The inaugural H2O Data Seminar took place on Sunday, February 5th, kicking off a hectic week for plenty of gambling professionals who will be attending ICE Totally Gaming and the London Affiliate Conference.  For a Sunday evening event preceding what is the busiest week of the year for some, the turnout was impressive, hovering around 200 sports betting industry professionals.

SBC Events and BetConstruct co-produced the Sports Data Seminar and chose an elegant venue in Central London full of history, One Whitehall Place at The Royal Horseguards Hotel.  The venue served as Winston Churchill’s personal air raid shelter in World War II, he drank brandy and smoked his cigars in the cellar and seminar guests even had the opportunity to view the cellars before heading home.

Upon arrival, guests were treated to a pre-dinner cocktail reception, several panel presentations and a three-course meal.  The BetContruct opening address emphasized the importance of data and said “Sports Data is as vital as H20- water”.

The first panel featured sports betting industry veterans Jonathan Smith, Jon Thompson and Nathan Rothschild, moderated by SBC’s Andy McCarron.  The panelists agreed there has been a sports data evolution in the past five years, even the past ten years.  “The trading function has changed so much”, Smith said.