Cryptocurrency
“Operators demand access to new markets and new player bases”: Exclusive crypto gambling interview with Glen Bullen from DAOGroup.
While this year may have been a turbulent time for some, we caught up with Glen Bullen, CCO of DAOGroup to talk through the launch of DAOWallet, its cryptocurrency-fiat payments partner, as well as the opportunity to use crypto payments as a key way to engage new players.
What is it that DAOWallet can offer partners and end users that other payment service providers cannot?
DAOWallet may be new to market, but our team has incorporated many crypto payment learnings into the product to make it a slick, client-driven solution for operators looking to engage new demographics and markets.
In essence, DAOWallet offers a simple, clean solution for partners wanting to integrate crypto payments into their casino brands. We do all the heavy lifting and compliance work at our end, so operators can work hands-off on the payments side and focus on driving acquisition to a new audience of crypto users.
Perhaps DAOWallet’s biggest innovation is its ability to track fund provenance, both to mitigate AML risks, but also to improve VIP management. Any player who deposits crypto via DAOWallet will have their pseudo-anonymous source of funds tracked, ensuring both VIP and AML managers alike will know if this is a player prime for big stakes play, or alternatively whether they’ve been associated with red flag transactions in the past.
How can those with little crypto knowledge use DAOWallet to join the crypto gambling revolution?
The key purpose of DAOWallet is to allow deposits and withdrawals to and from a players crypto account to be as simple and seamless as possible. With that, we feel we offer a solution that requires only a minimum of crypto knowledge.
However, the wallet’s role is not necessarily to entice new players to crypto – though it can – but instead to deliver a functionable, painless means to support the millions out there who already hold and use crypto; and, most importantly, want to gamble with it at the best casinos around.
Do you see DAOWallet appealing to a certain demographic or region?
Without pigeon-holing an ever-expanding crypto base, industry research shows the main European demographic as being between 25 and 45 years of age and with above-average disposable income. This audience sees digital assets as more than a speculative asset, and want to find functional day-to-day uses for them, with gaming arguably the most tangible use case for them at this moment.
Saying that, DAOWallet easily supports varied requirements across any global market, such as Latin America, where concerns regarding banking infrastructure warrant the use of alternatives to fiat; or Africa, where barriers to credit card uptake mean many are keen to explore alternative online payment methods.
No matter the geography or demographic, our igaming clients can be confident DAOWallet will be covering all KYC and AML procedures in the backend on sign-up, ensuring a clean transition to the casino, which receives only whitelisted players. This is a major benefit of our solution over others on the market.
How do you see the current state of the payments sector in the gambling industry?
We hear so often that gambling as an industry is an early adopter for new technology. All the while however, there’s untold examples of cautious decision-making and sluggish, suspicious adoption of tech that could have major benefits to the whole ecosystem.
There is no doubt that the payments sector is impacted by this paradox, and the utilisation of crypto is a key example. Operators demand access to new markets and new player bases, and there is a crypto market hiding in plain sight, waiting to be serviced. They must take advantage of this opportunity, or they will fall back against their more forward-thinking competitors.
Do you see wider crypto adoption as attainable right now, or do other industry movements need to happen to facilitate wider crypto payments?
Yes, it is attainable, but various ways of thinking need to be reset for crypto adoption to reach its potential. It’s likely not a gambling industry-specific mentality, but too many look back at setbacks in the space and cling onto them as proof that crypto doesn’t have its place in today’s world.
This is naïve when you consider the various success stories that crypto has in engaging those who cannot access credit cards, those who may not trust the status quo and those who just want to be a little more progressive. I would like those doubters to take a deep breath and revisit what crypto adoption can do for the gambling industry.
As a deposit method, using the likes of bitcoin and Ether is a no-brainer for supporting bigger audiences in more markets. Those operators who don’t embrace it soon will likely find they have lost this lucrative audience and will struggle to win them back.
We have seen DAOWallet recently sign a major partnership with MoneyMatrix. Do you have any other partnerships on the horizon that you could hint at?
MoneyMatrix was a major deal for us and shows the strength of partner that we are looking at. In terms of what is coming next, we’re optimistic about various, progressed conversations with further platforms and a number of tier one operators in a variety of regions. Without naming names, there is a desire amongst potential partners to complement their existing payment partners to attract a new kind of customer, and that’s what we’re here for.
We’re well set to make some big announcements in Q4 in terms of new clients and operators, so keep an eye out for that.
What product improvements can we expect from DAOWallet in the coming months?
Our most recent launch was stablecoin integration, and this will go live with partners to great effect very soon. Not only are we opening more crypto avenues (Tether/TrueUSD) for those looking outside of the bitcoin and Ether hegemony, but it also makes our platform more adaptable to local banking regulation.
Significantly, this was driven by client feedback and demand, and we delivered it back to those same partners quickly and successfully, further proving our credentials as a customer-first partner. We know the size of the crypto gambling space and we want to help fiat-based operators leverage it for their own growth, and it’s through these collaborative projects that we can best do this.
SOFTSWISS, a tech company and pioneer in crypto gaming with over 15 years of experience, conducted a survey revealing that the majority view crypto as a key driver for growth in new markets. Experts also analysed this year’s crypto bets to share the latest insights.
Bitcoin recently reached a historic high, getting closer to 90,000 euro per coin. However, during the third quarter of 2024, it faced its sharpest drop in several years. SOFTSWISS experts examine how these market shifts have influenced iGaming performance in the quarterly ‘State of Crypto’ analytics.
A Quarter of the World’s Population Engages in iGaming
Global iGaming statistics indicate that approximately 26% of the world’s population were ever engaged in iGaming. By 2028, the iGaming market is projected to reach 243.2 million users, with a market volume nearing 130 billion euro, a substantial portion of which is expected to involve cryptocurrency.
SOFTSWISS data shows that during the 9 months of 2024, the Total Bet Sum, including both fiat and crypto, increased by 43.1% compared to the same period of 2023. Simultaneously, the Total Bet Count showed even more impressive growth, surpassing 44.5%.
An in-depth comparison analysis since 2022 demonstrates fiat bets are rising much more rapidly than crypto. A comparison between the first nine months of 2024 and the same period of the previous year revealed that the Fiat Bet Sum achieved a 50.4% boost. The conservative approach toward payment methods has resulted in Crypto Bet Sum growing at a slower pace compared to fiat and has led to a modest 4-percentage-points (p.p.) decline in the crypto share in 2024.
[1] Based on data from ongoing projects[
Potential of Crypto in iGaming 2025
According to the SOFTSWISS iGaming Trends 2025 Report, cryptocurrency is set to remain one of the preferred payment methods within the sector. Based on the company’s survey, 58% of respondents identified crypto as the primary driver of growth in new markets, underscoring its essential role in shaping the industry’s future.
Vitali Matsukevich, Chief Operating Officer at SOFTSWISS, reflects on the possibilities of crypto: “Integrating crypto payments allows iGaming businesses to operate globally, delivering greater speed and convenience. With iGaming’s naturally borderless reach, this expands platforms’ access to a wider international audience, boosting their global growth potential.”
“What is more, crypto transaction fees can be almost three times lower compared to traditional fiat gateways, allowing iGaming businesses to save on processing costs and reinvest that capital”, adds Max Krupyshev, CEO of CryptoProcessing by CoinsPaid.
SOFTSWISS data confirms stable interest in crypto. In the first nine months of 2024, the Crypto Bet Sum increased by 15.2% compared to the same period the previous year. A long-term quarter-by-quarter analysis reveals a consistent growth pattern, though the third quarter of 2024 saw a 9 p.p. decline from the previous quarter. The drop aligns with the decline in the exchange rates of major cryptocurrencies, including Bitcoin, Litecoin, and Ethereum, which occurred in the third quarter.
Meanwhile, the Crypto Bet Count rose by 16.2% in Q3 2024, indicating stable interest in crypto gaming. This combination reveals that while engagement in crypto betting remains steady, the total wagered sum is closely correlated to fluctuations in cryptocurrency exchange rates.
Altcoins Share Growth
The top five most popular cryptos in iGaming have remained stable over the years, with some shifts in the ranking order. Bitcoin, Ethereum, Litecoin, Tether, and Dogecoin are the most popular among crypto players. While altcoins accounted for only 25.1% of bets over the first nine months of last year, their share increased significantly to over 47% during the same period in 2024.
Bitcoin’s share dropped by 22 p.p. during the nine months of 2024 compared to the same period of 2023. At the same time, Tether and Litecoin saw the most impressive share growth, with over 8 p.p. and 7.8 p.p., respectively. Ethereum strengthened by 4.9 p.p.
Another impactful trend reveals some casinos, like Rollbit and Shuffle, utilise their own iGaming tokens to boost player engagement. Tokens designed specifically for gaming offer enhanced compatibility across platforms, lower volatility, and exclusive perks for users. Crypto drives the development of new payment methods and business growth.
Vitali Matsukevich summarises: “Crypto offers iGaming operators key advantages beyond lower costs and global reach. Blockchain enhances safety and fairness through transparency and traceability, with each transaction and game result permanently recorded and tamper-proof. Partnering with trusted crypto experts allows operators to harness these benefits, positioning themselves for growth and effectively navigating market shifts.”
The new SOFTSWISS iGaming Trends 2025 Report offers more insights about crypto in the ever-evolving iGaming sector. The visionary report is free to download via the link.
About SOFTSWISS
SOFTSWISS is an international technology company with over 15 years of experience in developing innovative solutions for the iGaming industry. SOFTSWISS holds a number of gaming licences and provides comprehensive software for managing iGaming projects. The company’s product portfolio includes the Online Casino Platform, the Game Aggregator with over 23,500 casino games, the Affilka affiliate platform, the Sportsbook software and the Jackpot Aggregator. In 2013, SOFTSWISS revolutionised the industry by introducing the world’s first Bitcoin-optimised online casino solution. The expert team, based in Malta, Poland, and Georgia, counts over 2,000 employees.
The post SOFTSWISS Survey Q3’24: 58% Cite Crypto as Key Driver in New Markets appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
As the European crypto community prepares for the implementation of the MiCA, Kyrrex is organizing an online X panel to discuss the potential impact and future trajectory of the industry under this new regulatory framework.
The panel “Is MiCA that Bad? The Future of Crypto in Europe,” will take place on November 14, 2024, at 12:00 CET on X Spaces.
This event aims to offer an in-depth examination of the challenges and opportunities that MiCA presents, drawing on the expertise of industry leaders and stakeholders.
Key speakers for the discussion include Mike Romanenko and Kevin Plumpton from Kyrrex,
Tomer Warschauer Nuni from Kima Network, Andrea Zapparoli Manzoni from H4ckManac, Thanos Tsavlis from Cyberscope, and Anoop Nannra from Trugard Labs. Their insights will help attendees understand how MiCA may reshape the crypto landscape and what this means for different segments of the market.
“As MiCA ushers in a new regulatory era for the crypto industry, open discussions are crucial for navigating this transition effectively. By bringing together voices from various sectors, we aim to foster a deeper understanding and proactive approach to the opportunities and challenges ahead,” said Mike Romanenko, CVO & co-founder of Kyrrex. “Engaging in conversations like these helps ensure that the community is informed and prepared for the future of crypto in Europe.”
The panel will be structured to encourage interaction and participation, allowing attendees to submit questions and engage in a discussion with the panel. Topics are expected to include compliance, innovation, and strategies for navigating the evolving regulatory environment.
This event offers professionals, enthusiasts, and stakeholders an opportunity to gain a clearer perspective on what lies ahead as MiCA begins to take effect. It will also provide a space for dialogue and knowledge-sharing, fostering a greater understanding of the potential impacts on the crypto sector in Europe.
Panel “Is MiCA that Bad? The Future of Crypto in Europe” details:
- Date: November 14, 2024
- Time: 12:00 CET
- Platform: X Spaces
The post Kyrrex to host online panel discussion on MiCA and the future of crypto in Europe appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
SCCG Management, a leading advisory firm in the global gaming industry, has announced a sponsorship partnership with Hoppa! Card, a pioneer in crypto payments and banking solutions. This collaboration is set to revolutionize the payment landscape for the gambling industry with a strong focus on crypto technology, leveraging SCCG’s extensive ecosystem of over 120+ client partners and its global presence across all major regions.
Through this partnership, SCCG Management will support Hoppa! Card in delivering their innovative crypto payment and banking solutions to a wider audience within the gaming industry. The synergy between SCCG’s expansive network of client partners and Hoppa! Card’s cutting-edge financial technology aims to enhance the efficiency and security of managing complex payment needs in the gambling sector.
Hoppa! Card’s flagship products, including the Exclusive Global Soft KYC High Limit Crypto Offramp VISA Card and the Unique Payment Gateway, are designed to meet the most challenging payment requirements. The VISA Card offers high limits and the highest possible privacy standards with anonymous cards, ensuring global accessibility with both virtual and physical card options. The Payment Gateway provides seamless processing for various crypto and fiat transactions, eliminating chargebacks and non-acceptance of cards, while catering to all gaming licenses and jurisdictions.
Stephen Crystal, Founder and CEO of SCCG Management, said: “Partnering with Hoppa Card allows us to provide our clients, as well as our global network of operators and platform providers, with crypto-focused payment solutions that are crucial in today’s fast-evolving gaming industry. Their innovative products align perfectly with our mission to drive strategic growth and maximize revenue for our partners.”
Igor Lavrih, CEO of Hoppa Card, said: “We are excited to kick off the partnership with SCCG, merging our payments expertise with their deep market insights to explore new opportunities and drive innovation. We look forward to the synergies our partnership with SCCG will bring forward, delivering unique payment solutions in the gaming industry to an array of growing and established businesses.”
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