Altenar

Exclusive Canada 2023 interview with Altenar

Published

3 years 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

Altenar partners with Onerush for Swedish sportsbook launch

Published

5 hours ago

October 28, 2025

George Miller

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Reading Time: < 1 minute

Altenar has extended its longstanding partnership with Nordplay Group to support the launch of the Onerush brand in Sweden with its award-winning sportsbook technology.

Nordplay Group’s legal entity Buccone Trading Limited recently acquired a licence to operate in Sweden and has quickly gone live with Onerush, powered by Altenar’s sportsbook module. Through Altenar’s fully-managed sportsbook solution, including a vast number of customisable features, 24/7 customer support and advanced reporting tools, the operator is now in a strong position to succeed in the market from launch.

The deal is an extension of an existing partnership which has seen Altenar’s sportsbook being used to great success by the Frank & Fred and Jubla brands in Sweden.

The agreement demonstrates Altenar’s strength as a long-term partner with expertise to help new entrants localise and stay a step ahead when attracting new audiences.

Sam Hill, Sales Director at Altenar, said: “We’re delighted to launch the Onerush brand in another positive step in what is already a successful partnership with their team and brands.

“Our best-in-class sportsbook offering and features will allow Onerush to differentiate their product offering from the competition and establish themselves as a market leader and provide the best user experience to their customers.”

Nicolas Lund, COO at Nordplay Group, said: “In Altenar we’ve found a trusted and reliable partner, supporting a wider offering on several of our brands. It’s therefore been a natural choice to bring them onboard for our latest brand Onerush in Sweden.

“We’re excited and hopeful to see Onerush well received by the Swedish market and together with Altenar will continue to challenge the mainstream to deliver a leading offering with lower friction and more entertaining experiences.”

The post Altenar partners with Onerush for Swedish sportsbook launch appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

Alfred Bashllari Sportsbook Product Consultant at Altenar

Altenar strengthens sportsbook product leadership with two senior hires

Published

2 weeks ago

October 14, 2025

George Miller

altenar-strengthens-sportsbook-product-leadership-with-two-senior-hires

Reading Time: 2 minutes

Industry veterans Nikos Zygouris and Alfred Bashllari bring more than three decades of combined experience to build sportsbook provider’s product strategy

Altenar has reinforced its sportsbook product credentials with the appointment of Nikos Zygouris as Head of Sportsbook Product and Alfred Bashllari as Sportsbook Product Consultant.

With extensive experience in iGaming and sports betting, both new hires bring a wealth of knowledge to support Altenar’s consistent focus on innovation and high-performance solutions that deliver more value to operators.

Zygouris joins the company from Campeon Gaming, where he served as Head of Product. Additionally, he holds more than 12 years of industry experience from leading suppliers and operators such as Novibet, Intralot and OpenBet. His passion for product innovation and collaborative working will play a key role in shaping Altenar’s roadmap.

Bashllari brings two decades of product development, operations and M&A experience, having held senior roles at major providers including Sportradar, Betgenius, Scientific Games and OPAP. His deep understanding of the sports betting, gaming and lottery sectors will support Altenar’s strategic decision-making.

Both appointments mark another step forward in Altenar’s evolution as a partner-led technology provider, enhancing its ability to deliver scalable, flexible and market-ready sportsbook solutions for a growing number of operators worldwide.

Antonis Karakousis, Director of Product at Altenar, said: “As we expand into new markets and push the boundaries of what our sportsbook can deliver, it’s vital that we continue to invest in product leaders. Nikos and Alfred bring a wealth of experience and strategic thinking that will directly support our long-term goals. We’re excited to welcome them aboard.”

Nikos Zygouris, Altenar’s Head of Sportsbook Product, said: “I’m delighted to join the product team at Altenar following what has already been a hugely successful year for the provider. They continue to prove that they are on the pulse of the industry and attuned to what the customer needs. I look forward to contributing to Altenar’s ambitious plans going forward.”

Alfred Bashllari, Sportsbook Product Consultant at Altenar, said: “Altenar’s commitment to product excellence and its approach to exceeding expectations really stood out to me and is one of the reasons I’m thrilled to join the team. I’m excited to see how we can drive forward innovative solutions that help our clients grow.”

The post Altenar strengthens sportsbook product leadership with two senior hires appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

Altenar

Inspired Launches V-Play Football Brazil with EstrelaBet via the Altenar Sportsbook

Published

3 months ago

August 13, 2025

GamingAmericas.com

inspired-launches-v-play-football-brazil-with-estrelabet-via-the-altenar-sportsbook

Inspired Entertainment, Inc., a leading B2B provider of gaming content, technology, hardware, and services, is pleased to announce the launch of V-Play Football Brazil with EstrelaBet, a leading Brazilian gamingtech company. The integration is powered by Altenar, a leading sportsbook platform provider for licensed operators around the world.

This launch marks an exciting new chapter in Inspired’s expansion across Brazil delivering its market-leading Virtual Sports content to a local, LATAM focused operator. V-Play Football Brazil, designed specifically to capture the flair, passion, and energy of Brazilian football, provides fast-paced betting action with high-frequency, ultra-realistic match simulations.

“We’re thrilled to bring V-Play Football Brazil to EstrelaBet’s customers,” said Brooks Pierce, President and Chief Executive Officer of Inspired. “Brazil has a deep-rooted passion for football, and our latest Virtual Football product is tailor-made for that audience. This launch with EstrelaBet, through Altenar’s dynamic platform, represents a powerful combination of cutting-edge technology, local insight, and premium virtual content. It’s a major milestone in our commitment to growth in Brazil.”

EstrelaBet, known for its strong brand presence in Brazil and innovative approach to player engagement, continues to invest in new ways to enhance its sportsbook offering. V-Play Football Brazil is now available at estrela.bet.br, optimized for desktop and mobile platforms, as well as the Android app.

“Inspired’s V-Play Football Brazil delivers the quality, authenticity, and excitement that our players expect,” said Fellipe Fraga, CBO (Chief Business Officer) at EstrelaBet. “The launch of this product aligns perfectly with our mission to offer customers a dynamic and differentiated sports betting experience. We’re excited to bring Brazilian fans a product that feels made just for them.”

The launch was made possible through Altenar, whose scalable and flexible sportsbook platform supports operators across more than 30 countries.

“We are proud to power this exciting launch between Inspired and EstrelaBet,” said Antonis Karakousis, Director of Operations at Altenar. “Inspired’s V-Play Football Brazil is a perfect match for the Brazilian market, and this rollout exemplifies Altenar’s ability to support rapid integration and localization of best-in-class content. We look forward to seeing strong engagement and performance from this partnership.”

The post Inspired Launches V-Play Football Brazil with EstrelaBet via the Altenar Sportsbook appeared first on Gaming and Gambling Industry in the Americas.