Latest News

Bet365 Selects Optimove as CRM Marketing Solution to Maximize Player Lifetime Value

Published

3 years ago

September 21, 2022

Reading Time: 3 minutes

The world’s largest online bookmaker is set to partner with the retention marketing leader to scale marketing personalization and drive growth through AI-mapped CRM journeys

Optimove, the leading CRM Marketing solution, announced it has been selected by bet365, the world’s largest online sports betting brand, to orchestrate and optimize all CRM marketing activities. The powerhouse partnership between the two industry leaders demonstrates bet365’s strategic investment in scaling retention marketing efforts and maximizing player lifetime value as a growth driver for the business.

Optimove’s AI-mapped CRM journeys will allow bet365 to transform its CRM Marketing efforts empowering the sportsbook giant to scale and manage hundreds of player segments, orchestrate realtime and scheduled multichannel campaigns, and measure the incremental value of each player interaction. For the first time since its founding in 2000, the global iGaming leader has turned to a third-party vendor to support its CRM Marketing efforts.

With a Customer Data Platform (CDP) at its core, Optimove offers marketing teams direct access to their customer data to build, test, and optimize hundreds of CRM campaigns weekly. Optimove allows brands to reach their customers with the right message on the right channel by personalizing thousands of campaigns to hundreds of segments. Unlike other technologies that rely on common, rule-based orchestration, Optimove’s AI-driven solutions autonomously determine the next best action for each customer, eliminating marketers’ need to manually map every customer journey.

The scientific approach embedded in Optimove’s CRM Marketing platform will empower bet365 to measure the incremental value of each player interaction. bet365 will gain key capabilities via Optimove:

· Enriched customer profiles: Unifying all historical, predictive, and realtime customer data from sources such as CRM, service clouds, and data warehouses via Optimove to create a comprehensive single customer view.
· Multichannel personalization and orchestration: Orchestrating hundreds of campaigns seamlessly by leveraging Optimove’s AI-mapped CRM Journeys to deliver personalized customer communications across any channel.
· A continuous optimization loop: Leverage Optimove’s productized experimentation tools to measure the incremental uplift of each campaign, journey, and strategy to continuously optimize CRM Marketing performance.

Already working with one in three operators in the EGR Power 50 Ranking, the new partnership demonstrates Optimove’s continuous growth and strong momentum in recent months. In July 2022, the company announced the acquisition of Graphyte, a cloud-based personalization platform built for the sports betting and iGaming industry. In March 2022, Optimove acquired Kumulos, a personalized mobile marketing solution, following its September 2021 $75 million investment led by Summit Partners.

“bet365 continue to build an industry leading sports and gaming product, and the business believes the time is right to complement the platform with best of breed third party technology,” said Alex Sefton, Chief Marketing Officer at bet365. “With Optimove we have done just this. This deal heralds a change in direction for bet365, but also the start of a long-term partnership working with Optimove to grow our business. We are at the start of something genuinely exciting for bet365 and I don’t think we could have found a better partner.”

“We’re thrilled to be selected by bet365 as their CRM Marketing solution,” said Motti Colman, Senior Director of Sales at Optimove. “Working together, this is a true super team. As a company that is known for keeping most of its tech in-house, this is a huge move by bet365 to go out to a third-party provider. We’re proud to have been chosen and humbled by bet365’s belief in our ability to deliver. I am certain that the work we accomplish together over the coming years will be groundbreaking and will help catapult bet365 into a new era of growth.”

How did this partnership come to be?

Motti Colman: “We’ve been speaking to bet365 on and off for 5 years, but they’ve always had other priorities and now the time is right.”

What are the goals for bet365 working with Optimove? What are they looking to achieve?

Motti Colman: “Their primary driver was the desire to put their customer first. In doing so they are looking to learn more about their customers and improve all the related KPIs. The upshot of that will lead to increased customer loyalty.”

Do you think this partnership will impact the iGaming space as a whole?

Motti Colman: “Clearly bet365 investing time and money into MarTech will definitely have an impact. Despite all the M&A activity around them, they still remain the biggest brand in the industry and other companies definitely take note when they make big strategic moves.”

What’s next for Optimove in the industry? Is there room for growth still?

Motti Colman: “Despite our huge presence in the space, the area where we see the most opportunity is at the top end of the market. It’s the traditional Tier 1s that are often a lot slower to adopt advanced technologies, but as we have shown with this collaboration, if an operator is open minded to the possibilities that exist, we can dramatically enhance their customer marketing capabilities.”

Optimove will be exhibiting at SBC Barcelona, September 21-22, Stand F7.

Latest News

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

Published

10 hours 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.

Latest News

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

Published

10 hours 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

10 hours 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: