SBC News Voice of the Sports Betting Industry
The betting industry’s leading suppliers will be debating the key issues affecting the value chain across the sector at next month’s Betting on Football conference at Stamford Bridge.
The event will explore how online gaming suppliers have been affected by a wave of M&A and an increased focus on in-house competencies within the industry.
BetConstruct CEO Vahe Baloulian, BtoBet CEO Kostandina Zafirovska, SBTech CEO Richard Carter and Jacob Lopez Curciel, the CEO for gold event sponsor OPTIMA, will be assessing how the B2B supplier side of the industry has been impacted by multi-asset enterprises such as GVC and NYX Gaming, how suppliers should be streamlining services to stand out from the competition and how they can dissuade partners from moving product development in-house.
For example, GVC Holdings has reported considerable savings from the 2016 acquisition of Bwin.party, after eliminating duplication in areas such as technology, while Coral announced the launch of an ‘in-house’ developed sportsbook platform last September to centralise its mobile, tablet and desktop devices. London based betting exchange Smarkets is another company that develops all products in-house, which includes its new mobile app for both Android and iOS.
That’s not to mention the complicated deal which saw NYX Group acquire Openbet with the assistance of William Hill and Sky Betting & Gaming.
The supplier CEO panel will serve as a fitting finale to the leadership track on the first day at #bofcon2017, which also covers self-regulation, preventing match-fixing, managing risk, market consolidation, new brands in football betting and the scope for new entrants in the affiliate arena.
Curciel said: “Servicing key components of the industry’s value chain is becoming a more complex matter with higher resource demands, as operators engage in diversified omni-product international strategies. At OPTIMA, we are happy that SBC’s team has placed this subject matter at the heart of the Betting on Football agenda, and we are looking forward to adding our knowledge to what will be an intriguing debate.”
Zafirovska said: “At BtoBet, we are renowned for providing solutions to help understand player behaviour. Our augmented reality (AR) mobile CRM tool, which includes a virtual assistant, is a perfect example of how operators should continue to utilise industry platform and software providers to deliver the right messages to a technologically minded audience and connect with their customers on a deeper level.”
Carter added: “At SBTech, we continue to keep a close eye on M&A developments, but at the same time we are investing very significantly in our product development pipeline and delivery capabilities to help our growing list of partners to maintain their superior industry leading growth rates. I am looking forward to trading ideas on the current situation with OPTIMA, BetConstruct and BtoBet at Betting on Football 2017.”
Baloulian commented: “The major industry mergers haven’t drastically changed the landscape for us. We are always under self-imposed pressure to produce new products, enter new markets and acquire new partners. The deals we made recently to provide French casino operator Partouche and the Asian giant BBiN with custom-made sportsbook solutions are examples of our company reach and the growing appeal for BetConstruct revenue producing products and services.”
With fewer than 100 tickets left for next month’s Betting on Football Conference, firms are advised to sign up now or risk missing out on the biggest betting conference the industry has experienced.
Meanwhile, BetConstruct has added to the week of betting at the start of May by organising a special workshop for operators the day after the main Betting on Football Conference.
Held on 5 May at The Banking Hall Cornhill, ‘BetConstruct The Door: Orientation Day’ will allow participants to create their own websites in just two hours using BetConstruct’s CRM, CMS, Sportsbook management, bonus engine and loyalty system.
