Market-leading gaming operators set for CasinoBeats Malta Digital’s Payment Expert track

The Payment Expert track at CasinoBeats Malta Digital is set to provide an in-depth examination of the major payments challenges facing igaming operators, with input from specialists at William Hill, Flutter Entertainment, GVC Holdings, Parimatch, Rank Group and Pinnacle.

Delivered in conjunction with the PaymentExpert.com news portal and sponsored by Neosurf, the content track features eight panel sessions spread over 1 and 2 July, the final two days of the virtual conference and exhibition.

In addition to the content, there will be a Payments Social networking session on 2 July to provide a forum for operators and suppliers to connect, as well as a strong contingent of payments solutions providers showcasing their latest innovations in the interactive exhibition.  

Joe Streeter, News Editor of PaymentExpert.com, said: “The relationship between operators and payments solutions companies is crucial to the success of the igaming industry, so we’re delighted to bring together key players from both sides to connect and engage in for some important discussions at CasinoBeats Malta Digital.

“We’ve compiled an agenda that covers the key payments-related issues that the gaming sector faces as regulations change and technology continues to evolve at pace. The speaker line-up is packed with experts ready to share their insights and ideas, so all delegates involved in payments and compliance will learn something valuable.”  

The track opens with Gambling Payments & Self Governance, which will look at the fallout from the UK Gambling Commission’s ban on credit card gambling and what can be done to prevent the unregulated market enticing the vulnerable players the ruling was intended to protect. The panel includes Paul Buck (CEO, EPIC Risk Management), Paloma Gonzalez Mascaraque (Head of Payments, BetConstruct) and Ievgeniia Derbal (Head of Legal, Parimatch), with David Clifton (Director, Clifton Davies Consultancy) in the moderator’s chair. 

It continues with an in-depth examination of how operators can cope with the enhanced regulatory burden they now face during the W2 Global: Harmony on Compliance session.

Speakers include Steven Armstrong (Group Director of AML, William Hill) and Warren Russell (CEO, W2 Global). 

The Instant Play & Payments session, sponsored by Trustly, will look at ways operators can offer a quick, user-friendly sign-up process while also complying with KYC regulations. Matthew Vassallo (COO, Hero Gaming), Beyza Orazova (Head of Sales, iGaming, Dimoco), Ana Stef (Group Head of Payments, NetBet) and John Mallia (Team Manager - Gaming Accounts, Trustly) feature on a panel moderated by Rahul Das (Head of Payments, LiveScore / VirginBet). 

The final Payment Expert session of 1 July is KPMG: Europe - Anticipating the Next Wave of M&A, which will provide a timely evaluation of whether the gaming industry is entering a new phase of consolidation. Hermione Arciola (Partner, KPMG Malta) will moderate a panel that includes Ben Robinson (Co-Founder, RB Capital Advisors), Grant Johnson (CEO, Esports Entertainment Group), Robert Andersson (CEO, Net Gaming Europe AB) and Cormac O’Brien (Chief Financial Officer, Flutter Malta). 

Crypto: The Next Chapter will get things underway on 2 July, as a group of legal experts assess the Malta Gaming Authority’s efforts to develop a framework that accepts digital currencies and share their insights on whether crypto really has the potential to become a mainstream option for operators and players. The panel includes Matthew Dickson (CEO, BitBoss), Ian Gauci (Managing Partner, GTG Advocates) and Brandon Debattista (Legal Counsel, MGA), with Genia Gurevitz (Head of Banking, Compliance & Payments Services, Tal Ron, Drihem & Co) acting as moderator. 

Attention then turns to the growing pressure on betting shops and brick-and-mortar casinos to go digital in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, and what steps operators need to take to remain compliant and keep customers engaged as they introduce new payments technology. Joe Streeter will chair the Cashless: The New Normal panel, which features Martin Lycka (Director of Regulatory Affairs, GVC Holdings), Dan Waugh (Partner, Regulus Partners) and David Williams (Director Of Public Affairs, Rank Group). 

It is followed by the Future of PSPs, which will investigate how the role of payment services providers will develop as the gaming industry continues to evolve. The panel includes Olga Golikova (Head of Billing, Parimatch), Isabelle Delisle (Global Head of Payment Solutions, Pinnacle) and Liutauras Varanavičius (Head of Business Development, ConnectPay), with Andrea McGeachin (CCO, Neosurf) on moderating duties. 

The final panel of the track, which takes place directly before the Payments Social networking event, is The 6AMLD Challenge. Thees Buschmann (Head of Compliance, Red Rhino), Philip Bugeja (AML Consultant) and Matthias Schüller (MD, Run It Once Poker) will look at what the directive means for gambling operators, with James Myles (Analyst, Eta Delta) asking the questions. 

The CasinoBeats Malta Digital agenda also includes tracks about Working in Malta, the Future of Gaming, Technology & Innovation, and Regulation & Compliance. 

Away from the conference rooms, delegates will have multiple opportunities to make new contacts. In addition to the schedule of themed networking sessions, attendees can take part in workshops with sector experts, join in group discussions in the virtual networking bar or use the event platform’s chat facility for one-to-one conversations. 

There is also a 40-booth interactive exhibition showcasing the latest products from major suppliers, the SlotBeats Lounge where new offerings from leading games studios will be on display, and a programme of product presentations and exhibitor competitions.

Find full details of CasinoBeats Malta Digital, including information about how to register and the discounts available on company group passes, at the event’s official website.