Central Europe
Esports Betting in Central & Eastern Europe: Oddin.gg Sponsors Hipther’s GamingTECH CEE
HIPTHER Agency is excited to introduce the Sponsors of the highly-anticipated GamingTECH CEE Summit, taking place on September 26-27, 2023, in Budapest!
The #hipthers are delighted to announce Oddin.gg, the world-leading B2B esports betting solutions provider, as the Badge Sponsors of GamingTECH CEE, the most popular in person event for the iGaming industry in the region of Central and Eastern Europe!
We sat down with Oddin’s co-founder and CEO, Vlastimil Venclik, to find out more about the company’s history, their success story, and Oddin’s position in the CEE region.
Hello, Vlas, thank you for taking the time to talk with us! Can you please introduce yourself and tell us and our readers a bit about your role at Oddin.gg?
My background is in Cybernetics and Intelligent Buildings, my work experience is mainly connected to software development. I started as a mobile developer, then transitioned to cloud and finally ended with AI. My esports journey began in 2015, when I joined one of the first esports startups. Unfortunately the market was not ready at that time and we went bust. I felt that there is still potential and co-founded Oddin.gg in 2018. We became a multi-award winning B2B provider of esports odds feed, risk management, and iFrame solutions. I am leading the IT, Business Intelligence and data processing part of the company, along with the top-level leadership duties.
Esports have been the talk of the industry since the early 2010s, touted as “the future of the iGaming industry”, and during the pandemic many sports-based titles became the go-to sportsbook options in lieu of real life events. What is the position of eSports in the market today?
We are now in the fully recovered market that has shaken off all the anomalies caused by Covid. Esports as an industry is definitely going through consolidation: teams, brands, platforms, all parts of the ecosystem can’t go forward only on the initial enthusiasm and are professionalizing. There will be winners and losers in this process. Even so, all key metrics are showing significant growth. Revenue in the esports market is projected to reach US $10 billion this year. Revenue is expected to show an annual growth rate (CAGR 2023-2028) of at least 8 %, but up to 13 % The largest market in esports is the one we mainly operate in: esports betting. Its market volume should reach US$ 10 bn in 2023, and estimated 24 bn USD in 2028, and we have so much space in offering much higher bettor engagement, much more fun when spectating esports.
Oddin.gg is a world-leading B2B esports betting solutions provider. What is “esports betting” exactly, and what do Oddin’s offerings entail?
Esports betting is the act of placing wagers on the outcomes of professional video game matches and tournaments, just like you would in traditional sports. The main difference is that online games, especially when played by professional esports teams whose number of actions per minute is just astonishing, are generating huge volumes of data every second. Maybe only the NFL is comparable to the volume and quality of analyzed data of player actions and the whole match. At Oddin.gg, we provide a comprehensive suite of solutions for businesses wanting to delve into esports betting. This includes the very construction of the odds feeds, providing risk management, that means guardian anomalies both on the bettors side and players side, and user engagement tools. We are ensuring operators can offer a seamless and engaging esports betting experience to their users.
What makes an eSports betting experience truly engaging for users? Can Live Markets work for eSports?
An engaging esports betting experience hinges on a few key elements. First, the accuracy and depth of live match data. Fans want to bet on various events, not just the final outcome. Live Markets are absolutely crucial in this regard. Just like in traditional sports, the dynamics of an esports match can change moment to moment, and the ability to bet in real-time enhances the thrill. We believe that offering varied, accurate, and instant live betting opportunities is pivotal to captivating the esports audience. And that we can improve the experience much further from the actual state.
What are the benefits that eSports offerings bring to operators, and how does Oddin.gg recommend their offerings to be marketed and utilized in operators’ business strategy?
Esports offers operators a unique opportunity. The demographic engaged in esports is typically younger and digitally native. By catering to this audience, operators can diversify and future-proof their user base. Esports fans are tech-savvy and demand a frictionless experience; therefore, integrating esports offerings helps operators elevate their technological standard.
As for marketing and integration, Oddin.gg emphasizes the importance of authenticity. Operators should genuinely understand and appreciate the esports culture, or have a partner who does. Collaborations with esports influencers, sponsoring tournaments, and creating dedicated esports betting platforms or sections are some strategies we recommend. As with sports, it’s essential to speak the language of the community to gain their trust and loyalty. Esports community can be very rewarding, but also it can punish you heavily and you can lose a lot of traffic overnight. But we are here to offer both personal assistance and technological means to jump start any client in the world of esports, and esports betting in particular. Our iFrame product is built exactly for that.
Hipther’s GamingTECH events have been all about how the iGaming industry evolution has been propelled by Technology – and eSports stand on the very intersection of tGaming and Tech. What is Oddin’s message to GamingTECH CEE attendees about the value of eSports now and in the future?
Our message is clear: Esports is not just a trend – it’s the future. As technology continues to advance and become more integrated into our daily lives, the line between gaming, tech, and mainstream culture will blur. Esports represents the perfect amalgamation of all these elements. For those in the iGaming industry, now is the time to embrace esports, invest in understanding the ecosystem, and provide offerings that resonate with the community. The value of esports will only grow. The next generation will admire pro-gamers in a way we admire Messi, Jordan or Gronkowski. And esports betting can be adjusted to catering the needs of this upcoming generation, and to fuel the whole esports ecosystem.
Thank you so much Vlas for this exciting interview, and thanks, Oddin.gg clan for your continued support!
We look forward to seeing you in Budapest at GamingTECH CEE for the annual reunion of the best companies and professionals from Gaming and Technology in Central and Eastern Europe!
Speaking of the best in the industry, Oddin.gg has been voted by its peers and shortlisted for the BEST ESPORTS BETTING PROVIDER IN CEE 2023 in GamingTECH Awards!
The Final Voting Session and Ceremony for GamingTECH Awards will take place on September 26th, during the GamingTECH CEE Summit.
→ Save your seat and join us to support Oddin.gg and grow your business network!
Looking to follow Oddin’s mighty Drakkar course and conquer your business development goals in iGaming? Become a sponsor of Hipther’s next big event!
Central Europe
Evoplay enters Czech market with exclusive Fortuna collaboration
Evoplay, the award-winning game development studio, has made its debut in the Czech Republic through an exclusive collaboration with leading operator Fortuna.
As part of the agreement, 39 of Evoplay’s top-performing games, including popular titles like Penalty Shoot-out and The Greatest Catch, are now available to Fortuna customers in the Central European country.
The collaboration not only introduces Evoplay’s diverse portfolio to the Czech market but also solidifies the company’s commitment to expanding in key territories.
Fortuna, a Fortuna Entertainment Group (FEG) brand, is a prominent online casino operator in the Czech market, and the partnership offers Evoplay a solid platform to reach more local players, supporting both companies’ growth objectives.
The strategic move marks a significant milestone for Evoplay, as it becomes the studio’s inaugural partnership in the market with plans for further expansion.
Ihor Zarechnyi, CBDO at Evoplay, said: “Breaking into the Czech market with an exclusive partner like Fortuna underscores our strategic vision for regulated markets. We’re thrilled to bring our diverse content offering to Czech players and are confident this collaboration will yield outstanding results.”
Myke Foster, Group Head of Commercial Gaming Operations at FEG, said: “This partnership reflects our commitment to delivering best-in-class entertainment and exceptional gaming experiences to all FEG customers, with Evoplay providing a broad content portfolio proven with players around the globe.”
“We are thrilled to be the first operator to take Evoplay’s titles live in the Czech market, and we anticipate a new level of engagement among our local audience.”
Central Europe
Amusnet Partners with Kajot Intacto
Amusnet proudly announces its strategic partnership with Kajot Intacto, a prominent Central and Eastern European gaming market operator. This collaboration aims to enhance players’ gaming experience by combining Amusnet’s cutting-edge offerings and diverse game portfolio with Kajot Intacto’s established market presence and expertise.
“At Amusnet, our focus is on enhancing player engagement and satisfaction, and our partnership with Kajot Intacto exemplifies this dedication. By utilizing the operator’s established market presence, we can effectively introduce our diverse portfolio of games to a wider audience in Slovakia. As we begin this collaborative journey, we are committed to evolving our offerings and remaining at the forefront of market trends, ensuring we meet the needs of players now and into the future,” said Irina Rusimova, Chief Commercial Officer at Amusnet.
“We are pleased to announce the addition of Amusnet as a valued game provider for our players. Renowned for its classic games enhanced with innovative features, Amusnet aligns perfectly with our commitment to delivering quality gaming experiences. Notably, the most popular game at Kajot Intacto is 100 Burning Hot, which exemplifies Amusnet’s signature style and underscores our dedication to offering engaging content to our player base,” said André Kruf, Sales Director at Kajot Intacto.
On Kajot Intacto’s platform, Slovak players can find some of Amusnet’s top-performing games, such as Hot Deco, 20 Golden Coins, Great 27, 100 Power Hot, Extra Crown, 100 Super Hot, 100 Burning Hot, Aztec Forest, Fruits & Gold, 20 Hot Blast and other top-notch titles like Secrets of Sherwood, Candy Palace, and Drops of Water.
Central Europe
NOVOMATIC builds the Group’s largest photovoltaic system in Lower Austria
NOVOMATIC has underscored its clear commitment to sustainability by installing the Group’s largest photovoltaic system. More than 4,600 solar panels have been installed on the roof of the headquarters in Lower Austria, covering a total area of 20,000 m2 and ceremoniously commissioned in the presence of Lower Austrian Governor Johanna Mikl-Leitner, NOVOMATIC’s Executive Board and the mayor of Gumpoldskirchen, Ferdinand Köck.
The PV system, with a size equivalent to three football pitches, will produce around two million kilowatt-hours of electricity every year, thereby enabling the company to meet a substantial portion of this location’s annual energy needs. In addition to being used in the offices and production facilities, this green electricity will also find its way into the company’s dedicated charging stations for its fleet of e-vehicles. It is a similar situation with international subsidiaries in countries such as Germany, Italy, Spain, Romania, North Macedonia, Bosnia, Poland, South Africa and Australia, which are already meeting substantial portions of their electricity needs from dedicated PV systems.
State Governor of Lower Austria, Johanna Mikl-Leitner, emphasizes “Lower Austria is a pioneer in efforts to develop the use of wind energy and photovoltaics. Half of all the wind power produced in Austria and a quarter of all the country’s photovoltaic electricity already comes from Lower Austria today. We can do this because many companies do their bit to ensure the green and sustainable future of the state’s economic engine, investing in the development of renewable energy sources. Thank you for this investment and the trust placed in the economic hub that is Lower Austria.”
“The completion of the Group’s largest photovoltaic plant is not just a key milestone in the sustainability strategy of NOVOMATIC AG, but it also means we have sent a clear signal of our intentions to foster a strong and efficient energy future. After all, it is only by taking responsibility that business success can be guaranteed in the long term,” says the Executive Board of the NOVOMATIC AG Group.
Installing the new PV system on already built-up areas helps NOVOMATIC to consistently reduce its carbon footprint, and enabling it now to save more than 1,100 tons of CO2 emissions every year, the equivalent of 90,500 trees compensating for CO2. The concept of “Going Green” is firmly anchored in the company’s comprehensive ESG program as Europe’s leading gaming technology group. In addition to its work to expand the use of photovoltaics across the Group, the company is also focusing its attention on monitoring resources and expanding e-mobility, all with a view to permanently cutting international CO2 emissions.
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