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Future in online gaming will be behind those online gambling companies that show innovation and creativity.

This is Manfred Bodner’s opinion. He heads one of the most successful European bookies Bwin.

Mr. Bodner received the trophy of Operator of the Year 2009 for his company at recent EGR Awards show.

A unique EGR Live conference and exhibition took place at the same time as the online awards and Mr. Bodner was asked to share his view on the future of online gaming industry.

“The next 10 to 15 years in this industry will be about innovation,” he said. “The last ten years have been about big branding and being the industry’s Red Bull, but the next ten will be about being an Apple, and offering consumers something new that revolutionizes the market.”

“Media spending will not be the answer,” he predicted.

Bodner also expressed his opinion regarding the future of multi player online games, which have changed the very nature of online gaming.

“Live betting has transformed betting from being a transactional interaction to being an entertainment transaction,” he said. “Multi player online games offer us room to move further in that direction because people spend longer online.”

Several other top executives participated in the EGR Live conference in London last week. Some of them also shared their views about the future of online gambling in Europe.

Mark Davies, Betfair MD, said at the event: “The UK shows a mainstream model and I think Italy will also show other countries how to regulate sensibly. Gambling has already become much more of a mainstream activity, and people increasingly quote odds on sports events and even news because it shows the likelihood of something happening.”

Betfair, best of all betting exchanges, captured the title of UK Sports Betting Operator of the Year at ERG Awards 2009. Bwin, best sportsbook online, took Operator of the Year award and also topped latest EGR Power 50 report.

Technorati Tags: best sportsbook online, betting exchanges, bookies

Leading online bookies are bidding for the first online gambling license in India to take share of country’s attractive $60bn betting market. William Hill, Betfair and Bwin are bidding for the internet license in the Himalayan state of Sikkim

It is known that some 13 betting companies, including local Indian operators, are battling it out for at least three licenses in Sikkim. Bookmakers want to launch their betting services live before the football World Cup in South Africa. Ladbrokes and 888 might also bid for a license in Sikkim.

Even though the license holders will be allowed to offer their services in Sikkim, they also expect to be able to take bets from all over India. India has a rapidly growing population of 1.2 billion, but Internet penetration remains low compared to Western standards and increasing only in more affluent states. Online sportsbooks hope that once other Indian states see the huge revenues and tax flowing into Sikkim, they will follow the trend.

Spokesman from William Hill said: "I can confirm that we are interested in entering the Indian market and we are in discussions with potential partners at the moment.” Indian law requires foreign companies to partner with a local company to offer its services. It has been informed that William Hill held talks with Global Torrent International based in Sikkim.

Betfair, best if all online betting exchanges, is partnering with Agilisys Managed Services. Betfair and Bwin have had teams on the ground in India for some time.

A Ladbrokes spokesman said: "We are watching the space to see what happens because there are several partner opportunities to get a license in the province of Sikkim.” 888 might also bid for a license in Sikkim.

The only legal betting activities in India are horse racing, trackside at meetings, and gambling at casinos in just two states, Goa and Sikkim.

According to official reports, legal operators of casinos and horse racing operations make about 0m in revenue in India each year from an estimated total betting turnover of bn.

However, the total value of bets waged in black market in India each year is at least $40bn. As a result, illegal outfits generate combined operator revenues of about bn each year. Online betting makes up only a fraction of the overall market.

Technorati Tags: betting exchanges, online bookies, online sportsbooks