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Exclusive Interview: Jonathan Power, Founder and MD of Voxbet

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Reading Time: 9 minutes

 

European Gaming talks to Jonathan Power, Founder and MD of Voxbet, about the company’s rise to prominence in the sports betting space and making waves in genuine innovation with its latest betting microphone for sportsbooks.

What was your industry background before you started Voxbet as Onionsack in 2006?

My background was in fintech. My co-founders and I had a background in modernising banking tech for the big UK and Irish banks in the 1990s. We did that until the mid-2000s, and I was always very keen to have my own gig. I wanted to enable something that would enable people to conduct value transactions by text message. This was before the smartphone, but we built a platform that could prove it was you who sent the message. We came up with a number of applications for that technology, but the target was fintech and person-to-person payments.

What I knew from my experience with fintech was that the banks won’t touch anything that hasn’t been proven in another industry. We did a few things. We had person-to-person payments, share trading, we offered the buying of concert tickets, but we chose sports betting. You could make a bet by writing what you would write on a betting slip and sending it in a text message. We would read the text message and know who you are. If it was a high-value transaction, we would prove it was you that sent it by calling you back and taking a print of your voice.

I took a punt that the betting industry would try something like that. I went to a trade show in November, and we went live with the Tote in the UK the following June. It was a time when you could get things done. I never left the industry, and even though I say I’m from a fintech background, I’m actually more from a sports betting background now, in terms of years served.

Did yourself and your partners know much about the sports betting space going into it?

I did as a punter, but I didn’t know who to talk to. I took a stand at a trade show and we did well out of it. From there, we did deals with William Hill and Paddy Power, so we built a nice little business out of that. Smartphones then made text betting quite niche quite quickly, but people who bet with us via text in 2006 still do that with us now. We made a massive pivot (in branding terms, more so than technologically) to move into voice betting about a year-and-a-half ago, and we’ve been Voxbet ever since.

With text betting, what would a supplier offer as opposed to an operator saying “text us on this number”?

We would have read the message and understood it. Everybody is uniquely identifiable by their phone number, so we would know it was you, we would know you had the device in your hand, and what it is you wanted. There was about an 80% chance we could read the message and place the bet automatically, before sending you back confirmation, and there was about a 20% chance we wouldn’t understand it with 100% certainty; in which case we needed a call centre agent to bring some human intelligence to the interaction. That’s the platform which is up and running and it’s still used in a number of places, but it’s not what we’re presenting to everyone now. Everything now is all about voice.

When it came to the voice tech, what did your research tell you about what was missing in that space and were many other suppliers offering it at the time?

There were two things we noticed. The first is that tens of billions of dollars are being spent on voice by big tech companies. Google, Microsoft, Apple, Amazon and IBM all have massive products in the voice space and have spent tens of billions acquiring companies in that space. They have made a huge bet on the future of interacting digitally being voice.

The other factor is an awareness that there’s so much content on the sports betting side now. When sports betting sites first went online, it was more or less taking the shop coupon and putting it on a web page; it was that simple. When Google launched in 1997, there were two million websites in the world; there are now two billion. One sports betting site now offers more than two million things you can bet on, but there was still a way of navigating things before Google entered the scene, where you would go through layers and layers of menus. That’s a poor user experience and it’s not an experience for people other than existing gamblers who have had no choice but to use that system. Young people won’t use it like that. If Spotify was laid out the way a sports betting site is laid out, nobody would use it; it would be unusable. People are used to getting what they want everywhere else online.

This wasn’t something sports betting suppliers had tried before, and it actually turned out to be much more difficult than we expected. We thought we could plug into the existing engines like Google and IBM. They work really well to about 90%, but then they apply artificial intelligence which can change what a customer is saying to something that they didn’t say. Sporting parlance is quite unique. If I said to Google that I wanted a £20 treble on Liverpool, Leeds and Coventry, it will say you want £20 travel to those places! That’s actually a benign example and there are some brand-damaging examples. It’s not the sort of thing you could launch with the kind of mistakes those engines can make, so we’ve had to adapt to that and come up with something specific to sport.

How did you go about creating the technology that could iron out those issues you mention?

We knew an awful lot about sports betting language from our text betting days. We started out on the assumption that if you could understand a bet which is expressed in words, you could understand a spoken bet. But as I say, it did turn out to be more of a challenge than we thought it would be.

The way we have fixed that problem is by creating a dictionary where the only thing that dictionary understands is sporting terms, and we recompile that dictionary every hour, based on which events are on. We’re working on the assumption you won’t bet on something today that starts in a week’s time, and the universe of what you’re trying to understand becomes too complex if you look too far ahead. I’d say 99% of our traffic is for events happening soon. If it’s not accessible by voice, it’s still accessible the old way. You can make the problem much smaller if you say people are betting in this space right now, and then you recompile the language to be relevant to sports betting in this moment. If you keep recompiling it, it will then be phenomenally fast and accurate.

Does this work just as well then if I want to bet on a complex Betbuilder as much as a single match?

It’s working on racing at the moment, and it will do anything up to the most complicated place bot in one hit. You can say ‘£5, place bot,’ and call out all your horses. The target is to eventually include Betbuilders. Once we can do that on horse racing, we will know we can do it on other sports as well.

So how many sports can it work for right now and what sports are you planning to expand to?

In English, the rollout will be in three phases. The first is for horse racing, which is ready to go. The second is for football, which we’re working on, and the third phase is everything else.

How significant could this be for operators, in terms of the percentage of bets that could be placed this way?

That’s something we will begin to understand after we launch. We’re working on an integration in Asia, and in the UK, it will launch before Cheltenham. We don’t know yet, but what we do know from our text betting metrics is that the people who want the easiest way of betting are the people who bet a lot. The average user of a betting app might bet 12-15 times per month. The average user of text betting in France for example bets 160 times per month. Simplicity appeals to those who interact a lot with sportsbooks, and they’re very important customers who are currently poorly served by having to do a lot of digging.

Are you particularly looking at younger demographics within the serious bettor demographic?

We’re after two key demographics. The first is more important in value terms rather than volume terms, so for those who know what they want, we want to give them an easier journey. The second cohort is younger people who engage digitally with their voice every day already. They use interfaces like Spotify and TikTok, and have never had to navigate something like a sportsbook, so that’s a key market for us as well.

Would I need to be logged into the app to use the voice technology?

The intention with our bet mic is that you’re inside the app. We give operators a widget that they can put on their homepage. You press and hold the microphone, say what you want and let go. That then brings you to the betslip.

How compatible would that be then with something like Alexa?

Alexa won’t work for this. It was something we looked into. We did demos on it and it looked impressive when it worked, but the problem at the moment is that Amazon will translate what a customer said to Alexa, and it just gives you the transcript. Amazon has to do that without any context of what you said, so it’s actually phenomenally impressive that it comes even close, but most of the time, it doesn’t come close enough. You can get it to work, but it doesn’t work at a high enough level of accuracy. At the moment, I would say ours will work 99% of the time and produce exactly what you said. It becomes much simpler when you have context, but that means you can’t use tools like Siri and Alexa, because they work without context.

How challenging will it be to get across to people that this is a different way to bet from what people are used to? How will you change people’s mindset and make this the first thing they think to do with a betting app?

People of my age learn from younger people. I see my children do something and then I start doing it. It’s partially going to be down to operators to get it across to their customers that there’s an easier way of doing things. When you see a microphone, you tend to know what it’s for. If you see a microphone on the homepage of a sportsbook, you will wonder if you can just speak your bet.

The likes of Waterhouse VC  have invested in your business. What has that investment been used for specifically and are you still looking for further investment?

Industry heavyweights open doors and their evangelism is transformative to us as a company, because people really listen to them. We use the word ‘ubiquity’ 10 times a day, and that’s our target. We know that when the right innovation hits the industry, everybody wants it. That’s what happened with in-play betting, cashout and in-game multiples, and we think this is in the same category. Those investors can change this from being a niche product which a few people think is cool to something that will become ubiquitous. We’re not looking for further investment. We have a trading business with our text betting, and that’s something we will look at, but not right now.

What is their equity in the business?                                                        

A lot of deals like that these days are structured with underlying options. They’ve bought a small piece but they’ve got an option for a bigger piece. I’d advise any innovator to look at offering industry evangelists deals that are structured like that, because it means they’re not penalised for the value they create. They can buy more at the same value as when they joined the business, even when it’s worth significantly more. All of them have put their own money in.

Does their collective ownership come to around 10% or less than that?

I’d say collectively it’s around 10%, but they have options to go nearer to 20-25%.

What do you think really needs to improve in the area of voice technology and how will you take it on a level?

I think the big tech in this space is amazing and I wouldn’t want to be seen to be in any way critical of it, but they’re working without any context. If you use Google’s voice dictation, it’s phenomenally accurate, but it is having to do that without context. You’ve got so many things happening in a sportsbook, and even if you want to ask about events in the next three hours, it’s too much to ask Google to understand that model, because there’s too many terms.

I think the big tech engines aren’t sufficiently adaptable to customer-facing scenarios in a B2B sense, but the business knows the context. I could be at an insurance company, and I know when someone sends me a voicenote over WhatsApp, they’re going to be talking about making a claim or wanting a renewal. The amount of language that’s relevant in that scenario is a very small fraction of what they’re able to understand, but because they’re open to understanding everything, they get more wrong. I think the ability to configure their platforms for a very narrow context is what makes us different.

How many operators have you partnered with and how many will you go live with at Cheltenham?

We have one media company which we will go live with, and they work with 10 UK bookmakers, so there will be bets placed with this at up to 10 major UK bookmakers.

Going forward, which markets will you focus on?

English is a priority. Everybody wants to focus on the US, but for us, we are also focusing on the Chinese language. We’ve got our platform working for the Asian market, so if we can do that, we can do anything. English will be the priority, but our biggest customer is PMU in French, which is easy for us to do. We’re undecided but we will take the opportunities where they come. A new language requirement will take about a month for us to get it working.

Do you have a target for the number of sites you want to be live with in the next few years?

We want to be live on at least 100 sites in three years and want to be on almost every site within five years.

How will the technology evolve over the next few years to allow that to happen?

The voice technology that’s out there is good enough. It will really depend on whether operators want to offer a chat-style user interface, where a customer can say: ‘I want to bet and I fancy Liverpool to beat Spurs tonight. What will the price be if put 20 quid on that?’ That’s not our approach. We just want customers to say: ‘£20, Liverpool to win.’

The whole area of what’s happening with ChatGPT and AI could change what user experiences people want and how they want to engage. I think people want to engage with technology as though it’s technology and want to engage with people naturally. It would be sad if people wanted to engage with technology as though it’s a person, but that doesn’t mean it won’t happen.

Interviews

Sponsors Spotlight: iGaming Mastery Insights by Atlas-IAC and its CMO, Bogdana Yavorskaya

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Sponsors Spotlight: iGaming Mastery Insights by Atlas-IAC and its CMO, Bogdana Yavorskaya
Reading Time: 7 minutes

 

Ahead of the highly-anticipated Prague Gaming & TECH Summit, organizer HIPTHER is thrilled to introduce and put the spotlight on the companies and people that help make the magic happen: our conference sponsors! These innovative, accomplished professionals and teams make magic happen every day, and they will be joining us at the Prague Gaming & TECH Summit 2024 taking place on 26-27 March, to share insights, network and collaborate with you! Get to know them, connect, and meet them in Prague!

In this Sponsors Spotlight Interview the #hipthers meet Bogdana Yavorskaya, Chief Marketing Officer at Atlas-IAC, the Badge & Bracelet Sponsors of the upcoming Prague Gaming & TECH Summit. Bogdana will be a Speaker at the Summit, offering valuable insights at the panel about “iGaming Mastery: Innovative Strategies in Marketing, PR, and Retention”.

 

Hello Bogdana, thank you for this interview. We are delighted to get to know you, and introduce you to our readers! Can you please tell us a bit about yourself and your current role at Atas-IAC?

It’s a pleasure to chat with you. I’m the Chief Marketing Officer at Atlas-IAC, where we’re all about pushing the boundaries in the exciting world of iGaming.

My journey in marketing spans a whopping 18 years, and I’ve had the privilege of delving into various aspects of this dynamic field. From crafting effective marketing strategies to diving deep into media planning and optimization, I’ve had my hands in all sorts of exciting projects.

Before joining the team at Atlas-IAC, I had the pleasure of working with some incredible international brands like Coca-Cola and Danone, where I got to flex my marketing muscles and help shape their success stories.

What excites me most about my role here at Atlas-IAC is the opportunity to innovate and drive meaningful change in the iGaming industry. It’s a fast-paced world, but with my wealth of experience and passion for what I do, I’m always up for the challenge.

One of the major aims for me is to show how strong the brand of Atlas-IAC is and how fantastic our product is. Due to a competitive environment, building a strong brand is essential for our industry to establish trust, gain a competitive edge, foster customer loyalty, optimize marketing efforts, ensure regulatory compliance, and attract talent and partnerships.

In addition to our focus on brand strength and product excellence, at Atlas-IAC, we are committed to promoting responsible gaming practices together with our partners. Authenticity, transparency, and responsible gaming practices are crucial for fostering trust and loyalty among players of our partners. The significance of responsible gaming practices in promoting a safe and sustainable gaming environment and preventing problem gambling is one of our key priorities in fostering responsible partnerships. We provide our partners with specific tools for responsible gaming. For example, Atlas-IAC implements self exclusion mechanics in our risk management tools, allowing players to set their own limits for their bookie or casino games

I’m thrilled to be part of such an innovative team, and I can’t wait to see what the future holds for Atlas-IAC and the iGaming industry as a whole.

 

Let’s get to know Atlas-IAC! Can you please introduce the company, and share with us how Atlas-IAC’s next-generation platform is revolutionizing the iGaming industry?

Atlas-IAC is a B2B provider of a next-generation platform for iGaming operators. Our core priority is our partners and product. We cooperate with the iGaming industry by broadening product ranges, adhering to regulations, refining marketing and customer relationship strategies, and adopting offerings to local markets.

We are really proud of our Sportsbook which can be integrated in 2 days. Our platform is scalable and automatic. Atlas-IAC stands as a robust, scalable, and dependable iGaming solution with 99.8% uptime, among the highest in the industry. Continual enhancements ensure lightning-fast, intuitive Sportsbook functionality, instantaneous bet settlement, uninterrupted casino gameplay, real-time risk management, state-of-the-art anti-fraud measures, and adaptable market expansion.

Rooted in collaboration and mutual growth, we remain steadfast in our mission to empower partners, share expertise, and deliver a superior product that underpins their success.

 

One of Atlas-IAC’s strengths is its rapid Sportsbook Integration. How does this feature contribute to enhancing operators’ marketing efforts and attracting new players?

We are really proud of our in-house developed Sportsbook. It stands out as a top choice for those aiming to kickstart or expand their sports betting venture due to its full automation. What sets it apart are its meticulously crafted features, designed to drive heightened engagement among players, consequently boosting the average check value and elevating the player’s lifetime worth.

Our commitment extends to continuous product refinement, accompanied by an individual approach for each partner. We are providing them with the flexibility to integrate specific modules aligned with their business objectives. Our customization process is tailored to address the unique demands of each operator, ensuring seamless functionality, appearance, and behavior precisely aligned with their vision.

In the iGaming industry, Sportsbook platforms play a vital role in enhancing operators’ marketing efforts and attracting new players. Sportsbook offers real-time betting options during live sports events, creating an exciting and immediate wagering experience that appeals to sports enthusiasts. With a diverse range of betting markets, including niche sports and specific outcomes, Sportsbook platform caters to various types of bettors, expanding the operator’s target audience.

Operators leverage Sportsbook to offer attractive promotions, bonuses, and incentives, such as sign-up bonuses and free bets, to entice both seasoned bettors and newcomers. Moreover, the cross-platform accessibility of Sportsbook platforms enables operators to reach a wider audience, including mobile users who prefer betting on the go.

Overall, Atlas-IAC’s Sportsbook contributes significantly to operators’ marketing efforts by offering dynamic betting opportunities, personalized promotions, and seamless accessibility across devices. With an outstanding uptime of 99.8%, we hold firm confidence in both the quality and growth potential of our Sportsbook.

 

With Atlas-IAC’s focus on automation and maximizing profit for operators, could you elaborate on how your platform facilitates effective communication and collaboration with partners in the iGaming ecosystem?

We have managed to strike the perfect balance between meeting our partners’ needs and injecting excitement into their players’ experiences. With Atlas-IAC’s Next-Gen iGaming platform, partners gain access to a comprehensive suite of tools, empowering them to manage their entertainment business seamlessly, free from technical worries.

We’re dedicated to tailoring our products to suit each partner’s unique requirements, priding ourselves on our flexibility. Whether it’s developing specific modules or customizing features, we’re always ready to adapt to individual needs, and this is our undeniable advantage.

Thanks to the fully automated and flexible Atlas-IAC platform, our partners have tools for effective communication and marketing strategy in the iGaming ecosystem. We offer must-haves for our partners. For example, the Personal Odds Boost feature allows offering an individual odds increase for a specific player, regardless of the type of event (either Pre-match or Live), or Combo Boost which lets players see the real-time odds increase as they add more events to their bet slip. It is a simple yet powerful way to let players put their knowledge of sports to the test and boost their reward.

By streamlining workflows, enhancing efficiency, and prioritizing player relationships, our platform enables iGaming operators to excel. We’ve developed a bespoke CRM tailored to the nuances of the iGaming realm, simplifying player communication, bonus distribution, progress tracking, and necessary activity restrictions — all in line with the latest responsible gaming standards.

 

What are the markets that Atlas-IAC works with, and how do you tailor marketing communications for different regions and audiences?

Atlas-IAC operates globally, starting from Latin America to Europe, Africa, and Asia. As a B2B company, our target audience is our partners who engage with iGaming enthusiasts worldwide. We employ innovative marketing strategies tailored to various segments of the iGaming audience, including millennials, casual gamers, and high rollers. We always keep a close eye on emerging market trends in each region.

Firstly, I’d prioritize conducting comprehensive market research, as we usually do at Atlas-IAC. It enables us to gain insights into the preferences, behaviors, and cultural nuances of our target audiences across various regions. With these insights in mind, we focus on creating content that resonates with each local audience. This includes using language, imagery, and themes that are culturally relevant and familiar. For example, soccer is the most popular sport to bet on in Brazil, while in Great Britain, some of the most popular forms of sports betting involve placing bets on horse racing, dog racing, and soccer, so communications on our sportsbook solutions for operators in these markets will be different.

To effectively reach diverse audiences, we have to segment our target market. This allows for more tailored messaging to specific groups. While some trends are common globally, such as nearly 35% of the population having placed a sports wager in the past 12 months, people have different reasons for betting: wanting to win money, enjoying the excitement, finding sports more interesting, liking the competition, or viewing it as a hobby. Additionally, there is a worldwide trend of rising mobile gaming, the integration of virtual reality and augmented reality experiences, and the emergence of esports betting. Mobile gaming has made gaming more accessible than ever before, attracting a diverse audience, including casual gamers, older adults, and even non-gamers, due to the simplicity and convenience of mobile devices. These insights help us to communicate effectively with our target audience. A simple example: We have our automated fast sportsbook API and actively use it in our marketing communications because we understand what our partners need to succeed in mobile gambling. Our marketing strategy is based on providing solutions the company is able to offer our partners, regarding market trends. We use personalization in our communications and select the appropriate marketing channels for each market.

 

Looking ahead to 2024, what are Atlas-IAC’s key priorities and plans in terms of expanding into new markets or enhancing its existing offerings?

We are experiencing a surge in integration requests from operators across diverse regions, indicating a growing demand for our solutions. Our primary focus is on expanding into regulated territories, particularly in Latin America, Eastern Europe, Africa, and South-East Asia.

Our priorities for 2024 are threefold. Firstly, we aim to contribute to the sustainable development of our partners. Secondly, we intend to further develop our platform by implementing new technologies. And thirdly, we are committed to meeting the demand for our product across various regions globally.

The cornerstone of our strategy is maintaining a competitive edge in the market. We firmly believe that our in-house developed sportsbook stands as one of the best available. Our overarching goal is to cultivate reliable partnerships and drive innovation in the iGaming industry through our cutting-edge platform and its solutions.

 

As a panelist on “iGaming Mastery: Innovative Strategies in Marketing, PR, and Retention,” what unique insights or strategies do you plan to bring to the discussion, considering Atlas-IAC’s expertise and offerings?

Recognizing the pivotal role of mobile gaming in propelling the iGaming revolution is crucial. With the exponential surge in smartphone usage worldwide, harnessing mobile platforms for gaming experiences becomes imperative. Our strategy involves leveraging the power of our Sportsbook API solution to deliver seamless and captivating gaming experiences for our partners’ clients. It promises to be an intriguing discussion, touching on various trends, such as the transformative potential of immersive technologies like VR and AR in reshaping the iGaming landscape. Additionally, we’ll explore the surging popularity of esports betting as a key trend in the iGaming industry. Moreover, we’ll delve into topics like targeted campaigns and partnerships, brand building, and the importance of responsible gaming and communication.

 

Thank you for this informative interview, Bogdana! We look forward to meeting you at the Prague Gaming & TECH Summit, and hearing your valuable insights on iGaming PR, Marketing, and Retention Strategies.

 

Join us in Prague to connect with Bogdana and the Atlas-IAC Team: Get your Tickets to the Prague Gaming & TECH Summit Now!

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Interviews

Can’t get no satisfaction – Q&A w/ Mateja Popovic CEO at Fincore

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Can’t get no satisfaction - Q&A w/ Mateja Popovic CEO at Fincore
Reading Time: 3 minutes

 

This is an industry where customer loyalty can be hard to come by, but is this because online sportsbook and casino operators are failing to meet player expectations? Mateja Popovic at Fincore believes so, but suggests that operators can mitigate churn simply by understanding what the customer’s next move will be before they do.

 

Player satisfaction and loyalty remain a challenge for many online sportsbooks and casinos. Why do you think this is the case?

The vast majority of online sportsbooks and casinos are yet to offer a truly personalised experience for each player. This means they are not meeting expectations, and this is why many players are tempted to try other brands. As a result, operators are spending to acquire players that quickly churn which means they are not maximising the full lifetime value of each player. Operators only have a small window of time in which to prove to the player they offer the experience they are seeking, and many brands simply fail to impress from when the player signs up, deposits and makes their first spin, to when they decide to try another site, sometimes just a day or so later.

 

Does this mean that operators need to find a way to predict player preferences so they can be sure to meet them?

Yes, operators need to know the customer’s next move before they do. This is the only way to deliver the right thing (odds, slots, promotions, interactions) at the right point in the user journey and at the right time. By doing this, operators can bring tremendous value and ensure the player experience is so good they will not want to switch to a rival brand because of a sign-up bonus – the operator will already be delivering tailored bonuses when the player expects them. It is how streaming platforms such as Netflix work, serving up content it knows you will want to watch so that you spend more time watching its movies and TV shows.

 

Is it actually possible for operators to be able to know a customer’s move before they do?

Absolutely. Operators generate a huge volume of raw data and cutting-edge platforms that use machine learning and AI, such as Fincore’s Tri, can translate this information into easy-to-understand narratives that can be instantly actioned. This gives operators a deep insight into expected player behaviour, from the likelihood they will churn to the probability they will be a VIP player. The process is real time and can be fully automated, throwing messages directly to the player on the site. Operators can use this information to personalise the player experience – unlocking the highest lifetime value from each player – and to also drive efficiencies when it comes to streamlining marketing – there’s no point in offering big bonuses to a player that is highly likely to churn – and more.

 

What are the advantages of being able to precisely calculate the player’s lifetime value?

There are so many upsides. By modelling player behaviour quickly, operators can determine whether a player is showing signs of leaving the brand. They can then either decide to elevate the experience that the player is receiving through targeted promotions and content or, if they are highly likely to switch alliances, use that budget on a player that is much less likely to churn or that has been identified as being a high roller. Operators can incur significant costs through undesired player behaviour, but by taking a look into the future thanks to the power of data, operators can cut back spending on “red flag” customers and invest more in those that show the characteristics of being loyal. We have helped one operator save more than €1.4m while increasing their revenue in 2023 with this method.

 

Does this combination of data, machine learning and AI also allow operators to identify VIP players?

Data combined with machine learning and AI can spot VIP player characteristics very early in their lifecycle with a brand, giving a probability score as to whether the player will become a genuine high-roller or not. Operators can use this insight to deliver a VIP experience to the player with confidence they will generate a positive return. Most operators generate the majority of their revenues from VIP players, so it’s vital that high rollers can be identified early so that operators can roll out the red carpet and ensure they remain loyal to their brand.

 

Personalisation seems to be the key to meeting player expectations so how does being able to accurately predict player behaviour help operators achieve this?

Consumers expect a personalised experience when engaging with an entertainment option and online casinos and sportsbooks must get better at doing this. With our platform, personalisation can be deep, including pushing particular sports, markets and odds for bettors and casino games for slot players. Bonuses can also be personalised – perhaps the player enjoys table games more than they do slots, so a table games bonus would add true value to their play. This would not be possible without understanding what the player is looking for before they know, and this is why it’s the key to unlocking true personalisation.

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Sponsors Spotlight: Pixpel Makes Crypto Games Safe and Fun for Players and Developers in Web3

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Sponsors Spotlight: Pixpel Makes Crypto Games Safe and Fun for Players and Developers in Web3
Reading Time: 5 minutes

 

Ahead of the highly-anticipated Prague Gaming & TECH Summit, organizer HIPTHER is thrilled to introduce and put the spotlight on the companies and people that help make the magic happen: our conference sponsors! These innovative, accomplished professionals and teams make magic happen everyday, and they will be joining us at the Prague Gaming & TECH Summit 2024 taking place on 26-27 March, to share insights, network and collaborate with you! Get to know them, connect, and meet them in Prague!

In this Sponsors Spotlight Interview the #hipthers meet Mariela Rojas, Community Builder & Social Manager at Pixpel.io, Delegates Bag Sponsors of the upcoming Prague Gaming & TECH Summit. Mariela will be a Speaker at the Summit, offering valuable insights at the panel about “Navigating the Future: Integrating iGaming, AI, Fintech, and Advertising with Compliance and Data Privacy”.

 

Dear Mariela, it is a great pleasure to meet you, and have Pixpel as a Delegate Bag Sponsor at the Prague Gaming & TECH Summit! Could you please take a moment to introduce yourself and your role in Pixpel to our readers?

Hello everyone! Thanks so much for having me. I’m Mariela Rojas, Community Builder and Social Manager at Pixpel.io.  I’m thrilled to be here, although I have to admit – this is my first time as a speaker at a Web3 summit! A little nervous, but mostly excited to be part of the conversation.  I’ve been with Pixpel since May 2023, and building our community has been an incredible journey.  Looking forward to connecting with all of you!

 

Can you share with us the inspiration behind the founding of Pixpel and how does its multiplatform work?

Pixpel’s story began with a real-world challenge. In 2021, our founder, Juan Vivas  fell victim to a rug pull, a common issue in the early days of Web3. This experience fueled his passion to create a more secure and trustworthy Web3 environment.

That’s why Pixpel offers a safety NFT warranty, protecting your assets and bringing peace of mind to the community.

But Pixpel goes beyond security! We’re building an entire ecosystem that’s easy to navigate and accessible to everyone.  Imagine a user-friendly platform integrating Fintech, iGaming, data privacy, and compliance – all rolled into one! It’s like having a next-generation gaming console for the Web3 world, ready to take your experience to the next level.

 

Pixpel is known for pioneering secure and accessible gaming experiences. How does the company ensure both security and accessibility for gamers and developers within the Web3 ecosystem?

Sure, that’s a great question. At Pixpel, we believe security and accessibility are two sides of the same coin. On the security side, we offer a first-of-its-kind NFT warranty system.  Think of it as a safety net for gamers’ in-game assets, protecting them from scams and fraud.  This builds trust and allows players to focus on enjoying the games they love.

We also prioritize building on secure and established blockchains ( Layer-1 Concordium Blockchain and Zetachain Blockchain). This leverages existing security measures that have been thoroughly tested over time.  Additionally, we implement secure transaction protocols to further minimize the risk of hacks or fraudulent activity within the platform.

On the accessibility front, we recognize that navigating Web3 can be daunting for newcomers. That’s why we’re developing a user-friendly platform that’s easy to navigate, even for those new to the world of Web3. Our application offers intuitive usability for users of all experience levels.

 

As the Community Builder & Social Manager at Pixpel, you play a crucial role in fostering engagement and trust within the community. Can you elaborate on your strategies for building and maintaining a strong and vibrant community around Pixpel?

Absolutely! As the Community Builder at Pixpel, even before launch, fostering engagement and trust is crucial.  Transparency and open communication are at the forefront of our strategy.  We regularly share updates on our vision for the future,  the problems we’re aiming to solve in Web3 gaming, and the exciting solutions we’re developing.  We actively seek feedback on our ideas and concepts,  listening closely to the needs and pain points of our potential community. This two-way dialogue is essential for building a product that truly resonates with the people who will use it.

Creating a welcoming and inclusive environment is also key.  We want Pixpel to be a space where everyone feels comfortable asking questions, sharing their thoughts, and being a part of something bigger.  Early on, we’re focusing on building relationships with potential users and fostering a sense of belonging.  This can involve hosting online discussions, AMAs (Ask Me Anything) sessions with the founders, or even interactive polls and surveys to gauge interest and gather valuable insights.  By engaging with potential users early and often, we’re laying the groundwork for a strong and vibrant community that’s invested in Pixpel’s success.

 

Could you share some insights into Pixpel’s approach to security and safety within the Web3 space, particularly in addressing the concerns surrounding DeFi platforms?

Security is paramount at Pixpel. We understand the concerns surrounding DeFi platforms, and we’re taking a multi-pronged approach to ensure a safe and reliable experience for our users within the Web3 space:

  • Focus on Established Blockchains: We’re carefully considering building on well-established blockchains with a proven track record of security. These blockchains have robust security measures in place, having been battle-tested over time.
  • Innovative NFT Warranty System: Pixpel offers a first-of-its-kind NFT warranty system. This acts as a safety net for in-game assets, potentially protecting users from scams and fraudulent activity.  It’s still under development, but the goal is to provide an additional layer of security and peace of mind for gamers.
  • Secure Transaction Protocols: We’re committed to implementing secure transaction protocols within the platform. This helps minimize the risk of hacks and fraudulent activity, further safeguarding user assets.

It’s important to note that Pixpel’s specific features and functionalities are still under development. However,  we prioritize building a secure and trustworthy environment  by leveraging established technologies and innovative solutions.  We’ll continue to adapt and evolve our approach as the Web3 landscape continues to develop.

 

Your background includes experience in marketing for a law firm in Mexico, which provided exposure to blockchain law. How has this prior experience influenced your role at Pixpel, especially in terms of compliance and regulations in the Web3 landscape?

Absolutely! My background in marketing for a law firm specializing in Mexico actually proved to be incredibly valuable in my transition to Pixpel.  While there, I gained significant exposure to the emerging field of blockchain law.  This gave me a foundational understanding of the legal and regulatory landscape surrounding this new technology.

At Pixpel, this knowledge comes in particularly handy when it comes to compliance and regulations within the Web3 space.  The world of Web3 is constantly evolving, and the regulatory environment is still taking shape.  However, my experience with blockchain law  allows me to stay informed about the latest developments and  potential regulatory hurdles.  This awareness helps us  proactively navigate the complexities of the space and ensure Pixpel operates with the utmost compliance.

It’s not just about following the rules – understanding the regulations also helps us  build a more trustworthy and sustainable future for Pixpel and the Web3 gaming community as a whole.

 

Considering Pixpel’s work, its milestones, and your experience at the forefront of compliance and blockchain law, what is the general message you wish to share in your panel discussion about “Navigating the Future: Integrating iGaming, AI, Fintech, and Advertising with Compliance and Data Privacy”, and with the Summit’s participants?

Imagine a world where secure and seamless gaming merges with the power of Fintech, iGaming, and cutting-edge AI – all wrapped in a user-friendly console for the Web3 era. That’s the future Pixpel is building! But with such innovation comes the responsibility of navigating the ever-evolving world of compliance and data privacy.

At Pixpel, my legal background keeps me at the forefront of these challenges. It’s thrilling to see how blockchain law can be a bridge, not a barrier,  as we integrate these powerful technologies.  Here’s the key takeaway I want to share: compliance isn’t a roadblock, it’s the roadmap to a thriving Web3 future.

By embracing strong compliance practices and prioritizing data privacy, we can build a secure and trustworthy ecosystem where everyone can enjoy the benefits of iGaming, AI, Fintech, and more.  This Summit is a fantastic place to explore these ideas together.  I’m excited to learn from the experts and collaborate on building a future where innovation meets responsibility in the Web3 space!

 

Thank you for this informative interview, Mariela! We look forward to meeting you at the Prague Gaming & TECH Summit, and hearing your valuable insights on Integrating iGaming, AI, Fintech, and Advertising with Compliance and Data Privacy.

Join us in Prague to connect with Mariela and the Pixpel Team: Get your Tickets to the Prague Gaming & TECH Summit Now!

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