Altenar

Exclusive Canada 2023 interview with Altenar

Published

1 year ago

January 17, 2023

As one of the most dynamic new markets to enter the scene in recent years, Canada holds a wealth of potential for sports betting and casino alike.

We sat down with Altenar’s legendary Co-founder and CCO, Dinos Stranomitis, to talk through Canada’s 2023 outlook, popularity of the World Cup and soccer-based betting, and most importantly the latest on Ontario. This one’s not to be missed! Read on to find out more …

First up, talk us through your position on the Canadian market – what’s your take on the Ontario sports betting scene almost one year in?

It’s a market we’re taking very seriously – we were one of the first (if not the first!) suppliers in the sports betting space to get a licence for the market. We have made already an agreement with two operators in Ontario, and we are now live.

I think that our position as a provider has been well established for this first year, and we’re seeing interesting trends in the market, as well as a lot of potential, which will become very clear soon enough!

With Canada’s first debut in the World Cup since 1986 – how much are we seeing soccer-based betting on the rise in Canada and how much do you see this driving interest long-term?

Canada has a very interesting football team – they’re very ambitious. Unfortunately, we’ve saw them knocked out of the group stage, despite making a valiant effort. I would like to comment that I did see the team as a little bit naïve in that they played with a lot of risk in deploying an attacking game. Which of course is visually spectacular, but as we’ve seen, has not been the best for delivering good results.

On interest – we have not seen too much from Canada’s betting audience so far in terms of soccer. The demographics that are driving interest in soccer are the younger generation only, rather than mature bettors, who take up more of the market.

However, I see in the future that Canada is investing in soccer and considering that the 2026 World Cup will be organised by the US, Mexico and Canada (with Toronto and Vancouver hosting matches), that can change. I definitely think it will be a more popular sport in comparison to what it is now – and we can expect to see more growth in years to come.

Looking to the other major North American sports – which takes the crown, can we assume NHL and NBA taking second place?

US sports are no doubt the big thing in Canada, and I would say the NFL is the most popular sport in the region from a betting perspective.

NBA would be second as there are many games being played throughout the season and then the NHL. Of course, in the mind of Canadians, hockey would be the most popular sport. However, the NFL and the NBA attracts more betting money than hockey does. After that, baseball is the fourth most popular sport in the region.

Prediction time – with 2023 already started, how do you see the market developing in the next 12 months?

I do believe that in the next 12 months we will see if the next batch of operators who applied for a licence will be awarded one or not. From what we have experienced, the KYC process is quite strict. As a consequence, this does not reward the operators in Ontario, and this will no doubt prove to be a learning process as time goes on.

However, I do believe that a regulated market is the way forward. So, no matter what, this is a positive development. The next 12 months might be a little bit too short to expect something bigger, but I do believe the market will reward the regulated operators at some point, which is the fairest outcome.

Altenar

Mexico in 2024: Committed to the cause

Published

1 month ago

March 11, 2024

GamingAmericas.com

Mexican bettors demand localization on a different scale. An American approach to sports betting means they differ from other LatAm markets that have moved to decimal or fractional odds. As the population increasingly embraces a mobile-first approach, Altenar’s Sales Manager, Diego Salas, explores why the provider is best placed to meet the unique needs of Mexican operators in the flourishing market.

What is your view of the market at the moment and what makes it so promising?

Over the past three years, Mexican operators have experienced a significant migration from predominantly land-based, brick and mortar operations to an online-focused business model. As a result, more than 70% of sports betting revenue now comes from online customers, with internet and smartphone adoption becoming more widespread across LatAm’s second largest population. The increase in mobile penetration follows the emergence of a younger, more tech-savvy demographic with a median age of 30. They are engaging in sports betting in a more social way.

In keeping with this shift online, we entered 2024 with the release of our white-label mobile app which can be customized and places the sportsbook at its core. Approved across Apple Store and Google Play, it offers accelerated time to market, robust security and options for features such as Early Payout, Bet Builder and Player Specials. The mobile and online channels appeal to a new generation of bettors that require accessible, easy to follow sportsbook products at their fingertips. The app promises an ever-increasing number of sports and competitions with a network of official data partners delivering both quality and speed of data.

How does Mexico differ from its neighbouring markets?

Mexico is a distinct market compared to other Latin American countries and stands out due to its diverse sports culture. It is well known that soccer is the most popular sport in LatAm and at least 90% of bets still come from matches. However, in Mexico, bettors’ tastes are more diverse. Football sits among basketball, baseball, and the NFL as highly popular sports.

Unlike some of its neighbours, Mexico uses an American approach to odds, instead of the European decimal and fractional odds format. Altenar anticipated this difference by offering a flexible, localized platform to cater to specific preferences of Mexican players. Its user interface for Mexican players offers an American odds format to demonstrate provide intuitive navigation.

What will 2024 look like for Altenar in Mexico?

There can be no doubt that LatAm is a major topic of discussion in the industry. The gates are set to swing open to Brazil later in the year and Mexico itself is awaiting some regulatory updates following the legalization of online betting in 2014. As a result, Altenar acknowledges the need for boots on the ground in the continent.

We have just opened a Uruguay office to ensure we can best serve our operator partners across LatAm. We know it is important to them to access people working in the same time zone, who are integrated in their communities. The office will oversee operational aspects and instil confidence in our partners that they will have a team that is more easily accessible than other competitors.

In March and April, we will be at the IV International Gaming Convention in Mexico (12 – 14 March), SAGSE Latam in Argentina (20 – 21 March) and GAT Expo in Colombia (9 – 11 April). Our priorities at these events will be fostering our partnerships in the market and ensuring we are attuned to the regulatory developments across each country. Brazil and Chile are in the process of developing regulations and we are watching those closely, adapting accordingly. We will also be showcasing our flexible platform and features at these events, including our turnkey solution, SSBT and new tools such as Betting Insights, Bet Mentor and Bet Boost. Events are an invaluable way for us to refine our strategies moving forward and we look forward to meeting people over the next month.

Altenar

Altenar Boosts LatAm Presence with Uruguay Office

Published

2 months ago

March 4, 2024

GamingAmericas.com

altenar-boosts-latam-presence-with-uruguay-office

Altenar’s status as a leading sportsbook provider in South America has been further boosted with the opening of a new office in Uruguay.

The new hub, located in Costa Rica Street 1667, in Carrasco, Montevideo, will be the base for around 15 members of staff and strengthen the company’s support for iGaming operators in the LatAm region.

Altenar has been providing betting services in South America for several years during an exciting time for the industry in the region as several countries have moved toward legalizing and regulating sports betting.

Regional Director Hugo Llanos said: “I am very excited about it, I think it is going to be a good solution for us in terms of the time zone mostly.

“We do have a lot of activity and products that are to do with this time zone, American sports, Copa Libertadores, Copa America, and of course the major leagues around the region such as Brazil, Mexico and others alike. We have customers across the region so it is important to assure them of our commitment to their operations and our support towards their objectives.”

Altenar

ReactivAction Limited Partners with Fast Track to Underpin Growth Strategy, Starting with the Brazilian Market

Published

2 months ago

February 14, 2024

GamingAmericas.com

reactivaction-limited-partners-with-fast-track-to-underpin-growth-strategy,-starting-with-the-brazilian-market

ReactivAction Limited, an ambitious new player in the iGaming industry offering online casino games and sports betting, has gone live with Fast Track, marking a strategic move to cement a stronghold across multiple markets, starting with Brazil.

This partnership not only marks a dynamic alliance but also a ground-breaking integration of Fast Track with Altenar’s renowned player account management (PAM) platform. This innovative collaboration highlights Fast Track’s exceptional ability to seamlessly integrate with various leading iGaming systems, further cementing its position as the industry’s most versatile and adaptable CRM solution provider.

With plans to expand beyond Brazil into Canada, New Zealand and Ireland through a second brand, ReactivAction Limited was on the lookout for a long-term partner that not only understands its growth trajectory but is also a critical driving force behind its growth. By leveraging Fast Track’s state-of-the-art AI-driven tools, lifecycle automation and real-time data analytics, ReactivAction Limited is poised to elevate its player engagement and retention strategies. This advanced technology empowers ReactivAction Limited to customize communications, personalised promotions and bonuses, aligning them with individual preferences and behaviours for a more tailored and engaging gaming experience.

“We were looking for a platform that sets us up for success from day one, making it possible to execute and automate the entire retention strategy, a system that could scale and mould around our expansion and provide solutions to our unique challenges,” the Director for ReactivAction Limited, Leone Stranges, said. “Fast Track’s lifecycle templates, real-time capabilities and experience within the industry made it a straightforward choice.”

“We are always excited at the prospect of empowering a forward-thinking operator through our platform,” the founder and Chief Executive Officer for Fast Track, Simon Lidzen, said. “We look forward to a fruitful long-term relationship to support ReactivAction Limited’s growth trajectory as it expands its brand into new markets.”