Ukraine is the CIS market that offers the best growth opportunity for online betting and gaming operators, a survey of the expert speakers at this week’s SBC Digital Summit CIS virtual conference and exhibition has found.

The online event on 4 – 5 November will provide an in-depth assessment of the sports betting, casino and poker industries in the CIS, Ukraine and Georgia, with insights from senior executives from the region’s major operators and suppliers. 

Ahead of the event, SBC asked those experts which local market offers the greatest potential for online operators over the next five years? Ukraine’s newly-legalised gambling industry was the clear winner, with 51% of the vote, ahead of the more-developed market in Russia, which polled 20%.

There was some excitement about the likely legalisation of sports betting in Uzbekistan, which attracted 17% of the vote, while 9% of the speakers identified Georgia’s well-established market as still having the best opportunities in the region, and 3% opted for Kazakhstan. 

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s move to create a regulated gambling market is the topic of the event’s first panel session. Boris Baum (Advisor to the Deputy Head of the President’s office), Ievgeniia Derbal (Chief Legal Officer, Parimatch), Ilya Machavariani (Senior Partner at 4H Agency & Independent Consultant to the Ukrainian Government) and Dr. Ekaterina Hartmann (Director of Legal and Regulatory Affairs, European Gaming and Betting Association) will analyse what the development means for operators.

Russia’s gambling industry will also be put under the spotlight, with an assessment of the likely future direction of sports betting and igaming in the region’s largest country. The event-closing panel will feature Konstantin Makarov (CEO, Betboom), Asker Thalidzhokov (CEO, BR Labs), Erik Shahbazyan (Founder, Russian Poker Tour), and Vladimir Voloshin (Co-Founder, Ironstar & Rosa Run). 

A further panel will investigate the potential opportunities in Uzbekistan following the government’s indication that it intends to legalise sports betting in 2021, while a session on Georgia will evaluate openings for further growth in the region’s most developed online gambling market. 

Lasha Machavariani, CEO of SBC’s local partner Sports Media Holding, said:

“The industry within these markets is buzzing right now. The whole world is watching attentively and following with great interest, as the CIS markets still have major growth potential.”

Away from the market-specific sessions, the agenda includes panels addressing key issues for the development of the betting and gaming industry across the region. Delegates can expect expert insights on topics such as the impact of gambling regulation on the economy, how to operate a gaming brand in a multicultural environment, the most effective marketing strategies, developments in payments technologies, and how to benefit from the booming popularity of esports. 

The speaker line-up includes a host of senior executives from the region’s largest operators, including Dmitry Sergeev (CEO, Parimatch CIS), Irakli Asanishvili (Deputy CEO, adjarabet), Maxim Afanasyev (CPO, Liga Stavok), Luka Kapanadze (CCO, Betlive), Alina Yakirevich (CMO, Fonbet), Aleksey Tserkovnyi (Marketing Director, FavBet), and Veiko Krunberg (Managing Director, OlyBet).

Afanasyev said:

“SBC organises the best gaming events, which always have a great set-up, top speakers and the most relevant topics under discussion. If you want to be on the cutting edge of all gaming innovations, you won’t want to miss SBC Digital Summit CIS.” 

The speaker roster also features a host of experts from suppliers, regulators, legal and financial firms, and professional sports. They include Dmitry Starostenkov (CEO, EvenBet Gaming), George Shamugia (CEO, Singular), Nik Rudenko (CEO, 8Lab), Oleksandr Iaroshenko (CEO, Betbazar), Pavol Krasnovsky (CEO, RTSMunity), Giorgi Tavtavadze (Payment Services Director, Liberty Bank), and Georgi Kinkladze (Former Manchester City, Ajax and Georgia midfielder). 

Starostenkov said:

“SBC Digital Summit CIS is happening at the right time. Until now, we lacked a place to discuss recent developments in the CIS gaming market, such as Ukraine’s legalisation, Russia’s further regulative movements, and changes in the Republic of Kazakhstan.”

In addition to the conference, the event will feature an interactive product display area with leading suppliers showcasing the latest sportsbook, casino and payments innovations tailored to local markets, together with a variety of networking opportunities to make it straightforward for delegates to connect and talk business. 

Click here to register for a free pass for SBC Digital Summit CIS.

British betting operator Betfred has launched in-play betting content from Spotlight Sports Group across its website and mobile app. 

According to Spotlight Sports Group, it’s in-play content service is driven by AI, and offers customers live statistics, suggestions, and betting analysis throughout matches – expertly handwritten for 90 leagues in more than 60 languages. 

To enable Betfred to have the product as early in the season as possible, Spotlight Sport Group says it designed, mapped, and developed a front-end solution that integrated all Betfred’s markets and odds. This has resulted in a product that fits the operator’s sportsbook seamlessly, allowing customers to place bets directly from the bet simulations.

Discussing the new service Spotlight Sports Group Account Director, Darren Hale, said:

“In-play football betting has grown exponentially over the past ten years to become the critical betting market. Our in-play content service sits alongside that perfectly, as there is no other product on the market able to offer real-time, expert betting insights in any language. For Betfred customers, this will arm them with knowledge from our experts to make informed betting decisions.

“The technology in the background of this product is second to none. It is completely customisable so Betfred only receives the content they want, and as well as an API we are capable of providing a bespoke plug and play solution in weeks. I’m incredibly excited to see Betfred customers begin to use it.”

While Digital Sportsbook Product Manager at Betfred, Stuart Grant, added:

“We’ve always firmly believed content on site is one of the key ways to drive engagement and improve our customer experience. Working with Spotlight Sports Group over the years has seen us add Racing Post horseracing content and Racing Post Sport content and we are delighted to expand that to in-play. This product is like nothing else on the market and our customers are in for a treat.”

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US-based sports and fantasy betting operator DraftKings has signed Bryson DeChambeau as a brand ambassador. 

DeChambeau, who is ranked No. 6 in the Official World Golf Ranking, will become the face of DraftKings’ golf offering, and “represent the digital sports entertainment and gaming company via an integrated brand, content, marketing, and VIP centric collaboration. Notably, fans will be offered the chance to win golf lessons from DeChambeau. 

Discussing the partnership CEO of DraftKings, Jason Robins, said:

“Professional golf has been a key growth sport in both daily fantasy and sports betting, and our collaboration with Bryson DeChambeau is a notable new layer of mainstream brand exposure and fan experience. DraftKings is strategically aligning with winning athletes like Bryson who embody and embolden the competitive fire of our customers.”

While DeChambeau himself added:

“DraftKings has been at the forefront of innovation for how people experience golf, and the company continues to modernize the game through technology built by and for sports fans.” 

DeChambeau also has commercial partnerships with Cobra/Puma, Rolex, FlightScope, Bridgestone, NetJets, Bentley Motors, and others. 

Staying with DraftKings, just last week the company extended its partnership with Gibraltar-based sportsbook MansionBet. 

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Former international football stars Gaizka Mendieta, Georgi Kinkladze, Zurab Khizanishvili and Revaz Arveladze are set to take part in a special panel at SBC Digital Summit CIS analysing the relationship between professional sports and the business world.

The Betting and Sports – More Than Just A Companion? session takes place on 5 November, the second day of the virtual conference and expo for the betting and gaming industry in the CIS, Ukraine and Georgia.

It will see the ex-players offer a professional athlete’s perspective on the betting industry, and how responsible gaming and fair play principles for the sports fans and sportsmen should be constructed and followed. 

Between them, the quartet boast more than 200 international caps and experience of many of Europe’s top leagues. All of them are now forging successful post-playing careers, which have given them wider perspectives on the role of the gambling industry in sports, business and society. 

Mendieta is best known for his nine years at Valencia, during which he played in two Champions League finals, and also had spells with Lazio, Barcelona and Middlesbrough, as well as being part of the Spanish national team at Euro 2000 and the 2002 World Cup. Since retiring, he has worked as a football pundit and opened a number of upmarket Spanish cuisine restaurants. 

Speaking ahead of the event, Mendieta said:

“I am looking forward to sharing my experiences in professional football and betting with the audience at the SBC Digital Summit CIS. I’m also excited about the prospect of hearing from some of the greats of Georgian football about their careers during what promises to be a fascinating panel.” 

Kinkladze is famed for his time in England, where his dazzling performances made him a fans’ favourite at Manchester City and Derby County. He also won 54 caps for Georgia and played for Dinamo Tbilisi, Ajax, Αnorthosis Famagusta and Rubin Kazan, before starting a successful business career. 

“It’s a great honour to be part of this interesting event together with other great footballers,” said Kinkladze. “I’m looking forward to sharing knowledge about the game we all love and the business side of it.” 

Khizanishvili won 92 caps for the Georgian national team during a career that saw the defender star in his domestic league, as well as enjoy spells with Dundee, Rangers, Blackburn Rovers, Kayserispor and Inter Baku. He is now a leading analyst on Adjarasport’s football coverage.  

“I was delighted when I got an invite to the SBC event, which will focus on the CIS markets,” said Khizanishvili. “As a former footballer and a current coach, I have seen the progress both on the sports side and the subsequent business which follows the development of the quality of the game on pitch.”

Arveladze is a former Georgia international and UEFA Football Committee member. After a successful career that saw him play in the Bundesliga, Belgian top-flight and for Dinamo Tbilisi, he served as the General Secretary and the Vice-President of the Georgian Football Federation.

“I am very much looking forward to participating in the event with fellow football greats,” said Arveladze. “It’s always good to catch up with old friends and former foes on the pitch to discuss the industry with them.”

The panel will be moderated by Lasha Machavariani, CEO and Founder of Sports Media Holding, which is organising the event in association with SBC.

Rasmus Sojmark, CEO and Founder of SBC, said:

“SBC Digital Summit CIS is a rare opportunity to gain in-depth insights on the betting and gaming markets in the region, and we have some superb speakers ready to share their experience and ideas with our audience.

“It’s fantastic that Gaizka, George, Zurab and Revaz have joined the line-up and I’m sure their panel will be one of the highlights of the event.” 

The agenda for the conference element of SBC Digital Summit CIS on 4 – 5 November also features panels investigating the opportunities for gaming operators in Ukraine, Georgia and Uzbeikstan. Further sessions will assess the best marketing strategies in local markets, how to operate a gambling brand in a multicultural environment, and how to take advantage of the growing popularity of esports in the region.

Click here to register for a free pass for SBC Digital Summit CIS.

After eight years, online gambling brand 32Red is shutting down its Italian operations. 

Kindred says it is closing 32Red.it on 30 November, and has advised all customers to withdraw funds from the site by 29 November, as the site will be inaccessible from the end of the month. 

The operator says it will be focusing on promoting its Unibet.it brand in the Italian market, and has said 32Red.it players will get a warm welcome there.

In a statement, Kindred said:

“We are sorry to inform you that starting from November 30th 32Red will no longer be operational. It was a difficult choice to make. We hope, however, that these years spent together have been fantastic for you, as they have been for us.”

Kindred acquired 32Red in 2017 for $226M USD, though the brand has been active in the Italian market since 2012. 

AYO.NEWS says:

Despite the Italian market showing strong demand for online gambling, the difficulties in marketing thanks to the ‘Dignity Decree’, which banned gambling advertising, coupled with a distinctly anti-gambling political climate, make operating there tough – so it’s not surprising to see operators consolidate their businesses. 

Staying with market exits, last month Betsson withdrew eight of nine brands from the UK with immediate effect, citing unsustainable regulatory and compliance pressures. 

‘AYO.NEWS says’ features the opinion of the author and does not necessarily reflect the views of Pentagon Digital Limited or its affiliates or associates. 

All original content featured on this site is © Pentagon Digital Limited, 2020.

SBC Digital Summit CIS represents an unrivalled opportunity to gain valuable information about the region’s betting and gaming industry, with senior executives from Parimatch, adjarabet, Liga Stavok, Fonbet, FavBet, BetBoom, and Betlive part of a stellar speaker line-up. 

The virtual conference and expo on 4 – 5 November has an agenda focused on the growing markets in the CIS region, Ukraine and Georgia, and a roster of 75 expert speakers ready to share on-the-ground insights and their ideas for the future direction of the industry. 

The line-up includes a host of leaders from the region’s major operators, including Dmitry Sergeev (CEO, Parimatch CIS), Irakli Asanishvili (Deputy CEO, adjarabet), Yury Krasovsky (CEO, Liga Stavok), Luka Kapanadze (CCO, Betlive), Konstantin Makarov (CEO, BetBoom), Dainis Niedra (COO, Enlabs), Quentin Martin (CEO, Luckbox), and Veiko Krunberg (Managing Director, OlyBet).

Marketing strategies for local markets is one of the central themes of the agenda and there is a strong contingent of operator representatives ready to offer the benefit of their experience to delegates. 

Irakli Davarashvili (CMO, adjarabet), Alina Yakirevich (CMO, Fonbet), Maxim Makovetskiy (Head of Affiliates, Parimatch), Aleksey Tserkovnyi (Marketing Director, FavBet), Anton Eshtokin (Deputy Head of Marketing, Marathonbet), and Maka Gorgadze (Head of Marketing, Casino Adjara) are among the industry marketing specialists set to participate. 

Davarashvili said:

“The SBC event is a great opportunity to unite and discuss all the challenges, share experiences and give some insights in these hard times for the world and for the industry itself.”

The speaker roster also provides insights from the perspectives of governments, legal and financial experts, suppliers, affiliates, and sports professionals. Delegates can look forward to learning from Boris Baum (Advisor, Office of the President of Ukraine), Paruyr Shahbazyan (Founder, BR Labs), George Shamugia (CEO, Singular), Nik Rudenko (CEO, 8Lab), Oleksandr Iaroshenko (CEO, Betbazar), Ilya Machavariani (Senior Partner, 4H Agency), Giorgi Tavtavadze (Payment Services Director, Liberty Bank), and Gaizka Mendieta (Former Valencia, Lazio, Barcelona & Spain midfielder). 

Baum said:

“Having a business background, I know how important it is to have as much information and insight as possible when you are chasing any new opportunity in our fast-paced world. This is especially true for 2020 – a year when everything is changing constantly. In light of this, SBC Digital Summit CIS is a must-attend event for anyone even slightly interested in the latest developments towards the East. 

“I am going to speak on a panel that is fully dedicated to the Ukrainian market and will tell you about the Ukrainian Government’s efforts to build and nurture this new market on a par with the best examples out there, so it can become pivotal for the European gambling industry.”

Rasmus Sojmark, CEO and Founder of SBC, said:

“There is huge excitement in the international betting and gaming industry about the potential of the markets in Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Georgia, Armenia and Russia, but the level of interest is not matched by the amount of information available. SBC Digital Summit CIS will change that.

“In conjunction with our great local partner Sports Media Holding, we’ve put together a superb line-up of speakers, who between them have unparalleled expertise on all the issues influencing the growth of the industry in the region. So delegates can expect to learn valuable practical information and pick up some fantastic ideas about how to approach the best emerging opportunities.” 

In addition to the conference, the event will feature an interactive product display area with leading suppliers showcasing the latest sportsbook, casino and payments innovations tailored to local markets, together with a programme of networking roundtables to make it straightforward for delegates to connect and talk business. 

Click here to register for a free pass for SBC Digital Summit CIS.