Photo: Andrew Cairns, COO, Iforium (left) & David Black, Continent 8 Technologies’ Managing Director for Europe, Middle East and Africa (right) .
Both Continent 8 and Iforium are Isle of Man success stories, and brands that are known and respected throughout the iGaming sector. But it’s the success they have achieved in partnership which is the most striking example of how Continent 8’s years of experience in the industry, and global reach, can deliver rapid growth.
Iforium began working with Continent 8 in 2016 by providing hosting services in London. As Iforium COO Andrew Cairns points out, the decision to form that partnership was not just a matter of wanting to work with an Isle of Man headquartered business. He said: “The fact that both companies have a presence in the Isle of Man was important and obviously helped to develop a strong partnership – however, first and foremost we chose Continent 8 because of their technical capabilities, global network, experience, and reputation within the industry.”
In 2019 the partnership expanded when Iforium responded to the opportunities arising from the growing US online gaming market. Iforium became the first tenant at Continent 8’s data centre at the Atlantic City Convention Center which opened in June 2019 in partnership with the CRDA (Casino Reinvestment Development Authority).
Both companies reached significant landmarks during this time. For Continent 8 the opening of the Tier 3 designed facility was Atlantic City’s first purpose-built data centre and set the standard in the industry, while Iforium received a transactional waiver from the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement (DGE), meaning that they could provide licensed operators with its Gameflex casino aggregation and seamless bonusing platform which today combines over 10,000 games from 100+ gaming vendors. These milestones would enable both companies to capitalise on the growing online gaming market in the US. The speed at which Continent was able to fast-track Iforium’s entry into the US market is another notable aspect of the partnership.
Andrew says that the decision to continue to work with Continent 8 as Iforium explored growth opportunities in the US was based on several key factors: “We already knew that Continent 8’s connectivity, hosting, and cloud services were all first class, and that they had a strong, resilient, global network of data centres and strategic points of presence,’’ he commented. “We also needed a partner that had an in-depth understanding of the US market, and one that was also respected and trusted by US regulators. Continent 8’s proven track record of being ahead of the curve regarding regulatory developments – and their ability to get us to market as quickly as possible – made them our first choice.”
Today, Continent 8’s multi-state capacity includes facilities in Arkansas, Colorado, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Mississippi, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, and West Virginia, with data centres in Florida, Nevada, Ohio, and Oregon coming soon.
In Europe, Continent 8 is also supporting Iforium with its growth strategy, most recently in Malta.
Andrew adds: “Continent 8 provide us with the flexibility we require for varying levels of infrastructure within different markets and jurisdictions. In Malta, where Iforium currently hold a Recognition Notice from the Malta Gaming Authority, we are utilising Continent 8’s Cloud platform to meet regulatory in country data requirements, whilst also being closely located to many major clients also hosting within Malta.”
Continent 8 serves the iGaming industry by providing a wide range of innovative data security, connectivity, and managed hosting solutions to clients across the globe. It is the trusted infrastructure partner to many of the largest brands in iGaming. Its global network – now spanning 50 locations across Europe, Asia, and the Americas – is proof of their technical achievements. However, as
David Black, Continent 8 Technologies’ Managing Director for Europe, Middle East and Africa, points out, the Iforium partnership illustrates several more key factors behind their success: “For long-standing clients, a major advantage of working with us over many years stems from our collective knowledge of iGaming around the world, our respect within the industry, and the detailed understanding we gain over time about the client’s unique needs. Working with Iforium has been a rewarding experience for everyone in the Continent 8 team and we have been delighted to play a part in their achievements in the US and Europe.”
