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Exclusive Q&A with Alex Shybanov, Senior Sales Manager for CEE Region/PandaScore

Published

3 years ago

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Reading Time: 4 minutes

 

What is the difference between PandaScore and big suppliers? 

The biggest difference is that we’re solely focused on esports whereas a lot of the bigger suppliers concentrated on traditional sports. For PandaScore esports is the only priority. We’re also fast and agile – we can implement new products and features incredibly quickly allowing our partners to leverage the fast-growing nature of the sector.

Another major difference is the data-led approach we take. We combine this with AI, our own trading models and a team of highly skilled traders which allows us to present one of the best esports betting products in the market.

Our trading models are worth highlighting as this is what really sets us apart. They’re fully automated and cover all of the sports that we have. In comparison, most of the big suppliers are still using manual or semi-manual models.

Finally, the number of markets we offer and our uptime (the percentage of time that lines are open and available for players to place bets) is unrivalled. We are also open to feedback and regularly work with our partners to implement new tools and features.

This enables us to satisfy their individual needs and continually improve performance, something that the big providers cannot offer especially if esports is not considered a priority for them.

 

What do you have to say about the esports market in Central & Eastern Europe?

It is fast-growing, for sure, and is really well developed when compared with other European regions and markets like the UK. In fact, across CEE esports is often among the top five bets on sports in terms of revenues and turnover.

What is driving this? Several factors but in particular there are some really strong teams that are based out of CEE countries. This includes Na’Vi (CS:GO) and Team Spirit (Dota 2) – 2021 TI champions. This has helped to elevate the popularity of esports across the region.

To bet on esports, you really have to play esports and CEE is a big market in terms of the number of players that play video games. This in turn helps to drive esports engagement and betting on esports as there is a larger pool of consumers that understand how it all works.

What is interesting is the popularity of certain games in CEE, which differs from other European markets. CS:GO is by far the most popular game to play, with Dota 2 number two across the market. But globally, League of Legends is the most popular.

 

Why is your trading solution specifically suited for the CEE market?

There are several key reasons why PandaScore is perfectly suited for operators targeting the CEE market. The first is our local coverage; we offer odds and markets on all local tournaments across the region including in Poland, the Czech Republic and Russia.

Next, our data-driven approach and unique models allows us to achieve the best uptime. For CS:GO uptime levels are in excess of 90% and with Dota 2 it is 75%. This is between 20-25% more than our rivals which means our partners can offer their players more betting opportunities.

This is achieved via our automated models and not having to change the lines manually. With players able to bet 25% more during the game, this is a major value driver for operators. This is only set to become more significant with the continued growth of live esports betting.

Finally, we have comprehensive margin management, and this is important for operators targeting the region because esports bettors are sophisticated. They are not recreational players and have a deep understanding of how games work and the betting options available to them.

Our partners can set different margins across a range of factors such as pre-match, live, games, markets, and more.

This allows them to maximise their margin but also run promotions around particular games and markets, lowering the odds to make them more attractive on a specific game and then setting a higher margin on second and third-tier games to balance this off. 

 

How do you balance this approach for your partner operators, who may have different needs?

Our trading dashboard has been designed to put the power in an operator’s hands. Their traders can manage everything from booking (such as by game, tournament tier, automated) to margin management (possibility to set different margins for different games, markets, tournaments) and more.We have many different markets, especially for live betting. For CS:GO, for instance, we have 60 pre-match markets and 24 live markets.

As an example, we have recently rolled out player markets for total kills over/under. This allows operators to increase revenues by offering markets on specific players and teams that are popular in that region or market. And it’s becoming more and more popular.

 

What are PandaScore’s goals for 2022 and esports?

Esports will continue on its rapid growth trajectory. It is already in the top five sports in some markets and I believe this will become the case in more and more regions in 2022. Offline tournaments are also returning which will be a further catalyst for growth.

Regarding PandaScore, we will continue to increase the scale and scope of our coverage and particularly when it comes to local coverage. This will be driven in part by cooperating with local tournaments and securing additional data partnerships.

We will keep building out our market and product offerings – player markets have launched with CS:GO but we plan to extend this to other games such as Dota 2. We are also working on offering multiples for specific games with a bet builder feature also in the works.

2022 is set to be another breakthrough year for esports and esports betting, and as always PandaScore will be at the cutting edge of this incredible sector.

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Hero Esports Announces Venues for ACL Grand Finals 2025

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7 hours ago

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April 25, 2025

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Hero Esports, an industry leader and the largest esports company in Asia, has announced its championship venues for the Asian Champions League (ACL) Grand Finals 2025 taking place May 16-18 in Shanghai. The landmark event will transform three of the city’s most iconic venues into battlegrounds for nine premier esports titles, cementing Shanghai’s status as the global esports capital.

The tournament is expected to attract 80,000+ live attendees across three venues, with global broadcasts reaching millions via Twitch, YouTube and TikTok. Participating teams will be competing for a total prize pool of $2 million. Selected ACL winners will earn direct entry to the Esports World Cup in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia—the largest esports event in history due to take place from July to August.

“Shanghai’s selection as our host city reflects its unmatched esports infrastructure and passionate community. By combining elite competition with DreamHack’s festival energy, we’re creating a new blueprint for global esports events,” said Jonny Wang, CEO of ACL.

“This is Hero Esports’ most ambitious project to date. The ACL bridges Asian talents with the world stage while delivering unforgettable fan experiences through cutting-edge production,” said Danny Tang, Co-Founder & CEO of Hero Esports.

The post Hero Esports Announces Venues for ACL Grand Finals 2025 appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

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Esports World Cup Foundation Confirms Full Game Lineup, Schedule, and Club Championship Rules for EWC 2025

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1 week ago

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April 17, 2025

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Reading Time: 4 minutes

 

200 Clubs, 2,000 players, 25 tournaments across 24 games, and a $70M+ prize pool set the stage for the largest celebration of competitive excellence and esports fandom

The Esports World Cup Foundation (EWCF) has finalized the full lineup of games, tournament schedule and Club Championship rules for the Esports World Cup 2025 (EWC), the world’s largest esports event, set to return to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, from July 7 through August 24. This summer, over 2,000 elite players and 200 top Clubs from more than 100 countries will battle across 25 tournaments in 24 games, for a record-breaking $70+ million life-changing prize pool, the largest in esports history.

The Esports World Cup 2025 will once again unite gaming and esports communities for a global competition that will crown the next Esports World Cup Club Champion, while elevating esports as a global sport and driving long-term growth for the entire ecosystem.

The confirmed EWC 2025 game lineup will include iconic esports titles spanning fan-favorite shooters, battle royales, MOBAs, fighting games, and chess. New additions — CROSSFIRE, FATAL FURY: City of the Wolves, chess and VALORANT — join the prestigious lineup of returning titles, making this the most diverse and competitive EWC yet.

With the schedule locked, the stage is set for seven weeks of world-class competition. The initial wave of tickets are now on sale, and the countdown is on for the biggest celebration of esports, kicking off with the EWC Festival on July 7. Below is the schedule for each EWC tournament.

Week 1 (July 8–13):
VALORANT featured at 2025 Esports World Cup (July 8-13), Apex Legends at 2025 Esports World Cup 10–13), FATAL FURY: City of the Wolves at 2025 Esports World Cup (July 10–12),  Rennsport at 2025 Esports World Cup (July 8–11), Dota 2 at 2025 Esports World Cup – Week 1 (July 8-13)

Week 2 (July 15–20):
League of Legends featured at 2025 Esports World Cup (July 16–20), Free Fire at 2025 Esports World Cup (July 16–20), Dota 2 at 2025 Esports World Cup – Week 2 (July 17–19), Mobile Legends: Bang Bang Women’s Invitational at 2025 Esports World Cup (July 15–19), Honor of Kings World Cup at 2025 Esports World Cup  – Week 1 (July 15–20)

Week 3 (July 22–27):
Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 at 2025 Esports World Cup (July 24–27), PUBG MOBILE World Cup at 2025 Esports World Cup – Week 1 (July 25-27),  Honor of Kings World Cup at 2025 Esports World Cup  – Week 2 (July 23-26), StarCraft II at 2025 Esports World Cup (July 22–25), Mobile Legends: Bang Bang Mid Season Cup at 2025 Esports World Cup – Week 1 (July 23–27)

Week 4 (July 29–August 3):
Overwatch Champions Series: MidSeason Championship at 2025 Esports World Cup (July 31–August 3), PUBG MOBILE World Cup at 2025 Esports World Cup – Week 2 (July 29-30 / August 1–3), Mobile Legends: Bang Bang Mid Season Cup at 2025 Esports World Cup – Week 2 (July 30–August 2), Chess at EWC 25 (July 29–August 1)

Week 5 (August 7–10):
EA SPORTS FC 25 at 2025 Esports World Cup (August 7–10), Call of Duty: Warzone at 2025 Esports World Cup (August 6–9), TOM CLANCY’S RAINBOW SIX SIEGE X at 2025 Esports World Cup (August 7–9)

Week 6 (August 11–17):
Rocket League featured at 2025 Esports World Cup (August 14–17), PUBG: BATTLEGROUNDS at 2025 Esports World Cup (August 12–16), TEKKEN 8 at 2025 Esports World Cup (August 13–16), Teamfight Tactics featured at 2025 Esports World Cup (August 14–15)

Week 7 (August 19–24):
Counter-Strike 2 at 2025 Esports World Cup (August 21–24), Street Fighter 6 at 2025 Esports World Cup (August 20–23), CROSSFIRE at 2025 Esports World Cup (August 19–23)

EWC 2025 will unfold across four dedicated arenas, each spotlighting one game at a time to deliver the best fan experience. Select titles will host Last Chance Qualifiers in the Festival zone — giving players one final shot at advancing to the main stage.

The Esports World Cup has introduced a refined tournament schedule to enhance viewership across its expanded lineup. Finals will now take place on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays – reducing overlap and ensuring dedicated coverage for each title. Tickets for EWC 2025 are now available to purchase at esportsworldcup.com.

The total $70+ million prize pool is allocated across the Club Championship, Game Championships, MVP Awards, and EWC Qualifiers. Out of this, $27 million is dedicated to the EWC Club Championship — an innovative cross-game format that rewards the top 16 Clubs for their performance across multiple titles, with $7 million reserved for the 2025 champion. Game Championships will feature their own prize pools, totaling over $38 million combined, while standout players will compete for a share of the $450,000 MVP Award pool.

Open to all participating organizations, the Club Championship awards points for top-eight finishes across tournaments. To claim the title, Clubs must secure at least two top-eight placements and win at least one tournament. New for 2025, joint ventures — collaborations between two distinct organizations on a specific roster — will be ineligible for points, with Clubs required to compete under one aligned name throughout the EWC to qualify. The Club that shows both consistency and competitive excellence across the entire EWC calendar, will be crowned the Esports World Cup Club Champion at the EWC 2025 closing ceremony on August 24, 2025.

At EWC 2024, Team Falcons dominated with 5,665 points and three tournament wins to claim the $7 million Club Championship. Team Liquid and Team BDS followed in second and third, with 2,545 and 2,000 points respectively. The top 10 also featured some of the biggest names in global esports: Gaimin Gladiators, T1, Virtus.pro, Team Vitality, Twisted Minds, Gen.G, and LOUD — all delivering standout performances across multiple titles, setting the stage for EWC 2025.

The post Esports World Cup Foundation Confirms Full Game Lineup, Schedule, and Club Championship Rules for EWC 2025 appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

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BETBY LAUNCHES INDUSTRY-FIRST ESPORTS BETTING TIPS, ENHANCING WIDEST SPORTS COVERAGE IN THE MARKET

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1 week ago

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April 16, 2025

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Reading Time: 2 minutes

 

BETBY, a leading provider of innovative sportsbook solutions, has announced a major update to its Betting Tips feature, introducing insights for esports. This industry-first addition positions BETBY as the supplier with the widest betting tips coverage in the iGaming market, enhancing the player experience by delivering data-driven tips that help bettors make more informed and confident decisions.

Part of BETBY’s award-winning AI Labs suite of tools, Betting Tips will provide insights derived from the latest news, key team and player statistics, and other relevant information for popular titles such as Counter-Strike. Betting Tips will cover all major esports tournaments for supported titles, based on betting volume and regardless of the event tier, ensuring comprehensive industry-wide coverage.

In addition to expanding into esports, Betting Tips now delivers significantly improved tip quality. Around 99% of all tips now include a relevant supporting fact or statistic, resulting in clearer, more actionable insights. These enhancements contribute to a more engaging and valuable experience for both operators and bettors.

The integration of esports into Betting Tips reflects BETBY’s commitment to innovation and adaptability in the rapidly evolving betting landscape. The introduction of esports betting tips is also expected to drive higher conversion rates, providing operators with a valuable tool to engage esports enthusiasts more effectively.

To maximize accessibility, Betting Tips will be available in 25 languages: English, Portuguese (Brazilian and European), Spanish, Turkish, Russian, German, Japanese, French, Italian, Kazakh, Azerbaijani, Uzbek, Kyrgyz, Estonian, Finnish, Arabic, Chinese, Greek, Hebrew, Hindi, Latvian, Polish, Romanian, and Georgian. This multilingual support ensures a seamless experience for operators and bettors worldwide.

“Integrating esports into our Betting Tips marks a significant milestone in our mission to provide comprehensive and innovative solutions to our clients,” said Danil Emelyanov, Head of BETBY’s AI Labs. “As the esports industry continues to grow worldwide, we recognize the importance of offering tailored insights that cater to this dynamic market. This expansion not only reinforces our commitment to innovation but also solidifies our position as a leader in the sports betting sector.

In addition to expanding into esports, Betting Tips continues to offer intelligent insights across a wide range of traditional sports, including Soccer, Ice Hockey, Basketball, Tennis, Cricket, American Football, Handball, Volleyball, Baseball, and Table Tennis. This ensures that operators can engage bettors across all major sports verticals.

The post BETBY LAUNCHES INDUSTRY-FIRST ESPORTS BETTING TIPS, ENHANCING WIDEST SPORTS COVERAGE IN THE MARKET appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

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