Interviews
OKTO: As cashless becomes king, land-based gaming requires an industry-specific solution
As a provider of digital payments for the entire high street, fintech firm OKTO stands out as having a unique cashless solution that caters to the nuanced needs of the UK’s highly regulated land-based gaming sector. As demand for such solutions accelerates due to the global pandemic, Dimitar Shopov, OKTO Wallet Commercial Owner, explains how crucial it is that operators pick a partner that understands the specifics of their industry, whilst also evolving its technology to keep up to date with global fintech trends.
On a global basis, how busy has OKTO been since the start of the pandemic? Has there been a notable increase in interest and urgency for the installation of cashless systems?
It is a question we are increasingly asking ourselves as a society: “Do we still need cash?” The decline in the use of cash and the concurrent rise in digital and card payments has been charted for years, but the pandemic definitely marks the real beginning of the end of cash in many mature markets like the UK who is a fast adopter, ushering the interest and urgency toward cashless systems.
A combination of contributing factors play a role here; tech advances, measures from authorities, and actions from big retailers across the world that have already adopted the use of digital payments as a safer method to maintain social distance and contain the spread of the COVID-19. Cashless systems have increasingly become the new norm, simply due to the fact that society demands it.
Now, all our partners are asking us how we can help them transition to cashless operations and the driver is always the same; the ability to respond to their users’ demands, leverage user services and experience and reduce cost and risk of cash. And that is what we deliver with our OKTO.WALLET solution.
Is the UK a market you are monitoring in respect to its uptake of cashless payments?
The use of cash has been falling around the world and the pandemic along with the fear of infection from bank notes are accelerating the trend away from cash towards digital payments. The UK ranks higher than all other countries in the EU when it comes to cashless payments for a few years now.
Naturally, not everybody is ready for a digital switchover, but it’s apparent that more and more people turn to digital payment options. Cash’s share of in-store transactions in the UK plummeted from 45 percent in January to 23 percent in July, per a report from Square that analyzed data from hundreds of small- and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) across the UK while the digital will likely retain greater popularity. Therefore, as a fast adopter, the UK was a natural fit for us to invest in this market, creating a powerful solution, designed to address the needs of the Pub & AGC sector with the main mission to be the enhanced user experience.
And here comes the question: Will we ever have a digital alternative that offers the same mix of convenience and freedom as cash? For me the answer is yes. Contactless forms of payment have created a new level of convenience for people around the world, and this has provided a real boost for certain industries, from gaming and betting to hospitality sectors. OKTO.WALLET solution is not only the safe and fast transactional tool that both users and merchants demand but it also offers users the freedom to move and use their funds as they wish instantly.
How do you think Covid-19 has accelerated this increasing disdain for products and services that require cash payment? Does another round of government restrictions in the UK spell further worry for cash-only businesses?
A few years ago, while I was walking through London, I noted some signs dotted around a pub that announced the complete move from cash to customers: “Apologies, but it is the digital age.” Don’t forget that there are benefits in digital payments that make life easier not only for the pubs but for all retail businesses. Think about it, at the end of the night whatever the retail business is, the people there need to count up endless piles of coins, managers need to transfer bags of cash to be lodged at the bank, also there are the additional charges to processing cash transactions versus digital ones and so on. All these can be eliminated with the digital cashless payments.
The trend was there and Covid-19 came and sped up that trend. All the cashless benefits along with the fact that banknotes and coins have been identified as a medium for transmitting the pandemic is clearing the way for another stellar rise in digital payments.
I cannot see the crystal ball and make the prediction for further pandemic-related worries for cash-only businesses, but when you hear announcements from World Health Organization back in March, recommending people to turn to cashless transactions to fight the spread of Covid-19, and rapidly a number of governments and retailers across the world took action, you can realize the evident concern. This shift should not be underestimated, as cashless transactions become the norm and rapidly impact niche industries like hospitality and gaming.
A cash-free future is getting closer, and the new lockdown is further accelerating that shift, but this change won’t be a 100 percent switch over night, there will be a prolonged period cash and digital payment options living side by side. After all, consumer payment choice is one of the most essential ways to maximise a merchants revenue potential, and operators should ensure that they will offer their customers the same level of choice in payment options as other sectors of the leisure industry, offering cashless facilities and we are here to assist operations in this transition.
Despite being a fintech provider to many markets across the world, OKTO clearly sees gaming as a particularly important one. How does this focus on gaming, whilst also offering all the benefits of neo-banks such as Monzo and Revolut, put OKTO in a better position to serve the market than competing cashless solutions in this space?
There are plenty of cashless solutions available and it can be confusing at times, what and why different digital solutions are better suited to certain sectors, and this is especially true in gaming.
But, it’s crucial for any operation to back the right horse. It’s imperative to choose a reliable solutions partner and few providers are focusing on the nuanced needs of gaming operators, especially for land-based, which make us unique in what we do. At OKTO, we want to assist our partners to make informed decisions for both their businesses and customers. Now with the industry to face more challenges than ever gaming operators need a payment service to ease the burden rather than add to it. Industry-specific, mobile-first and open-loop are the keys here.
A payment provider with a mobile payment platform, tailored for the gaming industry that aims to reduce payment friction, enhance the user experience, allowing real-time e-money fund transfer in a simple, secure and fast way is the answer to their quest. When this comes with a universality, then this is a sure bet, as consumers can use, move and collect their funds anywhere, not just for gaming.
Having a dedicated team on gaming, are you confident OKTO is well-equipped to cater to the needs of such a heavily regulated industry, where the expectations for compliance, data protection, and social responsibility are higher than any normal consumer market?
It’s vital to choose the right partner as I previously said; one that utilises field-proven technologies and has the extensive know-how of key integrations across all physical touchpoints of a gaming venue ranging from gaming machines to Self-Service Betting Terminals and Cash Redemption Terminals as well as a strong understanding and proven ability to integrate the wallet with digital touchpoints. We have exactly this 360 approach through our OKTO.WALLET solution, that the operators need to get ahead.
Heavily regulated industries are not unknown to us. We have an extensive understanding of the current climate; and we have developed solutions that ease compliance issues. Utilising the highest level of data encryption, we ensure all users data are fully encrypted while also all fund transfers are audited using market-proven algorithms to detect fraudulent activity including not only Money Laundering but also game manipulation and cash peripheral attacks.
Social responsibility is also at the top of our minds. With tools available through the OKTO app, we cover the social responsibility quota, incorporating a strict age verification process, time-out periods, betting limits, and profit and loss calculator tools that further enhance consumer protection as well as a dedicated section embedded in the app with national problem gambling helplines.
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Baltics
From Ronaldinho Roulette to Next-Generation Game Shows: How CreedRoomz is Expanding Live Casino Entertainment
As part of our HIPTHER Baltics & Nordics: Tallinn 2026 Sponsor Spotlight series, we caught up with Matija Jesih, Business Development Manager at CreedRoomz, to discuss the company’s latest innovations, its headline-making collaboration with football icon Ronaldinho, and what operators can expect from the next generation of live casino entertainment.
With a strong background in regulated markets, platform solutions, and commercial growth, Matija shares insights into how CreedRoomz is combining recognizable personalities, innovative game mechanics, and an ambitious game show roadmap to create new engagement opportunities for operators and players alike.
CreedRoomz recently announced a collaboration with football legend Ronaldinho, introducing titles such as Kickoff Roulette and Marble Cup. What inspired this partnership, and what made Ronaldinho the right fit for the brand?
The inspiration behind this partnership stems from our desire to truly bridge the gap between traditional sports entertainment and the fast-evolving live casino space. When you look at live casinos right now, audiences are looking for something more than just standard tables, they want an experience, an emotional connection.
Ronaldinho Gaúcho is the absolute embodiment of that concept. He isn’t just a football legend, his name is universally synonymous with joy, creativity, cross-generational appeal, and unmatched flair. That radiant energy is exactly what makes him the perfect fit for the CreedRoomz brand.
By integrating his persona into titles like Kickoff Roulette and Marble Cup, we aren’t just slapping a famous face on a game thumbnail. We are capturing his signature style and infusing it directly into innovative mechanics. Football and iGaming share a deeply passionate user base, and having a global icon like Ronaldinho headlines these games allows us to help operators attract both sports fans and traditional players, creating an instantly recognizable, high-engagement environment that stands out in a crowded market.
Previously we did a game featuring Maradona, “Maradona Run” and it captures the same philosophy, it bridges the gap between legendary sports entertainment and real-time casino gameplay, ensuring that players don’t just watch the legacy, but actively interact with it.
Celebrity partnerships have become increasingly visible across gaming and entertainment. What role do you believe they can play within the live casino sector, and what should operators consider when evaluating such collaborations?
For the live casino sector, the primary role of a celebrity partnership is instant trust and differentiation. A recognizable face cuts through the noise of a crowded lobby and drives immediate cross-sell opportunities, especially from sportsbooks to live casinos.
However, operators and providers need to look beyond raw social media follower counts when evaluating these collaborations. There are two critical elements to consider: authenticity and cultural alignment and deep Integration over surface branding.
The celebrity’s persona must naturally fit the game’s theme. With Ronaldinho or Maradona, his association with playfulness and unmatched skill fits the dynamics of our sports-themed titles perfectly.
At CreedRoomz, we focus on building a unique brand, creating bespoke environments and gameplay that actually reflect the icon’s legacy, ensuring the partnership delivers long-term player retention rather than just a short-lived spike in traffic.
Let’s talk about the games themselves. What can players and operators expect from Kickoff Roulette and Marble Cup, and how do these titles reflect the broader direction CreedRoomz is taking with its live casino portfolio?
For Kickoff Roulette, we are completely fusing the worlds of sports and live roulette. It is set within an electrifying, sports-themed virtual studio utilizing a green-screen solution. Mechanically, the excitement is amplified by ‘Aurum Numbers’ which award players massive multipliers ranging from x50 up to x700, adding major payout volatility to every single spin.
Crucially, to maximize global appeal and ensure a localized experience, Kickoff Roulette is available in two languages: English and Portuguese.
Given Ronaldinho’s legendary status in Brazil, having a dedicated Portuguese-speaking option is a massive asset for operators targeting the booming Latin American and European Portuguese markets, allowing them to connect with players in their native language.
Marble Cup, on the other hand, leans heavily into unique, fast-paced tournament mechanics that capture the suspense of sporting competitions but in a highly dynamic, game-show format that keeps players glued to the screen. Marble Cup is a first-of-its-kind live betting game that sits at the intersection of live casino and sports entertainment, a space no competitor has meaningfully entered. Unlike traditional live casino games driven by RNG or standard table mechanics, Marble Cup uses a custom-engineered physical device where results are determined by genuine randomness: marbles rolling down a gravity-fed track into goals defended by moving goalies. No algorithm, no simulation, the outcome is real.
Maradona Run:
Maradona Run a fast-paced lottery ball draw with a cinematic, arcade-style endless runner game show. During the main game, players manage up to eight interactive cards as football-styled lottery numbers bounce in a high-tech studio chamber. When the bonus round triggers, players leave the studio behind and hit a digital, festive boulevard alongside Maradona himself.
Instead of traditional coins, the animated legend sprints down the obstacle-filled street course collecting glowing soccer balls. These collectibles correspond to crucial gameplay advantages, including total payout multipliers, energy speed-boosts, and prize doublers, culminating in a massive maximum payout potential of up to 10,000x the bet.
Beyond the Ronaldinho collaboration, CreedRoomz has been expanding its focus on game-show-style experiences. What trends are you currently seeing in player preferences, and how are they influencing your product development strategy?
Modern players view live casinos as a source of full-scale entertainment rather than just digital table games. They want active participation, unpredictable narratives, and community elements.
Currently, we see three dominant trends shaping player preferences:
Cinematic Storytelling: Players want an immersive narrative. This heavily inspired our flagship 2026 game show, The Road to Eldorado, which transports players into an Aztec world utilizing advanced 3D visuals and four interactive bonus rounds.
Rapid-Fire Intuition: The younger demographic thrives on quick-decision, high-suspense gameplay. This led us to develop non-traditional formats like Avi Crash (bringing live-dealer energy to the crash game genre).
Cross-Vertical Fusion: Players love familiar concepts with a twist. We’ve tapped into this with Crypto Market, simulating a rapid live trading environment, BacDice, combining baccarat with dice mechanics, and Lucky Colors a vibrant, high-energy casino experience
Our strategy is to “bring the show back to game shows”. By combining these multi-layered mechanics with advanced virtual studios and native-speaking hosts, we help operators deliver highly engaging, custom-branded experiences.
Can you give us a preview of the CreedRoomz game show roadmap? What types of new experiences, mechanics, or innovations can operators look forward to over the coming months?
Our roadmap is completely focused on transitioning from a fast-growing challenger to the definitive global leader in live entertainment. Operators can look forward to a massive push across both next-generation game shows and highly customizable infrastructure.
However, great games are only half the battle. The other half is how we empower operators, which is why we are heavily expanding our dedicated and customizable solutions.
We recognize that one size no longer fits all. We are offering bespoke Dedicated Studios, allowing partners to design custom-tailored environments with native-speaking tables and preferences to achieve deep, market-specific localization. Furthermore, by advanced multi-stream compositing technology, we are launching Dedicated Card Games. This allows us to run a single, physical studio while simultaneously delivering completely different, uniquely branded virtual skins to multiple operators.
With your experience across regulated markets and content distribution, how do you balance innovation with the realities operators face, such as compliance requirements, integration efficiency, and player retention objectives?
We balance innovation by embedding compliance and infrastructure directly into our creative process from day one. Our games are built with compliance-first architecture to instantly meet strict regulatory standards globally, from Europe to Latin America, while advanced tech like ultra-low latency streaming and virtual green-screen solutions allows operators to launch highly customized content seamlessly without complex integrations. Ultimately, while a celebrity or flashy visual triggers the initial acquisition, it is our deep game math, like volatility shifts, interactive 3D bonus rounds, and native-language localization, that ensures sustainable player retention and commercial success for our partners.
Looking ahead, what are the key priorities for CreedRoomz during the remainder of 2026, and where do you see the biggest opportunities for growth within the live casino and game show segments?
To achieve this, we are capitalizing on two massive growth opportunities. The first is deepening our geographical footprints across booming, new studios coming up in Brazil, Europe and Asia this year. This allows us to provide hyper-localized, native-speaking tables and give operators free-of-charge, customized branding setups that resonate perfectly on a local level.
The second major growth catalyst lies within our core product segments. In the game show vertical, our focus is all about scaling the massive momentum of our flagship launch, Road to Eldorado, alongside our new generation of hybrid titles like Avi Crash and Crypto Market.
The industry opportunity here is immense, players no longer want standard formats, so by delivering highly gamified, multiplier-heavy ecosystems, we are successfully bridging the gap between sports betting, slots, and live tables. By combining these unique mechanics with our advanced, data-light streaming tech, our priority for the rest of the year is ensuring our partner operators can seamlessly maximize player engagement and unlock entirely new revenue streams.
The post From Ronaldinho Roulette to Next-Generation Game Shows: How CreedRoomz is Expanding Live Casino Entertainment appeared first on EE Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
EvenBet Gaming’s CEO, Dmitry Starostenkov, speaks to EEGaming about the company’s expansion into the casino vertical, what drove the decision, what it took to build, and what it means for operators looking to grow beyond a single product.
EvenBet has spent more than two decades building its reputation in poker. What told you the time was right to move into casino?
We kept having the same conversation with partners who trusted our poker infrastructure, asking whether we could support them on the casino side too. For a long time, our answer was to point them elsewhere but, with competition intensifying, that became harder to justify.
But there’s a wider shift happening too. Operators are under real pressure to extract more value from their existing player base. Acquisition costs are rising, regulated markets are tightening, and the days of building a sustainable business on a single vertical are gone. Operators who are growing have found more ways to extend player value across their full product offering, and that requires purpose-built infrastructure.
We have the technical foundation and understand the player behaviour. The question became when to make the move, and how to do it in a way that was genuinely an improvement on what was already out there.
Moving from the single poker vertical into a full casino platform is a significant undertaking. Where did the product challenges actually lie?
The single player account sounds simple until you’re actually building it. Shared balance, unified player profile, seamless movement between poker and casino all create complexity that compounds quickly. The other challenge was scope. A game aggregator covering 15,000 titles across 230-plus providers has the potential to create real infrastructure problems. We had to build something that could handle that scale without becoming unwieldy for operators to use. And we didn’t want to compromise the poker product to get there either – that was non-negotiable. Everything had to work as one system, not two products stapled together.
How does cross-vertical conversion work, and why does that matter so much to operators right now?
The friction in moving a player between verticals has always been the drop-off point. Separate logins, separate wallets and separate experiences are all different reasons for a player to disengage. When that’s removed, the conversion happens more naturally.
What makes the difference is having product mechanics that actively pull players across. One Click Poker removes the traditional lobby entirely, which has historically been the biggest barrier for casino players who find poker intimidating or unfamiliar. Spins Poker goes further by taking player-versus-player gameplay and wrapping it in slot-style mechanics, so the experience feels native to a casino player from the first session.
In the other direction, casino rewards sitting inside the poker environment give poker players a natural reason to explore. It becomes a two-way pipeline rather than a one-way push, and operators can see that working in the data. That’s what cross-vertical conversion looks like when the product architecture supports it properly.
What does EvenBet Gaming now offer an operator that they genuinely can’t get elsewhere?
Most casino platforms don’t come with a serious poker product attached, and most poker providers don’t have a credible casino offering. We’re in a fairly unique position in that we can genuinely deliver both, and the integration between the two is real and not just a partnership held together by an API. In terms of who this is for, it’s operators who want to grow. Whether that’s a new entrant who needs a clean, fast route to market, or an established operator who has a casino product but knows they’re missing a revenue stream without poker. We’re positioned to offer that market entry and scalability, without compromising quality.
The post Behind EvenBet Gaming’s strategic evolution into casino appeared first on EE Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
Looking beyond Brazil, which LatAm market stands out most right now, and what makes it attractive?
Liam Hoofe, Content Strategist at GameOn
Based on our research for GO Intel, I think Chile is the market to watch out for the most. The size of the opportunity is potentially massive, with the Chilean Senate’s own figures estimating that more than 5 million Chileans are already gambling online.
The demand is definitely there, and broader discussions about a regulatory framework are underway. Our estimates in GO Intel also put channelisation rates at 80% if enforcement and regulation ran smoothly.
The proposed ‘cooling-off’ period for operators already active there is also quite a unique approach, and it will benefit those who approach the market with the right foundations in place.
Of course, as we’ve seen with Brazil, there will no doubt be a lot of public debate around the market, and the tax structure could be complex, but of the three we researched, this one still stands out the most.
Paulina Hovar, Lead Sales Manager LATAM at BGaming
Right now, Mexico and Argentina stand out the most to me.
Mexico has been showing steady growth for a while now. It’s already a fairly mature market with strong operator presence, but there’s still plenty of room to scale. At the same time, one of the main things to watch is the tax situation and how regulation may develop in the future, since that could impact profitability and market dynamics.
Argentina is interesting for a different reason. The market is regulated at the provincial level, so it’s much more decentralized. That creates opportunities because entry can be more flexible, but it also means you need to understand the local landscape and choose partners and regions carefully.
Ramiro Atucha, Board Advisor to Kiron Interactive
Mexico stands out. The size of the market alone makes it attractive, and the current regulation is already acceptable enough for public companies to feel comfortable operating there. It’s also moving toward a more formal framework, so there’s still margin to grow. Beyond Mexico, I’d point to Chile, certain provinces in Argentina, and Colombia. All three have their own dynamics, but they’re markets you can’t ignore right now.
When entering markets that are still evolving from a regulatory perspective, what’s the right balance between moving early and waiting for clarity?
Liam Hoofe, Content Strategist at GameOn
That’s the million-dollar question, and it’s one I’m not sure there is a 100% correct answer to. For me, it’s about building relationships, ensuring you have the right infrastructure in place, and understanding a market before you invest.
Operators and studios that just enter with no understanding of the culture and of the way the regulatory landscape could adapt are putting themselves at risk of failing.
Trying to remain one step ahead of regulation and working alongside the regulators to help the market mature is always going to be a much better approach than just waiting for regulation to come into place and being reactive.
Paulina Hovar, Lead Sales Manager LATAM at BGaming
It depends on how mature the market is.
If the regulatory framework is already clear and established, then the best approach is to operate fully within the licensed model from day one.
But in markets that are still in a gray or transitional stage, where operators are already active, it can make sense to take a more gradual approach. That could mean building partnerships, adapting the product to local needs, and preparing for future regulation before fully committing.
You also have to be very careful about legal and reputational risks. Every market is different, so timing and level of involvement should be assessed on a case-by-case basis.
Ramiro Atucha, Board Advisor to Kiron Interactive
As early as possible, as long as it isn’t illegal or forbidden. That’s the right moment to enter and transition through the regulatory process. Brazil is the clearest example. Sports betting was legalized in 2018, but the full regulatory framework only came in late 2023, with licensed operations starting in 2025. The operators that used those years to attract players, test the market and build name recognition without breaking the law made a real difference. By the time regulation arrived, they were already established.
As markets like Chile, Peru, and Uruguay develop, what will separate the brands that succeed from those that struggle?
Liam Hoofe, Content Strategist at GameOn
The biggest differentiator for me is localisation, and by that, I mean real localisation, not just translating a game into Spanish and calling it a day. This means actually creating products and promotions that speak to local audiences. LatAm is not just some big monolithic market with a one-size-fits-all solution – brands that succeed there are the ones that understand this. The ones who know that a player in Chile is not the same as one in Uruguay or Brazil are going to be the big winners.
On top of that, working closely with regulators and showing genuine concern for players’ well-being in these markets will make a huge difference. It’s not enough anymore to just display simple responsible gambling tools; players want to see it in your actions, and it’s obvious to them which brands really care and which are just ticking boxes.
And finally, local partnerships. Some of the most successful companies we work with are those that really integrate themselves and find local partners that offer genuine insight into communities, and can be leveraged to build trust. This can be achieved in a number of different ways, whether it’s through working with local content creators and influencers or getting involved with local charities and events.
Paulina Hovar, Lead Sales Manager LATAM at BGaming
As markets like Chile, Peru, and Uruguay continue to develop, the following three factors will set successful brands apart from the rest.
First, strong local partnerships. Without people on the ground and a real understanding of how each market works, it’s very difficult to build a sustainable position.
Second, product adaptation. Translation alone is never enough. Companies need proper localization that reflects user behavior, cultural differences, and local audience preferences.
And third, regulatory readiness. The companies that invest early in certification, compliance, and building the right processes will have a major advantage later on. It’s expensive and takes time, but in regulated markets, long-term preparation usually makes the difference between short-term growth and lasting success.
Ramiro Atucha, Board Advisor to Kiron Interactive
Brands that bring international experience and proven competitiveness from other markets, combined with genuine local understanding, will get the best of both worlds. The international background gives you credibility and product depth. The local presence gives you a product that’s actually adapted to how players in that country behave. Neither side works on its own. In Chile, Peru, and Uruguay, the operators who get this combination right are the ones who’ll separate from the pack.
The post LatAm: Beyond Brazil – Chile, Uruguay and Peru’s Regulatory Trajectories appeared first on Americas iGaming & Sports Betting News.
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