…HELLO 2017! Jean-Luc Ferriere, Director of Network Games MICROGAMING
What have been the biggest occurrences for Microgaming in 2016? 2016 has been a pivotal year for Microgaming. We embarked on a company review which led to the formation of new business units designed to address the ever-changing needs of our customers and industry. For me, this led to an exciting new role, being asked to drive the Network Games business unit forward, giving my full attention to the Poker and Bingo product verticals. And I must say, the Network Games team is a strong and experienced one that I am proud to be a part of.
Both our Poker and Bingo
networks are going from strength to strength, and 2016 has been a year to remember. For the MPN, we’ve welcomed RedKings, PKR and Grosvenor Casinos, strengthening our network of operators, increasing liquidity and cementing our position as the B2B poker
network of choice for players. From a product perspective, it’s also been a busy one, introducing new releases such as Fish Party SNGs (a unique take on the popular Jackpot Sit & Go concept), and launching a new Mac client. Our bingo network is also performing well and we’ve seen impressive
growth over the year, across all major metrics. Our network has strengthened thanks to growth in regulated markets: Microgaming through Prima Networks is the exclusive supplier of Bingo and Instant Games to the Danish national lottery (Danske Spil) as well as the principal casino, bingo and poker provider to the Croatian state lottery (Hrvatska Lutrija). Overall, it has been a year of building momentum and laying the groundwork for what’s to come.
What do you think was the most important occurrence for the industry in 2016? From a Network Games viewpoint, I’d have to say the resurgence of the true poker network. In recent years, people in the industry have questioned the poker channel, referring to its so-called demise. But that’s far from the truth and I believe this year there has been a shift in mentality towards the product. For the first time in a long while, we have seen more energy and interest in poker. This has reflected in the MPN’s growth and high performance. Our CEO often says, “stick to your knitting”, and that’s exactly what we’ve done with poker over the last few years. It’s flattering to see others follow our lead and philosophies on the recreational poker player, but we are not about to stand still, so they’ll just have to keep chasing! Additionally, the sustained growth of stable, long-term revenues from
regulated and regulating markets has been eye-opening. And I believe this is also an opportunity yet to be fully realised. Each new market brings new discussions with potential new partners. So while the economics in regulated markets are obviously tougher, the potential to add real long-term value to the business is still enormous, and we relish the challenges that regulated markets bring.
What are you most excited about for the industry in 2017? There’s a lot that I’m looking forward to in 2017. As cliché as it might sound, BI, analytics and data science will be what drives the industry
forward and I’m excited to see how this progresses. The way in which it can be used to enhance the user experience, tailor offerings and create unique experiences is fascinating to me. But having the data is not enough in itself. It’s how you work with that data, and what you do with it that’s important. You need exceptional skills, experience and a passion for partnerships to turn information into good business. In addition, I am also excited to see how the industry capitalises on
the advances of gaming technology, specifically looking at learnings from the ‘app store and console gaming’ generation. The video gaming industry’s approach to customer experience, software developments and product releases is something that I think the eGaming industry can learn from.
What are you most excited about for Microgaming in 2017? Everything! I truly believe we have a unique ability to reinvent and
evolve as times change, and next year is yet another chapter in our ongoing adventure. Our journey will be taking the decades of experience we have behind us and dialling up the focus on both our people and business. In our Network Games division we live by our values of mastery, collaboration, integrity and curiosity, and we wear our hearts on our sleeves. This will shine through in the relationships we forge, the products and services we offer, and the growth of our business.
Speaking of growth, we have a number of new signings in the pipeline, alongside a series of product developments set out to ensure we provide the very best gaming experience to our operators’ players.
Anything else you’d like to say about the passing of 2016 and 2017’s arrival? 2016 has been a step-change year for us. After nearly 18 years
working in this business and industry, I can honestly say it has been one of the most challenging and rewarding years for me personally, and for our business. And the benchmark for 2017 is even higher. Next year brings many more new horizons for the company. In Q2
2017 we will be moving into our new HQ on the Isle of Man, a state of the art office space designed to inspire our team. We are growing at a rapid rate and the new building is indicative of this. Both our Poker and Bingo networks are primed and ready for accelerated growth, and our people are more focussed than ever. Exciting times ahead!
JANUARY 2017 99
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