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EEGS2015 Teaser interview with the one and only Mark McGuinness, co-founder of eSportsbet and industry vetaran

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Mark McGuinness has more than 15 years’ experience in digital marketing director roles with both private and public igaming operators. He is the resident eSports Betting Consultant for Isle of Man-based Mainstream Marketing & Communications Ltd, a digital marketing agency offering business and marketing advice on eSports, Bitcoin, social gaming, igaming and land-based gambling.

Currently he is writing for five industry B2B publications:
• Editorial contributor / writer for iNTERGAMINGi, iGaming Business, iGaming Affiliate, World Online Gambling Report, Gambling Insider, Gaming Intelligence, eGR / eGR Digital Marketing.
• Editorial contributor to Isle of Man and Jersey business press on egaming
• Editorial contributor to CalvinAyre.com
• Community & Social Director of The Sports Betting Community the premier B2B networking group for sports betting professionals.
• ICETOTALLYGAMING Guest Blogger – ICE the industry’s biggest gaming show (see. www.icetotallygaming.com)
• Online editor for Bingo Life.

Mark is the moderator of the TREND SETTING IN SPORTS BETTING panel at the Eastern European Gaming Summit 2015, which will be held between 23-24 of November in Sofia, Bulgaria.

EEG: Has the online sports betting industry improved with the growth of so many online communities and social media?

Mark McGuinness: Online sports betting could actually be described as incongruous when compared to today’s social networks, where millions of consumers interact and reveal their digital habits. If you think about it, a bettor who places an online sports bet, has a very passive, unengaging experience. It is just him against the bookmaker. No real socialization takes place, no chat room, and no peer-2-peer competition or badges to be won against other players or leaderboards to top.

So in reality online sports betting is at ‘odds’ to all the other successful social and ecommerce platforms that have the power of the community at the heart of the consumer experience.

Of course perhaps that is why daily fantasy sports and sports prediction games are growing so fast amongst the millennial or digital natives. Its community based, involves skill, you can chat with likeminded peers in the game lobby, plus you can share your experience on external social media networks.

We do have other gambling products which do fit today’s community and socially based requirements, bingo is a good example, likewise poker and betting exchanges or pool based operators such as Colossus Bets has a very vibrant social presence.

In terms of innovation, in-play betting and cash-out is certainly driving more social interaction across the major networks especially Twitter, which naturally lends itself to fast bursts of topical communications as they pertain to a live football match. However from the bookmakers stand point, this engagement is taking place off-site and not within their platform. So to a degree the interaction initiated by the player is anonymous in regards to the bookmaker’s brand, and thus lessens the brands reach out to potential new customers. More product innovation needs to be considered by sports betting operators perhaps aimed at ensuring more interaction and retention within the betting platform and using newer communication pathways such as messaging apps to empower the community and betting experience.

EEG: Do you see Eastern Europe as a potential new “sports betting heaven” with all the new regulations coming in force? Large brands are starting to focus on this region to attract new customers.

Mark McGuinness: The UK and Western Europe are pretty much mature markets dominated by the market leaders, of which we are witnessing a slowdown in growth, hence the recent raft of merger and acquisitions (PaddyPower & Betfair, Ladbrokes and Corals).

It is therefore evitable that operators shall seek new markets to enter or exploit potential gaps in existing markets to usurp the dominant players. I wouldn’t say Eastern Europe is the new “sports betting heaven”, but certainly with the correct strategy in place and local partner, it does present a mid-term growth potential for betting companies.

EEG: What does the future of sports betting hold in terms of interactivity? We are living a digital era where everything is possible, partial cash-out for bets, live betting, etc. What do you think the next brake thorough is going to be?

Mark McGuinness: It is difficult to look into the future, as technology and communications are changing on a daily basis, never mind the increasing regulatory requirements being adopted by governments across the world.

In my own personal opinion, the industry should be seeking more inspiration from other ecommerce or digital technologies in terms of how they connect and solve solutions for customers. Certainly the over-arching trend is for community centric products and solutions that are geared to improve your skills. eSports is a good example of a community based digital participation and gambling entertainment form, whereby all sorts of different products have been delighted from within the supply chain by the community. This could be services that improve your skills with virtual coaching or interacting with your favourite player on Twitch, to using digital goods to enhance the gameplay experience.

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 Mark McGuinness shall moderate the panel. 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.

Bulgaria

SOFTSWISS Gets Certification for Its Jackpot Aggregator in Bulgaria

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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.

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Bulgaria

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

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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.

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Bulgaria

Online gaming revenues surge in Bulgaria

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Online gaming revenues surge in BulgariaReading 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

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