FSB Tech is sponsoring Betting on Football 2018, the fifth edition of the largest international football and betting trade conference at Stamford Bridge, the home of Chelsea FC.
Ahead of the 20-23 March event, we spoke to the company’s Business Development Director Richard Thorp about what he is looking forward to at #bofcon2018, which innovation he expects to capture the most attention in 2018, and who he is backing to lift the World Cup trophy in Russia.
SBC: What are you looking forward to at Betting on Football?
RT: It’s always good to catch up with customers and industry friends at shows like Betting on Football, as well as making new acquaintances and discovering business opportunities.
But these events have particularly good panels and speakers, and I’m looking forward to hearing a bit more from some of the industry leaders and our customers as to what they think we should be focusing on for the World Cup and beyond.
SBC: What are you promoting at Betting on Football?
RT: In its most basic form: the FSB technology. We believe we have one of the slickest and most cost-effective platforms available. It is designed to adapt to each jurisdiction. As such, we are interested in talking to anyone who is looking to make moves into the potential American online market, the emerging African market, or the existing European ones.
We have the capability to tailor our solution to the individual requirements on the ground. The FSB platform is already being used in New Jersey by Resorts Casino and we are in the process of establishing three new offices in the US. We’re also keen to speak to operators looking for a casino solution as we now have wherewithal to deliver a high-end casino platform as well as sportsbook.
SBC: What industry innovation will capture the most attention in 2018?
RT: I think I’m supposed to say something about AR and VR here! But in all honesty, I hope it’s our SSBTs. We have been making some serious inroads into retail in recent times with our EPOS systems and taking our solution onto terminals in betting shops and casinos is the logical progression. Our aim is to be a channel-less business in which the customers of our partners can bet when and where they chose without having to worry about whether it syncs up with another device or environment.
After all, the end user couldn’t care less about channels – they just want to get a bet on simply and securely. For the operator, all the tools sit in one back-office, providing a live overview of their entire business so there is no real division of channels.
SBC: How can your company help to improve the customer experience ahead of the World Cup?
RT: It’s all about the UX. Many of the tier one operators still make it difficult for their customers to find and put a bet on. The operators, big or small, who will win at the World Cup will be the ones who make it simple and intuitive to locate the market the customers want to bet on and then quickly back the selections of choice. It shouldn’t be that hard. A lot of operators just need to declutter and simplify. Putting a bet on should be easy.
SBC: Who are you backing to win the tournament, and why?
RT: Germany. I don’t think there’s a huge amount of quality elsewhere. It’s also an old cliché, but if you finish in front of the Germans at a World Cup you’ve usually done very well.