“Mobile gaming is closing the gap between land based and online gaming”

What is the current situation of the online gaming industry in the countries where GreenTube operates?
Greentube is a globally operating company so we are facing different jurisdictions with different approaches – from highly regulated and well defined markets to markets with virtually no regulations or with very restrictive laws regarding online gaming. Our, as well as our mother company’s policy is to only enter those markets that allow operations compliant with the laws of target market as well as with laws of the country of origin of the operator. This makes the whole process more complex, but it ensures legal compliance and long-term business relations. We are certainly hoping to see positive changes towards more legal security for both operators and customers throughout all markets.

What markets have more potential in online gaming?
There are two aspects when assessing the potentials of new markets: first, as already mentioned, there is a legal framework allowing operators to tailor their business models according to market and consumer requirements, and then there is the infrastructure. Markets that manage to maintain an optimal combination of positively motivating online gaming and IT laws as well as adequate IT & Telco infrastructure are certainly having significant advantages. The good thing is, even in poorly regulated markets, quick wins could be done by changing or adapting current laws to allow a positive climate for operating online gaming business.

What is the growth margin of the online gaming industry?
This again depends largely on the legal situation in the corresponding markets. From a technical point of view, the sky is the limit, and this is something law makers worldwide have to learn and understand. Should the legal framework, especially on not yet regulated markets, become more permissive, this will not only boost growth of the online gaming industry as a whole, but also eliminate gray areas and barely legal or illegal providers who are hunting in the gray zone at the moment.

What has been the influence of iPhone, Blackberry and all smartphones in general in online gaming in recent years?
Currently, there is no doubt that mobile gaming is not merely a fashion phenomenon, but a new, potentially huge market portion with high growth rates. Mobile gaming is, so to say, closing the gap between land based and online gaming. Using new technologies such as HTML5, the development of mobile games has rapidly gained speed, since there is no longer a need to develop native smart phone apps from-the-scratch. This facilitates a flawless gaming experience, regardless of which platform one uses: playing the very same game in a land based casino, on the mobile and online removes the focus on used technology or platform and puts the game itself in the consumer’s focus. Again, there is still a lot of work to be done, especially from the legal perspective, to make mobile gaming even more attractive for both operators and consumers.

Are you looking to disembark in any Latin American country? What is the potential of this region for GreenTube?
Our mother company, Novomatic, has been present in the Latin American market for decades now, and Greentube will certainly make use of the experience and expertise gathered. At the moment, there is very dynamic development in Argentinian and some other Latin American markets and we are watching closely for the right moment. Depending on further developments, we’ll try to consolidate multiple markets and target them as one, which should bring benefits for all parties, including consumers, but there is still a long way ahead of us.

What products do you have to offer? Do you offer B2B products or your business is merely B2C?
Greentube offers wide range of online gaming solutions, in first line for the B2B market. From standard aggregator solutions to full turnkey solutions, our products are tailored to fit specific customer requirements on various markets. Our B2B products are not out-of-the-box programs, but highly customized, modularly built solutions, allowing our customers high level of self-service, control and transparency.

What can you tell to land-based casino operators that are evaluating to incorporate online and remote gaming? What benefits could they obtain from this type of games?
Currently, operators of land based casinos have learned a lot about online gaming. Even if some of them used to see iGaming as a threat for their operations, even the most conservative ones have recognized online gaming as natural extension of classic casino business. Online and, especially, mobile gaming should not be regarded as alternatives, but as part of an overall product-based strategy, instead of focusing on a single device/channel. Even with a relatively restrictive legal framework, online and mobile gaming could be used as try-before-you play or as play-after-play solutions for land based venues. With easing the regulations, this overall, game-based experience will allow an even smoother transition from land based to online as well as mobile and vice versa. 

What are your plans and objectives for the coming months?
Besides from bringing even more well-known Astra- and Novomatic content online and mobile, we continue to evaluate emerging markets and offer new solutions to existing markets with our presence. Depending on political developments, we are also planning to enter some new countries as soon as legal security is guaranteed. Also, we are developing completely new models for online and mobile gaming, but let’s keep some of them as surprises for coming fairs and tradeshows.