Bulgaria

Interview with Carlos Silva, Sales Director at Vermantia and speaker at TREND SETTING IN SPORTS BETTING at EEGS2015

Published

9 years ago

November 22, 2015

Carlos Silva is the Sales Director at Vermantia. With experience in gaming industry, specialized in virtual games division, Carlos is responsible for driving sales and growth for the business across the spectrum of Gaming Operators. He has successfully concluded business in a number of key accounts in Europe and Latin America. Vermantia is a provider of premium content for lotteries, gaming and betting operators worldwide. The company offers unique expertise, applied with a flexible approach to each project, providing customers with the appropriate gaming and sports betting solutions to ensure outstanding performance in the field of their activities.

Carlos will be among the speakers at TREND SETTING IN SPORTS BETTING for the topic “Do virtual sports products hold big opportunities? What does the rise in popularity of these products mean for the future of sports betting?”

EEG: Hi Carlos, since you are one of the key speakers of the panel TREND SETTING IN SPORTS BETTING, we would like to have a sneak preview about what your presentation will be all about?

Virtual sports are setting a new trend in terms of online sports betting. Do you think that there will be a time when an equal amount of bets are going to be placed both for virtual and live?

CS: I would find it difficult to foresee a time when the amount of bets wagered on Virtual Sports would actually equal the amount of bets placed on Live Sports events. However, because of the high frequency, high availability (24/7) and typically low stakes involved, I can see the Virtual Sports betting sector continuing to grow for quite some time yet. Virtual sports betting is finding favor with both operators and punters for a variety of reasons. First of all the look and feel of virtual betting events has upgraded greatly, as display screen technology and computer graphics have improved, leading to a more enjoyable experience for the punter. Moreover, punters have become more accepting of random number generator-based games (RNG) at the same time, as trust has decreased in some live sports because of match-fixing and spot-fixing scandals, as well as “phantom” matches. Additionally, betting shops have long used virtual racing to give betting shop customers events to bet on in the morning when there tends to be fewer live sports events, or as filler content throughout the day. Internet betting operators are now following the same principle – but expanding betting events 24/7.

EEG: Sports betting is bound to change and new methods of betting are going to arise, where are the key challenges brands will face in terms of developments?

CS: Change, or innovation is absolutely key to the continuous success of Sports betting, both Live and Virtual. However, it does bring about certain issues for the Operator. I think this whole shift to an Omni Channel approach and the convergence of technologies creates data capture challenges not witnessed before. For example, players may receive a bonus code through their letterbox via DM, respond by visiting their local betting shop when, say, shopping in town, where they sign up, open an account and familiarize themselves with the Sports and Games on offer. They may then continue to play out of hours using their PC or laptop in the comfort of their own home and also, for instance, using a Mobile or Tablet device during working hours at the office. The key challenge is to track every player’s journey and, by carefully personalizing offers, maximize the returns.

Other key challenges include the need to increase the number of betting opportunities, extend the time customers spend in retail shop, provide more engaging products, attract a younger demographic and in general, maximize the user experience. I am pleased to say that Virtual Sports can address all of these needs.

EEG: Do you think that large operators which haven’t yet adopted Virtual sports are going to start focusing on the niche parallel with ongoing sports seasons?

CS: I think, not only for large operators, but for smaller ones also, adopting Virtual Sport betting is now seen as strategic to the growth of their businesses. And, so yes, I do think Virtual Sports will be adopted, where none may exist today. There are of course exceptions, where for example, legislation does not permit betting on Virtual Sports events. Also, certain Operators are or have plans to go through the hassle and expense of developing their own In-House Virtuals; in my opinion, this is not at all a wise choice, while it is my firm belief that it should be left to the experts.

Therefore, my job is to educate and demonstrate the Operator benefits of Virtual Sports betting, while offering a technically suitable and commercially compelling Virtuals proposition; this is something I will be very keen to do in and around the upcoming EEGS conference in Sofia.

If you would like to get the unique opportunity to ask all your important questions and learn first-hand details about the TREND SETTING IN SPORTS BETTING, be sure to attend the Eastern European Gaming Summit at which Carlos Silva will be among the speakers. 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