SPORTS BETTING FOCUS H2 2022
Editor's Letter
Growing up, my mantra was ‘sport is life.’
Today, even though I begrudgingly admit there are more important things out there, when my favourite team is playing, little else matters. From the kick-off to the final whistle, the sport in question – whichever it may be – may as well be my life.
Since the overturning of PASPA in 2018, such has been the focus on sports betting in the US, you could argue ‘sports betting is life’ for our industry right now. It’s the iGaming and casino volumes that bring the higher margins and revenue – but it’s definitely sports betting that draws players in en masse and has gotten the whole of North America (now including Canada, of course) talking.
That’s reflected in this US-facing Sports Betting Focus magazine, which you might be reading in your office, over a morning coffee – or at G2E Las Vegas. In this issue, we speak to Kambi about all things NFL, Simplebet about all things micro-betting – tipped as the future of sports betting by YouTube star-turned-investor Jake Paul - and XLMedia about all things US regulation.
With the 2022 soccer World Cup around the corner, we look at things from the Canadian perspective, while also assessing what US states could have legalised sports wagering in time for the next World Cup in 2026. Finally, in terms of the Americas, we have LatAm – where we zone into Brazil in particular, and Amelco’s Brandon Walker speaks to us about LatAm, the US and South Africa. Three for the price of one, so to speak.
However, for any US-based readers looking to glean more from international markets, fear not. Outside of our North American content, we speak to Sportradar about its new Orako solution, Digitain Founder Vardges Vardanyan sits down with me in Southern France and Parimatch Tech provides an insightful interview from wartorn Ukraine, where the company is operating under an understandably unique set of circumstances.
As ever in our Focus magazines, we provide a who’s who of the sports betting industry with our company profiles. And, in our Roundtable, we’re similarly giving you a ‘who’s who’ of esports betting, as four panellists assess the past, present and future of the vertical. Again, we can’t resist asking whether it will ever overtake traditional sports betting – and the overall consensus these days is perhaps leaning towards ‘no.’
Elsewhere, Khalid Ali, International Betting Integrity Association CEO, speaks to us about the organisation’s industry plans, while I look at why two sportsbooks have done so wel in the ever-competitive UK market). See if you can guess which two.
In focus: Evoplay
Vladimir Malakchi, CCO of global iGaming provider Evoplay, discusses the launch of cross-channel games that will allow casinos and sportsbooks to reach a wider audience.
The NFL, Massachusetts and Tom Brady
As the new NFL season kicks off in September, Gambling Insider speaks to David Ball, Head of NFL Pre-Game at Kambi, as he discusses favourites, new markets and the strength of fan loyalty.
The gold standard
Gambling Insider Editor Tim Poole looks at five key ways to stand out in the ultra-competitive UK sports betting market.
In focus: Enteractive
Mikael Hansson founded Enteractive in 2008 to help iGaming operators reactivate churned players that proved unresponsive to standard CRM practices. The company has seen exponential growth in the market due to its innovative approach to reactivation: a unique platform dedicated to highly personalised one-to-one interaction directly with lapsed players. The team now consists of 130 talented individuals across two office locations in Malta and Romania, with an office in Miami set to launch in the fall.
Integrity: The global perspective
Against a backdrop of sports jerseys in his Brussels office, Khalid Ali, CEO of the International Betting Integrity Association (IBIA), speaks to Gambling Insider Editor Tim Poole about worldwide regulatory and integrity trends.
In focus: BetConstruct
BetConstruct is a global technology provider for the online and land-based gaming industry.
In focus: Inspired Entertainment
Inspired offers an expanding portfolio of content, technology, hardware and services for multiple regulated operators across land-based and mobile channels worldwide.
The next chapter for esports
Gambling Insider speaks to Niclas Sundell, Head of Sales at Abios; Ondrej Silhavy, Senior Sales Manager at Bayes Esports; Benjamin Riewe, Managing Director of Shadow Esports and Andrea McGeachin, CCO at Neosurf.
In focus: Gaming Innovation Group
Welcome to the future of online gaming and sports betting. Welcome to GiG.
In focus: Sportradar
Sportradar talks through its latest moves in the industry, and what the company will be showcasing at G2E Las Vegas.
Canada eagerly awaiting Qatar 2022
FansUnite President Darius Eghdami talks Gambling Insider through the latest developments in Canadian sports wagering, and previews an exciting time for the nation ahead of its appearance at the 2022 World Cup.
LatAm in its sights
Aposta Hub Brazil website Co-Founder and lawyer, Ricardo de Paula Feijó, speaks to Gambling Insider about the state of legal sports betting in Brazil, new foreign investment and LatAm expansion.
In focus: Sportingtech
Sportingtech is a leading provider of turnkey betting and gaming solutions in regulated and emerging markets across the globe, with a focus on developing scalable sports betting and iGaming solutions for a variety of business needs.
States of play
Robert Linnehan, Regulatory Writer and Editor at affiliate XLMedia, discusses US sports betting interest in the 2026 World Cup, when it is likely to peak – and the regulatory state of play when it does.
New partnerships, same game
Digitain Founder Vardges Vardanyan speaks to Gambling Insider Editor Tim Poole in Southern France, reflecting on a 20-year journey and discussing a certain Luís Figo, the supplier’s new ambassador.
In focus: DS Virtual Gaming
We speak to Araksi Sargsyan, Head of Business Development at DS Virtual Gaming
Micro-betting for the masses
Simplebet CEO Chris Bevilacqua discusses the latest developments for the company, its plans for the near future, new regulations and more.
From Optima to Orako
Sportradar director Jacob Lopez speaks to Gambling Insider about the future of the sports data company – as well as Orako, Sportradar’s new project, after the business acquired his prior company Optima in 2019.
Challenging times; new opportunities
In an enlightening Zoom interview from Ukraine, Parimatch Tech CTO Artur Ashyrov addresses the difficulties of operating during the war, the “TikTok-ification” of sports betting – and the key challenges behind Parimatch’s transition from B2C to B2B.
Prioritising regulated markets
Head of USA Brandon Walker speaks to Gambling Insider about the US and LatAm markets, Amelco’s presence in South Africa and adding new verticals to the business.
In focus: BtoBet
Dima Reiderman, General Manager, BtoBet, discusses a sportsbook’s key for success.
