GR Huddle: Interview with Neil Ehrlich, Chief Corporate Development Officer at Nouve

Introduction

• Host: Tim
• Guest: Neil Ehrlich, Chief Corporate Development Officer at Nouve
• Company Focus: Payments technology, gaming payments

Overview of Nouve

• Global Presence: Operates in over 200 markets
• Payment Options: Offers 455+ different payment types
• Currencies: Supports 150 currencies
• Cryptocurrencies: Recently launched 40 additional cryptocurrencies
• Goal: Make the world a local marketplace

Role and Experience of Neil Ehrlich

• Experience: 21 years in the payments industry
• Responsibilities:
  • Oversees strategic partnerships
  • Mergers & Acquisitions (M&A)
  • North American initiatives

Impact of COVID-19 on Gaming Payments

• Growth Trends: Gaming industry saw growth before and during the pandemic
• Shift to Cashless: Increased interest in cashless payments
• Market Acceleration: Pandemic expedited the shift to cashless transactions
• North American Market: Some states moved to cashless due to tax revenue needs
• Permanent Change: Shift to cashless is expected to persist

Insights into Nevada Gaming Market

• Revenue Records: Highest gaming revenues in March and April since 2013
• Economic Reopening: Sign of strong rebound and continued growth in gaming

M&A Strategy at Nouve

• Recent Acquisitions:
  • Simplex: Fiat to cryptocurrency payment company; enables debit/credit transactions with no chargeback guarantee
  • Mizuma: Account-to-account payments via Plaid; real-time payments; enhances user experience
• M&A Focus:
  • Product capability enhancement
  • New geography entry
  • Scaling opportunities

Cryptocurrency Involvement

• Strategy: Enable payment and receipt of cryptocurrencies
• Current Offering: Provides 40 cryptocurrencies
• Future Outlook: Belief in the long-term presence of cryptocurrency
• Technology: Integration of Simplex technology for guaranteed transactions

Strategy for the US Market

• Large User Base: Strong presence in the SMB sector
• Gaming Focus:
  • Existing partnerships with global gaming operators
  • Facilitate entry into the US market
  • Offer robust payment solutions including real-time payouts

Digital vs. Land-Based Operations

• Digital Focus: Emphasis on digital payments, even for cashless gaming in brick-and-mortar casinos
• Cashless Gaming: Seen as part of the digital payment ecosystem

Sports Betting in the Payments Landscape

• Growth: Significant momentum and increasing state legalization
• Integration: Payment services for sports betting operators
• Goal: Provide timely payouts and a secure environment

Conclusion

• Optimism: Positive outlook for Nouve, the gaming industry, and payments sector
• Final Thanks: Host thanks Neil Ehrlich for his insights

For more information, visit gaminginsider.com and gamingamerica.com.