As the SBC Digital Summit kicks off today, we’ve been continuing to catch up with our event sponsors to find out what they expect from the event.
Chatting to Digitain’s Head of Sales, Simon Westbury, he explained that he is excited about understanding the impact of COVID-19 on the gambling industry, and how companies have responded to the pandemic.
What are you looking forward to at the SBC Digital Summit?
I am looking forward to meeting with industry colleagues to understand the impact that Covid-19 has on their business, but most importantly how as an industry we have responded.
As always SBC have brought together the sharpest minds in the industry and I look forward to gaining insight into current challenges but more importantly, I am looking to understand what the Post Covid-19 world looks like and how as an industry we must adapt.
What would be your biggest bit of advice for betting and gaming businesses trying to mitigate the impact of COVID-19?
I think the best piece of advice I could give would be to be open minded, we are seeing surprise sports like table tennis doing good revenues and verticals such as esports grow expediently.
In addition to being open minded I think gaming businesses at this time need to be proactive rather than reactive, look to innovate but also to be flexible and agile in their delivery of ideas and products.
What are you promoting at SBC Digital Summit?
Digitain, is the World’s Sportsbook but in the absence of a live sports calendar, we are promoting how diverse a company we are. The focus will be on our World first Table Football product as well as our diversified portfolio of virtual sports, increased portfolio of esports and also our EGR Award winning Bet on Games.
What industry innovation will capture the most attention in 2020?
I am biased here but with the lack of live sports and the future calendar uncertain, I am going to say that Digitain’s Table Football product will be up there. Outside of my loyalty to Digitain, I think we will see innovation in virtual sports with Golden Race launching in play betting for virtuals.
Which operator has impressed you the most in 2020?
I am going to be a diplomat here as I have interviewed in preparation for my panel at the SBC Digital Summit, 4 leading CEO’s for leading gaming operators. From speaking with them it has given me an amazing insight into their responses to firstly the impact of the shutdown due to Covid-19 on their respective business.
More important than their responses to me has been the impressive reaction they have led as CEO’s of their businesses, embracing the challenges and opportunities that have come about from the pandemic. Finally, and most impressively to me is their view on the gaming sector post Covid-19, that is all I am giving for now.
So my vote goes to Snai, Stanleybet, Superbet and Fortuna. Please attend the panel: An Opportunity To Revisit The Omni-Channel Approach on Monday at 12:00 BST
What sports betting partnership has stood out in the past 12 months?
I think two stand out for me, the first one maybe flexing the question a little but the Virtual Grand National, presented by Inspired and with gaming operators giving their profits to the NHS does stand out to me. With current views on the gaming industry ranging from the absurd to ridiculous in the press, this was an initiative that embraced what we are about as an industry and raised money for the NHS.
The second and I say this through gritted teeth, is the partnership between PaddyPower and Peter Crouch. Through gritted teeth as I wanted to secure Peter Crouch as a brand ambassador for Digitain in the past. However, the 2 metre social distancing campaign between PaddyPower and Peter was amusing whilst sharing a serious message.
Which parts of the conference agenda have caught your eye?
To be honest, my main focus has been in preparing for my panel, Andy at SBC has highlighted the importance of the panel to me, so I have had my head down and focused on delivering as moderator the best possible panel I can.