iGaming NEXT Valletta 23: A Sneak Peek Behind the Agenda – Playstar!


Tomorrow, one of the most highly anticipated iGaming events of the Summer is kicking off in Malta, iGaming NEXT Valletta at the Mediterranean Conference Centre, from 21st – 22nd June. With over 4000 high-level attendees expected, it’s a show not to be missed!

Aside from the boundless networking opportunities and business development, Valletta’23 also offers an exciting conference agenda, with lots of opportunities to learn and hear valuable insights from our sector’s leading lights. They have a roster of great speakers, one in particular is Jon Bowden, Chief Marketing Officer for Playstar. We caught up with him to understand why participating in this show is so important, plus a quick rundown of what he’ll be discussing during his panel session.

Why is iGaming Next Valletta so important for you to visit? What value do you get from attending?

“It’s a great opportunity to catch up with partners and get some all-important face time, speak with potential new partners and take in some of the panels and keynotes of course! We took so much value from the New York conference; I’m really looking forward to seeing what IGN Valletta brings.”

Can you tell us more about what topics your session will be exploring and what will the audience learn from it?

“So, I’m on two panels, one focusing on keeping innovative whilst marketing in regulated markets and the other talking through how best to structure a marketing team. As I’ve always managed brands in regulated markets but at very different levels of maturity. From working in the UK market for over a decade and now I live in the US, I’m hoping I can bring some perspective on how to plan for future regulation and get ahead of the curve.

“Regarding marketing teams and functions, again I’ve overseen team builds in very different environments from a large operation in Entain with multiple shared services and resources to now building a team in a start-up environment with PlayStar. I’m sure I can give some tips around what a successful team looks like and how to overcome the challenges we all face in building teams from the ground up.”

Do you think the increased advertising regulations means that the role of affiliates will become even more critical going forward?

“Absolutely, and it’s our biggest paid traffic driver at PlayStar. It’s also extremely important that with regulations coming thick and fast, operators build extremely strong relationships with their affiliate partners to ensure on both sides that we’re making the right decisions to protect brands and players.”

Are there any other conference sessions happening at iGaming NEXT Valletta that you’re looking forward to attending and why?

“Well, I’m going to take in as much as I can as the subject matter all day looks great! I’m particularly looking forward to the Affiliates and Operators discussion on how to create a trusted and transparent partnership for mutual success. As mentioned previously, this is absolutely key to success and ensuring you’re transparent on both sides to ensure long-term relationships and profitability. We strive to do this at PlayStar so I’m keen to hear the thoughts of others around this and see if there’s anything I can take from it.”

Editor’s Note:

After catching up with Jon, it’s clear tomorrow’s event is definitely well worth the out-of-office time!

It will be a fantastic opportunity to find out the latest trends in the market, hear top-level industry perspectives and, crucially, connect with industry peers.

Tickets are still available from the iGaming NEXT website. So, if you haven’t already, make sure you get yours ASAP. We look forward to seeing you all there!

Published on: