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How Parimatch Use Data-Driven Approaches to Launch Experimental Betting Projects

Published

5 years ago

February 19, 2021

Reading Time: 4 minutes

Parimatch is changing the betting industry, and data is the key to these changes. Together with Head of BI and Analytics Parimatch Anna Gayvoronskaya, we’ll tell you how we applied data-driven approaches to launch the session game Footboss — a new gamified way to involve customers in the betting world.

Parimatch Betting Experiment: game Footboss

Footboss is a simple soccer-themed IDLE RPG game integrated into the Parimatch app: the player doesn’t need to register anywhere else if he already has an account in the system.

Games are designed for relaxation and chilled-out gameplay — conventionally, there are 5 minutes for which you can manage to go through a couple of bosses, acquire new skills and get prizes. Among the awards were Samsung Galaxy Note 10, iPhone 11 Pro Max, MacBook Air 13″, Sony PS4, iPad Air 10.5″, and other branded gifts from Parimatch.

Parimatch natively integrated betting into the game: the player could place a couple of bets and speed up the progress, but this was completely unnecessary.

How Footboos Engaged Players

The global goal of Footboss is to refresh the world of betting: the game was conceived as an alternative to the boring campaigns and promotional offers for Euro 2020. In addition to focusing on high odds, bonuses, and competitions in marginality, the goal was to give players variety and new emotions.

Thanks to Footboss, the player returned to Parimatch not only because he wanted to place a bet or check the odds but to take a break, win a few fights and get a prize in a process. The game developers specially made it session-based so players would not get stuck in it for hours and returned to their business after a couple of boss fights.

Footboss’s main gaming adventure is to free ten soccer stadiums from the giant invaders. The game’s key character is the Coach, whose task is to prepare his players for effective penalties and non-standard decisions day after day.

At first glance, the game seems simple, but with each new level, the player discovers many directions to deepen and develop their characters. Thanks to the random distribution of awards and achievements, the journey became unexpected: different things, tasks, heroes always dropped out. And then there’s the added interest of loot boxes: a kind of “kinder-surprise for adults.”

Ways to Use Data-Driven Approaches

Nowadays, in business, not enough to be guided by feelings or intuition. We must base global steps on data and analytics because analytics answers the question, “what can we do to make this product better?”

Before the launch of Footboss, a BI team completed the game’s mathematical model, which was the basis for the player’s interactions with Parimatch products. Also, data specialists developed a mathematical system for the equiprobable drop of prizes, according to which the player could get a prize regardless of how much money he spent on the game.

*quote*

Placing some bets could speed up the game’s passage, but this does not affect the dropout of prizes.

The compilation of models and comparison with the bases of active players of Parimatch helped to attract the number of players to Footboss, calculate the possible increase in GGR and the costs of the project.

For developers, data analytics prepared dashboards of the game progress, the number of participants, and their activity.

We frequently analyzed players’ engagement during the promotion period and made updates based on this data, for example, extra-levels or new characters.

We carried out the work with data at all stages of the project, including calculating the retrospective results. Here’s the data we’ve collected for future versions of the game:

the number of players
player engagement rate
number of fights
number of completed quests
the average and the maximum duration of a gaming session
number of open loot boxes
game speed run
the number of registrations on the site and application
conversion of landing pages
email open rate
costs of prizes per active player
the financial result of an experiment

Data to Highlight the Pandemic Damage

It’s hard to describe 2020 projects without mentioning the pandemic impact. The crisis and quarantine dealt heavy damage to the entire market, and the Footboss campaign was no exception. Everything went wrong: change of concept due to the cancellation of Euro 2020, anti-crisis measures in the company, limiting the launch of the game to 1 region out of 7 planned.

We calculated not only positive results but also what we received less due to the pandemic and crisis:

loss of audience and GGR due to the cancellation of Euro 2020
losses due to launch in only one region of the brand’s presence
losses due to out of sync with the marketing campaign
losses from the lack of integration of other company’s entertainment

Data-Driven Approaches for Future Experiments

The fundamentals of data-driven approaches lie in that data can be collected not only for retrospective activities but also throughout the entire process. You can build mathematical models at the beginning of the experiment, compare them with real performance, make adjustments, and achieve a positive effect for the business.

If earlier everyone in betting analyzed only the results of campaigns, now the data is used at all stages. We plan and build the mathematical models, make adjustments based on the results we obtained, and then we conduct a retrospective for future projects. Working with data has now become a continuous process from post facto analysis of results.

For Footboss data-driven, the approaches helped to calculate the number of potential players, the profit from their attraction, and the losses caused by the pandemic.

The first launch of Footboss opened the door to a new approach to attracting players to the world of betting. As CPO Parimatch Sergey Berezhnoy said: “We have built a stadium where we held the first championship.”

So new adventures await the players, and we are developing new quests and game levels — and all game activities will improve thanks to the data from previous versions of the project.

Belatra Games

From ‘Mummyverse’ to Crash Games: Belatra Reviews a Landmark 2025

Published

1 day ago

December 23, 2025

Wladimir P.

from-‘mummyverse’-to-crash-games:-belatra-reviews-a-landmark-2025

Editor’s Take

Why this matters: Belatra has been a steady hand in the slots world for a long time, but 2025 marked a distinct shift in strategy. By entering the Crash vertical with Goose Boom Bang and winning big at SiGMA Africa, the studio is clearly pivoting to capture the high-growth, high-frequency players in emerging markets. They are no longer just a “classic slots” developer; they are diversifying the portfolio to ensure relevance in regions like LatAm and Africa.

The Full Story

Belatra Games, the specialist online slots developer, has issued a strategic review of its 2025 operations, celebrating a 12-month period defined by entry into new game verticals, significant franchise expansion, and high-profile industry recognition.

The year was characterized by a dual strategy: deepening engagement in established markets while aggressively expanding its content portfolio to suit local preferences in emerging territories.

Portfolio Evolution: Crash and Battles 2025 saw Belatra move beyond its traditional slot roots. The company made its debut in the high-demand Crash game vertical with the launch of Goose Boom Bang, a title designed to tap into the fast-paced gameplay preference of younger demographics.

Additionally, the studio introduced a fresh game concept with the launch of Battles, a new format unveiled for the first time in 2025, with further development planned for 2026.

The ‘Mummyverse’ Expands For fans of classic slots, the highlight of the year was the aggressive expansion of the Mummyverse. Belatra nearly doubled the size of this franchise over the year, making it the most extensive game universe in their entire catalog.

The developer also focused on B2B localization, releasing a number of exclusive bespoke games created specifically for selected operator partners to meet specific local market tastes.

Awards and Recognition The company’s strategic shifts were validated by industry accolades. Belatra secured over 30 nominations throughout the year, with standout wins including:

Best Slot Provider (awarded by BitStarz).
Most Played Game of 2025 for Make It Gold at the SiGMA Africa Awards.
Player’s Pick Award.

Management Commentary Misha Voinich, Head of Business Development at Belatra, commented on the studio’s momentum:

“This year has truly defined who we are as a studio – ambitious, creative and focused on building long-term partnerships. We’ve expanded our universes, launched new ones and entered exciting new markets that will all help us carry this momentum into the New Year.”

The post From ‘Mummyverse’ to Crash Games: Belatra Reviews a Landmark 2025 appeared first on Gaming and Gambling Industry Newsroom.

BMM Testlabs

‘Chaos and Soul’: Ebaka Games Plots Global Expansion After Viral Launch

Published

1 day ago

December 23, 2025

Wladimir P.

‘chaos-and-soul’:-ebaka-games-plots-global-expansion-after-viral-launch

Editor’s Take

Why this matters: The “Instant Game” vertical (Crash, Plinko, Mines) is becoming crowded, but Ebaka Games is cutting through the noise with a distinct brand personality. By securing BMM Testlabs certification so quickly after launch, they are signaling to Tier 1 operators that despite their “chaotic” marketing vibe, the math underneath is solid and compliant. The backing of industry veteran Dmitry Belianin also adds immediate commercial credibility to the startup.

The Full Story

Ebaka Games, the fledgling studio that promises to bring “chaos and soul” to the iGaming sector, has outlined an aggressive growth strategy for 2026 following a landmark launch period in late 2025.

The studio, which officially debuted in November, reports that its initial rollout reached more than five million people worldwide. The launch saw its portfolio go live with the operator Menace, serving as the initial testbed for its mechanics and “Ebaka modes.”

The Product: Instant Games with Personality Ebaka is bypassing traditional slots to focus on the high-growth vertical of fast-paced, instant-win games. Their initial lineup includes:

Plinko
Mines
Tower
Limbo
Crash

Differentiation is achieved through unique mascots and signature gameplay tweaks designed to offer high win potential and distinct visual identities, moving away from the generic interfaces often found in this genre.

Regulatory Milestone Crucially for its 2026 roadmap, Ebaka Games has confirmed it has secured certification from BMM Testlabs. This accreditation validates the fairness and integrity of its RNG (Random Number Generator) and game engines, removing a major barrier to entry for regulated markets. With this certification in hand, the studio plans to launch with a number of “major brands” in the coming year.

Management Commentary Vitalii Zalievskyi, CEO of Ebaka Games, commented on the studio’s unorthodox approach:

“It’s only been a few weeks since we first introduced Ebaka Games to the world. The feedback has been breathtaking, and it vindicates the decision for us to take a different path to the rest of the industry. You don’t need huge marketing budgets to grab people’s attention if you are building something truly innovative.”

Industry Backing The studio describes itself as being “created by players for players” but boasts significant industry firepower in its corner. The team includes Dmitry Belianin, a well-known figure in the sector who is the co-founder of Blask and Menace, as well as Managing Partner at Already Media.

The post ‘Chaos and Soul’: Ebaka Games Plots Global Expansion After Viral Launch appeared first on Gaming and Gambling Industry Newsroom.

ARC

Racing Meets Nightlife: SBK Backs ARC’s New ‘Friday Night Live’ Series

Published

1 day ago

December 23, 2025

Wladimir P.

racing-meets-nightlife:-sbk-backs-arc’s-new-‘friday-night-live’-series

Editor’s Take

Why this matters: British racing has a well-documented demographic problem; its core audience is aging. “Friday Night Live” is a direct attempt to fix this by blending high-stakes racing with the “experience economy” (DJs, nightlife vibes) that appeals to Gen Z and Millennials. Bringing SBK on board—a mobile-first, app-only sportsbook—is a perfect demographic fit, while the Racing Post adds the necessary credibility to ensure the actual racing product remains the focus.

The Full Story

Arena Racing Company (ARC) has unveiled the strategic commercial lineup for its upcoming Friday Night Live series, confirming SBK as the Exclusive Betting Partner and The Racing Post as the Official Media Partner.

Set to launch in January 2026, Friday Night Live is a new initiative created in collaboration with youth-focused events company INVADES. The series is designed to overhaul the traditional race day experience, featuring fast-paced fixtures under floodlights, DJ sets, and significant entertainment elements sandwiched between races.

The Commercial Deal

SBK: As the exclusive betting partner, the Smarkets-owned sportsbook will take naming rights and on-course branding for all 35 races. Crucially, these races will be broadcast live on mainstream television via ITV Racing as well as Sky Sports Research.
The Racing Post: As the Official Media Partner, the publication will provide content, coverage, and promotion across its digital platforms, aiming to bridge the gap between established racing purists and the new audience ARC hopes to attract.

A High-Stakes Experiment The series is not just a marketing exercise; it carries serious sporting weight. Each of the five scheduled nights will feature over £200,000 in prize money. The fixtures will rotate across three of ARC’s all-weather tracks: Wolverhampton, Newcastle, and Southwell.

Management Commentary David Leyden Dunbar, Group Director of Commercial Strategy at ARC, was clear about the target audience:

“We have been very clear that one of the aims of Friday Night Live is to engage the next generation of racing fans… Both [partners] have shown real enthusiasm to work with us… as well as using the platform that these fixtures will offer them to also engage with more established racing and sports fans.”

Adam Baylis, Marketing Director at SBK, added:

“Friday Night Live [is] a fresh and engaging concept that brings a new energy to British racing. SBK has always been built around sport… our focus is on enhancing the live race day experience in a fun, social and responsible way.”

The 2026 Schedule The series kicks off immediately in the new year: