Receiving a licence to operate your iGaming company is no longer a ‘nice to have’, it’s a necessity – especially if you want to build trust and credibility with both players and operators. But one of the tricky questions that iGaming companies must answer when looking to obtain a new licence is ‘Which licence do you apply for first?’
For Brandt Page, Chief Executive Officer at Bitblox, it was the Isle of Man (IOM) that caught his attention. He explains the reason why he chose this as the first stop in Bitblox’s growth journey, and how this new certification will open plenty of new doors for the crypto prediction games developer.
Congratulations on your IOM licence! Can you begin by telling us why this was the first licence you chose to pursue? What are the key opportunities that you’ve identified with this licence?
“We decided on the IOM for a few reasons. Firstly, the regulatory framework is considered to be one of the most robust in global terms. Secondly, from our first interactions with the Gambling Supervision Committee (GSC), it was clear they were genuinely interested in understanding the Bitblox proposition. They did not just see us as another potential licence number, but rather saw the value in what we are bringing to the table.
“Bitblox is different to any other company in the iGaming market – we are combining games of skill with games of chance in a truly unique way. We have prioritised creating an entertainment-led experience for our players, so this puts us in a great position to be able to deliver something truly unique for the market. It’s a testament to the hard work of our team that the regulator has been able to see that, and as a result, granted us a licence!”
How will an IOM licence enable Bitblox to build credibility and cement its position as a disruptor within the iGaming space?
“There is a high bar to being granted an IOM licence, so I think the fact that we have already achieved this is a sign of credibility in itself. I noticed a marked change in tone in discussions with potential partners since I moved from saying “we have applied” for a licence to “we have been granted” a licence.
“Receiving a licence to operate in any market is absolutely imperative if you want to build relationships with local partners and show to players that you are trustworthy. But to receive a licence for the IOM, which is well known for its sterling international reputation, is another feather in the cap for Bitblox! We are certain that this will open plenty of new doors for us, and put us in great stead to become a key disruptor in the iGaming industry.”
Does the licensing process for a crypto predictions game provider differ to, perhaps, traditional casinos or sportsbooks?
“Not fundamentally, there are still a strict set of criteria that need to be addressed. What I would say is that I was impressed at how much knowledge the GSC has regarding the cryptocurrency/web3 space.
“Cryptocurrency and Web3 are becoming much more influential within the iGaming space, so it’s great to see a regulator that has an in-depth understanding of how this is going to impact future developments within our industry. Quite often, these new innovations can be quite overwhelming to understand, but the GSC helped us to fully understand what would be required of Bitblox to receive a licence, thereby streamlining the whole process. We have been thrilled to work alongside the IOM regulator.”
Now that you have secured an IOM licence, what other markets are on the horizon for Bitblox?
“One of the benefits of an IOM licence is that it has worldwide applicability. I do appreciate certain countries have additional requirements that we may need to address but overall, a large portion of global markets are opened to us with the IOM licence.
“We will consider other markets in due course. But being an Australian who is living in Britain, I would absolutely love to see content from Bitblox made available to regulated operators in these markets, which are currently unavailable to us. I would love to be able to scroll through the betting apps and see games such as 3 in a Row, Up or Down and even BitSlap displayed on the main home screen. How amazing would that be!
“We’re still in the early days of Bitblox’s journey – so who knows what future chapters hold, you’ll just have to stay tuned to find out if we do make it into the UK and Australia!”
How do you plan to bring something new to these markets?
“I think Bitblox will bring something new to any market we are able to access. As I’ve said previously, we’re offering a fresh twist on the traditional games of chance and games of skill. There is no one else who is creating games like we are. Not only are our games unique and easy to understand, but they offer an easy introduction to the world of cryptocurrency too, which can often be quite difficult to get your head round at first.
“We have plans to deliver at least one new game a month, each of which will bring something new to the table for players. So, as you can imagine, it’s full speed ahead here at Bitblox as we look to make our mark!”
