Ralph Topping, a gaming industry pioneer and former CEO of British bookmaker and operator William Hill, will be one of the speakers at February’s ICE Totally Gaming trade show and conference, to be held at ExCeL London February 7-9.
Topping is expected to address mooted changes in the regulatory and tax environment that will bring further industry consolidation and in the near- to mid-term in a U.K. gambling market dominated by three or four huge and predominantly digitally focused organizations. He is one of the keynote speakers at the ICE VOX learning and networking program, the new name for the conference program that occurs alongside the trade show.
Reflecting on an industry he joined in the 1970s, Ralph Topping said, “Since its legalization in the 1960s, betting has grown as a popular and strong recreational activity in the U.K. Significant regulatory and tax changes since then, the advent of satellite TV and its extensive coverage of football, the arrival of the internet and many developments in technology have combined to deliver a huge increase in markets and betting opportunities and access to them for the customer.
“Two or three companies dominated the first five decades of legalized betting, and the landscape has totally changed in a relatively short period of time to the ultimate benefit of the modern recreational customer.”
Looking ahead to ICE VOX, he said, “I welcome the opportunity to spend a bit more time than I used to have as a CEO to engage with people who have a view on how the future is going to change thanks to new technology, and have practical ideas on how to generate commercial success. I’ll also have more time to wander the exhibition, which is a big positive.”
ICE VOX modules comprise the International Casino Conference, World Regulatory Briefing, Cross-Platform & Multi-Channel Gaming, Modernizing Lotteries, Data Science & Personalization, BetMarkets, Cybercrime Security and Regulatory Compliance in Gaming, and Game Design and Development.
