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 3^rd 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.

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.