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Exclusive Interview with Stefan Kovach, CCO at FunFair Technologies
This week we are diving into blockchain technology and we are taking a look at how the “phenomenon” is change the online gambling landscape, even if some refuse to admit it. Stefan Kovach is currentlythe CCO of FunFair Technologies and he is a senior commercially minded marketer with over 20 years of experience in the travel, entertainment and gaming sectors, having worked for organisations ranging from Virgin Atlantic, Opodo, bwin and PokerStars. He has extensive experience in creating and nurturing brands, acquiring and retaining customers at scale as well as helping drive commercial and product strategies. Stefan’s previous roles enabled him to build and manage significant teams, manage marketing P&Ls running into the 10s of millions and responsibility for delivering high profile cross company projects. Here is our interview and we hope that you enjoy it!
There have been quite a few changes in the online gambling landscape in the last 12 months, partly thanks to the blockchain. What do you think are the key challenges operators are facing when opting to move from “traditional” operations to a blockchain platform?
Stefan: Although it is true that blockchain technology has been one of the most exciting advances within the online gambling landscape in the past year, there are, as yet, very few viable products actually available to the market. Whilst many other blockchain gambling businesses are very much still in the development phase, FunFair is at the forefront of this curve, already having a working and operational platform following a successful beta phase.
Traditional operators need to decide whether they see blockchain platforms as a threat, or alternatively, as a diverse revenue stream that taps into an existing and vast crypto-rich audience who are conducive to gambling by their very nature.
Luckily, traditional operators won’t need to choose one operating style above the other, blockchain gambling can act as a complimentary section of their existing business, allowing platforms to diversity their offering and audience without risk to their pre-existing business model. This is especially true when operators take advantage of the consultancy we offer when onboarding and educating customers.
We feel that, in the next 5 years or so, there will be a shift in online gambling, and with rumours that HTC is launching a blockchain phone later this year, this will surely change the mobile gambling industry as well. Do you feel that this is an area you will look at in the future?
Stefan: Mobile gaming is absolutely part of our plans and we will have a first class UX on mobile when we go fully live. Blockchain technology works in the same way across platforms, albeit sometimes different browsers are required.
Any established company, such as HTC, entering the blockchain space clearly demonstrates its relevance for all businesses in the future. We’ll always be looking to partner with those who are heading in the same direction as us as the learnings and combined investment can only speed up blockchain’s mainstream adoption.
We have reported on many blockchain gaming platform launches this year. Where does FunFair position itself in this innovative wave?
Stefan: We would firmly place ourselves as market leaders for a number of reasons. To start with, we are the only platform to offer a full ecosystem for operators, developers, affiliates and players who transact in our FUN token. We are also the only platform to offer production-level gaming quality which can challenge any tier one operator in traditional gamings. Current alternative blockchain titles are not only poor graphically and auditory, but run at unplayably slow speeds, not to mention the prohibitive transaction costs. We have bypassed these issues with our Fate Channels technology, which allows the gaming session to be taken off the blockchain, allowing it to run at the speeds and quality today’s gamers expect.
You have recently signed a deal with a market-leading poker rakeback affiliate, RaketheRake. Are affiliates making a good choice when opting to become operators?
Stefan: Affiliates have had to make do with diluted revenue share and often incorrect payments which are shared by operators at their will. Using the FunFair platform,they can become operators within days and take the entire revenue stream direct, while utilising their existing marketing expertise and captive player audience.
Affiliates can also continue to benefit from the FunFair platform as an affiliate, with real-time payments that are provably fair and paid in real-time on the blockchain, rather than having to trust casino operators as they do currently.
Do you think that regulators will eventually catch up and regulate the industry?
Stefan: Of course, any positive disruption will take time for regulators to size up and decide on a course of action, but the FunFair platform and blockchain technology itself ticks so many of the boxes they are looking for; from efficient KYC and provably fair RNG to the immediate release of funds, it really is a regulatory bullseye.
We are trying to lead the charge here and are in discussions with a number of relevant bodies. As you’d expect, some are more progressive than others, but we’re confident that as blockchain becomes adopted into the mainstream, they will regulate sensibly for all.
About FunFair
FunFair was born out of a powerful idea to harness the potential of the blockchain to initiate a revolution in online gaming.
FunFair founders Jez San, Oliver Hopton and Jeremy Longley saw the potential of the blockchain in early 2013. They wanted answers to difficult questions. Could anyone use the blockchain to run a casino? Why do players worry about trusting online casinos when the blockchain could create fair, transparent gaming? Why not use the blockchain to open up online gaming globally? These ambitious questions led to the development of a new technology that has the potential to profoundly change the gaming world.
We showed our first game in Paris in 2017. The response was so positive, we knew we were on to a winner. Jez San officially launched FunFair publicly in April 2017. The impact of this new technology immediately attracted the attention of major contributors and developers, eager to get involved. On 22 June 2017, our Phase 1 Token Presale raised $26 million, selling out in 4 hours.
Since then FunFair has delivered exciting games on our prototype demo platform, and we’re in the final stages of completing the new Ethereum technology platform which will showcase at DEVCON3 in November 2017. The next radical change in online gaming is being powered by FunFair; the first global gaming brand to unlock the true potential of the blockchain.
For more details, visit funfair.io
Source: Latest News on European Gaming Media Network
Latest News
Push Gaming unwraps festive fun with 10 Santa’s Reindeers and Santa Hopper
Reading Time: 2 minutes
B2B gaming supplier Push Gaming is spreading a double-dose of holiday cheer with the launch of 10 Santa’s Reindeers and Santa Hopper, two seasonal slots packed with excitement, charm, and immersive gameplay.
Leading the festive line-up is the latest Push Actions title, 10 Santa’s Reindeers, arriving in lobbies from 26th November. Inspired by Push’s hit game 10 Swords, this new release retains the popular scatter-pay mechanic while adding a fresh twist with Jackpot Reindeer symbols. These not only act as scatters but also grant instant prizes, offering players even more to aim for on each spin.
The true magic happens in the bonus game, where players unlock additional reel levels as they progress, boosting the chances of landing high-value Reindeer symbols and increasing win potential.
The base game provides the opportunity to enhance the gameplay once the bonus lands, thanks to the Push-Up Mods feature, which allows players to expand the reel set early, increasing their chances and ensuring a more powerful bonus round.
Arriving a week earlier on 19th November, Santa Hopper presents a more whimsical take. Set in a snowy wonderland, this charming slot offers light-hearted fun with the Santa and Jingle Drop features, both designed to keep gameplay unpredictable and engaging.
The latest addition to the Push Originals stable, it flexes its appeal to casual players with vibrant visuals, catchy mechanics, and lively pacing. Its approachable style and festive vibe make it an ideal choice for players looking for light-hearted entertainment with strong seasonal appeal.
George Fil, Director of Product Strategy at Push Gaming, said: “Christmas is always a special time in the slot world, and this year we wanted to offer something for everyone. 10 Santa’s Reindeers is packed with action and surprises, while Santa Hopper brings a more playful, unpredictable energy.
“Both are built to deliver that festive buzz players love, and we’re really excited to see them go live.”
The post Push Gaming unwraps festive fun with 10 Santa’s Reindeers and Santa Hopper appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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Over a Quarter of Brits Will Ditch Slow Betting Apps: New sports betting survey reveals
Reading Time: 4 minutes
Payment provider to the gambling industry unveils its sports betting sentiment survey, assessing trends in the industry and attitudes towards safer gambling
- Slow tech and delayed payouts is a crucial factor in sports bettors avoiding certain bookmakers
- 58% of bettors cited security and fraud prevention as the most important factors in choosing a bookmaker
- This rises to 70% of e-sports bettors and 62% of football bettors
A new survey on sports betting sentiment has revealed that over a quarter (27%) of Britain’s bettors said slow technology, including deposits and withdrawals, is the main reason they would avoid using a particular bookmaker or their app.
The research, commissioned by payment provider Yaspa, highlights that a seamless and fast user experience is no longer a luxury but a critical factor for customer retention. The findings show this frustration is even more pronounced among younger, active bettors, with 47% of 25-34 year olds and 61% of e-sports bettors citing slow tech as a major deterrent.
Beyond speed, the survey of 2,000 UK adults underscores that security is a paramount concern for consumers. When deciding which bookmaker to use, 58% of bettors and 40% of all Brits cited security and fraud prevention as the most important factors. This demand for trust and safety is a dominant theme among the industry’s most engaged customers, with 62% of football bettors and 70% of e-sports bettors rating security as their top priority, sending a clear message that operators must prioritise robust fraud prevention.
As operators look to address these dual demands for speed and security, the research indicates a strong and growing familiarity with modern payment solutions. Overall, 44% of Britons are familiar with ‘Pay by Bank’, a method that offers fast, direct, and secure account-to-account payments. This awareness rises significantly among active bettors, with 66% of football bettors , 78% of cricket bettors , and 82% of e-sports bettors already familiar with the technology, suggesting a market that is ready to adopt safer and more efficient payment infrastructures.
Key survey findings include:
- Technology is a dealbreaker: Slow technology is a major deterrent for customers. 43% of all bettors, 47% of football bettors, and 61% of e-sports bettors state that slow tech, including payments and payouts, is a primary reason for avoiding a specific bookmaker.
- Security is paramount: Security and fraud prevention are the most important factors for bettors when choosing a bookmaker. This was cited by 62% of football bettors and 70% of e-sports bettors.
- Affordability checks impact behaviour: Only 32% of football bettors and 17% of e-sports bettors would continue to use traditional operators if mandatory affordability checks were introduced, presumably due to adding extra barriers to play with extra, disruptive checks.
- Football and Horse Racing Dominate: Football is the most popular sport to bet on, with 35% of Brits having done so in the last year, followed by horse racing (19%), tennis (9%), and boxing (8%).
- High Bettor Loyalty: The majority of bettors stick to their favourite Spotify ts. 89% of those who bet on football plan to do so again in the next 12 months, and 82% of horse racing bettors intend to do the same.
- The 25-44 Age Group is Key: While the 25-34 demographic is the most active overall , the 35-44 age group also shows strong engagement, with 54% having bet on football and 21% on horse racing.
Over a third (35%) of Brits have placed a bet on football in the last 12 months, making it the most popular sport for betting. Horse racing was the second most popular, with 19% of Brits placing a bet in the last year.
Men are significantly more likely to bet on sports than women. Despite it being the most popular sport for women to bet on, 52% of men bet on football compared to just 18% of women, the survey found. The most active age group for betting is 25-34 year-olds, with 62% having placed a bet on football in the past year.
E-sports has proved to be the fifth most popular sport to bet on in the UK, equal with cricket, golf, and ahead of rugby. Despite its popularity with the younger generation, tennis (21%), horse racing (18%) and boxing (17%) are all more popular with 25-34 year olds.
Around half of Brits placed a bet in the last 12 months (48%) and this increases with younger generations. The survey revealed most Brits aged 18-44 have placed a bet in the last year. In fact, 45% of 18-24s, and just 26% of 25-34s and 33% of 35-44 year olds said they hadn’t placed a bet in that period, suggesting younger generations are more likely to gamble on sport than not.
Amie Kadhim, Head of Commercial, Yaspa, said: “This data clearly shows that football remains the dominant force in the UK sports betting market, but it also reveals a customer base that is increasingly sophisticated and demanding. Today’s bettors expect a seamless, fast, and safe experience, and they are not afraid to abandon operators who fail to provide it.
“The findings reveal that nearly half of football bettors are put off by slow payouts, and anecdotally, this is something we and the industry see constantly on review sites and from customer feedback. With the survey also revealing over 60% of bettors prioritising security, when people bet, they want their money and personal details to be safe. And when they win, they want their money quickly.
This is where innovations like Pay by Bank are crucial. By offering instant and secure account-to-account payments, operators can directly address these key customer concerns, building trust and retaining a greater share of the market.
Open banking technology also allows for additional features to be brought into the payment journey and when blended with machine learning this can be a powerful instrument for both bettors and operators alike. At Yaspa, our Intelligent Payments enable operators to conduct consented checks, such as address and account verification, without adding extra steps for players to navigate, increasing the safety for players and operators without any additional input from the individual.”
The post Over a Quarter of Brits Will Ditch Slow Betting Apps: New sports betting survey reveals appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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BETBY PUBLISHES DATA-DRIVEN REPORT HIGHLIGHTING HOW ITS HYBRID TRADING MODEL DRIVES OPERATOR SUCCESS
Reading Time: < 1 minute
BETBY, the leading supplier of cutting-edge sportsbook solutions, has published a new industry report titled “Trading, Liability & Risk Overview.”
The report explores how BETBY’s hybrid trading framework — combining global feed coverage with in-house control — empowers operators to protect margins, manage volatility, and deliver more flexible, localised betting experiences.
The report highlights:
Hybrid model at scale: 100% of BETBY operators use hybrid trading
Depth and responsiveness: ≈5,000 events traded monthly in-house
Customisation speed: 10-minute delivery from operator request to market going live
Operational reliability: ≈20 million bets processed monthly
Proven resilience: FIFA Club World Cup and US Elections case studies
Download the report to discover how BETBY’s hybrid model is setting a new standard for trading flexibility and performance.
The post BETBY PUBLISHES DATA-DRIVEN REPORT HIGHLIGHTING HOW ITS HYBRID TRADING MODEL DRIVES OPERATOR SUCCESS appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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