The new podcast series, titled ‘What’s up YGG’, will consist of 10 episodes covering various topical issues including game development, partner collaborations, player experience, game engagement mechanics, jackpots, the streamer community’s impact on the industry and much more. 

Episodes will be hosted by Stewart Darkin, new media director at Square in the Air, and Yggdrasil CEO Fredrik Elmqvist. Discussing the launch of the podcast, Elmqvist said: “We are very excited to introduce our podcast series as a new channel to communicate with industry colleagues as well as our global audience with an interest in our fascinating sector.

“You can look forward to an interesting mix of episode topics, inspiring guests, and lots of fun. Across 10 episodes, we hope to give listeners real insight and analysis around several crucial industry subjects, challenges and opportunities together with our distinguished guests.

“At Yggdrasil, we are committed to being a global publisher of online gambling content and we continue to push the boundaries to evolve and innovate as a company. We can’t wait to share this podcast series with the world.”

The first episode is now available to download from numerous platforms and features Yggdrasil CEO Fredrik Elmqvist giving listeners an introduction to the company before reflecting on the journey that Yggdrasil has taken to get where they are today.

Yggdrasil believes that this new podcast series will cement its commitment to “being a leading worldwide publisher of online gambling content and will give it an opportunity to showcase its industry expertise and product offering to a wider audience”.

The post Yggdrasil covers industry hot topics with new podcast series appeared first on CasinoBeats.

In addition, the company’s restructuring will also see former Directors Ollie Drew and Robin Hutchison become Chief Operating Officer and Chief Commercial Officer respectively.

The new leadership team will report to Esdaile, who created Square in the Air back in 2006.

Joining Square in the Air in 2007, Cleminson worked alongside Esdaile and the company’s management team to build the firm into a global marketing agency with clients across the world and more than 50 employees based in London, Manchester and New York.

“It is almost 17 years to the day when I walked into that small side office in a house not too far from Stoke for my first day at Square in the Air,” commented Cleminson.

“Although we haven’t enjoyed quite the same growth as the nearby bet365, it has been an incredible journey, and I don’t think Bill or I could ever have imagined back then where we’d be today.

“I know both Ollie and Robin would agree with me when I say that Bill has been the most incredible mentor and leader, and personally I am truly honoured to step up into the CEO role. 

“We have a brilliant roster of clients and a hugely talented team who push themselves every day to think creatively and strategically, always focused on delivering results. We’ll continue to do that and more.”

Drew has been with Square in the Air since 2009, while Hutchison joined the marketing agency back in 2012.

Esdaile added: “I’ve been extremely lucky to have had the loyalty and support of Ben, Ollie and Robin for over 40 years between them. 

“The time is right for me to step into a new role as Chairman where I can still strategically be involved but allow the three of them their chance to run the business. 

“I’m so grateful for their hard work and dedication, and I look forward to Square in the Air continuing to blossom.”

The post Square in the Air executive changes include Ben Cleminson as CEO appeared first on CasinoBeats.

However, among the multitude of strategies and expert tutorials on how best to achieve such a goal, is the question of: how much do you know about your network? With this in mind, CasinoBeats is aiming to take a look under the hood, if you will, and has tasked the 100 Club to help out.

The latest to take the CB100 Pathways hotseat was Robin Hutchison, Director at Square in the Air, who detailed how he quite literally “dodged a bullet” from his childhood ambitions to be in the Royal Marines while explaining that gambling businesses should be “a bit bolder, louder and prouder”. 

To kick off the conversation, host Craig Davies, Senior Media Manager at SBC, wondered what aspirations Hutchison had at school, to which he told of his ambitions to join the Royal Marines which were quickly reversed once he went to University. 

Hutchison said: “My burning ambition as a child was to be in the army, specifically in the Royal Marines. I did history at University in Liverpool and went along to a Recruitment Sergeant for the Royal Marines in Liverpool, and he put me off to be honest.

“I wasn’t 100 per cent certain that I wanted to be committed to it, and as it happened I went into journalism instead. I long thought it had been a missed opportunity, but the likelihood is I’d have gone to Iraq and Afghanistan, so my slightly mythologised view of the army might’ve been quite quickly knocked aside. I think I dodged a bullet quite literally.” 

Explaining how his job within red-top tabloid journalism led him to the world of gambling, Hutchison reminisced about his first job in the industry, finding a place in Ladbrokes PR team. 

Hutchison remarked: “Because of the type of audience we had, the readers we had, betting stories were ten-a-penny, and I used to do lots of really good stories with William Hill, Ladbrokes and Coral and all those guys, on the whackier end of betting stories, big bets and big wins.

“Ladbrokes then asked me to go and work for their PR team, which was back in the regional media which is where I started. This was when novelty betting really took off, with Big Brother, I’m a Celebrity: Get me Out of Here and stuff like that. I did football and tennis and all the other sports as well, it was a great entry into it coming from the news side to the PR side.” 

Moving onto his current role at Square in the Air, Hutchison was asked how the company aims to make a big impact across the industry. 

Hutchison responded: “It’s something we’re trying to evolve at the moment. When I joined SITA 11 years ago now, we were all about written media, press releases, thought leadership and press interviews, and we still are.

“We’re trying to make sure that people can still use the industry media, and still have a great route to market via them, but also do their own stuff as well. Whether that’s by social media, their own websites or their own production of content. 

“The US is a big part of what we do now, we’ve got a five-strong team there. Ultimately, we’re moving as the industry is moving and trying new geographies. We’re really excited about SBC Summit Rio next March and seeing what we can do down there in Latin America.

“As we evolve, or as the industry evolves, we need to evolve with it. I think we need to make sure that the clients we have and the prospective clients that we want to talk to will be provided with PR and marketing services that suit them, their readers and viewers. The trick is to stay ahead of the game and make sure that you’re moving with the times.”

Before rounding off, Davies took the typical Pathways approach by asking Hutchison if there’s one particular industry topic that he would like to touch on or address. 

Instilling a sense of pride for the industry he works in, Hutchison responded: “What I don’t think we do well as an industry is champion ourselves. We don’t celebrate what we do, we’re not proud of what we do.

“There are people out there in all walks of life that hate gambling, the abolitionists I’ll call them, and we don’t stand up for what we do enough. We’ve got an awful lot of stuff to be proud of. 

“We’re fantastic contributors, whether it’s tax or employment, we’re an adult industry but we’re responsible whether that’s on the supplier side or the operator side. We should be proud of what we do and I think we should stand up to the people who want to ban gambling and want us to be forced underground.

“We need to speak as a unified voice as an industry, and as someone that’s passionate about PR and marketing I’d like us to be a bit bolder, a bit prouder and a bit louder about what we do.”

The post CB100 pathways through gaming and beyond, with Robin Hutchison appeared first on CasinoBeats.

Navajo Nation Gaming Enterprise

Brian Parish is to depart Chief Executive Officer duties of the Navajo Nation Gaming Enterprise as of September 5, 2023, to pursue other employment opportunities. 

As a result of an over nine and a half year stint coming to an end, Matthew Shunkamolah, a member of the Navajo Nation, will assume interim CEO responsibilities.

“The board is extremely grateful to Brian for his leadership and commitment to the growth and development of the Gaming Enterprise” said Board Chair Quincy Natay. 

“Under Brian’s leadership, over 84 per cent of our work force are members of the Navajo Nation, and of our 275 leadership positions, 71 per cent are in management and executive leadership positions.

“Brian worked hard to ensure that our team members are taken care of and launched a competitive wage study that was subsequently implemented making a significant difference for many of our employees.”

EPIC Risk Management

Former Premier League and international footballer Simon Haworth has been welcomed as the latest member to the EPIC Risk Management team that is tasked with delivering its education sessions on gambling-related harm.

The ex-Wales, Coventry City, Cardiff City and Wigan Athletic forward recently the consultancy’s long-standing partners WHYSUP as a programme facilitator, and as an extension of that arrangement, he will join group founder Mark Murray in supporting EPIC’s session delivery across a range of sectors as an associate.

“It’s brilliant how EPIC raise awareness and educate. It means a lot to me to be able to share my lived experience within the sports industry,” he explained:

“I’m looking forward to being part of the EFL programme we deliver, and the prospect of the MLS Players Association sessions too.

“I’m really interested in working in the horse racing arena as well; this is an especially rewarding area of work for me, as my gambling addiction was betting on the horses.

“It’s a nice progression from a recent personal project, where I co-founded a podcast called Football Untold where players are interviewed with a focus on their mental health.

“I absolutely love sharing my lived experience; I really enjoy doing it as it’s very powerful. It’s really therapeutic as part of my recovery too.”

Mohegan Tribal Gaming Authority

The Mohegan Tribal Gaming Authority has disclosed the results of a change to its management board as a result of a general election that four of the nine seats on the tribal council chosen pursuant to staggered term provisions in its constitution.

The governing body of the Mohegan Tribe of Indians of Connecticut revealed that Joseph Soper, Thayne Hutchins Jr, John Harris, and Kim Baker were elected on a four-year term, commencing October 2, 2023.

The former trio are currently members of the tribal council, while Baker will succeed Patricia LaPierre, who did not seek re-election, but will remain a member of the Tribal Council until her successor is seated.

Square in the Air

Square in the Air has appointed Brett Smiley as Vice President of US Operations as the company continues its expansion of North America.

Smiley, a seasoned trade Journalist in the US sports betting and igaming industry, has been tasked with overseeing strategy and delivery for the clients of Square in the Air in North America, as well as driving business development for the firm.

“This is a real coup for Square in the Air,” said Ben Cleminson, Director at Square in the Air. “I’ve known Brett for the past six or seven years and I couldn’t speak highly enough about him.

“He is a real expert when it comes to the sports betting and igaming landscape, a fantastic writer and has a contact book as deep as they come. We are really excited to see what we can build together.”

Andrew Cochrane

Andrew Cochrane has called time on an almost three and half year stay as Senior Vice President of Commercial at Draftkings to take up an unspecified B2B role “in the coming months”.

Prior to the time at operator he occupied the positions of Chief Commercial Officer and Chief Business Development Officer at SBTech, which combined with DraftKings in an agreement that also comprised Diamond Eagle Acquisition Corp almost four years ago. 

“It’s time for me to move on from DraftKings and rather than doing a Harry Kane and saying my goodbyes and one hour later posting about my new role in a different shirt I thought I would give DraftKings the credit they deserve and separate the two,” he wrote on social media.

“It has been a rewarding journey with great memories of signing ground-breaking partnerships and I’ve had the opportunity to work with some of the most exceptional people in the industry.”

Flutter Entertainment

John Bryant has been appointed as Chair of the Flutter Entertainment board and Chair of the nomination committee, effective today (September 1, 2023).

As previously announced on April 27, 2023, he will succeed Gary McGann who stepped down from the board on August 31, 2023.

“I would like to thank Gary for his excellent stewardship of the Flutter Board during his tenure as Chair and previously as non-executive director.,” Bryant noted.

“His expertise, professionalism and commitment are greatly appreciated and on behalf of the Board, I wish Gary well in the future.”

Melvin Ritsema

A self-proclaimed “end of an era” has been declared by Melvin Ritsema, with the LeoVegas General Manager set to depart after a journey that spans a fraction over a decade.

Following positions of Head of Marketing and Chief Marketing Officer at Royal Panda, he became Managing Director and then Commercial Performance Director at LeoVegas following a December 2017 €60m buy-out. He ascended to the role of GM in February 2021.

“It’s been an amazing journey of almost 10 years, that started in a converted house in a small village in the Netherlands with just a handful of people,” he reflected on social media. 

“From the early days of Royal Panda, being involved with almost every activity of the organisation I had the chance to contribute, learn and grow into the role of CMO and eventually Managing Director. 

“After we merged the business with LeoVegas, I became General Manager – ROW Leovegas and most recently had the opportunity to start some new strategic projects. 

“On top of that, I had the honour to be a culture and leadership trainer for 50+ leaders/managers of the group. What a fantastic decade.”

The post Square in the Air, EPIC, Navajo & Mohegan: on the move appeared first on CasinoBeats.

The 2023 drive is aiming to highlight the range of personal stories and achievements that help shape the global betting, gaming and racing sectors. 

Ellen Kerbey, Creative Director at Square in the Air, said: “We’ve been amazed at some of the incredible achievements that women worldwide have shared as part of this campaign, but more than anything it serves as a reminder that each of us has our story, our own experiences and a unique set of strengths to celebrate.

“Under the #GamingAsOne and #AllintheRace hashtags, it’s heartening to see the biggest betting, gaming and racing organisations in the world unite to celebrate our strength in diversity.” 

BetMGM, Betsson, Entain, Kindred, LeoVegas, Paddy Power Betfair, Penn Entertainment, PokerStars and SportsBet are among the operators supporting the campaign, alongside leading suppliers such as IGT, Light & Wonder, Microgaming and Playtech, all under the #GamingAsOne hashtag.

Support also comes from Better Collective, Clarion, Flutter, Games Global, Lottoland and Yolo Group. Regulators backing the campaign include the Malta Gaming Authority and the Massachusetts Gaming Commission.

Elsewhere, the racing community, including the British Horseracing Authority, Godolphin Racing, the Injured Jockeys Fund and the UK Tote, is also united under #AllintheRace.

Tina Thakor-Rankin, Co-Founder of the All-in Diversity Project, added: “Last year, our IWD video campaign – delivered in close partnership with Square in the Air – sought to highlight the sometimes shocking personal experiences of women working in the betting and gaming sectors. 

“Into 2023, it is time for celebration and an opportunity to emphasise the amazing achievements of women in our industry. This campaign uses those feats to illustrate that not only does this industry seek to fully ‘embrace equity’, but that our different experiences make us stronger.”

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Responding to Twitch’s statement, released late on September 20, which introduced new rules set to be implemented on October 18, will see the streaming platform issue a ban on content from websites offering slots, roulette or dice games that aren’t licensed in the US or other jurisdictions that “provide sufficient consumer protection”. 

Included in the announcement were specific citations to operators, such as Stake.com, Duelbits.com, Rollbit.com and Roobet.com, as sites that are prohibited. 

Joining CasinoBeats and Scicluna in delving into the streaming platform’s latest rule amendments was Aidan Cliff, Account Manager at Square in the Air, but more importantly, a former streamer on Twitch. 

CasinoBeats: What were your initial reactions to Twitch’s announcement on banning unlicensed slots sites? 

Chris Scicluna: The interest for live streamed gambling entertainment is enormous. As I mentioned on LinkedIn yesterday, streamers have provided so much innovation to our industry, and for me, it will never be enjoyable to see someone’s work abruptly ended by something they can’t control. 

That said, we created Livespins to put the innovation of streaming and all its benefits in the hands of the operator – those that are working diligently to create safe and sustainable play for their customers and who have the tools to do so. 

I think the news shocked a lot of the industry and streamers alike, but in the end, this is a good thing for everyone. If we want our industry to thrive, we must be able to anticipate and innovate responsibly regardless of sentiment in the mass media… and that is just what Livespins is doing.

Aidan Cliff: Twitch and many other platforms, such as Facebook, have begun clamping down on gambling streams in general and introducing additional rules to protect an impressionable audience. 

They now have the spotlight on influencers’ revenue streams, specifically the recommendation of certain casinos which in turn pay a streamer a rev share, CPA or hybrid deal for promotion and the signing up of new customers. 

It has become clear during the rise in prominence of gambling streamers that they have a strong influence over their audience and the promotion of unlicensed casino sites takes advantage of the trust viewers place in them.

I certainly wasn’t surprised by the tightening of rules, but rather by the specifics of it. I think most people can look objectively at certain streamers’ balances and stake sizes and see that it not only represents an illusion of gambling but fundamentally encourages outlandish bet sizes. 

If a streamer already has enough influence to encourage play on an unlicensed slot site it can be presumed that their influence may also encourage unrealistic stake sizes to be wagered. 

I think the naming of specific operators by Twitch in their latest update shows how prominent and synonymous some of these unlicensed casinos have grown on the platform, and how inherently linked they are to supposed ‘fake’ money streams – along with highlighting how questionable some of their marketing practices have been on the platform. 

How do these new rule changes affect yourself and the slot streaming community as a whole? 

CS: There’s been a lot of controversy re: Twitch for a long time now. Besides the inability to KYC or ‘age-gait’ the viewers on Twitch, there has also been debate on transparency of funds and whether the streamer is using his/her own money. As well, some of the streamers such as ItsSliker have spoken up about gambling addiction which is likely one of the final straws that pushed Twitch to make their decision. 

All of these issues, we as an industry understand much more than any mass media and have built tools and practice to mitigate. 

The new rules are positive for Livepsins and the industry overall. Operators have the ability to bring the same streaming entertainment to their own customer base with Livespins. From the very beginning, we have worked relentlessly to deliver pure sustainable entertainment to players all over the globe. 

Our streamers are recruited by us, vetted and trained for months on content and responsible gambling. We ensure moderators 24/7 making sure we are building a healthy community.

I hope the streaming community as a whole agrees with me here. In general, this is a very good thing and will ensure they have a stable career for them in the long term. It will be a shock for many, but for those streamers that are successful, they will soon realise that it’s their content that made them successful and can be made available in environments that also protect the players and create a more sustainable experience.

AC: Working directly with gambling influencers to promote titles from Square in the Air’s clientele is a careful balancing act. Both operators and suppliers obviously want their titles to reach as wide an audience as possible, but equally have to distance themselves from ‘fake’ money streamers and those who promote irresponsible gambling to their audience.

These new rules are going to allow streamers who play by the rules set out by jurisdictions and governing bodies to enjoy a rise in viewers, and allow us to promote our client’s games responsibly while streamers maintain the duty of care expected of their viewership. 

It has been quite frustrating to see engaging, talented and entertaining streamers be outshone by those promoting unlicensed slot sites who seem to have a never-ending balance to play with and can therefore stream around the clock, distributing content that can be harmful. These new changes will elevate streamers who gamble responsibly and this can only be a good thing for the community as a whole.  

What are your thoughts on having an independent regulator to handle gambling content on streaming platforms? Is this a good move going forward? 

CS: It sounds like Pandora’s box. Yes, having one independent regulator sounds simpler but likely not better. Innovation and technology will always be ahead of any kind of regulation so there will always be loopholes to exploit. 

Of course, mass media should and will have their own moderators, guidelines and rules, but they will never be able to keep up with 100+ jurisdictions and the compliance required from regulators when it comes to gambling.

AC: It will take some time for streamers to no longer be tarnished with the same brush as some of those who have damaged the overall perception of gambling influencers. Over the years of working with streamers, and initially being one myself, I have seen an array of independent regulators come and go while streamers themselves have endeavoured to work together to build robust verification processes independently. 

However, these regulators have never been as successful as they perhaps should be. This is in part due to this lack of trust streamers have now placed on them and multiple unanswered questions asked by the community, such as is the independent regulator truly independent? Do streamers have to show their bank balances to prove deposits moving forward? What are the ramifications if somebody fails a test set by an independent regulator? These are just some of the recurring questions I have seen used as a counterargument to this process. 

One thing is clear – our industry is highly innovative – and I suspect that these latest Twitch changes, while on paper, look to limit the promotion of unlicensed slot suppliers, will merely provide a minor additional obstacle for untrustworthy streamers to overcome. 

Last year saw Twitch prohibit the sharing of affiliate links on its platform, with gambling influencers simply sending their audience to a third-party website to display them.

I would be surprised if these changes aren’t circumvented in some way, or if guilty streamers simply move onto the next platform on which they can continue their activity. So perhaps an overarching independent regulator is a necessity but how this works and its credibility will be vital to its implementation and success.

What reaction do you expect in the community overall? 

CS: I expect after the initial buzz of this news, the community will start to think logically about their businesses and what it means for them going forward. We are already starting to see increased interest from providers and operators. 

I anticipate that the community will adapt quickly and realise that we, as the industry, are closest to the customer, and therefore we must be the ones to bring this entertainment to our customers in a responsible and sustainable way.

AC: It feels like it’s been a long time coming and I suspect the positive reception Twitch has received to these changes will encourage other platforms to consider additional changes themselves. The community is, of course, pleased that unlicensed operators will no longer be promoted and untrustworthy streamers that do promote them will be removed from that platform.

If indeed a streamer could afford to play with a million-dollar balance every day on an unlicensed casino, it seems perfectly reasonable for them to now do so on a licensed website and continue to stream and follow these new rules. Unless of course, those funds aren’t genuine.

From the industry’s perspective, this can only be a good thing. Limiting the promotion of unlicensed irresponsible gambling practices will help build the trust audiences and the streaming community have for gambling streamers, and make it easier to promote both supplier and operators’ products and services in a more responsible manner as standard.

The post Twitch’s recent rule tightening is a ‘good thing for everyone’ appeared first on CasinoBeats.

Set to take place in the run-up to IWD on March 8, CEOs from companies such as Flutter, Kindred and DraftKings, will participate in three short films highlight examples of gender bias in the industry, while also offering resources for companies and individuals seeking support using the hashtag #breakthebias.

Kelly Kehn, Director and Co-Founder of All-In Diversity, said: “We’ve been humbled by the backing this campaign has received from the biggest organisations across the world, from Europe and the Americas, to Africa and Australia. 

“However, it is also a stark reminder of how much work there is still to be done to address gender bias and just how many of the sector’s heavyweights are prepared to personally fight for the cause. 

“While we are of course hoping to make an impact with this hard-hitting campaign, the teams at All-In and Square in the Air are determined that these films will not simply capture a moment in time but add momentum to the fight for fairness and balance for all those in our industry.”

Joining the aforementioned companies in participating in the campaign are Betsson, Better Collective, Catena Media, GiG, LeoVegas, Lottoland, Microgaming, Pinnacle, Sky Betting & Gaming, Sportsbet, Yolo and Yggdrasil.

Stewart Darkin, Director of New Media at Square in the Air, concluded: “From conception, this felt like an important project. With the support of the All-In Diversity team, we have been able to work with some of the sector’s biggest names to highlight what remains a major issue and which highlights the daily struggle that some professionals in our industry continue to face.

“There are so many companies doing great work in the areas of diversity and inclusion within their organisations but, clearly, there is still work to be done – and we’re thankful that the sector’s biggest names are standing shoulder-to-shoulder on this issue.”

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Moderated by Square in the Air’s Stewart Darkin, episode four of the podcast series saw Yggdrasil’s CEO Fredrik Elmqvist, Björn Krantz, chief global market officer of Yggdrasil, and industry journalist Robin Harrison Milan touch upon the challenges and opportunities facing the industry, as well as the impacts of both COVID-19 and regulations.

Opening up the discussions, Elmqvist addressed some of the major dynamics at play across the igaming industry – pointing towards the more positive trends, and those which are not so positive.

“Industry dynamics is a super broad topic, and there are so many factors at play if you’re looking at it from a global perspective,” he began. 

“We are a casino developer at heart, but we’re now taking more of a publishing role, working more to enable external technology, enabling external studios and so forth. All of this is bringing relevance to our market. 

“But taking a few steps back and looking at the casino industry from a global perspective, we obviously see some turbulence in Asia. We’re seeing the impacts of regulation across Europe – these can swing either way.

“We’re all for the regulation, but restrictions which are too heavy can have a negative impact on the legitimate market. This can then create some really dark things – by that I mean counterfeit B2B and B2C organisations, hijack streams etc. 

“From the other side, we have things such as SPACs, sports betting etc. But as you can see, it’s a super dynamic landscape at the moment.” 

So when it comes to ensuring that new regulations aren’t to the detriment of player protection, Krantz underlined the importance of collaboration between the gaming industry and the regulators. 

He added: “This collaboration between the industry and the regulators is key. The regulator should also have an appetite to gain insight into the possible effects here; they should know what they want to achieve, and how to both streamline and harmonise the frameworks so that it is optimised towards responsible gaming measures. 

“If we look at Germany which has a one euro max bet, we hear in the market that this could drive the RTP down which is not good either. If you have a low stake, and then you’re taxed on turnover – which I think can, and most likely will happen in Germany – then you have no margins. In order to get any sort of margin, people will lower the RTP to get a little bit more out of it – but that is not helping players. 

“When you introduce measures which aren’t helping the player side of things, that’s when bettors start to look elsewhere and you have lower channelisation into the regulated market. 

“I think the main thing to consider here is balance. There is this collaboration and proactive dialogue which news to happen between the industry and the regulator – not just within one individual country but maybe on a wider scale.” 

Watch the full podcast here.

The post What’s Up Ygg: maintaining a regulatory balance across the igaming industry appeared first on CasinoBeats.

The CasinoBeats Malta briefing takes place at The Palace Hotel in Sliema on Wednesday, June 19, welcoming guests from 4pm. Following two panel sessions, delegates can head to the venue’s spectacular rooftop terrace, to a networking drinks reception sponsored and hosted by Square in the Air, which has been named Agency of the Year at the SBC Awards for the last two years.

CasinoBeats Malta will welcome more than 100 senior executives to The Palace for two panel discussions that focus on the search for innovation in the online casino sector. Speakers include C-level and senior management from EnergyCasino, Kalamba Gaming, LeoVegas, the Malta Gaming Authority, MetalCasino and Relax Gaming, among others.

For a full list of speakers, to view the agenda and to register your interest in attending this invite-only event, visit the CasinoBeats Malta website here.

Welcoming the partnership, Robin Hutchison, director at Square in the Air, said: “We consider CasinoBeats Malta to be an excellent opportunity, as we seek to grow the agency’s footprint on the island.

“We have recently grown all areas of the agency, including design and social media, and are well-placed to help businesses in Malta stand-out from the crowd as more move there and the market matures.

“Both CasinoBeats and SBC have a knack for getting major operators, suppliers and key influencers together. This is of great interest to SITA and our clients, both present and future, and we’re looking forward to attending and hosting a great evening.”

Stewart Darkin, managing director of CasinoBeats, added: “The calibre of both speaker and delegate at CasinoBeats Malta looks set to match the high standards set by last year’s inaugural CasinoBeats Summit. As we consolidate our position as part of Malta’s igaming community, partnering with Square in the Air represents a great opportunity.

“Robin and his colleagues at Square have a deserved reputation for excellent client service and we’re excited to work alongside them in Malta as we each grow our networks there.”

To register your interest in attending CasinoBeats Malta, please visit the event page here

To learn more about Square in the Air visit the agency’s website here

The post Square in the Air sponsors CasinoBeats Malta appeared first on CasinoBeats.

Specialising in the betting, gaming, sport and financial sectors, Square boasts a number of high-profile gaming clients, including Betway, NetEnt, Red Tiger Gaming, SG Digital and Yggdrasil Gaming.

James Bennett, a former editor of eGR magazine and, most recently, head of communications at Playtech, re-joins the agency within the senior management team as director and will lead some of the company’s major accounts as well as help drive new business.

Nick Brown, a senior strategic communications professional with a decade of international marketing, communications and advertising experience, joins as account director within the B2B team, which has witnessed 50 per cent growth in the last year alone.

David Cook, a former gaming industry journalist at Gambling Insider and reporter for SportsBusiness Group, also joins the rapidly expanding B2B team as senior account executive and will use his wide-ranging industry experience to manage SITA’s growing list of clients.

Colin Munford has recently joined SITA as digital media executive on the digital team, working on a range of B2C social media clients and accounts. Munford is a former journalist and digital marketing expert and spent several years as communications manager at Leyton Orient FC.

Square in the Air has witnessed significan growth in the last three years, breaking into the PRWeek UK Top 150 rankings for the first time in April thanks to an annual revenue growth rate of 31 per cent.

Welcoming the appointments, Bill Esdaile, managing director at Square in the Air, said: “We’re delighted to welcome back James and bring Nick, Colin and David on board during such an exciting time for the business.

“We’re growing by more than 30 per cent year-on-year and their quality, experience and expertise will undoubtedly see this growth further increase in the coming months and years.”

The post Stellar growth sees Square in the Air add four appeared first on CasinoBeats.