7/13/2010 1:56:19 PM
Industry buzz - iGaming
Stuart Roe
BUSINESS MANAGER, ARM iGaming
What a year it has been. The worst global recession in 30 years
has combined with changes in international online gaming and
employment legislation to create a uniquely challenging business
environment.
Now we also have a new government coalition, though it remains
to be seen how much of a state of flux the market will be thrown
into by this latest development.
I have been working in senior level technology and iGaming recruitment
for more than 15 years, so I feel qualified to say the last couple
have been ‘character building’. When I was writing this viewpoint
article for EGR Magazine, my chairman kindly joked that the only
reason I had chosen a black-and-white photo was to hide the extra
grey hair I have developed these last two years!
But maybe it’s just what we all needed: a wake-up call to remind
us what hard work really is, an opportunity to sharpen our tools
and tune in to what our clients and customers really need. You can
be sure that the best in our business will rise from the ashes and
capitalise on a new and very different marketplace in the coming
months and years.
And given how other sectors have fared in comparison, I consider
myself fortunate to manage the iGaming division for a big recruiter
like ARM, which also avoided the straightforward option of cutting
costs and headcount during the past two years, instead investing
heavily in training.
This decision was recognised when we won the inaugural
Institute of Recruitment Professionals People Development in
Business Award for 2009/10. Furthermore, as we rise out of this
recession, we have a seasoned and well-developed management team
ready to venture into new markets and prepare for growth.
A downturn acts like the process of natural selection greatly
speeded up: it is an opportunity to adapt and grow and to make the
most of an interesting new playing field.
This article was originally published in the
June 2010 issue of EGR Magazine and we are
grateful for permission to reproduce it. www.egrmagazine.com