Bulgaria

Interview with James Illingworth, Director of European Business Development Gaming Laboratories International

Published

9 years ago

October 30, 2015

James Illingworth has over 20 years in the European Amusement and Gaming industry with a network of contacts worldwide. His latest position is within GLI Europe leading the Business Development team in looking after their clients for both on-line and land based sectors. James’s previous positions include working for Spielo GmbH (part of Lottomatica), Italian Manufacturer Magic Dreams Srl, John Huxley Casino Equipment Ltd and Atronic GmbH. James entered the industry in the publishing sector working on titles such as Coinslot and Euroslot as well as instigating and launching the “Casino International” trade title.

James is one of the key speakers of the SYNERGY BETWEEN LAND-BASED AND ONLINE OPERATIONS panel at the 8th edition Eastern European Gaming Summit, which will be held 23-24 November, 2015.

EEG: There have been many success stories over the years in Western Europe about land-based bookmakers creating their presence in the online industry as well. Do you think that in these modern days, having an online platform is essential? How would you encourage land-based operators in Eastern Europe to enable their online business as well?

James: As an independent test lab, we don’t advise business on their business processes, however, we can advise land-based operators in Eastern Europe and around the world to adopt and follow best-practices and standards as they integrate online operations into their land-based businesses. These best-practices and standards should include a thorough security infrastructure, as any online operation can be exploited as an access point for criminals, There was a major casino in Las Vegas whose data was recently compromised by criminals who used the casino’s website as a portal. Strict security coupled with a rigorous following of local jurisdictional regulations are the minimum of what GLI would advise in these situations. It can seem daunting; however, GLI has a great deal of experience in these areas in established and emerging jurisdictions worldwide, and we are here to help as much as we are able, drawing on our global resources to help local operators have the best possible outcomes.

EEG: The synergy between land-based and online has to be synergized in a way brand can keep their identity. Have there been cases where it all changed? Adding the online section lead to a re-branding?

James: As a test lab, GLI isn’t a marketing consultancy, however, we have casually noticed that brands that maintain identity from land-based to online and vice versa seem to have had better success.

EEG: Eastern Europe has a lot of potential to become the next large online gaming region, is the land-based sector ready for this wave?

James: There are two sides to this question: the business side and the regulatory side. As a test lab, we will leave the business side to the analysts. From the regulatory side, certainly there are jurisdictions who are well prepared to assimilate both land-based and online operations into the larger gaming landscape. Other jurisdictions have some work to do, however, they are coming along. The good news is, none of this is new. There are many examples and case studies to learn from – both in terms of positive models to follow and pitfalls to avoid. We have been testing land-based gaming since 1989 and interactive gaming for more than 20 years, and our teams of experts are always available to bring our global expertise to local operators to help them establish the best schemes possible.

If you would like to get the unique opportunity to ask all your important questions and learn first-hand details about how to synergize land-based and online gambling operations be sure to attend the Eastern European Gaming Summit in which James Illingworth shall give his expert opinion and to benefit from the presented gaming tips and strategies. For 8th consecutive year on 23 – 24 November 2015, Inter Expo Center in Sofia, Bulgaria will bring together under one roof world’s leading figures and companies from the industry to present and outline current market developments and future trends with global vision and focus on the Eastern European market.

Visit the EEGS website here.

Zoltan "Hawkie" Tundik

With an experience of over 8 years in the online gambling industry, as an affiliate, later affiliate manager and consultant, I consider myself a veteran of the industry and can guarantee that you will be served with the most accurate information.

Prague Gaming & TECH Summit 2025 (25-26 March)

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Bulgaria

SOFTSWISS Gets Certification for Its Jackpot Aggregator in Bulgaria

Published

3 weeks ago

October 15, 2024

George Miller

SOFTSWISS, a leading technology provider for iGaming, has further solidified its presence in the European market by securing certification for its Jackpot Aggregator in Bulgaria.

The iGaming market in Bulgaria is experiencing significant growth, attracting new businesses despite stringent domestic regulations. The market is projected to generate 168.70 million euro in revenue by 2028, with an annual growth rate of 5.42%. The number of users is expected to reach 377.3 thousand by the same year, further highlighting the sector’s momentum.

In line with this growth, SOFTSWISS announces that its Jackpot Aggregator has received certification from Gaming Laboratories International (GLI), ensuring it meets all technical requirements for use in the Bulgarian market. With the new certification of the SOFTSWISS Jackpot Aggregator, Bulgarian-licensed operators can integrate this advanced engagement tool into their casino offerings.

In May, SOFTSWISS successfully entered the Bulgarian market through a partnership with Topwin.bg, which implemented the SOFTSWISS Casino Platform, the Game Aggregator, and the Sportsbook.

“We are seeing a strong surge in interest in our jackpot mechanic, fueled by the growing demand for engagement tools in the market. That’s why we are committed to further developing the Jackpot Aggregator, enhancing its features, and expanding into new markets. Certification for the Bulgarian market is a clear testament to our ambition and drive for expansion. We are actively working on obtaining certifications in other jurisdictions,” comments Angelina Stasiuk, Head of Business Line at SOFTSWISS Jackpot Aggregator.

SOFTSWISS has several international and national licences and certifications, including a South African licence acquired through the purchase of a majority stake in Turfsport. The company recently announced its plans to become the first certified software provider in Brazil.

About SOFTSWISS

SOFTSWISS is an international technology company with over 15 years of experience in developing innovative solutions for the iGaming industry. SOFTSWISS holds a number of gaming licences and provides comprehensive software for managing iGaming projects. The company’s product portfolio includes the Online Casino Platform, the Game Aggregator with over 23,500 casino games, the Affilka Affiliate Platform, the Sportsbook software and the Jackpot Aggregator. In 2013, SOFTSWISS revolutionised the industry by introducing the world’s first Bitcoin-optimised online casino solution. The expert team, based in Malta, Poland, and Georgia, counts over 2,000 employees.

Bulgaria

Betway Bulgaria officially launches, offers live and bet-builder options

Published

3 years ago

March 22, 2022

George Miller

Another company has officially launched its activities in the growing niche of online betting in Bulgaria. But here we are not just talking about another operator licensed by national institutions, but about a leading brand worldwide. Betway is one of the largest bookmakers in Europe and globally, and the fact that it already offers its services in Bulgaria speaks positively about the development of the gambling business in the country.

Indications of an increase in the size of the industry appeared last year, when several operators received a permit to operate under Bulgarian jurisdiction. It is unlikely that this process will end with the official launch of betway bulgaria, rather the brand entering the country can be perceived by international operators as a positive assessment of the market in Bulgaria. What can we find at Betway besides the obvious – increased competition and of course more choice for consumers?

What do we find in the sports section?

Sports betting – this is the leading sector of the company, which started operations in 2006. The brand is associated with a number of teams in Europe such as Tottenham, Atletico Madrid, Leicester, Alaves, Belenenses, Werder, etc. Of course, the top championships in Europe are present in the latest betting platform, but that’s not all. Betway offers the opportunity to make predictions at less popular UEFA championships. The fans of the Bulgarian championship have options too. All matches of the First League are present in the bookmaker’s menu, and are offered with dozens of choices for each of them.

Real-time bets and long-term combinations

Live bets are a big thrill for many players. This option is present at Betway, and this also applies to the mobile version, of course. It is not difficult to detect current events – they come first when loading the platform. And with them the bookmaker really comes up with interesting offers, some of which are rare on the Bulgarian market. The outcome of the bets become clear in literally seconds if the next goal market or one of the performance options is selected.

In addition, the company accepts predictions with a much longer horizon. It is now standard to bet on who will be the champion in England, Spain, Italy or Germany. However, there are also specific markets and selections for certain teams – will Barcelona take the trophy this season, will Liverpool reach the final in at least one of the tournaments in which it participates, etc. And if users don’t find what they’re looking for in these offers, they can always turn to the betting menu. The bet-builder is still limited to one match, from which we can choose two or more selections until the desired odds are formed. This is the most appropriate way to optimize the bet according to personal preferences and therefore it is increasingly preferred by the players.

Betway’s first steps on the Bulgarian market are impressive. And this is just the beginning, we can expect even more in the near future.

Bulgaria

Online gaming revenues surge in Bulgaria

Published

6 years ago

December 5, 2018

George Miller

Online gaming revenues surge in Bulgaria Reading Time: 1 minute

The Bulgarian Trade Association of Manufacturers and Operators in the Gaming Industry’s (BTAMOI) reports that the country’s online gaming revenues showed a growth in the last financial year. The industry paid €57 million in taxes to government, which corresponds to a 17 per cent rise year on year. BTAMOI said in a press release: “For the period 2017/2018 the gaming industry in Bulgaria has shown very good results at national level, based on the country’s upward economic performance.”

The online gambling segment in Bulgaria represents about 10 per cent of the country’s total gambling market. The segment posted a revenue of €89 million in the nine months to September 30, a spike of 30 per cent compared to the figure same time last year.

Source: Latest News on European Gaming Media Network