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“The industry needs a matchmaker that can identify each company’s potential”: Exclusive interview with Betbazar CEO

Published

4 weeks ago

May 26, 2021

George Miller

Reading Time: 5 minutes

Alexandr Iaroshenko, CEO of the industry’s matchmaker, Betbazar, discusses the importance of choosing the right partner, as well as the key trends shaping supply and demand in the industry right now. Hint – Esports is set to do particularly well!

To introduce Betbazar to our readers, can you tell us a bit about yourself and what you do?

The idea for Betbazar came to me after working with BetGenius for eight years, I gained a great deal of insight into the needs of the modern sports betting company.

Quite often, the real challenge for suppliers is to understand feedback from the operator and it was our vision to be a company that can solve those issues by connecting the right operators and the right suppliers together. The industry needs a matchmaker that can identify each company’s potential and connect them to their mutual benefit. Our aim is to be a go-to expert on what suppliers are on the market, what products are available and what can be found beyond the face value.

Our supplier partners have everything operators need to hand. We span engagement, odds feeds, KYC processes and platforms with a view to expanding on this, all with unmatched efficiency from our vast understanding of the sector. The potential for synergy with this business model is limitless.

How does Betbazar fit into the overall gaming ecosystem? What can you bring to the table for suppliers and operators as a ‘matchmaker’?

We dig deep into what a company offers and identify its pain points. We figure out where it could be stronger and present a solution that is actually relevant for them. When a business has been working with the same product for a number of years it can be easy to get complacent and not try different approaches that could work better. There is so much noise in the industry with everyone offering solutions, but more often than not these aren’t the right fit for your company and its challenges. We cut through the noise and hand over the correct partner for a specific solution. You can never underestimate the power of having an outside consultant’s view on how to improve your processes.

When we first got started, it actually surprised us to learn that this isn’t just a problem for small companies, but for big ones too. It is easy for a business of any size to fall into this kind of rut. Our success, especially in the last year has inspired a strong sense of trust from our partners. This has been essential for growing our business and has allowed us to forge reliable long-lasting business relationships between operators and suppliers.

Take us through the Betbazar process – how does the process work and how can you help generate true operational success for your partners?

Our process has a two-pronged approach, with the first being situational. If we take last year as an example, when COVID hit there was a definite need for an eagle eye of the industry and we were prepared to offer this. We helped companies to adapt and scale quickly and get back to innovating rather than being stagnant during that period. What became clear was that amid so much uncertainty, there was a great deal of opportunity given the quality of the research and data that we had to hand. As a result, Betbazar grew 400% during this period.

The second approach is geographical. We analyse regions and locations based on what’s needed in those specific locations. We have had a lot of success in CIS and Europe, but we’ve also identified markets that are of strong interest including LatAm and the US. As well as that, we’re keeping an eye on Asia and looking forward to seeing more regulation there.

We then assemble a portfolio of products that work for each region and liaise with our international network of experts who help identify challenges and advise on rollout. All the while, we are in constant contact with our clients to finetune the offering so we’re able to propose a real silver bullet solution.

Given the last 12 month’s events – how essential do you see it to have companies like yours that can truly match interested parties together?

When the pandemic started, operators needed solutions fast. We had our understanding and perception of how sports punters would react to the lack of sport. With this in mind, we immediately identified products that could work and solve those issues, including Esports.

We knew Esports would be a great performer with high-velocity action that could keep the excitement going and filling the sports gap. Many clients were toying around with the idea of Esports for years but not really getting anywhere. We saw the Esports phenomenon coming and when our clients decided that was the route they wanted to go down, we were able to set them up with Esports solutions immediately. We made sure that revenue kept coming in and this challenging time became a very lucrative one for our clients.

While I obviously can’t say too much about exact operations, it is fair to say that we were key to the rise in Esports over last year. So much so, it’s one of the reasons we enjoyed a record-breaking 400% annual growth and why so many of our clients see us as a true guiding light now.

What are you seeing in terms of trends and demand for products? With the industry evolving so rapidly at this time, what’s key for supply and adoption?

Well, given what we have seen in the last year, I think that Esports is here to stay. In fact, I think it will be key in many corners of the industry. There is plenty of room for development and growth.

As we are committed to diversifying our products, Esports will certainly play a big role in that development as we branch out. We are also assembling a new armoury of products that power engagement and retention – and which I believe will offer a serious boost to any operator looking to capitalise on this summer’s action.

Looking to the future – our vision is to cover the full sports betting ecosystem, applying different platforms to our offering and payments, in particular, will be integral to that expansion. Start-ups and industry disruptors are one area we find especially interesting. Helping these businesses to scale their product and taking their vision to the market is an exciting prospect for us.

How much is the changing regulatory environment across Europe going to affect how operators procure and integrate third-party products?

Esports is still in its infancy so we’re expecting to see enhanced regulations around that area and looking out for ways that we can upgrade. Regulators are still only starting to understand how it works from a betting perspective. There is yet to be a great deal of evolution in this market and our products will help our partners navigate restrictions will engaging players.

Ukraine is a good example of how Esports has already evolved, as it was recognised as an official sport. This development with federated teams allows us to approach whole new areas where we can offer solutions – and I’m very excited by the scope that can be achieved.

Another challenge we are investing plenty of energy into at the moment is that live-betting is being restricted in France and Spain with punters being unable to bet on the next 15 minutes of live-action. We’re working hard to put together a list of engaging products that circumvent that given how profitable high-velocity and instantaneous betting are becoming – while also ensuring we stay regulation-friendly.

Last but not least, what products do you see being in hot demand this summer and beyond by your operator partners? What should our readers be keeping an eye on?

From what I can see, the market has passed the COVID challenge. We’re now past the reaction stage and now it’s time to find new ways to engage and excite customers this summer.

My advice would be to look for suppliers that can make you agile, more engaging and faster. Our supplier Betegy is a good example of this. They’re able to deploy AI to completely automate global marketing campaigns, which saves the likes of Parimatch days in operational time. Such actions can truly revolutionise a company’s operations and make them a market leader.

KYC is another area that is important to invest in. No customer wants to wait days before they get their winnings. The end customer will only ever be satisfied with instant payment in this case so we’re working hard to ensure payments can be processed in 15 mins at the latest. This will always help companies to prosper.

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Betway adds the Nordea Open to its Tennis sponsorship portfolio

Published

2 days ago

June 18, 2021

George Miller

Betway adds the Nordea Open to its Tennis sponsorship portfolio

Reading Time: < 1 minute

Global online betting and gaming company Betway and the Nordea Open are proud to announce their partnership, seeing the bookmaker become the official betting partner for the ATP event.

Taking place from July 5 to July 18, the clay court tennis tournament is one of the strongest and most popular on the tour, boasting world-class tennis talent and a venue unlike any other on the circuit.

As Sweden’s oldest and most well-attended sporting event, this announcement highlights the brand’s ever-growing commitment to sponsorship of the biggest sporting events. Joining Betway’s impressive Tennis portfolio which already includes the Miami Open, NOVENTI OPEN and the Mercedes Cup.

Anthony Werkman, Betway CEO said: “We’re delighted to announce our partnership with Nordea Open, which is our first tennis sponsorship in Sweden.

“The tournament is universally popular with players and fans and we’re very proud to be the official betting partner.”

Christer Hult, Tournament Director said: “Nordea Open is very proud to welcome Betway as a new Main Sponsor for 2021-2023. We have a strong portfolio of sponsors with many international brands and Betway as a leading company within the gambling market will contribute to further strengthen and develop the tournament and Båstad as a meeting place.”

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Week 24/2021 slot games releases

Published

2 days ago

June 18, 2021

George Miller

Reading Time: 5 minutes

Here are this weeks latest slots releases!

he new, MGA Games adventure is now available to online casino users. The company, specialists in creating and developing premium slot games, has just released its latest production staring the elite athlete Yohanna Alonso as the main character. The quality of the slot game’s graphics and its musical production manages to immerse the player in a mythical adventure with the Vikings for the chance of winning thousands of prizes.

Belatra Games, has revved up its super slots portfolio with the release of Night Racing. Get your engines into gear and race into a neon world of high octane, beautiful cars and romance. During the main game Wild symbols can appear on the second, third or fourth reels and when they do, it fills the entire reel and triggers Free Games. Once cruising in Free Games the Wild reel shifts leftwards and will continue to do so until the last one races across the screen to signal the end.

Pragmatic Play, a leading content provider to the gaming industry, has released its fiery new slot, Dragon Hot Hold and Spin, packed to the brim with features and breathtaking rewards. The 3×5 Asian-inspired slot will have players breaking into a sweat with its high volatility and high-value rewards of up to 5,000x the stake! The central focus of the game is the Hold and Spin feature, with three types of Coin symbols used to unlock it. Diamond, Gold and Silver Coin symbols hold random values when they appear on the reels.

BF Games is inviting players to pick up the sheriff badge and keep bandits in check in Wild West themed title Wild Jack Remastered, launched exclusively with operator partner 1xBet. The game transports players into a cacti-filled land with nothing else but a bank and an isolated saloon, but action is just around the corner as the masked main character, Jack Wilds, is planning mischief. A classic 3×3 fruit slot, Wild Jack Remastered also features the expected sheriff badges, revolvers, and horseshoes.

Push Gaming has launched its first ever jackpot slot, Mount Magmas, having worked on its development with tier-one operator LeoVegas. Exclusively available to play now via LeoVegas, the red-hot slot takes players deep into the fiery Mount Magma, with a host of volcano jackpots that keep getting hotter and can erupt at any moment. Totalling 20 paylines, the 5×4 title includes both a Daily and a Mega jackpot, as well as a scorching base game with some truly searing potential.

Evoplay has announced the launch of its bubbly new underwater voyage, Gold of Sirens. The provider’s latest venture is set in Poseidon’s elusive underwater kingdom and challenges players to conquer the high seas while evading the seductive grasp of the sirens’ song. Only the bravest of players will make it past the ferocious sirens and make it to the Free Spins game, where they will have a chance to trigger a number of jackpots and collect a big win.

Stakelogic, the in-demand slot developer behind some of this year’s most popular games,in conjunction with Greenlogic partner, Touchstone Games are encouraging players to join the giant on his quest for gold and big wins in its latest release, Giant’s Fortune MegawaysTM. The slot uses Big Time Gaming’s revolutionary MegawaysTM mechanic to deliver up to 117,649 ways to win with every spin. Players can also take advantage of unused Wilds that land on the reels during the base game – they remain in place from round to round until they form a winning combo.

Play’n GO have a winning card up their sleeve with the next instalment in their Joker series, Free Reelin’ Joker. Set in funhouse-style surroundings, the Free Reelin’ Joker is finally home from his mischievous travels. He’s the roaming brother to the Joker sisters and the newest member to join the pack. Simple and classic in its style, Free Reelin’ Joker is a model slot game filled with all the features and symbols you’d expect to see in a traditional fruit machine, including fruits, sevens and Wilds.

GAMING1 has announced the launch of its latest exciting slot game, Emaki and The Sevens. Combining premium quality features from the casino and video gaming sectors, the title invites players on an Eastern-style adventure with the charming Emaki and his pet dragon, discovering world-class audiovisual effects and exciting prizes along the way.

Lucksome, the new games studio powered by leading developer Blueprint Gaming, has followed up on the success of its inaugural slot release with Joker Maxima. This modern classic style slot, which launches 22nd July, is packed with a host of features to maximise player engagement, including options to tailor the gaming experience to suit personal preferences. Lady Joker acts as both a Wild and win multiplier, offering the potential to multiply a win by x16 in the base game and x24 within Free Spins.

Pragmatic Play, a leading content provider to the gaming industry, draws inspiration from the heroes of Olympus in the launch of its latest slot title, Lucky Lightning. Players will find themselves in an Ancient Greek setting in the provider’s new 3×5 slot, with symbols featuring Greek gods Zeus and Hera and various staples of Greek mythology, such as the Minotaur of Crete, the legendary Griffin, and the winged horse, Pegasus. The central mechanic in Lucky Lightning is the Wild Respin feature, which is triggered randomly when a Lightning Symbol lands on the first two reels, affecting them in one of two ways.

Yggdrasil and Reflex Gaming have challenged players to battle the beast on top of the tower in its latest thrilling collaboration Krazy Klimber. The 3×5, 20 payline video slot sees a giant ape as the focal point of the game, looking to scale the tower in search of huge wins. The latest YG Masters title has two major features which can be triggered on any spin – the Krazy Klimber bonus game or free spins.

BGaming goes in search of riches in the new Dig Dig Digger slot! Join the crazy archeologist, looking for wealth in the heart of Egypt! The charismatic and hilarious charaсter will uncover all the gold! The slot is already available at reputable casinos such as Duxcasino and PinoCasino. The Dig Dig Digger slot is a captivating adventure for every player waiting for big winnings! With HD graphics and a 5×3 scheme, Dig Dig Digger has a popular “book of” mechanic.

Latest News

AskGamblers Successfully Held Its Charity Event and the Long-Awaited AskGamblers Awards Virtual Show

Published

2 days ago

June 18, 2021

George Miller

AskGamblers Successfully Held Its Charity Event and the Long-Awaited AskGamblers Awards Virtual Show

Reading Time: 2 minutes

After months of voting and anticipation about who the winners of the AskGamblers Awards race were going to be, these names are finally in, and we can’t wait to share them. Once again, our team couldn’t be more proud to have successfully held the AskGamblers Awards show and the AskGamblers Charity event.

With the much-anticipated AskGamblers Awards virtual show held last night, on 17 June 2021, at 8 pm, the race is now officially closed and the winners’ names are in. Due to the current situation, the event was held online and everyone was invited to tune in and watch the show via live stream. The AskGamblers Charity event was also held last night and, thanks to our partners, we managed to raise an incredible €65,300.

The AskGamblers’ General Manager Denis Ristic shared his gratitude by saying: “All of us at AskGamblers have invested so much time, dedication, and energy in these events, and we couldn’t wait for June 17 and the main show to start. After last night, we are thrilled with how everything went and we’d like to thank everyone who took part, for being a crucial part of the AskGamblers Awards race, and for making this entire concept so exciting! Congrats to the winners – we are extremely happy for you!”

In a joint effort with AskGamblers judges, the players had the chance to vote for one candidate in each of the following categories – the Best Casino, the Best New Casino, the Best New Slot, and the Best Software Provider, and, in doing so, had their say in choosing the winners.

Now, without further ado, here are the names of the winners per each category:

Best Casino: True Flip Casino

Best New Casino: Slot Hunter Casino

Player’s Choice Casino: SlotWolf Casino

Best Affiliate Partner: Betsson Group Affiliates

Best Affiliate Manager: Andreza Majela (Campeon Gaming Partners)

Best New Slot: Money Train 2 Slot

Best Software Provider: NoLimitCity

The entire AskGamblers team would once again like to use this opportunity to thank everyone who took part in our charity event and participated in the Awards race to help select the best of the best!

About AskGamblers

AskGamblers, officially acclaimed the best casino website, provides the most trusted, unbiased online casino, slot, and bonus reviews. It also features real player opinions and ratings highly valuable in the iGaming community. Thanks to its unique Casino Complaint Service, over $39 million has been returned to over 14k players thus far. Our motto is: “Get the truth. Then play!”

About AskGamblers Awards

AskGamblers Awards is an annual event within the iGaming industry organised by AskGamblers.com. The competition includes the following categories: the Best Casino, the Best New Casino, the Best New Slot, the Best Software Provider and the Best Partner. What makes AskGamblers Awards stand out is the fact players’ unique opinion is taken into consideration when pronouncing winners.