Q&A: Maverick Games on the importance of education and awareness around crypto
Kendra Ross, MD of Maverick Games, discusses crypto's journey towards the mainstream
Crypto startup Maverick Games has been growing at a pace, having hired three industry execs in April as it looks to expand the business further.
The Isle of Man-based firm added Dan Kent from Americas Cardroom as director of poker, ex-Hills and Rank Group exec Danny Carrington as its new marketing director and fellow former Hills staffer Ruairi Daly in the marketing department.
The startup is also eyeing additional licences in the future on top of the Isle of Man licence it has held since 2018.
Here, Maverick Games’ managing director Kendra Ross discusses the firm’s growth and crypto’s journey towards the mainstream.
EGR: When was Maverick Games first established and how has the company developed since its formation?
Kendra Ross (KR): We’ve been licensed by the Isle of Man Gambling Supervision Commission since 2018 – rebranding to Maverick Games about a year ago – and have always strived to do things differently in this space.
We’re now a large team spanning the Americas and Europe with a wealth of industry experience, not only in the crypto space but in gaming. This is even more true with the scaling up of our marketing team with some key hires who have nearly 30 years of experience within the industry combined. This investment in our team is already paying dividends and taking us to the next level as a brand.
The crypto space has seen a lot of volatility. We’ve been very consistent and very open about working with what we believe is an excellent licence and regulator so that we can offer not only stability but also trust, transparency and security so that players can focus on having a lot of fun – because that’s what gaming should be about.
EGR: What is Maverick Games’ main focus and vision?
KR: As a provider, we really understand what players are looking for. We are extensively focused on player safety and transparency as a gaming company to bring the best possible experience to players. Every decision we make is with this key focus in mind to ensure we are viewed as a trusted and fun place to play. Our gaming community has always been a huge part of the brand and we’ve always made adjustments to the product based on what the community has requested.
EGR: The company has recently added three new recruits to its team including two former William Hills execs. What will they bring to the firm in terms of skills, knowledge and experience?
KR: I’m so excited for the next phase of the Maverick brand, including the launch of poker, securing additional licences, and evolving the experience we offer to players.
Every decision we make is about how we can best serve our players and provide them with a safe place to gamble so they can focus on having fun. Bringing in Danny Carrington and Ruairi Daly will certainly help drive us towards that goal; their wealth of experience when it comes to creating unrivalled player experiences at some of the biggest brands in the business gives me a lot of excitement for the future.
We are at the start of such an adventure with new markets, products, features and experiences on the horizon. I have been hugely impressed with the hunger and desire within the business to really change the game and how the entire team is working together to do this. Maverick Games really does stand out from the crowd.
EGR: Maverick has held an Isle of Man licence since 2018. Where are you looking to secure additional licences from?
KR: We’re looking to expand the brand into a number of areas. As I’m from Ontario, that will always be at the top of my wish list! The sky really is the limit.
EGR: Do you have any predictions for the future of crypto sportsbooks and casinos?
KR: There are lots of exciting projects happening out there already but I think we are still at the infancy stage in terms of what will be possible or what will be done in the future. That is the most exciting part about the current space we’re in – there’s so much room for innovation.
As Maverick Games, we want to be at the forefront of advancements in the industry and in gaming with the use of crypto; we are merely at the start of a huge journey.
EGR: Do you see mainstream operators leaning into crypto in the near future or will it be left to specialists?
KR: While it’s difficult to predict adoption, we’re seeing many more involved conversations involving regulators, banks, and other traditional supporting sectors; this can only be good for operators.
Because crypto is decentralised, individuals have greater control over their finances. The built-in transparency also helps to reduce the risk of fraud, theft or identity theft. In several ways, crypto is a less risky payment processing solution than fiat.
While I can’t speculate on the appetite of larger providers to engage with the currencies, I can say with confidence that an increased understanding of the technology and supporting solutions makes businesses much more open to the possibilities.
EGR: What are your thoughts on the UK’s plans to robustly regulate the cryptocurrency sector and bring it under the umbrella of mainstream financial services regulation?
KR: As a regulated business, we welcome increased government understanding of the space and better protections for consumers.
That said, as avid crypto enthusiasts ourselves, we also appreciate the need for privacy and decentralisation to be built into a currency solution.
In a perfect world, regulation would empower businesses to have robust anti-money laundering and fraud prevention, while protecting the rights of consumers to control their financial freedom. This is a difficult balancing act, and we’re closely watching government regulation worldwide.
EGR: Do you think the barrier of knowledge on crypto is hindering its mass adoption? How can this be addressed?
KR: Any new innovation will have an adoption curve (the average consumer couldn’t use the first iteration of the internet). Niche, hard-to-access forum communities existed long before Facebook.
Part of the answer is great technology solutions that make cryptocurrency easy to use. There are some excellent exchanges and hardware wallets that do a good job of this. So, it’s our responsibility as an entertainment site to make sure that our products are easy to use for everyone, whether they’re crypto enthusiasts or brand new to non-fiat payment solutions.
Education and awareness also play an important role. Once you understand that sending USDT is easier, faster and cheaper than sending a bank transfer, as a player, you’re happy!
EGR: What are your plans for the rest of 2023 and into 2024 for the growth of the business?
KR: We have so many exciting plans in store for the next 18 months, and that’s all centred around giving our players the best and – most importantly – the safest playing experience possible. I wish I could share specifics because I’m so excited about what our product team has been working on!
You’ll see a very different Maverick in the second half of this year as we double down on our customer-centric approach, branding, user experience and product. Watch this space!
