William Hill’s Group PR and Communications Lead, Tony Kenny, announced he would step down from his position and leave the bookmaker he had spent over 16 years with.

Privileged to Work for William Hill

Kenny announced that he would be leaving William Hill in a statement on his LinkedIn profile, expressing what an honor it had been for him “to lead the Group’s PR and Communications functions for the business.”

In his latest role, he was leading the external communications team, including communications and media relations strategy, stakeholder relations and financial and crisis communications. Kenny was also providing communications counsel for all William Hill departments.

“Ensuring the William Hill brand was celebrated, trusted and revered in the consumer and corporate space has been a privilege,” Kenny continued in his statement, noting his belief that “now is the right time” for him “to seek new opportunities and challenges.”

Starting in Dublin

Kenny started working for the UK bookmaker as Public Relations & Marketing Manager for Ireland in 2006 and spent over four years in the role, participating in the launch of William Hill and William Hill Online in the country.

He also managed the bookmaker’s marketing and advertising strategy in Ireland, several sponsorships including the William Hill Galway Plate, William Hill Troytown Chase, and with Shamrock Rovers, and dealt with public relations for the firm’s office in Dublin.

Moving to London

In 2010, Kenny was promoted to Head of Online & International PR, moving from Dublin to London, where he spent three years developing William Hill’s PR strategy related to the operator’s website and mobile app, as well as managing the firm’s UK gaming products and press office function.

He also developed the PR strategies and crisis management plans of William Hill’s international business and land-based operations and was in charge of the firm’s sponsorship of LaLiga soccer club CF Malaga.

In 2013, Kenny led a team of four as Head of PR, with responsibilities ranging across strategy development, implementation, delivery and management. During that time he was appointed interim Head of Sponsorship and negotiated sponsorship deals with the Scottish FA, Matchroom Boxing, Football Writers’ Association, PDC, IFL TV, as well as the deal to make Anthony Joshua William Hill’s global brand ambassador.

In his final words, Kenny paid tribute to two special personalities, David Hoon and Graham Sharpe, who stood out among the “hundreds of wonderful colleagues” he had worked with during his 16-year stay at William Hill.

“Both communications colossuses were a massive help to me in my early career and allowed me to thrive in this fantastic industry, and I am eternally grateful to them,” Kenny concluded.

The leader of the unions in NSW Mark Morey said that cashless gaming cards for pokier are needed to combat problem gambling and urged Labor to support the reform before the state election in March 2023

NSW’s top union leader backed Premier Dominic Perrottet’s proposal for a transition to cashless gaming cards in pubs and clubs in the state. Morey stated that this gambling reform would help combat problem gambling and would serve as one more “hurdle” that would prevent people from developing a gambling addiction.

Labor Opposed to the Gambling Reform

However, the Labor Party does not agree with Unions NSW and Perrottet on the issue and would not commit to a permanent change. Ryan Park, a Labor health spokesperson and an LP member of the NSW Legislative Assembly, commented that state Labor was not opposed to the cashless card reform. What they want was an expanded trial of a cashless gaming card “to include pubs and clubs” so that there is a “broad evidence base” that the new acting reforms would work.

Per Chris Minns, head of Labor, the cashless card would cause harm to the community instead of bringing benefits. On multiple occasions, he had cited a 2020 Victorian Responsible Gambling Foundation report, according to which the said cards could lead to problem gambling.

Cashless Gaming Cards as an Issue in March Elections

The discussion over the reform started after the NSW Crime Commission identified that billions of dollars of “dirty” cash have been diverted via poker machines in pubs and clubs. Morey commented that the cashless gaming cards would be one more obstacle to tackling money laundering. The NSW Unions leader further added that it was not an actual ban, but would give time for people to think when they are putting in their money.

The debate on cashless gaming cards would become an issue in the upcoming elections in March. ClubsNSW declined to comment, but its online campaign defines the proposal as “reckless and unproven” and states that it would not stop criminals or addicted gamblers. It could only increase problem gambling.

Cate Faehrmann, an NSW Greens member of parliament who has been leading a campaign to eliminate poker machines in pubs, also supported Perrottet’s proposal and called on Labor to pay attention to voters’ thinking. She added that only the gambling companies share Labor’s opinion because they want to protect the billions they make from poker machines.

According to an analysis of six-month data, poker profits and clubs and pubs have increased by 20% since 2019.

SBC News reported that ICE London organizer Clarion Gaming has announced that the new dynamic show floor dedicated to street gaming has been developed in collaboration with Gambling Business Group.

GBG High Street Hub Becomes ICE London Street Gaming Space

ICE London is organized by gambling event company Clarion Gaming and this year will take place from February 7 to February 9 at the conference center ExCeL London. 

Clarion Gaming announced that together with Gambling Business Group it has developed and designed GBG High Street Hub, which will be situated right next door to the Pillar Hall Casino, the meeting space and bar that are allocated to the brick-and-mortar gambling industry. 

The new dedicated space will allow operators and suppliers within the street gaming sector to showcase their products and will feature companies such as Novomatic UK, Entain, Buzz Bingo, Merkur UK, and GameNation.

The new floor zone is only one of many dedicated spaces created by ICE London organizers in collaboration with gambling industry stakeholders, including iGB Affiliate, ICE VOX, Pitch ICE, and many others. 

In December, Ewa Bakun, Clarion Gaming’s director of industry, announced that this year’s convention will have the largest-ever Customer Protection Zone. The space already won an award at the Global Regulatory Awards. As a result, Clarion Gaming has decided to expand it even further this year. 

The zone will host 20 stands, including the UK Gambling Commission and many charities working within safer and responsible gaming. This will mark a 50% boost in comparison to the number of stands in 2022 and the space will be 100% larger than it was in its debut year 2018.

Organizers Hope the New Street Gaming Floor Will Stimulate Valuable Debates

Executives both from organizer Clarion Gaming and Gambling Business Group embraced the new GBG High Street Hub. 

Managing Director of Clarion Gaming Stuart Hunter said: “ICE London 2023 will be the biggest edition on record and I am delighted that this will include a section of the show floor dedicated to the street gaming sector of the business.”

Hunter further added that Clarion Gaming’s job is to collaborate with gambling industry stakeholders to deliver an exceptional and valuable event that they would like to attend and the partnership with Gambling Business Group serves as a great example of this.

Peter Hannibal, Gambling Business Group CEO and Co-Founder, also praised the collaboration: “Our aim is to reflect these important credentials and stimulate lively, topical and informed debate surrounding a sector which contributes so much to the economic and social vitality of towns and cities where street-based gambling entertainment is regulated.”

Hannibal also noted that the main topics for discussion will be the use of new technologies such as facial recognition, licensing regulations, and responsible gaming within the sector, among others.