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EIG 2015 – David Mills: Matchbook – Why incubators are the next big industry idea

SBC News EIG 2015 - David Mills: Matchbook - Why incubators are the next big industry idea

Bigger companies and more competition across the market mean it’s a great time to be an innovator in the gaming industry, according to David Mills, head of Matchbook’s mLabs incubator. Mills, who is also head of research for the betting exchange, was speaking ahead of Matchbok’s participation at next month’s EiG event in Berlin, where his colleague Derek Coetzee will …

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Brazil rethinks gambling agenda as recession looms

SBC News Brazil rethinks gambling agenda as recession looms

A month after stalling the progress of its review on regulated fixed-odds sports betting (Legislation – 671-2015), it appears that Brazilian lawmakers and congress are prepared to push for a nationwide gambling regulatory framework. Faced with the nation’s worst economic recession in 25 years, Brazil’s central bank last week forecasted that its economy will shrink by 2.5-2.7%. The cash strapped …

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Alex Fletcher eSports Insider – eSports Marketing: Developing the ‘Star Power’

SBC News Alex Fletcher eSports Insider – eSports Marketing: Developing the 'Star Power'

In the final part of his eSports series for SBCNews,  Alex Fletcher (Founder of Entive Group) examines the development of gamers as the burgeoning sports figureheads and brand influencers. Fletcher notes that creating “star power” may be eSports  most interesting and under developed marketing assets _______________________________ The often staggeringly large player bases of the more popular eSports titles put top …

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David Clifton – Licensing Expert – Consolidation imposes a potentially heavy workload on the Competition & Markets Authority

SBC News David Clifton - Licensing Expert - Consolidation imposes a potentially heavy workload on the Competition & Markets Authority

Consolidation within the betting industry, propelled by tougher regulatory requirements and higher rates of tax, has been hitting the headlines in recent months, with Ladbrokes and Coral, Betfair and Paddy Power, Bwin.party and 888/GVC leading the charge. Taking the first of those as an example, a combination of Ladbrokes 2,209 betting shops at the end of 2014 and Coral’s 1,834 …

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David Newstead – The death & rebirth of the betting shop machine

SBC News David Newstead - The death & rebirth of the betting shop machine

With the rise of online sports betting and the proliferation of high end, multi-function gaming cabinets, will betting shops as we know them soon cease to exist? Igaming games and product developer David Newstead  Probability Jones examines the current state of affairs…. Are betting shops changing? A couple of decades ago, turf accountant shops were smoky dens, full of small disposable …

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Alex Fletcher – eSports Insider – eSports Marketing: Terms & Conditions…

Continuing SBC eSports Insider series, industry analyst and commentator Alex Fletcher (Founder of Entive Group) details the sectors unique characteristics and conditions which can create both marketing opportunities and pitfalls for its ambitious business incumbents….. To define eSports marketing, it is imperative to identify its distinguishing characteristics. As a competitive activity, enjoyed by millions across the globe, eSports carries several identifiable elements. Below is a …

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Scott Longley – What’s Next For The Exchange Game

SBC News Scott Longley - What's Next For The Exchange Game

The brevity of the statement for the proposed merger of Betfair and Paddy Power stood in contrast to the magnitude of the deal. Among the questions left unanswered by the announcement of a gaming and betting giant with combined historic revenues of £1.1bn are what it would mean for the Betfair betting exchange business….Scott Longley examines ________________________ Though it is …

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Oisin Lunny: How the market leaders are getting phygital

SBC News Oisin Lunny: How the market leaders are getting phygital

Oisin Lunny, Senior Market Development Manager at OpenMarket, takes a look at how some retail companies are bridging the gap between the physical and the digital worlds. Certain words or phrases may irritate you, but they are often useful nonetheless. SoLoMo (SOcial, LOcal, MObile) and phygital (PHYsical + diGITIAL) would be two terms that instantly raise my hackles. But, together …

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