Poll: Which operator will enjoy the most success in 2014?
With what is set to be a seismic year in the remote gaming industry, which operator is best positioned to take advantage?
With 2013 fading into memory, all eyes are now focused on what is set to be a year of challenges and opportunity for those within the remote gaming industry.
Having weathered the storm caused by the financial downturn, operators will be hoping for brighter skies provided by an increased number of countries and US states moving towards remote gaming regulation and the betting bonanza of this summer’s football World Cup.
Chief execs will also hope countries such as France and Spain will undertake improvements to burgeoning regulatory regimes which have been accused by some to be uncompetitive and unprofitable with the latter expected to introduce slots and exchange betting at some point this year.
One of the biggest events of the year will be the introduction the 15% point of consumption tax (PoC) and accompanying regulatory regime in the UK. For some this will be a laborious and costly challenge, while for others it may provide a timely boost and an opportunity to grab market share.
It will also be a big year for online poker and bingo, with the two verticals left in the shadows of the better performing sports betting and casino last year. The former was dealt a blow last month when France ruled out liquidity sharing with other European jurisdictions.
With this in mind, in this week’s poll we ask which of the top publicly-listed operators (according to the eGR Power 50) is best positioned to emerge from 2014 in a greater position of strength than it started?
William Hill’s success will be largely dependent on how it handles the switch to PoC and whether it is able to make progress with recent acquisitions in Australia and Spain.
Last year Paddy Power delayed entry into New Jersey due to concerns over poker liquidity and a “highly competitive” market. It remains to be seen whether 2014 will see the Irish operator enter the US while elsewhere Australia has been earmarked for significant investment this year.
888’s casino and poker businesses enjoyed a stellar 2013 and management will be hoping the upward trajectory continues. With the World Cup only five months away, the operator’s Kambi-powered sportsbook offers the most scope for growth and a recent marketing campaign has shown it is keen to make headway in this area.
Finally, bwin.party will be hoping to halt its recent slide and will be buoyed by its early success in New Jersey. If the operator can continue to build in the US and make gains with its recently launched PartyPoker product in Europe, it may well look back on 2014 as being a transformational year.
Which operator do you think will have the best of 2014? Have your say on the right-hand side of the page.