This week we had the chance and honour to interview a female celebrity of the gaming industry, which you probably had the chance to meet over the years. If you haven’t you can contact her via iGaming Business, so ladies and gentleman her goes, our interview with Shona ODonnell, Head of Operations
at iGaming Business & SportBusiness.
EEG: So firstly, we would like to know and all our readers aswell, how did you end up in this industry and what do you think the outcome will be?
Shona: Completely by chance but I’m very glad it happened. I was the marketing manager for Sport Business, the sister publication to iGaming Business when Alex approached me to join the team at iGaming Business as Head of Marketing. I knew very little about the industry but after doing some research and seeing the events, I decided to join. Since then my role has changed beyond all measure, now as Head of Operations I’m responsible for all our marketing, events and customer engagement. I also work closely with our sales team and help to create and implement our business strategy. I do this on all of the iGaming Business and Sport Business brands.
I absolutely love my job and the people I work with both within iGaming Business and the industry, so I have no plans to go anywhere else and I couldn’t imagine leaving the industry now.
EEG: As a recent conference you organised is the LAC 2015, how did that go? Ups and downs? Have you had any issues with the new venue and is there any feedback from the attendees?
Shona: LAC2015 was our biggest event in nine years of conferences, so it was an incredible achievement in how far we have come.
We moved to Olympia which is the only venue that can accommodate us in London now, and with a new venue there are always new challenges. We spent two full days having the staircase installed and all the graphics put in place, but I think it was really worth the effort and they looked great and created a focal point and bridge between LAC and the Financial Partners Expo on the gallery level.
We brought in new features to help drive traffic and give delegates even more ROI, including the new acquisition zone conference room, a much extended lunch area, with more seating, a games zone, including a surf simulator. And we brought back the iGaming Series of Poker, which was well received, especially by those that made it to the final tables, this was thank to LottoTech and Tradologics sponsorship.
The feedback we have received so far has been really positive, and we genuinely encourage this, we read every single survey completed, and we really do create action points for this to help us continually improve.
EEG: Have you managed to meet many celebrities? We received the info there were quite a few.
Shona: Over the years yes I have. This year I met John Barnes on the Euro Partners stand, he is practically an old friend as it’s the fourth time we’ve met. Other sporting celebrities spotted at LAC included Gary Anderson, the world darts champion on the William Hill stand challenging delegates to throw a 180 and some of the Crystal Palace first team including Damien Delaney.
Non sports related with stars of Corals TV ads Farley and Carley also popped in to serve up some fun.
EEG: We know there were lots of prizes to be won. Have you had the luck of winning anything
Shona: Sadly no I can’t enter the competitions but this years LAC saw more prize draws than ever, from iPads and Go Pros to top of the range headphones, sporting event tickets and memorabilia, watches, drones and holidays. The best of all time has to be the Porsche that was on display in the entrance and given away to one very lucky affiliate by Banc de Binary.
Even if affiliates didn’t win they still came away with bags packed full of conference give always including phone chargers, notebooks, wireless speakers, tshirts and hoodies and lots more.
EEG: I know this is highly the time for stats, but any idea of this years attendance? Has last years record been broken?
I am delighted to confirm that this years LAC was another record breaker. We had a total of 3,979 delegates in attendance, which was an increase of 14% on last year overall and an ice sea of 8.4% in affiliates. This makes LAC 2015 our biggest ever event in nine years, so we are very, very happy.
EEG: What’s next? Are you already working on the next event? Which is….?
Shona: Not only are we working on the next event we are also working as far ahead as the iGaming Super Show 2016! Our next event is the Elite Retreat an invite only VIP affiliate incentive trip we launched last year. We’re busy booking an amazing hotel, some inspirational speakers and fun events for Ibiza in May for the lucky attendees.
Our next big event is the iGaming Super Show which incorporates AAC, taking place 23-26th June. We’ve moved to bigger hall for 2015 and are expecting to see numbers on a par with London. It’s a huge show with eight conference tracks, three exhibitions zone and over 120 speakers.
While this is going on we are also securing a brand new venue for BAC 2015, so watch this space.
Be sure to book you place for the Amsterdam Affiliate Conference which will be held on the 23rd – 26th June 2015 at RAI Exhibition and Convention Centre and remember, there is Free admission for ALL delegates!
EEG: Are there any surprises installed for the Super Show?
Shona: That would be telling, but we are looking at having some smaller,more focused networking events in addition to the main parties making it easier for delegates to meet people working in similar verticals to themselves.
EEG: Cool, here comes the fun part. This is something we ask from all our interviewed friends. If you would just open your Youtube search bar, what would you search for?
Shona: As I write this I’m waiting to be selected for jury duty so anything funny to take my mind of being stuck here. But mostly music,
EEG: Who is your favourite celebrity and where you would love to travel?
Shona: Wow, that’s a hard one, I’m not really a big celebrity fan. I do however love Marilyn Monroe, but I also think Lena Dunham who writes Girls is great.
There is pretty much nowhere I wouldn’t travel, I have been lucky enough to travel a lot in the past. Some of my favourite places include Peru, Laos and Australia.
I haven’t been to India or Borneo and would love to go there, I’d also like to see more of the US. I’ve booked two trips this year so far, Tel Aviv and the Basque Country both of which I’m excited about.
EEG: Where you wouldn’t want to travel?
Shona: I’d give most places a try, because I love experiencing new cultures and especially trying new foods.
