Peter Hannibal tells Alan Campbell about the UK gaming industry’s latest trade representative, the Gambling Business Group.
WITH over 30 years in the gaming industry including 13 at leading operator Gala Coral Group, where he eventually finished up as electronic gaming director before departing in November of 2008 to run his own consultancy, Peter Hannibal was uniquely qualified to help establish the industry-focused Gambling Business Group trade organisation in July.
Born from the ashes of the influential Business in Sport and Leisure after this lobby group decided to change focus, the subscription-based GBG represents around 50 of the sector’s most influential companies encompassing the bingo, pub, online, licensed betting office, adult gaming centre and casino verticals and works to provide a “strategic voice” for gaming in the UK. Now serving as CEO of GBG with former BACTA national president Nick Harding working as chairman, Hannibal sat down with InterGaming to discuss the beginnings and future of the UK gaming industry’s latest trade organisation.
How did you get involved with the GBG following the dissolution of BiSL?
BiSL ceased practising at the end of 2013, following which the members of its Gambling Working Group asked myself and Nick Harding to look at ways of leveraging the value and maintaining the momentum of the GWG in a new format. What followed was a complete review of the objectives and aspirations of this group with a particular focus on adding weight to the good work already being carried out by the industry’s various trade associations. As a result, the GBG has a clearer and more defined remit than that of its predecessor.
Why did the GWG turn to you and Nick Harding for guidance?
We were previously heading up the GWG as part of BiSL. Between us, Nick and I have over 60 years of experience in various roles and in various sectors of the industry and it became clear that members didn’t want to lose the benefits that they felt they were getting from the GWG despite what was happening with BiSL. With our experience and track record I guess it was a logical next step for us to be asked to run with the revised organisation.
Read the full article in the October issue of InterGaming
