Latest News
Exclusive Q&A with Joakim Renman, CCO at Scout Gaming
Is DFS the perfect alternative for sports fans who reside in jurisdictions where sports betting is still unregulated? How much of a crossover is there between sports betting and DFS fans?
Fantasy sports is an integral part of the modern sports fan and the crossover is near perfect. Our data shows that sportsbooks that offer DFS can see a significant increase in the time customers spend on site, the money they spend and the trust they have with the brand. Of course, this works both ways so for operators limited to DFS at present they have the potential to unlock powerful cross-selling opportunities once they are permitted to offer sports betting.
For us it does not matter whether the market is regulated or not. The Scout Gaming platform is modular so can be adapted to any market and in particular any regulatory requirements that have to be met. We want as many operators as possible to leverage the potential of daily fantasy sports so we have built our products and services to be customizable in a short space of time and with very little effort.
DFS has been growing in popularity around the world continually over the past few years. What aspects of this vertical cause it to be so appealing to the new generation of players entering the market?
I think it has a lot to do with the complexity of daily fantasy sports when compared with sports betting. Players are far more invested when creating their teams than they are when simply betting on the outcome of a football match. DFS offers additional layers of engagement, it is a more sophisticated product and poses a greater challenge.
It also helps players to connect with the sport on a deeper level. It creates an emotional attachment that carries over to the DFS products they are playing and the brand they are playing with. Ultimately, DFS players see the game differently to a sports bettor and this in turn enhances their joy of betting and gambling.
The social aspect of DFS is also a big draw for players. Sports betting can be solitary but with DFS there is a huge community of like-minded players. There is a lot of content created around DFS and people like to talk tactics and strategies and share performance stats on social media. Of course, DFS is a community-driven game at heart as it requires high levels of liquidity to offer the best player experience.
Some industry commentators believe that being able to continually offer the customer something new and different is a core aspect of player engagement. How important is innovation to Scout Gaming and what are some of the most exciting innovations available in the market? What does the next level of DFS look like?
Innovation is key and that is why sportsbook operators are looking to add daily fantasy sports to their offerings. Sports betting has remained fairly stagnant for a number of years now; players are offered the same odds, markets and bet types. To take their propositions to the next level, operators need to add more variety and DFS provides this.
Here at Scout Gaming we are incredibly focussed on developing new features. Our international real money network liquidity solution for paid DFS has put us miles ahead of any competitor trying to break into the market.
Add to this our bet recommendation engine, Betflex, unique playing features like Pursuit, Late Swap, Safety Net, Bet-on-my-Team, Player Performance Odds, Player Sportsbook, Player Matchups and you can see why we are at the cutting edge of the fantasy vertical.
That we’ve done all of this on Web Components, a new technology from Google that looks set to become the standard in the gaming space, means we can maintain a fast pace of development to remain ahead of our rivals.
This really is a new universe where the sky is not even the limit.
New innovations such as the Scout Gaming Fantasy Player Odds Markets are a great way to further integrate two different audiences. Is DFS the perfect complement to sportsbook products and how big Is the cross-selling opportunity?
According to our internal data and analysis from one year of numbers from a client success story, typical sportsbook players who are exposed to Scout Gaming’s fantasy products have 22% more active days, 14% more turnover and 7% higher GGR on the partner’s sportsbook.
The effect on sportsbook performance from heavy fantasy sports users is even more drastic. This leads to 35% more active days, 45% more turnover and a 20% increase in GGR on the sportsbook.
In addition, iGaming partners see an extra 3.9 active days per user per month. Finally, 54% of users in full seasonal games are retained for 9+ months, greatly reducing customer churn.
This proves that DFS is a perfect complement to sports betting since it offers sportsbooks vital product differentiation while substantially increasing GGR and improving user active days and turnover.
The esports sector has experienced unprecedented growth recently and offers great growth opportunities for potential market entrants. How can verticals like DFS help operators successfully tap into these online communities and keep them engaged?
Regular sports do not have communities in the same way that esports and DFS do. Esports in particular is consumed online and via channels such as Twitch and Youtube where community engagement is encouraged and celebrated. Because esports is consumed in an online world, players are far more connected to the game being played and to related products.
The same applies to DFS; it is community driven and players have a much deeper engagement with the sports, teams and players they are “betting” on. By offering DFS, traditional sportsbook operators can tap into these communities and, given the cross-sell potential mentioned above, unlock tremendous growth as a result.
DFS products have seen great success in key regions such as North America, Australia and is still yet to fulfil its full potential across Europe. What regions do you see offering the best growth opportunities in this sector and what can we do as an industry to push DFS to the next level?
DFS is forecasted to represent somewhere in the range of 2.2%-3.2% of the entire European real money wagering market. With a total market size of €24.7bn, this represents a total addressable DFS market of €550m-€700m, much of which is still largely untapped. With the US market having already surpassed the $500m mark and growing at a steady pace, we definitely see Europe as a significant market and one that will grow at a much faster pace and with less competition.
How did the lack of live sports affect the DFS market last year? What can DFS operators do to better protect themselves from these instances in the future?
The key is to not focus too much on a single sport or set of leagues and instead offer enjoyable experiences that span literally any sport, league and with multiple ways to play.
We were able to face the challenges of the pandemic by having all of our technology, IP and knowledge in-house; this allowed us to immediately cater for whichever sport or league was available at any given time. Whether eSports, Taiwanese Basketball or even minor local leagues, we were able to make sure that the music never stopped playing for our operator partners.
Scout Gaming reported a 54% revenue increase for Q1 of 2021. What do you think has been the key driver of this growth and how can these levels be maintained going forward?
There are several factors behind the growth we recorded in Q1. We are constantly improving our product which in turn allows us to gain even more traction with existing and new operator partners. As our liquidity network is shared between all of our partners, the more operators we add the more attractive our product becomes to new customers.
This is because we can offer bigger prizes and also invest in the development of new games, betting types, markets and so on.
In terms of continued growth, we are set to go live with several new partners including two tier 1 operators, both first of its scale and size. Our sportsbook has also seen a significant increase in traction of late and we’ll be “completing” the offering with the addition of key features such as Live Betting, Bet-Builder, Cash-Out and of course a few Easter Eggs spawned from the intersection of fantasy and sports betting. There is incredible momentum behind the business right now and I am excited for the rest of the year.
Latest News
The App You Need to Download if You’re Tired of Throwing in League of Legends
Reading Time: 3 minutes
GIANTX launches iTero Standalone — the new and improved version of its AI-powered coaching tool already used by more than half a million players worldwide
If you’ve ever thrown a game because of a bad draft, missed rotations, or your jungler vanished before minute three, there’s now an app that might finally help you clean up your gameplay: iTero.
Developed by the global esports organization GIANTX, the new version of its artificial intelligence training tool —iTero Standalone— arrives with a clear mission: to help players level up their League of Legends performance once and for all.
The new version is fully independent and available for direct download, offering faster performance, better precision, and a smoother overall experience. Lighter, smarter, and more stable, iTero Standalone represents the next step in the evolution of GIANTX’s technology ecosystem, with full control over development and updates.
Founded by Jack Joseph Williams in 2022 and acquired by GIANTX in 2024, iTero Gaming has been developing and refining AI-driven coaching systems for both casual and professional players. Its first virtual coach was designed to enhance the League of Legends experience -developed by Riot Games- by analyzing millions of real matches every patch to deliver personalized recommendations, from strategic macro decisions to champion select choices.
With over 500,000 downloads worldwide, iTero has become one of the most popular performance tools among players of all skill levels. With the release of iTero Standalone, it now aims to become the leading AI coaching platform for gamers.
Five Ways iTero Actually Helps You Get Better at League of Legends
1. It tells you what to pick — and why.
The AI analyzes your team’s and the enemy’s composition to recommend the champion that has the highest chance of winning that game, based on your stats and the current meta. No more questionable picks.
2. And what Build to choose!
After helping you pick the best Champion for the game, the AI also analyzes the enemy composition to decide what the best items, runes, and summoners to take for that specific game. That even includes checking whether anti-heal or anti-shield items are efficient enough to buy!
3. It reviews your matches like a real coach.
After each session, the AI gives data-driven feedback on your macro performance throughout the game and identifies areas you performed well on, and what you struggled with. After ten games, you unlock the AI Macro Coach, which compares your stats with players of your same rank and shows where you’re consistently falling behind.
4. It provides actionable insights about the players in your lobby.
Using its unique data the Scouting Tool provides you with all the information you need to know whilst loading into a game, whether that’s learning that the enemy support loves to invade, your Jungler likes to spend their early game power-farming, or that your lane opponent plays aggressively.
5. All the overlays you expect, and more.
From tracking the gold difference, timing your inhibitor respawns, or quickly checking who has the Baron buff, iTero has every overlay you need to stay on top of your solo queue games.
A New Chapter in the GIANTX Ecosystem
The launch of iTero Standalone reinforces GIANTX’s commitment to technological innovation and expands its presence beyond competition, driving the creation of useful, data-powered products for the gaming and esports community. The organization also practices what it preaches: GIANTX’s performance department already uses AI-based tools to scout talent and support decision-making at the highest competitive level.
With this new version of iTero, GIANTX strengthens its leadership at the intersection of technology, artificial intelligence, and performance, paving the way for a new generation of smarter training in League of Legends —a title that averaged nearly 30 million active players in September 2025 alone.
The post The App You Need to Download if You’re Tired of Throwing in League of Legends appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
Latest News
Winning Partnership: Apparat live on bwin in all-German content deal
Reading Time: 2 minutes
Developer of slots with a German accent integrates 43 games with German top operator
Apparat Gaming, the developer of slot games with a German accent, has added yet another big-name operator to its growing list of partners by entering into a partnership with bwin.
Under the agreement, 43 of Apparat Gaming’s unique slots are made available to players of the award-winning online casino brand bwin.
The operator, which belongs to the Entain Group, has now one of the largest Apparat portfolios on the German market online since November, with 43 of the currently 54 Apparat games eligible for approval under German regulations.
The timing for the partnership couldn’t be better, as bwin was one of the major brands sorely missing from Apparat’s customer list for the German market. The addition of Apparat slots to bwin’s gaming lobby will help position the operator in its fight for German market leadership.
Founded just five years ago, Apparat is one of the up-and-coming game developers in regulated markets due to its German approach to development, with a focus on quality, engineering and providing plenty of Augenweide (eye candy) with absolutely no sense of humour(!) to ensure a superior player experience across its games.
This includes titles such as Total Eclipse XXL, 5 Moon Wolf, Fishin’ the Biggest or Gates of Ishtar. The partnership will also include the missing as well as all of Apparat’s future slot releases like the next release, Piggy Balloons.
Martin Frindt, Chief Product Partnership at Apparat Gaming, said: “It’s great to see that bwin understands the language we speak, even though the casino team is made up of Austrians, and has opted to add our slots with a German accent to its game lobby.”
“We now just hope that the German regulator GGL will approve the remaining games as soon as possible.”
Wanja Richter, Director of Gaming North and Central Europe at Entain, added: “Providing players with access to the best content in the business is a major part of our success story to date, and to be able to offer German players slots that have been developed by Apparat Gaming and that truly capture the essence of Germany is a slam dunk for us.”
“We are happy to finally be working with Apparat and hope to get their upcoming games content approved as quickly as possible!”
The post Winning Partnership: Apparat live on bwin in all-German content deal appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
Latest News
Not Just Games. Experiences: Interview with Gabor, CPO at DreamPlay
The iGaming industry has evolved far beyond spinning reels and flashy win screens. Today, it’s a rapidly shifting space where player expectations define innovation. Creativity, data, and emotional design have become central to building not just games — but experiences.
We sat down with Gabor, Chief Product Officer at DreamPlay, to discuss what modern slot development really means, how ideas transform into products, and why the future belongs not to games that are simply entertaining — but to those that resonate.
What makes a slot competitive today — math, visuals, gameplay, or a combination of factors? And which matters most?
Gabor: A great game is like an orchestra: you need every instrument playing in harmony or the whole thing falls apart.
The math and design are the heart and soul of every game — without them, even the best art is just a pretty face. Today’s players also expect to be entertained: strong pacing, polished audiovisuals, and features that feel meaningful, not gimmicky.
I always say that one of the challenges of creating great slots is that you have to be able to tell a whole story just through a push of the button — making them feel exciting while being simple and smooth for the player, but this means a lot of complexity for the creator.
So the real magic happens when everything clicks together. The best slots feel effortless, but behind that effortlessness is a very deliberate balance of math, flow, visuals, and just the right level of innovation.”
When working on a new release, what helps you shape the product vision before development even begins?
Gabor: Ideas can come from anywhere – a family vacation, a conversation, a movie, a meme, pretty much anything you can think of.
Creativity thrives when everyone on the team can chip in with their own ideas – we actively encourage that.
But inspiration alone isn’t enough. Every game needs a clear purpose. Is it pushing boundaries? Refreshing a classic theme? Continuing a successful series? We always start by defining the ‘why.’
Then we let data and experience meet in the middle. When the numbers support the idea and our collective instincts say ‘yes, this will work,’ that’s when a concept becomes a vision worth building.”
Do you see potential for an even closer integration of video games and slots, or are they still two different markets?
Gabor:There’s definitely potential — and honestly, the two worlds have been borrowing from each other for years. iGaming has embraced progression systems, more complex storytelling, achievements… while video games picked up loot boxes and other elements from gambling.
They will never fully merge, because the motivations and regulations are different, but there is clearly much more overlap than 10–15 years ago when these two industries were completely different. Today’s players grew up with games that blend entertainment, challenge, psychology, and reward, and they
expect a different form of entertainment than previous generations.
So we’re moving from ‘old-school gambling’ toward ‘interactive entertainment with a gambling core.’ And that trend will only continue.
Is the industry truly ready for bold experimentation, or does it still prefer playing safe?
Gabor: This is where it gets interesting. The industry loves talking about innovation and bold ideas – but in reality, the audience is still quite conservative. Most players enjoy evolution, not revolution.
We’ve seen a few big hits like Megaways and crash games, but they didn’t throw the core DNA of gambling out the window. These mechanics are mainly focused on enhanced entertainment value and presentation.
So yes, there’s room to experiment, but true format-breaking innovations tend to become niche and usually struggle to gain wider traction. The sweet spot is pushing boundaries without losing the essence of why players show up in the first place.”
What was your first step in iGaming, and when did you realize this was your industry?
Gabor: My start was completely unplanned. I moved to Israel from Hungary at 26, didn’t speak Hebrew yet, and was looking for any English-speaking job. A friend worked at an online casino, said they were hiring, and I thought, ‘Perfect, something temporary to help me get settled, I will find a proper job once my Hebrew improves.”
I have never even tried finding a ‘proper job’ afterward. That ‘temporary’ role turned into a 15+ year career across multiple countries, teams, and roles across casino management and game production — and I’ve loved every minute of it.
This industry is fast, sometimes (often) chaotic, but full of brilliant people and challenges that keep you sharp. Even after all these years, I still wake up excited about what we’re building. It’s hard to imagine doing anything else at this point.”
Final Takeaway
The iGaming industry continues its transformation — not just technologically, but emotionally. As Gabor pointed out throughout our conversation, the future belongs not to those who release the most games, but to those who understand what players truly feel.
We’re seeing a shift toward more immersive, meaningful experiences — where design, psychology, and data work together to create lasting engagement.
And it’s leaders like Gabor — and companies like DreamPlay — who are moving the industry forward, proving that innovation isn’t just about features or mechanics… it’s about connection.
Dream Play’s most recent releases and upcoming products here:
-
Latest News2 months ago
Duels for Friends in Trophy Hunter. Invite your friends and create a shared space for fun and competition.
-
Latest News3 months ago
NODWIN Gaming Acquires Sony Interactive Entertainment’s Stake in Evo; Becomes Majority Holder
-
Latest News2 months ago
Announcement: 25th September 2025
-
Latest News2 months ago
Flamez – A Fiery New Online Casino Contender from Ganadu
-
Latest News2 months ago
GR8 Tech’s Bet It Drives Wraps Season 1 with Stephen Crystal—From Las Vegas Legends to Global Gaming Leadership
-
Latest News2 months ago
AI-Powered Gamification Arrives on Vegangster Platform via Smartico
-
Latest News2 months ago
The Countdown is On: Less Than 3 Months to Go Until The Games of The Future 2025 Kicks Off in Abu Dhabi
-
Latest News2 weeks ago
JioBLAST Launches All Stars vs India powered by Campa Energy: A New Era of Creator-Driven Esports Entertainment




You must be logged in to post a comment Login