Press Releases
Parimatch: Consumers want stories, not spreadsheets
Parimatch’s Chief Product Officer Sergey Berezhnoy spoke at ICE London 2020 about how the operator plans to evolve the traditional sports betting experience with a focus not just on technology, but on storytelling. With a history in the video gaming industry, Sergey can see many narrative-building concepts that would translate nicely to the betting sector, although he believes the main overlap – esports – still has a few mountains to climb.
Following a strong 12 months in its home markets, Parimatch attended ICE London 2020 with a clear vision in mind for the future of its sports betting offer.
The international operator has grown its market share with bold marketing campaigns and a strong product backed by great tech, but the main focus for Parimatch’s Chief Product Officer Sergey Berezhnoy over the next year is to research, develop and evolve sports betting’s current customer journey. Many of the innovations at ICE provide the backbone of that journey, providing several payment methods, hundreds of ways to bet, and thousands of events and markets to bet on, with other exciting developments such as VR and AI further bolstering to the industry’s toolbox in recent years. For players, the customer journey is smoother than ever before, but for Sergey, that’s not enough. His background is in the video gaming industry, and he believes that to tap into the widest possible market, the sports betting sector has to develop a story around the act of betting that is as engaging and rewarding as current popular mobile games.
“I use one word, and it’s narrative,” said Sergey. “I joined this sector from the video gaming industry, and there the focus is not on waiting for the end result, but providing as much entertainment as possible on the way to it.
Unfortunately, sports betting is currently the opposite; you come, you bet, you leave. There is no story, no great focus on the clubs involved, and often there are very few relevant events to bet on. Players who are engaged with the betting culture might bet on anything, but new and casual players need a story to bring them in. Look at Snapchat, Instagram and Tik Tok, they only show short stories, but it’s enough to get consumers engaged.”
In fact, the immediacy of sports betting is something else Sergey wants to move forward. While the rise of in-play betting has helped, many results can take between a few hours or a few days to come through depending when bets are placed, so Berezhnoy intends to make sports betting on Parimatch something players can jump into and be rewarded whenever they choose.
“In betting, the distance between betting and reward can be very high, whereas in video games the award is more achievable. We are trying to shorten that distance, but not as short as casino games,” he said. “In our research, we have taken a lot from casual gaming. If you are riding the subway or tube, everybody plays casual games or goes on social media. The big question is, why don’t they bet? It’s about a customer journey, but many sports betting sites still look like excel spreadsheets. Instagram has changed the way we consume photos, it’s our ambition to change the way people bet on sports.”
Berezhnoy added that this will involve asking players human-centric questions on pre-selected content, providing a personal touch to short, targeted stories for players to bet through. Like in video games, they won’t be faced with a thousand choices, but with a few highly engaging ones based around content they already enjoy, whether that be through live, fantasy or virtual sports – or even esports. This is another aspect of gaming that Berezhnoy has a lot of experience in, however he still believes there’s a few challenges ahead before the rapidly rising pastime becomes a key vertical for the sports betting sectors.
“Games publishers are in control of esports and they are not interested in the regulations that are needed to elevate the level of trust required for bookmakers,” he explained. “Publishers want more players, and tighter regulations can put up barriers to that. With a few exceptions, they also don’t give access to their data feed, which makes it very difficult to trade. Sports betting operators are interested in the most popular games with the biggest events, but those publishers don’t need to include sports betting into their model to be successful, and these are major roadblocks for its expansion in the industry.”
Sergey hopes that this will change over the next decade, but in the meantime, he is looking forward to weaving the storytelling ability of video games into all of Parimatch’s sports betting offers.
“At the end of the day, most of us prefer to be told stories than to scour over spreadsheets, and that’s what I want to offer to our players,” he concluded.
GR8 Tech welcomes Edward Smyshliaiev as the new Chief Technology Officer (CTO). The organizational change strengthens the company’s high-performance tech leadership and platform innovation.
With over two decades of experience in software engineering, AI, machine learning, and large-scale digital transformation, Edward has a proven track record of turning complex challenges into scalable solutions.
“Joining GR8 Tech at the present moment fills me with immense enthusiasm. I am really impressed by the company’s innovative mindset and its ability to see clearly into the future. I’m excited to work with the exceptional and gr8 team to redefine the limits of what is feasible and determined to provide unparalleled technological solutions that will empower our clients and disrupt the industry,” said Edward Smyshliaiev.
As CTO, Edward will focus on building strong teams, streamlining development, and enhancing GR8 Tech’s architecture to support global growth. He’ll gradually take over key areas such as platform, information security, and technical governance, ensuring the platform delivers high value to partners.
Artur Ashyrov, who previously shared the roles of Deputy CEO and CTO, will now focus on operational leadership while continuing to drive technology forward through GR8 Tech’s internal Innovation Sprint—a company-wide initiative to boost tech-savviness and ignite a culture of innovation across teams.
“As I step into a broader strategic focus, I’m excited to support Edward in driving GR8 Tech’s product innovation from a leadership position rooted in tech. It’s a natural evolution for a company building the future of B2B platforms,” said Ashyrov.
The post GR8 Tech Strengthens Technology Leadership with New CTO Appointment appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
Africa
Logifuture-powered Bet9ja renews support for Nigeria national team with ‘Let’s Do It Again’ campaign ahead of AFCON 2025
Extended partnership announced ahead of next week’s Unity Cup tournament in London
Leading African sportsbook Bet9ja has renewed its support for the Nigeria national team ahead of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.
Bet9ja collaborated with Nigerian Football Federation partners Sportdotcom for AFCON 2023 to launch the first ‘Let’s Do It Again’ campaign – in reference to the fact Nigeria are hunting for their fourth continental title.
The partnership has now been extended for AFCON 2025 after Nigeria booked their place at the tournament, which kicks off in Morocco in December. The Super Eagles have been drawn alongside Tanzania, Tunisia and Uganda in Group C of the tournament.
The announcement comes ahead of next week’s Unity Cup tournament, in which Nigeria, Ghana, Jamaica, and Trinidad and Tobago will go head to head at Brentford’s Gtech Community Stadium. The tournament sees semi-final matches on May 27 and May 28, ahead of the final on May 31.
Bet9ja is Nigeria’s leading sportsbook and is powered by Logifuture, global leader in B2B operations providing state-of-the-art iGaming products and services.
Bet9ja chairman Kunle Soname said: “We’re proud to renew our support for the Super Eagles as they ramp up their preparations for another tilt at the AFCON title. After lifting the trophy in 1980, 1994 and 2013 we’re backing them to go all the way again – Let’s Do It Again for 2025!
“Football is a unifying force across Africa and our partnership reflects our deep commitment to the game, the fans, and the future of Nigerian sport. This renewed partnership is about more than just brand alignment – it’s about national pride and shared ambition.
“By supporting the Super Eagles once again, Bet9ja aims to rally fans across Nigeria and beyond, reigniting the spirit of belief and unity that football brings to the nation.”
Toyosi Oyetunji, Senior Partner at Sportdotcom Limited, said: “At Sportdotcom, we are proud to once again partner with Bet9ja on the Let’s Do It Again campaign for the Super Eagles as they head to AFCON 2025 in Morocco. The buzz we created together during the last tournament was only the beginning. This time, we’re taking it to the next level – with more energy, more passion, and an unshakable belief in our team. As the Super Eagles chase a historic fourth title, we’re rallying Nigerians everywhere to dream big and stand united. Let’s Do It Again… Naija 4 the win!”
The post Logifuture-powered Bet9ja renews support for Nigeria national team with ‘Let’s Do It Again’ campaign ahead of AFCON 2025 appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
Wazdan, the leading gain-focused developer, is set to make its mark at the upcoming SiGMA Asia 2025 summit, taking place from 1st to 4th June at the SMX Convention Center in Manila, Philippines.
The renowned iGaming gathering marks another key milestone in Wazdan’s strategic expansion across the continent, as the company continues to deliver tailored, high-performance gaming solutions under its signature Online gaining™ philosophy.
Visitors to Booth 2136 will be among the first to experience Wazdan’s latest wave of releases, including the eye-catching Sizzling Eggs™: Grand Platinum Edition and 36 Coins™: Grand Gold Edition, all of which showcase the studio’s hallmark blend of immersive gameplay, player-centric mechanics, and mobile-first design, firmly in line with the demands of Asian operators and their audiences.
A focal point of the event will be the unveiling of Wazdan Multidrop, the studio’s new network promotion. Designed to boost player engagement and drive operator revenues, the seven-phase campaign features a total prize pool of €5,000 and reflects its ongoing commitment to building value-driven promotional tools that resonate across global markets.
To celebrate its presence at SiGMA Asia, Wazdan will also host a series of exclusive giveaways throughout the event. Attendees will have the chance to win coveted prizes, iPhone 16, AirPods, AirTags, and a selection of limited-edition Wazdan merchandise, adding an extra layer of excitement to an already action-packed summit.
Beyond the product showcasing and prizes, Wazdan views the summit as a key opportunity to strengthen regional partnerships and deepen its engagement with Asia’s thriving iGaming sector. The event’s growing prominence on the global calendar makes it a natural fit for Wazdan’s ambitions to lead the way in innovation and customer-focused growth across the continent.
Radka Bacheva, Head of Sales at Wazdan, said: “SiGMA Asia is a standout opportunity for us to engage with key players across the region and demonstrate the adaptability of our Online gaining™ philosophy. Our team is excited to showcase how our tailor-made solutions and proven game mechanics can elevate operator performance and player engagement in Asian markets.
“We look forward to insightful conversations, new connections, and sharing our vision for continued growth across the continent.”
The post Wazdan’s Online gaining™ ready to lead the way at SiGMA Asia 2025 appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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