Isle of Man companies will be represented in force at the upcoming third Global Lottery Messenger Forum (GLMF2016), to take place at the Hilton Hotel in Sofia, Bulgaria on 11 April. The event, which is organised and hosted by Manx-based payment solutions consultancy Counting House, continues to go from strength to strength, with last year’s Forum in Gibraltar attracting 100 of the world’s lottery messenger industry seniors from 19 countries.

The GLMF2016 brings together global industry leaders to discuss, through a combination of presentations and panels, diverse issues relevant for new entrants, established operators and platforms, and anyone with a strong interest in the sector. The Lottery Messenger industry allows people around the world to purchase online, national lottery tickets from countries other than their home nation, thereby giving them the same chance of winning “mega-jackpots” as local residents of the largest lotteries. The recent example of an Iraqi resident winning $6.4m by purchasing a ticket online for the Oregon State Lottery via TheLotter, sums up the opportunity.

With a compelling agenda and registrations already exceeding those of last year’s event, GLMF2016 will be the event to attend for anyone already involved in, or considering entering, the rapidly expanding Lottery Messenger industry. Among those attending from the Isle of Man are Annexio, Equiom, Boston, Isle of Man Post and the Isle of Man Gambling Supervision Commission.

The agenda will feature topics such as increasing player value, lottery as an acquisition tool, jackpot payouts, and selling lottery into difficult markets like Brazil and Japan. A prestigious panel, consisting of Yuval Ganot, LottoYard; Delzar Khalaf, LOTTOTECH; Glen Bullen, Lottoland Solutions and James Morel, U.S. Ticket Processing, will discuss the recent ‘PowerBall Tsunami’, a period in January when the $1.6 billion PowerBall jackpot drew a massive demand both domestically and internationally for lottery messenger providers, including the consequences of what happened and how the industry dealt with it.

Among the list of distinguished speakers and panellists is Egidio Messito, Managing Director of My Lotto24 Ltd, Nadya Hambach, Head of the Gaming & Entertainment Law Department at Velchev and Co. and James Morel, Managing Director of US Ticket Processing.

Representing the Isle of Man contingent among the speakers is Steve Brennan, Chief Executive of the Isle of Man Gambling Supervision who will be participating in the ‘Where to license’ panel along with Peter Greenhill Head of eBusiness and eGaming at Equiom Group, and Paul Davis, Managing Director of Counting House. Stuart Ballan, Counting House’s Head of Sales Middle East, will also run a session looking at developments in the Lottery Messenger industry over the past year.

Following the day’s formalities and the event’s very own GLMF2016 PowerBall prize draw, attendees will be transported to Vodenitzata restaurant, for an evening of excellent food, drink and networking.

Paul Davis commented: “In just a few short years, GLMF has grown to be the must-attend event of the Lottery Messenger industry. GLMF2016 offers an unrivalled opportunity to network with the movers and shakers in the Lottery Messenger industry as well as learn about new developments. It is really important that we seize the opportunity to demonstrate what a great place the Island is to support future growth in e-Gaming as well as the skills and talents we already have. The representation of Manx-based businesses at GLMF is a positive step towards helping us stay ahead in this fast-paced sector.

“It is clearly a chance for the Isle of Man to show the benefits of working from a well-regulated jurisdiction, within the framework of a proportionate and well-respected licencing regime, and for us to attract new business and new entrants to the market to our shores.”

The event is by invitation only. For more information or to register your interest, visit https://events.bizzabo.com/GLMF2016. 

Photo taken at last year’s event in Gibraltar.