The successful transformation of a major gambling business requires both an injection of the latest technology and a reimagining of the corporate culture, evoke CEO Per Widerström reveals all in the new edition of SBC Leaders magazine.
Issue 32 of the magazine includes an in-depth feature about the future of the custodian of the William Hill and 888 brands, in which Widerström and Chief Strategy Officer Vaughan Lewis detail the difficult steps they are taking to get the business back on track after a troubled period.
While the decision to rename the plc evoke is perhaps the most eye-catching step, the company is also undergoing an extensive restructuring programme designed to combine the strengths of its two internationally-recognised brands, together with a revamp of the executive team.
Widerström remains keen to see further change though, telling SBC Leaders: “When we are looking ahead with our value creation plan – the new strategy – we are instigating a new way of operation, which is more data-driven and more integrated with intelligent automation.
“Of course, then we are building a new culture as we go along. It is an ongoing process to make sure you have a fit for purpose, future-proofed culture and way of behaving in any living organisation in order to stay top in the industry.”
Elsewhere in the magazine, cover star Marina Ilina, the CEO of Pin-Up Global, shares her views on what lawmakers get wrong when creating regulated markets or updating regulatory regimes.
“More often than not, states think that if businesses are tightened up with mandatory deductions, it will be good for the country,” Ilina says.
“In reality, however, operators are very good at counting money. Licensed operators will not work in the countries where taxation, for example, mandates withholding winnings from the player, but does not regulate the grey market. Players themselves will not play in licensed products.”
Readers can also look forward to interviews with a number of other high-profile figures in the industry. Betfred’s incoming Chief Intelligence Officer Andrew Daniels discusses plans to use the operator’s all-new tech division to replicate its retail success on digital channels, while LiveScore Group’s General Counsel Rani Wynn examines whether marketing regulations are hampering the promotion of safer gambling practices.
Bulgaria’s gambling regulator Alexander Popov explains his plan to tackle the black market, while PressEnter Group’s Head of Payments Sean Spiteri discusses technological developments in the payments space. Amit Berkovich, evoke’s Head of Poker, calls for greater innovation to give the game a new lease of life, and Christoffer Andersson, Chief Operating Officer at 500 Casino explains why he believes the recent changes to Curaçao’s regulation will be a good thing.
There is also an in-depth look at the international furore about gambling advertising, a deep dive into the growing threat of AI-powered fraud, an evaluation of whether the sweepstakes model can successfully transfer from the US to international markets, and much, much more.
Click here to read the digital version of SBC Leaders Issue 32 or pick up a print copy at SBC Summit in Lisbon.
The New South Wales’ gambling regulator, Liquor & Gaming NSW, has conducted checks across several venues in the Australian state to ensure compliance with new gaming harm minimisation measures.
Throughout July and August, 528 NSW hotels and clubs were visited by inspectors to check they were complying with the new requirements regarding responsible gaming officers, gambling incident registers, ATM signage and gaming plans of management,
These requirements are part of the authority’s commitment to “deliver evidence-based reform that helps prevent gambling harm and money laundering and supports local communities and jobs”.
The checks took place ahead of additional training requirements coming into force for senior staff of licensed venues later this year. Senior staff – club secretaries, club directors, hotel licensees, hotel managers and staff who are responsible for the management of gaming operations – will have to undertake gaming harm minimisation training.
With the training, senior staff members will be able to identify “the practical skills to identify and proactively intervene when patrons are showing signs of gambling harm”.
According to data from Liquor and Gaming NSW, since 1 July, 93% of venues are complying with new measures required, with most of the breaches being related to ATM signage requirements. Inspectors are continuing their work to make sure the industry knows of its obligations and is compliant with the new requirements.
“Inspectors are focusing on Gaming Plans of Management to ensure they have the required content included, as well as testing that the policies and procedures in the plan are being adhered to,” commented Jane Lin, Liquor & Gaming NSW Executive Director Regulatory Operations.
“It’s important that venues not only have a plan prepared but ensure their staff are aware of the contents and are checking to make sure it is being complied with.”
Over the past few months, gaming operations in NSW have been required to implement new measures as part of several gambling reforms.
From 1 July, venues have been required to maintain and conduct monthly reviews of a Gambling incident register, taking account of instances of potential or actual gambling harm identified in the venue. Responsible gaming officers have also been introduced in hotels and clubs with over 20 gaming machine entitlements.
Since the beginning of September, venues have been required to produce and maintain a gaming plan of management, updated at least annually.
From the beginning of next year, ATMs must be located outside of a five-metre radius of any entrance or exit of a gaming area in a hotel or club. In some cases, if a venue can’t comply with this requirement, they can seek an exemption from Liquor & Gaming NSW.
