Industry conference and exhibition Betting on Esports 2017 is taking place in London at the Kensington Olympia this September 13-15.
Millennial Esports is the Platinum Sponsor of this event which’ll include a dedicated esports betting exhibition area, six panels with over 25 speakers, a FIFA tournament and ample networking for the duration. Betting on Esports is a part of the wider Betting on Sports Conference (#BOSCON2017) which’ll bring together the gambling industry and relevant connected stakeholders with over 1,000 attendees expected.
Here we caught up with Alex Igelman, Millennial Esports CEO, ahead of the event.
Esports Insider: Why did you decide to exhibit, sponsor and speak at Betting on Esports?
Alex Igelman: Rarely do we have the opportunity to be in front of such a diverse group of business executives and decision makers as we will at BoE. The event will be a great networking opportunity for our company and affords the chance to introduce our products and services to an entire industry in one convenient setting.
ESI: Millennial has been making some interesting moves in the space such as the acquisition of Stream Hatchet and Ideas + Cars. Where is Millennial trying to position itself as a company in the industry?
Alex: We are a publicly traded pure play esports company and as such are focused on many aspects of the industry. We believe that esports is still evolving and we are witnessing its early development. We have identified key sectors in the esports ecosystem that we feel have the greatest potential, are underserved or both.
“Rarely do we have the opportunity to be in front of such a diverse group of business executives and decision makers as we will at BoE”
By making strategic investments and acquisitions, we are leading the way in many of these areas. Our vision of Las Vegas as a global hub for esports was a key factor in our decision to build the first permanent studio and arena there. The lack of relevant business intelligence for interested parties, brands and sponsors in the streaming sector led us to acquire StreamHatchet. We will continue to seek out unique opportunities, make strategic investments and acquisitions and break new ground in the esports ecosystem.
ESI: What are your thoughts on the future of esports betting in Las Vegas? The Senate 420 Bill is an exciting proposition for operators and stakeholders there…
Alex: The State of Nevada has always led the world in terms of gaming and betting. The State’s approach to esports betting is cautious yet pioneering.
“In the foreseeable future a bet on a Rocket League or DOTA match will be as common as a bet on an NFL or NBA game”
I think that the future is bright for esports betting but it will take time to evolve. In the foreseeable future a bet on a Rocket League or DOTA match will be as common as a bet on an NFL or NBA game. I am confident in time you will see the esports betting market blossom in Nevada.
ESI: What can attendees look forward to hearing you discuss on the ‘Saving Las Vegas’ panel?
Alex: Well I don’t want to give away everything before the panel, but I think the audience will hear some interesting updates as to where Las Vegas currently is with esports and where it is heading!
ESI: Millennial’s latest acquisition was a company called IDEAS+CARS – what interested you in this?
Alex: Motorsports and racing has mass universal appeal. The average person may not understand League of Legends or Hearthstone, but that same person is quite familiar with motorsports and racing.
I believe that the esports racing genre has huge potential and our acquisition of Ideas and Cars solidifies our position in the sector. Darren Cox is a pioneer in racing and esports and with him at the helm, we are confident we are on the right track (no pun intended).
ESI: Where do you see the esports opportunity for European casinos? After all, this isn’t Las Vegas…
Alex: Frankly, at the end of the day the millennial generation of Europe is quite similar to the millennial generation of North America, Asia, or anywhere else in the world for that matter.
“Casino operators need to be prepared to adapt or get ready to close their doors”
It is not the case of the European casino market being different than its counterpart across the pond. It’s a matter of getting in touch with what the new customer is seeking in terms of entertainment value and being ready and able to deliver it. Ultimately, the experience will not be exactly the same on both continents but the writing’s on the wall for everyone. Casino operators need to be prepared to adapt or get ready to close their doors.
As a part of SBC Global, Esports Insider is an organiser of the Betting on Esports conference
Anyone with any questions can reach out via [email protected]