The SiGMA East Europe Summit is in full swing, with over 200 exhibitors showcasing their brands at Hungexpo, the largest exhibition venue in Budapest. Each booth, like each company, is unique, but they all share a common goal – to tell their story.
This article highlights the growth of iGaming market participants with Eastern Europe’s global interest. There are stories from representatives of a payment system, a niche provider, experienced developers of sports platforms and anti-fraud solutions, the creator of the first crash game, and his competitor.
Old Money Payments on payment trends
The payment system Old Money Payments from Kazakhstan positions itself as a reliable partner with a gentlemanly approach, valuing honesty and integrity. The team (pictured below) strives to create a safe and trustworthy business environment in the online payments sector. The provider is doing everything possible to ensure that participants in the payments market can work with mutual trust without fearing for the security of their funds.
The team highlighted the following payment system trends for the global iGaming market:
Open banking is becoming increasingly popular among payment systems and merchants in the EU.
Recently, there have been regulatory changes for Canadian MSBs: companies now need to register with the Central Bank of Canada.
In Kazakhstan, mobile commerce is actively developing. There is a growing demand in Africa and India, so Old Money Payments are expanding in these directions.
Old Money Payments’ solutions currently cover Australia, Azerbaijan, Brazil, Japan, India, New Zealand, South Korea, and Uzbekistan. The provider also plans to expand into Argentina, Peru, Portugal, Thailand, and Vietnam.
The company aspires to win a SiGMA award, which would be a testament to the trust of its partners.
Aviatrix on Product as a Service
Victoria Lambruso, Senior Account Manager for the CIS region at Aviatrix, a crash games provider, spoke about their successful expansion into the Indian and African markets. The company also operates in LATAM, Asia, and the CIS, with representation in countries such as Thailand, Bangladesh, and Cambodia in Asia. Discussing audience differences, Victoria noted that the CIS region has a high average bet of €4 per player. In contrast, in Africa and Asia, there are a large number of players with smaller bets.
The company offers a single, eponymous game that provides a lot of additional features. Players can customise their planes, use loyalty program bonuses, and participate in tournaments. The developer focuses on enhancing this one product to maximise player engagement.
Aviatrix won a SiGMA award in Africa and is nominated for an award at the next summit in Malta. Polina Turuntaeva, an account manager at the company, believes their game deserves the award as it falls into the “Product as a Service” category, with an endless development cycle. Moreover, their extensive loyalty program attracts new clients for operators, and there are plans to launch a social casino with NFT features.
Altenar on white-label opportunities in Eastern Europe
Diego Sallas (pictured below) is a Sales Manager at Altenar, a global turnkey sports betting platform provider specialising in the LATAM and Eastern European markets. He notes that creating a fully legal online casino in Europe can involve challenges specific to each region. Altenar’s main strategy in the CIS region is product localisation.
“When creating a quality product, the main task is to find the right solution in dialogue with regulation,” says Diego. Altenar explores licensing and software solutions, selecting the most optimal options for each specific operator. There are also universal tools that work in South America just as well as in Eastern Europe.
“We have a dedicated team that monitors market trends and regulatory changes. We develop products tailored to the specific needs of each operator and support them at all stages of their development.” – Diego Sallas, Sales Manager at Altenar.
The developer recently obtained a licence to operate in Georgia, launching its first white-label operator in this new market. The company has also established a partnership with a well-known provider in Bulgaria. Altenar, a holder of several SiGMA awards, aims to win more as it grows by offering innovative features for bettors and strictly adhering to regulatory requirements.
Winfinity on the advantages of a niche product
Maria Sverdlova, Head of Marketing at Latvian company Winfinity (team pictured above), discussed the benefits of operating as a niche provider. Compared to more established market players, Winfinity is more flexible. The brand has built a strong reputation over its four years in the market, three of which have been dedicated exclusively to live casino games.
“We have assembled a team that not only understands casinos from a professional standpoint but also enjoys them personally. This insight helps us address the real needs of players.” –Maria Sverdlova, Head of Marketing at Winfinity.
Although this practice is just starting to gain traction in European gaming regulation, Winfinity places a strong emphasis on responsible gaming principles. The player support team identifies signs of risky behaviour and provides consultations to address it. Additionally, every social media message includes appropriate reminders, and the provider is preparing to add a GambleAware page to its website.
The company’s games feature unique studio designs. They received a SiGMA Asia 2024 award for one of their games, Cabaret Roulette, in addition to a previous award for “Best Live Provider.” Winfinity plans to continue growing and adding to its collection of SiGMA awards at future summits.
Sumsub about EGBA certification
Arina Rumyantseva (pictured above) is a legal advisor and regulation consultant at Sumsub, a KYC and anti-fraud solutions provider for iGaming operators worldwide. She discussed how they achieve EGBA, GDIC, and other certifications. This labour-intensive process requires extensive product checks for compliance with regulatory standards. However, after successful collaboration between development, marketing, and legal teams, having these certifications allows both clients and Sumsub to enhance their status and confirm their competence. The design of the solution adheres to regulatory requirements, legal practices, and high standards.
“We strive to stay ahead of the curve. Typically, before regulatory changes occur in a country, there are rumours, and we start moving in that direction. There was a case when European regulators began requiring video verification of players, and we quickly developed solutions to meet the current requirements.” – Arina Rumyantseva, Legal Advisor and Regulation Consultant at Sumsub.
Rumyantseva personally monitors political situations and prepares materials for Sumsub’s articles.
Sumsub takes pride in its e-signature solution compliant with EGBA standards, which can be useful not only for iGaming but also for other business sectors in Europe. Regarding the Eastern European market, operators’ requests for legal solutions have steadily increased over the past three years.
Sumsub holds a SiGMA award, and according to Rumyantseva, having this recognition adds to the brand’s visibility.
SPRIBE on plans for 2025
According to SPRIBE’s Commercial Director, George Tsutsikridze (pictured above), the provider continues to expand its list of licences, which already includes over 50 jurisdictions, and to release online slots. The company is currently in the final stages of obtaining a licence in New Jersey, and its list of licences will be completed once all pending applications are approved.
“We want to ensure our users a fair game and the best experience. To achieve this, we obtain licences.” – George Tsutsikridze, Commercial Director at SPRIBE.
The SPRIBE team is simultaneously working on several new gaming projects, the largest being the Broadway Platform. For this project, the provider received the SiGMA Award in the category of “Rising Star of the Year.” This project involves the development of slots for online operators, which will be launched in the coming months.
“The Eastern European market is very interesting to us, as we have achieved success and the status of the number one crash game. It has its unique niches and a general appeal that we find very satisfying,” Tsutsikridze concluded.
Vote for the SiGMA East Europe 2024 Booth Awards:
The SiGMA East Europe Booth Awards takes place tomorrow on the SiGMA stage at 15:50, bringing an exciting close to the 2-day conference and expo at the Hungexpo in Budapest. This year’s awards celebrate the most innovative and captivating booths, showcasing exceptional design, creativity, and engagement from this year’s exhibitors.
With categories including Best Platinum Booth Design, Best Gold Booth Design, Best Silver Booth Design, and Best Bronze Booth Design, the awards highlight exhibitors who stood out through their outstanding use of colour, design, and lighting. The SiGMA East Europe Booth Awards also honour exhibitors who excel in delivering engaging and immersive experiences. From interactive activities, games, and live performances to creative giveaways and dynamic interactions, we’re seeking booths that provide a five-star experience that resonates deeply with attendees. Vote for your favourite now!
