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.