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Agenda


An ‘orgy’ of sports is how one bookmaker is anticipating the next month and it is clear to see the onset of the new football season is a game changer.


Ante Post: What the bookies say T


here’s something for everyone in an extremely busy period that promises to be


great for business. The new football season gets under- way, with Arsenal v Liver- pool on 20 August one of the early blockbusters we can look forward to. England are also in action as they bid to secure their place at next summer’s European Cham- pionships, something we all want them to achieve. It’s not all about the big round ball, though, as England’s cricketers con- tinue their quest to become the best Test team in the world with a series against India, while Andy Murray has one more chance to end his Major hoodoo this year in the season’s final Grand Slam event, the US Open. The world’s best golfers will also be seeking Major glory across the Atlantic, in the USA PGA in Georgia, while back home, the high- light of the racing action takes place on York’s Knavesmire, and the first Sat-


urday Ebor.


DAVID STEVENS Head of PR Coral


The orgy of great sporting action in the coming month reminds me what I love about working in this industry. The betting opportunities are endless. Starting with cricket, we look to Edgbas- ton for an epic tussle between England and India, then for fans of Lottery betting, its T20 finals day on the 27th, again at Edgbaston. At York we have top class racing, including the Nun- thorpe Stakes, starting on the 17 August and the US Open at Flushing Meadows at the end of the month. For golf fans, the USPGA starts on the 11 August. After being probably the only bookmaker in the country to do money on the Open, we will be on a recovery mission and will be looking to take on the Brits and hope that the Irish don’t find another player to sneak up on the blind side and take all the


sweets.


For turnover purposes, however, all these events pale into insignificance com- pared to the return of the mighty Premier League on 13 August. As an Arsenal season ticket holder, I guess it will be another season of 65 per cent possession, side- ways passing and an opti- cally challenged manager, before a monumental, busi- ness-end capitulation. And for those who can’t get excited by any of that, and I fear you are probably in the wrong game, I hear there will be some pretty good racing at Portman Park.


DAN PARSONS Proprietor


Parsons & Co


The Ebor festival is always one of the biggest meetings of the year for totepool in terms of turnover and we’re expecting this year’s to be better than ever given the fact that the Ebor will be run on a Saturday for the first time under the Betfred banner.


York always pull in big crowds but Saturdays at the course are always well attended which is very important for boosting turnover. The totewin often gives great value for Ebor punters and last year was no exception. Dirar won the race for Gordon Elliott and tote punters picked up £20.70 compared to the SP of 14/1. It’s also great news for the totescoop6 that weekend as the Betfred Ebor will almost certainly be included for first time. Given the quality and com- petitiveness of racing on the Knavesmire, there is also a strong possibility that the totejackpot will rollover several times which means that it could reach a life- changing amount of money come Ebor day.


GEORGE PRIMAROLO Spokesperson Totepool


August is a huge time for Sportingbet, with peak levels of activity across all depart- ments of the company. We


My Diary: John Docherty


Buzz Sports’ commercial director John Docherty takes us through a month which would be busy enough even if it didn’t also herald the start of the new football season.


reach of Zoneplay.We’ve got early interest from a number of European retail operators with trials due for the start of the season in Italy, UK, Germany and Austria. Actual names are still confidential in the lead up to the trials but we are deploying units early in the month throughout Scot- land then leading on to other parts of the UK and Ireland. Back in Scot- land for the first time in a couple of years and amazed that there is a heat wave, interesting to see how shops have changed since I last managed them 30 years ago! The progressive launch of foot- ball leagues throughout Europe during the month make it a great


A 30 BettingBusinessInteractive • AUGUST 2011


ugust and I’m racking up the air miles as Buzz Sports continues to expand the geographical


time to promote the newest and most inno- vative way to bet in- play markets, and of course help the instal- lation teams plan sen- sible schedules to get all of the kit in place to be ready for the live TV coverage of the season start. It’s not just in Europe


where there is interest in the product; the retail version is also making some waves in Asia after a successful launch at G2E Macau and I’ve also got a trip out to Las Vegas planned for a sales meeting with some of the city’s big casinos who are launching sportsbooks and would like to see Zoneplay termi-


nals in their American ‘dream setting’ in sports bars.


In addition to the trials and launches of the retail version of Zoneplay,


I’m also


looking to develop partnerships and online opportunities as we expand the concept’s reach. Buz-


zsports.com completed its planned research and development phase after grabbing headlines and a lot of dedicated followers at the end of last season in May. Based on the success so far we are now looking to move much more aggressively into the B2B marketplace and target a global audience. Naturally, the


expansion involves a full review of the tax and contract issues and a lengthy period in London with the lawyers. Early indications are excel- lent as we look at the potential for online use with our existing retail partners, working with a new, small company means decisions get taken quickly and an amazing amount of flexibility is available including regional and national exclusivity which makes us pretty much unique in the market. The end of the month board meeting back in Headingley will con- centrate on product development and US sports deployment, with cricket, football, tennis and Aussie Rules, already launched and suc- cessful, it’s the logical step given their popularity around the world.


are half-way through England’s series with India and cricket is a massive sport for us. As official betting partner of the English Test Match Grounds, we will undertake a lot of specific trading, marketing and PR activity around the third and fourth Tests at Edgbaston and the Oval this month. The beginning of the foot- ball season is a key moment for all bookmakers, but our sponsorships with Totten- ham Hotspur, Wolverhamp- ton Wanderers and Leeds United will keep us espe- cially busy.


Elsewhere, preparations for the Rugby World Cup are in full swing, with the action getting underway in early September. Hosts New Zealand are short price favourites, and, although there will be plenty of support for England, the southern hemisphere sides look way ahead of their rivals.


RUSS WISEMAN Head of Media Sportingbet


LISTINGS


SIX MONTH BRIEFING AUGUST


21 – 23 Australasian Gaming Expo, Sydney Convention Centre 22-24 Gaming, Racing and Wagering Australia, Sydney Convention Centre


SEPTEMBER


8-11 Barcelona Affiliate Conference, Fira de Barcelona 14-16 International Masters of Gaming Law Conference, Vienna 19-20 Entertainment, Sports & iGaming, MIC Milan


19-20 European iGaming Design & Development Conference, MIC Milan 19-20 Combating CyberCrime Conference, MIC Milan


20-22 10th Annual European iGaming Congress & Expo, MIC Milan


20-22 e-Gaming Foundation Course, Hamblin Offices, Douglas


OCTOBER


3-6 G2E, Sands Casino, Las Vegas


6 Bookmakers Trade Fair, Wolverhampton Racecourse


10-12 Monaco iGaming Exchanges, Grimaldi Forum, Monaco


17-20 Eastern European Gaming Summit, Inter Expo Center, Sofia 18-20 Balkan


Entertainment & Gaming Expo, Inter Expo Center, Sofia


NOVEMBER


2 iGB Espana, TBC Madrid


10-11 US Online Gaming Law 2011, Las Vegas 23 Sport and iGaming Conference, Pinsent Masons, London 15-17 e-Gaming Foundation Course, Hamblin Offices, Douglas


DECEMBER 25 Christmas Day


JANUARY


24-26 ICE Totally Gaming, Earls Court, London


24-26 ICE Gaming Leaders Programme 26-29 London Affiliate Conference, Old Billingsgate


ACTION IMAGES / ED SYKES LIVEPIC


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