European Gaming talks to Joseph Noone Senior Sales Manager at PandaScore

Congratulations on your appointment as Senior Sales Manager at PandaScore. How have you settled in?

Thank you. I’ve settled in really well, helped of course by the entire PandaScore team being incredibly welcoming and supportive. This has allowed me to hit the ground running and to enjoy getting to know the team and the business. I’ve spent my initial days understanding the intricacies of our products and the specific needs of our customers. This has been crucial in helping me align my goals with the company’s vision. I’ve also taken time to get a feel for the dynamics of the business and my immediate team to ensure that I integrate myself smoothly into day-to-day operations. It’s been a busy few weeks, but great fun at the same time.

Where will you be focusing your attention and efforts initially?

Now that I’ve got my feet under the table, my focus will be on strengthening the relationship we have with our current sportsbook operator partners and also identifying new business opportunities. I plan to expand our market share by showcasing the unique value that we bring to the esports betting space through our Odds feed as well as cutting-edge products such as our BetBuilder and PlayerProps. I’ll also be working closely with teams across the business to ensure our solutions and services align with the needs of our customers and they not only meet expectations but exceed them.

Can you talk through your previous experience and how you will use it to help drive growth at PandaScore?

My background is in sales and business development, especially driving growth through strategic partnerships. This will be instrumental in my role at PandaScore where I’ll leverage my experience in identifying new market trends and customer needs to develop and deploy targeted sales strategies that will help us expand our presence across international markets and ultimately drive growth. That I have experience in both the video games and gambling industries is an added bonus, too.

You mention you have experience in both video gaming and gambling – what are the main similarities between these industries?

Both industries are about engagement and entertainment. In video games, the focus is on creating immersive experiences that captivate players while with betting, it’s all about providing thrilling and potentially rewarding experiences. Of course, esports betting sees these two worlds collide. They are a good fit, too. Both rely heavily on innovation and a compelling UX. They also have a shared community aspect and the need to build a loyal user base to ensure long-term success. The overlap between the two provides plenty of opportunities, especially when it comes to esports which bridges the gap between competitive gaming and betting.

Some operators have been slow to embrace the esports betting opportunity. Why is this and what are you doing to ensure more sportsbooks tap into the rising demand for esports betting?

There are a few reasons for this. Some operators are hesitant due to a lack of understanding of the esports audience and how to engage them – esports fans are quite different to traditional sports bettors in their preferences and expectations. There’s also the challenge of navigating the fast-paced and ever-evolving world of esports. This is why we have focused on educating our partners about what makes esports different and then providing them with the tools they need to engage players and deliver the esports betting experiences they are seeking. To do this, we take a data-driven approach alongside offering a suite of innovative solutions that simplify the process for operators to get in on the esports betting action.

What makes for a compelling esports betting experience? Does it differ from standard sports betting and if so, how?

It comes down to offering fast-paced, engaging and tailored betting opportunities across many esports disciplines. The user experience and bet types offered need to reflect the dynamic nature of esports, including things like player props, bet builders and micro-betting. Esports fans also expect enhanced on-site content to add more value to their overall experience with the esportsbook, which is why our pre-match and live stats widgets is proving really popular with operators and their players.

What opportunities are operators missing if they don’t get in on the esports action?

Those who fail to tap into the esports market are missing out on the chance to engage a rapidly growing and highly motivated audience. Esports allows operators to reach a younger demographic not currently interested in traditional sports betting. In addition, the global reach of esports allows operators to expand into new markets through a growing vertical that shows no signs of slowing down. By not embracing esports, operators are failing to diversify their offering and missing the chance to engage the players of tomorrow, today.

Any final thoughts?

Esports is not just a trend. It represents a significant shift in the entertainment and betting landscape and those who recognise this and embrace it will be the ones who see substantial growth in the years ahead. At PandaScore, we are committed to being at the forefront of this revolution and we are excited to partner with forward-thinking operators who are ready to seize the opportunity at hand.