iGaming Industry
Riga Gaming Congress: speaker interview with Steve Donoughue
Steve Donoughue: A well-regulated and taxable industry is the best development option
Running a gambling business abroad not knowing the subtleties of its legislative regulation in a specific country is a huge risk for an entrepreneur. To avoid negative consequences, you should always consult industry experts.
One of them is Steve Donoughue, a consultant on business strategies and policies in the gambling industry. We talked to him about the specifics of his work, unusual situations with customers, and discussed which countries have the most loyal policy towards gambling business.
Steve! Could you please tell us about your responsibilities as a business strategies and policy consultant for the gambling industry?
I do four types of work.
I am a management consultant who specializes in gambling. I do strategic work for operators, such as casino feasibility studies, white papers and market entry strategies. I also provide licensing and compliance advice, so I help people get online gambling licenses in the UK and then advise them on how to stay compliant with UK regulations.
I am also in my final year as a PhD student and I am writing about the Gambling Act 2005, which is the law that governs Britain’s gambling industry, why it happened and the impact it has had. I’ve been researching it for four years and I’m writing the final chapter.
I am the Secretariat of the Parliamentary All Party Betting & Gaming Group. This means I look after 40 members of the British Parliament who are interested in gambling. I arrange a series of seminars that are held in Parliament where we get members of the industry and associated stakeholders to discuss topics of interest to do with gambling in front of an invited audience of Parliamentarians and members of the UK gambling industry.
Over the 20 years of experience, what were the most controversial events that you’ve encountered during your work?
The really controversial stuff is kept secret. A management consultant is like a doctor and keeps his clients’ secrets secret!
The most interesting work I do is when I am advising governments as then you are dealing with the very heart of the big issues about gambling: How much? What kind? Who can provide? Who will regulate it and how? You usually only have one go at it because governments have bigger priorities than just gambling and then there is always the fun of dealing with the anti-gamblers.
Are there any organizations that you’d particularly like to work with in the future?
I would love to work with governments in Eastern Europe because I find the countries fascinating and the people so much fun.
I also like working with governments in the Caribbean!
In your opinion, what European country has the most gambling-friendly policy?
I think the UK is probably one of the best of the big countries but it is getting less gambling-friendly. The wonderful thing about gambling politics is that things never stay the same. It’s like a pendulum, some years countries love gambling, some years they hate it. It depends on the relationships the gambling industry has with the government and also how much gambling has become a political issue.
Small countries, like Malta, which have a large proportion of their economy based on gambling, will always be gambling-friendly.
And if we’re talking about the whole world?
Fortunately, for our business the majority of the world is still developing when it comes to gambling. This doesn’t particularly mean they’re gambling-friendly, just that there are opportunities out there. Hopefully, countries realize that having well-regulated and taxed gambling industries is the best way forward.
What interesting issues will you be addressing as part of your presentation at Riga Gaming Congress?
I hope all I have to say will be of interest! I will be comparing Latvian regulation with the UK and, hopefully, showing how both countries can learn from each other.…
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Source: EEGaming.
Pragmatic Play, a leading content supplier to the iGaming industry, has reinforced its commitment to Latin American expansion by strengthening its existing relationship with Colombian operator FullReto.
The latest agreement will see FullReto offer its players a broad selection of Pragmatic Play’s unique Virtual Sports titles, building on an already extensive offering of over 300 Slots and Live Casino games.
Fantastic League, Greyhound Racing, and the thrilling motor racing-themed Force 1 are among the games now available to FullReto customers as the operator looks to capitalise on the rapidly increasing popularity of Virtual Sports to consolidate its position as a leading platform in Colombia.
The multi-product partnership reaffirms Pragmatic Play’s intentions to expand its offering in the LatAm markets, with FullReto now offering a vast catalogue of Pragmatic’s award-winning games across three verticals.
Victor Arias, Vice President of Latin American Operations at ARRISE powering Pragmatic Play, said: “Pragmatic Play is delighted to reinforce its partnership with FullReto by providing its players with access to its renowned Virtual Sports games. The deal not only emphasises Pragmatic Play’s desire to provide Colombian players with an exciting online gaming experience, but also demonstrates the supplier’s dedication to furthering its Latin American expansion.”
Andrés Tamayo, General Manager at FullReto, said: “FullReto’s continued collaboration with Pragmatic Play highlights our main objective of supplying the optimal player experience. The addition of Pragmatic Play’s Virtual Sports offering, on top of its Slots and Live Casino games, will ensure FullReto players have access to hundreds of fan-favourite games across a variety of verticals.”
Pragmatic Play, a leading content supplier to the iGaming industry, has expanded its Live Casino footprint across Peru after going live with major local operator, Atlantic City.
The partnership sees Pragmatic Play’s full Live Casino portfolio integrated with the operator, enabling players in Peru to enjoy market-leading titles such as Blackjack, Roulette, and Baccarat from the supplier’s award-winning portfolio.
This latest agreement showcases Pragmatic Play’s plans for growth in LatAm, exhibiting an array of its verticals across multiple territories in recent months. It is the latest deal signed by Pragmatic Play with a Peruvian operator, following a comprehensive growth strategy in the country.
Victor Arias, Vice President of Latin American Operations at ARRISE powering Pragmatic Play, said: “Atlantic City is one of Peru’s most reputable operators and offers another opportunity to showcase the Pragmatic Play Live Casino portfolio in Peru. With an offering that will deliver exceptional gaming experiences to players, this partnership promises to cement Pragmatic Play’s position at the forefront of the Peruvian iGaming industry.”
Alonso Huiman, Chief of Online Casino at Atlantic City, said: “This landmark agreement with Pragmatic Play is a pivotal moment for us. Its vast selection of table and card games will resonate seamlessly with our player base and we are confident that this will propel our brand to new heights.”
Pragmatic Play, a leading content supplier to the iGaming industry, is set to participate in CGS Santiago this month, as the provider seeks further inroads across the continent.
The provider is also the standalone Diamond Sponsor at the event, which takes place at Espacio Riesco in the country’s capital, Santiago, on May 29 and 30.
Pragmatic Play is set to attend the event as a renowned actor in the market, for its multi-product offering, comprising Slots, Live Casino content, Virtual Sports, Sportsbook, and Bingo, including fan-favorite titles Gates of Olympus and the popular Blackjack X.
With expo season now in full swing, CGS Santiago marks another conference in the region for the supplier, following its presence at BiS – SiGMA Americas in Brazil, GAT Expo in Colombia, and SBC Summit Rio earlier this year.
Victor Arias, Vice President of Latin American Operations at ARRISE powering Pragmatic Play, said: “Latin America remains a key focus for Pragmatic Play as it gears up to make meaningful connections in Chile, a region full of potential as the iGaming industry continues to evolve in this part of the world. Pragmatic Play is also proud to be a Diamond Sponsor at this year’s expo, showcasing the importance that CGS Santiago represents and the immense opportunities that the two-day event has on offer.”
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