Interviews

Non-traditional content roundtable

Published

3 years ago

July 11, 2022

Reading Time: 7 minutes

With younger generations of players now the target audience for operators and suppliers we are seeing an increase in non-traditional content hitting the market, including multiplayer and crash games. European Gaming spoke to a number of providers on the importance of innovating and evolving the casino offering to better suit player preferences.

Nikolay Illiustrov, Head of Games at Playson (NI)
Thomas Smallwood, Marketing Manager at ESA Games (TS)
Ivan Kravchuk, Chief Executive Officer at Evoplay (IK)
Arcangelo Lonoce, Head of Business Development at Habanero (AL)

European Gaming Congress 2024 (Warsaw, Poland)

What makes non-traditional content exciting in a market space where ‘slots are king’ and does this new genre make way for more innovation in iGaming?

NI: We believe that the fact that many younger customers arriving in online casinos are doing so without any prior knowledge of slots, be them online or land based. Whilst this is a challenge, it is also an opportunity for innovation.

Younger generations have grown up not just with different cultural influences but different forms of entertainment, such as mobile games and entertainment apps. Online slots are often a new experience, and it is not clear to them how games like this function. A game’s maths, features and even basic functionality are often alien to them.

To win them over and create longer playing sessions, developers need to provide context that is familiar to this audience. For example, we see lots of attempts to create “mobile-style” slots that relate to mobile games such as Scatter slots or Cluster Pays slots.

TS: I think it is natural that most operators want to appeal to a broader base with the content they offer. We all “consume” content on our mobiles differently than we did a few years ago, so from an acquisition perspective, as well as cross-selling from one vertical to another, non-traditional content gives more opportunities to engage with a different audience and retain those whose tastes are changing.

Non-traditional content gives more opportunity to innovate, but we certainly feel that this innovation is driven by what we see happening within certain demographics or sectors, rather than innovation for innovation’s sake. So, with purpose, non-traditional games like our sports-themed Goal Mine and Basketball Mine which have exciting goal or free-throw rounds, can genuinely attract new players. The same is true of our crash-style games, the format of which allows us to think outside of egaming norms.

IK: Evoplay has established itself as a leader in delivering innovation to the online casino space in many forms. With an aim of reforming the iGaming industry, we lead the way with unparalleled slots and instant games, featuring pioneering concepts that have never been seen on the market before.

Our flagship title, Star Guardians has become the perfect solution for millennial gamers, who now comprise 23% of the wider population. This generation has grown up surrounded by video games and new technologies, and naturally are in search of iGaming experiences that mimic the same excitement as modern products, while providing gambling elements to the play.

Another great example is our recently launched crash game, Goblin Run, with a runner mechanic and competitive spirit making the most of the industry’s obsession with crash-style experiences in recent months. We took a classic framework and introduced aspects of gamification, adding skins, ranks, and chat functions to enhance the social aspect and competitiveness of the experience. These titles alone demonstrate just how far we have come in terms of forcing our way into non-traditional content, and where we are heading on this impressive trajectory.

AL: Looking at the evidence, you can see that non-traditional content has been quite successful in our marketplace. Just look at crash games for example – they appeal to sports punters a lot more than slots do and have seen a meteoric rise this past year, simply due to the fact that they present a fresh idea of interaction and function at a fast pace, with multiple results being delivered in a limited amount of time. This makes them very appealing to players who might not like to spin reels and wait for wins.

I think most of the industry has come to the consensus that we need more non-traditional content, as currently it’s appealing to certain types of players. With that being said, we know that not all non-traditional content has proven successful with slot players. So, whether or not non-traditional content can be used to cross-sell slots, operators would be wise to target segmented demographics – such as those from different verticals.

What are the challenges when creating non-traditional content to ensure it appeals to the target audience?

NI: First and foremost, game design needs a lot of consideration. You need to rip up the rule book and consider options that will appeal to those who are not familiar with classic slots. This takes time, effort and investment and there is no guarantee that you will get it right every time, so it requires patience too. Given that niche solutions can be difficult to scale, you have to accept that there is a strong element of risk involved.

Lastly, and more importantly, you have to consider regulations. When entering a market with new mechanics you can’t be confident from day one about compliance, or how long the new game type will take to obtain all necessary licenses. There are very few overnight successes.

TS: Our lightweight mobile games do appeal to a large audience, therefore perhaps the biggest challenge is a lack of belief in non-traditional content. For example, although we can see in the figures the extent to which our EasySwipe™ games generate new revenue – and even help to increase turnover on sports – it requires the vision on the side of the operator to embrace this.

The flip side is that early adopters will also be able to learn more from the non-traditional content we, and other providers, develop. This intelligence will feed into bespoke content and of course greater power in acquiring a new generation of customers.

IK: If we’re talking about our 3D games, the main complexity lies in the implementation of various innovations in a cross-technology environment. To pull this off, it requires a thorough and fundamental development of every single component of a product. We often meet the challenge of implementing a concept’s design in the backend, while the adaption of our games to mobile platforms also requires a high level of attention to detail, especially in terms of the user interface and experience.

Thanks to our game engine Spinential, we can easily modify our products depending on market peculiarities and regulatory requirements. In addition to this, the engine allows us to add gamification elements to our titles, such as Bonus Buy and Jackpot features, making them even more attractive to audiences and operators.

AL: I can only speak for the non-traditional content we create ourselves, for example the content we produce wouldn’t necessarily appeal to those that want the crash games experience. But they will be presented in a different way from our traditional products. Take our Orbs of Atlantis title for example, the video slot doesn’t feature reels but is a game based on physics – where up to 80 different symbols fall and crash against each other, with adjacent symbols creating wins. This shows you can provide a mathematical model which is quite slot-based but deliver it in a way which appears to be different to slots. It’s important to cater to different demographics that might be more interested in a slightly different experience to the one you find in slots. As far as we are concerned, we ensure that our production follows a strong mathematical model that you generally find in slots.

Creating content that’s less traditional will naturally come with some challenges depending on who you’re targeting. If you want to attract those that like quick results, virtuals or live sports then you must ensure that your non-traditional content speaks to them on a cultural level. It all depends on your demographics and what you have in mind when you created the product. At Habanero, the non-traditional content we create is primarily aimed at slot players, as we have a strong understanding of the experience they’re after.

How do you expect this genre to develop in the near future with player preferences forever evolving?

NI: This genre has already shown promise when it comes to development and meeting player preferences with the advent of crash and multiplayer games. The former cater for players who feel quite comfortable betting but demand a quick and simple format.

Meanwhile, multiplayer games represent a great opportunity of attracting emerging demographics, bringing a social element into games creates an illusion of playing together with millions of other players. This feeling of being part of a community and share a gambling experience has great potential.

Tournaments could be also an example of a multiplayer approach, but not traditional tournament mechanics with a leaderboard and single winner. Instead, they provide a competition between teams where players can communicate with each other and create a more social and engaging experience.

TS: We will continue to produce our sports-themed Mine series, with Tennis Mine being released later in the year and new crash-style games to follow. At the same time, we will look to learn from the end user to see how we can do things better. Our ethos is about being simple, fast and mobile, so providing we do not waver from this we are happy to continue evolving the content we produce.

From a wider viewpoint we are discussing with operators how we can tailor our games to suit their specific markets, so there will be more bespoke content in the future, and bespoke in this sense will mean more than just adding a logo. We feel a degree of localisation is a potential game-changer for non-traditional content.

IK: I am confident that non-traditional content will continue developing and involve more providers as they become inspired by the positive experiences of other industry representatives. While there will always be demand for traditional slot content, the demand for ground-breaking products will only increase as the industry grows, giving developers a huge scope to deliver creativity and innovation.

The main obstacle for other providers is the risk associated with emerging technologies that are still new to them. We have seen this with the HTML5 revolution, and we are seeing it now with innovations like the metaverse. Having spent several years experimenting with solutions and developing our leading game engine, we already know what to expect and how to make the most of this innovation, while others need to start afresh.

AL: It’s hard to say, but the evidence shows that these games are here to stay because they tap into the culture and psychology of key demographics. It won’t take anything away from traditional content, but you can see everyone experimenting with designs that communicate fresh themes and experiences to an audience, whilst working out of a mathematical model that the audience is more familiar with.

Some companies have proven to be very successful and have grown very quickly in this space; this doesn’t seem to be a fad and appears to be something that taps into player culture. If you look at the way the market is evolving, then you will notice that there’s a type of restlessness from stakeholders to deliver different experiences to players.

Look at fishing games in Asia: they have proven tremendously successful in that region but they’re something which might not work elsewhere for a number of reasons. With non-traditional content you always have to consider player experiences which happen outside the realm of gambling and seamlessly combine this with suitable mathematical model – you’ll always need to maintain that gambling core that appeal to the demographics you are speaking to.

Interviews

Legends Charity Game: Rasmus Sojmark on Football Icons, Lisbon, and Raising €1 Million for Charity

Published

1 day ago

August 15, 2025

George Miller

legends-charity-game:-rasmus-sojmark-on-football-icons,-lisbon,-and-raising-e1-million-for-charity

Reading Time: 12 minutes

On 15 September 2025, Lisbon will host the Legends Charity Game, a once-in-a-lifetime football match where Portugal’s greatest players face off against global legends—all to raise over €1 million for four life-changing charities. In this exclusive interview, Rasmus Sojmark, CEO & Founder of SBC, shares the inspiration, the star-studded lineups, and the powerful purpose driving this historic event.

Q: What is the Legends Charity Game?

RS: The Legends Charity Game is something we’ve been dreaming about for a long time, and now it’s finally happening.

On Monday, 15 September, right in the heart of Lisbon, a team of Portugal’s greatest football legends will step onto the pitch to take on a global lineup of football legends from across the world.

These legends are the players so many of us grew up watching, idols who shaped our love for the game, now coming together for a match that is about more than nostalgia. It’s about charity, and our goal is to raise over €1,000,000 for four incredible organisations: the Ukrainian Red Cross Society, which continues to support those affected by the war in Ukraine, the Portuguese Red Cross, International Alert, and Caritas Portugal, which all do vital work with vulnerable communities in Portugal and beyond.

The match will welcome 60,000 fans to the stadium, either Estádio da Luz or Estádio José Alvalade, depending on Champions League scheduling announced at the end of August, and will be broadcast to millions around the world.

The Legends Charity Game is how we have chosen to open SBC Summit 2025. With real heart and purpose. So if you are planning to be in Lisbon for the Summit, please make sure to arrive before this Monday evening charity event.

We’ve poured everything into making it special, not because we had to, but because we believe in it. The players believe in it too. It is going to be emotional and genuinely amazing, and we can’t wait to share it with everyone.

I could go on about this for hours, but here’s the short version. This is about celebrating football’s greats, uniting people through sport and charity, and raising money for those who need it most. I’m proud we’re making it happen.

Q: What inspired you to launch the Legends Charity Game?

RS: Football has been part of my identity since I was a kid. I played it from the age of 5, lived it, breathed it. Like so many kids of my generation, I grew up idolising the greats from the 80s, 90s, and early 2000s, whose names appeared on every magazine cover and match highlight.

I played on muddy pitches and even dreamed of a career in the sport. And in one way or another, I did build my career around it, didn’t I?

If you had told me as a kid, sitting in front of my screen for hours playing Championship Manager, picking the likes of Figo, Mendieta, Cafu, Zanetti, Hagi, Del Piero, and Schmeichel for my ultimate squad, that one day I would be organising a real-life legends match, I wouldn’t have believed it.

But that is exactly what has happened.

At SBC and Sport Global, we have always focused on creating unique experiences, not just numbers. It has always been about making people feel something, creating memories, and bringing value and joy. The Legends Charity Game is a natural evolution of that mission.

Over the years, we have welcomed famous footballers to our events in many different ways. Some have played in the SBC Football Championship, like Mendieta. Others have hosted our awards, like Ruud Gullit, Marcel Desailly and Clarence Seedorf. We have had keynote speakers like Figo, Baresi and Peter Schmeichel, and visits from Brazil legends Cafu and Ronaldinho. Blending football with business has always been part of the SBC story.

Now, we are taking it a step further.

This game means a lot to me. It brings together everything I’ve loved since I was a kid. Football, community, and creating something memorable with people who share that same passion. But more than anything, it’s about doing some good and giving back. With so much conflict and hardship in the world, it felt important to use everything we’ve built to support others. It’s a way to give back and hopefully, make a real difference.

Q: Tell us a bit more about the game. Which football legends are confirmed for Portugal?

RS: It still feels surreal seeing all these names on the same team sheet. The Portugal Legends include players like Luís Figo, Deco, Carvalho, Simão, Maniche, Fábio Coentrão, Vitor Baia, Nuno Gomes, Hélder Postiga, and many more who have given fans unforgettable moments over the years.

Portugal made perfect sense for this match. Over the last few decades, the country has produced some of the most ambitious, technical, and passionate players in the world. From the Euro 2016 win to this year’s comeback in the UEFA Nations League against Spain, and the star players in the PSG Champions League-winning side, they’ve built a footballing culture that consistently punches above its weight. Portuguese football is on fire, and it’s clear even just by looking at the number of top players in elite clubs.

We’ve been lucky enough to work closely with the FPF (Portuguese Football Federation) to bring some of these great players along, and it’s been amazing to feel the excitement building in Lisbon. Portugal will be co-hosting the World Cup in 2030, so this match also feels like a tribute to the road that brought them here and the legends who paved the way.

Many of the players taking part were part of that legendary Euro 2004 squad. They made it to the final, only to lose to Greece in one of the biggest upsets in football history.

By the way, Georgios Karagounis, who captained that victorious Greek side in 2004, will now be lining up for the World Legends team, facing off against many of the same Portuguese players he beat in that final. Quite poetic.

Q: What about the World Legends squad?

RS: As mentioned, Karagounis will be lining up for the World Legends team, and I have no doubt some of the Portuguese players will be itching for a little revenge after that Euro 2004 final. That kind of history adds so much depth to this game. It’s not just about who’s playing, it’s about the stories, the rivalries, the shared memories that come flooding back.

They’ll be managed by Peter Schmeichel, an absolute legend, with Diego Lugano serving as assistant manager. Lugano captained Uruguay to Copa América success in 2011 and, while a recent injury keeps him off the pitch, he’ll be bringing his defensive leadership.

In goal, we’ve got none other than Edwin van der Sar, the Dutch giant and Manchester United legend. Two more keepers are yet to be announced!

In defence, we have a line of some of the best defenders the game has ever seen. Let’s start with Cafu, who captained Brazil to World Cup glory in 2002 and was also part of their 1994 winning squad. Cafu is joined by Marco Materazzi, who won five Serie A league titles in a row, a Champions League, and, of course, the 2006 World Cup. Then we’ve got Argentina’s Javier Zanetti, France’s Christian Karembeu — all Champions League winners — and another United and Champions League winner, Patrice Evra. But the rock in defence will be none other than Barcelona one-club legend and Spain 2010 World Cup winner Carles Puyol.

In midfield, we have a historic European dream lineup. Karagounis will be joined by Slovakia’s Marek Hamšík (Mr. Mohawk himself), a Napoli icon and Slovak captain who led his country to their first-ever World Cup. There’s also Gaizka Mendieta, a good friend of mine, representing Spain. I’ve admired Mendieta as one of the best playmakers in the world, especially during those unforgettable Champions League finals with Valencia, which made him the most expensive player in the world when he was sold to Lazio.

From France, we have Youri Djorkaeff, a World Cup winner and now CEO of the FIFA Foundation. Romania will be represented by Gheorghe Hagi, a player who, for me, ranks among the greatest of all time. Representing Bulgaria, we have Krassimir Balakov, a national legend and former national team manager.

And then there’s Kaka. One of the greatest players of all time. He is one of the nine players in the world to win the World Cup, Champions League, and Ballon d’Or.

Up front, we have the legendary Henrik Larsson from Sweden, and rest assured, he will be bringing his finishing touch. He is joined by Argentina’s Javier Saviola, who many Benfica fans will remember fondly (and many Sporting fans, maybe not so fondly)! Representing England, we have Michael Owen, Ballon d’Or winner and England striker ace. And from Italy, we have none other than Del Piero, Juventus superstar and Italy’s 2006 World Cup winner.

We wanted the World Legends squad to reflect the global spirit of football. To show that this is more than just a one-country tribute, but a celebration of the sport’s greatest names from every corner of the globe. Players who’ve shaped football history, brought joy to millions, and now come together for a cause that’s bigger than the game itself.

Q: Why do you believe football, and in particular the Legends Charity Game, is uniquely positioned to rally people behind meaningful causes?

RS: Football has this incredible, almost magical power to bring people together, often in ways nothing else can. I’ve seen total strangers become best friends (or mortal enemies) over a last-minute goal. It’s one of the only things that can make grown adults paint their faces, cry on live TV, and believe that “this year is our year”… every single year. But behind all the passion and drama, football also has a serious superpower: it connects people. That’s what makes it such a powerful platform for rallying people behind meaningful causes.

When legends of the game take to the pitch, people pay attention. And when that spotlight can be used to raise awareness, funding, and momentum for causes that truly matter, it becomes an opportunity to do something that goes beyond the pitch. That’s the spirit behind the Legends Charity Game.

The World Legends and the Portugal Legends appeal to generations. Many of us have grown up idolising these players and watching them play the beautiful game for decades.

Younger generations still admire the legends when they watch streams or YouTube clips of the likes of Ronaldinho bringing his magic to the game like few other players have ever been able to achieve. They are also playing with the Legends in the EA Sports FC game titles (former EA Sports FIFA series), and now they get to watch them play live at the Legends Charity Game.

In a few words, the Legends Charity Game has a generational appeal. Father, son, and grandfather will want to watch the game together.

Q: What guided your decision to aim for over €1,000,000 and choose the charities you’re supporting?

RS: Setting a goal of €1,000,000 was about being honest with ourselves about what this match could achieve. If we’re going to bring together global football icons, fill a stadium in Lisbon, and broadcast this around the world, then we owe it to the cause to aim high. We wanted a goal that felt bold, that actually moves the needle, and that reflects the power of football when it’s used as a force for good.

As for the charities, it was important for us to connect both globally and locally to honour the people in Lisbon welcoming us, and to stand with those who need solidarity the most. This game is our way of doing that. This landmark event supports four incredible charities working on the frontlines of crisis.

The Red Cross in Ukraine continues to provide emergency aid and medical care to civilians devastated by the war in Ukraine
The Portuguese Red Cross brings relief to communities affected by natural disasters and economic hardship at home.
International Alert is working tirelessly to build peace and protect vulnerable lives in conflict-affected regions around the world.
Caritas Portugal ensures that families in Portugal facing poverty and displacement are given dignity, support, and shelter.

By supporting this game, fans and players alike are turning their love for football into a force for good. It’s a powerful reminder that the global football family can do more than entertain. It can heal, empower, and restore hope. Together, we can make this more than a game. We can make it a movement.

Q: Will the match be streamed or televised? How can fans actively take part in this initiative before, during, or after the match?

RS: Yes, the match will be both streamed and televised. We’re working closely with broadcasters to make sure the Legends Charity Game can be watched by fans around the world, whether you’re in Portugal or elsewhere. The production is being handled by SBC, and we’re treating it like a top-tier broadcast. Think Champions League-level coverage, with multiple camera angles, spider cams, and a full stadium setup. We want people watching from home to feel every moment, just like those in the stands.

As for getting involved, there are lots of ways to be part of this. You can buy a ticket and join us in Lisbon. If you can’t be there in person, you can still support the cause: tune into the livestream, donate online, share the event with your network, or enter the charity raffle that will take place during halftime.

Q: How did you convince sponsors that this wasn’t just a “CSR checkbox” but a meaningful movement?

RS: We’re incredibly grateful to the sponsors who believed in this from the very beginning.

Oftentimes, people view a sponsorship as just putting logos on a screen. This is when it’s hard to sell — if you can’t convince people that there’s something real and solid behind the idea. In this case, it was really easy. It was about standing behind something real.

We never approached sponsors with a slick CSR deck or a “feel-good” checkbox. That’s not what this is about. From day one, the Legends Charity Game has been something built with heart, purpose, and a real desire to use football for something greater.

We are building something with substance. A world-class lineup of true football legends. A clear, ambitious goal to raise €1,000,000. Four incredible charities. And most of all, a belief that football has the power to bring people together and inspire action.

What really made the difference with sponsors was the sincerity. They could see this wasn’t just a one-off. We’re not aiming for a press release headline and moving on. We’re building a tradition. That clarity, combined with the emotion behind the cause, is what resonated.

So, a huge and heartfelt thank you to our early confirmed sponsors like Soft2Bet, Sportingtech, YO Health, Spribe, Amusnet, Vegas Legends, Alea, Playtech, Smartsoft, Superbet and iGP. You didn’t just sponsor a match. You became part of the Legends Charity Game. Your support is helping us do something that goes beyond football, something that will genuinely make a difference in people’s lives. So yes, for our sponsors, it was a show of solidarity. A reminder of what good football can do when we put our hearts into it.

Q: As Lisbon prepares to host 60,000 fans, what role are local and global partners playing in helping you spread the word across borders?

RS: Local and global partners have played a huge role in making this more than just a one-night event in Lisbon. From day one, our goal was to create something that resonated well beyond the stadium walls, and that wouldn’t be possible without the incredible support we’ve had across the board. The Portuguese Football Federation, Benfica, and Sporting CP have been instrumental in giving this project a true home in Portugal. They’re part of the country’s identity, and having their backing has rooted the event in local pride and credibility from the very beginning.

But to spread this message globally, we’ve also leaned on the strength of our media and strategic partners such as A Bola, Ringier Sports Media Group, MARCA, La Gazzetta dello Sport, Better Collective, Sport1, SofaScore, Flashscore, Record, Stats Perform, and more. They’re helping us tell the story, one about legacy, community, and purpose. With their help, we’re reaching fans in Spain, Italy, Portugal, Greece, Poland, Romania, Sweden, Denmark, Slovakia, the Netherlands, Mexico and beyond.

We are working closely with MediaPro to create the live broadcast of the event, which we aim to share with millions of people around the world. Several broadcasting partners have been lined up across Europe, Brazil, and Latin America.

Our own experience as an events company helped us scale this quickly, but it’s the trust we’ve built over time, as SBC and through Sport Global, that opened doors and made people want to get involved. And of course, none of this would be possible without the unbelievable team behind the scenes who turned a big idea into something real in record time.

Q: The Legends Charity Game will take place on September 15, just a day before the SBC Summit 2025 kicks off. How do you envision the synergy between the charity game and SBC Summit?

RS: The timing of the Legends Charity Game on September 15 is obviously very convenient. It’s a way to open SBC Summit 2025 with purpose, emotion, and meaning. The Summit is our biggest show yet, expecting 30,000 attendees from across the global gaming and tech industries. But before all the panels, meetings, and networking kick off, we wanted to ground everyone in what we are really passionate about: a genuine love for sport and a belief in its power to bring people together.

The Legends Charity Game gives us a chance to pause and do something meaningful as a community. It’s about football, connection, and giving back. It brings together iconic players, fans, industry professionals, and local communities around a shared moment. And starting the week that way, not with a handshake, but with heart, changes the tone of everything that follows. Yes, we run major events for the iGaming world, but our mission is bigger than that. We’re here to grow not just the industry, but the impact it can have. That’s the synergy, and it’s what makes this week in Lisbon feel truly special.

And, by the way, on Tuesday, September 16, many of the players from both the Portugal and World Legends squads will appear live on the Super Stage at the MEO Arena. Hosted by Kirsty Gallacher, this will be a rare opportunity for attendees to hear directly from the legends, ask questions, and share a moment with some of football’s most iconic figures. It’s a continuation of the emotion from the night before, and for many, it will be the first time seeing these football greats. What an experience.

Q: Do you think this could become an annual tradition?

RS: Absolutely, it will. With Portugal set to co-host the World Cup in 2030, our goal is to make this an annual fixture, year after year, right here in Lisbon. Honestly, I couldn’t be more excited. It’s a passion project in every sense of the word.

The Legends Charity Game is more than just a match—it’s a celebration of football, unity, and giving back on a global stage. With Portugal’s football heroes facing off against world legends, and a goal to raise over €1 million, this event promises to leave a lasting legacy both on and off the pitch. To hear more of Rasmus Sojmark’s insights into the business of sport, charity, and the iGaming industry, check out his recent appearance on the HIPTHER Talks Podcast — listen to the audio here or watch the video here.

The post Legends Charity Game: Rasmus Sojmark on Football Icons, Lisbon, and Raising €1 Million for Charity appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

Interviews

Exclusive Interview: Firesand Shield – Combatting Account Fraud in iGaming

Published

2 days ago

August 14, 2025

Zoltan Tundik

exclusive-interview:-firesand-shield-–-combatting-account-fraud-in-igaming

Reading Time: 4 minutes

In an era where digital threats are becoming increasingly sophisticated, the iGaming industry faces a relentless battle against fraud and cyberattacks. To combat this evolving landscape, European Gaming recently spoke with Chris Blake, Director at Firesand, about their new product, Firesand Shield. This cutting-edge security solution has been developed to tackle the complex tactics of modern fraudsters and hackers head-on.

In this interview, Chris Blake provides an in-depth look at how Firesand Shield was created specifically to combat the rise of account fraud, explaining how these attacks are becoming more automated and stealthy. He details the product’s multi-layered approach that goes beyond traditional bot detection, integrating seamlessly with operator platforms while delivering powerful real-time intelligence. Blake also discusses how Firesand Shield not only protects against fraud but also helps operators meet stringent regulatory requirements in highly regulated markets. Finally, he shares his vision for the future, outlining how Firesand is committed to staying one step ahead of a constantly changing threat environment.

Firesand Shield was developed to combat the rise of account fraud within the iGaming industry. How are these attacks evolving, and what level of disruption are they causing?

Account fraud is becoming more sophisticated. Attackers now use highly automated ‘low and slow’ techniques that avoid detection by mimicking normal user behaviour, which allows them to evade detection, as well as exploit platforms at scale.

In another change, rather than brute force attacks on platforms, we’re seeing credential stuffing attacks powered by breached data and botnets. This is where nefarious actors will use stolen databases of known usernames and passwords to try and gain access to accounts.

The outcome of this is that these attacks can cause significant impacts on operators. Compromised accounts lead to chargebacks, bonus abuse, regulatory issues, and player attrition.

Firesand Shield was built specifically to address these challenges at the level the industry demands. It goes beyond standard bot detection by recognising behavioural indicators that traditional tools miss, using a multi-layered approach that combines analytics, reputation intelligence, and real time risk profiling.

Our proactive, intelligence-led defence ensures that operators have a significant advantage in preventing fraud, maintaining platform integrity, and crucially, preserves a seamless player experience.

How does Firesand Shield integrate with operator platforms and back ends to deliver a seamless solution?

Integration can take part via two methods, that are both unobtrusive to the day-to-day activities of a platform. A classic API integration sees operators connect core user workflows, including login, registration, password reset, to Firesand via RESTful APIs. Firesand returns risk scores based on credential health, unusual behaviour, and IP location mismatches.

In addition, through both OAuth for enterprise SSO and simple username and password logins, we can facilitate access to a live dashboard provides visibility into login trends, potential attacks, and detailed metrics.

How can Firesand Shield help operators reduce regulatory risk, especially in highly regulated jurisdictions like the US, UK, or mature European markets?

Modern regulations demand active threat detection, prevention, and response, not just passive tools like firewalls or CAPTCHAs. There are demands now to prove you can detect, prevent, and respond to credential-based threats that potentially compromise platform integrity.

Firesand Shield supports this with real-time detection of threats, human-led attack identification, and unwanted actors.

As well as identifying potential threats, our built-in dashboards offer real-time reporting, instant access to logs and forensic data, and are created to ensure that all reports are audit-ready, with one-click data exports. This removes the operational burden of post-incident analysis, and allows operators to demonstrate control across their estate, satisfying regulators and clients alike.

It all aligns with best practices under various regulations, such as GDPR, gambling commission rules, and state-level cybersecurity legislation in the US. Firesand Shield is not just a fraud prevention tool, but a powerful compliance ally.

What kind of real-time fraud intelligence and threat response capabilities does Firesand Shield offer for operators managing large-scale player traffic during peak events?

Big sporting events, casino promotions, or game launches are prime targets for attackers. They use the surge in traffic as cover for credential stuffing, account takeovers, and bonus abuse. These aren’t just bot driven, but increasingly human-led or blended threats designed to bypass legacy defences.

Firesand Shield is built for high-volume, high-risk environments, delivering real time results under pressure, and automated mitigation at scale.

With traffic pattern monitoring that detects abnormal spikes in activity, or dynamic reputation scoring, where traffic from known malicious sources can be blocked, the product allows for real time decision making that assists operators. Firesand Shield goes beyond detection, allowing for immediate responses all controlled from our dashboard.

Even during peak events, Firesand Shield ensures system performance is unaffected while delivering the fraud protection and data required to protect players, satisfy regulators, and maintain operational integrity.

With an outlined roadmap of improvements to Firesand Shield, can security software keep pace with the ever-changing landscape of bot-driven fraud attacks?

Absolutely, and it must. The landscape of account fraud, particularly bot-driven attacks, is evolving faster than ever. Attackers continuously adapt, using more advanced automation, machine learning, and even human fraud farms to bypass traditional defences. Static, rules-based systems quickly become outdated. That is why Firesand Shield is built as a living platform with agility at its core.

Our development roadmap is shaped by continuous threat intelligence, client feedback, and industry trends. Upcoming enhancements include:

Additional bot detection
VPN detection
Adaptive risk-scoring algorithms, tuned in real time to each operator’s unique traffic patterns
Machine learning models that evolve as attacker tactics change
Expanded breach intelligence feeds to flag compromised credentials faster
Operator-led rule customisation, allowing real-time tuning without code or downtime
User hygiene scoring, offering visibility into the health of player credentials across your platform

What makes Firesand Shield different is that it is not just reactive, but proactive and predictive. We’re not waiting for attackers to act. Instead, we are constantly learning from data across the iGaming ecosystem and pushing updates to stay ahead.

Built with regulatory frameworks in mind, we have strived to produce a solution that counters multiple pain points experienced across the industry that can have severe effects on operations if bad actors are successful with their intentions.

For operators and regulators alike, this means confidence that Firesand Shield is not just fit for today, but also ready for what’s next. Security software can and must keep pace, and our roadmap ensures that Firesand Shield leads that charge.

The post Exclusive Interview: Firesand Shield – Combatting Account Fraud in iGaming appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

Interviews

Driving the Future of Fast-Betting Esports: Inside BETER’s Global Expansion

Published

2 days ago

August 14, 2025

Zoltan Tundik

driving-the-future-of-fast-betting-esports:-inside-beter’s-global-expansion

Reading Time: 7 minutes

In the dynamic and rapidly evolving world of esports, a new chapter is being written at BETER with the appointment of Adam Conway as the General Manager of Esports. A veteran with over a decade of experience at SIS, where he was instrumental in shaping their esports and trading strategies, Conway brings a wealth of knowledge and a fresh perspective to his new role. In this exclusive interview, we delve beyond the surface-level discussions and get a frank, insightful look into the core issues driving the esports betting industry today.

Conway offers a deep dive into the burgeoning trend of fast-bet esports, examining its growth trajectory and its place within a regulatory framework that is still playing catch-up. He sheds light on the crucial interplay of computer vision, cutting-edge integrity technology, and live data, explaining how these elements are forging the next generation of betting models. The conversation also turns to BETER’s impressive scaling, revealing how the company manages to host over 500,000 monthly events while maintaining an exceptionally low integrity breach rate of under 0.01%.

Furthermore, Conway outlines the strategic importance of key markets such as the US, Latin America, and the APAC region in the future evolution of esports products. This Q&A is a refreshing departure from the usual industry fluff, offering a candid look at both the commercial drivers and the compliance challenges. Conway provides his unique perspective on what regulators often misunderstand about micro-markets, making this a must-read for anyone interested in the future of esports betting.

You spent more than a decade at SIS where you oversaw its trading desks and in-house tournaments. Why after such a long and successful period with the company, did you decide to jump ship to BETER? And what are you hoping to achieve with BETER?

Fast-betting content for esports and sports was pioneered by BETER, which soon became the in-demand provider of this type of content to operators worldwide. Being offered the chance to lead its esports division was an opportunity I knew I was best placed to take, so I couldn’t turn it down. Naturally, it was a tough decision to leave SIS, a company where I spent more than a decade working my way up through senior roles such as Head of Trading and Global Head of Esports and Competitive Gaming, but all good things must come to an end, and for me, the scale of the opportunity and the timing were just right.

In terms of what can be achieved, it’s about building on the incredibly strong foundation that is already in place. This has been done by being a trailblazer in the fast-betting esports content space and bringing next-generation products to market, such as its flagship ESportsBattle tournaments, which set the industry standard. It covers multiple disciplines, including eFootball, eHockey, eBasketball, and most recently, eTennis, with contests held in dedicated facilities located in three countries. Across these titles, BETER has more than 300 semi-professional athletes on its books, just to give you an idea of the scale of the operation. We deliver live streams, real-time data, and odds for more than 35,000 exclusive ESportsBattle events each month, and we are on track to scale that to 500,000 events annually. But this will only be possible because of the passion, commitment, and dedication of the BETER team, while maintaining leading uptime and margins from a trading perspective.

This sheer volume ensures operators can consistently provide a wide range of engaging content, tailored to the interests of their players. And despite the scale, only 0.01% of matches are flagged for investigation as suspicious, thanks to our dedicated Integrity team, which operates around the clock with a clear framework and robust oversight tools.

Additionally, BETER offers a powerful Esports Odds Feed, delivering market-leading odds with the highest uptime for more than 450 tournaments globally. This includes over 40,000 pre-match and live events annually across popular titles such as CS2, Dota 2, League of Legends, Valorant, and more. Our coverage spans tournaments from Tier 1 to Tier 3, accounting for up to 95% of all available contests. Odds are calculated using official data and refined by our in-house team of more than 130 expert traders.

As you can see, BETER is the most promising fast-betting content provider in the industry. Its scale is unmatched across esports and sports products, locations and venues, monthly event volume, athletes, and the calibre of its trading team. But most importantly, this is only the beginning. I see tremendous potential to further expand BETER’s portfolio and transform it into a true industry powerhouse, leveraging my 20+ years of experience to help drive that vision forward.

The scope and scale of your tournaments are unrivalled, with thousands of contests taking place each month with the goal of offering even more. But how are you elevating your offering beyond the quantity of contests run, and how do you ensure you continue to meet the highest standards of quality?

Being able to offer enough events to fill gaps in operators’ offerings is a powerful advantage, especially when it comes to selecting a reliable content provider. However, volume alone isn’t enough to keep bettors engaged 24/7, particularly when catering to Gen Z and Millennial audiences.

That’s why we constantly diversify our offerings by adding disciplines and experimenting with new formats. For example, our eFootball content includes three formats (2×4, 2×6, and Volta), while eBasketball is available in two formats (4×5 and 4×8).

We’ve also recently launched eTennis tournaments, making BETER the first provider to bring such content to the market. This allows operators to stand out with a truly unique product. We’re starting with around 400 monthly events, with plans to scale up to 2,200 by year-end, featuring various match formats across two concurrent 24/7 streams.

It`s just a small part of our broader product development roadmap. We’re actively exploring new opportunities and assessing the potential value we can deliver to partners across the Atlantic. Among the most promising additions to our tournament lineup are eBaseball and American eFootball—two disciplines that align well with the preferences of key target markets and can be seamlessly launched and integrated thanks to our technical capabilities and dedicated professional team.

We’re also focused on delivering a more engaging and comprehensive bettor experience by expanding the number and variety of available markets. Our trading team is currently working on integrating player props, corners, card markets and more into our fast-betting offering, designed to bring more thrills and boost bettor retention.

Our expansion spans all key markets: North America, Latin America, APAC, and Europe. However, global reach also requires continuous product validation and adjustments, particularly in terms of localisation and compliance with local regulatory policies. That’s why we prioritise stability, transparency and reliability—qualities that operators consistently demand. Because of this, ESportsBattle maintains one of the highest uptimes in the industry, exceeding 90%, while also delivering a sustainable operator margin of 7.5%.

In response to partner demand, we’ve also begun offering fully branded, dedicated eFootball tournaments. These give operators the ability to further differentiate themselves and engage bettors more effectively.

BETER team at the EGR B2B Awards 2025 — proud winners of the Esports Betting Supplier award

What integrity safeguards do you consider absolutely essential today, given your pioneering work with sub-second latency streams and on-camera referees? And where do you still see cracks that technology or policy must address?

There are very few cracks left, thanks to the outstanding work of our dedicated Integrity team, which is now over 20 strong and led by Andrii Nekrutov, our Chief Integrity Officer, who brings more than 20 years of experience in law enforcement and security. Integrity is the cornerstone of our operations, and we uphold the principles of fair play across all tournaments and matches.

We’ve developed a comprehensive, multi-pillar approach to integrity, which includes onboarding, education and prevention, regulations, monitoring, investigation and prosecution. We also collaborate closely with law enforcement agencies, sporting bodies and federations.

We maintain a holistic approach to corporate governance, supported by an integrity certification system, multilingual and multi-platform educational programs, our proprietary Integrity Incident Database and Operations Centre, dedicated whistleblowing platform and more. These measures have collectively earned us several accolades, including the Safer Gambling Award at this year’s European iGaming Awards.

To bring all these initiatives together, we developed Integrity+, our proprietary digital platform designed to prevent match-fixing, support athletes and uphold fair play. Powered by AI and accessible across all devices, Integrity+ seamlessly integrates education, reporting and real-time risk management into a single, comprehensive tool tailored to the needs of today’s sports professionals.

Additionally, we recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the International Betting Integrity Association (IBIA) and became a member of the Esports Integrity Commission (ESIC, also receiving its Gold Standard Accreditation. As part of that process, ESIC conducted a thorough review of our operations, including physical studio security, access control, surveillance and CCTV coverage, communication device restrictions, event oversight, personnel requirements and game settings. We successfully met all their criteria.

Trading is now very much a data game, but that hasn’t always been the case. Looking back, which single data signal had the greatest impact on pricing accuracy and what underrated metric will you deploy at BETER to keep your esports traders ahead of the competition?

Without a doubt, the automation of scouting through Computer Vision has been a game-changer, and it’s something I’ve made a top priority since joining BETER. This technology, which is set to go live soon, is fundamental because it delivers both speed and precision in trading processes, a combination that’s no longer optional in today’s market.

Looking ahead, the next frontier for us is machine learning. By embedding it into our trading models, we’ll be able to continuously refine and optimise our strategies, unlocking deeper insights, increasing responsiveness, and ultimately delivering greater value to our operator partners and their players. It’s not just about staying ahead—it’s about setting the pace.

Globally, it seems regulators are getting more comfortable with esports but remain cautious about micro-markets. What is it about fast-betting products that some regulators don’t like and how are you looking to educate them as to how the product can be offered responsibly?

As a provider of fast-betting products, it is our responsibility to work closely with regulators, not only to meet their rigorous standards but also to ensure we partner exclusively with official operators and aggregators who hold the necessary approvals in their respective jurisdictions.

For instance, in securing vendor registration in New Jersey, we worked hand in hand with the Division of Gaming Enforcement to obtain the required approvals to deliver our content to local operators and players. We have taken the same collaborative approach in other regulated markets such as Buenos Aires and Peru, where we also maintain the necessary licences and certifications.

In every case, our commitment to integrity has helped reassure regulators that our content is fair, secure, and compliant. We have also demonstrated how we support our operator partners in offering our content responsibly, with our Integrity and Trading teams working side-by-side with partners’ teams.

Of course, it’s essential for operators to offer the experiences players are seeking— increasingly fast-bet products for esports. By partnering with BETER, they can meet this demand while being fully confident in the fairness, integrity, and safety of the content they offer.

The post Driving the Future of Fast-Betting Esports: Inside BETER’s Global Expansion appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.