"CT Gaming is incorporating gaming offer through all digital channels"

Which have been the consequences of the coronavirus health crisis for your company and the industry as a whole?

The spread of COVID-19 to almost every country in the world and the lockdown of the businesses had certainly a major impact not only on our company, but to all economic sectors. In the first place, we had to create and implement a series of protective steps and measures reflecting our concern for the health and the well being of our customers, partners, employees, and community. In line with the new situation, we made a transition to remote operation, where possible, in order to continue our operation in a safer environment.

Our next steps involved communication and steps to ensure the continuation of the business operation necessary to support our partners and customers in this changed environment. The land-based operators took the hardest hit from the crisis, so naturally, our team developed a plan to support them and work with them in this difficult time. At the same time, we saw a sudden surge in the online gaming area as a compensatory and accommodating step for the social distancing and the physical isolation measures that creates an opportunity for the online technology.

Definitely, the situation presents enormous challenges to everyone in the industry and the developments are going to create changes that will shape future trends. We continue to work with a focus on our short-term crisis compliant action plan and explore the next steps in the new economic and business environment, that will define and modify our plans for further developments. It`s time to act decisively, to help our customers and partners, to protect our business and the industry, and to seize the opportunities, which will endure the confidence in our sustainability from our customers, players, and the general public.

Which were the measures your company took when the pandemic first began? What can you tell us about the results of your current approach so far?

We are doing our best to keep up with the changing global situation and we have taken all necessary steps for business continuity. The company`s operations are maintained remotely to ensure the safety of our team who support our customers and clients in the best possible way.

Our online brand CT Gaming Interactive continues to execute its current projects and works in the fast gear remotely as it is required by the state of emergency restrictions taken in the countries where we operate. We all remain dedicated to providing our customers and partners with the highest level of products and services and remain working hard to bring the latest and most compelling content to them.

Everyone faces uncertainty since the situation is changing daily, but we will continue working closely with our customers and partners to ensure that we overcome the situation and continue ahead stronger together.

What about the approach of the governments in the different regions you develop your business? Has it been appropriate given the circumstances? Have you received financial aid from any government?

In most of the countries, governments acted in a similar manner taking actions to slow the spread of the coronavirus, varying from issuing restrictive orders for public gatherings, closing non-essential businesses to complete lockdowns, curfew, and states of emergency orders.

In some countries, the closure of casinos was initiated by the casino operators as an act of goodwill to protect the health of the community and their employees, followed by official order for closure of business. Understandably, this caused liquidity problems for many casino operators, leading to layoffs and serious business hardship.

Unfortunately, not many of the governments responded adequately to include all of the affected businesses, particularly ones from the gaming sector, in the financial and economic stimulus measures released to help in this critical situation. 

In many countries, the gaming industry has vowed for emergency help to save thousands of jobs across the sector, over the impact of the crisis.

Our industry needs temporary government support to help cover payroll costs, time extension for the duties and taxes, as well as access to financial instruments and loans needed to overcome the economic distress and to ensure the continuation of the business. As an active member of many industry associations, we are working closely to support the efforts of the industry and seek an extension of the emergency help measures for the businesses in the gaming sector.

Has this situation changed your company's short and long term strategies and business plans? Do you think the tendencies and customer behavior expected for this year and beyond will change in light of the pandemic?

There is a certain shift in the corporate strategy imposed by the changed situation, with a stronger focus on the online gaming sector. Our online team is speeding up the development and release of many additional games and features to answer the increased demand in the online gaming space.

Now, we are adding tools and executing an effective omnichannel strategy, incorporating the gaming offer through all digital channels knowing that many traditional land-based players are looking for gaming opportunities and shifting to the digital side. Still, we firmly believe that landbased players will continue to be loyal to the casinos once they reopen.

But, having tried the digital side, will open the opportunity window for a complete omnichannel gaming experience that will provide an option for a much better-personalized gaming offering that could strengthen the B2C relationship with the brand.

Through our interactive brand - CT Gaming Interactive, we stay close to the operators in every moment with enhanced portfolio offering, new games, new technology, and know-how. Yet, our landbased focus and strategy haven’t’ shifted and we are working hard during the period of the temporary suspension of the landbased business with a focus on the new product development and training of our staff to provide better service and products to our land-based customers.

How much time and resources do you estimate it will take for the global and local industry, as well as your company, to recover from the financial impact of the pandemic?

It is really difficult to make predictions and any statement at this moment will be speculation. The current situation is shaking up business and consumer behavior on a massive scale. All sectors are affected and the recovery time is hard to be predicted as the full economic consequences of this event are still unclear.

It is likely that the situation and the financial impact will lead to significant shifts, consolidations, restructurings, and in the same time it will outline directions for new opportunities and new entrants. This will change somewhat the industry from what we know it and create new trends.  We all need to be ready the think and act proactively, to adapt to the changes, and to continue working together with our partners and customers to ensure that we all will overcome the situation even stronger than ever.