Interactive
UK – Playtech signs up to Gambling Business Group vision
By Phil - 16 October 2014
The vision set out by the Gambling Business Group (GBG) when it was officially launched just two months ago, has received a ringing endorsement with news that Playtech, one of world gaming’s most influential organisations, has joined its ranks.
Founded in 1999 and listed on the London Stock Exchange, the international designer, developer and licensor of software and services for the online, mobile, TV and land-based gaming industry has more than 3,400 employees located in 12 countries.
Peter Hannibal, CEO of the Gambling Business Group, believes the recruitment of Playtech underlines the important role that GBG fulfils. He explained: “When we launched in July we confirmed that our key objective was to provide a strategic voice for gaming in a way in which individual trade associations are unable to, due to their understandably narrow remit. Playtech, which has a breadth of interests including online operators upgrading or diversifying their offering, land-based casino groups, government sponsored entities such as lotteries, new entrants making their online gaming debut and the global VLT market, is a case in point. Our ability to engage with government and regulators on behalf of gaming per se as opposed to just one facet of gaming is an important and unique distinction and one the industry is increasingly receptive to.”
He added: “Naturally, we are delighted to have Playtech’s influence, knowledge and insight under the umbrella of the Gambling Business Group. This is the first of a number of new members that I hope to be able to announce in the lead-up to ICE and EAG 2015.”
The Gambling Business Group was established in order to improve the business environment for its members, to engage with government thinking, to help shape the political agenda and protect the long-term future of the companies active in the industry and the livelihoods of the people employed. GBG is a subscription-based organisation with membership rates based on annual turnover. The 50+ members comprise a broad spectrum of organisations from multi-national PLCs through to SMEs.
