At the ICE Barcelona event last week, Yogonet sat down with Stefanos Karakidis, Senior Business Development Manager at BETBY, during the first day of the show to discuss the company’s latest innovations, market expansion plans, and vision for the future.
In the interview, Karakidis shared insights into BETBY’s AI-powered sportsbook solutions, the company’s strategic focus on emerging markets like Brazil and Peru, and the increasing role of technology in enhancing player engagement and operational efficiency.
What are your first impressions of ICE’s inaugural edition in Barcelona, and what highlights is BETBY bringing to the show?
I think it’s the biggest event we’ve seen so far from ICE. It looks three times bigger, and there’s a very good vibe. We expect strong traffic in general, so I have high expectations from this event.
We are here to showcase our latest products and developments. Our sportsbook solution, which I believe is the most complete in the industry, is a key highlight. Additionally, we are showcasing significant advancements in our AI department.
Operators and providers looking for new partnerships will find that we have what it takes to elevate their businesses to the next level. Our product is designed to facilitate rapid growth for operators, with personalization features that, according to our statistics, can bring more than 10% growth to existing soccer users.
Moreover, our unique in-house content from BETBY Games, which is powered by AI and computer vision, is another highlight. Our electronic leagues currently account for more than 15% of our business. There are a lot of exciting developments that those approaching our stand can learn more about.
The company is bringing what it describes as “an industry-first” AI-driven feed to ICE. Can you tell us more about this solution?
You’re referring to the Entertainment Feed, which is indeed a unique product in the industry. We’ve been working on it for quite some time behind the scenes. Essentially, it improves traditional novelty betting by using AI to create specialized and enhanced betting markets. There are no limitations with this product.
The flexibility it offers is remarkable. For instance, we can input a name, let’s say Trump, who is very topical nowadays, and the system can generate betting markets such as whether he will mention the word “wall” in his next speech. The possibilities extend to politics, TV shows, movies, celebrity-related bets, and even sports figures like Ronaldo.
This solution was developed by BETBY’s very own AI lab. Can you provide insights into how the company approaches technology and what sets it apart in terms of innovation?
As a company, we strive to utilize AI as much as possible, not only in developing new products but also in enhancing our existing offerings. A great example is our auto-creation feature, which adds additional betting markets powered by AI to our portfolio. We also have AI trading models that we use daily, and on the risk management side, we have designed alert bots that provide extra security by enhancing customer profiling.
In terms of user experience (UX), we aim to make it AI-driven by analyzing players’ IP addresses and locations to deliver content that engages them effectively. Our focus is on tailoring the offer to the players’ needs based on their betting patterns and geographic traffic.
Another example of our AI-driven optimization is in operations. The tools we have implemented in our back office contribute significantly to player retention, lifetime value, and overall operational efficiency.
BETBY hosted chess legend Magnus Carlsen at its booth
With ICE being a global event that attracts attendees from all over the world, what major markets is the company prioritizing at the moment? You were one of the first suppliers to go live in Brazil. Could you tell us more about that?
Brazil is definitely a key market, not just for us but for many of our competitors as well. We are working with tier-one operators there and managed to get certification in time for the market’s regulation on January 1st. Kudos to our team for achieving this milestone. Recently, we also received the GLI-33 certification, which is another major step forward. But our focus doesn’t stop at Brazil.
We are expanding into other Latin American markets, with Peru being the next in line. We also have plans to enter additional regulated markets, and there will be official announcements on our social media soon. Overall, the company’s goal is to establish a global footprint, ensuring a strong presence not only in Latin America but in other regulated markets as well.
A major ICE highlight from BETBY is the press conference featuring global brand ambassador Magnus Carlsen. What are your thoughts on this collaboration, and what makes him a valuable partner for your company?
Magnus Carlsen is widely recognized as the greatest chess player of all time. He symbolizes strategy, precision, and innovation, qualities that align perfectly with our company values.
We see this partnership as a reflection of our shared vision for strategic thinking and innovation. His association with us highlights our commitment to these values and helps differentiate us from our competitors. His presence reinforces our vision and aligns with our long-term strategic goals.
