Chris Nikolopoulos, Chief Commercial Officer at Betby, talks about the company’s presence at this week’s SBC Summit North America and his vision of how the igaming and sports betting sectors will shape up in 2022.
What have you most looked forward to in the run-up to this week’s SBC Summit North America?
The SBC Summit is an exciting opportunity to reconnect with old friends and meet new partners as the igaming world continues to emerge from its enforced events absence.
There is plenty going on in North America, with more markets embracing sports betting regulations, and it is undoubtedly one of, if not the, hottest regions in gambling at the moment.
What is Betby’s focus at the event?
The event gives us an opportunity to talk in depth with local operators and suppliers and offer our expertise. We have a proud history in recent years of delivering innovative, customized solutions for clients, and as a tech-first company, we’re always forward thinking.
We’re ready to share our insight with companies looking to make inroads into the emerging US markets and utilise our unique technology to allow them to stand out.
What opportunities most excite you about the North American market? How much have we seen growth stateside over the last 18 months?
It is no secret that the US market is hitting milestone after milestone. New Jersey recently eclipsed over $1bn handle per month, the newly regulated New York market is expected to be a behemoth, and there is so much going on in North America that generates plenty of excitement.
With such a large opportunity, it’s inevitable that plenty of companies will look across the Atlantic for growth opportunities, and we’re no different. The last 18 months have seen widespread sports betting starting to really take hold, and events such as the Super Bowl, World Series, NBA Finals and March Madness only add to the excitement. It’s a one-of-a-kind market, and it’s only going to get bigger.
To what extent is tech defining the landscape in North America? How much of an advantage do you see for suppliers with a tech-first approach?
Tech will play a hugely important role. While initially early-mover advantage went to plug and play options, as the market matures bettors will want intuitive, player-friendly betting options that really resonate with them. From player segmentation to targeted ads, there’s so much scope for growth in the US to give truly immersive sports betting and gaming experiences, rather than the traditional options available currently.
For example, we see the popularity of player prop bets throughout all US sports. This is something that can be taken even further with the right technology, to elevate the sports betting experience to new levels.
Sports betting in particular is an extremely tech-heavy industry, and it makes sense that market leaders embrace new technologies, rather than legacy platforms.
What’s your vision for the US market in 2022 and what can we expect from Betby?
The US market will only get bigger and bigger as more states approve regulation. The repealing of PASPA was a watershed moment and now we’re really starting to see traction as states see the appeal of regulated sports betting. We expect even more markets to regulate and the ‘gold rush’ to continue.
