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Wondering ‘who moved my customer’? Try Smartico

Published

5 years ago

May 12, 2021

George Miller

Reading Time: 4 minutes

Most businesses deal just with customers. Plural and generic.

Great businesses, on the other hand, strive to deal with the customer. Singular and unique.

It is not an industry secret as such. But it is easier said than done, or ask any CEO of a mid-level company. Conventional customer relationship management (CRM) hasn’t yet progressed beyond the clusters of customers, or what is known as buckets in CRM jargon.

The need to deal with each and every customer in a customized manner is also vital in the gaming and gambling industry, where the customers are getting smarter, more diverse and – let’s admit it – spoilt for choices.

Enter Smartico

Smartico, a Ukraine-based technology company offering innovative new online solutions in CRM and gamification, does not promise to solve this problem explicitly. But its products could help in understanding what a customer – every singular, unique customer – expects and needs from a business.

So what does Smartico do to disrupt the existing CRM and marketing scenario in the gaming sector?

Let’s hear directly from Sergey Kobitskiy, CEO at Smartico:

“Our CRM automation, enriched with a comprehensive Gamification Platform, together they create a winning combination. We also know how to personalize and optimize the communication to the user based on his or her brand or any other parameters, for example, VIP level or favorite games.”

He further elaborates that the idea is to create a one-stop shop that offers modern marketers all the handy tools they need in real time. He goes on to list the details of his CRM one-stop shop:

It will have the ability to engage in real time
It manages all marketing resources in one place
It will have the ability to analyse data in real-time on the sport
It maintains a secured solution, which does not need to store any personally identifiable information (PII).

Origins of the Company

Smartico was founded in 2018. Over the last three years, it has built a robust technological platform and a clear business model. Apart from Ukraine, it now has offices in Bulgaria and Israel as well. Here Mr. Kobitskiy tersely summarises the company’s origins:

“An unpredicted sequence of events brought the right people with the right technical skills, product and operational knowledge together and an idea was born to make Smartico a reality. After a short time a seed investment was in place to start the development process that took more than a year before we could accept the first customers. Now, when we have well established products and a clear business model, we’re opening a race for round A fundings to extend our operations to different verticals.”

In a nutshell, Smartico offers a unique CRM and marketing product with built-in Gamification module, affiliate marketing system, and real time business intelligence (BI) tool. The product can be integrated into any online gaming or gambling platform.

Since it involves working with multiple platforms, who will take care of the legal aspects? Here Mr. Kobitskiy quickly clarifies the company’s position:

“We only offer the extension for the client’s platform. We don’t offer games, or odds for sports. But the operator can promote any of these through Smartico. Our Gamification module allows the end customers to buy free bonuses, free spins or anything the operator might want to offer. We don’t offer any bonuses or free spins, but the operator does. We work with brands that are under the strict regulations of the UK, and consulted compliance lawyers and passed their audit. But we don’t have any limit on jurisdictions…. That being said, it is of course the operator’s responsibility to follow the guidelines of the corresponding regulator and comply with the criteria and rules of the jurisdiction when producing creative materials or providing bonus offers.”

What Works for Smartico

The engines that drive Smartico CRM are the Gamification module and real-time BI tool. Any online CRM platform across industries will benefit from the gamification module. It focuses on an important, but often-overlooked aspect: reducing pressure on the customer support staff.

Mr. Kobitskiy explains further.

“The Gamification Platform that we offer is not limited to any industry and can be applied in iGaming, Ed-tech, Fin-Tech, Banking, Retail and any other online business. We have successfully created many setups for our customers with Online Casino and Sportsbook operations, including Missions and Achievements, Leveling, Tournaments for Casino & Sport, Shops etc. It makes players interact more with the features, self service in the shop and thereby relieve pressure from the support teams.”

The Smartico team take pride in their technological acumen and the quality of the product. It is quite visible in the CEO’s words about the BI tool. He goes long into the technological details of the software. Here is a quick summary of his version:

“Our BI is based on a very innovative technology called Apache Druid, and it is tightly connected with every asset and every module we offer across the platform. The Druid provides low latency (real-time) data ingestion, flexible data exploration, and fast data aggregation. All of which empower the BI is to provide the operator with quick analysis of the data from the campaigns, gamification or other modules in the platform.”

Here comes the original question back again. How does Smartico help online gambling and gaming businesses to handle every single customer in a unique way?

The CRM automation by Smartico, backed by Gamification module and BI tool, will come very close to it, if not completely achieve the objective.

To put simply, it helps the businesses to approach the customer with the right kind of message, in the most likely format that he or she engages with, at the most optimal timings and with the most suitable offers.

Well, it is in fact much more complex than putting simply like this. With Smartico, perhaps it is easier done than said.

Latest News

From ‘Mummyverse’ to Crash Games: Belatra Reviews a Landmark 2025

Published

4 days ago

December 23, 2025

George Miller

Editor’s Take

Why this matters: Belatra has been a steady hand in the slots world for a long time, but 2025 marked a distinct shift in strategy. By entering the Crash vertical with Goose Boom Bang and winning big at SiGMA Africa, the studio is clearly pivoting to capture the high-growth, high-frequency players in emerging markets. They are no longer just a “classic slots” developer; they are diversifying the portfolio to ensure relevance in regions like LatAm and Africa.

The Full Story

Belatra Games, the specialist online slots developer, has issued a strategic review of its 2025 operations, celebrating a 12-month period defined by entry into new game verticals, significant franchise expansion, and high-profile industry recognition.

The year was characterized by a dual strategy: deepening engagement in established markets while aggressively expanding its content portfolio to suit local preferences in emerging territories.

Portfolio Evolution: Crash and Battles 2025 saw Belatra move beyond its traditional slot roots. The company made its debut in the high-demand Crash game vertical with the launch of Goose Boom Bang, a title designed to tap into the fast-paced gameplay preference of younger demographics.

Additionally, the studio introduced a fresh game concept with the launch of Battles, a new format unveiled for the first time in 2025, with further development planned for 2026.

The ‘Mummyverse’ Expands For fans of classic slots, the highlight of the year was the aggressive expansion of the Mummyverse. Belatra nearly doubled the size of this franchise over the year, making it the most extensive game universe in their entire catalog.

The developer also focused on B2B localization, releasing a number of exclusive bespoke games created specifically for selected operator partners to meet specific local market tastes.

Awards and Recognition The company’s strategic shifts were validated by industry accolades. Belatra secured over 30 nominations throughout the year, with standout wins including:

Best Slot Provider (awarded by BitStarz).
Most Played Game of 2025 for Make It Gold at the SiGMA Africa Awards.
Player’s Pick Award.

Management Commentary Misha Voinich, Head of Business Development at Belatra, commented on the studio’s momentum:

“This year has truly defined who we are as a studio – ambitious, creative and focused on building long-term partnerships. We’ve expanded our universes, launched new ones and entered exciting new markets that will all help us carry this momentum into the New Year.”

The post From ‘Mummyverse’ to Crash Games: Belatra Reviews a Landmark 2025 appeared first on Gaming and Gambling Industry Newsroom.

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‘Chaos and Soul’: Ebaka Games Plots Global Expansion After Viral Launch

Published

4 days ago

December 23, 2025

George Miller

Editor’s Take

Why this matters: The “Instant Game” vertical (Crash, Plinko, Mines) is becoming crowded, but Ebaka Games is cutting through the noise with a distinct brand personality. By securing BMM Testlabs certification so quickly after launch, they are signaling to Tier 1 operators that despite their “chaotic” marketing vibe, the math underneath is solid and compliant. The backing of industry veteran Dmitry Belianin also adds immediate commercial credibility to the startup.

The Full Story

Ebaka Games, the fledgling studio that promises to bring “chaos and soul” to the iGaming sector, has outlined an aggressive growth strategy for 2026 following a landmark launch period in late 2025.

The studio, which officially debuted in November, reports that its initial rollout reached more than five million people worldwide. The launch saw its portfolio go live with the operator Menace, serving as the initial testbed for its mechanics and “Ebaka modes.”

The Product: Instant Games with Personality Ebaka is bypassing traditional slots to focus on the high-growth vertical of fast-paced, instant-win games. Their initial lineup includes:

Plinko
Mines
Tower
Limbo
Crash

Differentiation is achieved through unique mascots and signature gameplay tweaks designed to offer high win potential and distinct visual identities, moving away from the generic interfaces often found in this genre.

Regulatory Milestone Crucially for its 2026 roadmap, Ebaka Games has confirmed it has secured certification from BMM Testlabs. This accreditation validates the fairness and integrity of its RNG (Random Number Generator) and game engines, removing a major barrier to entry for regulated markets. With this certification in hand, the studio plans to launch with a number of “major brands” in the coming year.

Management Commentary Vitalii Zalievskyi, CEO of Ebaka Games, commented on the studio’s unorthodox approach:

“It’s only been a few weeks since we first introduced Ebaka Games to the world. The feedback has been breathtaking, and it vindicates the decision for us to take a different path to the rest of the industry. You don’t need huge marketing budgets to grab people’s attention if you are building something truly innovative.”

Industry Backing The studio describes itself as being “created by players for players” but boasts significant industry firepower in its corner. The team includes Dmitry Belianin, a well-known figure in the sector who is the co-founder of Blask and Menace, as well as Managing Partner at Already Media.

The post ‘Chaos and Soul’: Ebaka Games Plots Global Expansion After Viral Launch appeared first on Gaming and Gambling Industry Newsroom.

Latest News

Racing Meets Nightlife: SBK Backs ARC’s New ‘Friday Night Live’ Series

Published

4 days ago

December 23, 2025

George Miller

Editor’s Take

Why this matters: British racing has a well-documented demographic problem; its core audience is aging. “Friday Night Live” is a direct attempt to fix this by blending high-stakes racing with the “experience economy” (DJs, nightlife vibes) that appeals to Gen Z and Millennials. Bringing SBK on board—a mobile-first, app-only sportsbook—is a perfect demographic fit, while the Racing Post adds the necessary credibility to ensure the actual racing product remains the focus.

The Full Story

Arena Racing Company (ARC) has unveiled the strategic commercial lineup for its upcoming Friday Night Live series, confirming SBK as the Exclusive Betting Partner and The Racing Post as the Official Media Partner.

Set to launch in January 2026, Friday Night Live is a new initiative created in collaboration with youth-focused events company INVADES. The series is designed to overhaul the traditional race day experience, featuring fast-paced fixtures under floodlights, DJ sets, and significant entertainment elements sandwiched between races.

The Commercial Deal

SBK: As the exclusive betting partner, the Smarkets-owned sportsbook will take naming rights and on-course branding for all 35 races. Crucially, these races will be broadcast live on mainstream television via ITV Racing as well as Sky Sports Research.
The Racing Post: As the Official Media Partner, the publication will provide content, coverage, and promotion across its digital platforms, aiming to bridge the gap between established racing purists and the new audience ARC hopes to attract.

A High-Stakes Experiment The series is not just a marketing exercise; it carries serious sporting weight. Each of the five scheduled nights will feature over £200,000 in prize money. The fixtures will rotate across three of ARC’s all-weather tracks: Wolverhampton, Newcastle, and Southwell.

Management Commentary David Leyden Dunbar, Group Director of Commercial Strategy at ARC, was clear about the target audience:

“We have been very clear that one of the aims of Friday Night Live is to engage the next generation of racing fans… Both [partners] have shown real enthusiasm to work with us… as well as using the platform that these fixtures will offer them to also engage with more established racing and sports fans.”

Adam Baylis, Marketing Director at SBK, added:

“Friday Night Live [is] a fresh and engaging concept that brings a new energy to British racing. SBK has always been built around sport… our focus is on enhancing the live race day experience in a fun, social and responsible way.”

The 2026 Schedule The series kicks off immediately in the new year: