Roman Bogoduhov, EvenBet Gaming’s Head of Account Management, joined the company late last year. We caught up with him on how the business plans to secure further growth as the region’s various markets develop. 

CasinoBeats: Which LatAm countries do you see having the most immediate potential right now and why?

RB: There’re several countries where it’s lucrative to start a casino or sports betting website at the moment. Colombia is the most attractive one with minimal legislative barriers and an established and transparent licencing process. Argentina comes in second place as it’s a huge market with an igaming-hungry population, but it’s a lot more complicated, with 24 jurisdictions in the country, all with various regulatory statuses. On top of that, the legislation in most of these territories makes starting a brand new casino nearly impossible. 

However, the online market in Mexico is very attractive, but it’s only available to existing land-based operators.     

CasinoBeats: How has the status of online poker changed in LatAm in recent years?

RB: In Latam countries that allow the operation of local or offshore poker offerings, online poker has quickly transformed from being associated with the black market and illegal activities into an indispensable part of everyday entertainment. For example, in Colombia and Chile, we’re seeing interest in our product increasing constantly, especially from sports betting operators because of the audience crossover.   

To lean into this, we have optimised our Side-Bet product, which allows players to bet on sports without having to leave the poker room. For projects starting from scratch, we have pre-integrated sportsbooks from two partner providers with an enormous choice of sports and events, so an operator can give passionate players access to both offers simultaneously.

CasinoBeats: Conversely, which countries do you see as slow burners that further down the line could be the most promising markets?

RB: Brazil is the biggest potential market. We see slow movement toward online gaming regulation as the 2022 World Cup draws ever closer. That being said, the proposed changes mostly cater to sports betting and lotteries. However, as the government sees the benefits of a regular influx of taxes from the igaming sector – especially considering the costly events of the past two years – the regulation will naturally extend to online casinos and poker rooms as well. This is particularly likely given poker’s affinity with sports betting. 

As well as that, these games are already part of day-to-day life in the form of illegal operators and the country stands to benefit exponentially from common-sense regulation.  

CasinoBeats: With the complexities in relation to the regulatory status of LatAm – with some countries such as Brazil currently prohibiting gambling, others unregulated but not actively prohibiting it, and others such as Argentina regulated on a province-by-province basis, how do you target the best opportunities for the company?

RB: There are several questions we ask ourselves before making any country-specific offer. First, and most importantly, is online poker currently regulated in the country, such as in Colombia? If not, is playing in offshore poker rooms allowed, as is the case in Chile? 

Then we need to examine whether there’s an existing offline and online poker culture in the region that would allow an operator to create a sustainable user database. In Argentina’s case, there’s massive affection for the game, making it a no brainer to implement the game there.    

Having interrogated these factors, we can advise an operator on whether to proceed with an offering. We’re also beginning to examine how EvenBet Gaming can help our customers to better understand legislative barriers and which forms of partnerships are the most promising.

CasinoBeats: A region with such potential will inherently bring competition. What do you believe makes your company stand out from your competitors?

RB: EvenBet Gaming was one of the first poker providers that started to work in Latin and South America. In the last four years, we’ve optimised our offerings to the needs of local operators and players, completely localised the software and management tools we offer specific clients and created a Spanish-speaking business support team. As well as that, we have consistently participated in many gaming industry events in Colombia, Chile, Argentina, Mexico, and other countries. 

Finally, we offer the same world-class poker platform that we make available in more mature markets, such as Europe and the US, with all the necessary certifications. It is safe, secure, and packed with all necessary anti-fraud and compliance tools. We pay special attention to developing and providing KYC and anti-fraud solutions to LatAm-based operators because trust and safety are among the biggest issues in the region. There’s still a lot to be done, but we’re ready to launch any type of project our partners might need.

CasinoBeats: If you could change any elements of how the LatAm countries currently operate in terms of gambling and regulation, what would they be and why?

RB: I’d speed up the process of transition from black and grey online markets to regulated ones. That would be beneficial for both the players, who would be protected from various scams and fraudulent operations, and each of these countries’ economies would receive more taxes. Keeping online gambling in the shadows has grave consequences for the industry’s reputation in general. It only serves to complicate the operations of legally working companies.

CasinoBeats: What new products should operators in the region be looking forward to?

RB: More mobile-first and mobile-only multi-gaming platforms. These seem to be most interesting for many audiences in LatAm. The combinations can be quite different. For example, EvenBet offers a mobile poker platform with the possibility to add thousands of casino and table games as well as a live offering and classic sports betting.

The post Roman Bogoduhov, EvenBet Gaming: the <br> changing landscape in LatAm for online poker appeared first on CasinoBeats.

Ekaterina Giganova, EvenBet Gaming CMO, shares her thoughts on why India is ‘too attractive as a market not to try’ before touching upon why the introduction of a well-thought out regulatory framework could present an attractive opportunity for foreign operators looking to expand.

How many online casino and sports betting players are there in a country with the world’s second-largest population, noted for the fact that gambling is inherited in the culture? And how many of them are visible to us and the country authorities in the situation of uncertain and controversial regulation?

India being one of the most promising igaming markets is, at the same time, also one of the toughest, for many reasons. The legal issues are a headache, with countless variations between different states and the whole online verticals banned by the federal law, not to mention the enormous size of both black and grey markets. 

The users’ preferences are not always evident for operators who used to work in Europe or North America. And the payment processing for igaming still causes difficulties for many projects.

However, India is too attractive as a market not to try. Some data suggests that right now, 10 per cent of all online gaming users are from India. According to recent surveys, 40 per cent of Internet users in the country gamble online while 80 per cent of adults make at least one bet a year. 

During the pandemic, as Business Wire India stated, online gambling in the country experienced a 21 per cent growth. India loses at least US$140m in taxes a year, due to the lack of online gaming regulation, and the market is predicted to grow to US$1bn in revenue within a few years.

How does poker fare?

Online poker is relatively lucky in India if compared to slots and most online casino games. Online casinos are officially prohibited as a form of gambling in most of the Indian states, while online poker is considered to be a game of skill and is therefore treated as neither gambling nor regulated (the same works for fantasy sports). 

This situation makes us face a lot of uncertainty: as long as the status of online poker as a game of chance or skill may be revisited by the state governments, and as far as lately some severe actions against online gambling have been taken (in Tamil Nadu and Telangana already, with more states considering similar measures), we cannot be sure that situation will stay favourable for online poker long.

At the same time, the black market of online casinos and sports betting during the pandemic is growing rapidly as never before. Without the access to the limited number of land-based casinos in four states regulating physical gambling, no horse racing (also game of skill in India), etc., this nation of heavy gamblers quickly has turned to illegal websites offering to spin a roulette, try luck in slots, or bet on one of the few sports events available.

Instead of introducing regulation, the governments propose more and more severe bans, and that doesn’t improve the situation with money spent in illegal casinos, gambling addiction, or fraud.

Regulation and the possibility to work legally and secure the business could be attractive for many local and some global operators interested in developing the Indian market. As for online poker, now its status is based on court precedents but is not fixed by law, except for five states which claim online poker as a form of gambling and either regulate (Nagaland, Sikkim) or ban it (Telangana, Andra Pradesh, Gujarat).

So, everyone entering the online market in India with whichever offering is legal here must consider either games of skill uncertain status or the possibility of the whole industry becoming illegal.

Indian players: mobile gen Z and rummy fans

We see a completely different approach to the igaming regulation, but can we also say that Indian players are different? Does the relatively legitimate status of online poker or fantasy sports affect their popularity? Are there any local preferences for the games?

Yes and no; pretty much as the rest of the world, Indian poker fans prefer Texas Hold’em, its’ Short Deck variation, and Omaha; these three game types make over 95 per cent of all poker games played. But a poker room might get a significant advantage if it also offers locally popular card games like Rummy and Teen Patti alongside poker. This combination would make a definite success recipe if the promotion strategy is right.

While marketing a poker room or a casino, one should also take into consideration that the actively playing audience here is young (if compared with North America, for example, where a huge part of online poker fans started playing during the poker boom of the noughties), mobile, and sees online gaming as a part of the lifestyle. 

No wonder that successful marketing campaigns for online casino and poker projects include using such tools as TikTok, YouTube lives and video shows, and other video marketing options, securing collaborations with local pop and rap stars, and other campaigns appealing to gen Z.

The post EvenBet Gaming: Why the Indian market is ‘too attractive not to try’ appeared first on CasinoBeats.

The social element of poker makes it unique and the game needs to be marketed as such in order to ensure success, writes EvenBet Gaming’s CEO Dmitry Starostenkov

Driven by the use of advanced technology, improved mobile interfaces and new game formats, the online poker experience has gone from strength to strength in recent years. Many operators see the value in diversifying their offerings with a product that not only engages with millennials, but also boosts turnover dramatically when deployed correctly.

However, poker is a distinct outlier in the world of gaming for its social element. This may not seem like a big distinction, but it makes the retention and acquisition of players entirely different. 

Operators must ensure they are offering a range of features to maximise player engagement. This inspired us at EvenBet to create a marketing guide entitled: “Acquiring and Retaining Your Poker Players,” which is available to download for free HERE. Here are some of the key findings of our report.  

Bonuses: A little goes a long way

There is a wide variety of bonuses that reflect players across all stages of their lifecycle, from beginners to seasoned players. Applying the right bonuses to the right players is key to success.

By using sign-up, first deposit and reload bonuses, bettors can receive instant gratification which is likely to keep players coming back. 

However, this marketing strategy should be used with caution as it runs the risk of attracting players that are solely on the hunt for bonus offers.

A first deposit bonus, in which the operator matches the player’s first deposit, has become a vital tool for remaining competitive with so many affiliates on the market and also inspires loyalty. Most sites will match 100 per cent of the player’s deposit up until a certain amount, but some have found value in going as high as 200-300 per cent. 

Tournaments: Understanding the varieties

Friendly competition is the whole point of poker, but there are several different tournaments the operators can opt for and it is important to apply the right format for different players.

Freerolls tournaments do not have a buy-in and are best offered to new customers. This allows them to explore the environment and become comfortable with their surroundings. They can learn who plays in the room and how well they are likely to do there. It is typical for a site to offer about a week of first deposit freerolls.

In guaranteed prize tournaments, the operator puts up the prize money. Knowing this amount from the start makes the tournament very attractive for customers. However, this can tempt professional players. This could mean the buy-ins equate to less than the guaranteed prize money, which would result in a loss for the operator.

Spin & Go tournaments start when there are three players registered. The prize pool is not made up of the buy-in fees, rather the pot is multiplied by a random number, which means the player could potentially win far more than their buy-in fee. These are fast-paced games, designed to appeal to players that might find regular poker too slow.

Meanwhile, in Satellites players compete for the chance to take part in a tournament with significant prize money, which would require buy-ins of 3-5 figure sums that many would not be able to afford.

These are just a few of the options available, and there are plenty of additional settings that work as cherries on top, so creating and constantly improving a tournament grid is probably the main challenge for poker operators.

Jackpots: the big draw

Jackpots draw players into both online and offline poker rooms and keep them seated longer. The room comes to life when a jackpot is paid and players agonise over near misses. Even though jackpots look like a retention marketing tool, they also serve as a source of acquisition. More winners create more word-of-mouth advertising that helps attract new players. But, as with tournaments, various jackpots are tools to deal with different situations and customers.

A bad beat jackpot is awarded when a player with what appeared to be strong cards loses the game, for example, if Jack Quads were beaten by a Straight Flush. The unlucky player defeated by a bad beat will receive a jackpot if certain requirements are met. Typically, the player who lost the bad beat hand will receive 50 per cent of the jackpot, with 25 per cent going to the player who won and 25 per cent to the remaining players. This goes a long way to ensuring the losing player does not leave the game in frustration.

The Monte Carlo jackpot is awarded to players with extremely high hands, while a Smart Jackpot is similar to a Bad Beat, but is only available during certain times. This can be used to leverage players into rooms that would otherwise be unpopular at that time.

Segmentation: Sophisticated customer targeting

It is important that players feel rewarded for their loyalty. The longer they remain on a site and the more games they play should result in going up in levels. This allows the operator to reward players of higher levels with greater incentives. For example, give them a bonus when they reach a higher level or give them a higher percentage of rakeback. 

This allows the operators to easily introduce further incentives including VIP tournaments for elite players, set up cash tables for players of particular levels or organise tournaments and tables by the currency the players prefer to use. 

Missions and quests: complete objectives for prizes

Missions and quests are ways of making the poker experience more interactive. These involve giving players a task they need to perform, for example, make a deposit, play a game or play a tournament. The players then receive an award which could be cash, a level boost or merchandise. This can help new players navigate their way around the site while enjoying a sense of accomplishment from the rewards.

To find out more about the engagement and retention tools available on the EvenBet platform, read the “Acquiring and Retaining Your Poker Players” guide HERE.

The post EvenBet: The most effective tools to keep poker players engaged appeared first on CasinoBeats.

Dmitry Starostenkov, CEO at EvenBet Gaming, said: “I’m very excited to release this white paper to the wider industry, and I hope it will generate constructive discussions about what we know to be significant challenges and opportunities in the sector.

“At EvenBet, we’re constantly working to improve both our back-office and customer-facing solutions. Armed with this information, we and our friends across igaming are better placed to take advantage of current trends, which further benefit the end-product for players.”

Unsurprisingly, cryptocurrency adoption was pinpointed as the biggest trend in 2022. But slightly more interesting was the markets that have captured the industry’s attention this year.

The report found that “everybody is looking outside of Europe”, and instead are taking a punt on newer, emerging markets such as Asia, Brazil and the US.

The whitepaper read: “The second most mentioned trend was the tightening regulation across multiple jurisdictions, sometimes going together with privacy and marketing-related changes in the industry. This was equally important for the operators and the vendors.

“Could we say that Europe isn’t any more interesting for the igaming companies’ future development? Talking about the objectives, both vendors and operators pointed at Asia and Latin America, and sometimes North America, but almost never Europe.”

The majority of betting companies have been “preoccupied” with player acquisition over the course of the last 12 months, with many “constantly looking for new ways to generate traffic” – and one respondent to EvenBet’s survey stating that “player acquisition and attribution is the main focus” for their business.

When questioned on the most pressing challenges facing the igaming industry going forward, EvenBet said that “respondents were less united” in their views. Hiring talent, new growth opportunities, the war in Ukraine and the looming threat of a global economic crisis were some of the recurring themes, however.

You can download the White Paper here

The post EvenBet Gaming: igaming companies no longer taking a gamble on European markets appeared first on CasinoBeats.

CasinoBeats: What are the major challenges in scaling poker operations in highly regulated or uncertain markets?

Dmitry Starostenkov: The primary challenge that all operators face is attracting an audience. In poker, we refer to this as “liquidity”, which is the flow of traffic to the operator that ensures a consistent player presence in the poker room. This is crucial, as unlike with casino games such as roulette, where the player competes against the house, poker is fundamentally a game between players. Therefore, it is vital for an operator to have a sufficient audience to facilitate engaging gameplay.

This issue affects both new projects and established operators. Attracting a steady influx of new players is not an easy task. Many poker rooms operate on traditional models and rely solely on time-tested games, but this audience is gradually ageing and losing interest as they explore other games and formats.

The key takeaway is that we must offer players something that truly resonates with a younger demographic—those who have grown up with mobile phones and have played games such as Candy Crush and farm simulators from a young age. This applies universally across all markets, both those that are developed with long-standing regulations, and emerging markets. However, it is particularly relevant in new markets.

In these markets, operators must start from scratch, which means actively growing and educating the audience. For instance, in Africa, education is paramount. The demographic is interested in poker but lacks the knowledge to play effectively. Without adequate understanding, they may quickly lose interest after initial losses. It is therefore pivotal that we seize the opportunity to educate potential players in a timely manner to foster lasting engagement.

CB: How can online poker platforms adapt their business models to guarantee success in regions like Latin America and Southeast Asia, where regulatory frameworks can be stringent or inconsistent?

DS: In addition to directly adapting the product, it is essential, as aforementioned, to educate your audience, to form and nurture it, and to teach people how to play poker. Latin America and South Asia are markets where regulations are changing rapidly. However, in most cases, there is still no regulation specifically for online poker in these regions, or it remains at a very basic level.

This means that any operator entering these countries faces numerous uncertainties related to practical business operations. For example, traditional payment methods may not be available because online banking does not permit transactions for online poker, even in cases where it is not legally prohibited. In many cases, this issue simply has not been addressed yet in the nation. Additionally, operators may find it difficult to connect to a large poker network to gain traffic and make games interesting for the audience because that network is not yet operational in the region.

These challenges can often be overcome by experimenting with the product itself. There are already established strategies in Asia for attracting an audience. Typically, there are popular local games in this region that serve as gateways into poker. For instance, in India, where EvenBet has a significant market share, people often come to play Rummy, which is a popular card game in the region. Having enjoyed the experience, they then transition into poker.

It is also crucial to be financially flexible, for example, by creating numerous tables for micro-stakes, as players may not yet be ready to wager at higher values. In such cases, it is wise to favour quick, simplified formats such as shorthanded games or trimmed decks. There is also huge potential in offering fast tournament formats or tournaments with random elements, such as Spin & Go or Mystery Bounty tournaments. These formats attract an audience that is just starting to learn how to play.

Professional players can sit successfully at a table with high stakes or endure a three-hour tournament, something no beginner can easily replicate due to a lack of skills. It is no coincidence that formats with lower wagering options are popular in such markets. A prime example of this is the success of mobile applications that do not formally involve real-money gambling, as these allow players to experience excitement without constantly risking significant sums. This solution also enables operators to address monetisation issues, as they are not required to process a large number of payments from thousands of players and can instead comfortably implement in-game purchases.

Psychologically, this approach is simpler for players, especially those who are beginners or who play casually and occasionally. In the case of club poker, the volume of financial transactions is also lower, thus reducing the risks related to those transactions. In such instances, the poker room is only paid by the club owner, who then distributes chips, virtual currency, and creates games for the players. Therefore, the number of counterparties directly involved with the operator is lower, as is the volume of transactions.

CB: With continued uncertainty surrounding alternate payment options to standard fiat transactions, what does the future look like for cryptocurrency payments on a global scale?

DS: Cryptocurrency has proven to be effective in most markets. However, the challenge is that in some regions, it is considered easier to ban its use than to regulate the process. In certain countries, there are already significant restrictions on cryptocurrency transactions and their use as a payment method. Nevertheless, this situation is not widespread, and there are no indications that it will become so. 

Overall, the prospects for cryptocurrency in gambling are very promising. This is connected to the unreliability of traditional payment systems, the high number of blocked transactions and chargebacks in online gambling, and the complexities of compliance with legislative regulations surrounding payments. These three factors make working with payment systems complicated, labour-intensive, and without guaranteed results. In contrast, using cryptocurrency simplifies the entire process. 

The key point is that regulatory bodies in the online gaming industry need to learn how to handle cryptocurrency payments. If we reach a point where the use of cryptocurrency is equated with the use of conventional payment methods, then in the future, such transactions could dominate the gambling market.

CB: Across tricky to navigate jurisdictions, how can businesses diversify their revenue streams to ensure maximum profitability?

DS: The main rule is that you should not rely entirely on a single monetisation tool, especially in today’s reality. It is not reasonable to consider traditional online poker—where players come to play, deposit $100, and either win or lose—as a universal solution. All operators need to seek new ways to encourage players to increase their expenditure, and to do so in various ways.

This can be achieved with additional games. EvenBet has side games integrated into its poker platform, which are mini-games that can be played parallel to the poker table. A player can enjoy blackjack, roulette, or make sports bets while waiting for their turn or during breaks. These mini-games can be just as significant a source of income as the main poker platform and are an essential additional revenue stream.

Virtual purchase stores, one of which EvenBet has also launched, are another method of diversifying revenue streams. Players can purchase additional functionalities, such as the ability to view their opponent’s game statistics or a time bank that extends the player’s turn. These features cost the operator very little but are appealing to players as they provide more information about the game and extra opportunities, making players willing to spend on them.

Finally, the introduction of new business models should be a priority. In addition to classic real-money poker, launching club poker allows for the combination of standard games, tournaments and private games on a single platform. This creates two distinct revenue streams for the operator while enabling cross-marketing between unique audiences, including private and classic games. This approach generates greater revenue and extends the lifetime value of each player due to the availability of more varied gameplay options to try.

The post EvenBet Gaming: scaling up online poker in a complex regulatory environment appeared first on CasinoBeats.

Hailing JugaMax as “a leading operator” in the “burgeoning” Paraguayan market, EvenBet Gaming will tap into another corner of the nation’s igaming audience by making its roster of poker games available via the brand’s online casino platform. 

The collaboration will provide JugaMax’s players with access to EvenBet Gaming poker  products such as cash games, Sit & Go, and Spins tournaments. 

Manuel Jiménez, Head of LatAm Sales at EvenBet Gaming, commented: “We are thrilled to partner with JugaMax and bring our innovative poker solutions to the burgeoning Paraguayan market.

“With JugaMax’s reputation as a leading operator, coupled with our advanced gaming technology, we are confident that this partnership will transform the online poker landscape in the country and expand our footprint in Latin America.”

To coincide with the integration, CONAJZAR-licensed operator JugaMax will host weekly tournaments featuring “significant guaranteed prizes”. Free tickets will also be awarded through several social media giveaways. 

Pablo Bergesio, President at JugaMax, added: “The integration of EvenBet’s poker solutions significantly enriches our offering, helping us to attract a wider audience of poker players across Latin America who appreciate exciting and innovative content.

“With the igaming market in Paraguay showing promising growth, the partnership is set to play a significant role in our future success in the region, solidifying our position as a leading operator.”

The post JugaMax leverages EvenBet Gaming’s ‘innovative poker products’ appeared first on CasinoBeats.

Following a BMM Testlabs technical assessment, KSA granted the certificate to EvenBet, allowing the online poker and gaming supplier to enter the Dutch market.

Licensed operators in the country will now be able to integrate EvenBet’s poker and card games, as well as its CRM solution to manage poker tables and customers.

Dmitry Starostenkov, CEO at EvenBet Gaming, commented: “Receiving a Dutch certification is a key moment in EvenBet’s history. 

“It showcases our desire to work within the strictest jurisdictions to ensure players receive the highest-quality gaming experience and that sports betting operators, casinos and dedicated poker rooms have the tools to manage these effectively.

“It is the latest move in our extensive commercial strategy, and we are delighted to be entering a market that is serviced by only a handful of the most dedicated developers.”

EvenBet enters the Netherlands as the Dutch gambling market undergoes regulatory changes following the publication of the amended Responsible Gaming Policy in the Government Gazette earlier this month.

The post EvenBet Gaming receives KSA approval to enter the Netherlands appeared first on CasinoBeats.

However, it was unanimously agreed across CasinoBeats Summit’s Industry Trends and Future Predictions panel that personalisation and the player must be one of, if not the most, important factors for any casino and their future innovation prospects.

Sponsored by NetBet, the Industry Trends and Future Predictions panel featured a variety of industry experts from across sectors who forecasted their unique perspectives on what casino and slots platforms might look like in the years to come. 

On the panel was Dmitry Starostenkov, CEO of EvenBet Gaming; Inesa Glazaite, Chief Commercial Officer of iGP; Itai Zak, Executive Director of Digicode and former CEO of SBTech; Alexander Martin, Advisor & NED at Dice GP and former CEO of SKS365; and Mark Taffler, Commercial Director of Hub88.

Moderated by SBC Media’s Project Director, Martyn Elliott, the panel was asked about casino innovation and technology, with product personalisation being the response each panel participant gave in some form or another.

Martin noted that gamification needs to be at the top of operators’ minds with something new and something interactive, while Starostenkov stated that igaming verticals need to work together to create “comprehensive entertainment” for consumers on casino platforms.

Glazaite highlighted the importance of adapting to changing player behaviour, while Zak remarked that “the player must be placed in the centre”.

Taffler doubled down on Zak’s comments that casinos must recognise players being at the forefront of any future direction for any operator.

The Hub88 Director said: “You have to put the player at the centre of everything that you do. As a B2B supplier, we have to put the B2C customer at the centre of everything we do.

“We have to look at this at a more macro-level. The industry is maturing at such a rate that players are a lot more educated now and I don’t think there’s been any real innovation for a while, I think it’s more iteration.

“That is fine, we don’t have to reinvent the wheel. I refer to the Henry Ford quote quite a lot where he said ‘If you ask customers what they want, they’ll say faster horses’ and then he invented cars. Customers didn’t know that they needed cars, they thought they could only have a faster horse.

“What is really important is, as the industry matures, we see growing markets that localisation is still fundamentally important. I still hear of people going into LatAm. Which part? The Portuguese-speaking part or the Spanish-speaking part? How big is the file size of your content? How good is the mobile connectivity in Venezuela vs Germany? Where are your servers?

“I think there’s a lot of really hygienic things that need to be done in the industry before everyone starts to move on to the BHAGs – big, hairy audacious goals. Ultimately, all that matters is that the player is happy if you’re a B2C, and ultimately, all that matters is that the casino is happy if you’re a B2B.”

Current trends

Elliott then asked the panel about trends that they are seeing emerge currently in the casino space and several topics were discussed.

Martin noted that he’s starting to see more social games on the market, with gameshows getting involved in various ways, as well as streaming services and the metaverse. He also pointed out the growing interest in artificial intelligence.

“Something that has been around for a long time already and something that everyone should be adapting is AI,” stated Martin.

“The key question is who is adopting the technology. We have been using it for customer service operations, we have been using it for marketing developments, graphics, videos, all kinds of promotions and CRM. These kinds of tools are very efficient and very powerful for an operator. 

“There have been some attempts to use AI to create slots, it’s not of the quality that we are used to having today, but it is something that will be continuing and something that will be coming up in the next few years.”

Zak also noted how important AI is currently for casinos, but stated it’s still in its early stages. It’s just being used as a tool for operators to achieve another goal within their operations such as creating a safer gaming environment for responsible gaming or streamlining development processes. Care with its usage needs to be a top priority.

The Digicode Director said: “AI isn’t suddenly the solution for everything. There is always going to be a need for human interaction. Players’ behaviour, especially in gambling, is very complicated, even for AI at this stage.”

He continued: “Make sure you understand that AI itself can’t solve anything, there is always going to be room and a need for professional human interaction.”

Across the rest of the panel, Glazaite re-emphasised localisation across markets for all operators down to the finest details, especially when launching in new regions. Starostenkov highlighted an interest across several gaming verticals for operators rather than just one or two.

Meanwhile, Taffler commented on live casino, going down a similar localisation point as Glazaite – bringing attention to producing a product which is in line with what the customer wants down to the fundamental elements of each game type.

Future predictions

As for what the future holds for casino and igaming operators, Taffler offered three predictions – payment processes to be improved upon; more companies to assist operators with quicker and more profit performance; and curated player casino experiences via a direct link.

Martin believes that in the next five years, there will be more gamification across all aspects of gaming operations for the metaverse and virtual reality. Glazaite believes personalisation and social gaming will become more prominent with groups gathering to play together online, while Starostenkov feels sweepstakes will be a red-hot trend in the coming months.

Zak brought the conversation back to the initial discussion on the importance of personalisation and the player, emphasising that the “player is king”, replacing the previous gaming monarch of content.

In addition, he also believes there will be more innovation, player offering personalisation and usage of AI by operators for streamlining processes and assisting in responsible gambling.

Zak commented: “If up until recently we used the slogan ‘content is king’, I believe now that the player is the king.”

He continued: “Technology is at a stage where it now enables us to do a lot of things, the limitation is not the technology. The limitation is the connectivity and how you tailor, provide and market your offering. We will see much more focus on the player.”

Other topics that were discussed on the Industry Trends and Future Predictions panel include live casino, content direction, VR and AR future in igaming as well as crypto.

The post CasinoBeats Summit: Players must be at the centre of casino innovation appeared first on CasinoBeats.

Three new features – video chat, throwable objects and bomb pots – have been integrated into the platform by the online gaming software developer to help emulate the offline poker experience online and improve communication and interactions.

EvenBet added that the features will boost several KPIs as well as provide a positive impact on engagement, retention and revenue.

“We are very excited to release these fun and engaging features within our platform,” commented Dmitry Starostenkov, CEO of EvenBet Gaming.

“We are continuously looking at ways to bring elements of the offline poker experience into the online world, and now players have the opportunity to express their emotions and engage with opponents in real-time with these upgrades.

“We are very proud of what we have achieved, and we look forward to working on future enhancements that continue to evolve the digital poker experience.”

EvenBet’s video chat feature will allow players to interact with one another through a camera and microphone in real-time at specific tables, excluding tournaments.

The throwable objects upgrade will give players the option to select one of 10 virtual animated objects to throw at their opposition, which the developer says offers a “funnier alternative to the classic emoji”.

Finally, the bomb pot feature will randomly appear within a session and force players to pay an ante, increasing the amount which can be won. 

Operators can control how often the bomb pot feature occurs during the game, but the player’s consent may be required before the game can continue.

Earlier this year, Starostenkov spoke to SBC about online poker and how such an offering can be rolled out efficiently.

The post EvenBet enhances online poker experience with interactive upgrades appeared first on CasinoBeats.

In a move that is charged with elevating “its content offering to new heights,” KA Gaming boasts a total of just under 500 titles in its content library, including over 40 fish/shooting games, such as popular titles King Octopus and Space Cat.

David Charnley, Commercial Manager at KA Gaming, noted: “Partnering with EvenBet Gaming provides us with the perfect opportunity to reach new operators and players with our entertaining content. 

“EvenBet has produced an innovative poker and gaming platform, and we truly believe players will appreciate the exciting titles that we have to offer.” 

The latest addition swells the EvenBet offering via its gaming platform further still, with the offering already housing in excess of 1,000 games from a number of games providers.

Dmitry Starostenkov, CEO at EvenBet Gaming, said: “We’ve long been admirers of KA Gaming and its unique approach to casino games. 

“Securing this deal to add the company’s content to our own gaming platform is great news for our operator customers, particularly those in Asia considering KA Gaming’s existing standing in this part of the world.”

The post EvenBet Gaming alliance a ‘perfect opportunity’ for KA Gaming appeared first on CasinoBeats.