are part of our culture –

to reach the correct conclusion in solv-

this phenomenon is a global issue, from

ing an issue or problem. This is valuable

the USA to the UK, Europe and EMEA – it

information which older people in the

affects us all, everyone has their opin-

workplace can pass on to the younger,

ion on it, but to date there has been no

less experienced staff members.

global movement to stop discrimination against older people in the workforce,

Ageism is just another form of racism in

or trying desperately to get a job to sup-

my mind and should be addressed ac-

port themselves and their families.

cordingly. It is just another one of those “isms” that will affect us at one stage

It’s time we embraced age like any

Which brings me to my next point –

or another in our lives – if we are lucky

other type of diversity. With age comes

all the trials and tribulations you go

enough to live to a ripe old age. We are

wisdom, we should cherish it and take

through daily in your job, the learnings,

all working globally to rid ourselves

whatever learnings we can from it,

the constant training, upskilling on new

of political and cultural divisions, we

sooner rather than later, to the better-

technologies, all adds up to years of ca-

should add ageism to this list.

ment of society!

reer insights and wisdom. You learn how to assess situations and react to it with

Today’s workplace as a microcosm of

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Contact us if you have an idea for a special event and let us make it happen for you.

GAMING NEWS

25

UK Gambling Industry Dives into the Online Arena

T

he UK Gambling industry is thriving. 2017 saw close to £1.5 billion in marketing expenditure, advertising a whole host of gambling services from poker to virtual games. But a large part of this spending didn’t happen in traditional avenues. In fact, research

by Regulus Partners, an international strategic consulting firm specialized in international gambling and related industries, showed that more than 80% of this spending happened on the internet.

Online gambling has taken a stronghold in the UK. Total marketing expenditure in the online sector has increased by 56% from 2014 and companies have been found spending 5X more online than on television. This data is inclusive of statistics derived from both onshore and offshore private gambling services providers like bingo websites, online sportsbooks, and virtual casinos who are actively serving the UK market.

Of the £1.5 billion spending, direct online marketing accounts for £747 million, almost half the total marketing expenditure. Advertising by affiliates took second place at £301, with spending on social media marketing a distant third at £149 million.

Still, combined, this figure overshadows the £234 million spending on television advertising, which is a meagre 15% of the overall marketing expenditure. The only segment of the UK gambling industry that still finds predominant representation on television is the UK lottery, with there being little advertising for it on the internet.

Advertising online has some obvious benefits. Just like any other industry, the UK gambling industry too receives greater attention from its consumers on the more dynamic online platform. Consumer studies in the UK indicate that 59% of the under 16 population in the UK have seen a gambling advertisement online at

least once either on their social media timelines or other websites. One in eight 11-16-year-old’s also claim to follow gambling companies on social media, and experts believe this early exposure to the industry may make them 3X more likely to purchase gambling services as adults.

In terms of what players and service providers can expect from the future, experts believe that online marketing will continue to rule the roost. While expenditure on direct marketing and social media marketing will continue to rise, there is fear that spending on affiliate marketing may reduce, given the stringent enforcement of the UK’s Advertising Standards Authority rule of penalizing organizations for their affiliate’s socially irresponsible behavior.

For now, with the industry growing steadily, expenditures on online marketing are set to proportionately increase.

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26

FOBT’s - Fixed

By Teresa Tunstall

N

ineteen years ago in 2001 when Fixed Odd Betting Terminals (FOBTs) first appeared on the street and were installed in every betting shop across the country, the Gambling Commission only allowed this licensing for betting shops. I was approached by one of the big betting shop groups who offered to demonstrate how these machines worked, little did we know what an enormous influence and impact these machines would have on the betting world.

Throughout the first years of FOBT’s many changes occurred; betting shops extended opening and closing hours for those gamblers who wanted to play up to 10pm, which a few staff felt this jeopardised their safety. In the very early days some cheeky operators put extra FOBT’s making up to six machines in their shops but this situation was swiftly changed to the restriction of four machines in each shop. The amusement arcade industry were up in arms complaining it was ‘unfair,’ to the point that one arcade created an area within their amusement arcade and installed four FOBT’s with no other machines they were to be refused a betting licence.

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I anguished over as to why FOBT’s with a choice or four games were so favoured but it was always the roulette game that attracted players making it the most popular game that bought in the most money game.

In early days to visit a UK casino it was necessary to register 48 hours before you were allowed to enter and play. Obviously, FOBT’s required no dress code or club membership if you picked the right numbers the payouts were the same as if you won at roulette in a casino.

In 2003 calls to the Helpline from distressed FOBT players were 33% however, Helpline callers went down in 2004 to 21%. Let’s jump to 2008 which shows 30% of calls to the Helpline referring to losses on FOBT’s.

Years later in the here and now of 2018 the maximum stake a spin is still 100 pounds a spin maximum which has been in place since the day FOBT’s first arrived but will in the near future definitely reduce to 2 pounds a spin.

I believe it’s often thought that betting staff were happy to take money off punters in my experience that is

not so, speaking with many betting shop staff I found that not to be true.

Staff would come out from behind their counters to offer customer’s coffee as a way of distracting them away from the FOBT’s unfortunately that rarely worked. There was much anger and upset from those who played the 100 pound stake and went on to lose everything, machines were damaged in anger along with some staff particularly females in fear.

However, now the game is up! 2 pounds will be the maximum to play finally, this decision was made with the punters in mind although, I’m sure many gamblers would not agree with me and problem gamblers will see it as, ‘Shutting the stable door after the horse has bolted.’

Sport’s Minister Tracey Crouch resigned after being overruled on the change date of the forthcoming reduction to 2 pounds a spin. As we’re only talking about this taking place in the next 8 months, I think this was more to do with her pride rather than fighting for the cause.

Although, problem gambling was recognized as a mental disorder by

FOBT’s - Fixed

the World Health Organisation, raising the profile and existence of problem gamblers was an uphill struggle. We shared part of an office in Victoria lent to us by the British Race Horse Association.

Our main office if you could call it that was a small basement in a private house owned by Mrs. Lyle, a kind elderly lady who often referred to the problem gamblers coming for counseling as the “unfortunates.” The rumour was Mrs. Lyle was from the Tate and Lyle family particularly as she lived just around the corner from Buckingham Palace.

The only industry people who requested to visit us at the time looking to discover what work we were doing, were from BACTA, quiet gentlemen who I think were somewhat shocked and uncomfortable at the tiny size of our first ever office.

The Gaming Board of Great Britain,

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kept an eye on us and Peter Dean, Chief Executive, kept a fatherly eye on us and supported our conferences. I once mentioned to Peter how I previously worked in various London casino’s that many people thought I was working for the Mafia, he replied that many thought he was the Godfather!

Later the Gaming Board became the Gambling Commission, as changes happen one can only stand back in awe.

Another ‘jump’ to the here and now!

There has been a considerable change in gambling and problem gamblers with an enormous influence on Regulated bodies such as below: The Gambling Commission has a Board of Commissioners appointed by, Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport to ensure licensing objectives are met.

The Responsible Gambling Strategy Board, advisors to Gambling Com-

mission. The British Gambling Prevalence Survey, produced a report for the Gambling Commission, ‘Gambling participation – behavior, awareness and attitudes,’ presenting annual estimates of gambling behavior in Great Britain and constitutes the Gambling Commissions regular tracker of gambling participation.

GambleAware, their business aims; broaden public understanding of gambling-related harms, in particular as a public health issue; advance the cause of harm-prevention so as to help build resilience, in particular in relation to the young and those most vulnerable to gambling-related harms; and help those who do develop gambling-related harms get the support that they need.

Finally my favored communique; Research is a bottomless pit that ages the moment it’s finished. I think we may all benefit keeping this in mind.

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Report on Youth Gambling by UKGC an Inaccurate Picture

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ccording to a new report published by the UK Gambling Commission (UKGC), children in the country are gambling more than they used to. However, experts believe that the findings are mildly exaggerated.

in 2017.

Recently the UKGC came out with the Young People and Gambling 2018 Report, which claimed that around 14% (450,000 individuals) of children aged 11 to 16 spent their money on gambling activity, just a week prior to taking part in the survey.

As for children who spent money gambling in the week prior to the survey, 39% had spent £2 or less, while 29% spent £10 or less. An estimated 15% stated that they have spent over £50, which placed the weekly average at £16.

The reported figure is 2% higher than what was reported in 2017.

However, the UKGC itself stated that the number was very low when historical standards were taken into consideration. For instance, in 2011, it was found that 23% of youth in the UK indulged in gambling.

Similarly, the new study also pointed out that 1.7% of the surveyed youths were problem gamblers, an increase of 0.9% compared to 2017, and that 2.2% were at risk of becoming problem gamblers, up from 1.3%

However, it must be considered that a larger number of respondents had taken part in the survey this year, which allowed the UKGC to acquire a more accurate picture.

However, spending, in this context, does not necessarily equate to losses. The consideration of potential winnings was left to the respondents’ interpretation.

A Breakdown According to those who reported gambling last week, 6% engaged in private bets with friends, 4% engaged in purchasing National Lottery scratch cards, 3% used fruit machines at pubs/arcades, and another 3% reported playing cards (for cash) with friends.

Only a mere 1% reported that they participated in real money gambling, online or otherwise.

Minors are prohibited from accessing fruit machines at pubs/arcades.

However, older reports indicate that some pubs/arcades were failing to enforce the rules. Though the maximum stake permitted is £1, the UKGC warned that not all pubs/arcades were adhering to this.

Online Participation is Negligible The statistics for online gambling participation among youth fell by a point to 6% in the last 12 months.

It has been reported that 2/3rds of participants had engaged in online gambling with their parents’ permission.

In conclusion, the UKGC seems to have gone overboard with its goal to protect children from gambling.

However, if the above statement is to be believed, the onus is not to be placed exclusively on the operators – parents/guardians have a role to play as well.

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Chapter 8

The Future: A Lifelong Recovery A Practical Guide to Recovery

By Liz Karter Liz Karter is considered a leading UK expert in gambling addiction in women. With over eighteen years experience of practice she has worked within all leading UK treatment agencies. Throughout that time, Liz has worked closely with the gambling industry on safer gambling projects and has had the honour of judging the social responsibility category of the IGA for several consecutive years.

You might have come across Liz on national and international TV or radio where she regularly appears as consultant therapist in gambling addiction, or perhaps you have read one od her previous books on gambling addiction. Very much still a practicing therapist Liz continues to see clients at her Harley Street and City of London practice Level Ground Therapy and by video link worldwide.

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rewarding, lifelong recovery is entirely possible for you. To maintain it you will need to pay attention to staying strong in a way which is beyond sheer willpower. If you have damaged your back, you are often left with a weakness in that area requiring care from regular Pilates exercise to prevent the problem returning. You can you can prevent your gambling addiction returning by similar gentle attention and discipline.

“I don’t really think about gam-

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bling now… it just doesn’t enter my head as something I want to do”. Sixteen weeks into her weekly sessions with me Kim, a 36-yearold professional, married with two young sons, reflected on how what had been her twelve-year obsession, and the focus of our work together for the first few weeks, was now something she hardly even thought of. The reason for this was that there was no room: our sessions were now too jam packed full of Kim, her thoughts, her feelings, what made her happy, what she wanted to change, for there to be

any room or need for gambling.

This was because Kim had decided for the first time in her life to focus not on Please Others but to be in the healthiest possible way “Self -Centred”. She had realised that by putting her needs at the centre of her life she was feeling so much healthier and happier that the thought of gambling did not cross her mind: she no longer needed it as her emotional medication. As a result, she felt each day much more in control of her reactions and grounded within herself. With the background of her life no lon-

Third Part of Liz Karter’s Latest Book

longer one of stress and anxiety, but one of calm and stability, she felt that she could now manage a crisis better. One day, Kim had to take her three-year-old son to hospital, he, having broken his leg on the day of her important job interview. With the background of her life now stable and calm she managed to get her son into plaster and was successfully interviewed by telephone in the hospital car park.

We looked at how that same scene might have played out as a disaster movie had she still been gambling, or still doing the things which had driven her gambling addiction, these were living life by the Please Others Rule and to keep to this Rule had to follow another – “Don’t

Feel”. This had resulted in her supressing her anger, frustration and sadness with gambling and, far from pleasing others had resulted in the near breakdown of her marriage. Kim noticed that the result of her living a more healthily Self -Centred life was that things were much better at home because she was generally happier, more energised and wanting to share and do things with and for those she loved.

Changing a lifetime of living by any of the Rules for Life at first requires constant attention to your behaviour and sometimes Kim would catch herself in the act of discounting how she felt about something that was important. At those times in our session she would stop, raise

31

the first finger of her right hand in the air to indicate to herself the need to pause, and staring determinedly ahead would say to herself, “Don’t dismiss my feelings”.

After the honeymoon period of being gambling free comes to an end what will make the difference to your recovery in the moments life tests you, is whether you have a life that you are in love with, and whether what you have created in your life feels worth the risk of losing, or not. Women consistently tell me that what they will not risk is peace of mind and emotional stability. So, how do you achieve and hang onto those?

INFINITY GAMING

Third Part of Liz Karter’s Latest Book

You need to work out what almost always makes you feel:

*Angry

and experience life, but your life - a life which is right for you. So, after you have been living a life of addiction, in which you have stifled your self-awareness, how do you do this?

*Sad

Awareness

You have a lifelong responsibility to ensure that you create a life for yourself in which you avoid, wherever possible, exposure to the things that trigger feelings of overwhelming sadness, fear, or anger because it is these that have triggered your addiction.

On paper Jenny had a great life- a beautiful daughter five-year-old son, a husband who provided and a lovely home. Jenny had gambled away £75,000 because despite of what was on paper she felt unfulfilled. She had become deeply depressed but believed she did not have the right to feel that way because she should feel grateful.

What brought about the change?

Jenny told me.

*Scared

If you do not create a richer, more rewarding life you risk leaving yourself open to the fantasy that the life you had when you were gambling was in some ways attractive. It is human nature that we end up longing for the past if our here and now life is not fulfilling enough. So, I am strongly encouraging you to get out

“You kept using that word, “awareness” in our sessions and it suddenly struck me last week how important that it is to be self-aware.

All through my life I have been told

33

to look outside of myself when I feel depressed. That someone else has a much worse life than me so I should be grateful. I now see that actually when I am depressed should be looking inside, into me, and working out what is wrong and how to make myself feel better.”

If you have thoroughly read this book you have already significantly increased your self-awareness.

Learning about ourselves is a fascinating lifelong process and if we invest in doing so we certainly reap the rewards.

The evidence is women who stay in touch with me after their therapy ends and tell me not about gambling but about happy relationships, new jobs, new babies, creative works and all kinds of adventures – meaningful to them.

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35

Virginia Poised to Allow Online Betting

V

irginia a state that was one of the few in the USA to be against any form of gambling, is starting to see a change in opinions. Earlier this year, the state showed the possibility of opening a gaming casino and resort within its borders and is now a step closer to legalizing online betting.

Virginia is ruled by the Republican party, and the conservatives have up until very recently been against any form of gambling in the state. However, last week, Mark Sickles from the Virginia House of Delegates pre-filed House Bill 1638. The Bill seeks to legalize online and mobile sports betting for residents of the state. The Bill will come up for ratification in the next legislative session of the state which starts on January 9, 2019.

Other states like West Virginia, New

Mexico, Rhode Island, New Jersey and more have already legalized online sports betting and are generating a good deal in tax revenue. If the predictions are to be believed, then Virginia could earn up to 57 million dollars on tax revenue from online betting. The state stands to benefit a great deal from allowing online betting.

Online and mobile betting will be governed by the Virginia Lottery.

The Virginia Lottery will be in charge of issuing online sports betting licenses to website operators. Up to five 3-year licenses can be issued for an individual price of $250,000 with renewal permitted for an additional $200,000. No wagers will be permitted on teams that are from the state of Virginia, whether they are professional or collegiate. No coaches, trainers, employees or anyone con-

nected with professional sports will be permitted to place any bets.

All operators will be required to pay 15% of their income as tax to the state. Of that amount, 95% will be put towards funding educational projects like state universities through the proposed Major Research Project Sub-Fund. 2.5% of the income will be paid to the Virginia lottery as an administration fee.

The legalization of online sports betting and gambling in Virginia will see an increase in jobs in the state and also prevent residents from patronizing casinos in other states.

An analysis by Oxford Economics has predicted that if House Bill 1638 is passed successfully, then the online sports betting industry could earn an annual net aggregate of up to $380 million!

INFINITY GAMING

GAMING NEWS

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The Potential Of The US As An Online Gaming Capital Is Huge

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he changing scenario of online gaming in the US

Gone are the days when gambling occurred just in lavish casinos and poker halls in the country. Times have changed drastically, and online casino gaming emerged as an option for people along with these conventional places, allowing them to gamble from the comfort zone of their homes.

Australia, Canada, and Europe have always had online gaming, but the American gaming market is relatively unexplored. Although only four states in the US offer online gaming, predictions say that the market’s potential is enormous.

The four states that offer online gambling activities are Nevada, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Delaware.

Michigan is also competing to get online gaming licenses for a while now, with the Bill H4926 under consideration of the Senate’s Committee on Government Operations.

How big is the online gambling market in the US? Some experts have estimated that the US’s potential online gambling market could reach almost $125 billion, which is a huge value. The market’s potential is, however, dependent on a few factors, the first one being the number of states granting licenses to operators. Some states have their own laws when it comes to online gambling, and cutting through the strict regulatory regimen isn’t a piece of cake.

The approval of online sports betting along with sports gaming is also an important determinant of the industry’s revenue. Nowadays, online casino gaming is becoming highly customer-oriented, meaning they are trying to come up with gaming packages that interest their customers.

Some casinos have been experimenting with slot machines with television shows to target a particular player base.

Agreements with European entrepreneurs are underway to merge eSports gambling involving multiplayer competitive games. eSports is becoming the next wave in the country after Canada and Europe as it allows viewers to bet on games and players to cheer their favorite teams.

The target audience for this capsule mostly comprises millennials.

In-app purchases and levels take gaming close to casino gambling, but there is a slew of regulations dominating this front. Gambling operators are crafting strategies and tactics to navigate the legal complexities and make online gaming a reality in most states.

No matter what, the potential of the US to become a gaming capital is extremely huge. If efforts continue this way, the day will come when the gambling industry will become a crucial component of the country’s revenue powerhouse.

Online gaming innovations

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38

All Awards Are Equal but some are more equal than others?

By Christina Thakor-Rankin

I

n the run-up to the start of the industry awards season, as exam questions go, this is as loaded a question as it gets, but perhaps also a legitimate one.

Time was there were two or three big industry awards which almost everyone wanted to get their hands on at golden ticket ceremonies that every industry mover and shaker wanted to be seen at. But times have changed. The combination of internet, technology and de-regulation has resulted in an unprecedented boom in the global betting and gambling sector, and as the industry has grown so have the various fringe activities such as expos, conferences, events and of course, industry awards ceremonies.

As the industry has grown from land into the multi-channel, multiproduct global behemoth it is today, so has the list of award categories.

For example, what used to be ‘best casino’ is now split into best land, or online or mobile casino and then again into its component parts such as live dealer or slots. In fact, there

INFINITY GAMING

are so many different categories that some organisers have taken to breaking down one big award ceremony into several smaller ones based upon specific channels, products or disciplines to make them a little more manageable for all concerned.

Today, the industry awards circuit with its fancy venues, premium sponsorship and entry fees in the guise of tables and seats, has become, like the conference circuit before it, something of a cottage industry in itself.

And in a bid to tap into this market, awards are no longer just about companies, products and services they now extend to people too, with a number now having whole sections dedicated to celebrating the achievements of individuals.

This situation raises a number of questions for the nominees. The same conundrum as with the plethora of conferences and industry events which is the best one to go for? And with so many awards being handed out across so many categories by so many awards organisers to so many winners, what does an award actually

mean anymore? Does anyone even care? Have the awards ceremonies just become a nice, albeit expensive, night out?

Judging (pun intended) from the numbers of companies and individuals that do put themselves forward and the effort taken with the nomination submissions, the answer is a resounding yes – companies and individuals do still care, and it does still matter. This then leads to the question, are all awards worth the same or do some carry more value than others? And if so, which are the awards that count - which are the Oscars, and which are the Razzies, and how to tell them apart.

The obvious answer is the ones that have been around the longest and will continue to attract the world’s big names as both sponsors and nominees, such as the IGAs or the EGRs. Having been around for at least a decade, they have not only stood the test of time, more importantly the companies that have been award winners have also stood the test of time. This means that these

39

awards come with a proven pedigree of choosing ‘winners’ giving them gravitas and commanding respect.

These are the Oscars.

Every industry has challenger brands and imitators though, and the awards industry is no different. As the world of betting and gambling has grown, so have the number of awards ceremonies. Some have tried to emulate the success of the established awards, but over time fallen by the wayside for any number of reasons not least, the suspicion of gongs may have been exchanged for sponsorship or

purchasing of dinner tables. These are the Razzies.

And in between there are the Golden Globes, the Emmys and the next generation of awards which will ultimately go on to be the Oscars of the future. These are the more considered attempts to break into the market.

The savvy challengers who have looked to carve their own niche, or fill a gap or need in the market by focusing on specific products, markets or jurisdictions - such as the SBC awards and Malta’s iGaming Idol. Others have focused on individuals and groups

rather than just organisations, such as women or in the case of Gambling Compliance, compliance professionals. Some have done a little of both, and in doing so delivered a more inclusive and democratic set of awards.

This is great news for the industry.

These newer awards lend themselves to experimentation which allows them to introduce new, more exotic categories show-casing innovation, new products and services which serve to champion and celebrate start-ups and smaller companies doing exceptionally well in niche areas

INFINITY GAMING

Are All Awards Equal?

such as data or risk management.

They also help to highlight trends within the industry such as compliance, or reflect those in the wider world, such as sustainability and diversity.

These new awards have also provided industry with the chance to recognise individual and professional achievements and some of the sector’s unsung heroes and heroines who may not fit the traditional mould of publicly acknowledged life-time achiever, but without whom the sector would be poorer. These individual awards are a slightly trickier beast. Given they are recognising individuals still at the peak rather than the end of their career they do carry a small risk of a past winner being unmasked as undeserving of the accolade at some future point. There is also the underlying and slightly

41

uncomfortable feeling that those nominees who did not win (the losers), as individuals rather than companies, may end walking away with the feeling that they are not quite good enough. Is that reason enough to not recognise those who are deserving though – perhaps not.

And then there are the more nuances, jurisdiction specific events. The local events for local people, and which the wider world often struggles to come to grips with. These for the time being, are probably best left to their own devices.

So back to the question, are awards and awards ceremonies still worth it?

The dictionary defines an award as ‘a prize or other mark of recognition given in honour of an achievement’. It is a message to the world

that says, ‘we did it, and actually we did it better than everyone else’.

And in business this kind of message matters. It may only be for 12 months, after which time the gong will be retained reinforcing the message ‘still doing it better than anyone else’ or it will pass to another worthy.

Whether the award was justified or not, either way, for a whole year the winner, company or individual, has been able to market themselves as ‘better than the rest’, and both companies and individuals can do a lot of business in one year - and especially so where that business comes with a minimum term which extends beyond a year. In that context and marketed in the right way by the winners - all and any awards, even the Razzies, are worth it.

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GAMING NEWS

43

A Healthy 2019 for Macau - Predicts Brokerage Firm

W

ith the slowing down of China economy, the gaming and hospitality sector all across and especially in Macau has slowed down in 2018.

The year-end gaming revenue forecasts for Macau have been released and the picture they paint for this year is not a happy one. The future, however, looks bright for the gambling capital as 2019 promises to bring in better news for the shareholders in the US-based gaming enterprises.

This prediction comes from a Japanbased brokerage firm- Nomura, which states that shares in the US-listed gaming companies could potentially increase by 20% even if the gross gaming revenue falls by 3%. Alternately, if the GGR increases by 3%, then the shares will increase by 30% in the year 2019.

The calculations made by Nomura are a response to the recent reporting made by Wynn Resorts which paints a dark picture for the future of Macau in the remaining year ahead. Nomura released an explanation saying that the conservative approach for 2019’s analysis was due to the levels of the stock at trough levels. A reduction in 3% is noted due to the sentiment towards the stock which discounts the worsening economic conditions of the country and offers assurance over liquidity concerns. The brokerage has calculated a 3% decline in the gross gaming revenue and a further 10% decline in the VIP revenue along with a 4% and 3% increase in mass and slot revenues. Going by the overall decline in the market, MGM Resorts International can forecast its stocks along with their dividends at around 35%. The figures for Melco Resorts and Entertainment rest at

a value of 27% whereas the shares in Wynn are expected at 17%. Las Vegas in all of this stands at a value as low as 13%.

Nomura has released a statement saying that the sentiment of investors towards Macau has been terrible rendering the place “uninvestable.� According to their experience, during times of such negative opinions, the risk/reward factor is bent upwards. If the performance of Macau were to improve and the rise in gross gaming revenue happens by 3%, then MGM Resorts International can see stocks as high as 39%, and the best returns would be experienced by Melco at 47%.

The shareholders of Wynn will see a rise to 31% whereas the Las Vegas Sands would, unfortunately, again find itself at the bottom with stocks at just 15%.

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DraftKings Bringing a Land-Based Casino to Atlantic City

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hen so many gaming operators are vying for sports betting licenses, how can DraftKings Sportsbook lag in the race? The operator was already the “king” of daily fantasy sports in New Jersey, but it also stepped into the realm of sports betting early in August 2018. It became the first full-service mobile sports betting platform to come up in a legalized New Jersey gaming market.

What about its venture into the land-based casino domain?

Now the DFS giant is setting up a land-based casino at Resorts Casino Hotel in Atlantic City. Mark Giannantonio, the CEO and President of Resorts Casino HotelGiannantonio, expressed his optimism in the partnership with the industry leader in sports betting.

After the casino is set up, the new space will provide an entertaining and immersive gaming experience to guests and sports bettors

alike, thereby paving a new way for Atlantic City and the Garden State at large.

Construction of the new space is nearing completion and is all for launch by the end of this month after the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement gives the final approval.

A glimpse into the book DraftKings Sportsbook announced its intended plans to open its very first land-based sportsbook in Mississippi’s Scarlet Pearl Casino Resort.

It came as a surprise to many that the sports betting giant’s first landbased outlet is coming up outside the borders of New Jersey. But the two launches are just a week apart.

Once opened, the facility at Resorts Casino Hotel will have twelve kiosks along with five betting windows, ultra-HD video walls, stadium-style seating area with built-in chargers, a VIP lounge, and a bar stocked with food and drinks. Not to forget

the electronic slots, which will allow guests to enjoy more than just sports betting while sitting at the bar.

Matt Kalish, the co-founder and CEO of DraftKings, said that they have been working with the Resorts for months to ensure that the facility meets the highest standards of customer experience and gaming quality. The facility will be the giant’s first physical presence in New Jersey.

Although the October’s online gambling revenue figures haven’t come yet, it is expected that DraftKings will assume the leading position. Six of the seven casinos in Atlantic City offering sports betting have temporary quarters as their space. They too are hatching plans to expand their facilities to include sports betting in the coming months. We can only hope that these operators are able to meet their growth plans and create a favorable situation for both themselves and the state.

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Casinos Affected by China’s Economic Slowdown

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s a result of a trade war with the US, China’s economy is currently experiencing a significant slowdown and this seems to be heavily affecting the casinos in Macau. Though analysts predicted that a such a slowdown would not have an impact on Macau, the reality seems to have proved them seriously wrong.

Wynn’s forecast spells bad news for the entire gambling sector in Macau.

Cameron McKnight, an analyst from Credit Suisse, has stated that the last two months of 2018 are likely to be a rough period for Macau. He cited Wynn’s sudden drop in revenue as a sign of the impending volatility that will likely strike the market soon.

Gambling activity in the autonomous region has experienced a major decrease.

The analyst pointed out that Wynn wasn’t losing shares, which indicates only two possibilities – either their guidance is very conservative or the market will shift into negative towards the end of 2018.

One of the major operators to have been affected is Wynn Resorts.

Though it enjoyed a bountiful third quarter, bringing in around $200 million more than it did for the same period, last year, the casino went through an unimpressive fourth quarter.

According to projections, Wynn is expected to a see a 20% drop in estimated revenue.

Gloomy Days Ahead

McKnight also pointed out to the fact that gaming revenue in Mainland China lagged credit cycles by 15 months. In 2017, the government curbed credit flow through the Chinese economy.

Another sign of an impending slump is the poor performance of Macau’s housing market. Macau’s gambling revenue lags mainland housing prices

by 8 months. According to reports from Standard & Poor, last week, the housing market in China is in bad shape. Smaller or weaker developers will probably end up defaulting on their projects.

In September, home sales saw a drop of 3.6%, leaving around 22% of available homes empty.

Real Estate to Get Worse Societe Generale Economist Wei Yao suggested that the current stability experienced by the real estate market will not last. According to Yao, the growth in real estate investment and construction remained resilient despite a reduction in property sales.

However, if there is no demand, supply will be unsustainable.

In conclusion, the downward trend in Macau’s gambling market is a sign of bad things to come. Casinos will likely have to prepare for the rough period ahead.

INFINITY GAMING

GAMING NEWS

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South African Parliament Adopt New Gambling Law

T

he parliament of South Africa has adopted fresh, streamlined legislation on gambling that leaves room for contentious discussion at a later date.

The country’s parliamentary committee on Trade and Industry declared on Wednesday that it had accepted the National Gambling Amendment Act 2018. However, in order to facilitate swift passage of the act, it was narrowed down to focus on only three issues. These “technical issues” would focus on addressing “existing governance challenges.”

The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) had proposed a more comprehensive version of the Act earlier this year. Joanmarie Fubbs, committee chairperson, voiced that legislators had chosen to forego this.

The revised National Gambling Amendment Act 2018 So, what are the three issues that remained in the Act? Well, it aimed to improve governance at the National

Policy Gambling Council, transfer regulatory oversight from the National Gambling Board to the newly formed National Gambling Regulator. It also strives to expand the functioning of the National Central Electronic Monitoring System to oversee all modes of gambling activity (mainly to provide better market data as well as determine correct taxation levels).

Fubbs stated that many issues had to be left out from the document as the time available was not enough to interrogate them effectively. The regulation of electronic bingo terminals, a crackdown on online gambling payments, bets on lottery results and ban on dog racing are some of these issues.

She allowed that the issues left out would eventually come up to the surface. She also expressed hope that once the revised Act was adopted, it would make way for comprehensive and all-round changes to the regulatory framework that governs gambling operations.

Online sports and race betting is currently okayed in South Africa. Stringent punishment has been mulled to check international gambling operators who do not possess a local license or offer additional services such as poker or casino. Any winnings that locals might win from these unauthorized sites may be confiscated by the government in the future.

Certain native politicians have tried to update South Africa’s gambling market to the present times by drawing up laws to permit a larger offering of online products and operators. Heavy lobbying by the country’s real-time offline casino sector has thwarted these attempts.

The government seems keen on upholding its online gambling restrictions despite not having the agency to actually put the ban into effect.

Their objective in placing gambling curbs is to protect punter as opposed to collecting revenue.

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GAMING NEWS

51

Online Gambling Might Be a Reality in Michigan Soon

M

ichigan is now contending for legal online casino and poker licenses after the state underwent positive legislative momentum for two consecutive years.

The path ahead for Michigan, however, isn’t easy as the process might take several years to resolve.

Lawmaker Brandt Iden preserved his seat in the Michigan statehouse by a thin margin in the state’s midterm elections. Now he continues to keep online gambling in play and seeks to expand the industry in the state. The online gambling bill is expected to reach the governor’s desk by 2019, as announced by him during the US Sports Betting Policy Summit.

The proposed Lawful Internet Gaming Act Brandt Iden authored the Bill H4926, which is a gaming bill passed within the House earlier this year. The bill currently is in the offing in Senate’s Committee on Government Operations. Known as the Lawful Internet

Gaming Act, the bill would authorize the Michigan Gaming Control Board (MGCB) to set regulations for online casino and sports betting. The bill would also establish the Division of Internet Gaming within the MGCB. The proposed Lawful Internet Gaming Act made some progress this year by clearing the statehouse by a 68-40 ratio. The bill H4926 would grant licenses to three Detroit casinos to offer internet gaming next year. The total cost for the five-year permit is set at $800,000. Once the bill is passed, the state would see the penetration of sports betting, poker, and casino-style games.

The bill is also expected to prove beneficial for the twenty-three tribal casinos in the state. Here are some of the critical aspects of the bill: *A tax of eight percent would be imposed on the state’s internet gambling revenue. * Multi-jurisdictional agreements would be provisioned.

* The physical presence of gaming equipment within the casino will become mandatory. * There will be a one-year waiting period before launch.

What does the future store for Michigan?

Delaware, Nevada, and New Jersey are states where online gambling is operational. In 2017, Pennsylvania passed legislation legalizing online gambling in the state. If Michigan can pass the law, it would become the fifth state in the US that’s offering online gaming.

Talking about sports betting, the state would become the ninth one where the activity is legal.

The expansion of online gambling in Michigan is complicated. Much of this complication is because of the dense tribal gaming landscape and complex constitutional language. Only time will tell whether Representative Brandt Iden is able to pass the legislation or not.

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GAMING NEWS

53

Sweden Adopts New Gambling Laws

T

he government in Sweden has adopted a new bill that aims to re-regulate the gambling market. This indicates the possibility of a new gambling act on the horizon, as well as a new system of licensing for gaming operators.

According to reports, the new regulations will be in play by January 2019.

Ardalan Shekarabi, the Minister of Public Administration, issued a statement, where he pointed out that unregulated gambling had turned into a significant issue in the country and that it was fueling criminal activities. He added that it had been over a decade since the first line of gambling inquiries were appointed.

Shekarabi insisted that the time had come to take action and once again, regain control over the Swedish gambling market.

Rules are for everybody In accordance with the new bill, all

gambling companies intending to operate in Sweden will now have to acquire an authorized license. Operators failing to do so will be penalized. Gamblers will be provided with more protection as part of a drive to curb gambling-related problems.

Also, the gambling sector will be split into three primary categories – a non-profit sector, a central government sector, and a competitive sector. The latter will offer online betting and gambling. The central government sector, which will include state-owned casinos, will provide token machines. The non-profit sector will offer bingo and lotteries.

Licensed gambling operations will have to pay taxes at the rate of 18%.

However, this will not apply to the non-profit sector, which will continue to enjoy tax exemption.

A reinforced gambling authority Shekarabi told the media that the Swedish Gambling Authority was now being reinforced with better

tools. He also stated that the Swedish Agency for Public Management had been instructed to follow up with the reform and suggest amendments, if any, to ensure that the goals of the reform are met.

Some other proposals under the new bill include blocking transactions between unlicensed operators and gamblers; the protection of gamblers from excessive gambling by licensed operators; provision of warning messages for illegal gambling sites by ISPs; and the criminalization of unauthorized gambling promotion and advertising.

The Swedish government believes that tight regulation of the gambling market is necessary for the purpose of growth, innovation, and investment from foreign gambling companies. The tax rate of 18% is also relatively reasonable compared to that of its neighbors, like Denmark, which charges 20%.

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54

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GAMING NEWS

55

Online Gambling to be Worth USD 73.45 billion by 2024

A

ccording to US-based market research and consulting organization, Hexa Research, the global market for online gambling will be worth a whopping USD 73.45 billion by 2024, attributed to the increase in gambling around the world.

Until 2024, the prevalence of gambling is only expected to increase due to various new regulations as well as technological advancements, thereby helping the global online gambling market to grow. In addition, people now have easy access to smartphones, tablets, online gambling platforms and internet connection, which is also expected to increase in the coming years. This will be a major factor driving the market as well.

This boost in the market is not surprising considering that there are so many factors that contribute to it. Apart from the ones mentioned above, the fact that an increasing

number of countries have started legalizing gambling also plays an important role in boosting the global market. For instance, in December 2016, Japan legalized casinos after banning them for the past 15 years.

Also, in May 2018, the US Supreme Court struck down a law that prohibited sports betting in all states with the exception of Nevada.

The effort of casino operators to provide punters with easier access to safer gambling platforms have increased in recent years. They are focusing their resources on the development of mobile applications with safe and secure money transfer features so that placing bets online is made simpler.

Europe wins big; sports betting dominates The global online gambling market was dominated by Europe in 2016.

As per the research, the European market was valued at USD 16.42 billion. Majority of European countries

have legalized online gambling, and have access to state-of-the-art infrastructure and technology. For instance, countries such as France, Italy, Germany and U.K, the biggest countries in Europe, have all legalized gambling and are equipped with well-developed technology.

The research also shows that sports betting was the biggest and most profitable gambling segment in 2016, accounting for over 40 percent of the total revenue. Sports betting includes a range of sports tournaments like football, soccer, cricket, tennis, basketball and others.

The race for dominance in the global online gambling market is now alive more than ever, with major players focusing their efforts on expanding their presence in various countries by diversifying their online services and through alliances with different companies.

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GAMING NEWS

57

Poker To Be Legalized In Israel?

I

srael could end up legalizing poker soon, provided a bill proposing the legalization manages to gain acceptance in the country’s legislature, the Knesset.

The bill was introduced after Israel’s Supreme Court determined that Poker was a game of skill and that its outcome was not dependent on luck.

Poker has always been banned in Israel, and any individual engaging in the game illegally could typically face prison time of a year. Those organizing illegal poker games or tournaments were subject to imprisonment for up to three years.

However, the recent ruling made by Supreme Court Judge Neal Hendel categorizes poker as a game of skill.

He cited the practice and popularity of holding poker tournaments and contests as evidence for his statement.

Not long after the ruling was passed,

Sharren Haskel, a member of the Likud Party, came up with a bill requesting the legalization of poker.

The bill promotes poker as a game of skill, in line with the updated definition provided by the Supreme Court.

Additionally, the bill also creates room for the organization of poker tournaments in the country and abroad. As stated earlier, this too has been banned by Israel.

Regulation and tax The bill comes with provisions for regulating the Israeli Poker Players Association (IPPA). The IPPA will be given the duty of organizing international and national poker tournaments. However, the game itself will be overseen by the Finance Ministry.

It will also collect tax revenue from the tournaments held nationally.

According to Haskel, Israeli poker players have brought pride to the

state in several competitions, and now, with the Supreme Court updating the definition and legalizing the game, they should be allowed to take part in tournaments and contests in their own country.

The Knesset has tabled Haskel’s bill, and it is yet to be seen whether or not the bill will gain any support.

Despite the decriminalization of poker, lawmakers are still determined to put an end to illegal gambling services. Gambling in Israel is highly regulated. Just last month, the Tel Aviv District ordered the closure of three gambling websites that targeted Israel audiences.

The ruling was made on the basis of a 2017 law that permitted District Courts to prevent access to unauthorized gambling operations. The sites taken down as a result of the court order were Totobet777, P2V, and Russian bookmaker 1xBet.

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58

Interview with Lee-Ann Johnstone CEO & CO-Founder Affiliate Insider

Lee-Ann as part of our feature this month we are talking about Diversity, to this working in the Affiliate world, what is it like for a woman within the sector?

I think the iGaming industry and par-

ades ago) we were only just learning as

the noise to keep ahead of your com-

we did it. To me, that has been the high-

petition. Managing tough commercial

light of working in this industry, the fact

negotiations is a key part of this job. Af-

that I’ve been part of the history of its

filiate management is not for the faint

evolution and the fact that it is a con-

hearted. To succeed you need to be

stantly changing platform so we are still

resilient in nature. It’s not for every-

learning it!

one, and like in nature, only the strong

ticularly affiliate marketing sector, af-

really survive and go on to build stellar

Do you see the affiliate industry as fair to both men and women in opportunities?

careers. This job is about performance

lies on skills that are not gender specific

I’m fortunate in that I’ve always been

I think this is key when hiring affiliate

such as communication , sales and the

treated fairly during my two decade ca-

staff into your business that you ensure

ability to go with your gut and try new

reer in this space. Then again, if you’ve

the person interviewing has the right

things.

ever met me, you’ll realise I’m no pusho-

aptitude for the job , a hunger to keep

fords great opportunities for women as it’s an even playing field when it comes to the tasks that are performed in this

delivery. Doing the right deals, and taking calculated risk.

role. Being a good affiliate manager re-

ver. I don’t have a problem speaking up

learning and growing their skills and

The digital space is evolving every day

about something I don’t agree with and

can manage difficult conversations to

and therefore it’s also a career that af-

also believe in supporting equal and

succeed. Skills and personality are not

fords you the opportunity to keep learn-

fair opportunities in the work place.

gender specific. I think the affiliate in-

ing new things, to improve and test the

dustry is one that doesn’t really have a

things you are doing and to learn cut-

This industry is competitive. You need

problem with being diverse as a career

ting edge digital techniques on the job.

to be determined to learn , resourceful

channel.

When I started out affiliates (two dec-

to grow and innovative to break through

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59

In your opinion would you recommend the affiliate business to women looking to enter the sector?

has been closed and secretive for too

young graduates to enter the online

long and it’s time for leaders to share

space and learn great foundations for

and teach their accumulated skills, tac-

growing their digital careers. I look at

tics and techniques to help improve the

hiring in graduates to train in my own

development of this channel

business as they bring a wealth of un-

Absolutely, if you love a challenge, can multi task and are a good people person you are the right fit for this role. There is such a diverse career path that can be

derstanding that is fresh and new which

Do you think it is just the online gaming business for affiliates that is different than other sectors?

taken in this channel and that’s really

we use in our marketing efforts to grow our own brands and events.

How do you see the future for the affiliate business for women, is it a land of opportunity?

rare to find these days. The problem is

No, having worked in both retail, finance,

finding a mentor to help you learn your

insurance and iGaming in the affiliate

craft. To my knowledge apart from basic

space, the core skill set required is ex-

training course that deliver the basics

actly the same. Marketers , market. The

I think affiliate marketing is growing

of what an affiliate programme is and

product changes , but the role is always

and there is a lot of opportunity for any-

does, most people are learning this job

the same. Affiliate marketing is no dif-

one entering the sector to create a great

- as they do it. So its key that you enter

ferent. Whilst the content and product

long term career. This industry doesn’t

with a keen mind and a desire to learn

and remuneration models may change

stop. As technology and data advance-

from your colleagues, your boss, your

in each vertical, the core job function

ments are being created the channel

own self lead education and that you

remains the same. Digital marketing is

will evolve and change. New marketing

find someone with a good reputation to

taking over traditional marketing meth-

principals will be developed and you

mentor you through the various levels

ods, and millennials are comfortable in

will continue to learn and grow. I tell

of affiliate management. This industry

this space, it’s a great opportunity for

my staff that affiliate marketing is life

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“

Get yourself down to a Bootcamp as you’ll learn loads from experts and get to meet and network with operators who are invested in doing business with you James P. www.bettingmaestro.com

61 choice, not a career, this isn’t a 9-5 kind of job and if you aren’t genuinely passionate about it, you won’t succeed as to be the best, you have to be constantly learning because it’s constantly changing.

There seems a lot of women working in the sector, how many do you know have reached senior management and do you think it is anything to do with being a man or woman?

I think there are quite a few women who have made it to top CEO positions in this industry, but none of that success is based on gender. The Affiliate space is based on performance, that’s why it’s called performance marketing. The people who have made big careers in this sector have done so because they were incredibly good at what they do.

They deliver revenue and can drive performance via the marketing tactics they implement int heir businesses. Nobody I know ever got to be a Head of affiliates by accident. They’ve had to work very hard and graft to get up to that position. To make it to the top echelons of Affiliate Marketing is something to be

Sure, It’s competitive but that’s what

up a lot of traffic that is currently being

incredibly proud.

I’ve always personally loved about it.

largely ignored.

You of course are a leading figure within the affiliate business, how has the industry treated you, have you seen any instances of sexual in-equality?

Is there anything major you would change about the industry if you had the chance?

We are building programmes to sup-

I have been fortunate enough to work

port this mid tier of affiliate entrepreneurs and helping operators to expand their reach via our various services. Our

There is something I’d like to change

Content hub which talks about what’s

about the industry, and that’s what I’m

happening in the iGaming community

currently doing with AffiliateINSIDER.

from an affiliates perspective. We also

with and be mentored by some incred-

provide digital insights for affiliates to

ibly talented business people, who

There is a need for better transpar-

benefit from to drive more traffic to

always valued my contribution as a

ency between operators and affiliates

their sites. Our live Affiliate Manager

revenue driving marketer in their busi-

and dire need to have skills develop-

coaching days support affiliate manag-

ness. I have not experienced sexual

ment and coaching to help businesses

ers to get the skills and tools they need

in-equality or ever been disrespected

entering the affiliate market in iGam-

to succeed and build better affiliate

by someone in the affiliate community

ing succeed. There is a core problem

relationships. Finally our Affiliate boot-

simply because I’m a woman. I’ve built

with the affiliate space as only the top

camp events, which provide digital in-

a successful career by working hard to

performing affiliates get managed in

sight, business coaching, and personal-

get to where I am today and spent many

operator programmes on the premise

ised networking for affiliates who want

years learning my craft. Success doesn’t

of the 80/20 rule. The problem is that

to grow their businesses.

come easy , in any part of life, and this

the affiliates that fall outside of that 20

industry is no different.

% of volume drivers collectively make

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