GOODBYE 2016…
Goodbye 2016… Hello 2017!
Part two of our industry experts’ take on the 12 months behind us and the 12 months ahead…
GAMCROWD Chris North, CEO
What has been the biggest event for GamCrowd in 2016? It has been a big year for GamCrowd, but the clear highlight was hosting the first ever event focussed solely on gambling technology at London Tech Week back in June. We were able to showcase the technology and people powering the industry and to demonstrate how gambling businesses are now more like tech businesses. We brought together some key movers and shakers in the process. We also heard from techies from other sectors to learn how their products might be applied to our industry. We talked openly and collaboratively about some of the biggest challenges facing the industry, and how they can be overcome. It was a huge success and we are planning a bigger and better event in 2017.
What do you think was the most important occurrence for the industry in 2016? It is something from outside the industry that could prove to be the most important: Pokémon Go, which took the world by storm when it launched at the start of summer. The app has been downloaded more than 100 million times, generating revenues touching on $500m to date. But those huge and impressive numbers aside, Pokémon Go brought augmented reality (AR) to the masses for the first time – a major milestone for the online gambling industry. AR and its sibling VR (virtual reality) are seen by many as the next big thing in egaming. And while the app hasn’t changed the game entirely, it proved that when done properly AR and VR can play a major role in the future of the sector.
What are you most excited about for the industry in 2017?
It is all about the beginning of the beginning in 2017. With the fourth industrial revolution on
64 FEBRUARY 2017
our door step it will see operators adopting some of the latest technology trends such as AI (artificial intelligence) and blockchain. For a while now, the industry on the whole has played it safe when it comes to these more quirky and interesting products, but as operators look to differentiate themselves from their rivals they will become more commonplace. Online gambling companies are now tech businesses in the main but they are not run like other tech businesses in other tech sectors. I have seen some change But I think as we rumble into the new year, operators and suppliers will become more open and collaborative to adopt and exploit these tech trends.
What are you most excited about for your own company in 2017? Promoting how good the online gaming industry is when it comes to technology. There are so many start-ups out there with ideas and products that could completely change the game with the right amount of nurturing and support. We are also looking forward to helping the
industry prepare for its next tech revolution; it was mobile a few years ago, and AI and blockchain are now going toe-to-toe over which will kick-start a seismic shift in the landscape. It’s going to be a busy year for GamCrowd as well as the wider industry, so buckle up and hold on tight.
Anything else you’d like to say about the passing of 2016 and 2017’s arrival? Yes, blockchain. GamCrowd has commissioned a special report into blockchain and I am truly excited by its potential. It is only a matter of time before it goes mainstream. It will completely change the industry and those who operate in it. While AR and VR are fun and exciting, blockchain has the power and capabilities to allow operators to take things to the next level. I think it will also see bitcoin, which uses the blockchain platform, come to the fore as a widely used and accepted currency. It may take egaming operators a little time to adjust, but those who do sooner rather than later will be firmly ahead of the curve and, most importantly, their rivals.
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