Conferences in Europe
iGaming leaders in confident mood at KPMG Gibraltar eSummit
More than 300 delegates met in Gibraltar at the KPMG eSummit 2018 which took place on the Sunborn Yacht last week, to learn more about the future for iGaming and blockchain.
The Summit is one of the year’s highligt for all those linked to the iGaming industry in Gibraltar. The 2018 summit was also a must go event to those who are working hard to to position Gibraltar as an emerging Fintech hub. the most important topics were: Brexit, the evolving regulatory landscape with particular reference to DLT (distributed ledger technology) and tokens, PASPA in the USA, customer protection, industry and jurisdisction predictions and market developments.
After a welcome from KPMG’s Micky Swindale, founder of the eSummit events, the conference was opened by Gibraltar’s Minister for Commerce, the Hon. Albert Isola, who was upbeat in his assessment that “the iGaming industry in Gibraltar remains in excellent health and order”. Minister Isola observed that both new and established providers continue to apply for licenses and that over 3,250 people are directly employed by the industry in Gibraltar, with half as many again employed in support services.
Whilst acknowledging that Brexit has created uncertainty, it was clear, he said, that progress was being made with the UK Government to “square the circles”, adding that “only Gibraltar has guaranteed access to UK markets post Brexit”.
Minister Isola also took the opportunity to present KPMG recognition awards to two long-standing stalwarts of the Gibraltar eGaming community: outgoing Gambling Commissioner Phill Brear and former CEO of Burford Group and 888 John Anderson. The Minister commented that it was “impossible to separate Phill Brear’s work from our success as a gaming jurisdiction” and commended Mr Anderson as “an unsung hero” who had provided “excellent service to the industry and jurisdiction for over 40 years”. Both men were presented with commemorative wood carvings in the shape of gaming chips.
Phill Brear then took to the stage himself to give a regulatory overview, reflecting that Gibraltar’s success in the iGaming industry had been largely down to who it had chosen to licence and the professionalism of operators who were prepared to engage and listen to each other. His successor Andrew Lyman then outlined his impressions of his first 100 days in the job, and assured delegates that the Gambling Commission would continue to work closely with operators to remain a supportive regulatory regime.
Sian Jones, senior advisor to the Gibraltar Financial Services Commission, provided a fascinating insight into the burgeoning DLT sector in Gibraltar and the practicalities of legislating for an industry that is still being formed. She revealed that 30 applications have been received for DLT licences in Gibraltar with the first expected to be issued this summer. Sian also discussed the Commission’s ongoing work around regulating tokenised digital assets and Initial Coin Offerings.
In one of the two IMGL Masterclass sessions, KPMG Brexit advisor Mark Essex took to the stage to host a panel discussion on Brexit looking at the potential implications of UK’s departure from the EU and the transition period for Gibraltar. Panellists agreed that it was important to plan for a number of different outcomes but avoid committing too early to any major change ahead of the final agreement on a deal. This session also included a poll of delegates that revealed “ensuring free movement across the border” is currently considered the single most important factor in Brexit outcomes for Gibraltarian operators.
The second Masterclass was led by Richard Schuetz, who has worked both as an operator and a regulator in the US gambling industry. He gave an entertaining account of his experience with some useful tips on building relationships and the wisdom of staying onside with regulators.
In the afternoon delegates had a choice of attending breakout sessions which included an update on data protection from local law firm Hassans, cyber security benchmarking from Neil Coutts at KPMG and gender diversity in technology from the Gibraltar Girls in Tech team. Sessions on crypto funds and a panel discussion on Gibraltar’s proposition for Fintech were also well attended.
In the main conference area, in the fabulous surroundings of the Sunborn’s ballroom, the iGaming conference programme continued with a market update from Simon French of Cenkos Securities, who also hosted a panel discussion on M&A activity. Delegates were then introduced to HABET, a virtual world treatment currently in development for gambling disorders, followed by a panel discussion on protecting vulnerable customers. Andrew Lyman led the traditional industry outlook panel at the end of the day before delegates retired to the Sunborn’s sun deck for drinks, informal chat and networking opportunities.
The KPMG eSummits are recognised as leading industry events and take place with the help of a number of generous sponsors including HM Government of Gibraltar, Continent 8, Gibtelecom, Hassans, Mishcon de Reya, SMP, ISOLAS, Microgaming and Kompli-Global.
Speaking after the event, KPMG’s Global Head of Leisure Will Hawkley said it had been another day of highly valuable education and discussion for all those who had attended. “With events moving at such a pace, and external pressures such as Brexit and evolving legislation still creating uncertainty, it is extremely helpful and constructive to have an opportunity to reflect on how the industry in Gibraltar has progressed to date and where we would all like it to go in the future.
“It is very encouraging to see such a positive picture emerging and I’m extremely grateful to all our clients and speakers for sharing their insights and providing thought leadership on such an important range of topics.”
Conferences in Europe
Aviatrix approved for Sweden take-off
Award-winning crash game Aviatrix has been certified and licensed in Sweden, as it continues its tour of major, regulated European jurisdictions.
As well as being certified, Aviatrix has been granted a B2B licence from the Swedish regulator Spelinspektionen, meaning it can now provide the game to licensed operators in the country.
Anastasia Rimskaya, Chief Account Officer at Aviatrix, said: “We’ve been busy over the last few months gaining the relevant licences and certifications to bring Aviatrix to regulated markets across Europe. Sweden was always a high priority. We know players there appreciate games that provide something a little different, and we’re always looking to innovate. We can’t wait to see players in the country enjoying Aviatrix.”
During Q2 2024, Swedish online gaming revenues reached almost 400 million euros, the highest quarter since records began. The market has quickly become one of the most appealing in Europe.
Operators in Sweden looking to find an edge will now be able to turn to Aviatrix, a unique product that combines a traditional crash game with innovative NFT mechanics.
Conferences in Europe
Head of Communications Eugene Ravdin to represent MightyTips at SiGMA Europe
MightyTips’ Head of Communications and Marketing, Eugene Ravdin, will be heading to Malta in mid-November to participate in four panels at the SiGMA Europe.
He will speak on a “Metaverse and gaming elements entering the world of traditional sports” panel on November 12th before moderating discussions on “Betting on Influence: How Social Media Stars Are Shaking Up the Game” and “Promoting responsible gaming through affiliate channels” the following day. The former UEFA.com editor will then host a “Community Casting and Esports 2.0” panel on November 14th.
“Four panels in three days will be intense but it is also a great chance to meet new people, broaden your outlook, and represent our company as a competent and trustworthy partner,” Eugene Ravdin said. “So I’m looking forward to attending SIGMA Europe. It’s an absolutely crucial event for our industry and one of those unmissable weeks of the year.”
About the panels
Ravdin’s first assignment will see him join a panel of experts at the AIBC Stage to speak on the subject of “Metaverse and gaming elements entering the world of traditional sports”. He will be joined by Dean Akinjobi (Football Media), Richard Bron (Concorde Media), and Tom Vechy Vecsernyes (Seyu Solutions).
The panel will be moderated by Blocksport AG’s COO Samir Ceric and will focus on how traditional sports such as football are undergoing a digital revolution and are being impacted by the latest cutting-edge technology.
The following day, Eugene Ravdin will move from speaker to moderator as he chairs two panels at the SIGMA Stage. The first one is “Betting on Influence: How Social Media Stars Are Shaking Up the Game” featuring Jon Vlogs (Jon Bet), Raquel “Freestyle” Benetti (ALOB Sports), and Seif El Hakim (The Alpha Movement).
This panel will ponder how influencers are reshaping the communication strategies of betting companies, positioning themselves as pivotal figures in engaging and expanding audiences.
Another panel is “Promoting responsible gaming through affiliate channels”. It will feature Jekaterina Dubnicka (Slotsjudge), Vasilii Gamov (PeakyAds), and Alessandro Gherardi (Fomento Agency).
This panel will ruminate on the subject of how affiliates can find ways to promote responsible gaming by utilising a variety of actionable approaches and techniques.
On November 14th, the MightyTips Head of Communications and Marketing will be back on the SIGMA Stage to moderate a panel on the subject of “Community Casting and eSports 2.0”. Joining him will be Daniel Finkler (Berlin International Gaming), Chris Cachia (Bloxx Bureau), and Kersten James Chircop (GMR).
Conferences in Europe
Salsa to showcase its LatAm gateway credentials at SiGMA Europe
Salsa Technology will attend SiGMA Europe, taking place from 12th to 14th November in Valletta, Malta, with the aim of establishing and strengthening partnerships with game providers expanding into the Latin American market. Representing the company at the event will be Head of Marketing & Sales, Eliane Nunes, and Operations & Support Manager, Cathiussa Canez.
Salsa Technology’s content aggregator, Salsa Gator, has positioned itself as a strategic bridge for providers seeking to replicate their success from other regulated markets in Brazil and other LatAm countries, such as Peru. With a specially curated content portfolio tailored for local players and features designed to simplify operations for local operators, the aggregator provides access to a library of over 19,000 certified games from top studios. Each is aligned with the regulatory requirements of the region, all through a single integration.
Expanding into Latin America, however, brings challenges that go beyond simple content translation. The region, much like Brazil, stands out for its cultural diversity and nuances that demand a personalised approach.
Eliane Nunes, Salsa Technology’s Head of Marketing & Sales, commented: “Simply reskinning games doesn’t work here. It’s essential for providers to adapt their offerings so content resonates with the local audience. Salsa offers far more than just a content distribution platform; we are a strategic partner focused on maximising operational impact in Latin America, building a solid connection between providers and operators.”
In addition to the advantages that Salsa Gator offers providers and operators, Salsa’s executives will be available to discuss other LatAm-focused solutions, such as Salsa’s PAM platform, Salsa Omni. Certified by GLI and already operational in Brazil’s regulated market, Salsa Omni provides operators with flexibility and autonomy through a robust and intuitive back office.
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