The latest agenda has been revealed for the sixth edition of the Betting on Football conference, being held at Chelsea FC’s Stamford Bridge from 19-22 March, which provides an insight into some of the key topics to be discussed at this year’s event.
Betting on Football is the only trade conference that brings together decision makers from international operators to discuss the future of sports betting. The operators are joined by key industry stakeholders that understand the necessity of coming together once a year to discuss the opportunities and threats the industry is facing.
Although football is by far the most important sport, SBC has widened the focus of the conference agenda and speakers to address a number of key topics pertaining to the entire value chain of the sports betting industry. Over 200 industry experts are ready to share their knowledge and opinions over six tracks, 40 sessions / panels and four expert forums.
Conference Day One (20 March)
Leadership & Vision
Looks at stagnation in the betting industry, advertising over-exposure, the future for retail betting, how new operators can compete in a saturated market and gain a share of established players, challenges for new brands and a CEO panel discussing future strategy.
You will hear from speakers such as: Jesper Karrbrink (CEO, Mr Green), Anthony Werkman (CEO, Betway), Paris Smith (CEO, Pinnacle), Sergey Portnov (CEO, Parimatch), Sadok Kohen (CEO, BetBull), Martin Lycka (Director of Regulatory Affairs, GVC Group), John Hagan (Chair, Industry Group for Responsible Gambling (IGRG)), Jari Vähänen (SVP International Business Development, Veikkaus Oy), Francesco Gaziano (Chief Marketing Officer, SKS365), Jens Nielsen (Sports Betting Director, Danske Spil), Keith O’Loughlin (SVP – Sportsbook and Platforms, SG Digital), Vahe Baloulian (Strategic Adviser, BetConstruct), Troy Cox (Chief Commercial Officer, SKS365),
Betting on Innovation
A series of presentations will take place where multiple companies will be showcasing their latest innovative products on big data, maximising in-play betting behaviour through personalisation and identifying at-risk gamblers using predictive modelling.
Presentations from: Bill Demakakos (Group Director of Betting, Intralot), Brendan O’Kane (Founder & CEO, OtherLevels), Thomas Koller (Managing Director, Friends4media), Motti Colman (Director of New Business, Optimove), Nicholas Tucker (Head of Sales, Trustly), Alex Kornilov (Managing Director, Betegy).
Betting on Marketing
Follows the discussion around effective and safe sponsorship, a CEO panel of super affiliates exploring their role in the supply chain, and the challenges of reaching an audience and keeping it through social, loyalty and personalisation.
Learn from experts speakers like: Carmelo Mazza (CEO, OIA Services / Betaland), Joe Petyt (Head of In Play Football, Sky Bet), Jesper Soegaard (CEO, Better Collective), David Da Silva (CEO, EasyOdds), Richard Moffat (CEO, OLBG), Mike White (Head of Football, Sky Bet), Elliot Hackney (Head of Social, Ladbrokes Coral), Dan Towse (Head of Brand, Marathonbet), Eitan Gorodetsky (Head of SEO & PPC, Betsson Group).
Conference Day Two (21 March)
Product in Focus
Addresses the following key topics: symbiotic state (how omni-channel makes online and retail co-operate), platform technology (the jumping off point for innovation), let’s get digital (where now for virtual sports?), plugging the gap (what is the next step for bet builders?), esports (the challenges of inplay) and data (do you get what you pay for?).
Speaker preview: Omer Efraim (CTO, Olympic Entertainment Group), Marco Blume (Director of Trading, Pinnacle Sports), Steen Madsen (Head of Sportsbook, Nederlandse Loterij), Mattias Eriksson (Chief Product Officer, Kambi), Jamie McKittrick (Head of Commercial, GVC Group), Martin Wachter (CEO, Golden Race), Jacob Lopez (CEO, OPTIMA), Carlo Di Maio (Sportsbook Director at Eurobet, GVC Group), Matt Stephenson (Global Partnerships Director, Betgenius), David Lampitt (Managing Director – Global Operations, Sportradar), Alexey Sinyushkin (COO, Olimp Bookmakers), George Athanasopoulos (CEO, Novibet).
The Science of Compliance
In partnership with Gambling Compliance – deals with the latest problem gambling strategies, sporting integrity, payments, fraud and dealing with regulators.
Speaker preview: Richard Flint (CEO, Sky Betting & Gaming), Ludovico Calvi (President, Global Lottery Monitoring System), Laura Da Silva (Founder, WePlayFair), Bill South (Group Security Director, William Hill), Gilles Maillet (Director of Sport Integrity, FDJ), Hillevi Stuhrenberg (Manager for Responsible Gaming & CSR, Betsson), Steven Armstrong (Group Money Laundering Reporting Officer, William Hill), Sergey Kot (Head of Business Development, Parimatch), David Williams (Director of Public Affairs, Rank Group), Mike Kenward (Development Director, GamCare), Ali Hawa (Director of Risk & Compliance, Mansion.com).
Global Markets
Will focus on the impact of regulation and the attractiveness of different markets including India, Africa, USA, Italy, Sweden and Spain, as well as the impact Brexit will have for the UK & Gibraltar.
Global industry speakers include: Mark Blandford (Founder, Sportingbet), Niklas Lindahl (Managing Director – Italy, LeoVegas), Peter Stagles (Group Operations Director, BetLion),
Chris Duncan (Head of Product, Black-op Gaming), Joe Saumarez Smith (Chairman, Bede Gaming), Sam Behar (Global Head of Marketing, Marathonbet), Morten Ronde (CEO, Nordic Gambling), Joe Lee (Head of SAS, Paddy Power Betfair), Mikel Lopez de Torre (Chairman of Jdigital Spain & Director of Sportium), Carlos González, (Sportsbook Director, MARCAapuestas).
PaymentExpert Forum
Alongside these six tracks, SBC will be debuting a pair of exclusive forums across the two days. On 20 March, the PaymentExpert Forum has been designed to provide payment professionals working for both operators and payment suppliers with a platform to discuss opportunities in the betting and gaming industries.
It will include sessions focused on interpretation of the Wire Act, payment trends in Africa, meeting new anti-money laundering directive (AMLD) rules, Brexit fall-out and the ‘duty of care’ for payment providers in the fight against problem gambling.
Payment expert speakers include: Isabelle Delisle (Head of Group Payments, Pinnacle), Nick Izmaylov (Managing Partner, Parimatch), Charmaine Hogan (Former International Business Development, Bet365 & European Commission), Ciaran Carr (Payments Manager, Paddy Power Betfair), Richard Leather (Chief Content Officer, ComplianceOnline), Marc Wood (Global Gaming Sales Director, Pay360), Samuel Barrett (Gaming Director & Payment Specialist at Trustly), Manish Ganatra (Payment Director, Black Op Gaming), Ali Hawa (Director of Risk & Compliance, Mansion.com).
Digital Marketing Forum
The day two agenda will be complemented by the inaugural Digital Marketing Forum, after SBC collaborated with AffiliateINSIDER to gather expert digital content for #bofcon delegates.
The increased political pressure on high profile marketing such as television advertising and sponsorship, especially in Italy and the UK, means that brands will have to be even more adept to reach new customers. Mass market advertising will always be seen by those under the under-age of 18, so operators need to be actively engaged in minimising this exposure. The Digital Marketing Forum will give them the tools and insights to do this more effectively.
Speakers include: Eitan Gorodetsky (Head of SEO & PPC, Betsson Group), Benjamin Cronin (Head of Content, Pinnacle), Sam Behar (Group Head of Marketing, Marathonbet), and many more digital marketing experts.
You can find out even more information about all the speakers and sessions on the Betting on Football agenda HERE. To find out more on Betting on Football or to book your full event ticket, CLICK HERE.
