Eastern Europe

“As the CIS’s second largest country, we’re looking at one of Europe’s greatest growth opportunities.” Exclusive Ukraine interview with BetGames.TV’s Yury Mikhaylov

Published

4 years ago

October 21, 2020

Reading Time: 3 minutes

With the stage now set for history in the making, Ukraine is preparing to open its market for the first time in more than a decade.

Proven as one of Europe’s most in-demand live casino suppliers and headquartered in neighbouring Vilnius, we caught up with BetGames.TV’s CIS Sales Director Yury Mikhaylov to get his views on Ukraine’s potential, as well as his own plans for the market.

With BetGames.TV gearing up to bring its products to the Ukrainian market in the near-term, how do you see prospects here?

As the CIS’s second largest country, we’re looking at one of Europe’s greatest growth opportunities. Infrastructure factors, such as widespread internet access and the prevalence of online banking, have laid a great foundation for a digital-first approach from the outset. Twinned with a market crammed with tech savvy players, and you’re looking at a serious boost for national revenue with plenty of potential for online casino, making it an exciting time for all involved.

I would encourage anyone who remains sceptical of the benefits of regulation to consider the example offered by neighbouring Georgia (on a smaller population scale of course!). The country has improved player safety, widened consumer choice and boosted the national economy by attracting new investment. For that reason, it’s pleasing to see Ukraine follow the example set by several other regional European markets by putting a framework in place to establish its own gambling industry, and we look forward to playing a part in the market’s development.

Has BetGames.TV already established a footprint in the region? Are there any further steps which the regulator needs to take before you do so in Ukraine?

We already have a well-established network with Ukraine’s biggest global hitters (such as Favbet and Parimatch), who, as regional heavyweights, are going to be key in shaping how the market develops in its early stages. Both operate an extensive network across the CIS and Europe, and we are on excellent terms with them given the number of jurisdictions we’re actively working in together.

On a macro level, the Ukrainian regulator has certainly taken steps in the right direction, although having said that, several inconsistencies remain within the proposed framework, which the authorities must work to clarify in order to fully realise all the advantages of regulation. I’m confident this will be addressed and look forward to seeing updates on this soon enough.

And what are your plans for the market going forward?

From what we’ve seen so far, I’m certain that the full legalisation and improved transparency of the Ukrainian market will add a wealth of new opportunities for us, particularly when it comes to online casino.

We’ve been hugely successful in Belarus in a similar format – where we went online with the country’s first digital offering (launched by Parimatch) and have already outperformed every slot supplier on the market there. We also offer far superior margins to our competitors, and in many cases, theseare greater than sports betting itself, so I see plenty of potential for us to sit alongside newly established Ukrainian sportsbooks too without cannibalising spend.

Accordingly, I believe we’re in a strong position to capitalise on the Ukrainian market’s likely huge customer base as soon as we go live there, and I’m sure we’ll prove to be key in helping operators make their mark on the territory. As well as our award-winning live dealer offering (fully developed in-house), we’ve also got a raft of marketing and promotional services that are going to be tailored to a jurisdiction where we are already familiar with what players are looking for.

How do you envisage Ukraine’s commercial landscape will shape up in the coming years? Do you expect to see a lot of competition?

New market entries require considerable resources. Compliance procedures can be complex, time-consuming and geographically differentiated. For that reason, local knowledge and contact networks tend to play an important role. Ukraine is no different: with a high bar set for entry, many anticipate that the territory’s commercial future belongs to those who are already present within it.

Of course, given a population of close to 40 million, we’re dealing with one of Europe’s largest markets in terms of potential– so I’m sure plenty of our international operator friends and partners will also be eyeing it with interest. Given how pivotal we have been this year in boosting global partners’ operating revenue and acquisition efforts, I’m also sure we’ll prove ourselves to be a valuable asset in helping our partners’ operations get going there as soon as they go live.

Eastern Europe

TotalBet Joins Forces with Fast Track to Boost Player Engagement

Published

10 mins ago

May 14, 2024

George Miller

totalbet-joins-forces-with-fast-track-to-boost-player-engagement

Reading Time: 2 minutes

Fast Track, a pioneer in customer engagement and CRM solutions for iGaming operators, is thrilled to announce its strategic partnership with TotalBet, a leading brand in the online sports and casino industry. This collaboration marks a significant milestone for TotalBet as it aims to enhance its player engagement strategies and deliver unparalleled gaming experiences to its customers.

With a focus on providing innovative and personalised gaming experiences, TotalBet recognises the importance of leveraging advanced CRM solutions to optimise player engagement and retention. By joining forces with Fast Track, TotalBet aims to streamline its CRM operations and foster long-term player loyalty.

“We are excited to embark on this partnership with Fast Track,” said Gabriel Nita, Director of Operations at TotalBet. “Their expertise in CRM solutions and deep understanding of the iGaming industry align perfectly with our goals of delivering exceptional player experiences and driving sustainable growth.”

Fast Track’s cutting-edge CRM platform offers TotalBet the capabilities to orchestrate real-time campaigns, personalise player journeys, and efficiently manage player interactions across multiple channels. By leveraging Fast Track’s advanced technology and industry-leading expertise, TotalBet aims to establish itself as a market leader in player engagement and retention within the Romanian gaming market.

“We are delighted to collaborate with TotalBet and support their vision of elevating player engagement to new heights,” said Fast Track’s Simon Lidzen, CEO & Co-founder. “Our partnership signifies a shared commitment to innovation and excellence in the iGaming landscape. Together, we are poised to unlock new opportunities and drive mutual success.”

As TotalBet prepares to go live with its site operations in the coming months, the partnership with Fast Track underscores its dedication to delivering unparalleled gaming experiences and exceeding customer expectations. With a focus on innovation, agility, and customer-centricity, TotalBet and Fast Track are poised to redefine player engagement standards in the online gaming industry.

The post TotalBet Joins Forces with Fast Track to Boost Player Engagement appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

Eastern Europe

EGT Digital and PublicWin: A Successful Combination in Romania

Published

3 weeks ago

April 25, 2024

Niji Narayan

egt-digital-and-publicwin:-a-successful-combination-in-romania

Reading Time: < 1 minute

One more prominent betting site in the Romanian market enriched its gaming portfolio with the top-performing slots of EGT Digital. The titles of Bell Link and Clover Chance jackpots have won the hearts of the visitors to PublicWin’s site since the very beginning, currently being among their favourites.

Tsvetomira Drumeva, Head of Sales at EGT Digital, said: “We are happy that EGT Digital’s games are once again demonstrating excellent performance. We would like to thank Public Win for choosing us as one of their providers of high-quality casino games, and I believe that we will soon have the opportunity to expand our partnership with them.”

Alex Marin, COO at PublicWin, said: “EGT Digital’s titles fit perfectly into our concept of always offering to our customers fresh and attractive gaming content. The results so far show that we have made the right decision and in the near future players on our site will be able to enjoy more slot products of the Bulgarian provider.”

The post EGT Digital and PublicWin: A Successful Combination in Romania appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

Compliance Updates

Romania Bans Gambling Venues in Small Towns and Villages

Published

4 weeks ago

April 15, 2024

Niji Narayan

romania-bans-gambling-venues-in-small-towns-and-villages

Reading Time: < 1 minute

Romania has announced a ban on gambling venues in small towns and villages with populations of less than 15,000 residents.

What’s known as the “law of slot machines” was passed by deputies in the lower house of parliament. “It is the first law adopted in Parliament in 30 years against this mafia that has controlled the political world until now,” said Alfred Simonis, the leader of the Social Democrats.

“Right now we are fighting an industry that has a total turnover of €10-12 billion.”

Industry figures complain they were not consulted, and hope that the authorities will control the black market as they promised.

Despite the unanimous vote, there was some dissent within the chamber. Two opposition parties that want to ban the “scourge” of gambling outright accuse the government of collusion with the gaming sector for not taking a stronger position.

On another front Ionut Mosteanu, the leader of the opposition USR, questioned how lawmakers had set the threshold.

“They thought that slot machines only damage 15,000 people,” he said. “There was not even a debate to see how many townships qualify for this 15,000. Why not 16, 17, why not two million and you would ban them definitively?”

Gambling venues have become ubiquitous across Romania over the last few decades. The National Gaming Office, the state body that monitors and approves the sector, has registered 12,000 sports betting, bingo, casino, lottery rooms.

The state collects taxes from gambling venue licenses and online ticket sales as from the amount betting houses spend on advertising.

There are no recent data to indicate how many people in Romania are addicted to gambling. The last survey was conducted in 2016, and found that there could be around 100,000 addicted people across the country. The number today could be much higher.

The post Romania Bans Gambling Venues in Small Towns and Villages appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.