SBC News Voice of the Sports Betting Industry
Its time to meet our latest London Baby Sponsor Realex Payments! Corporate Sales Manager Ian Nicholson explains what his firm has in store for ICE Totally Gaming and London Baby!
SBC: What key topics and discussion do you feel will dominate the industry in agenda in 2015?
Ian: Regulation will continue to evolve in many regions as governments seek to reap tax revenues from online gaming while protecting consumers. Momentum has already built both in the EU and the US. These trends will take much longer to emerge in Asia and Latin America but have begun to appear on the agenda.
Expect further consolidation as the ‘giants’ continue to grab opportunities and build on their existing achievements. Liquidity is a key issue for operators. Cross border gaming is much discussed as a possible way to build the revenue liquidity required for sustainability.
As in 2014, mobile and tablet will continue to trend as the preferred device for gaming. We will continue to see innovative games and developments in this fast moving industry.
From a payments perspective, could we see digital currencies enter the mainstream? The hype doesn’t seem to be subsiding in any way, and operators / regulators are starting to develop offerings to support Bitcoin.
SBC: Which new technology, service or consumer trend will have the biggest impact on the iGaming industry in 2015?
Ian POCT (Point of Consumption Tax) will play a part in 2015 as operators feel the impact of additional UK tax. This could be a drive for consolidation and could see the old firms regain some of their legacy players.
Over the last 14 years, Realex Payments has built the expertise and infrastructure to support iGaming operators. Its reliable and robust payment platform and its ability to react to the demands of complex and challenging requirements, has attracted global operators.
SBC: What has your company and its services and operations learned from 2014?
Ian: We have learned that mobile stability and diversification into emerging markets, such as Latin America and the South East, are points of interest for gaming operators at the moment and that we must provide the necessary support.
SBC: What new products will your company be delivering in 2015?
Ian: Realex Payments will expand its alternative payment offerings, with digital currencies and peer to peer solutions in particular, as well as our acquiring breadth to ensure that our online gaming clients continue to receive the best rates and the most flexible support options.
SBC: Why have you chosen to begin 2015 by sponsoring London Baby 2015?
Ian: Sport Betting Community’s London Baby brings together the cream of the sports betting industry, allowing them to network in a relaxed environment. This is a great opportunity to spend some time with existing clients and to start new business relationships.
SBC: Finally can you give SBC readers one industry prediction for 2015?
Ian Payment services are changing beyond all recognition. In 2015, we predict that technology and innovation will be driven forward, with a view to generating important revenue streams and cutting risks for established and emerging iGaming businesses.
The world has gone digital and we already store many of our documents in the cloud and access money through our phones. We use these technologies in our everyday life. What players and businesses want is easy, accessible, secure and cost efficient transactions. Realex Payments continues to develop in the ever demanding space and our platform continuously helps businesses overcome barriers by delivering cost effective payments solutions.
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