Poll: 888 to rule again in 2014
In this week's poll, eGaming Review readers tip up 888 build upon last year's success
Gibraltar-licensed operator 888 is the eGaming Review‘s readers’ pick to enjoy the most success during what promises to be a big year in the remote gaming industry.
In what was a tightly contested poll, 888 edged out William Hill as the respondents’ most likely publicly-listed operator to flourish in 2014, with the pair amassing 33% and 28% of the votes respectively.
888’s casino and poker businesses enjoyed a stellar 2013, helping the operator secure a trio of eGR Operator of the Year awards, and chief exec Brian Mattingley (pictured)t will be hoping the upward trajectory continues across the next 12 months.
With the World Cup only five months away, 888’s Kambi-powered sportsbook offers another potential growth area for the company and readers appear confident the operator can make headway in this vertical.
William Hill’s success will be largely dependent on how it handles the switch to the UK’s imminent Point of Consumption regime and whether it is able to make progress with recent acquisitions in Australia and Spain.
Elsewhere, bwin.party finished third in the vote, despite enduring a tough 2013. However, the silver-lining of the PartyPoker re-launch, which has gone down well in New Jersey thus far, coupled with an imminent sportsbook overhaul, prompted 21% of respondents to back the operator.
Irish bookie Paddy Power finished bottom of the pile with 18% of the vote, with readers seemingly lacking in optimism for its 2014 prospects despite the potential of a US play and planned investment in its Australian operation.