Marketing & Operations Manager at iTech Labs
We’ve had the opportunity to talk to Elise Cray. She is the Marketing & Operations Manager at iTech Labs, a certified and reputable testing laboratory for Online Gaming systems certification and Quality Assurance testing.
Dear Elise, please introduce yourself and tell us a little bit more about how you entered the iGaming industry and what made you stay.
I joined the industry just under four years ago when I started working with iTech Labs. I had just moved back to Australia from a couple of years spent in England, and it just sort of all fell into place. It was a brand new industry to me at the time, and one that I was excited to learn more about. Through my time at iTech Labs, working on the compliance side of the online gaming industry has given me a real appreciation for the regulations around online gambling, and their necessity when it comes to playing a part in looking after players. It’s great to work for a company that so forthrightly contributes towards compliance in the industry, and through looking after our customers, also looks after the general public.
If you have to explain iTech Labs in the most simple way, what would you say?
We are a leading testing and certification laboratory for online gaming systems, to put it as simply as possible!
You started strong during ICE 2020. What are your plans 6 months later?
As you mentioned, we had a strong start to the year with ICE 2020, and things shortly afterwards entered some pretty uncertain territory, globally. We were lucky enough to continue experiencing the growth we’ve been seeing prior to the pandemic, so our plans at this point are to keep that growth snowballing even further and continue moving from strength to strength.
As you are the Marketing and Operations Manager, what were the biggest challenges and opportunities for you during the past months: no events, no live business networking…?
ICE is our biggest event of the year, without a doubt, and in recent months, we haven’t experienced too much of a loss of networking. We are unsure how some planned events over the coming months will pan out, however, we are confident in the service we offer and in our ability to remain connected within the industry. The biggest challenge I’ve faced as Marketing and Operations Manager, is the uncertainty around upcoming events and the planning that does or doesn’t need to go into them. However, I’ve seen a lot of flexibility coming from every direction, in the lead up to these events. It’s a great thing to witness, as companies, amidst their own uncertainty and struggles, offer safety and stability for their customers. What I’ve noticed over recent months is a real show of empathy and humanity, which I feel, has had quite a unifying effect.
Did you see any geo market switches due to the global situation in the last months?
We’ve seen a definite tip in the scales towards online gaming, as a lot of land-based casinos around the world have remained closed for several months and people have been spending a lot more time indoors at home. We suspect that we will continue to see the effects of this trend, as companies invest more heavily in their online presence in this “new normal”
Tell us a little bit more about the RNG certification and testing, and the types of certification you offer.
Our RNG certification is one of our strengths, as a company. We provide an unparalleled service to operators and software developers seeking to gain certification for their RNGs. As with our game and platform certification, we offer testing for multiple jurisdictions in order to keep costs down for the customer. Our Mathematicians and Testers have strong industry experience and our staff ensure all questions are answered and requirements are met. We provide full transparency and a thorough, reliable service at competitive rates.
You have many of the elite in the iGaming industry in your portfolio. Could you tell us about some of your recent achievements?
Yes, we have a big mix of customers – as you mentioned, some of the largest in Europe, as well as some smaller companies and everything in between. When it comes to looking after our customers, we absolutely provide our best service to each and every customer. Every time we bring on a new customer or receive positive feedback from existing customers, it’s an achievement for us. To speak more specifically, and as we approach the end of another financial year at the end of June, we are proud to announce that we have achieved another year of over 30% growth, which we’ve seen quite consistently for the past few years.
What does it take to work with you and what soft skills you focus on when considering a new member for your team?
Working for iTech Labs provides a strong sense of fulfillment. Being a part of a company that values integrity and dedication to customers’ needs is a real honour and inspires high quality work. When we recruit, we look for these similar sorts of attitudes in potential staff.
What is the next BIG think in the iGaming industry, according to you?
Virtual sports betting is something that has been on a slow rise recently, and then with worldwide lockdowns taking place over recent months, there has been a lot more talk of this being the way forward. We do quite a bit of sports betting certification, and online varieties are proving to be a popular way forward. In saying that, this trend will likely be seen across every part of the industry, with work being conducted virtually, as well as gaming happening increasingly in an online setting. It was a trend that was already in place before COVID-19, but in recent months it has really been catapulted to the forefront of everyone’s strategies, which is great for us!
For more information on the services iTech Labs provides, please visit their website.