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.
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Business Press Release (The Guardian, Gambling Commission, TalkSport)

SSC Napoli, Champions of Italy, Aligns with Rabona in Long-Term Strategic Partnership
Rabona, a leading international sportsbook brand, has been named the Official Regional Betting Partner of SSC Napoli — the reigning champions of Italy and one of Europe’s most prestigious football clubs. This long-term partnership is set to commence on July, 2025.
The collaboration marks a significant alignment between two ambitious organizations, each known for their commitment to excellence, digital innovation, and loyal fan engagement. Following Napoli’s historic fourth Serie A title win in the 2024-25 season, this partnership comes at a high point for the club, offering Rabona access to one of the strongest brands in modern football.
“We are proud to welcome Rabona as SSC Napoli’s new European Betting Partner. This partnership marks an exciting chapter for our club, as it brings us even closer to the millions of Napoli fans across Europe,” stated Leonardo Giammarioli, Chief Global Business Officer at SSC Napoli. “We’re particularly enthusiastic about the spirit of innovation Rabona brings, and we look forward to exploring creative and engaging activations together that reflect the passion and ambition of our club and supporters.”
For Rabona, the partnership is a chance to put its full digital toolkit to work — supporting a world-class club that’s eager to deepen its bond with fans. This is exactly the kind of challenge the brand is built for. With powerful engagement tools, a tech-first mindset, and a passion for the game, Rabona is ready to deliver smart, high-impact solutions that match Napoli’s ambition — and bring real value to their community.
“We are genuinely excited about this partnership, it’s such a huge deal for us. Why? Because we’re fans too! Just look at the name of our brand. ‘Rabona’ refers to a unique football move, famously loved by the legendary Neapolitan captain No. 10. We are very happy to be able to share our digital solutions with Napoli’s supporters. Our mission is to connect fans with their idols, and we have all the tools. You’ll love our fresh ideas — from launching live streams with built-in interactivity to facilitating special moments IRL. Getting to bring the football community even closer is a dream come true.”
Rabona’s strategy is rooted in technology and innovation. Together with SSC Napoli, the brand is rolling out a suite of interactive experiences and activations designed to turn passive viewership into active engagement. These include:
- Real-time Q&A sessions with the players via interactive video streams
- Exclusive promotions and betting opportunities connected to club milestones
- Behind-the-scenes content and team insights distributed through Rabona and Napoli channels
- Localised campaigns tailored to European markets with strong fan engagement
This partnership also presents significant upside for Rabona’s affiliate and business networks. Associating with SSC Napoli — a club with global recognition and on-field momentum — enhances Rabona’s credibility, boosts brand equity, and creates a powerful narrative for audience acquisition in competitive betting markets. With a growing presence in key global markets and a digital-first product offering, Rabona will use this collaboration to deepen engagement with football audiences across Europe, elevate its brand profile, and deliver measurable business outcomes.
Beyond customer-facing gains, the deal positions Rabona as a case study in how sports betting brands can engage with top-tier clubs in ways that create long-term business value. This partnership goes beyond banner space and impressions, focusing instead on technology-led brand-building that respects the integrity of sport while delivering measurable returns.
The collaboration arrives at a time when both parties are accelerating their growth. For Napoli, it’s about maintaining momentum and increasing international reach. For Rabona, it’s an opportunity to anchor its presence in football culture while scaling its operations with authenticity and precision.
Rabona continues to demonstrate that it is more than just a sportsbook — it’s a digital partner capable of shaping the future of fan engagement and sports entertainment. With SSC Napoli by its side, the brand enters a new chapter defined by connection, creativity, and commercial potential.
Expressed through the slogan “Be Napoli. Play with Rabona,” the partnership celebrates the identity and passion of Napoli supporters, offering new ways to deepen their connection to the club they love.
Eager to find out more? Visit Rabona.com for full details.
The post Business Press Release (The Guardian, Gambling Commission, TalkSport) appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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Alea doubles down on cybersecurity with Continent 8’s full-spectrum assessment solutions

Continent 8’s Vulnerability Assessment and Penetration Testing, Security Audit and Vulnerability Scan services enable Alea to further strengthen the security and resilience of its iGaming platform
Continent 8 Technologies, the leading provider of global managed hosting, connectivity, cloud and cybersecurity solutions for the iGaming and online sports betting industry, announces that it has expanded its cybersecurity collaboration with Alea.
Building on its current programme of Vulnerability Assessment and Penetration Testing (VAPT) services with Continent 8, Alea – the award-winning casino game aggregator – has deepened its partnership with Continent 8 and its cybersecurity division, C8 Secure, by integrating Security Audit and Vulnerability Scan (V-Scan) services. This strategic initiative further enhances Alea’s cybersecurity posture and underscores the company’s ongoing investment in the resilience and integrity of its infrastructure.
The expanded cybersecurity assessment programme delivers a wide range of benefits for Alea and its operator network, including:
- Identifying, assessing and mitigating vulnerabilities in IT infrastructures, applications and networks
- Ensuring compliance with industry best practises and cybersecurity frameworks by evaluating security policies, procedures and governance
- Recognising new vulnerabilities, highlighting areas for improvement and prioritising remediation efforts
- Developing a customised roadmap for ongoing improvement to enhance cybersecurity posture and maturity
- Enhancing the trust and confidence of customers and partners by implementing industry-best cybersecurity measures
Eduard Fumás, CTO at Alea: “Security is built into everything we do at Alea. We’ve always believed that operators and their players deserve the highest level of protection. This is why we’ve invested in strong encryption, fraud prevention tools and a robust infrastructure from day one.
“Working with Continent 8 has helped us put that commitment to the test. Their expertise allows us to validate and strengthen our systems with confidence. We’re proud of how far we’ve come together, and even more excited about what’s next as we keep raising the bar and building a platform that our partners can trust completely.”
Patrick Gardner, Chief Security Officer at Continent 8 added: “As Alea continues to grow and expand, its proactive commitment to maintaining a secure iGaming aggregator platform becomes paramount. In our ongoing collaboration with Alea, we remain dedicated to fostering and supporting their cybersecurity initiatives – ensuring that both Alea and its extensive partner ecosystem stay protected, resilient and prepared.”
Continent 8 will be exhibiting at SBC Summit Lisbon, from 16-18 September at Stand C80.
The post Alea doubles down on cybersecurity with Continent 8’s full-spectrum assessment solutions appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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SOFTSWISS Turns 16: Milestones That Defined the Year

SOFTSWISS, an international tech company in the iGaming industry, celebrates 16 years of growth and bold decisions. This year marks a new chapter in the company’s journey — with a strategic focus on strengthening its presence in emerging markets, accelerating global expansion, and obtaining new certifications across key jurisdictions.
The year 2025 is a turning point for the industry, with a long-awaited regulatory framework taking effect in several markets, including Brazil and Peru.
SOFTSWISS is the first company to secure certification for its flagship Game Aggregator in Brazil in late 2024. By early 2025, all products within the SOFTSWISS tech ecosystem – including the Jackpot Aggregator, Casino Platform, and Sportsbook – were certified for operation in this emerging market. This enabled both existing and new clients to expand in Brazil with full regulatory support, confidently.
With over 1,350 brands powered by SOFTSWISS solutions, the company continues to earn trust through its proven stability and performance, maintaining system uptime at 99.999% worldwide. As a testament to this success, SOFTSWISS has received 73 industry and business awards over the past five years, recognising excellence in product innovation, compliance, marketing, and employer branding.
This year, recognition extended to individual SOFTSWISS leaders, highlighting their growing influence beyond iGaming and into the broader tech and business landscape. Ivan Montik, Founder, received multiple prestigious business awards. Sergey Kastukevich, Deputy CTO, was named CTO of the Year at the Oracle Customer Excellence Awards, reaffirming SOFTSWISS’ technological leadership. Valentina Bagniya, CMO, earned several accolades for her outstanding contributions to marketing and industry influence.
In addition to its product and leadership achievements, the company continues to invest in industry development through educational and social initiatives. Notably, SOFTSWISS was the first in the iGaming sector to launch large-scale industry research, collecting and analysing data to produce open-access reports to support market maturity and transparency. The 2025 edition of the SOFTSWISS iGaming Trends Report became a record-breaker, reaching over 13,000 downloads and cementing the company’s role as a thought leader.
Beyond technology, SOFTSWISS invests in people and purpose, supporting charitable, educational, and CSR initiatives as part of its commitment to responsible growth. The company with offices in Malta and Georgia, development hubs in Poland, has also a remote team across 46 countries.
“Last year, we celebrated 15 years with our partners, clients, and team – and this past year brought new challenges that we’ve faced with confidence and clarity. While SOFTSWISS is, at its core, a technology company – driven by AI, automation, and innovation – I firmly believe our people shape the company’s long-term success. Technology accelerates progress, but talent, vision, and shared values make it sustainable,” says Ivan Montik, Founder of SOFTSWISS.
These values are deeply reflected in the company’s culture and HR approach, offering people the space to grow professionally, take initiative, and lead.
“Five years ago, SOFTSWISS had fewer than 500 employees. I was 19 and had only just started my career, with only one job behind me. That initial experience in audience growth and analytics brought me to SOFTSWISS, where I was mentored, given tools to learn, and encouraged to step up. Today, I lead the Data Office – a 24-person team that supports the company with trusted, consistent data.. Looking back, I couldn’t have imagined this path. But I’m living proof that at SOFTSWISS, real growth isn’t just encouraged – it is made possible,” shares Anna Ivanova, Head of Data Office.
As SOFTSWISS steps into its 17th year, one thing is clear: behind every product, every launch, and every success, there is a team of people driving it forward and they are just getting started.
The post SOFTSWISS Turns 16: Milestones That Defined the Year appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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