Digitain

The casino and sports betting platform provider has recruited Simon Westbury as its head of international business development, bringing a wealth of experience to the role.

Expressing delight to be joining the firm as well as excitement at “ambitious expansion plans,” Westbury’s most recent role was as CCO of VSoftCo where he was responsible for growing the firm’s customer base, strengthening relationships with partners and elevating the brand to become a stand-alone leading supplier within the virtual sports space. 

Suren Khachatryan, CCO at Digitain, said of the appointment: “His proven ability to work with a wide range of commercial stakeholders, as well as his deep understanding of global markets, makes him a perfect fit for us. I’m very confident that he will play a major role in helping us achieve our growth targets and contribute to our success for many years to come.” 

Svenska Spel

Eva Stoppel is to take up the role of CFO at Swedish state-owned gambling operator Svenska Spel, and will formally assume the position on Sunday September 1, 2019.

Forming a part of group management and reporting to the CEO, Stoppel joins from Swedbank after a long career in the Bonnier Group that included being investment director at Bonnier AB, and CFO of Bonnier News, Daily News and Scribona Sverige.

Patrik Hofbauer, president and CEO at Svenska Spel, commented: “I am very happy to welcome Eva Stoppel to Svenska Spel. In addition to her extensive experience as CFO she has valuable expertise in business development and change management. 

“She also has knowledge of digital transformation, something that will be a great asset for us. With Eva, we get a CFO who has all these key elements and who also knows how it is to work in regulated and highly competitive industries”

Of the appointment Stoppel added: “I am very pleased to be entrusted with responsibility for the finance and business support function for Svenska Spel. I hope to contribute with my experience in charge of management and digital transformation in other competitive industries”

Helio Gaming

Lottery games provider Helio Gaming has strengthened its operational arm, with the appointment of Keith Galea as chief operating officer.

Bringing a “demonstrable track record of operational success,” Galea joins Helio from Bit8 where he occupied the chief product officer position, but despite the new role will maintain his position of managing director at his consultancy firm Consult Labs.

Richard Mifsud, CEO at Helio Gaming, stated: “We’re delighted to announce the appointment of Keith as COO. Having invested in Helio Gaming, he understands how we work, and the experience he offers will take us to the next level.

“The addition of Keith will play a major role in helping us achieve our growth targets, and be an important member of the team for many years to come.

Okto Group

Okto Group, the financial technology provider, has appointed Simon Dorsen as director of gaming as it strives to consolidate its presence and drive its growth in the industry.

Set to be supported by “a growing team of gaming experts,” Dorsen joins as the firm sets a vision to gamify the payment experience, and establishing Okto “as the true player’s wallet”.

Filippos Antonopoulos, co-founder of Okto, said of the appointment: “Simon is an industry veteran with a gamer’s heart and the entrepreneurial spirit to drive growth and positive disruption in our industry. We welcome him with delight.

“We have been tailoring our market-leading payments and financial ecosystem to the gaming industry to provide a full-service payments and fintech model. Simon’s proven ability across a wide range of well-known gaming suppliers and operators, as well as his deep understanding of the technology behind it, makes him a perfect fit.

“I firmly believe that he will play a major role in successfully growing our gaming business.”

Bringing 16 years experience across the gaming and payment sectors, Dorsen has previously held senior roles with Trustly, GTech and IGT, where he is credited with establishing the company’s first omni-channel sales team.

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The agreement is set to give a host of Italian operators access to OKTO’s payment solutions for gaming through a seamless integration with ARESWAY’s EOS open platform for VLTs.

As a result, players using ARESWAY VLT machines will now be able to access funds whenever and wherever they want through the utilisation of the OKTO.WALLET mobile payment system.

Simon Dorsen, director of Gaming at OKTO Group said: “ARESWAY’s innovative EOS Open System provides unparalleled penetration in the Italian market, so we are thrilled to bring the company on board as a partner.

“Our cutting-edge technology further enhances ARESWAY’s retail offering, boosting incremental revenue for its operator partners by transforming the player experience”

With over two decades of experience in the Italian gaming industry, ARESWAY develops advanced solutions for the retail betting industry, boasting an engaging in-house gaming suite and innovative open platform for electronic gaming machines.

Fabio Massimo Molinari, CEO at ARESWAY, added: “We are delighted to integrate OKTO’s fast, simple and user-friendly payment system, proven to lengthen session times and attract new customers.

“We pride ourselves on enhancing the player experience for all our operator partners, so integrating OKTO’s world class payment services is a big win for us.”

The retail partnership follows on from the recent OKTO announcement that saw the digital payment and player engagement application specialist strengthen its commercial team with the appointments of Ignacio García del Frade and Dimitar Shopov as country manager Spain and business development manager respectively. 

In their new roles, García del Frade will lead the company’s Spanish operations and help build its client portfolio in the local market, whereas Shopov will take responsibility of securing key partnerships in the gaming, retail and financial industries as well as driving OKTO’s  commercial strategy.

At the time, Dorsen concluded: “The talent we have in our company continues to grow and it is fantastic to see our team expand internationally with individuals that we know will play a major part in OKTO’s journey.

“Ignacio and Dimitar both bring valuable knowledge, skills and expertise to their respective roles and we are positive they will continue to drive our commercial success and business growth.”

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We begin, rather surprisingly, in January. A month of what if’s and numerous predictions (see below), as organisations across all industries gear themselves up for what will, hopefully, be a year of endless success.

Developments across the land-based and online casino ecosystem drew interest throughout the 31-day period, however, impending developments in the UK and the ever burgeoning US market seemed to be at the top of the agenda.

Feature of the month

Towards the end of January CasinoBeats travelled to London to gain key insights into one of the month’s most read stories, as Yggdrasil pledged to offer customers the “keys to its kingdom” via the launch of a new publishing division.

The briefing in the English capital city was fronted by CEO Fredrik Elmqvist and head of
publishing Björn Krantz, who spoke at length, and with great passion, about the potential offered by the venture.

Delivering tools to build, create and offer a complete B2B gaming business, the publishing arm, which developed at pace throughout the year, comes with three core value propositions of YG franchise (platform IP licensing) YG masters (game development and distribution program) and YG game IP (game IP licensing).

When Krantz concluded by proclaiming: “You’ll be able to get four or five stories out of this,” it could be hard to believe the lengthy discussion began over a light Pret a Manger lunch with talk of football, travel and Mexican luchadores.

In the news

January seems like (it was decades ago!) a much more simple time, before full-year strategies became decimated by the impending health crisis. In the gaming ecosystem it was the UK and US which were very much dominating the agenda, with developments on both side of the pond attracting the attention the many.

In the former it was a pair of withdrawals, albeit due to contrasting circumstances, which were among the best performers during the month. LeoVegas cited poor performance in its decision to pull its Royal Panda brand from the UK market, as Max Entertainment, whose flagship online casino brand Slotty Vegas is joined by GoSlotty, Vulkanbet and GGBet in its portfolio, outlined its intention to leave due to Brexit concerns.

Further activity in the region came the way of the Gambling Commission, as the regulator confirmed that a widely-anticipated ban on the use of credit cards across all gambling verticals would be implemented in April.

Elsewhere, a surge in US-focused content saw Vici Properties confirm its $843.3m Jack Entertainment purchase, which the firm acquiring 100 per cent of the membership interest of two subsidiaries of Jack Ohio, which owned the casino-entitled land and real estate and related assets of Jack Cleveland Casino, as well as the racing and video lottery-authorised land and real estate and related assets of Jack Thistledown Racino.

Further interest in the region came the way of Konami Gaming, which was selected by Virgin Voyages to provide its Synkros casino management system for its founding fleet of luxury cruise liners.

Virgin Voyages had announced plans to launch four ships, leading with the Scarlet Lady which was scheduled to set sail in April 2020, with Synkros to power gaming operations for its first three cruise ships. Due to 2020’s unexpected circumstances, the Scarlet Lady is now set for its maiden voyage in May 2021.

Recommended reading

We close the first month with a trio of predictions for the year ahead. Firstly Rachel Swann, commercial director at 3radical, identified the key digital marketing trends to look out for, with Simon Dorsen, director of gaming at Okto Group, pondering if 2020 is the year of the cashless revolution.

Video of the month

To continue the theme set forth above, at the SBC Awards 2019 we asked a number on industry stakeholders what challenges 2020 could bring.

The post UKGC, Yggdrasil, LeoVegas and Konami: <br> January in gaming appeared first on CasinoBeats.

Much has been written of the accelerating pace of uptake regarding card and contactless payments, with speed, safety and security often pinpointed a key trio of attributes responsible, with adaption to the coronavirus crisis also playing a part in the exponential growth.

Simon Dorsen, director of gaming at Okto Group, continues on a theme set earlier in the year and a belief that this year could well see a further shift in a digital age where operators reap the rewards of the latest payments technology.

CasinoBeats: At the start of the year in an interview with yourself we published an article posing the question “Is 2020 the year of the cashless revolution?” We’re now over five months on and much has happened, what update/s would you have regarding this?

Simon Dorsen: I made a really bold prediction five months ago that 2020 is the year that cash is no longer king and today I am going to double down on that statement. Payment preferences are heavily driven by consumer habits and the coronavirus pandemic is having a major impact here, strengthening or drastically changing long-held habits towards cashless payments.    

According to all recent reports and metrics, COVID-19 is impacting cash as its use has fallen significantly and people make a long-term switch to digital and mobile payment methods.  

This is largely driven by governments and retailers across the world, encouraging cashless payments. This shift should not be underestimated, as cashless transactions become the norm and rapidly impact niche industries such as ours. 

Our industry must acknowledge this consumer preference shift that is affecting even the older and more traditional player demographics. I strongly believe that the new ‘norm,’ whatever that is, includes a strong player cashless preference and it will be evident as soon as operators open their doors again.

Casinos and sports betting operators should respond fast to the changing retail gaming and betting marketplace to reap the rewards. We’re here to support our operator partners, providing them with a flexible cashless solution that requires minimal effort from the operator side and no up-front capex and enabling a safe transactional experience the player demands.

CB: What effect has the current health crisis had on yourselves?

SD: This is much more than a global health crisis. It’s a human, economic and social crisis and affects all segments of the population. But, we are very optimistic, our employees are more passionate than ever to perfect our solutions and get them to market.

Businesses and communities in many regions, including Greece, have shown a more proactive and altruistic response in the face of crisis – actions which could help to react to market changes. This is exactly what we are doing. We have the sense that ‘we’re all in this together’ and our goal is to face the challenges along with our operator partners. 

CB: The long term COVID-19 impacts on the gaming industry is understandably a hot topic of conversation, what do you believe the lasting effect will be? 

SD: The current conditions are by no means great, but COVID-19 will not last forever. Eventually, regions and business will prevail and things will be restored. 

Naturally, we are seeing that players’ habits are shifting and social distancing measures are already in place. It seems also that these conditions are poised to accelerate or intensify many economic trends that were already underway, with huge implications of their own.

Cashless society is one of these trends that the crisis jump stepped. We have made further large steps towards a cashless society in just a few months, what might have taken over a decade under normal conditions.

What is important for now is to understand that we face a new reality and determine what course of actions needs to be taken. Okto is well-prepared and ready to consult and help operators, providing them with solutions for this new reality. 

CB: What benefits could be felt by those operators that embrace a ‘cashless revolution’? Is cash still king for gaming operators?

SD: There are several advantages to being embraced in the cashless revolution. First, operators should cover social responsibility and keep both players and employees safe. Opting for cashless payment is a sure bet.

For us here at Okto ‘cashless’ as a phrase means a full end to end experience for both the player and the operator, having also in mind that our solutions are open-loop and universal. A few buzz words here but its seems to be a necessity lately. Let me explain and give some insights.  

Operators are familiar with traditional cashless solutions that reduce or substituting cash within the gaming venue, but with these, the imperative issue remains unsolved, as cash is still being deposited and paid out before and after the gaming session. Okto.Wallet solves exactly that issue. We are able to cover cashless demand within the venue while also we replace the cash deposit and payout with end-to-end instant digital transactions, removing or reducing cash handling in the venue. 

When it comes to open-loop, the key benefit of Okto.Wallet is that players have the freedom to use it as they wish, not just within the gaming venue. Therefore, players obviously veer towards an app that is compatible, paying money anywhere and everywhere!

This last point possibly sounds counter-intuitive to some gaming operators, however, the feedback I receive from the majority of operators when presenting the Okto.Wallet universal usability is overwhelmingly positive. 

There is also the cost reduction, which will matter even more now. By providing an entirely paperless experience and reducing cash holding needs, operators can generate savings on operational and cash management overheads.  

Adding here also the continuing dominance of the digital age. Not only is it more relevant to the demands of today’s player and gives players frictionless, safe, fast, more instant access to gaming funds, payouts, improving and increasing gameplay, but also attracts younger audiences. 

I’m betting that the world that emerges from the crisis will be transformed, yes, but for better. 

The post Simon Dorsen: <br> The cashless imperative appeared first on CasinoBeats.

Lauding a great year for technology during 2019, particularly for the mobile gaming sector, Dorsen stresses that the “wallet revolution is already mainstream” as a reminder is sent to operators of the importance of paying attention to regulatory hurdles.

Making a bold prediction to CasinoBeats regarding the year ahead he stated: “I’m going to go big here and say that 2020 is the year that cash is no longer king. As it stands, the cost of carrying cash for gaming operators is increasing significantly, and many are having to ‘float’ a large portion of cash to regular players that keep regularly coming back within a short period. This needs to change.

“As ever, regulation will be where the buck starts and stops”

“For operators, the cash ‘float’ isn’t sustainable, and for players, elongated withdrawal times in a digital age are proving to be a significant pain point. Today’s demographic wants the freedom to receive their money fast and in a safe, secure way that allows them to spend it how and when they choose. 

“If operators want to stay ahead in 2020, they need to work with licensed, innovative companies that understand both gaming and fintech, and can deliver on the latest in payments technology. I predict that operators that adapt first and begin to embrace the cashless revolution now will be reaping the rewards come end of the year.”

Continuing to look ahead to the next 12 months, Dorsen, who spoke at last year’s Payment Expert Forum at Olympia London on betting’s future relationship with fintech, suggests different licenses are required to limit the movement of funds between retail and online.

“As ever, regulation will be where the buck starts and stops, and the importance of paying attention to regulatory hurdles in 2020 should never be underestimated by operators,” he says. “Europe in particular is a true patchwork of regulatory regimes. Separate licenses for online and retail that limit movement of funds between the channels are essential. 

“This is none more so the case than when it comes to AML and KYC procedures. Gaming operators who are scrambling to solve these solutions themselves would do well to invite an expert to provide the answer for them. By bringing in an already certified solution, you’re good to go across multiple markets with a ready-made provider that already has the required regulatory approval. 

“With the relevant licences, PSPs are well positioned to integrate onboarding and identity checks into the overall payments process, leveraging the best technology and security software available. Choosing the right partner can help operators optimise the identification process in a compliant and cost-effective manner that actually boosts customer engagement and helps establish a trusting relationship from the get-go.”

“The wallet revolution is already mainstream”

To conclude, Dorsen takes a look back to 2019 and a period which sees technological advancements progress at an even quicker rate than adoption: “It’s been a great year for new technology, especially when it comes to mobile gaming. The industry has developed in leaps and bounds over the past year, and we’re seeing plenty of new opportunities emerge for us as digital wallet tech continues to go mainstream. 

“The wallet revolution is already mainstream, as we’ve seen with Revolut and Apple Pay achieving high adoption. Gaming and betting operators are becoming increasingly interested in understanding how they can leverage our OKTO.WALLET to streamline operations and minimise costs.

“When it comes to the customer, we’re seeing a rapid uptake. Mobile transactions already account for 54 per cent of digital payments in Europe and are growing globally by 10 per cent. With technology advancing at an even quicker pace than adoption, payment solutions are offering a whole new level of convenience for customers dedicated to reducing friction in gaming transactions.

“Fast payouts build brand trust with the player, driving repeat betting, visitation and deposit ratios, and I’m looking forward to seeing operators continuing to capitalise on that in 2020.”

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