GOODBYE 2016... SQUARE IN THE AIR
Robin Hutchison, Director
What was the biggest occurrence for you in 2016?
Square in the Air celebrated its tenth anniversary this year, expanded our team, moved into new offices and took on many new clients, so to say it has been busy
would be an understatement. In terms of successes, we’ve seen two of our clients acquired in multi-million pound deals, while many others picked up major industry awards and announced game-changing partnerships. It all underlined the power of a strong PR and marketing strategy in this industry.
What do you think was the most important occurrence for the industry in 2016? Operator consolidation has been the main
story of 2016, but from our perspective we’ve been interested to watch how suppliers are adapting to the changing demands of the
industry. If you look at the competition in this space today, particularly in the provision of online casino games, it is becoming extremely tough to stand out from the crowd. Having a great product is no longer enough; you need to make sure you are making a splash on the conference circuit and in the gaming media.
What are you most excited about for the industry in 2017? I’m excited to see a number of the gaming
start-ups we began working with last year innovate and disrupt the industry. Consolidation has been a major theme of the past few months, but the flip side of these mega mergers is the space it leaves for agile companies to drive the sector forward. We’ve been helping several such companies on the PR and marketing front over the past few months, and they are set to make a big impact in 2017.
What are you most excited about for Square in the Air in 2017? We have taken on several new clients in the land-based casino space in recent months, having focused strongly on online in recent years, and this is going to be an exciting new area for us in 2017. Offering integrated, omni-channel solutions to operators has never been more important, and we look forward to championing this message for our clients. We are also excited to continue our work in emerging gaming regions, particularly Latin America and Asia.
Anything else you’d like to say about the passing of 2016 and 2017’s arrival? There will be huge opportunities to be had
in 2017, with the betting and gaming sector opening up across multiple markets. I can say that, without exception, those who best capitalise on these opportunities will be those who most clearly communicate their vision. We still see many companies with strong products struggling because they are not being heard over the noise. As competition stiffens, the message has never been more important.
Matt Rochman, CEO
ONETOUCH.IO
What has been the biggest occurrence for you in 2016? This year
OneTouch.io has focussed on our
classic blackjack product, developing ground- breaking ergonomics and performance across all handheld devices. Operators and suppliers understand the importance of mobile, but very few design and develop games with a strong focus from the outset on how users physically interact
with their devices – moving their thumbs and fingers over the screen, how they hold the device. We are different; single touch interactivity is at the core of our mobile products, and enables us to deliver a superior player experience across all devices, including desktop.
What do you think was the most important occurrence for the industry in 2016? Bitcoin moving out from the shadows and into the light. The digital currency has sat
70 FEBRUARY 2017
on the periphery for some time now, but it is being more widely adopted by businesses and consumers alike. Recent geopolitical events have highlighted just how vulnerable fiat currencies are to external factors, while the value of bitcoin has remained strong despite Brexit and Donald Trump’s shock election win. It is also worth noting the continued rise of mobile; it is the driving force behind growth in the online gaming industry.
What are you most excited about for the industry in 2017? We are really excited about the emergence
of new markets. The industry is growing at break-neck speed, with additional regions and jurisdictions looking to get in on the action.
OneTouch.io has ambitious growth plans we will be putting into action in 2017. The markets that have recently embraced online casino products and games will be the ones to enjoy extremely strong growth. This is being made possible through the latest front-end technologies, which are allowing operators and suppliers to push the limits.
What are you most excited about for your own company in 2017?
Our OneTouch Baccarat product will be launched imminently and we believe it will be the best mobile and tablet baccarat game in the industry. We can’t wait to see how it is received by players. We also have a number of other amazing new games and features in the pipeline, including for an industry- leading roulette product as well as additional side bets and variations for blackjack. We are also working on casino hold’em and pachinko games, as well as a raft of new tools and formats to help operators better retain their player base. Some operators are focused on player acquisition, but retention is just as important, maybe even more so. It’s going to be a busy year for us, but we are well prepared.
Anything else you’d like to say about the passing of 2016 and 2017’s arrival? The new year will be all about quality over
quantity. The operators and suppliers that focus on delivering a world-class experience to their players will be the ones leading the charge throughout 2017. Overall the industry will continue to grow, especially on mobile and tablet, and we are thrilled to be right at the centre of it.
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