Sports Betting Focus 2024

Editor's Letter

Brazil, Brazil, Brazil. If you work in sports betting, that’s probably all you’ve heard about for the last few months...

But with good reason. US sports betting is growing fast, generating excitement and gross gaming revenue aplenty. When all is said and done, though, only a handful of operators are benefiting from that growth – and most are still yet to approach anything near turning a profit.In Europe, core markets are just as competitive, requiring the resources to either advertise en masse or overhaul compliance procedures in the face of changing regulation.

So, in terms of pure growth prospects, that leaves us with Latin America, the sports capital of which is… Brazil. And industry anticipation is reaching ‘Carnaval’ levels after a regulated sports betting market was finally written into Brazilian law at the turn of the year – with a launch to follow later in 2024.

Understandably, then, it is a busy time for Brazilian sportsbooks priming to capitalise on this newly legalised source of revenue, while it is equally busy for international brands looking to earn their slice of the pie. Our cover feature duly explores the potential of Brazil’s legal sports betting market, during a year that not only sees the Euros in the summer but (more importantly for Brazilians) the Copa America. Indeed, we hear from EveryMatrix, WA.Technology, OpenBet and SCCG Management about what’s on the horizon.

Elsewhere, we have an exclusive, in-depth interview with Stéphane Pallez, the Chairwoman and CEO of La Française des Jeux (FDJ) – French gambling behemoth and potential buyer of Kindred Group (in what is the biggest industry merger of the year so far).

We dedicate four full pages to the FDJ CEO. Beyond that, however, we look as far afield as VR in gaming, global compliance, Paddy Power’s UK innovations and the Canadian market.

Particularly interesting, in my opinion, are insights from iGaming expert Itsik Akiva, who tells us all about how sweepstakes now form a multi-billion-dollar industry. Beware, though, sweepstakes may be a perfect companion for casino companies in the US – but Akiva explains exactly why US sports betting is not yet a natural cross-sell.

Coming full circle, alongside our regular company profiles, all that’s left for me to do is bring our conversation back to Brazil and say: Bem vindos à festa!

In the Magazine

Company profile: Growe Partners

Dominate the Sports Betting Affiliate Arena with Growe Partners

Company profile: GR8 Tech

The sportsbook provider discusses turning sportsbooks into a profitable business instead of just an acquisition tool.

Analysing sports betting data from the African Cup of Nations 2024

Sports betting supplier Betby provides Gambling Insider with exclusive data on its African Cup of Nations (AFCON) trading, after home country Ivory Coast defeated Nigeria 2-1 in the final.

LiveScore Group: Football’s changing relationship with fans

Gambling Insider delves deeper into LiveScore’s Evolution of Fan Report to see how football fandom has developed and what might be to come over the next quarter of a century.

Company profile: Data.Bet

Esports betting redefining the landscape for operators

Company profile: DS Virtual Gaming

DS Virtual Gaming has been expanding its presence in different markets since its launch in Austria in 2005, with Latin America as its most recent prospect.

Q&A: Sweepstakes in the US and casinos without the gambling

Gambling Insider speaks with Itsik Akiva, an iGaming expert & consultant, about the rise of the “multi-billion-dollar” sweepstakes casino sector in the US, and what this could mean for the wider industry.

Company profile: BtoBet

Navigating Brazil’s emerging sports betting and iGaming landscape: A BtoBet perspective

Company profile: Sportradar

How the sports technology company is leveraging its partnership with TDI to provide the industry with more tennis betting content. By Sophie Thomas, VP, Group Product Operations at Sportradar

Bem vindos ao carnaval: Analysing Brazil’s sports betting market to come

With the help of industry experts, Gambling Insider assesses the potential of Brazil’s regulated sports betting market amid a frenzy of excitement and activity in the Latin American nation

FDJ CEO exclusive: Kindred Group, working with the ANJ and the French market’s future.

Stéphane Pallez, Chairwoman and CEO of La Française des Jeux, speaks to Gambling Insider Editor Tim Poole about the French operator’s sports betting performance, a “big sporting year,” working with the ANJ and, of course, this year’s big-ticket merger: FDJ’s offer to buy Kindred Group

Company profile: Betby

The emergence of Latin America’s sportsbook market

Company profile: Sport Generate

Sport Generate specialises in Odds Feed, Esports, and Live Gaming products to enhance existing betting product portfolios for sportsbooks and multi-product operators. We deliver proprietary betting content from professional tournaments through our Rocket Masters Cup and Cyber Masters brands. Our team of dedicated professionals is committed to delivering exceptional iGaming experiences for operators

What does VR gaming look like in 2024?

SB22 CTO Marko Savkovic investigates the current state of VR both in and outside gaming, and how it can be utilised to enhance the player experience.

Energame: Let’s globalise sports betting regulation

Ievgeniia Derbal, Chief Legal, Tax & Regulatory Officer at Energame, champions installing global regulation for the online sports betting market. This unique opinion is that of Derbal’s and not necessarily Gambling Insider

PowerPlay Q&A: Focusing on the Canadian sports betting market

The US sports betting and iGaming market gets plenty of attention. But there’s a burgeoning market in Canada, a market that PowerPlay has been focused on for five years. Larry Fisher and Robert Davies – PowerPlay’s power duo –spoke about the Canadian market and its sports betting preferences

Paddy Power’s Super Sub: Changing the game?

Flutter-owned Paddy Power has debuted its Super Sub feature. Similar to Sky Bet’s AccaFreeze, bettors are being afforded a greater level of control as the competitive UK market heats up.

Company Profile: Digitain

Digitain is a global leader in iGaming solutions and has decades of experience delivering reliable, flexible, scalable, GLI-certified iGaming solutions to more than 150 partners across various markets