eGaming Review January 2012 | Page 3

EDITORIAL TEAM Editor James Bennett T: [phone] E: [email protected] Reporter Tom Victor T: [phone] E: [email protected] Reporter Robin Harrison Millan T: [phone] E: [email protected] PRODUCTION Production editor Claudia Honerjager E: [email protected] Art editor Toni Giddings E: [email protected] Sub-editors Rachel Kurz?eld Eleanor Stanley COMMERCIAL Commercial manager Ben Robinson T: [phone] E: [email protected] Publishing executive Sam Compagnoni T: [phone] E: [email protected] Publishing executive Navinder Lall T: [phone] E: [email protected] Publishing executive Debbie Robson T: [phone] E: [email protected] Editorial director Gwyn Roberts Chief executive Charlie Kerr Circulation manager Fay Muddle Subscriptions Adam Ma?in T: [phone] E: [email protected] Product Reviewer Shilpi Dahele E: [email protected] Reviews were carried out by Shilpi Dahele at Foviance, a customer experience consultancy that has worked across a wide range of online gaming products areas and helps companies understand online customer behaviours. [E D I T O R ' S LETTER ] It seems I ruffled a few feathers last month when I broke the news that Facebook had been talking to operators about how it could launch realmoney gambling in the UK. Of course, several national news sources took this to extremes suggesting that this would expose millions of teenagers who use the social network to a life of addiction, misery and rioting. Naturally those words are read by the masses but thankfully they are ignored by those that know better, which, as I know from talking to many of you at our eGR operator awards (turn to p63) is the majority of the industry. It is public knowledge that more than 10% of Facebook’s audience are between the ages of 13-17 but to say that the site and the eventual ?rms it selects to operate real-money play on the platform would open the door to underage gambling is ludicrous. The gaming sector is viewing much of the social network’s plans with scepticism; particularly large affiliates (see p41). Until the industry has been consulted and the ?nite details, including how it would ensure the protection of minors and the vulnerable, are clearly laid out, as well as how Facebook would guarantee that operators receive a fair share of revenues (preferably NGR-based), then you and I know nothing will materialise. The games Facebook allows on its 800m user-strong global network are thriving with some gaming apps including Bingo Blitz, DoubleDown Casino and Zynga Poker raking in tens of millions of dollars a year. While Facebook maps out a plan in which to attack the real-money market, these start-ups will continue to reap the rewards. Many more traditional operators however have spent the last few years thinking of ways to catch up. Some have invested in innovative enterprises but most have let it pass them by. Turn to page 45 for this month’s cover story on 10 of the brightest social gaming prospects. The good news is that the notoriously control-hungry Facebook, and its rival Google+ are prepared to compromise with our industry. It will be fascinating to see how this will all pan out in the coming years. eGaming Review is published monthly by Pageant Media, 1 East Poultry Avenue London, EC1A 9PT ISSN 1742-2450 Printed by The Manson Group © 2011 all rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or used without the prior permission from the publisher James Bennett EDITOR 03