Interviews
Exclusive Q&A with Jeton Kodia Co-Founder at Oddspedia
Let’s start with a few words about yourself. Our readers love top executives talking about themselves.
My name is Jeton Kodia and I have been in the gambling business since 2009. I became an iGaming affiliate when I turned my hobby into my profession. Gambling is part of my life – I love betting, casino games, and poker. Additionally, with my first name Jeton, it was somehow destiny that I had to step into this industry. I am addicted to football, and I had to lose quite some bets on my favorite team until I learned that when you want to take betting seriously, you need to refrain from your emotional attachment to a particular team and turn your attention more to comparing the odds. Besides football and pro sports in general, I bet on pretty much anything with my friends. This ranges from prop bets about winning at Playstation games to whether my first child will be a boy or girl. There is always something going on in my life which we can bet on.
Now on to Oddspedia. What led to the founding of Oddspedia?
As I already hinted at before, I wanted to focus more on the odds at sports betting. Therefore, I teamed up with Jan, whom I know since we were 18 years old, and who is equally passionate for sports in general and football in particular. Together, we co-founded our company and website Oddspedia. The main goal of our company is to provide valuable, competitive and user-friendly services for sports betting fans, players and publishers. Since its inception and over the course of several years, Oddspedia established itself as one of the biggest international affiliates in the sports betting world.
Could you elaborate on the cutting edge that Oddspedia possesses? There are other companies that offer similar services. What makes Oddspedia “the number one sports companion” of punters?
The website aims to provide as much value to the user as possible, and the information is conveyed in a manner to ensure a great user experience. It starts with guaranteeing a reliable odds comparison – odds on Oddspedia are being scanned in real-time across more than eighty bookmakers to ensure that only the most up-to-date data is displayed. This is complemented by features not commonly found in competing websites, such as geolocation to show only relevant betting sites for the user, direct links to bookmakers’ betslips, full odds movement history and various betting tools. This is part of what makes Oddspedia one of the best sites for odds comparison. But as a matter of fact Oddspedia offers much more than that. The website has amazing sports coverage as well, providing livescore information on more than 30 different sports. Users can also explore sports statistics, bonuses and promotions, or read the latest news on their favourite leagues, teams and matches. All of this wrapped in an app-like web experience, with quick performance and a state-of-art modern design makes it easy for Oddspedia to stand out from its competitors.
You recently overhauled the Oddspedia website. What are the new features that have become user favorites?
In August Oddspedia had the biggest makeover yet with its relaunch. The new version was in development for more than a year, and enabled the development team to apply new tools and technical innovations that were simply not possible on the old site. Major front-end and back-end changes were done to improve the user experience, and the new UI provides much more natural and polished user flow. To ensure seamless operation, updates regarding back-end software, systems, processing odds nodes, and new integrations are introduced almost on a day-to-day basis.
You have also launched widgets for webmasters and digital publishers which help them monetize their website through affiliate marketing? Tell us more about the widgets and process of monetizing.
One of the main issues from editors, publishers and affiliates is providing real time data to their customers. Is extremely hard to find a proper way to do it. The Oddspedia Widgets fill the gap between the sports data feeds and the operators.
For editors, the Oddspedia Widgets have been developed as a real “all-in one” solution. These tools can be implemented into any site by simply pasting their code, providing that site’s users with real time odds data. Publishers can benefit from the live information by not only providing their users an odds comparison widget for free, but they can include their affiliate link to the respective bookmaker. Clicks are simply shared on a 50/50 basis. The way the split works is that the widgets rotate with two links, one for the publisher and the other for Oddspedia which will be applied with equal chance.
Publishers will get real time sports data without any cost for them, at same time they offer that to their customers and readers.
The Covid-19 pandemic has affected the betting and gambling companies, especially the traditional forms of betting and gambling. It is not yet done yet. How have the lock-down and social distancing measures affected your business?
In every crisis there’s an opportunity. The coronavirus outbreak has had a devastating impact all over the world and on our daily lives, with many businesses in almost every industry feeling the pinch. That’s no different with the gambling industry, as most major sports were suspended in the first lockdown during spring time.
At Oddspedia we expected that the interest in sports will even grow bigger in times of social distancing and isolation. But with the vast majority of sports canceled we had to find a way to react to the situation. We focused on increasing our sports portfolio and cover almost any event going on worldwide. As crazy as it sounds, the matches from a Table Tennis tournament in Russia were checked over a million times on Oddspedia.
There are still positives that can emerge from the pandemic, with virtual sports and esports being one of them. Virtual Sports truly boomed in interest. Esports betting is a vertical in the industry that was already rising in popularity before the outbreak. But now, it’s well on its way to establish itself as a major offering for operators and affiliates, which is set to continue even after we come out the other side of virus lockdowns.
It has been seven years since Oddspedia was launched. Most of these times, you focused mainly on Europe, especially the German-speaking countries. You are now venturing in to South America. How has the user response so far from the Latin American countries, who certainly love their football? Any plans to start operations in Asia?
Our entry into the South American market has been very successful. The audience there is extremely passionate about sports and betting, and they show a great demand for our product. Of course, we provide local users with well-targeted information from local bookies in their native language. We began with the integration of Spanish and Portuguese languages for our product, then we structured our content to be as engaging as possible for local users. It’s no secret, that for users from Brazil, as well as for other Latin American countries, football is the most popular sport. So when entering our website, we meet users with the most interesting football matches from their local leagues. These are shown first and then followed by popular worldwide championships.
This personalized approach is very successful and we have good and stable traffic coming from these countries
Several Asian countries, like Japan for example, are very interesting for oddspedia, as well. However, we deem it highly important to find the right partner when entering a country like that. It is crucial to have the right partner who is fond of the language, can translate and adapt to the correct betting terminology, and possesses local SEO knowledge. We envision to grant sublicenses for oddspedia if the right company to partner with comes knocking on our door.
The technology is moving at an unimaginably high speed. How do you think artificial intelligence and machine learning would impact the betting industry, and specifically the odds comparison
Automation based on machine learning has been key within ecommerce for years and the igaming industry should apply insights gained in other sectors. Offering a personal user experience in a responsible environment comes from understanding and catering to each individual player’s needs from an entertainment point of view. AI is a type of software or hardware that learns – and it could be programmed to learn mostly about users and their behavior and utilize those insights to drive the developments of new, hyper-personalised gaming and internet betting experiences. The technology is being applied to learn our habits, our likes, and our relationship patterns. Online gaming is an industry that runs on data, such as results, stakes, percentages, odds, stats, and so on. All of these numbers are constantly crunched, calculated and analysed behind every major gaming platform. For this reason, ML is actually playing a growing influential role in the sector, changing the game for both online gaming businesses and their players
Finally, what would be your key advises to any new entrepreneurs starting something new in the gambling industry or affiliate marketing sector?
Don’t start something just on your own if you are a newbie. First, dip your foot in the water and gain some experience in the industry. I would recommend starting with a job at a bigger affiliate company or in affiliate marketing at an operator. If you are smart, you can learn a lot quickly and avoid a bunch of costly mistakes you might have made otherwise. In the next step, you can try out your own ideas. By then, you already have a sound understanding of the industry, which allows you to make even better products right from the beginning and the timeframe until you are able to realize a return on your investment is likely to be much shorter, as well.
HIPTHER, organizer of the Prague Gaming & TECH Summit 2025, is proud to welcome NSoft, an awarded software provider in the betting and gaming industry, as a key participant in this year’s event. In this exclusive interview, we speak with Zlatan Omerspahić, Head of Legal and Compliance at NSoft, to explore the challenges of entering the Brazilian market, the company’s new slot development plans, and the latest updates on its Next Gen Platform and Sportsbook solutions.
As new markets emerge, compliance requirements continue to evolve. What are the biggest regulatory challenges NSoft faces when certifying its portfolio for international expansion, and how do you navigate them?
When facing a new regulatory framework or amendments, one of the main challenges is determining how to adapt your existing portfolio. On the one hand, you need to comply with regulations; on the other, you must remain attractive to players.
Each market typically has its own set of technical standards. Some European jurisdictions require Random Number Generator (RNG) certification from specific labs. Different U.S. states mandate unique reporting formats for game logs or jackpot payouts.
The modular architecture allows us to develop games and platforms that can be easily adapted or toggled on/off for specific features required by different regulators. Our dedicated compliance team tracks each market’s technical updates. We have established an internal process to quickly evaluate and implement changes and we work closely with accredited labs (e.g., GLI, BMM) that have experience across multiple jurisdictions. Early and regular testing in these labs can speed up certification.
The biggest challenge lies in anticipating all necessary steps so that both you and your client have a clear understanding of the time to market. Securing licenses can be expensive and time-consuming.
Some markets, like the UK, have strict guidelines under the UK Gambling Commission (UKGC). Others, such as Malta, follow the Malta Gaming Authority (MGA) requirements. The frameworks can vary significantly in scope. Separate licensing is often needed for each new product type (e.g., sports betting vs. online slots).
We start with smaller or simpler markets to fine-tune our processes before moving on to the bigger, more complex ones. We maintain a comprehensive library of corporate and technical documentation (policies, procedures, financial statements) so it can be adapted quickly for each new licensing application.
Different regions have different data privacy requirements. The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) in the EU requires strict controls on handling personal data, with hefty fines for noncompliance. Some markets have data localization rules (e.g., certain Latin American or Asian regions) requiring that customer data remain on local servers.
We integrate encryption, access controls, and clear data retention policies from the outset. Working with hosting and cloud providers who offer local data centers where required, ensures we meet data residency requirements. We maintain comprehensive privacy policies that clearly outline data usage, storage, and protection mechanisms.
iGaming operators are prime targets for illicit money flows because of high-volume transactions. Regulators impose strict AML (Anti-Money Laundering) and KYC (Know Your Customer) requirements, including identity verification, transaction monitoring, and suspicious activity reporting.
What to do here? Integrate robust KYC and AML software that automatically flags unusual betting patterns or rapid deposit/withdrawal cycles. Tailor AML protocols to match the specific risk profiles of each jurisdiction. High-risk areas might require enhanced due diligence measures.
Each regulation has its own requirements, and regulatory bodies lack a uniform approach, so there is no single stance on the matter. Fortunately, thanks to my team of experienced professionals who have been in the industry for many years, we can quickly adjust to whatever these regulations entail.
The Brazilian market is currently undergoing significant regulatory changes. From a compliance perspective, what are the key hurdles for suppliers entering this market, and how is NSoft ensuring full adherence to local requirements?
Brazil has undoubtedly been the most important topic in the industry over the past few months. As part of the Sportradar Group, we have big plans for this market and are excited about the opportunities it offers.
From a regulatory standpoint, Brazil is a textbook example of a market transitioning from unregulated to regulated status for the first time. It naturally creates uncertainty and complexity for suppliers entering the market.
The challenges we encountered are interpreting new and evolving legislation around sports betting, online gaming, and taxation, each of which may require different licenses or technical approvals. We also faced regulatory changes during the certification process, which prolonged our time to market.
Also, data protection rules under Brazil’s LGPD mirror GDPR in some respects but introduce distinct obligations, such as potential data localization or particular reporting guidelines. In parallel, suppliers must adapt to local financial and banking processes to fulfill AML and KYC requirements, which can differ significantly from those in North America or Europe.
Through close collaboration with leading certification bodies, we worked diligently to meet all requirements.
Thanks to the dedicated efforts of our development team, we managed to overcome these challenges. However, there is a sense that the regulatory framework may need further adjustments after some time, once the newly regulated environment begins functioning in practice.
NSoft has been expanding its casino portfolio, particularly in slot development. How do compliance and regulatory standards shape the innovation process, and what are the biggest challenges when launching new video slots?
Balancing innovation and regulation is always challenging. While development focuses on creating the highest-quality product tailored to players’ preferences, regulation aims to protect players through a framework that covers various aspects.
We face a range of challenges, from game design and RTP percentages specific to certain markets to acceptable game names and mechanics.
In highly regulated jurisdictions, for example, a new slot might need to limit the maximum bet, include automatic loss or time-limits, or remove potentially addictive features such as rapid-fire spins.
The biggest challenge lies in balancing innovation with meeting these stringent regulations. Each game feature, like bonus rounds, progressive jackpots, or social elements, must be tested and certified by third-party labs, adding time and cost to the development cycle. Additionally, different markets might impose unique conditions on how results are displayed or how player data is stored.
What sets us apart, however, is our adaptability. We have in-house solutions for everything we offer, which makes the adaptation process significantly faster.
Your Next Gen Sportsbook Platform is built with a strong punter-centric approach. How does regulatory compliance play a role in platform development, and what steps does NSoft take to ensure both operators and players benefit from a secure and compliant environment?
Regulatory compliance is a cornerstone of NSoft’s Next Gen Sportsbook Platform, ensuring that both operators and players benefit from a secure, fair, and legally compliant environment.
Given the ever-evolving nature of global betting regulations, NSoft integrates compliance into every stage of platform development. NSoft’s platform is designed to meet the strictest regulatory requirements across various markets, supporting compliance with multiple gambling authorities, including the MGA, UKGC, and local regulators, to facilitate seamless licensing and adherence to legal frameworks.
As a speaker at the Prague Gaming & TECH Summit, what key insights will you be sharing with the audience? What makes this event an essential platform for discussing the intersection of compliance, innovation, and market expansion?
At the Prague Gaming & TECH Summit, I will share key insights into the evolving regulatory landscape, the role of technology in compliance, and how innovation drives sustainable market expansion. My primary focus will be on the Balkan countries.
This event is crucial for networking with regulators and industry leaders, giving direct insights into what’s next in compliance, technology, and market growth. It’s the perfect platform for staying ahead of regulatory challenges and finding practical solutions.
With NSoft at the Prague Gaming & TECH Summit 2025, this year’s event promises invaluable insights into the future of iGaming and technology. Don’t miss the opportunity to connect with industry leaders, gain exclusive market perspectives, and be part of the most dynamic gathering in the CEE region!
Join us on 25-26 March 2025 in Prague – Register now and explore the full agenda!
The post Navigating Compliance & Innovation: NSoft’s Vision for iGaming’s Future appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
Conferences in Europe
Navigating New Frontiers: Relax Gaming’s Approach to Growth & Market Expansion
HIPTHER, organiser of the Prague Gaming & TECH Summit 2025, is proud to present Relax Gaming, the Summit’s Delegates Bag Sponsor and a key player in the iGaming industry. In this exclusive interview, we speak with Cliona Griffin, Business Development Manager, Casino at Relax Gaming, to explore their approach to market expansion, transparent competitive strategies, and what to expect from their presence at the Summit.
Relax Gaming has built a strong reputation as a premium aggregator and supplier in the iGaming space. How does your approach to business development ensure that Relax Gaming stays ahead in an increasingly competitive market?
We’re always focused on being one of the industry’s most innovative providers, both in terms of the content we produce and the platform we offer. By constantly evolving our products and maintaining a strong commercial framework, we ensure that Relax Gaming remains a key player in the market.
Our competitive and fair commercial approach has been instrumental in strengthening our presence in existing markets while also enabling smooth entry into new ones. It’s all about staying agile and forward-thinking to ensure our partners get the best possible experience when working with us.
A competitive yet transparent commercial structure is a core focus for Relax Gaming. How do you strike the right balance between offering competitive deals while maintaining transparency with partners and operators?
I think both fairness and transparency are key to building long-term relationships with our partners. That’s why we apply the same commercial structure across the board in each market, ensuring that every partner has a clear and equal opportunity to succeed.
This approach not only makes our offering competitive, but it also gives our partners confidence in knowing they’re working with a provider that values consistency and openness. By keeping things straightforward and fair, we create a commercial environment that benefits operators.
With new markets constantly evolving, what key factors influence Relax Gaming’s decision-making when entering and expanding into emerging markets? Are there any specific regions that are currently on your radar?
When looking at new markets, we take a strategic and measured approach to ensure that any expansion aligns with our business objectives asl well as the needs of our partners.
One of the biggest factors we consider is regulatory complexity. Each market comes with its own set of rules, and we need to ensure that we can operate efficiently while fully complying with local requirements. Beyond compliance, we assess the potential return on investment, evaluating market size, player demand, and long-term sustainability to determine whether it’s the right fit for Relax Gaming and our network of operators.
Right now, we’re actively monitoring several European markets that show strong growth potential. However, our primary focus for H1 this year is expanding our presence in the US. The region presents exciting opportunities, and we’re working to establish a solid foothold by leveraging our expertise and proven content portfolio to meet the needs of operators and players in this market.
Given the dynamic nature of the industry, how does Relax Gaming adapt its offerings to support both new and existing operators in maximising their revenues?
We take a very hands-on approach when it comes to supporting our partners. Our Account Management team works closely with operators to help them maximise revenue by tailoring strategies to suit their needs. Whether it’s optimising game performance or identifying new opportunities, we’re always looking for ways to add value.
On the content side, we’re also moving towards a more bespoke approach, adapting our offering to fit the demands of different markets and player preferences. This flexibility allows us to continue delivering high-quality, relevant content that keeps engagement levels high.
As a speaker at the Prague Gaming & TECH Summit, what key insights will you be sharing with the audience? And what makes this event an essential platform for discussing the future of iGaming?
I’m looking forward to sharing how Relax Gaming approaches market expansion, focusing on how we assess new opportunities, navigate regulatory challenges, and use our aggregation model to drive growth.
I’ll also highlight the importance of localisation and how we tailor our content to different markets while supporting operators with the tools they need to maximise engagement. With the industry evolving rapidly, staying ahead of trends is key, and I’ll touch on the innovations shaping the future of iGaming.
Events like this are a great chance to connect, exchange ideas, and gain insights into what’s next for the industry, making it an essential platform for discussion and collaboration.
With Relax Gaming bringing its expertise to the Prague Gaming & TECH Summit 2025, this year’s event promises invaluable insights into the future of iGaming and technology. Don’t miss the opportunity to connect with industry leaders, gain exclusive market perspectives, and be part of the most dynamic gathering in the CEE region!
Join us on 25-26 March 2025 in Prague – Register now and explore the full agenda!
The post Navigating New Frontiers: Relax Gaming’s Approach to Growth & Market Expansion appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
Katya Machuganova, Gaming Product and Partnership Manager at Silverback Gaming, lifts the lid on the studio’s first crash title and explains why it will hit the market as a social game before being rolled out in the real money format
Silverback’s first crash game is set to hit the market shortly. What more can you tell us about the game ahead of its launch?
We are super excited to launch our first crash game, but the details are a closely guarded secret for now. What I can say is that the design concept is in place, the gameplay has been set, and we are now working on the creative assets. Then it’s just a case of bringing all the elements together. But this being Silverback, it’s not going to be a standard crash game – we are adding plenty of unique twists to take the anticipation and thrills to the next level. We are on track to send the game to Gaming Laboratories International for testing toward the end of March with go-live scheduled for April. The initial roll-out will be in the simulated gaming format with real money to follow.
How will you ensure your crash game stands out in what is an increasingly competitive market?
Players love crash games because of the control they have over the outcome of the game round. They get to choose when to cash out, with experienced players often having their own strategies for deciding the optimal moment to hit the button. It’s this active participation that really gets pulses racing so with our crash game, we are going to be giving players even more control. Crash games generally appeal to players looking to take big risks in return for big rewards, so players will also be able to toggle the risk level to match their preferences. This degree of personalisation and control is simply not offered by the current crash games in the market.
Why did you decide to launch your crash game in the social/simulated gaming format before real-money?
Demand for our simulated gaming content is at an all-time high with many of our partners looking to tap into the huge opportunity the market presents – last year, social gaming was estimated to be worth $12.77bn and is set to hit £23.05bn by 2032. As a provider of both simulated gaming and real money content, it’s our responsibility to provide our partners with the content they need, when they need it. Crash is also perfectly suited to the simulated gaming format – because players can’t win real money, they like to place big bets (with virtual currency) so they can experience the thrill of big wins. This is exactly what crash provides. Of course, we’ll be releasing our crash game in real-money shortly after its debut as a social title.
Has the game been developed for players in a specific market or are you going global with it?
Silverback Gaming is mostly focused on the North American market, although our games are certified in jurisdictions like Malta and Italy. Given our exposure to the US and Canada, we ensure that our games meet player preferences in these markets although they still hit the mark with players in the other jurisdictions where they are offered. The crash format is super initiative and easy to understand, which means crash games can be deployed in most markets, from North America to Europe, Asia and Africa, and very quickly rise to the top of the charts.
Do studios need to have a crash game in their portfolio?
We think so. Studios need to provide the content operators – and their players – are seeking and we are increasingly seeing this demand shift towards non-traditional content. At Silverback, we want to provide our partners with a broad range of content across different formats, and that’s why our portfolio covers slots, table games and now crash, and in both social and real-money formats. Pushing into new formats is also great fun for our designers, sound engineers and developers, and we give them the freedom and flexibility to push the boundaries as that’s how we can ultimately bring new and exciting experiences to players.
What makes crash such an interesting space for studios to move into?
Because the format is relatively new there is huge scope for studios to really play around with it. From themes to mechanics and even elements like control and risk, we are only just scratching the surface of the crash format. If you were to compare crash to slots, we are in the classic phase right now with the video slots phase still to come. This is why we will see an innovation race play out in the crash vertical, with studios looking to be the first to bring something new to the table that then sets the standard for others to follow.
How can operators get the most out of crash games?
It’s still very early days for the crash format so operators do need to educate players as to how these games work and why they are such fun to play. Thought needs to be given to lobby positioning, too. To encourage players to try to crash for the first time, offering a free bets offer works well or letting them play a social version if the game is available in this format. This is part of the reason why we have developed and launched our first crash title in the simulated gaming format.
The post What happens when the worlds of crash and social collide appeared first on Gaming and Gambling Industry in the Americas.
Meridianbet Expands B2B Operations into Nigeria, Entering a Regulated $2 Billion Betting Market
Week 11/2025 slot games releases
ELA Games Enters the Danish Market Through New Strategic Collaboration With RoyalCasino
SCCG Expands Strategic Partnership with Major League Rugby
MGM Resorts Appoints Donna Langley to its Board of Directors
PopOK Announces Two Ground-Breaking Releases – Eye on the Money & Avi
St8 agrees partnership to integrate Tequity’s White Label Originals
Plaza Hotel & Casino hosting Nike Pickleball Camp, March 14-16
New Campeón Gaming Brand Powered by Delasport’s Sportsbook
Emerging Startup Adventura Gaming to Launch New Casino Table Game, Penn & Teller Casino Monte
-
gaming2 years agoODIN by 4Players: Immersive, state-of-the-art in-game audio launches into the next generation of gaming
-
EEG iGaming Directory8 years ago
iSoftBet continues to grow with new release Forest Mania
-
News7 years ago
Softbroke collaborates with Asia Live Tech for the expansion of the service line in the igaming market
-
News6 years ago
Super Bowl LIII: NFL Fans Can Bet on the #1 Sportsbook Review Site Betting-Super-Bowl.com, Providing Free Unbiased and Trusted News, Picks and Predictions
-
iGaming Industry7 years ago
Rick Meitzler appointed to the Indian Gaming Magazine Advisory Board for 2018
-
News6 years ago
REVEALED: Top eSports players set to earn $3.2 million in 2019
-
iGaming Industry7 years ago
French Senator raises Loot Boxes to France’s Gambling Regulator
-
News7 years ago
Exclusive Interview with Miklos Handa (Founder of the email marketing solutions, “MailMike.net”), speaker at Vienna International Gaming Expo 2018
