The island’s eGaming sector is ‘booming’ and is expected to grow even more this year, it has been claimed.
Mark Robson, head of eGaming for the Isle of Man Government, told Business News that the 12 months ahead look very promising.
Latest official statistics, which cover the years 2013 to 2014 show that eGaming represented 16.7 per cent of the island’s economy.
But Mr Robson told Business News that figure could now well be approaching 20 per cent of the island’s GDP.
Father of two Mr Robson, 45, also revealed more about his life as a semi-professional poker player.
And he is not bluffing when he says he believes the island’s second to none in terms of the standards of regulation and player protection that exist here.
He says he has a passion for poker in his spare time and says that his experiences as an online gaming player ‘on the front line’ help him understand the industry even more.
Mr Robson said poker playing has helped him and his family ‘enjoy a good life. It’s paid for a few holidays and has helped me with a number of projects like refitting the bathroom. It was a nice sum of money.’
But he was reluctant to discuss just how much he has won playing online poker and land-based poker in places including Las Vegas where he holds ‘platinum’ status with the MGM Group who own a string of casinos and hotels on the famous American ‘strip.’
Mr Robson says his vast experience of working for gaming based private companies as well as being a ‘punter’ himself have put him in good stead for his job with the government promoting the island’s eGaming sector and bringing more companies here.
Mr Robson revealed a new company had arrived in the island in the first week of January and details of this business were likely to be revealed soon.
Mr Robson said he is delighted to be working to boost the island’s economy, having previously worked here for a number of years with software giant Microgaming.
He said: ‘I can use my contacts and experiences with the industry to help develop this industry in the Isle of Man to essentially bring more companies here and put more bums on seats, if I can use what I have done historically to bring more benefit to the island then that’s got to be great.
‘I’ve got two kids [aged 16 and 13], if they want to stay in the island and if I can help in any way to secure a strong industry in the island then I’m also helping to create a future for my kids and their friends.
‘We have not got the full, official figures for 2014-2015 yet but it’s getting close to 20 per cent now [of the island’s GDP].
‘It is significant but one thing about the growth of one industry is it will generate growth in other industries, like a snowball effect.
‘For example in the service sector, with more people coming in and more being earned by eGaming there will be more spend in the local shops and places such as hotels.’
Mr Robson added that support services such as accountantants, legal firms, software houses and data centres, have a ‘huge network’ of support.
Mr Robson reiterated a point he made at last year’s KPMG eGaming summit when he said the aim for the future was ‘quality over quantity’ in attracting new blood to the island.
He said that the island has a world-class reputation and his department works closely with the local Gambling Supervision Commission.
Returning to poker, Mr Robson said he has enjoyed many great experiences playing the game.
For instance in 2006 he was working on a gaming project in the Dutch Caribbean island of Curacao.
He sat down in the hotel casino to play poker when he was joined by the Dutch football star Patrick Kluivert.
‘He sat down beside me and asked me to teach him how to play poker.
‘It was a surreal experience. He had not been picked for the World Cup so there I was helping a Dutch football star play poker.’
He has also lived and worked in Las Vegas which he said had been an illuminating experience.