Interviews

Personalisation in sportsbook roundtable

Published

3 years ago

August 8, 2022

George Miller

Reading Time: 7 minutes

Leonid Pertsovskiy, Chief Executive Officer at Betby

If the pandemic has taught us anything about the current landscape of sportsbetting, it is that immersive experiences that facilitate modern requirements and short attention spans are becoming essential to survival. With the space becoming increasingly saturated with similar offerings and products, creating a more engaging user journey is key to standing out and ultimately retaining business.

How have you pivoted your offering to facilitate modern customer preferences? Or is it a case of ‘it if ain’t broke, don’t fix it’?

At Betby, we have done a lot over the past couple of years to adjust our sportsbook to the unique preferences of modern users, even though the general needs and requirements have remained consistent over the past five, or even ten years. The end user still wants to see their favourite events on a platform, as well as less distractions, higher limits, and instant bet settlement, and our sportsbook offering has evolved over the years to facilitate these preferences and attract a broader demographic of user.

Nowadays, our platform features high-quality content, including markets on more than 90 traditional sports, major tournament that stretch across the globe, an impressive selection of esports and virtual sports events, and the cherry on the cake: our proprietary Betby.Games range.

The remarkable variety of our offering is what helps us to stand out from the crowd and engage new users. A year ago, nobody could have predicted that we would be able to offer Kabaddi, Golf and Formula 1 live to our audiences, but our sportsbook has really opened up avenues to the rest of the world in a drive to provide followers of all sports with suitable markets, and live odds. It is important to be flexible to satisfy client needs, while offering same level of adaptation when talking about risk-management, localisation strategies, and promotional campaigns. Investing in flexibility means investing in long-term stability and adjusting to the post-pandemic sportsbook landscape.

We’re seeing plenty of changes in user behaviour and betting patterns, led by a surge in ‘in-play’ betting, Prop Bets, and Bet-Builder tools. What are you doing to capitalise on this phenomenon?

We’ve certainly played with the idea of dividing up old-school audiences from the newcomers, due to the differences in their behaviours. We understand experienced punters don’t particularly enjoy new features or innovation within sportsbook, and therefore require a simplified layout and interface that they can relate to, while on the other side of the spectrum, new users enjoy being met with an abundance of new technologies and products thanks to their pursuit of instant gratification.

Our recent focus has been on boosting gamification and the social aspects of our sportsbook, which aligns neatly with modern user requirements, such as needing consistent entertainment and various aspects of interaction in their experiences.

Have any innovations in the sportsbetting space have caught your attention?

We see a lot of innovations in the field of data analysis and recommendation systems where reporting and business intelligence (BI) tools have become more integral, and the times of buying market share with traffic investments are over. Our clients see just how easily and effectively they can optimise their marketing budgets using our BI analytics system, and this is exciting for both us and them.

Another innovation that we have started to see more of this past year is contests being created occurring between passionate sport followers. While casino tournaments have existed for the best art of a decade now, sportsbook was always seen as less capable of supporting engaging competitions, especially between punters, which is why we recently introduced a sportsbook tournaments engine, which has shown fantastic results.

With the worlds of esports and sports betting blending at an unprecedented rate, is it time that esports merits its own tab in a sportsbook?

Yes, absolutely. Esports has an entirely different audience to regular sports, as well as a distinct streaming-centric user interface, and even a different approach to risk-management in sportsbook and marketing strategy.

Esports as a vertical is very much here to stay, and competitions are extremely popular when it comes to the betting experience that surrounds their unique events, with passionate fans that enjoy placing a wide selection of bets on them. It is a very rare for a user to follow both traditional sports as well as esports, let alone combine the two in one betslip, and for this reason it should have its own tab that is managed differently to the classic sportsbook. Esports is an entirely different space to that of traditional sports, and with interaction between players and esports followers occurring in so many ways, it needs to be respected as a phenomenon.

Bobby Longhurst, Managing Director at Sportingtech

If the pandemic has taught us anything about the current landscape of sports betting, it is that immersive experiences that facilitate modern requirements and short attention spans are becoming essential to survival. With the space becoming increasingly saturated with similar offerings and products, creating a more engaging user journey is key to standing out and ultimately retaining business.

How have you pivoted your offering to facilitate modern customer preferences? Or is it a case of ‘it if ain’t broke, don’t fix it’?

We’re constantly evolving and catering our offering not only to new customer types but to specific markets. Rather than resting on our laurels, we’re consistently dedicated to incorporating new ideas and solutions into the Sportingtech Quantum platform. Attention to detail is imperative; if the customer believes there has been a lack of effort in the offering put before them, the overall success of the operation will be jeopardised. Localisation, and by extension player profiling, is what sets an offering apart from the competition, and this is something that Sportingtech prioritises – most prominently displayed in our proprietary Popular Bets and Popular Events widgets. In today’s industry, the idea that a one-size-fits-all solution can be offered is one that just doesn’t stand up. Our Quantum platform also has modularity at its core, and this is something that can’t be overlooked – if operators are handed the reins, they can personalise their own offering and subsequently make the experience better for the end user.

We’re seeing plenty of changes in user behaviour and betting patterns, led by a surge in ‘in-play’ betting, Prop Bets, and Bet Builder tools. What are you doing to capitalise on this phenomenon?

The rising prominence of these new kinds of betting is clear to see, but this relatively new environment can be a confusing place to navigate for newcomers. Sportingtech’s Bet Assist offering is ideally placed, making traversing platforms more straightforward for players – it generates automated betting tips based on historical data, live-score and AI analysis, covering both pre-match and in-play markets across seven sports and with complete bet slip integration, and has been proven to increase user engagement, retention and turnover rates. In addition, our FastBet solution, which enables users to wager multiple single bets across all sports at the touch of a button without creating a betslip, is the only feature of its kind on the market. Players are likely to place more bets than they usually would with a standard betslip.

Have any innovations in the sports betting space caught your attention?

Sports betting is a hub of innovation, and our Popular Bets and Popular Events widgets are testament to this. They allow operators to display a particular market’s current top-10 bets and top-10 events, automatically refreshing every five minutes. Offering our operator customers a localised, intuitive way to immediately boost engagement is extremely gratifying. With minimum effort on the operators’ part, they can be confident that their players are constantly being shown the most popular bets and events at any one time. Our priority is to provide flexibility of use, allowing operators to display the bets and events on different areas of their sites while also being optimised for mobile and desktop. It is important that they auto-populate according to the operators’ markets, which has gone a long way to making this the hassle-free and personalised engagement tool we set out to make.

With the worlds of esports and sports betting blending at an unprecedented rate, is it time that esports merited its own tab in a sportsbook?

Sportingtech’s authority in Latin America is well documented, and we are seeing that esports’ popularity in these markets is on a steep upward trajectory. New opportunities frequently arise in emerging markets for the introduction of new verticals, and our platform offers a quick and easy way to market, offering the very best of what esports has to deliver. Bettors in LatAm markets have fallen in love with esports and its popularity looks set to continue to grow – esports will certainly merit its own place in a sportsbook if this trend continues.

Suren Khachatryan, founder and CEO of Technamin

If the pandemic has taught us anything about the current landscape of sports betting, it is that immersive experiences that facilitate modern requirements and short attention spans are becoming essential to survival. With the space becoming increasingly saturated with similar offerings and products, creating a more engaging user journey is key to standing out and ultimately retaining business.

How have you pivoted your offering to facilitate modern customer preferences? Or is it a case of ‘it if ain’t broke, don’t fix it’?

Innovation is one of the cornerstones of Technamin. We could have easily stuck with the traditional approach to a sportsbook, but we decided to take things a step further and develop a sportsbook that is ideally suited to the needs of both operators and bettors. The “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” philosophy may apply to all sportsbooks, as their functionalities are by and large the same. However, it’s the approach that differs. Our approach is to create a product that is easily customisable to each partner’s preference and offers each end user a personalised sports betting experience.

With the development of technology and innovation, users are displaying a decreased attention span. Therefore, the majority of players prefer matches with rapid changes and easy solutions. Technamin works hard to provide the maximum amount of live matches and in-play betting throughout the year with the most reliable odds. Our professional team of traders and risk managers make sure we provide the most accurate data to our partners. Bet Builder and Prop Bets are the other tools that make the players’ journey more enjoyable and multifunctional. These are the features that our team continually develops.

Have any innovations in the sports betting space caught your attention?

I think we are living in the best of times when it comes to innovation in sports betting. We are very keen on how crypto payments are going to evolve in the sector. These currencies are already taking the industry by storm, and things are only going to progress from there. Another feature we are very excited about is the addition of VR and augmented reality technology that is going to create a more immersive experience for the end user. Overall, every technological innovation is exciting because it can be a gateway to something breathtaking.

With the worlds of esports and sports betting blending at an unprecedented rate, is it time that esports merited its own tab in a sportsbook?

Certainly so. Regardless of where each of us stands in the “are esports real sports?” debate, the facts clearly show that esports are here to stay and are popular when it comes to the betting experience. The fans are passionate about them and love to bet on the events. It’s just another fresh and innovative side of sports betting that we must embrace and build on. And the growing demand is something that operators must meet if they wish to maintain their popularity in the industry. Of course, we at Technamin are here to help with that!

BetMGM

Breaking America with BetMGM

Published

4 days ago

January 20, 2026

GamingAmericas.com

We speak to Charles Mott, CEO & Co-Founder at S Gaming, about the provider’s move into the US market with BetMGM and why more casual gameplay hits the mark with players stateside

Congratulations on your deal with BetMGM in the USA. Why is this such a milestone market launch for S Gaming?

The deal with BetMGM marks our hotly-anticipated launch in the US market, and sees our games go live to players in core regulated states such as New Jersey, Pennsylvania, West Virginia and Michigan. We see huge potential for our content in the North American market, and to make our debut with such a high-calibre operator is a testament to this. The US is still just finding its feet as a regulated online casino market, and our games, with their focus on sustainability and high entertainment, are the perfect fit for audiences who are used to land-based slots and are increasingly moving online. They are simple, easy to understand and play, and ultimately deliver tons of fun over longer playing sessions – just like the slot machines found on the floors of casinos in Las Vegas and beyond.

Just how important was it to go live with a tier-one operator like BetMGM? And how will the deal allow you to quickly build momentum in the US?

It’s mission critical. Going live with BetMGM allows us to build immediate trust with players, tap into a large and loyal playerbase, and simultaneously enter multiple regulated iCasino states at the same time. Now that we are up and running with BetMGM, we are turning our attention to striking partnerships with other operators active in the market. It’s pretty much the same blueprint that we’ve followed in our home market of the UK where we are now live with all but a handful of brands – something we have been able to achieve in a little over two years. We know the US is a slightly different market, but we are confident in our approach to game development and, as we gather more data on how US players interact with our games, will use this feedback loop to guide our product roadmap going forwards so that each title is better than the last and more suited to the preferences of US players.

You mentioned that your games are aimed at more casual players. How does this align with the preferences of US consumers?

If you walk onto the gaming floor of any Las Vegas casino, you’ll see row after row of slot machines. Increasingly, these machines are designed to keep players entertained for longer through gripping gameplay and regular wins. A lot of online slot content delivers high risk/high reward gameplay, where players can quickly clear through their balance as they hunt down big wins – wins that don’t land all that often. In a market where operators care deeply about retention and lifetime value, games that keep players spinning for longer really matter. Our approach to producing sustainable, fun games for players in the UK and Europe has allowed us to not only stand out but to engage players at scale, and we are confident players in the US, especially those who enjoy land-based slotting, will also be drawn to them at scale.

Has launching in the US been a major undertaking for S Gaming, or did it prove to be plain sailing for the most part?

When planning our move into the US market we identified two routes. We have our own remote game server, so we could build on that, secure licences in each state we wanted to enter, and then deploy our content directly with operators. The other option would be to work with a third-party RGS provider that already has the licences and integrations we needed. While the first option might sound like the best, in reality, especially for a smaller studio, the cost of and resources required for securing individual state licences can be prohibitive. So instead, we joined forces with Gaming Realms as they have the cutting-edge RGS and licences (in both the US and Europe) we were looking for. This means we simply need to build a US version of each game on the Gaming Realms RGS and can then deploy content with the wide range of operator partners they are connected with in regulated iCasino states across the US.

Tell us more about the initial run of games you’ve launched with BetMGM.

We’ve launched the partnership with Barnyard Bash Chicken Chase which will be followed by Triple 7 Jackpot in February and Cat and Mouse Collect in March – with one new game a month to follow as we build out our US portfolio. If players were to try just one of our games, it would be Barnyard Bash Chicken Chase. It gets players clucking as they spin the reels, collect Eggs and add them to the growing Nest – the more eggs collected, the bigger the Nest Egg becomes. Not only that, Eggs can randomly activate the matching colour-coded Nest Egg and award entry to the Chicken Trail feature, drop Egg-stra Free Spins or lay an Instant Prize.

But once they’ve tried it, they’ll definitely want to take Triple 7 Jackpot for a spin. This classic slot is dripping in neon action – the Triple 7 feature is always on screen but is locked until a spin lands three Bonus 777 symbols. This unlocks the feature with on spin awarded, giving players a shot at the 500x Jackpot prize. Free Spins are also up for grabs with seven Free Games awarded when three Scatters land in the base game.

Finally, Cat and Mouse Collect is a playful, feature-rich slot built around a simple but engaging Collect mechanic. Players pin the reels, collect up the cheeses and feed the hungry mice until they’re fit to burst. Green plates will serve up an instant prize, Blue will start the wild and wacky Cheese Chase and Red dishes out some feisty Free Spins. With regular feature triggers and plenty of on-reel interaction, it’s designed to keep players engaged from spin to spin without relying on extreme volatility.

What does success in the US look like for S Gaming over the next 12-18 months?

Success for us isn’t about one big hit, it’s about becoming a trusted, widely-distributed supplier in regulated iCasino states. Over the next year we want to significantly expand beyond BetMGM, roll out a steady pipeline of US-optimised titles and build the kind of player data and

operator relationships that let us grow sustainably. If players in New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Michigan are regularly choosing S Gaming titles as part of their core rotation, then we’ll know we’re really breaking into the market.

The post Breaking America with BetMGM appeared first on Americas iGaming & Sports Betting News.

3 Fortune Trees.

Kendoo interview: Can stability be the new innovation?

Published

5 days ago

January 19, 2026

Wladimir P.

kendoo-interview:-can-stability-be-the-new-innovation?

What innovation consists of within the slots industry is often debated. While there are often calls for more groundbreaking features to be introduced, the reality is that the progression of trusted and popular concepts is what drives the industry forward with new releases.

We caught up with the Kendoo’s Commercial Director, Kate Romanenko, to understand more on how long-term retention is often underpinned by controlled evolution of proven concepts, as shown in the company’s success over the past year.

In an industry driven by novelty, why do you think long-term consistency is becoming just as valuable as innovation?

In the competitive iGaming market, everyone is obsessed with “what’s next,” long-term consistency has become a signal of trust. Operators are increasingly cautious: they want games that perform predictably over time, not just those who grow only on launch. Controlled evolution, like we showed with 3 Pots and 4 Pots games, such as 3 Fortune Trees, 3 Gates of Pyramid, 4 Egypt Scarabs etc., proves that you can refresh mechanics and visuals without breaking what already works. Innovation still matters, but when it’s backed by performance data and retention, it becomes scalable, sustainable value rather than short-lived hype.

How does Kendoo ensure technical and gameplay stability across its growing portfolio, especially as it scales into new markets?

At Kendoo, we build on a select set of well-tested core mechanics, evolving them thoughtfully rather than introducing unproven systems. Each game reflects our research, experience, and deep understanding of player needs. This approach lets us expand into new markets without compromising reliability, delivering operators consistent performance and players a smooth, familiar experience they can trust.

What role does reliability play in building strong partnerships with aggregators and platforms?

Reliability is the foundation of trust with aggregators and platforms. When integrations are stable, launches are predictable, and games perform consistently, partners can scale with confidence. For Kendoo, reliability reduces operational friction on their side, fewer incidents, faster rollouts, and clearer performance expectations. Over time, this turns a supplier relationship into a long-term partnership, where growth is planned together rather than driven by constant risk around new releases.

Do you think players are beginning to value dependable, well-balanced games over constant experimentation?

Players enjoy novelty, but they return to games that feel fair, familiar, and well-balanced. Constant experimentation can create friction, while dependable mechanics build confidence and habit. That’s why evolved formats with proven performance tend to retain better: players know what to expect, and that reliability turns curiosity into long-term engagement. For example, taking mechanics like Pots, which originated in land-based casinos, and successfully adapting them for online play.

Can you point to a Kendoo title that’s become a steady performer over time and what that tells you about what players really value?

A clear example is 3 Fortune Trees. Since launch, it has consistently driven strong retention and engagement across markets, with an average of 500 bets per player, which is excellent. The game demonstrates that players value Pots mechanics and reliable, well-balanced gameplay over flashy, one-off features. Its engaging mechanics, popular theme, and premium art and animation all come together to create a game that players love to play.

The post Kendoo interview: Can stability be the new innovation? appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

2026 iGaming Trends Report

2026 iGaming Trends Marathon by SOFTSWISS – A Sneak Peek with Ivan Bilash, Director of Partner Operations

Published

2 weeks ago

January 13, 2026

Wladimir P.

2026-igaming-trends-marathon-by-softswiss-–-a-sneak-peek-with-ivan-bilash,-director-of-partner-operations

EEG sat down with Ivan Bilash, Director of Partner Operations at SOFTSWISS, after the SiGMA Central Europe Summit, where the company launched its 2026 iGaming Trends report. With over eleven years of experience in project and product management, Ivan brings a practical yet visionary understanding of operational excellence and partnership building. In this conversation, we explore key iGaming trends for 2026, the importance of data-driven insights, and how SOFTSWISS uses technology and collaboration to help operators improve player acquisition and build stronger relationships with affiliates.

Interview by Maria Emma Arnidou for EEG, HIPTHER.

The SOFTSWISS iGaming Trends report has become a highly anticipated annual playbook for industry professionals. What inspired this initiative, and how has it evolved into a vital resource over the years?

When we released the very first edition four years ago, the idea was to bring together everything the industry was experiencing but hadn’t structured yet. There was a lot of noise in the market – regulatory changes, new technologies, shifts in player behaviour, and so on. But there was no single place that connected all these dots.

Over time, the report has evolved into a tool that helps the market understand where things are actually heading. And that’s why it is so anticipated by both iGaming professionals and newcomers. It’s not just ‘trends for the sake of trends’ – it’s grounded in real data and clear patterns we observe, supported by our experience in analysing them.

For us at SOFTSWISS, it’s also a way to share what we see from the inside. We work with hundreds of operators, so we naturally spot early signals before they become global trends. The report is a way to turn all of that into something useful for the entire industry.

This year’s 2026 edition gathers insights from over 350 experts and applies AI analysis to more than 120,000 media headlines. From your perspective, what are the most striking or transformative findings emerging this year?

To be honest, there are many, which is why the report is over 100 pages long. But let me highlight the key points.

The first thing that jumps out is how quickly the industry is maturing. As we note in the report, the industry has outgrown its ‘Wild West’ phase. We see this in regulation, taxation, responsible gambling, and advertising. Many markets are tightening rules, but they are also becoming more predictable. That’s a good sign of a sector moving towards sustainable growth.

Another big takeaway is the scale of M&A activity. It’s no longer just large companies buying smaller ones. It’s about building ecosystems and obtaining technologies that help acquirers prepare for a world where efficiency is as important as market share.

And last but not least, of course, there is AI – not as a buzzword, but as infrastructure. Companies have moved past experiments, and now expect AI to deliver real value. This primarily concerns fraud detection and player protection. But I think it’s fair to say that AI has permeated all areas of business, from coding to marketing, and this shift is happening fast. In the report, we call this the industrialisation of AI.

When you combine all these trends, you realise that iGaming is becoming more mature and more structured, but also far more competitive. And with that comes a new reality: the industry is now much more demanding operationally.

The report presentation launched alongside the iGaming Trends Marathon at SiGMA Central Europe. What role do live discussions and community dialogue play in shaping industry progress?

I strongly believe that conversations matter more than slides. Trends only become useful when people challenge them and connect them to their own experience.

During the marathon, we saw something important: different parts of the industry – operators, suppliers, tech companies, media – are finally speaking the same language. Everyone understands that the next stage is about taking responsibility and making smarter decisions.

Events like SiGMA create that space. When you place 200+ people in one room and let them debate AI, regulation, M&A, and marketing, you get insights you would hardly get from reading a report alone. These discussions help operators understand why acquisition is becoming more complex and why working closely with affiliates, rather than treating them as a separate layer, is increasingly important.

For me, as someone responsible for partner operations, this is invaluable. These events show what operators are truly concerned about and what they expect.

Speaking of acquisition, how do you see the role of affiliates changing within the iGaming ecosystem?

This is an important topic that frequently arises in conversations with operators. Traditional acquisition channels are becoming increasingly expensive, more restricted, and in some cases simply unavailable. Naturally, this pushes the industry to rely much more on affiliates.

But affiliates today are no longer just traffic suppliers. Many have grown into strong, independent ecosystem players with their own strategies, data, and long-term goals. They understand user behaviour extremely well and often have deeper insight into acquisition funnels than anyone else in the market.

We also see another interesting shift: some large affiliate groups are moving into direct operations. This changes the dynamics. On one hand, there is less traffic available on the open market. On the other, new operators emerge with very strong marketing expertise from day one. That naturally increases competition for the end player.

Budgets are no longer the only decisive factor. Operators’ success now also depends on the quality of partnerships, transparency in working with affiliates, and having a product and strategy capable of converting and retaining high-quality traffic. From our perspective, this is a long-term trend that will shape the industry’s growth in the coming years.

The 2026 iGaming Trends report builds on years of data, but also integrates new analytical layers powered by AI and expert research. What makes this edition stand out, and how can professionals best use its insights?

This edition stands out because it explains why certain trends are emerging. AI helped us process more than 120,000 media headlines, and confirmed what operators tell us privately: the market is recalibrating. Responsible gambling rules are strengthening, cybersecurity is becoming a board-level topic, and compliance is now part of product design.

If you’re an operator or a supplier, the best way to use this report is as a planning tool. We’ve done all the heavy lifting and distilled each business area down to the most important insights. We have also introduced ‘Adaptation Paths’ at the end of each chapter. It’s a kind of checklist that operators can refer to when building their strategy.

Of course, the report won’t make decisions for everyone, but it gives a very clear map of the road ahead.

Finally, as Director of Partner Operations, what do you see as the most valuable trait in industry partnerships going into 2026?

I’d say consistency. Everyone talks about innovation, but in practice, what partners value most beyond stable operations is predictable communication and support they can rely on.

This year’s report shows that growth will depend on how well companies adapt to the new reality of increased speed and stricter regulations. In 2026, the best partners will be those who can combine flexibility with discipline: reacting quickly when needed while also thinking long-term.

For SOFTSWISS, this approach is in our DNA. We work side-by-side with operators through technical support, risk management, and daily operational guidance. When the market becomes tougher – which it inevitably will – this kind of partnership becomes a competitive advantage.

As SOFTSWISS continues to pioneer data-driven growth across the global iGaming ecosystem, the 2026 iGaming Trends report reaffirms the company’s commitment to knowledge sharing, collaboration, and innovation.

The 2026 iGaming Trends report is available – download it now!

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