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Roundtable – Thinking Outside the Box with experts from Betsson, Gamingtec and Press Enter

Published

3 years ago

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Reading Time: 8 minutes

 

Q: Is the online gambling industry lagging behind others when it comes to UX?

Betsson – Janick Bonnici – Gaming Content Optimisation Manager

Although we are seeing substantial improvement, the simple answer is yes, when you compare the industry to other digital industries and their giants like Netflix, Spotify, Amazon – it is clear that these companies invest heavily in differentiating themselves from others in their field, offering customers with the most user-friendly and effective browsing experience. As an industry, our focus has heavily been on the content we release, innovation and adapting to constant change, which can distract our focus on user experience optimisation. It is understandably quite a challenge given that the industry has grown at such a fast pace and we’re often faced with regulatory changes, even impacting the way we can promote games on site, which means that every market has different UX requirements.

Gamingtec – Andrei Beu – Commercial Director

The COVID-19 pandemic shook the very foundations of businesses from different industries, forcing them to adapt to changing times at a much faster pace. More and more businesses realized the importance of building their online presence as the world retreated indoors. We can say that the gambling industry is somewhat more conservative hence lagging behind tech, travel or big data, yet there are certain markets (like EU) which are focusing a lot of attention on UI/UX.

Press Enter – Hampus Eriksson – Chief Product Officer

We are operating in an online industry, estimated to be worth more than $50bn which says to me we are doing something right. The industry is incredibly competitive and in order to acquire and retain players, UX has to be a priority for anyone hoping to drive a successful business and experience substantial growth.

Competition also drives innovation and our industry is renowned for pioneering technology that provides the best UX available. This not only applies to the moment players arrive at the lobby but also the choice of games, easy navigation, player personalisation, but also to more compliant requirements that are in place to ensure player protection. UX is everything and I believe the gambling industry truly thinks about the end to end player journey and what that UX looks like.

There will always be some incredible examples outside of gambling that surprise and impress us, and this is great, because it’s also important to be regularly inspired and learn how we can adapt new technologies to enhance our own industry.

 

Q: Casino game lobbies have not drastically changed in many years – why is this?

Betsson – Janick Bonnici – Gaming Content Optimisation Manager

The focus through the years has very much been around providing players with the best content and engagement before and whilst playing the games. This includes tailored content targeted at specific players based on their preferences, intriguing offers and engaging gamification experiences such as tournaments and missions, often offering massive prize pools. This was always the most effective way in attracting players to browse games, however as markets regulate and marketing becomes more limited, optimisation of your shop window becomes integral in allowing players to find content which they enjoy.

Gamingtec – Andrei Beu – Commercial Director

This is again a matter of the markets we are looking at. The more technically evolved countries have also brought in a better UX and are constantly updating their online gambling offering. We can easily tell the difference between operators active in Africa versus Europe. So lesser tech progress attracts conservativeness.

Press Enter – Hampus Eriksson – Chief Product Officer

At a glance, I can understand how one might think that lobbies have largely stayed the same in terms of format, however there is a lot more going on behind the scenes. Casinos have gone from offering players hundreds of games to thousands of games across multiple verticals. Today, players are provided with all the tools to navigate the lobby, with filtering systems, game categories, etc and operators are now finding ways of using the information they glean from player behaviour to  come up with new and interesting ways to present games that the player would enjoy most.

 

Q: What technologies/solutions are available to help deliver a more personalised experience?

Betsson – Janick Bonnici – Gaming Content Optimisation Manager

We are definitely not short of data in our industry, which is the key ingredient to developing a personalized gaming experience. We spend hours on hours every day drilling down on deep dive analysis, with the end goal to deliver the most dedicated user journey. There are also third party companies specializing in content analysis and building personalized frameworks. Apart from this, with the tremendous volume of games on display and influx of new content being released on a daily basis, having a smooth content management system is essential. I would say there should be a balance of a refined game recommendation engine, with the touch of human experience as the ideal approach to achieve this experience, since our industry is constantly evolving, with new game types constantly being innovated by game studios – we need to ensure we are always on top of the current trends.

Gamingtec – Andrei Beu – Commercial Director

There are several tools that have been widely used in the past years to shape the UI/UX and they will keep on having an important role. Yet it’s only natural that designers and developers alike will look into the emerging UX technologies like Voice UI (Amazon Alexa, Google Home, Apple’s Siri and Microsoft’s Cortana), touchless gesture control, AI, VR and others. The industry will need to adapt as the trends show us the users being more and more connected to emerging technology.

Press Enter – Hampus Eriksson – Chief Product Officer

Going back to the previous question about UX, personalisation plays a large part in this. If a client doesn’t feel like they feel valued or that they belong, then they’re not going to want to stick around. An operator can provide the most immersive and thrilling content, but without ensuring personalisation is a priority within their UX ambitions, then it will not be money well spent.

There are a number of technologies available and many of which are easily integrated into iGaming platforms. These can range from extremely advanced solutions using many data points that will subsequently start learning player preferences by recommending games they are likely to enjoy or more simple solutions that allows you to present a range of games to be presented to a group of players qualifying into some set criteria’s.

The implementation of AI has also played a huge factor when it comes to personalisation and has been a hugely valuable tool in driving overall engagement throughout the player journey leading to increased wagering activity and ultimately maximising the lifetime value of each customer.

 

Q: Why is delivering a personalised experience so important for the player?

Betsson – Janick Bonnici – Gaming Content Optimisation Manager

Picture yourself as a person who is opening an online casino page for their first time, all you are presented with is a bunch of game thumbnails, perhaps some important information about the game, as well as the option to filter through the various game offerings and studios. As an average player, this massive selection can be quite overwhelming and often the player will choose a game related to an offer, or one of the first games they see on the page. If one of the first games you enter is an extremely volatile game for instance, as an average player you could deplete your balance instantly and get the opinion that you cannot win. We are building some brilliant content in this industry and there is absolutely something for any type of player, how you guide a player to making their choice of game is key to their perception of playing online.

Gamingtec – Andrei Beu – Commercial Director

Focusing on customers and testing different options is key in determining the most relevant and effective UX for online gambling. Various types of screen resolutions and browsers need to be supported to ensure an equally easy and enjoyable experience for the players. Moreover, operators need to make sure they consider every step users might take to find a game, access help, search and any reasons why they might want to abandon the site/app. The quicker users get to their goal, the more frequently they are likely to return to the same operator.

 

Q: What opportunities does it present the operator?

Betsson – Janick Bonnici – Gaming Content Optimisation Manager

The obvious opportunity is of course a far greater customer engagement and retention. By delivering a personalized experience from a UX point of view, every time a player logs in to their account, they are not seeing a static page, but ideally a fully customized experience. Retention is key in any industry, it is cheaper to retain players than acquire, I believe that the user experience, especially looking ahead, is going to be key in judging site stickiness and brand loyalty. Players are spoilt for choice nowadays, with new brands always being launched, the user journey is more important than ever.

Gamingtec – Andrei Beu – Commercial Director

Personalization is at the heart of a comprehensive customer experience. The benefits of good UI/UX are measurable and research shows us the importance of proper personalization:

  • the ROI is likely to increase 5 to 8 times and sales by 10%
  • personalized calls to action convert 200% better
  • 90% of users are likely to be willing to share their behavioral data if the operator can make their experience faster and easier

Press Enter – Hampus Eriksson – Chief Product Officer

Investing in personalisation is a necessary approach by most operators because without it, it will dramatically reduce the lifetime value of that player. Therefore, the opportunities are all around ensuring the retention of players. I think that Game Recommendation Engines in all their various forms are maturing, and there is a lot of focus and investment going into that. CRM personalisation has also come on leaps and bounds, enabling operators to offer an end to end level of personalisation.  This is particularly valuable when we engage with our players via Customer Support and/or Payments. The chat bots are great at taking care of many FAQs, and this undoubtedly expediates many requests on behalf of our players.

However, there will always be situations where players will need a real human interaction to solve a problem. Therefore, I think we have a great opportunity to improve how we respond to these types of enquiry; such as, why do I have to explain my problem to a customer representative and why have they not got the technology and tools to see what my problem is before I start talking to them? The stuck game rounds, spins that didn’t pay out correctly or bonuses that didn’t trigger or release is the type of information buried deep in 3rd party systems and can be accessed if you are guided where to look. I think we can make significant improvements in that area and empower 1st line support more to give help more promptly, rather than start collecting the information from the user to start up the investigation. Furthermore, as an industry we still need to continue to invest into empowerment of our 1st line. This is one of the few chances we get to communicate directly with our players, and you do not get a better opportunity to change a bad experience into a positive one. I am still amazed when I gamble around casinos and need help and still get hit with the same response that I got 10 years ago: “we need to escalate to the relevant department” answers, we need to minimise this to the absolute necessary level.

 

Q:  How do you see casino game lobbies and the way content is pushed to players changing?

Betsson – Janick Bonnici – Gaming Content Optimisation Manager

I imagine that lobbies will come more alive with more customization on the user-end. The average shelf-life of a new game is becoming shorter and shorter, given the volume of content coming through, as a result the decay curve of a new game release is also much quicker. Everyone wants that front-page exposure, therefore judging that a game sticks from the beginning is vital. This should tie in with games becoming more feature-rich, which guarantees that they’ll be pushed through in more categories and filtering, thus granting them more exposure. We should aim to move away from static looking lobbies and bring online casino pages to life, really bringing forward the exciting experience and thrill which you experience in-game, before you even open the game.

Gamingtec – Andrei Beu – Commercial Director

Online casino operators generate huge volumes of data on a daily basis, and within this data there are plenty of indicators as to player preferences in each market. Identifying and monitoring trends in each market enables the operators to determine which games/providers they should promote, also allowing them to create bespoke content.

There is a series of factors to consider if you want to really engage with your players as an operator and the change will likely be based on behavioral data as well as emerging tech allowing the operators to provide a unique UI/UX.

Press Enter – Hampus Eriksson – Chief Product Officer

Our industry is constantly innovating and it won’t be long before it’s introducing a much more advanced way of serving the games and marketing information that players want to receive. I also think that for the more casual and recreational player, there might be a slower uptake in any significant changes to the game lobby but who knows – watch this space!

 

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Dr. Eyal Loz Chief Product Officer at RubyPlay

Built for the branded reality – RubyPlay’s high velocity approach to the US market

Published

1 week ago

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May 5, 2025

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With localisation, speed to market, and cross-state scalability at the heart of its strategy, RubyPlay is proving that relevance—and results—come from understanding both the player and the moment. Dr. Eyal Loz, Chief Product Officer at RubyPlay, discusses the company’s fast growing US presence and how its agile, insight-driven approach is resonating with players and operators alike. From crafting bespoke branded content to rolling out favoured mechanics with modern twists, RubyPlay is positioning itself as a key partner in the evolving iGaming landscape.

 

Just a few months into RubyPlay’s US journey, how has player response shaped your perception of the market? And how will these insights shape your roadmap going forward?

We see very strong player preferences to games that combine a Hold and Spin mechanic with perceived persistence. We also see that American players respond well to classic themes with a clear modern flavour. None of this was very surprising, as we are very well tuned with the preferences of players in America. The RubyPlay offering was always optimised for American players, and it’s nice to see that our roll out is working so well, as we expected it to.
We also explored a handful of innovative mechanics that are less prevalent in traditional land-based casinos, and we are happy to see that these were also well received.

 

Titles like Mad Hit® Diamonds and Diamond Explosions 7s® SE are a few of your early standouts. What do you think is making these games click with the US audience compared to other markets?

These two titles are solid performers in all markets, so we had high expectations to see these perform very well with American players. Both these mechanics have all the elements that make for a strong US title – Hold and Spin, perceived persistency, Buy Feature and a solid art package with a classic yet modern feel.

 

The US iGaming market is unique, not just in regulation, but in how players engage with content. How does your strategy for the US differ from other global regions and how do you maintain global competitiveness while staying locally relevant?

It’s important to remember that top performing mechanics tend to transcend time and space. Hold and Spin mechanics have performed well in almost all markets since they were introduced over 10 years ago. What makes a specific game more relevant to one specific region is the theme and flow of the game. For example, games featuring mahjong tiles will perform well in South East Asia but will not perform to the same level of success in the US. Similarly, games with strong Egyptian themes will not perform in Asia but have a good potential in the US.
RubyPlay’s superpower is in our velocity and adaptability. We are able to identify opportunities with operators to support their brand identity and create specialised bespoke content for them, taking into consideration elements such as the relevance of that theme to the market, and the brand of the operator. We live in a branded reality, and we consider our client’s brand a top priority.

 

You’ve spoken about empowering brands through strong partnerships. How do you approach collaboration in the US market to ensure both RubyPlay and its partners succeed?

Brands are a lifestyle in the USA. We have to understand this first in order to reach the audience in the way that our US partners take as second nature. By focusing on building high velocity, we are able to create relevant bespoke content for our partners that is unique to their needs.

Velocity is really important because branding opportunities don’t last very long. When a client negotiates a collaboration between their brand and a 3rd party, the deal will always close very late and will not last very long. Our ability to be in tune with the reality of such short deliveries on tight schedules, measured in weeks, not years, has given us a disproportionate advantage.

We have a stronger awareness of special events, whether sports, holidays, or cultural, and our responsiveness allow us to always stay relevant through our portfolio or bespoke content with the timings of such events in mind.

 

What role does localisation play in your expansion strategy?

Localisation is absolutely crucial. As I mentioned before, the combination of a robust and large variety of game mechanics, combined with the ability to minimise time to market thematically, we are able to always stay relevant to new markets we started operating in. When entering a new market, it’s hard to predict what is going to work, so building velocity, and keeping an open mind is key.

 

With more states opening up, how is RubyPlay preparing to scale its presence across the country? Any new or upcoming experiences or innovations players and partners can expect this year?

We are well on our way to enter Pennsylvania and West Virginia as we are well aware that US. operators are heavily focused on a cross-state strategy regarding promotions. If we can support this by having the top states, we ensure a stronger and more effective experience for players with branding in mind. After all, markets are one of the most important product features.

Other than that, we are planning to roll out our Awarded Feature with many of our direct clients. This will allow operators to award the Buy Feature for free via a back-office campaign. We saw this can be very effective in branding, retention and acquisition, and allow operators to either award players with the best part of the gaming experience, or up-sell promotions via their CRMs.

I’m very excited to see the impact the Awarded Feature will have with our partners on all areas of their business.

The post Built for the branded reality – RubyPlay’s high velocity approach to the US market appeared first on Gaming and Gambling Industry in the Americas.

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AI Cricket

Betbazar Explores Cricket in iGaming: What Operators Need to Know

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2 weeks ago

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April 30, 2025

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Revolutionising Cricket Premier League: Max Sevostianov – COO at Betbazar, shares insights on how AI-Cricket and hyper-local data products are helping Operators engage, convert, and retain players year-round

With the start of the Premier League cricket season in India, what key trends are you seeing in the iGaming industry around this sport?

We’re witnessing explosive demand for faster, more immersive cricket content. Ball-by-ball gaming is really taking off, driven by players who crave real-time action and micro-engagements. This has pushed Operators to double down on mobile-first experiences — speed, accessibility, and UX are everything in this space.

Another standout trend is hyper-localisation. It’s no longer enough to offer cricket content in English — platforms are integrating regional languages, tailoring promotions based on local fandoms, and weaving in fantasy-style formats that resonate deeply with Indian audiences.

Perhaps the biggest shift we’re seeing is strategic: cricket is evolving from a seasonal event to a sustainable, year-round revenue channel. Operators aren’t just riding the IPL wave — they’re building ecosystems around domestic leagues, international fixtures, and even niche formats, ensuring engagement doesn’t drop off after the final.

 

Do you think the league will trigger a revenue surge for South Asian Operators? What should they focus on to make the most of this opportunity?

Absolutely — the Premier League is essentially Black Friday for cricket in India and the wider South Asian market. It’s the peak of the calendar, where user engagement and volumes skyrocket. But high traffic alone doesn’t guarantee high returns.

To truly capitalize on this opportunity, Operators need robust infrastructure. That means rock-solid uptime, especially during critical moments like the toss or final overs when activity spikes. Fast bet settlements, wide market coverage — from traditional formats to more niche or prop bets — and content that keeps users hooked, like virtuals or eCricket, are all must-haves.

This season, the winners won’t just be those with the most users — they’ll be the ones who can scale seamlessly, automate efficiently, and deliver content that’s as thrilling as the match itself.

 

What cricket-related products are currently making the biggest impact in the iGaming market?

Three products are really making waves right now.

First, Virtual (AI) and eCricket formats are proving to be game-changers. These always-on experiences keep players engaged even between live matches, maintaining momentum throughout the season and beyond.

Second, high-frequency data feeds are unlocking a new level of interactivity. Instant markets, player props, and ball-by-ball gaming are now the norm, providing users with a dynamic and deeply immersive experience, especially appealing to mobile users who seek fast, responsive gameplay.

Finally, localised and gamified content is crucial. We’re seeing strong traction with fantasy-style elements and UI’s designed specifically for cricket fans. When combined with regional language support and tailored promotions, this kind of personalisation boosts both engagement and long-term retention.

These innovations are driving serious volume — and, more importantly, keeping players coming back.

 

Betbazar recently launched a new product – AI Cricket. Can you walk us through its key features and what makes it so promising?

AI-Cricket is the latest innovation on Betbazar’s marketplace, and it’s setting a new benchmark for virtual sports. At its core, it delivers 24/7 AI-powered cricket matches with realistic gameplay that mirrors live action — from batting styles to fielding dynamics — all generated by advanced algorithms.

What truly sets AI Cricket apart is its end-to-end automation. Everything from match creation to odds generation is fully automated, allowing Operators to run with minimal overhead and maintain a consistent 8% margin, without the need for manual trading.

On the user side, it’s all about engagement. The product supports fantasy-inspired modes and even customisable avatars, offering a highly immersive experience that feels fresh every time. And because it’s always available, it gives Operators a powerful tool to drive retention, even during downtime in the real-world sports calendar.

So AI-Cricket blends innovation with profitability, making it a standout product for today’s cricket-focused iGaming market.

 

Сricket coverage in Betbazar’s Live Data Feed is described as unique. How broad is the coverage, and what specific advantages does it offer to operators?

Betbazar’s Live Data Feed offers one of the most comprehensive and operator-friendly cricket solutions in the market today. We’re talking about 15,000+ pre-match and over 9,000 live Cricket & Kabaddi Events, and an additional 10,000+ AI Cricket events each year — a scale that ensures operators can engage users year-round.

But what really sets it apart is the quality behind the quantity. Settlement times for top events are incredibly fast, typically within five minutes after the match, giving players confidence and keeping the gaming process flow smooth.

From a technical perspective, we’ve built it for performance, featuring low-latency updates, a high SLA for reliability, and customisable margins that allow Operators to fine-tune their offerings to suit different markets and risk profiles.

In short, it’s a powerful, high-performance data solution designed to meet the fast-paced demands of modern cricket, enabling operators to stay ahead of the game.

 

About Betbazar

Betbazar is a B2B worldwide iGaming marketplace which has set a new sales standard, sourcing specialist iGaming products and advising on their role within existing strategies to deliver growth to our partners. The company’s ambition is to build a digital iGaming marketplace that connects creators with operators, accelerating growth through best-in-class products. 

The post Betbazar Explores Cricket in iGaming: What Operators Need to Know appeared first on Gaming and Gambling Industry in the Americas.

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Speaking the Player’s Language: Promatic Group’s Take on Game Localization in CEE

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4 weeks ago

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April 17, 2025

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The Prague Gaming & TECH Summit 2025 brought together some of the brightest minds in the iGaming and tech industries – and the conversation didn’t stop when the curtains closed. As this year’s General Sponsor through its Promatic Games brand, Promatic Group made a powerful impact on-stage and behind the scenes. In a dynamic keynote presentation titled “Localizing Slot Games: Does the Central European Player Need Localized Content?”, Maciej Makuszewski, iGaming Director, and Luka Oblak, Head of Product Design, explored how cultural nuances shape player engagement and game performance across regional markets.

Now, post-event, we caught up with Maciej Makuszewski to delve deeper into the topic of localization, player behavior, and what makes content truly resonate in Central and Eastern Europe.

 

Maciej, your keynote at the Summit offered compelling insights into how culture and language affect game engagement. What do you believe is the biggest misconception about localization in the iGaming industry today?

It is that it is enough to hire a translator of a game to deliver localized content. This is not the end of the road – on the contrary – this is just the beginning. This may sound like saying the sun rises in the east, but I still would say there can be a lot more attention paid to giving games a local touch.

But coming back to translations, nowadays, even at this basic level, we can observe so many pitfalls and mistakes that could have been avoided if people really had the player at the core of their strategy. I guess we are past this time in history of globalization that unified products and content simply entered new markets with no tailoring whatsoever and there was demand for them, because there hadn’t been much of a choice of anything else. We’d like to see companies try harder when they enter new markets. I hope we will become one that actually gets the hyperlocalization just right.

 

You and Luka presented some standout cases on localized content. Could you share one example that truly surprised your team – either by outperforming expectations or revealing a cultural insight you hadn’t anticipated?

I guess that would be the transformation of a simple fruit game launched as Red Hot Jackpot in Poland, into a rich animations theme game it became in Nigeria. The nigerian version of Red Hot Jackpot is called Naija Wheels and it is the exact the same math model and game logic as Red Hot Jackpot, but what makes it appealing to the local customers of slot halls in Nigeria is its hyperlocal theme. Naija Wheels is a funny story of things you see in Lagos traffic. So instead of a Cherry symbol you have a symbol of a police officer. Instead of a plum symbol, you have an okada driver from Lagos etc.

Very different game themes, same logics, same business effects – the game is a great performing slot in Poland and a superb hit in Nigeria.

 

In your view, what are the non-negotiables when designing localized slot content for Central and Eastern European markets? Are there elements developers often overlook?

There are so many local markets in the CEE that it is really hard to unify this. But in a nutshell – we know in our region, highly volatile fruit themed games are very popular. Having said that, it is not a surfire way to success. You may want to localize the content even further through cultural and humor references.

 

The ROI of local-branded slots is often debated. Based on Promatic Group’s experience, when does it make strategic and commercial sense to invest in hyper-local content – and when is it better to focus on broader appeal?

It all depends why you do this and how you measure the ROI. If you measure a single game ROI this might be a trap. It will very much depend on the math model and features of the particular game. Apart from revenue stream, there are also costs to be considered. If we’re talking about a “game reskin” then certification will be something you can optimize and so on. There are numerous ways to tackle this issue. Sometimes you can come up with a hyper local game and just launch it somewhere else to test if it works, which will boost your revenue stream and the total ROI. All in all we are very happy with our local approach and we intend to stick to it.

 

Let’s talk about the future. With shifting player expectations and tech advancements like AI personalization, how do you see the localization strategy evolving over the next 2–3 years at Promatic Group?

I would expect this hyperlocalization becomes a commodity in the industry. This will also require a lot of human factor so that it is done the right way. AI will speed things up, but I believe that the human touch will be key. We already have amazing tools, but using them the right way is what will make a great difference.

The post Speaking the Player’s Language: Promatic Group’s Take on Game Localization in CEE appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

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