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Exclusive Q&A with Sergey Tsukanov, Head of Sportsbook at Betby

Published

4 years ago

July 1, 2021

Reading Time: 3 minutes

Are big summer events the most important part of the year, or just an added benefit to day-to-day activity?

Summer sporting events are a big deal for global sportsbook suppliers as they present endless opportunities to boost engagement and deliver unique promotions, but I see it as a bit of both.

After a prolonged period without any major football tournaments and over a season’s worth of fixtures being played behind closed doors, the European Championships and the Copa America have arrived at the perfect time for sport lovers around the world.

The spike of growth in the number of users around these events is very much influenced by the market and depends on many factors, like whether a local team is playing in the tournament and what sources the operator gets its traffic through.

We see a similar number of bets placed on a given day of the European Championships as we do on the night of the Champions League final, with the latter stages of the tournament only attracting more users. This is a testament to the popularity and appeal of summer sporting competitions.

How can sportsbook suppliers prepare for these huge events, which should see significantly increased traffic?

Betby prides itself on the flexibility of its products and ability to pivot its platform to suit specific requirements. Preparation for tournaments of this size is key due to the huge spike in user activity during the games.

Work schedules around the time of major events are changed to facilitate the increased number of bets being placed before games, as well as requests from clients to run campaigns in the build up to the tournament. We also tend to increase the number of markets of bets ahead of these competitions to set it apart from regular sporting events.

Are regional sporting events, such as the European Championships or Copa America, popular globally or only within those regions where the games are being played?

For the most part, there is little interest in the Copa America in Europe, and the same can be said for interest in the European Championships in Latin America, but there are always sport enthusiasts and other outliers that must be catered to.

For example, the Argentina-Brazil clash will undoubtedly see some interest around the globe thanks to the prominence of superstars like Lionel Messi and Neymar. That said, when you consider the time difference and abundance of smaller ties, global figures will always be smaller in comparison.

This problem is not specific to football; we see the same issue in the NBA where European followers are expected to sacrifice sleep and brave the early hours of the morning just to watch their team play.

Can the Olympics ever become a major betting event?

This is a very complex question. There’s a feeling that the Olympics is slowly losing relevance in the sporting community.

Perhaps we should not talk about the Olympics as a whole, and rather focus on the separate events that make up the competition. The tennis is always interesting to watch from the start due to the ‘knock-out’ nature of the ties, whereas football in the Olympics only becomes a knock-out once teams pass the group stages.

The dedicated following that we see at club and international level in football, rugby and other global sports audiences is just incomparable to the following that Olympic sports like rowing or fencing get throughout the year.

How has Betby approached the bumper sporting summer of 2021?

Without going into too much detail on our plans for the upcoming summer, I can confirm that we have changed our priorities to assist the launch of a host of additional football markets for the European Championships.

We recently reimagined the ‘classic’ sportsbook in the design of our site’s new layout, so it now boasts a fully responsive user interface, easy site navigation and swift betting placement, which addresses feedback we received from our users.

With a brand-new sidebar, high-quality widgets and more markets than ever before, we have done everything in our power to make this summer as enjoyable as possible for our audiences. After all, there has been so little to celebrate over the past 18 months that a touch excitement is long overdue.

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Velocity Gaming Clinches VCT Ascension Pacific Slot After Dominant LAN Finale Victory at OMEN VCSA 2025

Published

3 hours ago

July 16, 2025

George Miller

Reading Time: 3 minutes

Velocity Gaming has secured its place at VCT Ascension Pacific 2025 after beating S8UL 3-1 in the Grand Final of the OMEN VCSA 2025 Ascension Qualifiers LAN, held at Ardee Mall in Gurugram. The team takes home ₹24.3 lakhs in prize money and will now represent India on the international VALORANT stage this October in Bangkok. S8UL, who made it to the finals through the lower bracket, finishes as runner-up and wins ₹12.15 lakhs.

Velocity Gaming Clinches VCT Ascension Pacific Slot After Dominant LAN Finale Victory at OMEN VCSA 2025
Velocity Gaming bests S8UL 3-1 in the Grand Finale of the OMEN VCSA 2025 Ascension Qualifiers LAN
Multi-Million Viewership Milestone Marks New High for South Asian VALORANT

“Been practicing and getting better as a team to achieve this one goal. It’s a really special one for us. This is step one, however, and it’s time to represent South Asia at VCT Ascension Pacific and make all of us proud!” said Adarsh Singh, Organization Manager, Velocity Gaming.

Road to the Finals

Before the final, S8UL faced DOT EXE Esports in the Lower Bracket Final and won 3-1, setting up the last match against Velocity Gaming. Velocity, who had stayed undefeated through the upper bracket, closed out the final in four maps to win the series.

Showmatch Brings Creators to the Fore

Fans at the venue also got to enjoy a creator showmatch on Day 2, featuring popular names like Sikhwarrior, Mackletv, Chhabra Saab, and Pooja Bisht. The match added a fun break between the competitions and gave the audience a chance to see their favorite creators play live.

“Big congratulations to Velocity Gaming for an outstanding performance against the best in the region. With OMEN VCSA, NODWIN Gaming, and Riot Games have worked to build a long-term, sustainable ecosystem for VALORANT in South Asia that gives top talent the stage they deserve. This event wouldn’t have been possible without the incredible support from our partners and the passion of the fans who showed up in full force. We’re proud to have played a part in pushing the VALORANT esports scene forward, and we’re excited to see Velocity Gaming carry that momentum onto the global stage.” said Akshat Rathee, Co-Founder & Managing Director, NODWIN Gaming.

“This tournament was a reflection of how far the VALORANT community in South Asia has come. The passion from fans, the level of competition, and the support behind these teams show that this region is ready for the global stage. At Riot, we’ve always believed in building player-first experiences, and it’s incredible to see that vision come to life through events like OMEN VCSA. We’re proud of every team that competed and excited to see Velocity Gaming carry the community’s hopes to Ascension.” added Sukamal Pegu, Esports Lead, South Asia, Riot Games.

OMEN VCSA 2025 Draws Record-Breaking Viewership

The OMEN VCSA 2025 Ascension Qualifiers witnessed an overwhelming response from fans across South Asia and beyond. With over 12 million views and more than 50,000 peak concurrent viewers across creator and official pages, the tournament emerged as one of the most-watched VALORANT events in the region this year.

With broadcasts in both Hindi and English, the event reached a diverse and passionate audience, underscoring the growing popularity of competitive VALORANT in South Asia.

What’s Next?

Velocity Gaming will now represent South Asia at the VCT Ascension Pacific 2025, scheduled to take place from October 13 to 26, 2025, in Bangkok, Thailand. The tournament will feature 10 elite teams from across the Asia-Pacific region, all competing for promotion to the VCT Pacific League 2026.

The post Velocity Gaming Clinches VCT Ascension Pacific Slot After Dominant LAN Finale Victory at OMEN VCSA 2025 appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

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2025 PUBG MOBILE WORLD CUP KICKS OFF WITH GROUP DRAW AHEAD OF ESPORTS WORLD CUP

Published

3 hours ago

July 16, 2025

George Miller

Reading Time: 3 minutes

The PUBG MOBILE World Cup has returned, marking its second year as part of the Esports World Cup in Riyadh
24 teams from PUBG MOBILE Esports regional leagues have been placed into Groups Red, Yellow, and Green
The Group Draw has determined the matchings for the Group Stage, where three groups will fight to secure their place in the Grand Finals or the Survival Stage
This marks the first step in the biggest PUBG MOBILE Esports event of the summer, with each team aiming for the mighty $3,000,000 USD prize pool

PUBG MOBILE Esports is pleased to announce that the PUBG MOBILE World Cup (PMWC) is back for a thrilling second edition, once again taking centre stage as part of the prestigious Esports World Cup in Riyadh. Its momentous return kicks off with the Group Draw, where 24 teams from across the globe have been split into three groups to go head-to-head in the Group Stage, from July 25th-27th, for a chance to move one step closer to glory in this year’s official mid-season tournament. With an impressive lineup and a mighty $3,000,000 USD prize pool on the line, only one team will rise to the occasion to take the 2025 PMWC title.

Debuting last year, the 2025 PMWC is the headline PUBG MOBILE Esports tournament of the summer, making its comeback this year as a key part of the Esports World Cup. PUBG MOBILE Esports returns to represent its larger commitment to growing the global mobile esports ecosystem. Raising the stakes even higher for this year’s competition, the dynamic SMASH ruleset has had a refresh. In the updated ruleset, a team must first reach the match point, defined by the top team’s score after Day 2 plus 10 points, then win a match to claim the 2025 PMWC Championship title. If no team does this in 18 matches, the team with the highest overall points wins the tournament.

The Group Draw not only shapes the first battles of the tournament but also sets the tone for the breakout performances to come. The 2025 PMWC Group Draw has followed a strategic format — the 24 elite teams have been seeded into five pools based on their regional qualification results, and drawn into three groups: Red, Green, and Yellow. Battling their way through the Group Stage, these three groups will consist of eight teams seeking the number one title at the Grand Finals this August.

Representing top talent from around the globe, the 24 teams have earned their spots through intense regional leagues such as the PUBG MOBILE Super League (PMSL), PUBG MOBILE Challengers League (PMCL), along with invites from all other regions. With the draw now concluded, all teams will advance beyond the Group Stage, with the top eight securing direct entry into the Grand Finals. The remaining 16 will battle through the Survival Stage for a second chance at a spot in the championship, making every match critical as teams fight to extend their 2025 PMWC journey.

Each group and their teams can be found below:

Group Red	Group Yellow	Group Green
Team Falcons	Fire Flux Esports	IDA Esports
Horaa Esports	Regnum Carya Esports	Alpha Gaming
eArena	4Thrives Esports	Alter Ego Ares
POWR Esports	Team Secret	Gamax Esports
Alpha7 Esports	Team Vision	INTENSE GAME
Nongshim RedForce	INFLUENCE RAGE	KINOTROPE Gaming
Weibo Gaming	DRX	TT Global
Aryan & TMG Gaming	Yangon Galacticos	R8 Esports

Key PMWC dates:

Group Stage – 25th – 27th July
Survival Stage – 29th – 30th July
Grand Finals – 1st – 3rd August

For more information on the confirmed teams, schedule and where to watch, please visit the official PUBG MOBILE Esports channels on Facebook, Instagram, X, TikTok, and YouTube.

The post 2025 PUBG MOBILE WORLD CUP KICKS OFF WITH GROUP DRAW AHEAD OF ESPORTS WORLD CUP appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

Latest News

Gaming Americas Weekly Roundup – July 7-13

Published

11 hours ago

July 15, 2025

George Miller

Reading Time: 2 minutes

Welcome to our weekly roundup of American gambling news again! Here, we are going through the weekly highlights of the American gambling industry which include the latest news and new partnerships. Read on and get updated.

Latest News

Apollo announced the completion of the previously announced acquisitions of International Game Technology PLC’s (doing business as Brightstar Lottery) Gaming & Digital Business and Everi Holdings Inc. (Everi) by a holding company owned by funds managed by Apollo affiliates (the Apollo Funds). The all-cash transaction, valued at approximately $6.3 billion, brings together complementary businesses to form a privately held global leader in gaming, digital and financial technology solutions. The two companies will be integrated into a combined enterprise in the coming months. Headquartered in Las Vegas, the combined enterprise will operate under the IGT name, while retaining the Everi brand in select markets and product lines.

Luckbet has announced Vitor Paulin as its Chief Marketing Officer (CMO), bringing his expertise in branding, digital marketing, data-driven strategies, performance, CRM and user experience optimisation to lead the brand’s positioning at a strategic moment for the betting sector in Brazil. With a consolidated track record in branding, strategy and communication, Paulin takes on the mission of boosting the company’s marketing initiatives, strengthening its presence in the market. Having worked for renowned companies such as Accenture, Ogilvy, Cadastra, Havas, Dentsu, Digitas, Serasa Experian, Escola Conquer and Grupo Aposta Ganha, Vitor has accumulated experience in leadership positions, including CMO and Chief Growth Officer.

Snoqualmie Casino & Hotel has officially opened its newly expanded non-smoking gaming floor, marking a significant milestone in the property’s continued commitment to exceptional guest experiences. Located adjacent to the hotel lobby, the new, larger non-smoking slot floor will feature nearly 400 of today’s most popular slot machines in a fresh, modern environment designed exclusively for non-smoking guests. This addition enhances the casino’s dedication to providing smoke-free gaming options in a luxury setting. For convenience and ease of access, non-smoking guests can also take advantage of the smoke-free entrance via the hotel’s valet parking. This new space complements Snoqualmie Casino & Hotel’s existing fully enclosed, non-smoking slot area near Falls Buffet and Snoqualmie Café & Deli, offering guests even more choice and accessibility when it comes to their preferred gaming environment.

Partnerships

Hasbro has announced a new slate of multi-year licensing partnerships aimed at transforming and expanding its most popular brands across the casino category. After a comprehensive review and market evaluation, Hasbro has selected Aristocrat Technologies, Evolution, Galaxy Gaming, and Bally’s as its newest partners in casino licensing. The new partners join existing licensee Sciplay. The announcement underscores Hasbro’s “Playing to Win” strategy, revealed in February 2025, which focuses on innovation, partnerships, and bringing beloved brands to life across more formats than ever.

The Indiana Fever announced that one of the world’s leading online betting companies, bet365, is joining the team as its Official Sportsbook Partner for the 2025 season. Bet365 will step into the game with a lineup of fan-focused features that will be integrated across the Fever’s media and game day experience. As part of the partnership, bet365 will have a strong presence throughout the Fever season, including having a brand presence across Fever Radio Network broadcasts, team social content and the Fever mobile app.

The post Gaming Americas Weekly Roundup – July 7-13 appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.