ECOMMPAY is sponsoring Betting on Sports 2018, the 3rd edition of the largest international sports and betting trade conference at Olympia London.
Ahead of the 18-21 September event, we asked the company’s Head of UK/Western Europe Paul Marcantonio to disclose ECOMMPAY’s promotion plans for #boscon2018, nominate one sports betting partnership that has stood out in the last 12 months, and pick out the sporting event he would most like to attend.
SBC: What are you looking forward to at Betting on Sports?
PM: This will be my first time attending Betting on Sports, so I’m not entirely sure what to expect. However, the sheer volume of positive feedback I received from the colleagues and peers who attended previous events convinced me that it would be remiss of ECOMMPAY to pass up on the opportunity to play a larger role in the 2018 conference.
Most of all, I’m looking forward to the social aspect – seeing friends from within the industry, reconnecting with peers, and networking among some of the biggest names in the betting and gambling community. This includes, of course, participating in thought-provoking discussions with industry professionals.
Having reviewed the agenda, I fully intend to attend as many of the speaker sessions as possible, especially since many of them cover topics that are particularly relevant to our business. I’m looking forward to my own participation in the Innovation in Payments panel, which gives me a chance to share ECOMMPAY’s expertise in providing payment solutions to betting operators.
SBC: What are you promoting at Betting on Sports?
PM: The payments landscape is such a crowded and complex space that it is fundamentally important for ECOMMPAY to get across the fact that we aren’t simply a payment provider, but rather payment innovators with a strong technological foundation, passionate about providing products and services that offer tangible benefits.
Whether by increasing conversion and acceptance rates, by improving the customer journey, or engineering a targeted technological solution, we will always find a way of adding value to any partnership. Our acquiring capabilities as Visa and Mastercard Principal Members paired with a robust portfolio of alternative payment methods ensures that we are best placed to facilitate both local and global merchant expansion.
We are also very excited to be launching our new ECOMMBANX digital banking solution, which will revolutionise the way that businesses currently transfer money globally.
SBC: Which sports betting operator has impressed you the most in 2018?
PM: I really enjoyed Paddy Power Betfair’s themed ads, such as the hilarious “drunk tank” at Ascot and the use of VAR in a crowded pub. Paddy Power were taking real topics of debate and controversy and adding a real comedic element, a stroke of genius! They also ran an extremely smart campaign in support of inclusion during the World Cup, pledging to donate £10,000 towards making football more LGBT+ friendly for each goal that Russia score during the tournament.
SBC: What sports betting partnership has stood out in the past 12 months?
PM: The recent announcement that Unibet have joined forces with Paris Saint-German was certainly impactful. Though this follows the classical model, in which a betting operator partners with a football team to gain mass exposure, the sheer brand power of both parties makes their partnership significant. With players like Neymar and Mbappe in the squad, the stakes are high, so I’m very much looking forward to the promised “money can’t buy” experiences and exclusive digital content.
SBC: If you could attend one sporting event, what would it be?
PM: As an avid boxing fan and huge supporter of the mighty Anthony Joshua, there is only one sporting event for me, and that is for AJ to beat Deontay Wilder and become the first heavyweight boxer to unify all the belts and become the undisputed heavyweight champion of the world!
