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Coexistence of physical and digital – a story of 2020 betting business
Isaac Asimov beautifully described an overlapping relationship between physical and digital, eventually leading to the unifcation of the two in a god-like creature. Does the betting business story end like this?
by Ivan Rozić, SVP of Global Sales and Business Development at NSoft
In November 1956, Isaac Asimov published a science fction short story called “The Last Question” which beautifully describes an overlapping relationship between physical and digital eventually leading to the unifcation of the two in a god-like creature.
Slowly but steadily, we have been following this path for decades, but 2020 has shown us physical and digital are still very much separated.
Betting business in 2020 – a prequel
With huge countries such as the USA, Brazil and India starting to open up and regulate gambling and betting, 2019 was a big morale booster to the entire igaming industry and growth throughout 2020 was inevitable for everybody involved. But instead of launching all those new projects, operators and suppliers alike were left reinventing their existing solutions for a new world we started living in from the early days of 2020.
With the physical aspect of our lives so abruptly taken from us, each and every person in igaming immediately scratched every retail-oriented project and started working on the digital. Virtual games and esports frenzy set the stage for the following months during which operators tried their best to provide desperately needed content for punters and providers followed suit.
Endless video calls during which we all came to a profound understanding of prof. Robert Kelly and his famous live interview for BBC were all based on digital. NSoft, being a virtual games provider, was going above and beyond in supporting existing and new partners with additional online content. Not only did we form and dedicate additional teams for all online integrations of our content but we also gave our in-house virtual games completely free of charge during April and May.
What 2020 have brought to us and what we have learned
At this point, NSoft’s monthly revenues were tarnished as we were heavily dependent on our partners’ retail business. Needless to say, we were able to fully sympathize with all of our partners which lost big chunks of their business due to lockdowns.
Steadily, COVID’s grip on the physical started to loosen in most of the markets and NSoft’s revenues sprung back to life fueled by our record online numbers. But we at NSoft are very much aware that we are still far from seeing retail business as it once was. The physical part of our lives is still but a shadow of what it once was and it will take a long time to get back to the pre-COVID world we all long for. So we drew some important lessons which will help us navigate the deep waters we are all in.
Lesson one – online frst sportsbook solution
NSoft is one of the few sportsbook solution providers in the market which is able to integrate and adapt to any third-party online platform. Our prematch and live solutions are running on multiple platforms at the moment attracting new users for our partners who were previously casino-oriented. During 2020 we decided to heavily invest in the digital aspect of our sportsbook solution by adding cashout, backend AI models and a completely new UI for all of our existing and new partners.
We aim to provide a top-of-the-line sportsbook solution that gives the operator ease of mind regardless of its size and ambition. It can be integrated as an iframe solution with customized frontend design done by NSoft or as an API-based solution ideal for UI savvy companies looking to build their own unique frontend.
You can handle your own risk management or put your trust into the industry-leading MTS solution brought to you by NSoft and Sportradar. Either way, you will receive a completely bespoke solution carefully catered to your needs with dedicated teams working on your project.
Lesson two – physical does not become digital on its own
For the last decade, NSoft’s virtual games have revolutionized retail business for our partners across the globe. We have seen NSoft’s virtual games growing retail businesses across Europe, Africa and Latin America regardless of punters’ habits and local specifcities. Game design, the retail platform’s stability and vast experience in handling operational headaches that retail operators go through made our virtual games an essential source of additional revenue for all our partners.
Unfortunately, the transition of this content into digital was not as successful, mostly due to our previous focus on making the virtual games portfolio perfect for the retail environment.
Throughout 2020 all of our virtual games went back to the drawing board. Our in-house teams of experts worked hard to learn from digital users’ behaviour on our virtual games and incorporate their direct and indirect feedback into a fresh digitally oriented spinof of our most popular virtual content. We are now ready to “unleash” them to production with all of our existing and new partners and witness a true digital transformation of revenue-driving powerhouses like Lucky Six, Roulette, Virtual Penalties and many more.
Lesson three – physical will be back
As mentioned earlier in this article, we are still very far from digital and physical unifcation, which means retail will be back to full strength. It’s hard to predict whether it will take months or years to get there, but we are already working hard to greet everybody back by making our Seven retail platform more fexible than ever. NSoft’s in-house products already featured in Seven retail platform have already proven themselves on the ground with our pre-match and in-play betting solutions running on tens of thousands of devices across more than 40 markets worldwide.
This includes a vast network of betting terminals which will surely drive retail for years to come. With our in-house products already going from strength to strength over SSBTs, we decided to open our retail and SSBT platform to third-party products. You can now utilize NSoft’s state-of-the-art hardware peripherals management which cuts years of development and millions in investments needed to support the range of printers, scanners, bill acceptors, card readers and monitors. NSoft already supports it all and keeps adding more.
Finally, 2021 will be all about getting back to business as usual, but the lessons learned throughout 2020 will undoubtedly impact the igaming industry for years to come.
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Digital Footprints
Digital Footprints Pays-it-Forward with £50,000 Accelerator Fund to Fuel iGaming Startups
Reading Time: 2 minutes
To mark its 15th anniversary, Digital Footprints is proud to announce the Digital Footprints Accelerator Fund, a bold new initiative offering £50,000 in marketing resources to a deserving iGaming startup. The programme embraces a “pay it forward” philosophy, investing in the next generation of ambitious brands in iGaming and helping them scale with best-in-class marketing support.
Fueling Growth in iGaming Innovation
As an agency that has driven growth for operators, affiliates, and suppliers across competitive markets, Digital Footprints now turns its resources toward nurturing future challengers. The Accelerator Fund is open to iGaming startups less than two years old (pre-launch or early growth stage) that operate responsibly and with compliance at their core. The winning entrant will receive a bespoke digital marketing package valued at £50,000. Services may include:
- SEO and content strategy
- Social media & influencer campaigns
- Creative branding and design
- Analytics & performance dashboarding
- Sponsorship sourcing & activation
- UX & conversion optimisation with compliance in mind
Additional benefits include exposure through Digital Footprints’ channels, press coverage, and advisory support from industry specialists.
Key Dates
- Applications open: 13 October
- Deadline to apply: 10 November
- Shortlist announced: 24 November
- Pitch date: 1 December
- Winner announced: 8 January
“We believe that success should create opportunity,” said Sharon McFarlane, Managing Director of Digital Footprints. “After 15 years in the digital and iGaming space, we recognise that we definitely had help along the way from an amazing community, and this fund is our chance to pay that forward. It’s our chance to create our own community to fuel innovation, champion responsible growth, and give a deserving startup a genuine launchpad. We can’t wait to see who steps forward.”
About Digital Footprints
Digital Footprints is a specialist iGaming digital agency, partnering with operators, affiliates, and suppliers to deliver strategic, compliant, and performance-driven marketing solutions. Over the past decade and a half, the award-winning agency has built an enviable track record in web development, SEO, branding, content, and audience growth across regulated markets.
For more information about eligibility or to apply for the Accelerator Fund, please visit: https://www.digital-footprints.co.uk/df-accelerator-fund/
The post Digital Footprints Pays-it-Forward with £50,000 Accelerator Fund to Fuel iGaming Startups appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
Angela Martin Head of Marketing UK & Ireland at GGPoker
JOHNNY VEGAS LEADS GGPOKER’S BOLD NEW ‘FACE-OFF’ PROJECT TO BRING THE DRAMA, TENSION AND THRILLS BACK TO BRITISH POKER
Reading Time: 2 minutes
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GGPoker has launched the ‘Face Off’, fronted by comedy legend Johnny Vegas, celebrating the drama, tension, and humour of live poker with a bold, cinematic creative approach.
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The campaign repositions GGPoker.co.uk as the home of ‘real players and real emotion’, combining offbeat British comedy with high-impact visuals to shake up a stagnant gambling marketing space.
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Marking a renewed commitment to the UK market, ‘Face Off’ spans digital, broadcast, and live-event activations, signalling GGPoker’s ambition to lead the next era of poker entertainment and brand storytelling.
GGPoker, the World’s Biggest Poker Room, has reignited the UK poker scene with the launch of ‘Face Off’, a new project which celebrates the drama and pure entertainment of live poker, fronted by comedy legend Johnny Vegas.
The campaign marks GGPoker’s most ambitious UK marketing push to date, shining a light on the human side of the game: the bluffing, bravado, rivalry and emotion that make poker far more than just a hand of cards.
Brimming with Vegas’s trademark humour and offbeat British charm, ‘Face Off’ delivers a cinematic look and feel rarely seen in poker advertising. The creative mixes character-driven comedy with moments of high-stakes intensity, capturing the personality and unpredictability that define real poker.
Developed with leading creative partners, the campaign sets out to reimagine how poker is portrayed in the UK, positioning GGPoker.co.uk as the home of genuine competition and real players. It’s designed to connect with everyone from casual fans to seasoned grinders, and to show poker as something social, human and alive with character.
The rollout will span digital, broadcast and live activations across the UK and Ireland, with exclusive content, social challenges and player-focused experiences bringing the ‘Face Off’ world to life:
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Digital: Search, SEO, META, Snap, X, PGM, YouTube
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Audio: talkSPORT, ACAST, Sports Social
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TV: BVOD, Cinema, CTV
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Outdoor: High-impact displays and standard BAU executions
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PR: Stunts and live events with celebrity involvement, WSOP Poker Event coverage, and story seeding to highlight real player experiences
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CRM: Email, SMS, and retargeting campaigns, all optimised to enhance the player experience.
Angela Martin, Head of Marketing UK & Ireland at GGPoker said: “With ‘Face Off,’ we wanted to remind people why they fell in love with poker in the first place. It’s not just about the cards; it’s about the tension, and the moments of genius (or madness) that make it such a uniquely human game.
“Johnny Vegas is not just a legend of comedy, his name says it all. It brings a touch of Vegas flair to the UK poker scene, while keeping it witty and completely human. ‘Face Off’ is our way of saying that poker should be fun, social, and full of personality again. This is GGPoker doubling down on the UK and on the players who make the game what it is.”
The post JOHNNY VEGAS LEADS GGPOKER’S BOLD NEW ‘FACE-OFF’ PROJECT TO BRING THE DRAMA, TENSION AND THRILLS BACK TO BRITISH POKER appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
Reading Time: 2 minutes
Bombay Group is pleased to announce two strategic appointments to its C-Suite, Rhiannon Bach as Chief Marketing Officer (CMO), and Lauren Findlay as Chief Digital Officer (CDO). Bach and Findlay join the executive leadership team at a pivotal moment in the Group’s evolution.
The Group encompasses Bombay Club Tallinn, the exclusive Bombay Yacht and Jet, a collection of high-end restaurants and bars, the five-star Burman Hotel, and most recently the launch of Yolo.com, a newly licensed, Estonian-regulated online casino. Yolo.com is set to become a unique digital destination where players can unlock exclusive rewards and experiences across Bombay’s prestigious offline assets. Bombay forms part of Yolo Group’s luxury B2B and B2C offering, covering a suite of online and land-based options.
Bach will lead the global marketing and advertising for Bombay Group, overseeing the company’s Clubs, maritime operations, and expanding hospitality and concierge brands. Her mandate includes strengthening brand identity, elevating guest experiences and expanding loyalty and VIP engagement across markets. With a career spanning four continents, Bach brings more than 15 years of senior leadership experience in casino marketing, hospitality, and technology. She has held executive roles with multinational casino operators in Macau, Australia, and the United States, and most recently served as Head of North American Growth for Atomize RMS, a Sweden-based hospitality technology company.
Findlay is tasked with leading the Group’s new flagship online casino, Yolo.com, and driving the digital transformation of Bombay Group’s luxury offline ecosystem into a seamlessly integrated premium digital experience. She brings over 15 years of combined experience in iGaming, agency, and e-commerce, having previously held senior leadership roles including Commercial Strategy Director at LeoVegas Group, Chief Marketing Officer within Happy Hour Group. More recently, she has served as Fractional CCO/CMO for multiple start-ups and scale-ups through her consultancy. Her expertise lies in go-to-market launches, brand development, and optimising commercial performance across digital acquisition and retention operations.
“We are delighted to welcome Rhiannon and Lauren to the executive leadership team,” said Kevin McGowen, Chief Executive of Bombay Group. “The combined and extensive international backgrounds of both individuals and proven track record make these executive appointments exceptionally well-suited to lead Bombay’s digital and marketing strategies as we continue to expand globally.”
These appointments underscore Bombay Group’s commitment to investing in world-class leadership and delivering innovative, memorable experiences to guests worldwide.
The post Bombay announces strategic C-Suite appointments with a view towards regulated online growth appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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