GiG: Certification has become a key element in the development of a gaming platform

Certification is bread and butter for gaming platform providers seeking to participate in regulated markets, said General Counsel, GiG Claudio Caruana , who added that certification can guarantee speed to market for partner operators and attract key interest from those seeking to enter a new market.

In an exclusive interview for SBC News Caruana (pictured above) also discusses a two-pronged approach to certification - which is mandated by specific regulations or is in line with internationally recognized standards that underpin a number of regulatory requirements.

In conclusion, he argues that to some extent technical standards harmonization - from a European perspective - is a “reality within reach” for gaming platforms, even if the prospects for overall regulatory harmonization remain bleak.

SBC: Thanks for talking to us, Claudio. Overall, how important is certification for a platform provider aspiring to new regulatory markets?

CC: Like bread and butter. The certifications available or the certifications the company seeks to obtain are directly related to the current or future commercial strategy of the platform provider. The presence of a number of certificates opens up direct opportunities for operators who are licensed or seeking licenses in the respective territory.

For operators looking for a license, this gives peace of mind and a guarantee of quick time to market. On the other hand, a clear statement of intent to be certified in new markets puts the platform provider at stake for an operator seeking to enter the market.

And if we also have to consider the issue from a technical and financial point of view, certification requirements are the most important aspect of the market. entry will be reviewed by the platform provider. Such requirements determine the effort required to enter this market, and therefore the installation and maintenance costs for the platform provider.

SBC: So what key licenses and certifications does a platform vendor typically seek to obtain?

CC: It is necessary to consider the issue from two sides. First, there are certifications that are required by regulations and therefore are mandatory to enter this jurisdiction.

These certifications and the effort required to obtain and maintain them are inevitable and directly related to the platform's expansion strategy. in the markets that the platform specifically intends to enter.

An alternative and equally plausible strategy is that instead of obtaining specific regulatory certifications in target markets, some platforms choose to lay the foundation by adhering to internationally recognized technical standards that form the basis of a number of regulatory requirements.

In this case, the platform is likely to use a customer-led market expansion strategy, with a broad desire to participate in these markets that adopt such standards.

There are other certifications that demonstrate that the platform provider is following industry best practices that put the platform on the radar of Level 1 operators. Here we are talking about a combination of ISO certification, PCI compliance and other forms of certification.

Naturally, this is not a replacement for mandatory certification, but additional and, as a rule, also leads to some exceptions from parts of the certification requirements.

At GiG, we strive to maintain a healthy balance between certifications required to meet specific regulatory standards and those that demonstrate that the company is following international best practice.

SBC: And will the ease or difficulty of obtaining such clearances ever influence your decision on whether or not to enter the market? Or is it more based on the market strategies of your operator partners?

CC: We are not discouraged by the complexity of the technical specifications, if these requirements are justified by the commercial prospects and the growth potential that we can get in this market.

We do not exclude markets because they are complex. We will only leave if the level of complexity and therefore the associated costs are not proportional to the size of the market and future commercial prospects.

One of the key aspects that we pay a lot of attention to is the key factor that influences the decision to determine the timing of certification. it is a pool of operators who can be offered services in this market.

Whereas, in a fully liberalized market, it makes commercial sense to enter this market on its own initiative, in markets where the operator is licensed. limited or where barriers to entry are high, it may be prudent to have a partner in advance.

SBC: From your experience, have you found any regulators that pose too many barriers to entry from a platform perspective?

CC: We are faced with different regulatory regimes and regulatory styles. We are faced with jurisdictions that conduct detailed integrity checks on individuals associated with owning and operating the platform.

Some level of integrity checks are commensurate, but given that the platform does not handle end-user funds, a thorough investigation may be required. is replaced by a lighter due diligence check, and more attention can be given to issues that are more technically relevant. In my opinion, the focus should be on the experience, reputation and willingness of the platform to provide services to the market.

Moving away from globally accepted betting and internet gaming standards that does not directly contribute to enhancing consumer protection is an overhead that can also be avoided.

SBC: We have already mentioned adherence to internationally recognized technical standards; how broad are GLI standards deployed for platform providers?

CC: We observe that many US regulators provided support for GLI standards, while e-Cogra standards also provide the basis for various European regulatory standards. Standards are the culmination of industry best practices and are continually responsive to technological innovation. Standards are of immense value to suppliers who use the standards as a guide in their research and development when recognized by regulatory bodies.

SBC: And finally, is more market-to-market harmonization achievable as more markets in Europe are regulated?

CC: While the prospects for regulatory harmonization in Europe are as bleak as ever, governments and regulators should focus their efforts where they are more likely to find common ground, without relinquishing any regulatory oversight or regulatory authority over operators. operating on its territory.

To give the gambling industry some semblance of freedom to provide services across the EU, gambling regulators across the EU should strive to harmonize a core set of technical standards, and as a result, regulatory certifications are recognized that cover this core standard across the EU.

I believe that with sufficient political resolve, the harmonization of technical standards is a reality that is quite achievable.