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Movers and Shakers: Building Resilience – The Importance of Agility in the iGaming Industry
“Movers and Shakers” is a dynamic monthly column dedicated to exploring the latest trends, developments, and influential voices in the iGaming industry. Powered by GameOn and supported by HIPTHER, this op-ed series delves into the key players, emerging technologies, and regulatory changes shaping the future of online gaming. Each month, industry experts offer their insights and perspectives, providing readers with in-depth analysis and thought-provoking commentary on what’s driving the iGaming world forward. Whether you’re a seasoned professional or new to the scene, “Movers and Shakers” is your go-to source for staying ahead in the rapidly evolving iGaming landscape.
With global B2B iGaming marketplace gurus, Betbazar, having had to deal with their fair share of challenges over the past few of years, we sat down with the company’s CEO, Alex Iaroshenko to learn how an agile approach to business has helped them foster both resilience and adaptability.
What challenges do you see as the biggest tests for iGaming companies today?
The iGaming industry is currently facing several critical challenges – and in my opinion, regulation and compliance is right at the top of that list. As governments around the world continue to tighten their legislation to ensure fair play and responsible gaming, iGaming businesses have little choice but to adapt in order to remain compliant across multiple jurisdictions. Of course, for global companies like Betbazar that work in various regions with vastly differing rules, this adds an extra layer of complexity to operations, so our job is becoming increasingly difficult as well.
In addition to ongoing regulatory changes, another big challenge for iGaming companies is the current level of competition within the market. Over the past few years, the iGaming sector has become increasingly crowded and standing out from your competitors requires you to have strong branding, innovation and the agility to consistently deliver value to customers and their clients. In order to do this effectively, I believe companies generally need to invest in technology like AI and machine learning to personalise player experiences and improve user engagement.
The last test that I think is worth mentioning here is that online security and data privacy remain ongoing concerns – particularly with the rise of cyber threats that we’ve witnessed in recent months. Given the vast amount of personal data that is now being managed by companies, it’s imperative that they implement robust cyber security measures in order to protect sensitive player information, build trust and comply with all applicable privacy regulations in their regions.
How can companies in the iGaming space cultivate resilience and adaptability?
For me, the real key is to foster a culture that is open to change and encourages continuous learning and innovation. One of the most important steps in that process is to build an agile organisation where teams are empowered to make decisions quickly and feedback loops from customers and the market are integrated into product development and operations swiftly and efficiently without needing to go through multiple rounds of approval. At Betbazar, we focus on creating a mindset of flexibility that embraces new technologies and adjusts them to the business models of our clients so that we can meet their specific demands in the best conceivable way.
Being able to constantly change in this manner is what separates a good business that actually performs from one that struggles – especially in an industry where customer preferences, technology and regulations change so rapidly. I honestly believe that if the culture at Betbazar was not as adaptable and resilient as it is, we wouldn’t still be here today. As a company, we’ve had to work through some very challenging periods and have always come out stronger on the other side, mainly because we use these situations as a chance to improve the ways we operate.
Of course, investing in professional development and cross-functional collaboration also plays a big role in making your business adaptable and resilient, as you always want teams to hone their technical and strategic skills so that they can navigate challenges efficiently. On top of that, you need strong leadership that promotes a proactive, solution-based approach to tackling adversity.
What role does leadership play in driving an agile culture within an organisation?
I believe that a company is always made by a team, and though teams are led by leaders, it’s impossible to build your entire business philosophy on one person’s shoulders. Instead, an agile culture should be built on clear communication and trust between leadership and employees, as when people feel empowered to make decisions and know that their contributions are valued, it fosters a sense of ownership and accountability. It’s for this reason that we encourage a collaborative approach at Betbazar where teams are given the autonomy to experiment, test new ideas and iterate quickly without fear of failure – and this is what trusting your team is truly about.
Speaking as a CEO, I feel it’s my responsibility to not only set the strategic direction of the company, but also create an environment where all employees have space to grow. For me, it’s very important to look into each person’s individual goals and understand their ideas for how they’d like to develop in their role, as only then can you adjust the company’s strategic path to better accommodate each employee’s personal ambitions. This in turn empowers you to create a culture where people want the company to reach its goals so that they can also reach their own, meaning everyone shares the success in equal measure and deals with any setbacks as a team.
Could you share an example of a time when Betbazar had to pivot quickly to respond to an industry change?
I think when you’re part of an industry that shifts and evolves as quickly as iGaming, you pretty much have to pivot all the time in order to stay ahead of emerging trends and customer demands. One of the things that Betbazar is very good at is that when we see that the popularity of a product is skyrocketing and we don’t have an existing connection to it, we’re fast to rectify the situation and fill any gaps that we have in our marketplace. A good example of this would be crash games, as when these became popular and we realised that we didn’t have a product that met the demands of the market, we very quickly found a partner who could help us expand our portfolio.
Generally speaking, once we have a product available in our line-up, it becomes competitive within the market quite quickly, so the onus is then on us to pivot again and find something new, rather than to simply stand still and be happy with what we’ve got. In this way, Betbazar is constantly changing and adjusting to the demands of the industry, and we always make sure we keep an eye on the competition to understand what others are doing. This is ultimately our goal and our way of being flexible so that we’re constantly primed to pivot into newer, better products.
About Betbazar
Betbazar is a B2B worldwide iGaming marketplace which has set a new sales standard, sourcing specialist iGaming products and advising on their role within existing strategies to deliver growth to our partners. The company’s ambition is building a digital iGaming marketplace that connects creators with operators to accelerate growth powered by best-in-class products.
Website: https://betbazar.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/betbazar
The post Movers and Shakers: Building Resilience – The Importance of Agility in the iGaming Industry appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
eSports
Esports Charts Becomes Official Viewership Analytics Partner of StarLadder Budapest Major 2025
Esports Charts, the leading esports viewership analytics provider, has partnered with StarLadder, a pioneering tournament organiser. The Budapest Major 2025 marks a highly anticipated comeback for StarLadder, as it is their first Counter-Strike Major since 2019 and a significant return to the top-tier esports arena.
As the official analytics partner of the StarLadder Budapest Major 2025, Esports Charts will provide comprehensive, real-time audience data and insights throughout the event. This will empower organisers, teams, sponsors and fans with unparalleled transparency and a deeper understanding of the tournament’s global reach.
Artyom Odintsov, Co-founder and CEO of Esports Charts, said: “We are thrilled and proud to provide viewership analytics for StarLadder for the Budapest Major 2025. Since both Esports Charts and StarLadder are Ukraine-born companies, we share similar values and deal with similar challenges, which brings us even closer.
“It’s genuinely exciting to follow how viewership will develop at this Major. But knowing the expertise, drive, and passion that the organizers are bringing, I have no doubt we’ll witness some incredible things happen in Budapest.
“Esports Charts has always been driven by a mission to provide the esports community with accurate, actionable data, and we look forward to showcasing the impact and audience engagement of this world-class event.”
StarLadder has been a driving force in global esports for almost 15 years now, since hosting its first tournaments in 2011. Renowned for its innovation and reliability, the company has organised some of the industry’s most iconic events. These include the StarLadder Berlin Major 2019, which accumulated over 44 million hours watched and remains in the top 10 CS events by this metric, and the legendary StarSeries tournaments which started back in 2012.
Viacheslav Shcherbakov, Sales and Partnerships at StarLadder, said: “We’ve been working with Esports Charts since their founding and have always valued their professionalism and integrity. In a market where reliable data is essential, Esports Charts provides honest, transparent numbers, exactly the kind of insights sponsors and stakeholders rely on when assessing the potential reach of a World Championship event.
“We’re confident that this partnership will result in a high-quality analysis of our tournament’s performance and the audience data we’ll report to our partners. It’s a collaboration built on trust, shared values, and a deep understanding of what it takes to elevate esports to the next level.”
The Starladder Budapest Major 2025 will be held from November 24 to December 14 in Budapest, Hungary. The event will bring together the world’s top 32 Counter-Strike 2 teams to compete for a $1.25 million prize pool and one of the most prestigious titles in esports.
The post Esports Charts Becomes Official Viewership Analytics Partner of StarLadder Budapest Major 2025 appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
Superbet has become the new main sponsor of Jagiellonia Białystok. The logo of one of Poland’s leading bookmakers will appear on the front of the Podlasie team’s match jerseys. This is the fourth Ekstraklasa club, alongside Lech Poznań, Górnik Zabrze and GKS Katowice, to join the bookmaker’s extensive sponsorship portfolio.
The new partnership is more than just a logo on a jersey – the collaboration between Jagiellonia and Superbet is intended to have a particularly fan-focused nature. The brand is announcing numerous dedicated campaigns, events and surprises aimed at fans of the yellow and reds. The first of these has already launched with the announcement of the partnership – and will undoubtedly delight anyone planning to purchase the new jersey.
Superbet will pay a 100 PLN bonus towards the purchase of an official Jagiellonia match jersey. A total of 1920 jerseys will be available as part of the promotion – a number symbolically related to the year the club was founded. The promotion is valid both in-store and online and is open to all Superbet app users.
“When making a purchase in a stationary store, all you need to do is show the installed application, and for online customers, verification will take place via the email address: [email protected], to which you can simply send a short message, and in response, fans will receive a unique code entitling them to purchase a T-shirt at a discount,” explains Bartosz Malaka, Head of Marketing & Sponsoring at Superbet.
However, this is not the end of surprises for fans of the Białystok club, because if they register using the special code “JAGA,” they will also receive a welcome bonus.
“Jagiellonia fits perfectly into our sponsorship strategy – it’s a club with ambition, a strong identity, and enormous potential that combines modernity with local character. W’’re thrilled to be embarking on this journey together. Our logo will now appear on the fronts of the jerseys of four Ekstraklasa clubs, confirming our continued leadership in sports sponsorship,” said Łukasz Seweryniak, General Manager of Superbet Polska.
“Jaga is the perfect partner for us – with a great history and a huge, loyal community of fans who live and breathe this club every day. With them in mind, we’re preparing a whole package of activations, surprises, and events designed to build even stronger bonds. We want to show that just as Jaga is a super club, Superbet is a super sponsor,” Malaka said.
“I am extremely proud and happy to have entered into a partnership with such a renowned and recognizable brand as Superbet. I would like to emphasize that this is the highest-ever sponsorship agreement in the club’s history, which further underscores the importance of this partnership. I believe the word ‘partnership’ is key in the context of our agreement. I am most pleased that we are not just gaining a sponsor, but a true partner with whom we will achieve great things together,” said Ziemowit Deptuła, President of the Management Board of Jagiellonia Białystok SSA.
The partnership with Superbet is another important step in Jagiellonia’s development – not only in terms of sporting activities, but also in terms of modern marketing and fan engagement. Both parties emphasize that this will be a collaboration based on genuine commitment and closeness to fans.
The post Superbet Becomes New Main Sponsor of Jagiellonia Białystok appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
The Victorian Gambling and Casino Control Commission (VGCCC) has fined the Werribee RSL $30,000 for failing to prevent 2 self-excluded customers from gambling.
VGCCC CEO Suzy Neilan said: “This is the first time the VGCCC has taken disciplinary action against a club or hotel for self-exclusion breaches.
“Self-exclusion programs empower people to manage their gambling by registering to be temporarily or permanently blocked from entering gambling areas of clubs, pubs and casinos.
“By failing to respect a person’s decision to self-exclude, a venue may put customers who have decided to take a break from gambling, or quit altogether, at risk of experiencing gambling harm.”
In January 2024, the VGCCC received an anonymous tip-off that a self-excluded person entered the Werribee RSL gaming room and used the poker machines. The venue self-reported a second breach in May 2024, after realising a different customer had gambled at the venue on at least 4 occasions between February and May 2024.
Ms Neilan said: “Taking disciplinary action is the last resort. We would prefer venues take their harm minimisation responsibilities seriously by complying with their legal obligations, including through the effective implementation of tools like self-exclusion.
“Venues and their staff are the last line of defence for self-excluded customers, who should be able to trust that their decision to self-exclude will be respected. They must have the appropriate controls in place to prevent self-excluded people from entering gaming rooms.”
The VGCCC acknowledged that Werribee RSL cooperated with the investigations and has since taken steps to strengthen its procedures. These include improved and regular staff training, daily audits of the self-exclusion register and greater use of technology to identify self-excluded customers who attempt to enter the gaming room.
This remedial action was taken into consideration in determining the amount of the fine.
The post VGCCC Fines Werribee RSL for Self-exclusion Failures appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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