SBC Top Barcelona: Meet the Workforce

SBC Top Barcelona, the worldwide betting and iGaming display, is now arguably essentially the most various, thrilling and demanding assembly of minds in our complete trade calendar.

Protecting the spectrum of related fields and addressing essentially the most topical and remarkable problems and tendencies, it’s such a lot deeper and extra refined than an insignificant ‘exhibition’ or a ‘tradeshow’, as a result of SBC occasions are exactly that… ‘events’.

Internationally, the B2B gaming media and the loads of LinkedIn and alternative social feeds were awash with messages selling the time table, the audio system, the exhibitors and the goods, however what about SBC themselves? How smartly do we all know and perceive their function in curating this superb tournament?

SBC is a singular industry, handing over a calendar of world occasions that calls for all people – companions, sponsors, audio system, exhibitors and attendees – to paintings intently along their groups on a year-round foundation. For the reason that that is their full-time function, three hundred and sixty five days a 12 months, we idea it could be attention-grabbing to grasp what those key people assume makes SBC Top Barcelona so particular and, similarly enlightening, how they view the trade that their organisation serves and helps.

Now we have decided on part a batch key SBC occasions workforce contributors, population who don’t at all times have the highlight glorious of their course, however who a lot of you convert screams and emails with on a familiar foundation…

The Director

Jonathan Whelan, SBC’s Director of Convention & Relationships for Europe, has at all times thought to be himself one thing of a maverick, which he says is most probably why the sector of convention manufacturing appealed to him! “My first event was the World Gaming Executive Summit, which I immediately relocated to the gorgeous W Hotel in Barcelona, laying the foundations for a 16-year run of success for WGES.”

Jonathan has since constructed occasions throughout a large number of industries, scaled an occasions start-up in Singapore and dabbled in consultancy however sooner or later, the trap of the gaming trade proved too sturdy.

“After 13 years in conferences, I can say hand on heart, I have never experienced an industry quite like the gaming industry. And when I was given the opportunity to come back to the UK to work with the great people at SBC, I jumped at the chance!”

His preliminary paintings was once along Andrew McCarron, scaling the convention workforce, which he describes as an intense enjoy. “When I came in, we were still doing a load of digital events.  However, I often describe the conference team as the ‘hub’, with spokes extending into every other part of the business, so this gave me the opportunity to collaborate with our awesome sales, marketing, events and media teams.

“At the beginning of this year, I continued on this collaborative track, taking over the European side of our newly established Relationships team. This group has the sole goal of maintaining the highest levels of relationship with operators and affiliates.

“This is the key to our success in scaling so fast. We want each person involved to feel the excitement we felt in the early days when Ras and Andy were running meetups in pubs!

“So to boil it down, my teams and I have a hand in curating the conference agenda and getting together all the great people that attendees get to meet at the Summit.”

The Manufacturer

Natalie Lees, Senior Convention Manufacturer, is a common face to many, having labored within the gaming sector for 17 years. Inauguration out in promoting gross sales with InterGame, she stepped into iGaming on the very delivery of the style and says: “It seems crazy now, but I remember when one of the feature articles wondered whether mobile gaming would be the next big thing!”

She stepped forward from gross sales into extra advertising and industry building roles, relishing the chance to paintings with the all of a sudden rising associates sector, an section she says that she loves.

Nearest greater than a decade in business publishing, Natalie gained the decision that modified the course and trajectory of her occupation.

“Andy (SBC’s Managing Director, Andrew McCarron), who I knew well, telephoned and asked me if I would be interested in conference producing. Both the role and the company sounded ideal to me, the perfect mix of disciplines and challenges, and I was delighted to accept and join the young and hungry team.

“My role as a Conference Producer is to create a smooth and impactful event experience. This sounds straightforward, right? In reality, we have to achieve an incredibly delicate balance between the development of event content, programme creation and coordination, speaker management, logistics, budgets, promotion, sponsor engagement and, at the end of it all, attendee satisfaction.

“The greatest pressure with conference production is the absence of second chances. With events, especially annual events, if people aren’t happy the opportunities to put things right for them are rare. Thankfully, SBC has built an amazing and dedicated team, and we continue to go from strength to strength by delivering for all our stakeholders.”

The Occasions Skilled

Stuart Duff performed skilled soccer for seven years prior to he started ‘real’ paintings, prior to embarking on an tournament control occupation that has coated exhibitions, meetings, gala’s, awards presentations and experiential campaigns.

“With my background and interests, SBC was a perfect fit for my experience and is undoubtedly an exciting place to cultivate an events business. Ras (SBC’s founder and CEO, Rasmus Sojmark) can also be quite persuasive during interviews!”

Becoming a member of from Eventex, chief within the birthday celebration of all this is ingenious and efficient within the occasions trade, Stuart’s pedigree relating to understanding what it takes to position on a display is definitely confirmed, and his function is to do exactly that!

“I lead our European events and Global Awards portfolios, with the SBC Summit Barcelona being our flagship event. A portfolio of 12 events needs a strong team behind it, and that is led from the front by our team of impressive Event Managers.”

The Occasions Supervisor

Charlotte Gaskin, SBC’s Occasions Supervisor for Europe, studied Tournament Control at college, which is the place her love for tournament operations was once born. She has since upcoming labored in diverse sectors, together with finance, felony and others.

“The opportunity to join SBC came about after a former colleague and friend reached out to me. She couldn’t stop raving about the culture and the scale of the events at SBC, so I really couldn’t turn it down!

“I look after the operations side as part of the European team’s portfolio. Everything from arranging merchandise orders to securing venues and making catering choices, falls under our responsibility.

“On a day-to-day basis, we juggle multiple events, each with its own unique characteristic that require careful and individual planning.

“Even with SBC Summit Barcelona just around the corner, we are already looking ahead to events in 2024 and even 2025!”

The Relationships Man

Julian Pitts, Senior Associate Dating Supervisor, started his occupation in retail control, the character of which allowed for a bundle of walk, which he very much liked. Having upcoming spent a 12 months as an Associate Supervisor with UK operator, when the Associate Dating Supervisor function changed into to be had at SBC, it appeared like the easiest have compatibility.

“The Relationship team is something unique to SBC. We have a team dedicated to looking after operators, and I personally oversee all of our affiliate relationships. This is a crucial part of the company’s efforts to attract the most prominent brands in the industry, both major players and promising newcomers.

“For me, my role is all about ensuring that affiliates have easy access to all of our events, along with regular touchpoints with myself and our broader Affiliate Leaders community. This way, they can feel connected not only during the events but also in between.

“We are nurturing a sense of belonging, with the ultimate aim of shining a spotlight on their needs and preferences.”

The Buyer Cuddler

Kelly Morgan, Head of Buyer Good fortune, has labored in occasions logistics for over seven years, spanning plenty of industries, and now has the most productive task identify on the planet!

Consumer liaison was once at all times one thing Kelly took accountability for, and throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, she segued into a job in digital occasions area.

“Once the world started opening up again, I knew I needed to move back to face-to-face events. It was by luck, late on a Friday afternoon, that I came across the role at SBC and knew it was the perfect fit for me, combining my knowledge of event operations with my passion for working with clients.”

SBC’s Buyer Good fortune workforce is tasked with overseeing the execution of shopper words and dealing intently with the broader SBC groups to bring sponsorships.

“We serve as the primary point of contact for clients during execution,” explains Kelly. “We guide them through the process and address questions that arise along the way. Our goal is to ensure that their participation in an SBC event is seamless and surpasses their expectations.”

And now, the Questions…

Having met our solid of core SBC workforce contributors, and put names and backgrounds to faces,

GGN: What facets of SBC Top Barcelona differentiate it from each alternative SBC occasions and in addition competitor occasions?

Charlotte: The presen and assist invested in operating with our providers and nurturing buyer members of the family is one thing I’ve by no means witnessed in somewhere else. Barcelona, particularly, generates an clear buzz or even at alternative SBC occasions, conversations incessantly revolve round Barcelona. Developing an tournament that leaves the sort of lasting influence is surely impressive.

Natalie: Barcelona is the development that unites all of our occasions; the trade overlaps in such a lot of tactics, and we must be studying from each and every sector. That is the development that brings everybody in combination.

Kelly: When evaluating it to occasions hosted by way of alternative corporations, it’s the total attendee enjoy on-site that units it above the remainder. We do business in seven levels of content material that includes one of the most trade’s largest names, making it related for everybody.

And by contrast to the remainder of the SBC portfolio, what distinguishes Barcelona is its measurement and world achieve.

Julian: Our tournament has develop into a cornerstone for senior groups, mixing strategic discussions with stress-free networking alternatives. CEOs are actually willing to fasten with their opposite numbers and alternate concepts – it conjures up them.

There may be a splendid stability on the subject of attendee profiles. Operators, associates, providers, sports activities groups, regulators, associations and media – each and every division is meticulously catered to by way of isolated groups.

Stuart: SBC Top Barcelona has develop into a juggernaut of an tournament, greater than doubling in measurement 12 months on 12 months! However it’s remarkable to hold our USPs entrance and centre – our component of key senior determination makers in attendance sees refuse signal of faltering and our content material continues to be as just right because it will get. And let’s no longer even get began on the ones networking events!

Jonathan: It actually is all in regards to the population who attend and the content material we ship. All occasions search to deliver a population in combination, however the important thing too much is that SBC comes from the population itself, and so we effort to form occasions that we want to attend. The comments I revel in listening to maximum is when attendees have both discovered one thing unused and fascinating or met somebody unused and fascinating.  Those are the 2 benchmarks I all set for myself and the workforce and the root as to why an SBC Top Barcelona feels other to alternative occasions available in the market.

GGN: And in a homogeneous regard, what’s it – for you – that makes SBC Barcelona so particular?

Julian: For the sort of large-scale tournament, the eye to quality is really top-notch. The development covers just about all geographical areas and encompasses such a lot of trade verticals. And our devoted Zonal means makes it more uncomplicated for guests to navigate the display in some way that most nearly fits their objective.

Jonathan: Folk simply love coming to our tournament. It sounds glib, however with positive occasions, it’s as though population really feel they’ve to wait. Barcelona is one thing that population communicate excitedly to me about all 12 months around. Now we have a profusion accountability to our target market to hold it at this towering same old.

GGN: One of the vital USPs of all SBC occasions is the power of the convention programming, so how does the method of constructing a convention time table and speaker record paintings?

Natalie: Neatly, it begins with an overly wide cup of espresso and a blocked-off diary for a year! Joking apart, it starts by way of making sure that we have got a playground for the leaders of each and every sector and vertical. We upcoming discover the recent subjects inside of those sectors and collaborate with the editorial workforce and SBC Advisories.

Analysis screams and fleshing out the time table takes weeks, however making an investment that presen at all times can pay off. And with applied sciences and rules repeatedly evolving, we keep fluid and on-trend, as guided by way of our mavens.

In the end, the thrilling phase, speaker acquisition, the place we stability ability, personalities and viewpoints to craft an expert and attractive classes for our target market. However exactly how will we create this recipe? Neatly, I will’t expose all our secrets and techniques, can I..?

GGN: 2022’s tournament was once the sort of good fortune, so what makes this 2023 tournament other/higher than earlier editions?

Stuart: The exhibition ground this 12 months is an actual showstopper! We’re operating with key exhibitors to develop some really enticing stories each throughout logo engagement and peer-to-peer networking. And, if you’re in search of a fab field to your then assembly, head out to our festival-style tent for ice cream bars, smoothie bars, tapas and sangria, video games and extra!

Jonathan: This 12 months, the content material is unused and unutilized, and so are a bundle of the codecs.  Assurance of the distinction has unfold all over the place – population have necessarily informed colleagues and pals – so the development is tripling in measurement. 2023 is principally 2022 with the amount became as much as 11. 

GGN: Key subject matters are rising applied sciences, unused concepts, the era park, so what processes do you practice when researching those gardens and integrating them into the programming?

Kelly: SBC do business in various inside tutorial classes. Those are organised by way of the editorial groups or particular inside groups on every occasion there’s a wish to fortify their working out of a subject matter. SBC invests splendid aim in greedy the heart beat of the trade’s pulse, and by chance we’ve got a media segment with over 10 web pages devoted to trade information – which is what I learn each morning!

Julian: The means is constant around the board. We interact with mavens and, thankfully, we’ve got an intensive community.

Julian: I lately sat unwell for an interview with one in every of our Editors and admitted that we needed to almost throw off the primary draft time table. We had simply finalised it when the Seen AI ‘arms race’ kicked off!

Our time table needs to be a dwelling report that evolves as our trade does. Our implausible reporters hold me as much as future at the fresh tendencies. On the other hand, there is not any exchange for speaking to the trade itself and this can be a year-round procedure.

GGN: Are you able to proportion an instance of an SBC initiative that you just and/or your workforce have presented of which you might be in particular proud?

Charlotte: This 12 months, we’re introducing an outside section that can attribute a lager farmland, a seaside bar, a smoothie bar, a tapas and sangria nook, in conjunction with alternative facilities. While this can be a industry tournament, we do our perfect to put together the full enjoy stress-free by way of incorporating considerate touches all the way through.

Kelly: We get ready complete motion plans for our exhibitors and sponsors, which even come with related advertising guides to help them in selling their presence on the tournament. We grant methods for exhibitors to put up information about what they intend to advertise on the tournament, and which markets they’re concentrated on, making sure we will be able to aid magnify their message. The purpose is to put together the method as seamless as imaginable.

Natalie: One thing that I’m pleased with for myself and as a workforce is how a lot presen we put into bringing unused audio system into the development. We wish to put together their tournament enjoy sure and mentor them in the course of the procedure. This is helping with the range we put into effect and in addition guarantees that we listen other views and voices from each and every of the occasions.

GGN: How do the diverse purposes inside of SBC combine to grant the specified effects?

Charlotte: We take care of the operational aspect of items, however not anything is imaginable with out the population who conserve exhibitors, sponsors and associates, advertise the development, develop the internet sites and automation flows, or design the entire branding and signage we exhibit. I collaborate intently with the design workforce; they’re unsung heroes who carry the component of our manufacturing.

Natalie: The Dating workforce has performed a the most important function in making sure that attendees revel in an unforgettable enjoy. From facilitating introductions to setting up and internet hosting dinners, they’re really dedicated to making sure that everybody has a VIP enjoy. I additionally can not fail to remember the contribution of Kelly’s Buyer Good fortune workforce. They collaborate with sponsors to assure seamless coordination with all contributors of the SBC workforce.

Kelly: It actually is all utterly intertwined, and the Buyer Good fortune workforce serves as a reliable bridge between our sponsors and exhibitors and the diverse alternative groups with SBC.

Stuart: SBC has the entire central purposes you possibly can be expecting in a industry, however it’s how those purposes paintings in combination throughout our calendar of world occasions this is so remarkable. But when I had to select one side of those inter-function relationships that actually units SBC aside, is our inside design workforce. It is a luxurious that no longer all companies have, they usually paintings so intently with our occasions and advertising groups to assure that every one our spouse, provider, operator and associate purchasers are showcased in the most productive imaginable brightness to force their era industry.

GGN: What can potential companions, sponsors and exhibitors be expecting from you and your workforce when operating with SBC?

Charlotte: We constantly ship, it’s that easy. And we guard an seen and truthful means. Integrity and admire aren’t at all times widespread in industry, however they’re on the core of the entirety we do at SBC.

Kelly: Aid. Occasions contain various transferring portions, and with each and every particular person dealing with issues somewhat otherwise, it may get complicated, particularly for first-time members. The Buyer Good fortune workforce is right here to handle queries, grant tips adapted in your goals and journey you in the course of the procedure.

We wish to assure that the display isn’t just a hit for our companions but in addition an stress-free enjoy.

Natalie: Thru partnerships with trade leaders all the way through the sector, we assure that our occasions are finely tuned to cater to the original necessities of our audiences. Week the SBC workforce boasts trade experience, each and every marketplace possesses its personal distinct traits, making collaboration with area mavens completely pivotal. We additionally inspire lively participation, so all tips and concepts are welcome!

Julian: Aid all 12 months around. Our paintings does no longer finish after we signal you up as an exhibitor, speaker or sponsor. That is when it starts. With associates, as an example, we’re striving to contain them extra, with tasks such because the Associate Leaders interview form, our iGaming Day by day podcast, talking alternatives, unique dinners with high-level representatives and particular meetups. 

GGN: At what level did you realise that the betting and gaming trade was once an section that you just sought after to paintings in, and why?

Charlotte: What in particular attracted me to the betting and gaming trade was once witnessing the outstanding point and component of occasions, in addition to spotting the real assist that everybody has for this trade. This extends past what maximum outsiders would possibly understand. And the truth that I’m repeatedly studying is a favorable indicator that the trade rest flow and is at all times bettering.

Natalie: In fact, I got into the trade. However I’ve by no means fallen out of it. It’s at all times evolving and fascinating, with some splendid population who paintings in it.

Kelly: Once I joined SBC, my sole publicity to betting and iGaming was once as a shopper. On the other hand, later attending my first tournament, the CasinoBeats Top in Malta utmost 12 months, I realised that I had discovered my playground. Our purchasers are glorious to collaborate with, there’s a perpetual tide of unused trade insights to soak up and being enthusiastic about SBC occasions is an stress-free enjoy.

GGN: As we means SBC Barcelona 2023, which developments inside of betting and iGaming do you assume are status out at at this time?

Charlotte: Advances in era reminiscent of crypto playing and digital fact casinos, which is why we’ve got our Rising Tech Zone!

Kelly: Increasingly population appear to be leaning in opposition to skill-based video games, versus natural video games of anticipation. Incorporating user-friendly applied sciences may be a height precedence at this time. Now we have been speaking about esports for ages, however right here I’m pronouncing it once more! And social playing is at the stand too.

Natalie: Everybody appears to be speaking about tech and AI. The chance to expedite expansion and automation is at all times one thing that any industry is raring to think about.

Julian: I’ll keep in my lane right here and say associates. AI is at the leading edge of discussions, with various attainable programs for associates. On the other hand, the park rest nascent, necessitating a longer-term point of view. AI indisputably do business in reliable backup, but a elegant stability should hold true.

The search to interact unutilized demographics, involving outreach via influencers, streamers or additional platforms, has additionally received prominence.

Stuart: Partnerships between operators, sports activities groups and leisure manufacturers have develop into a strategic solution to make bigger target market achieve, fortify person engagement and form extra engaging stories. The importance of AI in gardens reminiscent of odds calculation and fraud detection has grown all of a sudden, simply as information analytics may be remodeling how operators engage with their customers.

Jonathan: AI will pluck centre degree at SBC Top Barcelona for a explanation why. AI and UX are teaming up for the latter participant walk makeover, with tailormade stories, recreation tips and stepped forward engagement ranges. AI may be tackling call for for unused video games. Algorithms dig into participant vibes, behaviours and developments to help within the building of charming video games.

AI may be on height of recognizing attainable weakness playing behaviours, seek and data searching and empowering entrepreneurs to unharness ingenious outputs by way of optimising campaigns, analysing client information and refining engagement methods throughout diverse platforms, reshaping the way in which advertising is approached.

GGN: And which of those do you imagine would possibly have the brightest long-term era?

Natalie says automation, Charlotte believes it’s VR casinos and Kelly opts for user-friendliness and social playing. Julian expects AI to be integrated into our day by day paintings, Stuart sees expansion for micro-betting and social betting and Jonathan merely says “AI”.

GGN: Which unused markets particularly do you assume are taking the trade by way of typhoon?

Natalie: Brazil! I will not wait to observer the evolution of this fun-loving, passionate sports-adoring nation! Retaining our unused SBC Top Rio there then 12 months will probably be really thrilling, as we apply the development.

Kelly: Brazil, evidently. And, in fact, the Asia Pacific pocket, Republic of India and Japan.

Julian: Has somebody discussed Brazil but? Associates that I’m speaking to are both already increasing into or eyeing LatAm. The United States and Canada also are on their radar.

Charlotte: Needless to say, LatAm and North The usa, however let’s additionally no longer fail to remember Europe. Many markets are within the technique of regulating or have already regulated, so it’ll be attention-grabbing to practice the trade’s go within the newly regulated markets.

Stuart: I want to emphasise the numerous attainable within the African marketplace. The mix of emerging web penetration and a considerable society in particular African markets is eager to atmosphere trade discussions. At SBC Top Barcelona, we’ve got an Getting access to Africa panel, in conjunction with two devoted roundtables specializing in South Africa and Nigeria.

Jonathan: Brazil is making severe waves and we’re gearing up for an tournament then 12 months in Rio. Folk were calling Brazil the ‘sleeping giant’ for years, and we and we’ve got had our points of interest in this marketplace for a generation. Latter 12 months, we have been a part of co-hosting the Brazil Soccer Expo and the joy could be very actual.

However Brazil isn’t abandoned, Canada has were given the thrill, the USA is appearing severe oath and LatAm is on hearth! SBC has boots at the field in all of those markets, we’re all about being the place the motion is.

This 12 months, we’ve got 14 market-specific roundtables covered up, diving deep into what’s scorching within the DACH nations, Republic of India, Japan and Japanese Europe to call only a few.

GGN: The trade is incessantly unpredictable. What do you notice as the principle demanding situations in the future?

Natalie: As at all times, it’s ever-changing rules, which is able to hamper innovation and creativity. Participant coverage and accountability must at all times be prioritised by way of regulators, however they must additionally keep in mind that that is an leisure trade.

Charlotte: Staying as much as future with the advanced and various felony park is a headache for everyone! For builders, one problem should be to put together video games extra enticing and collision the suitable stability between component and dozen, inside of a field the place it kind of feels that each studio is now liberating more than one video games each and every year.

Kelly: From speaking with exhibitors and sponsors, I will say that this trade is turning into more and more aggressive. There’s a sturdy center of attention on innovation as corporations effort to distinguish their merchandise and choices. They’re development their very own device and finding unused income channels. This makes festival fierce, however I’m glad that our occasions grant a platform to organize for that and so stay related.

Julian: Demanding situations will range by way of pocket however in the USA, as an example, a marketplace ruled by way of a restricted choice of operators who would possibly spontaneously incur losses to deliver to realize marketplace proportion, smaller operators will attempt to compete and a style in opposition to consolidation will probably be created. 

Stuart: It’s remarkable that we emphasise the usefulness of preventing match-fixing and keeping up sports activities integrity. That is very true after we believe the intersection of sectors reminiscent of betting, groups and media. The trade should collaborate with sports activities organisations and legislation enforcement businesses to promptly determine and deal with suspicious betting patterns, a question that relates to credibility and ethics and warrants severe consideration.

Jonathan: I might virtually argue that it may be too predictable every now and then.  I concern in regards to the homogenisation of the sports activities betting product – a big theme of the sports activities betting observe this 12 months. Past that, it’s the identical pressure between underneath and over-regulation that drives the marketplace ahead or curtails it. One of the vital primary problems is for trade leaders to search out sustainable tactics to paintings intently with unused regulatory our bodies as they exit at velocity into newly opening markets.

On the other hand, as a last idea, and to turn this query in its head, what I don’t worry about is the resilience of our trade and its skill to form unused alternatives.

With the problem of changing unused equipment from disruptive applied sciences, reminiscent of web3.0, OpenAI and blockchain to call a couple of, into sensible results for our merchandise additionally comes with it one of the vital largest alternatives of our sector – the possible to reinvigorate the product innovation framework.

There we’ve got it, and we’re positive that the majority of you’re going to now know extra about those population who’re so remarkable to you than you probably did prior to. And, most significantly, how a lot they perceive and backup your companies. This data, experience and community is a useful resource this is unrivalled.