Latest News

Special Interview: A Conversation with Tom Farrell, CMO of ClearStake

Published

1 year ago

August 10, 2023

Reading Time: 3 minutes

Affordability is currently the word on everyone’s lips. Operators continue to face a ‘sustainability conundrum’ – they must fulfil their regulatory obligations and commitments to player protection, while ensuring their business remains profitable. For many, affordability can spell disaster, with up to 90% of customers lost when asked to prove they have the money they are wanting to spend. However, using Open Banking to carry out these financial checks as quickly as possible may be the answer to boosting retention and retaining otherwise lost revenues.

The DCMS recently published a public consultation on the UK gambling White Paper, while the Gambling Commission launched its own on financial risk checks, bringing their importance of affordability to the top of the agenda – but operators must now strike the balance between minimising harm and maximising revenue. Affordability checks that take too long risk sending customers to competitors, or worse, the black market.

One of the key remedies to the high level of churn experienced in the past is making sure financial risk checks can be carried out quickly and with as little friction as possible, so that customers can complete them with as much ease as approving a payment while online shopping. Operators have to reach a decision quickly because the longer players wait, the more likely it is they will go elsewhere while they’re waiting.

Of course, there are some people who under no circumstances will share financial data with someone like a gambling operator. There’s also a group of people who won’t share data because they know they are gambling beyond their means. This is of course the system working as it should and that’s a good thing. But there’s a third group of people for whom it’s too much effort. They’re asked to provide bank statements, at which point they go to a competitor, as the hoops they have to jump through are not worth it.

For a customer using Open Bank technology, such as ClearStake, what used to involve downloading and printing bank statements and a wait while the operator reviews the data, now takes just 30 seconds and a few clicks. A decision is recommended to the operator immediately and theoretically, the whole process can take less than a minute. Players click a link, and they are taken to a super slick and simple process where they press a couple of buttons and the relevant financial data is shared securely. They are always in control of their data and they can revoke permission at any time.

Our software categorises every transaction and we can calculate whatever the operator wants to see. It could be disposable income, net gambling spend, total income, or current balance on the account. Our software can also evaluate the rate of change so operators can see accelerating gambling spend or consistently declining savings and work out if the player’s gambling activity is still within the safe bounds of their current financial position.

Without responsible gaming and Enhanced Due Diligence (EDD) checks, gambling risks being over-regulated out of existence as the product will become unprofitable. To answer the sustainability conundrum many operators face, we need to find a middle ground. Sustainability means not letting people spend beyond their means. It means letting people have a bet if they can afford to, while not taking more money than they can spend.

Over the last two or three years, the Gambling Commission got strict on affordability checks. They asked operators how they know someone could afford to lose ‘x’ amount. The White Paper effectively agreed with the Gambling Commission and has clarified that if someone is losing £2,000 in the space of three months or £1,000 in one month, operators should be confident about the player’s financial situation. The headline was that affordability and EDD checks should be taking place.

This discussion around affordability is not only limited to the UK, and we are seeing lawmakers and regulators in several other countries considering measures in this area.

The industry therefore needs to be proactive as the problem will never go away if it keeps allowing people to bet money they don’t have. In the public mind, gambling will have the same fate as cigarettes which are currently being regulated out of existence.

Latest News

N1 Partners X-Mas Giveaway: The Ultimate Reward for High-Achieving Affiliates!

Published

4 hours ago

December 3, 2024

George Miller

Reading Time: < 1 minute

N1 Partners is bringing excitement this holiday season with the X-Mas Giveaway! High-achieving affiliates can get rewarded with exclusive prizes, including a dream trip to the Maldives, premium gifts, and more. Join the giveaway and celebrate your success with us!

This December, N1 Partners is launching the X-Mas Giveaway to reward our valued partners. This giveaway offers prizes for our high-achieving partners.

From December 1 to December 31, all registered partners who generate 50+ FTDs within December enter the draw to win one of five AirPods Max. But that’s not all—participants with the top three deposit sums get rewarded with premium prizes:

1st Place: A luxurious trip for two to the Maldives
2nd Place: An exclusive Louis Vuitton Travel Kit
3rd Place: An iPad Pro 13″ (1TB)

N1 Partners is committed to creating opportunities for all partners to succeed. New partners are invited to join our network to become eligible for this giveaway. Sign up here and get started today.

“At N1 Partners, we are always striving to surprise and delight our affiliates. We don’t view each affiliate as just another account, but as a valued partner with whom we build long-lasting business relationships. Promotions like these give our partners the opportunity to see that firsthand and earn well-deserved rewards for their achievements.” — Alexa Bond, Head of Affiliates, N1 Partners

For full terms, visit our website. Winners will be announced in early January 2025.

This holiday season, let N1 Partners be your gateway to exciting rewards and opportunities!

About N1 Partners

N1 Partners is a company with expertise in online entertainment. Today, N1 Partners unites over ten high-converting online casinos, betting brands, and the N1 Partners affiliate program.

The post N1 Partners X-Mas Giveaway: The Ultimate Reward for High-Achieving Affiliates! appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

Latest News

GR8 Tech Announces Leadership Changes for 2025

Published

5 hours ago

December 3, 2024

George Miller

Reading Time: < 1 minute

GR8 Tech will see a leadership transition on January 1, 2025, as Oleksandr Feshchenko, currently the Deputy CEO and CRO, will take over as the new CEO. Sergey Ghazaryan, formerly the Head of the Casino Business Unit, takes over as the CRO from December 1 of the current year. In the meantime, Evgen Belousov will be stepping away from GR8 Tech.

During his two-year tenure, Evgen Belousov has established GR8 Tech as a trusted provider of high-performance iGaming solutions. Over the past year alone, GR8 Tech achieved remarkable growth, expanding its client base eightfold and significantly increasing revenue.

GR8 Tech’s solutions support over 25 newly launched clients and nearly 50 live operator brands. The company’s continued success stems from its unique strategy of providing tailored, geo-specific solutions that directly address market demands. Unlike other platforms that offer one-size-fits-all approaches, GR8 Tech focuses on customizing its features specifically to meet the needs of each region and client.

Reflecting on his time as CEO, Belousov shared: “Leading GR8 Tech has been nothing short of transformative. We’ve redefined what success looks like in our industry, achieving remarkable milestones in only two years’ time. We’ve laid down a strong foundation, and now, it’s time for a bold new chapter. With our high-performance platform and a vision to dominate as the world’s #1 sportsbook-driven solution, I’m confident the new leadership will amplify this momentum and take GR8 Tech to unprecedented heights.” As Belousov shifts to being an independent iGaming advisor, he plans to focus on the strategic development of B2B iGaming projects.

The leadership transition aligns with the company’s two-year anniversary in January 2025 – a milestone GR8 Tech plans to celebrate with exciting future announcements.

The post GR8 Tech Announces Leadership Changes for 2025 appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

Latest News

Revenant XSpark Partners With iQOO In Landmark Esports Deal

Published

6 hours ago

December 3, 2024

George Miller

Reading Time: 2 minutes

Revenant XSpark, one of India’s leading Esports organization is excited to announce a ground-breaking partnership with iQOO, the high-performance smartphone brand. Leveraging the growing appeal of Esports, Revenant XSparks & iQOO have partnered together, with iQOO securing the naming rights for India’s top-performing Battlegrounds Mobile India (BGMI) roster under the Revenant XSpark brand. The team will now compete under the name iQOO RNTX, marking a significant milestone in the evolution of Indian esports. This collaboration stands as one of the biggest deals in Indian Esports history.

A collaboration between Revenant Esports and Team XSpark; The vision & goal behind the creation of ‘Revenant XSpark’ was to redefine the Esports landscape in India and neighbouring regions.

Having been unveiled at the recent collaboration, Revenant XSpark’s (BGMI) roster competes across regional and international competitions. With an unmatched track record of securing two back-to-back titles at major Krafton events, the team is led by coach Osmium as one of the premier teams in the country. Dominating competition across the board, the team of Sarang (Sarangajyoti Deka), Spraygod (Harsh Malik), Joker (Khush Singh), and Shadow (Tenzin Kelsang), have been able to carve a name for themselves in the Esports landscape as a force to be reckoned with in both global and local platforms.

Champions at the BGMI Pro Series and BGMI India Series, the team already has a firm foothold in the India market and is aiming to build and expand its narrative globally. Alongside iQOO’s innovation driven mindset, the collaboration will leverage expertise from both sides for mutual beneficial outcomes.

Rohit Jagasia, Founder and CEO of Revenant Esports, said, “We’re incredibly proud to announce our groundbreaking partnership with iQOO. This is a monumental moment for Indian Esports – marking one of the largest deals in the industry. iQOO’s commitment to innovation aligns perfectly with our vision at Revenant XSpark. By joining forces, we’re creating a powerful synergy that will elevate the Indian Esports scene to new heights. Together, we aim to redefine the landscape of competitive gaming and inspire the next generation of gamers.”

Nipun Marya, CEO, iQOO said, “We’re thrilled to be part of this moment in Indian esports. Partnering with Revenant XSpark goes beyond supporting an exceptional team it’s an investment in the future of competitive gaming. Together, we aim to inspire the next generation of gamers, drive meaningful innovation, and shape the future of esports in India. This collaboration is a step towards achieving long-term synergies that align with our broader vision to elevate the gaming experience.”

The post Revenant XSpark Partners With iQOO In Landmark Esports Deal appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.