Kiron Interactive is sponsoring Betting on Sports 2017, the second edition of the largest international sports and betting trade conference at Olympia Conference Centre in Kensington.
Ahead of the 12-15 September event, we spoke to Kiron Co-CEO Steven Spartinos about what he is looking forward to at #boscon2017, his perfect sporting event, and how sports and betting can work better together.
SBC: What are you looking forward to at Betting on Sports?
SS: Betting on Sports provides Kiron Interactive with a great opportunity to further promote awareness of virtual sports, which has become a core offering in the sports betting industry since its launch more than a decade ago. We are looking forward to promoting our products to potential new customers, as well as meet and greet like-minded people. We are also eager to attend the multitude of panel discussions which will no doubt be highly insightful.
SBC: What are you promoting at Betting on Sports?
SS: We’re excited to show potential customers the industry’s largest variety of virtual sports products. Operators from a range of different territories will be attending Betting on Sports and we have something to offer them all. Whether it be football and horse racing or ice hockey and speed skating, the 17-game Kiron portfolio, which is the most varied on the market, will ensure they are all catered for.
Delegates will also be able to learn about our successful Betman Online RGS solution, which offers a fully managed turnkey solution which can be set up on, over-the-counter POS systems, self-service betting terminals, PC’s and on mobile tablets.
SBC: Where can betting work together more closely with sport?
SS: More and more operators are turning to sponsorship to spread their brand across the globe, particularly in football where the likes of SportPesa, Betway and Bet365 have all invested millions of pounds to have their name across football shirts and advertising hoardings. These are great examples of how strong the industry is, but it would be great to see more operators getting involved with grass roots sport to fund sport development.
Obviously, the industry would need to ensure it works meticulously with sporting bodies to curb illegal betting, match fixing and other undesirable behaviours, but it would also show that operators are giving something back to the community.
SBC: What sports betting partnership has stood out in the past 12 months?
SS: The standout deal of the last year or so was without a doubt Playtech’s acquisition of BGT, which was both dynamic and direct, and really caught the industry’s attention. The deal shows just how focused big gaming operators are on sports betting and BGT’s hugely-successful self-service betting terminals. Playtech’s investment is sure to accelerate all aspects of their development, innovation and differentiation across the brand and that is only going to benefit the consumer.
SBC: Describe your perfect sporting event
SS: I’m a football fanatic. I love the thrill of international tournaments such as the World Cup and the European Championship, where dozens of different nations, some big, some small, come together to support their favourite players. I always enjoy watching Holland play, they may have come up short on several occasions, but they play great football and certainly have a whole host of players who can light up the pitch.
When it comes to domestic football, my focus is on the Premier League, with all eyes on Manchester United. Jose Mourinho has put together a great squad and I couldn’t think of anything better than to be in attendance if they make it to the knock out phase of this year’s Champions League, of course hoping this will be the final.