Exclusive Q&A with Chris Nikolopoulos, CCO at Betby

Betby is an exciting new entrant to the sportsbook provider arena. Chris Nikolopoulos, CCO at Betby, discusses what makes them different, and what is in the pipeline for the company. Chris Nikolopoulos is an experienced commercial director who leads the international sales and business development teams at Betby. His responsibilities include the company’s rapid global expansion and spearheading its entry into multiple new markets. He has extensive knowledge of the retail and online sports betting and casino sectors, having previously worked at EveryMatrix, Playson, and Altenar.

1. How does Betby differ from the other sportsbook providers on the market?

There are a number of providers in the industry but we believe we are coming to it with a fresh approach. It is important to keep in mind that we decided to invest in sportsbook software because we saw a gap in the market, both from a product and services perspective, and we were confident we could fill it. So far, everything is going according to plan – if not better. For us it’s very important to offer not just a product, but a complete business relationship to our partners, which means that we are listening to them, we are prioritising their needs and we are not afraid to develop further.
With regards to our product, we have some significant USPs, such as the ability and the focus that we have on being able to deliver customisation based on an operator’s needs. For instance, we have developed several UI layouts which can cover different segments of players, no matter if they are coming from a traditional sportsbook, or a more modern, casino-related background. At the same time, we are putting lots of effort on data and BI, by harnessing machine learning software, which is used to predict and detect customer behaviour, whilst also facilitating automated personalisation techniques. Our team is a mix of industry veterans with huge experience and young, motivated people with innovation in their blood.

2. What challenges do Betby face as a newer provider, competing against bigger, established giants?

I would say that the biggest challenge that most of the new companies have to face is proof of concept. It’s absolutely normal for clients to require some certainty before they choose the provider they will work with and for this they need to see some success stories. However, with regards to us, I wouldn’t say this is that big of a problem at the moment. Within a year of being operational, we have managed to agree commercial deals with several well-established brands and we are already looking further into the future. Possibly, the biggest challenge we are facing is the fact that we don’t have as many licenses as the established yet. As a result, we cannot compete in all of the regulated markets. However, time will change that and we have already taken the necessary steps to earn the necessary accreditation.

3. What markets are Betby targeting as part of its expansion?

We are growing quickly, not only in terms of new clients but also in terms of human resources and technical infrastructure. Our goal is to be a worldwide provider and from launch we have been taking the necessary steps toward that goal. However, if we exclude the European and Asian markets – where we are already operational today – I would say that our growth is very likely to come from territories in Latin America, which is set to become an incredibly exciting region.

4. Betby offers a significant array of sports markets. Is this choice vital when entering new markets?

Yes, it’s necessary. In European markets more or less everything is similar. But try to enter Indian market without cricket or UK without horse racing for instance, and it will be a struggle. Localising the sportsbook content in terms of sports, tournaments, events and markets offered is key. At the moment we are offering more than 55 different sports with a huge variety of sports markets and we are constantly adding more.

5. What is in the pipeline for Betby?

We are in a stage of growth and we are excited about it. At the moment we are focusing on the upcoming SIGMA exhibition which will be a wonderful chance to meet with old and new partners and friends. At the same time, we have finalised our presence at ICE London, where for the first time we will have our own BETBY stand. And we are also progressing with our MGA license application, which is expected to be confirmed soon. Finally, in terms of new sales, we are having some great cases in the pipeline and I believe we will soon be able to share some exciting news but at the moment I cannot comment further. Stay tuned!