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Introduction The Isle of Man is one of the world’s This document summarises the most attractive jurisdictions for the presentations of the various leading licensing and running of an industry figures who spoke on the day, eGaming business. as well as the questions and answers in the afternoon panel session. The KPMG eGaming Summit, held at KPMG’s hope in publishing this the Mount Murray Hotel on 23rd document is to retain the momentum November 2010, recognised and built and dialogue generated by the event. Kindly sponsored by upon this strength by bringing together We would also like to take this final key players from the industry, service opportunity to once again thank providers and members of the everyone who took part and Government to discuss the future of contributed to making the Summit the sector locally and globally. such a success. The morning session was opened by KPMG employs a number of eGaming The Honourable Allan Bell, Minister of industry specialists both in the Isle of the Department of Economic Man and globally and is committed to Development, and focused on the Isle cutting through the complexity of this of Man as an eGaming jurisdiction. constantly evolving industry. A number of key speakers from Government and the private sector discussed how the Isle of Man is ‘a good place to play’ and how to ensure A word from it remains competitive in a globally growing industry. The afternoon the Sponsor session then focused on broader issues affecting the industry as a At Continent 8 Technologies we whole, such as regulation, insurance believe the Isle of Man is the perfect and future trends. It drew to a close location for eGaming and eBusiness with a panel of experts fielding infrastructures. questions from the delegates. Over 150 delegates attended the The Island’s AAA Sovereign Credit event. Rating, stable, supportive Government and world-class telecommunications infrastructure ensure that. That’s why our multi-jurisdictional model for hosting and managed services links the Isle of Man to our data centres in today. We have supported KPMG in Europe, North America and Asia via producing this report in order to do our the Continent 8 private network. bit to keep the Isle of Man at the top of the global list of premier eGaming As such, we are deeply committed to jurisdictions. the eGaming community on the Island, I hope you find it an interesting read. and we are proud to have been a sponsor of this Summit. It was an Richard Ebbutt excellent opportunity to deal with the Continent 8 Technologies major issues affecting the industry 1 2 Welcome “The Isle of Man is in a strong position. Address We have a number of world leaders based on the island Allan Bell and a high level of Minister of the Department of professional support Economic Development here for the Isle of Man Government Allan Bell industry.” The Summit was opened by The misunderstood that focussing on "The economic forecasts for 2010 they saw eGaming as a viable career “The Isle of Man is in a strong Mr Bell said improving market access Honourable Allan Bell, the Isle of terrestrial casinos was very different showed that the industry will support option. position. We have a number of world as countries began to regulate was leaders based on the Island and a high also vital for the Island’s eGaming Man’s Minister of the Department of from eGaming. Other jurisdictions had nearly 700 jobs and that makes it one Mr Bell said that since the last level of professional support here for industry and whilst the Isle of Man had Economic Development. stolen a march as a result. But since of the biggest employing sectors on eGaming conference on the Isle of the industry. You have the 100% done well to gain access to the UK’s then, Government had got its act the Island," said Mr Bell. Man three years ago there had been a In recognising the increasing support of Government and my white list, which had been hugely together and started talking to sea change in the world economy, importance of the eGaming industry to "The total spend for the Island in 2010 department has the responsibility for beneficial to the island, there were companies about where the brought about by the credit crunch the the Manx economy, he showcased the will be £154m;” he confirmed. “At a marketing eGaming and we will be outstanding issues to be resolved, opportunities lay. Government banking crisis and the recession. Island as “A Good Place to Play” and time when the economy is slowing working energetically to ensure your citing zero/ten taxation, VAT and the restructuring, and in particular the General economic turmoil was on the called on delegates to build down, this investment is massively business grows and develops,” said “thorny problem” of banking facility formation of the new Department of Isle of Man’s doorstep, said Mr Bell. relationships, knowledge and important not just to your own industry Mr Bell. provision for many eGaming Economic Development (DED) in April The World had changed. Most encouraged collaboration between but to the Island's wider economy as operations. “My hope was that we 2010, was also a significant step in countries were looking to rebuild and Highlighting the importance of public eGaming companies, service providers well," he said, adding that the eGaming would be able to generate money for helping the economy to diversify. Government were looking to replenish and private sector partnership, he said and the Manx Government in order to sector would raise £19m in taxes the banks with the new business their public finances. As a result, the DED was working closely with capitalise on the Island’s significant “We have now put in place a structure which would more than pay for the coming here but it is a matter of real attitudes were changing towards operators to ensure the industry eGaming credentials. on the island which has allowed the DED’s entire annual budget of £15m. frustration that eGaming businesses eGaming and former opponents now continued to expand on the Isle of eGaming industry to grow and have had difficulty using local banks to Mr Bell began by saying how delighted Mr Bell revealed that the average saw the sector as a way of developing Man and to encourage new operators prosper,” said Mr Bell. facilitate their business,” said Mr Bell. he was with the huge attendance and salary in the eGaming sector was different income streams. to be based here. “Most other said that the timing of the Summit was It wasn’t just big operators that would £50,000, making it probably the jurisdictions don’t enjoy that close In declaring the Summit officially open, The worldwide eGaming industry very appropriate. In contrast to the benefit. Opportunities had been highest paid sector in the Island per proximity of working and we have a Mr Bell re-iterated that eGaming would be worth $29bn by 2012, huge global economic events of the last two created in a diverse range of capita. The ICT sector, which was major advantage in plotting the way presented a great opportunity and the growth on the 2008 figure of $20bn. or three years, the most recent Isle of businesses such as hosting and largely the eGaming sector, grew by forward,” said Mr Bell. industry had his and the Government’s Man Treasury figures for 2008/9 software which had developed as 56% in 2008/9 which Mr Bell said was He said that competition amongst 100% support. He also recognised the Nevertheless, he warned against showed net growth of the Island’s result. The overriding concern, a phenomenal achievement and jurisdictions for eGaming business role played by KPMG which was a complacency. Many challenges lay economy in real terms of 4.7%. “The however, was protection of the Isle of demonstrated the strength of the would undoubtedly increase and it great supporter of the Island and were ahead. The eGaming industry was Isle of Man won’t go into recession on Man’s reputation as “a well regulated, industry in recent years. was important that the Isle of Man bringing the same level of energy and the back of that,” he declared. Yet it blue chip, AAA-rated jurisdiction to do mobile and it was important to keep He said the Government had recognised these challenges and found enthusiasm to the eGaming industry. was vital for a small economy, such as business in, free from rogue improving conditions to ensure that established eGaming training solutions. the Isle of Man, to be more diversified operators.” business remained sustainable into the programmes in conjunction with a local and to pursue new opportunities. In The United States was edging towards future. It was important that the He reported that the eGaming industry recruitment consultancy and these respect of the eGaming industry, this regulation, as were France and Italy conference debated all the issues and was growing apace on the Island. 22 were always considerably over- fitted the bill perfectly. and whilst it was important to face up the sector found solutions. Getting licensees were in place with a further subscribed. There were waiting lists to increased competition, the Island together to build relationships and He said previous attempts at the start eight now going through the approval which reflected the quality of the was well placed to do so. improve collaboration was a positive of the millennium to develop the process and a steady flow of new eGaming business and showed that move.

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