Gaming test lab and product certification consultancy BMM brought about several changes to its operations and management in 2023. In an exclusive interview with Yogonet, BMM Innovation Group ‘BIG’ CEO Martin Storm discusses industry highlights for the year, including the company’s newly released products, the expanding usage of artificial intelligence (AI), and the growing importance of cybersecurity
Storm also speaks about markets set to gain momentum in 2024 and what new challenges and opportunities will dominate the upcoming 12-month period.
What is your assessment of the year? What are your main takeaways and highlights from 2023?
BMM experienced an exciting and productive year in 2023, marked by numerous achievements and exciting prospects for the future. Among the many highlights was our successful showing at ICE London, where our BMM Innovation Group companies, RG24seven Virtual Training and BIG Cyber, exhibited together with BMM Testlabs for the first time. We also exhibited at the IGA show in San Diego, showcasing our cybersecurity, virtual training, and regulatory compliance solutions tailored to meet the needs of our Tribal customers and partners.
We welcomed a summer intern through the American Indian Science and Engineering Society (AISES) program, an initiative that aligns with our commitment to supporting indigenous students pursuing STEM fields. Our testlabs in Slovenia and India proved to be invaluable assets throughout the year, enabling us to provide more responsive services to our customers.
What should we expect from BMM in 2024?
While these milestones are impressive, perhaps the most exciting development of the year was our strategic positioning for global expansion in 2024.
To achieve this ambitious goal, we recruited a team of highly skilled and experienced executives, including Kara Matthew as Chief Operations Officer, Brian Wedderspoon as Chief Revenue Officer, and Laura Olson-Reyes as Chief Marketing Officer. Working in tandem with our global leadership teams, these executives will help to streamline and standardize our testing, certification, and inspection services to ensure a seamless experience for our customers worldwide.
In the coming year, we anticipate significant growth for our BIG Cyber division as more and more gaming operators and suppliers seek out AI-driven cybersecurity solutions to safeguard their data and businesses.
Our RG24seven training arm, which already boasts over 10,000 learners, will continue to expand its educational offerings, and introduce new learners to our expansive content, which goes beyond responsible gaming education to cover topics such as anti-money laundering, corporate social responsibility, human trafficking, tribal gaming, compliance, and technology, to name a few.
Additionally, in 2024 and beyond, we will play a leading role in collaborating with regulators, developers, and gaming manufacturers, to advance emerging technologies such as AI, NFTs, cryptocurrency, blockchain, Web 3.0, and beyond.
As we reflect on the accomplishments and opportunities of 2023, we are energized and optimistic about BMM’s future. With a dynamic team, innovative solutions, and an unwavering commitment to excellence, we are well-positioned to continue our growth and become even stronger partners.
Do you think new technologies such as AI will play a key role in the development of products and services in the gaming industry in the next year? Which other trends do you see gaining momentum?
We do expect that AI will increasingly play a role in slot game development in the coming years, as this technology can generate interactive, immersive, and highly targeted game-play experiences that change how games are developed and played. We also expect AI to be incorporated into systems technology, player tracking, and other gaming applications due to its ability to offer personalized and targeted content for customers and players based on their individual preferences, habits, and the channels in which they engage.
Another trend we see quickly gaining momentum is cybersecurity protection, which has become a must-have, not just a nice to have. Following the well-publicized attacks on MGM Resorts and Caesars Entertainment, which cost both companies millions, we see a strong demand for cybersecurity protection across both Tribal and commercial casinos, as well as gaming suppliers.
In some jurisdictions, regulations are even starting to require documentation of cybersecurity procedures. And AI, which we mentioned as new technology for game design and systems, is also very important in a cybersecurity solution to prevent cyberattacks by analyzing data and recognizing patterns of behaviors that humans might miss – identifying potential security breaches in real-time.
Other trends that we see continuing to gain momentum are virtual learning solutions for employees at casinos and gaming manufacturers. With so many of these companies having a global reach, consistent training across the enterprise is key, and the most cost-effective way to do that is through virtual training programs that connect the whole organization.
What markets and verticals surprised you the most in how they developed this year? Which markets do you expect to gain momentum next year?
We were surprised that iGaming didn’t grow faster in 2023, especially considering that offering both land-based gaming and iGaming can be incredibly lucrative for states and jurisdictions. However, we expect the growth of iGaming to accelerate in 2024, as states and jurisdictions not only see the revenue potential but come to see how iGaming programs can drive players into land-based casinos through targeted marketing programs, offers, and cross-promotion.
We’re very optimistic about many markets across the globe. It has been great to see Macau’s recovery following the pandemic, and beyond Macau, Asian gaming markets have great potential in 2024. Korea and Thailand are markets that excite us as they seek to expand gaming as an entertainment offering for tourists, especially Chinese visitors.
The Philippines is quickly emerging as a leading gaming hub in Asia for online and land-based gaming, and we are excited to see PAGCOR’s remote betting initiative, Philippine Inland Gaming Operator, become a game-changing innovation for local licensing in the online market. We’re also closely watching Brazil, where the legalization of sports betting and iGaming programs looks imminent.
We are ready to perform compliance testing and certification in the three Brazilian states that have recently regulated iGaming and sports betting — Rio de Janeiro, Paraiba, and Paraná!🚀
Learn more from our press release below.🔽https://t.co/2SblGvnU1r
— BMM Testlabs (@BMMTestlabs) November 28, 2023
BMM was recently approved to perform compliance testing and certification in three Brazilian states. Do you expect this country, and the LatAm region at large, to play a key role for BMM in 2024?
The LatAM region, which includes Brazil, is an exciting and growing market for BMM in both iGaming and land-based gaming. With the legalization of sports betting and iGaming looking imminent, our teams continue to focus on growing our partnerships in this exciting and potentially huge market.
BMM, as part of our commitment to the Brazilian market, is establishing a local presence to serve the newly regulated Brazilian iGaming markets. We will provide our full suite of compliance services and solutions, including pre-compliance testing, customized security audits, geolocation testing, and software quality assurance. We’re honored to be a trusted partner to the Latin American market for more than 16 years, with offices in Argentina and Peru.
Original article: https://www.yogonet.com/international/noticias/2023/12/25/70199-bmm-cybersecurity-protection-has-become-a-musthave-not-just-a-nice-to-have
