Press Releases

BtoBet: Coming Out Successfully From The Current Sportsbook Scenario

Published

6 years ago

April 10, 2020

George Miller

Reading Time: 5 minutes

Short-term mitigation plans could shape up a new industry on the long term

As the iGaming industry is adapting to the live sport events shortfall that has now taken the iGaming industry by storm, not everything is doom and gloom. Alessandro Fried, BtoBet’s Chief Executive Officer, discusses the interim measures that operators are adopting to mitigate the gap created in the sportsbook vertical, and how eventually the industry will morph into a more diverse scenario based on the decisions that operators are taking at the moment.

In what way will the current situation impact the industry?

Everyone is expecting live sport events to surely resume shortly. They will be back, and with them the sports betting vertical will pick up where it left and bounce back. At this point in time the Italian top league clubs are all set to resume their training in a couple of weeks, whilst in Germany teams have already resumed with their preparations to final sprint of the Bundesliga.

However, it is true that the industry has undoubtedly been impacted. No one has ever imagined a scenario where live sports on practically a global level would be made unavailable. The pandemic and its consequences, with governments and authorities alike putting in place extraordinary measures imposing social distancing in order to curb the outbreak, has disrupted mostly those bookmakers who throughout the years have based their business activities on a retail network. The same applies for the retail casino outlets, with Las Vegas as the primary example, literally closing down its doors for business.

It is with this in mind that I expect a major shift in operators’ strategies in the immediate to short term, with retail licensees seeking to migrate their business activities to the digital mediums, thus also mitigating for any future downturns in terms of retail customers.

Turnover from live sportsbetting is a major problem for most operators. However, have other verticals seen an increase in player engagement?

The current circumstances related to live sport events has had its major toll on those operators who have based their offering primarily on live football events, with the top leagues generating an ever increasing revenue stream as this form of gambling is nowadays being considered as an extension to the events themselves. Such are the number of followers that these events produce. However, the scenario has changed abruptly, and live sport events that on a daily basis averaged into hundreds of events have now been reduced to merely a handful. Live betting now comprises of football events in Belarus and Nicaragua, table tennis in Russia, and racing from the United States, Hong Kong and Australia. Which all in all amount to a rather limited content portfolio and will not make up for the loss of revenue that other major sport events generate.

Undoubtedly this translates directly to a significant loss in terms of turnover, with many industry experts expecting as much as 70% or even higher in terms of loss. On the other hand, and this needs to be highlighted, operators and suppliers alike have been agile in identifying new means of how to diversify the players’ engagement across a broader portfolio of verticals.

One of the major verticals that has seen a major bump on the immediate term has undoubtedly been virtual sports, which nowadays is accounting as much as 40% in terms of operators’ turnover. The same can be said with reference to the esports vertical and online casino vertical, with certain operators doubling their turnover in these verticals over a relatively short period of time.

How will the current situation impact the industry for the short term and the long term?

I reiterate that live sport events are resuming sooner rather than later. And I expect a high player engagement, if not actually higher, once the situation normalises itself. Does this mean that the industry will resume in its steps before the Covid-19 pandemic ensued? I highly doubt so. Even though there are few historical episodes which provide us with the required data as to how we will emerge from this situation, I expect the new more diversified content approach endorsed by the operators to stick also for the long term.

Operators are now seeing the opportunities that reside in other verticals. Since sport events have been cancelled, sportsbetting players have turned their focus to alternative betting products, be they virtual sports, esports, and online casino amongst other verticals.

In today’s context, I expect this “cross-selling” to other verticals to become even more determining as we go forward, because the current situation will surely have a lasting effect even on people in terms of their gambling behaviour.

I also expect retail operators to adopt a diversification of their business strategies and move towards the online channels. Does this mean that the brick and mortar experience will be a thing of the past? Certainly not. Retail betting shops and casinos still offer a betting and gambling experience in their own unique way. On the other hand I do envisage an expansion to the digital channels to complement the retail offer, with operators necessitating of a diversification of their revenue stream whilst also being better placed to retain their current fold of players, and acquire new customers through targeted marketing campaigns.

You have mentioned that operators are opting to “migrate” their players from sportsbook to other verticals.

Sports betting is an activity that nowadays is considered by the players as an enhancement to the real live action. One should also state that the vast majority of players bet on the teams, leagues, and different sports categories which they usually follow, and of which they have a good knowledge and understanding. There is an emotional attachment to sports betting, which in itself is driving operators to seek creative solutions in order to close the gap created by this “live sports void” for the short term.

Not only are they integrating new, innovative and alternative vertical content. They are going to great lengths to ensure a high level of player engagement even on the sportsbook itself, by exploring and expanding markets – such as the props market – that have until now played a rather minor role in the sportsbook vertical.

Most of our partners are realising the benefits that this expanded sportsbook content can have also in terms of retaining their fold of loyal players.

More importantly nowadays we are assisting operators pushing in their bid to create and develop new vertical markets. This is a further indication that eventually we are going to have a better, and stronger scenario, where sportsbook will still reign supreme, but strong gains will be registered in other verticals as operators will seek to diversify ever more their revenue stream.

How is BtoBet assisting its partners in mitigating the short term effects, and possibly putting in place a strategy for the longer term?

For the past months BtoBet has focused on boosting all its verticals in order to place all operators in the position to determine which strategy they want to undertake for their target players, whether they want to focus on sportsbook, online casino, lotteries, virtuals, e-sports and fantasy sports.

Nonetheless throughout these times we are still investing and pushing to provide bookmakers with the best range of alternative vertical content, whilst at the same time keeping focused on delivering a long term plan ensuring our partners will reap benefits by adapting a player-centric approach.

This is why we have put a strategy for the short term period assisting all our partners with the introduction of special content including:

a daily selection of the most important horse-racing events,
a new and engaging novelty bet section,
extended E-Sports content,
a boosted odds fantasy league,
and a tennis game based on the outcome of more than 1 million matches.

We will also offer all our assistance to bookmakers and other operators in diversifying their business model by integrating a wider content for the Virtuals, with games from six leading industry providers natively integrated in the Btobet platform; an Online Casino portfolio consisting of an extensive list of over 8000 games from over 100 providers; and a wide selection of Lotteries, Instant Lotteries and Jackpots, with prizes up to €150 million.

Our past investments have also seen us launch a new retail solution, intended to not only boost the betting experience at the brick and mortar level, but also aptly enable operators to transform their non registered players into registered customers through a rapid registration process.

I am confident that the current sportsbook shortfall will be just a small blip in the radar for the majority of operators who optimise their business strategies, allowing them to reap major revenue increase opportunities from a wider verticals portfolio on the long term.

Berlin

BLAST and Brawl Stars bring their first-ever joint Live event to Berlin as part of new global competitive ecosystem

Published

1 hour ago

February 16, 2026

Wladimir P.

blast-and-brawl-stars-bring-their-first-ever-joint-live-event-to-berlin-as-part-of-new-global-competitive-ecosystem

Global esports entertainment company BLAST, in partnership with Brawl Stars, is bringing the first-ever live in-person Brawl Cup to Berlin from 15–17 May 2026. The three-day event promises top-tier international competition alongside a full fan experience at the Uber Eats Music Hall.

This landmark event is part of BLAST’s new multi-year partnership with Brawl Stars, creating a refreshed, large-scale competitive ecosystem for the mobile action game available on iOS and Android. The collaboration introduces a global calendar of events, expanded live broadcasts, and blockbuster arena shows, setting a new standard for Brawl Stars esports.

A Milestone for Brawl Stars Competitive Scene

As BLAST’s first standalone live event for Brawl Stars, Brawl Cup Berlin marks a key milestone in the new competitive season. The 3-day format showcases BLAST’s growing footprint in Europe and reinforces Supercell’s commitment to expanding Brawl Stars’ global competitive circuit.

Under this partnership, BLAST will:

Deliver 32 broadcast days per year across six competitive seasons
Host three major live events annually
Enable teams to qualify through regional competitions across EMEA, North America, South America, APAC, and China

Top teams from each region will compete in marquee in-person events, bringing world-class competition directly to live audiences.

Event Details: Brawl Cup Berlin

What: Brawl Cup Berlin
When: 15–17 May 2026
Where: Uber Eats Music Hall, Berlin, Germany
Tickets: On-sale dates and pricing to be announced

What Fans Can Expect

The Berlin event will deliver a full arena experience, combining:

High-energy live competition
BLAST’s signature broadcast spectacle
On-site fan activations and interactive experiences

Further announcements will reveal participating teams, broadcast schedules, and detailed fan experiences in the coming weeks.

Media and Press Opportunities

Media representatives will have access to:

Accreditation for the full event weekend
Player and spokesperson interviews
Exclusive coverage of the new-look Brawl Stars competitive circuits

This event represents a pivotal step in BLAST and Supercell’s mission to elevate Brawl Stars esports on a global stage.

The post BLAST and Brawl Stars bring their first-ever joint Live event to Berlin as part of new global competitive ecosystem appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

AI

2026 Rewards AI Capability, Not AI Talk – HIPTHER Prague Summit Unveils the Next-Era HIPTHER Academy

Published

2 hours ago

February 16, 2026

Wladimir P.

2026-rewards-ai-capability,-not-ai-talk-–-hipther-prague-summit-unveils-the-next-era-hipther-academy

HIPTHER Prague Summit proudly introduces the Hands-On HIPTHER Academy and next-gen career advancement. Because 2026 won’t reward AI Talk – It will reward AI Capability.

As the HIPTHER Prague Summit celebrates 10 years of impact across Gaming & Tech, the 2026 edition shifts the spotlight toward what truly defines the next era of professional growth: practical AI capability, personal authority, and reputational strength.

This year, HIPTHER places a powerful new emphasis on the HIPTHER Academy – the summit’s applied learning environment designed to move beyond theory and into real execution professionals can use immediately.

From AI Hype to Real-World Application

The message shaping 2026 is clear:

The future won’t reward those who talk about AI.
It will reward those who know how to use it.

Positioned as the practical layer of the summit, the HIPTHER Academy delivers:

80% hands-on, applied AI workshops
Real operational use cases, including vibe coding, compliance automation, AI-driven workflows, and responsible implementation boundaries
Immediate, role-ready takeaways professionals can implement the moment they return to work

This applied focus distinctly separates HIPTHER Prague Summit from generic “AI trend” events – emphasizing execution over theory and capability over buzzwords.

Authority, Reputation & the Human Edge

Technical skill alone is no longer enough.

In an AI-accelerated landscape, positioning, leadership presence, and trust define who stands out.
That’s why the HIPTHER Academy integrates human authority and reputational growth alongside AI capability.

Featured workshops include:

From Profile to Authority: Positioning Your LinkedIn Presence for Trust – Marija Hammond
Personality and High-Stakes Conversations in the Workplace – Maria Loumpourdi
How to Build a Company’s Reputation – Magdalena Radomska-Trzaska

Together, these sessions shape a new professional equation:

HIPTHER Academy = AI capability + personal authority + reputational strength.

Inside the 10th Anniversary Edition of HIPTHER Prague Summit

Under the theme “Decoding the Future: 10 Years of Impact,” the 2026 summit marks its most ambitious edition yet.

Taking place at OREA Hotel Andels Praha on 24–25 March 2026, the event brings together a global audience across:

iGaming, eSports, Blockchain, AI, Fintech, Compliance, Regulation

Attendees can expect eight dedicated Academy workshops delivering applied knowledge.

HIPTHER’s Co-Founder & Head of Business Zoltan Tündik, stated about this year’s HIPTHER Academy in Prague: “While 2025 was dominated by conversations about AI, 2026 is the year we are witnessing real acceleration. New developments, real projects, and genuinely useful tools being created at unprecedented speed. I recently noticed this while recording a podcast: we no longer say ‘this wasn’t possible a few years ago.’ We now say ‘this wasn’t possible a few months ago.’ That shift in language says everything about the pace of AI-driven innovation.

The market will not reward AI commentary anymore. It will reward AI capability. That’s exactly why the HIPTHER Academy focuses on practical application, giving professionals the ability to execute, not just discuss. In 2026, competitive advantage belongs to those who can apply AI confidently, responsibly, and effectively in real business environments.”

More Academy Highlights

Insightful sessions expanding the Academy’s practical scope include:

Branding in the Attention Economy – Marija Hammond, Brand Advisor & Speaker
LinkedIn as a Dealflow Engine – Marie Zamecnikova, Personal Brand Strategist and Executive Advisor
Communications & Growth Execution – Wojciech Trzaska, Chief Communications Officer at SB Software
AI-Powered Marketing & PR – Uliana Korobeynikova, Head of Public Relations at iAffiliate

Alongside AI insights from The Playa, Murmur Intelligence, and further expert-led workshops to be announced.

The Career-Advancement Layer of Prague 2026

With the HIPTHER Academy, the Prague Summit evolves beyond a conference into a career acceleration environment — equipping professionals not just to understand the future, but to operate inside it with confidence, credibility, and authority.

Because in 2026, the real competitive edge isn’t access to AI.
It’s knowing how to apply it — and being trusted when you do.

Join the 10th Anniversary HIPTHER Prague Summit — invest in career-growth and personal authority. See you there!

The post 2026 Rewards AI Capability, Not AI Talk – HIPTHER Prague Summit Unveils the Next-Era HIPTHER Academy appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

Argentine Basketball

FeedConstruct Secures Exclusive Rights to the Argentine Basketball Ecosystem

Published

3 hours ago

February 16, 2026

Wladimir P.

feedconstruct-secures-exclusive-rights-to-the-argentine-basketball-ecosystem

FeedConstruct has reached a major milestone in its Latin American expansion, securing exclusive worldwide streaming and data rights to all games across Argentina’s top basketball leagues, including:

Liga Nacional (LNB)
Liga Argentina
Liga Federal
Liga Femenina
La Liga Próximo

This deal positions FeedConstruct as the primary global source for Argentine basketball, delivering over 2,400 games per season to partners worldwide.

Liga Nacional (LNB): South America’s Premier Basketball League

The Liga Nacional (LNB) is Argentina’s top-tier league and a recognized talent pipeline to the NBA, producing legends like Manu Ginóbili, Luis Scola, and Facundo Campazzo. Iconic teams such as Atenas de Córdoba, San Lorenzo, and Peñarol make the league a global attraction.

Liga Argentina: High-Stakes Competition and Rising Stars

Argentina’s second division, Liga Argentina, is defined by intense rivalries and promotion battles. Featuring historic clubs like Ferro Carril Oeste and Quilmes, it serves as a proving ground for emerging talent and offers passionate local fanbases.

Leadership Voices on the Deal

Narek Harutyunyan, CEO at FeedConstruct, said:

“Securing the exclusive rights to the Argentine basketball ecosystem is a landmark achievement. By consolidating these rights, we are creating an unparalleled offering for partners, delivering a high-quality experience across one of the world’s most exciting basketball nations.”

Eduardo Tassano, President of the Asociación de Clubes de Básquetbol, added:

“This agreement supports our goal of strengthening transparency, technological standards, and international projection. It adds significant value to the ecosystem and positions Argentine basketball on a global stage of professionalism.”

Liga Federal: Hyper-Local Coverage Across Argentina

The Liga Federal, the country’s largest professional competition with over 100 clubs, represents the heart of Argentine basketball. FeedConstruct’s coverage ensures fans and operators have full access to hyper-local content across every province.

Liga Femenina: Spotlight on Women’s Basketball

The Liga Femenina is Argentina’s premier women’s league, featuring stars like Melisa Gretter and top clubs such as Berazategui and Quimsa. This league is experiencing rapid growth, reflecting the rising global demand for women’s sports.

La Liga Próximo: Nurturing the Next Generation

La Liga Próximo is the elite developmental pipeline, showcasing youth squads from prestigious clubs including Boca Juniors, Quimsa, Obras Sanitarias, and Instituto de Córdoba. It acts as a scouting ground for future international stars, ensuring the continuity of Argentina’s basketball talent.

FeedConstruct: Strengthening Regional Leadership

This acquisition cements FeedConstruct’s leadership in Latin America, providing seamless access to the full spectrum of Argentine basketball for fans, operators, and betting platforms. With exclusive coverage across men’s, women’s, professional, and youth leagues, FeedConstruct now delivers the entire Argentine basketball ecosystem globally.

The post FeedConstruct Secures Exclusive Rights to the Argentine Basketball Ecosystem appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.