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“The key to our success is our ability to identify new trends and opportunities” – Exclusive Q&A with Max Sevostianov, Chief Commercial Officer at Betbazar
Following a year of formidable growth for the industry’s leading matchmaker and sales house, Betbazar, the company’s Chief Commercial Officer Max Sevostianov spoke to us about its success, the changing nature of sports betting with the advent of Esports and how AI is leading the way.
Congratulations on your two-year anniversary at Betbazar! Can you talk us through your vision when joining the company and how you and your team have created such record-breaking growth over the past year and a half?
From the outside, I could always see that the iGaming industry held plenty of growth potential, so it was an ambition of mine to get involved. Given the business model and vision, Betbazar had and has, I knew it was something I wanted to be a part of. I have enough experience working in the B2B segment to know precisely how to build the proposition Betbazar offers.
Given the nature of recent global events, it’s been a challenging couple of years. Still, we have concentrated on analysing the sales processes and optimising our role as a global sales house.
I believe the key to our success is our ability to identify new trends and opportunities. We help our partners to integrate their content effectively. It has been crucial when dealing with a new concept such as Esports. During the pandemic, when top tier sports events were cancelled, we managed to support our clients by providing them with a new form of content.
Looking back at the last 18-months, what do you see as key to contributing to the company’s success?
A clear vision of what we want to achieve and a deep understanding of the types of products needed for our partners’ success has been essential. We have taken a data-driven approach to identify the right products for the right clients. We use transparent sales processes in the B2B segment, and we always try to find new approaches as well. Our priority is to build relationships, not only for the business side but also for growing human relationships. It has proven to be the best way to identify the client’s needs.
For example, we know that the modern player wants fast, engaging and easy-to-understand betting products. This audience needs to feel the integrity of the stats behind the product they are using. For example, our esports partner, BETER, is very popular with the millennial and GenZ age group as it has what they’re looking for. It made them an ideal candidate to become one of the industry’s favourite Esports providers. Such growth, where we can symbiotically benefit each other, is exactly what Betbazar is aiming for.
What do you believe differentiates Betbazar’s business model in terms of what you’re able to bring to your partners?
We’re unique in what we do, and our client-first approach is what makes us stand out. We learned during our journey that content creators often don’t have the sales capabilities they need. They can create the perfect product, but it can be challenging to find the perfect client. Betting providers are also constantly under pressure to identify which products will take off on their websites. Betbazar, as a global sales house, has expertise in B2B sales and clients needs. We help to choose the most appropriate product for the client. We also assist in managing the integration process to make sure it goes as smoothly as possible.
Your experience spans more than 20 years across both B2C and B2B, how do you feel your experience has contributed to what you’ve brought to Betbazar?
In my opinion, there is a connection between B2C and B2B sales in the betting business. We negotiate directly with the business, and we present the content they might be interested in. Yet the final user of this content is a B2C client, which is an audience whose needs must be taken into account while selling the product. Doing that effectively comes down to being able to build mutually beneficial relationships. It is another reason our business model has worked so well.
When I started working at Betbazar, I shaped the structure that helped us provide a client with all necessary information right after the connection was established. You need to understand that the betting business develops immensely fast, new products appear on the market in the blink of an eye, and it’s us who present them to the client. We constantly monitor and research the market to give our clients the latest trends and create a transparent information sharing process. This clarity is always the best way to retain clients for as long as possible. Experience in doing this is what I bring to the table.
Looking to this year in terms of betting, how much has the B2B and B2C landscape changed in the last year?
We saw a lot of mergers and acquisitions this year, including 888 with William Hill, DraftKings with Entain, Kindred with Abios. Companies are clearly looking to create in-house technology stacks and move away from outsourcing software. We are seeing huge companies looking to start-ups with a winning edge to offer technological and AI-driven solutions, and this is just the beginning. Next year we will likely see more M&A action for this reason – as the business case is clear for many to integrate their tech internally.
On the B2C side, the audience is changing. As we’ve seen with millennials and Gen Z, the way they want to be entertained evolves at the speed of technology, so an effective offering needs to be just as dynamic. Operators need the right insights and the right data to be able to keep up with this kind of fluid demand. How they want to be engaged, what devices they want to use, and what games they like are all in flux. A data-informed solution is the only way to achieve this.
Given your wide selection of products, which B2B supply-side verticals are going to prove key to 2022 success for operators?
No one is surprised that Esports betting is growing in popularity, and it will continue to increase. The priority for the B2B segment is to develop new products that cater to these needs. The integration process also has to be streamlined, which is why we’re seeing plenty of tech being integrated in-house.
I saw The International DOTA 2 tournament, and there is a lot going on in that, even I wasn’t always able to follow it! What became clear to me is that this type of player enjoys investigating different game mechanics. So, it is as important to provide new mechanics as it is to have unique content. The gamification of the betting process is becoming more important in this way.
The key now to attracting the audience is personalisation. It is by far the fastest route to a young audience today. Modern content must include not only high-quality video, information about the players, statistics, but also a correct marketing approach should be applied to present the content in a favourable light.
Looking at the next few years – how much do you believe sportsbooks and casinos are going to be shaped by player demand and what’s going to change?
AI is going to play a much more significant role, and the collection of data to inform these processes will become a far bigger priority for sports betting providers. As a result, we will see more personalised betting for players. We are going to see more intuitive additions of sportsbooks to online casinos to maximise cross-selling and retain their existing audience.
New games will definitely be introduced to the market. I am sure in the upcoming years Esport will become just as popular as the regular sport, if not more popular.
Online betting will continue to grow as people adapt to a post-Covid world. Tech development will inevitably surprise us since we already know the betting industry is one of the most progressive in the world.
New approaches to responsible gaming will also appear as the industry grows. It will be a major step to creating a better customer experience and taking the sector to the next level.
The acquisition will see Team Vitality continue to forge its path to becoming one of the only truly international esports organisations, by entering the mobile gaming market in new regions and markets
Leading esports club, Team Vitality, is proud to announce the acquisition of Indonesian esports organisation, Bigetron Esports, following a deal with one of the most powerful mobile gaming esports brands globally. The move will strengthen Team Vitality’s presence in the mobile gaming market as well as extend the brand’s reach further into the Southeast Asian region, continuing to forge its path to become a truly global, multifaceted presence across all elements of esports.
Bigetron by Vitality: A strategic move into Southeast Asia and mobile gaming
The acquisition places Team Vitality in a strategically important gaming market – Southeast Asia. With a population of over 270 million, and more than 30% of whom are under 30, Indonesia represents a vibrant and highly engaged audience for esports. The country is home to over 100 million gamers, making it the fourth-largest gaming market in the world. Southeast Asia, particularly Indonesia, is also one of the fastest-growing regions for mobile gaming, with a remarkable 20% year-over-year revenue growth.
As part of the move, Bigetron Esports’ brand identity will change to ‘Bigetron by Vitality’, to show respect to the club’s local legacy while allowing Team Vitality to integrate the brand authentically and exclusively into all future mobile gaming activities. Bigetron Esports CEO, Edwin Chia, alongside Team Vitality’s Co-Founder CEO, Nicolas Maurer and Corporate Director of Global Operations, Danny Engels, will work together as the respective leads for Vitality’s mobile gaming entity.
This acquisition marks a significant step in Team Vitality’s expansion into mobile gaming, following the 2024 acquisition of Bigetron’s Women’s Mobile Legends: Bang Bang roster. Prompting a deeper exploration of the mobile esports space, Bigetron represents a fantastic addition to help introduce and grow the Vitality brand within this fast-growing and dynamic segment of the industry.
Bigetron Esports has built a formidable reputation in the mobile gaming world, with an impressive social media presence across multiple platforms, totaling over 6.8 million followers across YouTube, Instagram, TikTok and WhatsApp. As part of this acquisition, all Bigetron social media channels will be rebranded to align with Team Vitality as ‘ Bigetron by Vitality’, integrating seamlessly into the broader Team Vitality network.
Bigetron is one of the few Southeast Asian organisations with an established footprint in four key mobile gaming titles, a strong competitive track record, and existing partnerships with gaming industry leaders Moonton and Tencent. Following the deal, Team Vitality will be represented by the organisation’s existing key rosters and talent including:
- Men’s Mobile Legends Bang Bang Team: Competing in the Mobile Legends Bang Bang Professional League Indonesia (MPL ID), the organization recently secured 3rd place in the highly competitive league operated by game publisher Moonton, with a notable peak viewership of an astonishing 4 million.
- PUBG Mobile Team: With total prize winnings exceeding $1.2 million, Bigetron has made multiple World Championship appearances, including the 2024 World Championship, and holds World Championship titles from 2019 and 2020.
- Free Fire Team: Champions of the Free Fire World Series (FFWS) Indonesian Fall 2024. The team also earned a spot in the Free Fire World Series Grand Finals 2024.
- Honor of Kings Team: The Honor of Kings team recently triumphed in the Indonesian Qualifier for the HoK Invitational Season 3 and became a partner team in the newly established Professional Honor of Kings League in Indonesia.
- Women’s Mobile Legends Bang Bang team: Following acquiring the team in 2024, Bigetron will offer additional support, resources and infrastructure to further support the roster ahead of the Esports World Cup in 2025.
- Additionally, Bigetron has assembled a lineup of Southeast Asian brand ambassadors with a combined social media following of over 27 million, all of whom will further amplify the clubs partnership with Team Vitality throughout the region
All of the above teams that qualify for the Esports World Cup will represent Team Vitality and compete under the Team Vitality banner and team name. Following this, teams competing in Mobile Legends, PUBG Mobile, Honor of Kings, and Free Fire tournaments will do so as Bigetron by Vitality, marking the full integration of Bigetron into the Team Vitality network.
| TEAM VITALITY IN FIGURES
After Bigetron Esports acquisition
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Ambitious international plans for 2025
With ambitious plans for international expansion, Team Vitality is setting its sights on reaching new heights in esports throughout 2025. This year, the organisation is focused on securing victories, strengthening its legacy, and pioneering the esports industry into the new generation. This commitment not only supports Team Vitality as one of the world’s leading esports powerhouses but also contributes towards the broader success of the organisation on a global scale.
“We are thrilled to announce our acquisition of Bigetron Esports.” said Nicolas Maurer, CEO of Team Vitality “As the popularity of mobile gaming continues to soar, particularly with younger generations growing up on mobile games, Team Vitality is proud to support shaping the long-term future of mobile gaming esports together with the Bigetron leadership team. This acquisition marks an important step in our internationalisation as well as becoming the best gaming organization in the world.”
“The merger was driven by our shared vision with Team Vitality to inspire and empower gamers to achieve greatness through innovation, collaboration, and relentless dedication to excellence. We believe alongside Team Vitality, we can continue achieving greatness and showcasing the stellar Indonesian esports talent on an expansive international stage.” commented the CEO of Bigetron Esports, Edwin Chia.
The post Team Vitality accelerates global growth with acquisition of Bigetron Esports appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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Kaizen Gaming named Latin America’s Casino and Sportsbook Operator of the Year at the SBC Awards Americas 2025
Dual wins as ‘Casino Operator of the Year (LatAm)’ and ‘Sportsbook Operator of the Year (LatAm)’ affirm Kaizen Gaming’s leadership and product excellence across Latin America
Kaizen Gaming, one of the world’s biggest GameTech companies and owner of the Betano online sports betting and gaming brand, has been crowned ‘Casino Operator of the Year (LatAm)’ and ‘Sportsbook Operator of the Year (LatAm)’ at the highly celebrated SBC Awards Americas 2025 held in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, on Wednesday 14th May.
The two wins recognise Kaizen Gaming’s strong focus and commitment to delivering an exceptionally high-quality product offering with customer experience and satisfaction at its core. They also signify the company’s sustained growth and accelerating momentum as a leading operator across the region and beyond.
Christos Tzalavras, Chief Product Officer, Kaizen Gaming, said: “We’re proud to be recognised for having the best sportsbook and casino products in Latin America, which is undeniably one of the most dynamic and exciting gaming markets in the world today. These awards reflect our team’s passion, the strength of our strategy, and our commitment to delivering innovative, high-quality, and responsible gaming experiences. Our main secret is prioritising the customer experience in everything we do. This is a milestone moment for our brand, but the ‘Kaizen way’ is one of continuous improvement, so we’ll keep raising the bar. Thank you to the whole team for your hard work and dedication in making this achievement possible.”
Kaizen Gaming was the first operator to be officially licensed in Brazil this January. Key highlights in 2025 to-date include the renewal of Betano’s partnership with F1 legend Felipe Massa, its continuing support for Supercopa Betano Rei 2025 and the Supercopa Feminina Betano 2025, and notably the recent start of its landmark long-term principal and front-of shirt sponsorship with Club Atlético River Plate. These milestones follow its rapid expansion into three new LatAm markets last year, its partnership with CONMEBOL Copa America 2024, and title sponsorship agreements with the Brasileirão Betano in Brazil and Torneo Betano in Argentina.
The inaugural SBC Awards Americas honour outstanding companies representing the gaming and betting industry across the region. With a hand-picked judging panel, the accolades recognise the achievements and accomplishments of operators, affiliates and suppliers from all the major disciplines including payments, marketing, platform providers and data.
The SBC Awards Americas took place at Pier Sixty-Six in Fort Lauderdale on the second day of SBC Summit Americas. The show brings together 10,000 industry professionals and over 400 exhibitors for networking, knowledge exchange, and growth opportunities across the casino and sports betting sectors in North, South, and Central America.
The post Kaizen Gaming named Latin America’s Casino and Sportsbook Operator of the Year at the SBC Awards Americas 2025 appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
Red Rake Gaming, a leading provider of online casino content, has announced the launch of its games on the top-rated Hard Rock Bet platform via Aristocrat Interactive.
With this launch, Red Rake Gaming continues to consolidate its growth in the United States after obtaining regulatory approval in New Jersey and other strategic markets. The availability of its most innovative and high-performing games on Hard Rock Bet reinforces the company’s presence in the region and reaffirms its commitment to providing high-quality content to top-tier operators.
Grant Williams, SVP Casino at Hard Rock Bet, commented: “We’re thrilled to Roll with Red Rake Gaming via Aristocrat Interactive and provide our players with an exciting new array of innovative gaming options. Their engaging portfolio will nicely complement the over 2,700 games available on Hard Rock Bet as we continue to elevate the online gaming experience for our players.”
Nick Barr, Managing Director of Red Rake Gaming Malta, added: “We are very excited about the addition of our games on Hard Rock Bet and the opportunity to further expand our presence in the U.S. market. Hard Rock is a globally recognized brand, and we are confident that our games will resonate with Hard Rock Bet’s players, offering a unique and immersive experience.”
The post Red Rake Gaming expands its presence in New Jersey with Hard Rock Bet appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
Team Vitality accelerates global growth with acquisition of Bigetron Esports
Kaizen Gaming named Latin America’s Casino and Sportsbook Operator of the Year at the SBC Awards Americas 2025
Red Rake Gaming expands its presence in New Jersey with Hard Rock Bet
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