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How to conduct rebranding and enrich the brand with new meanings
Deputy CEO of Pokerbet Igor Terebinov
- How do you think rebranding helps businesses and why do big companies do it?
Rebranding is a powerful tool that can give a new breath and direction to a business. Large companies rebrand in order to achieve several significant benefits.
First, rebranding allows companies to adapt to an ever-changing market and consumer demands. Updating the look and image of the brand helps keep it relevant, attract new customers and retain existing ones.
The second benefit is audience expansion. A change in image or positioning can help attract new market segments.
Sometimes rebranding can be associated with a change in a company’s strategy. It can help express new brand values, principles and goals, making the brand more modern and relevant.
However, it is important to note that rebranding requires careful research and analysis of the target audience to avoid losing loyal customers. Successful rebranding means balance between preserving brand authenticity and introducing innovations that can provide new impulse for business development and maintain its competitiveness in the market.
- PokerMatch has become Pokerbet. Why did such a big stable company with such a recognizable logo need a rebranding?
The decision to rebrand PokerMatch was driven by strategic and market factors. While stable and recognizable, it was important for the brand to remain relevant and adapt to the changing demands of the industry.
We set ourselves the ambitious goal of changing customer perceptions of the company and repositioning the brand. The desire for a complete rethink of values, approach and technological innovation was our driving force. We sought to transform PokerMatch into a more adaptive business, responsive to new trends and audience preferences.
The refreshed Pokerbet aims to provide a wide range of iGaming services beyond just the poker vertical. The rebranding has successfully reflected the new directions and diversified the updated product portfolio.
- How has the brand philosophy changed?
First of all, when considering a change in brand philosophy, it is important to understand that we are talking about a change in its direction and expansion, not a complete revision. The company’s philosophy has always included a sports component, and this remains unchanged. Thus, in the rebranding process, this component has simply expanded. Previously, the brand slogan was “Poker is your sport.” Now we are promoting the idea that everyone can choose the product vertical they like, as the brand portfolio has become more diverse with sports betting. As a result, the slogan has undergone some changes and now it’s “Choose your sport”. The expansion of the product range has changed the brand philosophy, allowing it to interact with a wider audience of users and become more visible and recognizable.
- Why the crown?
The choice of the crown as a symbol was quick and reasonable. However, it is worth emphasizing that we took into account its popular use in the context of gambling. The symbolism we sought to convey through the visualization of the crown refers more not to the gaming element, but reflects the trinity of verticals that are united in the renewed brand portfolio: betting, poker and casino. Our main goal was to make this symbol a recognizable and independent element. The crown is our brief logo and is also used as an independent unit in elemental identity on merch, display advertising and many other configurations. Just as importantly, this graphic element has gained popularity among our users due to the symbolic eye that draws attention and seems to look out from under the crown. In the future, we plan to integrate this element as an icon in our advertising campaigns.
- How long did it take to prepare and implement the rebranding?
It is important to note that the rebranding process was not constrained by a clear timeframe and exact launch date. At the initial stage of the project, there were no defined boundaries and it evolved as key decisions were made about the need to give the brand a new look. In terms of timeframe, we can say that after the concept and strategic vision were approved, it took about six months to prepare and implement the rebranding.
- How did your audience respond to the changes?
The rebranding was well accepted by the brand’s audience. We received a significant amount of positive feedback and reactions. The name change and image update aroused interest and attention, which is confirmed by the activity of our followers in social networks, discussions on forums and feedback through various communication channels.
We, in turn, gave users an opportunity to get reacquainted with the brand by organizing tournaments with good prizes and other pleasant surprises.
The overall audience reaction to the rebranding was an inspiring and motivating factor for our entire team.
- What was the most challenging part of the rebranding process for you personally?
One of the biggest challenges was striking a balance between keeping the old brand recognizable and making the necessary changes to update and adapt.
Before deciding which brand elements to keep and which to change, my team and I had a lot of discussions and analysis. We wanted to make the rebranding visible and inspiring to attract the attention of new customers, but also take into account the expectations of the old audience. The changes had to be a balance between innovation and tradition.
It was also a challenge to maintain unity in the team during the change process. Rebranding involves many aspects, and it was important that each team member shared a common vision and goals. This required each department manager to communicate, harmonize and incorporate the opinions of each employee.
- What are the current challenges the brand is facing? What will you identify as success?
A rather big challenge, even during the operation of the past brand, was a high-quality entry into new markets, which would allow the company to take a key position in the industry among competitors in a particular market. However, at this point in time, we cannot claim that we have been able to achieve this goal. Although we are present in several markets, we cannot claim to be the leading brand in any of them. Thus, a sign of success would be to achieve leadership status not only in the home market but also in foreign markets.
Therefore, the first significant achievement after the rebranding will be a strong presence and activity in external markets, where we aim to take a leading position in terms of recognition, engagement and business activity of our brand. In the medium term, we are also focusing on two specific markets for which we already have expansion plans and strategies in place.
For years, responsible gaming meant telling players to stop, but the industry is slowly learning that’s not enough. WinSpirit’s new partnership with The Digital Wellness Center takes a different angle. Instead of warnings, players get short mental breaks built into their sessions. These small pauses are designed to help users stay in control without killing the fun.
The Digital Wellness Center works at the crossroads of technology and mental health. They build tools that reduce mental overload and help people deal with digital products mindfully. Their approach is notably free of judgment, lecturing, and restrictions, just practical support that fits into how people actually behave online.
How It Works
Instead of restricting players, WinSpirit introduces mild wellness prompts. When a player has been active for a long period, they receive a short, friendly email. Not a warning, but just a reminder. It invites them to visit a dedicated page built by The Digital Wellness Center.
That page features a droodle, which is a quirky, abstract picture with no right or wrong answer. A droodle asks one question: what do you see? There’s no timer, no score, no right answer, but a brief cognitive shift, pulling the brain out of autopilot and into a different mode of thinking. Simple by design, effective by the same logic.
The idea is not to pull players away from the game, but rather to help them come back to it in a better, less impulsive state of mind. Most responsible gaming tools are built around one idea: less is more. Play less, spend less, log off sooner. WinSpirit is working from a different premise: that the mental state of the player is what affects the decisions. Short, intentional breaks are designed to come back calmer, more in control, and less reactive. It’s not about limiting the player. It’s about managing the moment.
Initiative Highlights
The partnership rolls out over two months in structured communication waves, reaching players at the moments that matter most: long streaks and high-frequency play, when the risk of impulsive decisions is the highest. From there, players are guided to co-branded wellness landing pages meant for slowing down without switching off.
The tools themselves are intentionally light. Doodle activities shift the brain into slower thinking, quick self-check surveys, and light mental reset games. The kind of break you might actually take.
Early Results
Early results from the first outreach wave point to real interest. Players opened the emails, clicked through to wellness content, and completed the self-checks. Some users returned for a second interaction without being prompted. The response reflects less a surprise and more a gap finally being addressed.
That readiness connects to a broader shift in how WinSpirit operates. The platform’s AI-powered support already processes more than half of its 50,000+ monthly player requests, with part of its function used to detect behavioral patterns before they develop into problems. The wellness partnership extends that logic further — from reactive support to something closer to prevention.
Industry Recognition
The approach is starting to get noticed beyond the platform itself. When Casino Guru put WinSpirit forward for Rising Star in Responsible Gambling, it reflected something bigger than one platform’s initiative. It is an early signal that the industry is beginning to recognize a shift from compliance-driven messaging to well-being built into the product. This isn’t a niche experiment but a direction the broader market is moving toward.
For WinSpirit, this partnership is not a one-off. It is part of a wider message that responsible gaming and fun can work together. When you genuinely care for a player’s state of mind, that is good product design. Supporting player well-being ultimately improves trust and long-term engagement.
The goal was never to play less. It was always to play better. A player who feels cared for trusts the platform, and that’s what the industry has mostly been missing.
Today’s iGaming leaders must contend with a vast amount of data, analysis, and industry news while making swift, informed strategic decisions. Kate Chambers, Founder of The Gaming Boardroom and former Director at Clarion Gaming, has been helping industry leaders navigate this complexity for years. Slotegrator spoke with her about bridging the gap between analysis and decision-making, leveraging the power of AI, and why building the right relationships is just as important as having the right tools.
Kate Chambers’ decades of leadership, including building ICE into one of the most influential iGaming events, reflect her emphasis on practical value. “The biggest lesson for me was that people don’t come for content; they come for confidence. Whether it’s a conference or a professional platform, what people are really looking for is the feeling that they understand what’s happening, they know what to do next, and they won’t be caught off guard,” she explains.
Kate highlights that AI is quietly changing the industry — not through flashy features for customers, but by making robust operations more efficient. She says, “The operators who are benefiting most are those using AI to reduce the cognitive load on their teams.” AI tools that filter, summarise, and flag what matters are changing how decisions are made, from compliance monitoring to gathering market intelligence.
Kate also emphasizes that technology alone isn’t enough. According to her, the business relationships and professional networks remain critical: “The most powerful combination right now is sustained digital presence, being visible where operators go when they need answers, plus selective, high-quality in-person moments. Neither alone is enough,” she notes.
Looking ahead, Kate identifies key trends shaping iGaming: increasing regulatory complexity, more proactive approaches to responsible gambling, and a growing need for leaders who can help their teams navigate change without losing strategic focus.
Read the full interview to learn from Kate Chambers’ experience and perspectives on cutting through noise, leading with confidence, and executing strategy in a rapidly changing iGaming industry.
Get in touch with Slotegrator to learn practical ways to accelerate your growth.
ABOUT THE COMPANY
Since 2012, Slotegrator has been one of the iGaming industry’s leading software and business solution providers for online casino and sportsbook operators.
The company’s main focus is software development and support for online casino platforms, as well as the integration of game content and payment systems.
The company works with licensed game developers and offers a vast portfolio of casino content: slots, live casino games, poker, virtual sports, table games, lotteries, casual games, and data feeds for betting.
Slotegrator also provides consulting services in gambling license acquisition and business incorporation.
Catalist Sports, a licensed supplier of sports betting content to the regulated U.S. market, has strengthened its North American presence with newly secured supplier licenses in Arkansas and Nebraska, alongside fresh applications submitted in Ontario and Alberta, Canada.
Arkansas is expected to see significant growth in its regulated sports betting market, with major operators such as DraftKings and FanDuel set to enter in March 2026. Alongside this, Catalist Sports has also successfully obtained a supplier license in Nebraska, further extending its reach across key U.S. jurisdictions.
Following its recent approval in Missouri—the latest state to regulate online gambling—Catalist Sports is now licensed in 30 U.S. jurisdictions, with Canadian expansion expected to follow pending approvals.
These developments reinforce the company’s commitment to delivering compliant, high-quality betting content and services across regulated markets in both the U.S. and Canada.
“Securing licenses in new jurisdictions and strengthening our regulatory position is essential to supporting our operator partners,” said James Monk, Vice President and General Manager of Catalist Sports. “Arkansas represents an exciting opportunity, particularly as major brands prepare to enter the market. Combined with our Nebraska license and Canadian applications, we are well positioned to deliver scalable, compliant, and differentiated services.”
Catalist Sports’ continued expansion supports its broader strategy of providing operators with premium data, live streaming, and advanced trading capabilities, helping to drive in-play engagement, product innovation, and long-term growth.
The company distributes official data and live streaming rights from a wide portfolio of events to licensed U.S. sportsbooks, including leading tennis competitions such as the Australian Open, ITF World Tour, Davis Cup, and Billie Jean King Cup, alongside coverage across soccer, basketball, and ice hockey to power year-round betting engagement.
The post CATALIST SPORTS SECURES NEW SUPPLIER LICENSES IN ARKANSAS AND NEBRASKA appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
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