How/when did you first get involved with the gaming industry?
I have always been interested in gaming – from an early age my Granddad taught me to read horse racing form!
What attracted you to this sector?
The excitement of working in one of the fastest moving industries on the planet. The innovation and the sense that we are doing things no one else has done before is a hugely motivating factor for me.
What were you doing prior to the gaming industry?
Cheering on horses from the back of lecture theatres at University; I’ve been in the industry all my life.
What are you responsible for at Buzz?
I am responsible for Business Development, Sales, Marketing and Operations within the business.
What have been the biggest changes you’ve seen in your time?
The abolition of minimum trebles on a football coupon through to what we have now, where you can bet on over 900 market events in play with Buzz Sports!
The growth of the poker market, then Black Friday.
The growth and almost obliteration of the affiliate markets.
What are the biggest positive factors for your sector right now?
The opportunities to deal with regulated /licensed operators in more and more countries.
And the negatives ones – the obstacles to growth?
The legal costs associated with dealing in so many territories are a negative. Also the taxation regimes in each territory differ for a product like ZonePlay – and form of Turnover tax is a huge obstacle.
Looking at your entire career, what do you think was your smartest move?
Timing is everything – you need to know when the market is about to move and already be where it is heading. Buzz Sports is an in-play specialist – it takes time to be in the right place with the right product – almost 4 years in fact!
And dumbest one?
Backing Leeds to win the Championship this season!
Where do you hope you’ll be, professionally, in ten years’ time?
Funding start ups in the social/ gaming space.
If you’d never embarked on this career, what other line(s) of work would you have liked to pursue?
I would have been involved in professional sport at some level.
