he is now one of the industry’s most sought-after speakers and regularly appears at events as diverse as London’s International Gaming Expo, Copenhagen’s European iGaming Expo and the Asian Internet Gaming Conference in Macau. “We have completed some major projects this year in the online and land-based casino sectors and have reached a point where we are equal bidders with some of the major consultancies,” the 63-year-old divulged.
When it comes to the future of the industry, Bartlett revealed that Macau ‘ticks every box’ with ever-rising GDP in neighbouring China
“What Cameron’s government will do with gambling no one knows. My guess is that they will want to get more out of it although, hopefully, through de- regulation rather than increased taxation, which
would just cause businesses to close.” With regards to the United States, Bartlett calls Las
“Our cost base is lower than our competitors so we will always be more competitive on price and quality. “People come to us for two reasons. First, we have the largest database containing some 42,655 statistical data points on all gambling segments for over 240 legalised gambling jurisdictions. Second, because we know the story behind the data, we are able to advise clients on the latest developments. “We are also able to add value through our blue-sky proposition. We can look at a project, save costs and add to revenues by approaching it from an entirely different angle that limits the client’s risk yet maximises their return. We want to build on our success and are currently seeking to hire more people for our Isle Of Man and Zagreb offices.” When it comes to the future of the industry, Bartlett revealed that Macau ‘ticks every box’ with ever-rising GDP in neighbouring China, a huge population with a high propensity to gamble and lower building costs than the west. However, he says that one downside to the former Portuguese colony may be that the sheer tempo of its growth could outpace the ability of its infrastructure services such as water, sewer and electricity to keep up.
When it comes to the UK, Bartlett says that much depends on the newly-elected Conservative/Liberal- Democrat governing coalition, although the industry is one of the best in the world in terms of probity, customer payout and standards of service, particularly in London.
“The last government was a disaster for the industry,” reveals Bartlett.
“The tax rate of 50 percent was counter-productive as casinos in London cannot compete with other destinations frequented by the mega-rich. Although authorities are at last prepared to allow hotels to incorporate casinos, the 50 percent tax rate has killed the important junket market and that needs to be addressed.
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Vegas’ inability to cope with the current recession ‘unfortunate’ while calculating that visitor numbers could begin to increase from next year as the economy improves. “I think Las Vegas is also a victim of political correctness,” says Bartlett.
“It sold itself on being a fun destination but people do not want to be seen enjoying themselves when their fellow citizens are struggling. This was reinforced by President Obama’s unfortunate statement when he suggested that bankers receiving Federal bailout money should not meet in Las Vegas on the taxpayers’ dime. Businesses actually cancelled conferences in Las Vegas because of this.” However, it is last year’s decision by the Russian government to outlaw casinos in all but a few select areas that Bartlett says should serve as a real warning to the industry. The legislation goes back to 2006 with then-President Vladimir Putin attempting to stop the increasing rate of gambling addiction while weeding out any criminal elements. His successor, Dmitry Medvedev, then declared in early-May that casinos, must close their doors or relocate to sites in four remote zones; the Primorsky region on the Pacific coast, Kaliningrad on the Baltic Sea, the mountainous Altai region in Siberia or near the southern cities of Krasnodar and Rostov, which is hosting the 2014 Winter Olympics. “What happened in Russia is a warning to everyone,” says Bartlett.
“One day a casino operating legally in Moscow but the next day a law is passed forbidding them although they have the option of moving to ‘economic zones’ in the middle of nowhere.
“Gambling is regrettably still regarded as a sin even though we all gamble one way or another. Fixing or floating your mortgage is a gamble as is an investment in the stock market. People have to be amused and some find gambling fun so they should be able to do so legally without having to travel 500 miles.”
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