Clarion looks stateside with launch of ICE North America

‘Join the MVPs’ is the theme of Clarion Gaming’s marketing campaign in support of ICE North America, which is being held from May 13-15 in Boston.

Organisers of many of gaming and betting’s most successful business events, Clarion Gaming is using its world famous ICE brand to make a splash on the other side of the Atlantic.

Head of marketing Dan Stone explained: “Following the US Supreme Court ruling [striking down the federal ban prohibiting sports betting], it has become clear that there’s a need for a professional and, most importantly, trusted platform to help drive the future of gaming across the US.

“ICE North America will serve as a stakeholder meeting place and provide the opportunity for brands to establish a competitive advantage in what is a tremendously dynamic market.

“The official launch of ICE North America will take place at ICE London, but essentially it involves a campaign that highlights the new ground that’s being broken in the sector.

“Building on the incredible foundations laid by ICE Sports Betting USA and GiGse before it, we want to continue driving a dynamic approach to our events in North America, ensuring the speakers in Boston bring unique insight, from both inside and outside of the gaming industry.

“The campaign will also translate to the learning opportunities we offer, delivering more ‘how to’ sessions, helping pioneering companies to showcase their brands and connect with the best of the best from sports betting and beyond.”

Echoing the positive mood, Benjie Cherniak, managing director of Las Vegas-based Don Best Sports, said: “The ICE conference in London remains a ‘go to’ event for the global gaming industry that is circled on the annual calendar of everyone in the space.

“Expanding the scope to now include the US market makes perfect sense at this juncture, as ICE is a brand with the credibility to attract a wide range of stakeholders including not only the usual suspects, such as operators, suppliers and platform providers, but also legislators, the investment community and the professional sports leagues.”

Toal excited over new Biztech bet acceptance and settling system

Biztech has earned a good reputation among independent operators for its flexible Arkle Epos bet acceptance and settling systems, writes Jim Cremin.

Gary Toal, who also runs Toals Bookmakers, is MD of Biztech and is looking forward to once again having a stand at ICE London “as it’s a fantastic opportunity to showcase Arkle at the best networking event of the year which attracts all the key players in the industry”.

Describing Arkle, he said: “It’s designed to secure and streamline the betting shop and take care of all its needs – from bet acceptance and security, to reporting and tax returns.”

He added: “It’s the fastest bet slip editor on the market and has the ability to remote edit between shops. It allows you to view a centralised fieldbook and risk management facility allowing you to see liabilities and alerts in real time across entire estates, while real time security alerts allow operators to take action before expensive payouts are processed.

“Arkle is integrated with 2DB and MRG screen systems and includes all SIS, TRP and Virtual data feed integrations. It is built on .NET 4.5 Framework Technologies and SQL Server with the ability to continue trading even when a shop server is down, meaning shop staff can still serve their customers and scan bets, via scanner or call over.

“A full mark sense suite is available providing a faster, more efficient way to take bets with multiple selections.

“Our recently updated All in One Screen is an odds display solution which provides a visual aid on all relevant horse races taking place that day. Races will start showing early prices, live shows and results as soon as they are received and prices are consistent between the screens and tills.”

Hearn looking forward to return visit

Ron Hearn, of JenningsBet, attended all three days of ICE London last year for the first time as the reigning Betting Shop Manager of the Year, writes Jim Cremin.

Hearn, from Charlton, recalled: “I was fascinated by the incredible reality of the virtual pictures of everything from football to basketball. Maybe

this could be a way forward for betting shops with in-play betting available; this would certainly appeal to the younger generation of customers.”

He said the industry was acutely aware of the pressure being put on betting shops by the government announcement of the £2 maximum stakes on FOBT machines coming into effect in April.

“This exhibition represents the ideal opportunity for companies to send members of staff to get an insight on how our industry can develop,” he said.

Hearn welcomed the profile that problem gambling gets at ICE.

“It’s good to see various providers, including GamCare and Gordon Moody in attendance in the current circumstances, although I must add that customers’ welfare is without doubt our top priority in betting shops. We at JenningsBet have a social responsibility that is second to none to protect the vulnerable.

“Over 33,000 attended ICE in 2018, a figure that rises every year and with 150 countries being represented this year, it is certainly worth a visit to see what the future may hold for our industry.”

Raising the profile of gambling therapy

Rob Mabbett, formerly of Betfred and the 2016 Racing Post/SIS Betting Shop Manager of the Year, joined Gordon Moody as its gambling therapy manager around five months ago and will be at ICE London for the third year in a row next month, writes Jim Cremin.

He explained: “To be working on our stand at ICE feels tremendously exciting. We’ll

be located in the Consumer Protection Zone with the intent of raising gambling therapy’s profile.”

Gordon Moody does remarkable work with pathological gamblers, but gambling therapy is more intended as an international multilingual point of call for anyone with a problem gambling concern.

“I’ve found working with the team here stimulating and our new phone app has proven a great success,” Mabbett said.

He paid particular tribute to his former boss Fred Done, saying: “Fred, indeed everyone at Betfred, has been incredibly supportive and I’ve grown to love ICE because it is so interesting.”

The new Betting Shop Manager of the Year Lorraine Archibald (Ladbrokes, Newtownards) will attend all three days of ICE and will write a daily diary about what she sees at the exhibition.

Chisholm: difficult time for independent sector

Independent operators all feel under enormous pressure for the year ahead and a key player is Howard Chisholm, founder of the Bookmakers Technology Consortium and MD of Chisholm Bookmakers, writes Jim Cremin.

He said: “It’s a difficult time with now only around 700 shops in the UK operated by the independent sector. Including Ireland, the marketplace for our BTC service is around 1,050 shops and by 2020 I can see that

falling to under 800. Therefore costs have to be carefully managed.”

Chisholm added: “The meeting point at ICE for independents is always the Racing Post Cafe and then from there visiting all those suppliers that are exhibiting.”

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