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Are your CRM tactics World Cup Ready?
With the Qatar World Cup fast approaching we spoke to Thomas Aigner, Head of Business Development at Ibex.Ai about how operators can begin to revolutionise their CRM tactics ahead of the biggest sporting event of the year. Here we explore the opportunities available for operators choosing to modernise their approach to CRM marketing and make use of personalisation and automation developments in this sector.
The World Cup not only represents the biggest sporting event of the year but also provides opportunities for operators to create engaging promotions to retain existing customers. Many players may visit a casino or sportsbook platform infrequently with events such as the highly anticipated World Cup being the perfect opportunity to reintroduce these players to the content, bonuses and promotions available on your platform. Introducing Artificial intelligence can re-activate these players and keep them engaged through the use of machine learning and AI-powered personalisation and automation allowing operators to optimise the CRM process and limit the likelihood of players using competitors’ websites. This also allows operators to begin reaching players using the correct channels, especially important as we enter a period of increased sports betting.
Assuming a great acquisition strategy is already in place, the big differentiator in creating a successful CRM campaign is offering players a fully personalised experience. This means showing the content that resonates with them to engage with their interests and this is what will fundamentally aid in their retention in comparison to a competitor’s campaign. Typically, this is achieved using segmentation and defined target groups, with many customers within a group being targeted using the same campaign. This may provide an illusion of personalisation however at this level of granularity true personalisation through segmentation cannot be achieved. Fundamentally what may work for one player cannot be extrapolated to work for all and with such a popular sporting event taking place, these concerns need to be resolved.
It is presumed that the solution to this problem is creating additional segmentation groups with smaller and smaller groups being created and targeted. However, this becomes unscalable very quickly especially when an operator has multiple brands, trades across jurisdictions, has numerous CRM teams or has seen a recent increase in its player base whether through natural growth, affiliate opportunities or sporting events such as the World Cup. The segmentation currently used again doesn’t resolve the problem of personalisation. To answer this issue of personalisation the ecosystem has already begun modifying the CRM practices that it uses and introduced artificial intelligence and machine learning into the process. AI allows the tracking of players on an individual basis to determine what campaigns they interact with and what engages with them be that the content offered by a casino, a match deposit bonus or a particular game. In contrast to the segmentation approach AI also allows the CRM process to be fully automated with no need for managers to oversee this work or control workflow and no manual scheduling needed to initiate communication. The insights gained from the use of AI will be key to reintroducing customers to your platform to place bets during the World Cup.
Additionally, the World Cup will see operators increasing their spend on CRM to attract existing customers, however, utilizing AI and more specifically Ibex.ai operators can save money in this department. Players that are communicated with via an email marketing campaign will only be triggered if this communication will result in a positive spend for the operator when using Ibex. This negates overspending on customers who may not prove to be profitable and actively encourages the use of a smarter way of budgeting around CRM allowing for additional money to be saved. This process also avoids the ever-present and growing bonus abuse problem with users who seek these loopholes not being targeted by the AI and in turn reduces the costs of campaigns.
The email marketing campaign is also a key part of the CRM calculations used before generating messaging for a prospective customer. Timing and using the correct channel to reach an existing consumer is key for them to engage with the content and this is compounded during a month-long sporting event. Email campaigns, SMS, push notifications and more can be used to reach a customer however the timing of this messaging is also key. If they typically respond to a campaign during the evening marketing focused on an upcoming football match will need to be communicated the night before rather than on the day to encourage interactions throughout the month. Ai considers the timing and most useful channel to use prior to communicating with a player.
It is a guarantee that operators are asking themselves how they will manage their CRM practices during the World Cup and Ibex.Ai are offering a trial period to perspective operators looking to upgrade their services. This requires no initial integration and can deliver all your CRM needs before the first whistle blows on top of the current systems you have in place. We ask you to challenge the status quo and don’t simply reuse the same CRM tactics used for the last world cup to retain customers. As many competitors have begun to take advantage of the automation and personalisation offered through Artificial Intelligence, don’t fall behind. We can provide prospective clients with a trial focused on their churned players to provide insight as to the deliverables of our AI-powered services.
Since the beginning of 2024, content aggregator and solution provider Slotegrator has been analyzing case studies and conducting careful research. Why did the company choose this development path? What results have been achieved, and what can be expected in the future? It’s time to take a look at how 2024 is going — and maybe get a sneak peek at 2025.
Since the beginning of the year, Slotegrator has continued to actively present its new and updated solutions, like the company’s turnkey online casino platform and its key modules, including the KYC, BI, and Casino Builder modules, alongside many others. These modules are strategically designed to streamline online casino management, covering tasks like analyzing big data, assessing risks, and enhancing platform performance.
The modules have proven to be very effective, partially because they satisfy clients’ concrete needs. The primary sources of inspiration for these cutting-edge innovations are the company’s internal research and case studies of successful clients.
According to Slotegrator’s internal research, clients reported that the integration of these updates came at just the right time. Customers particularly valued the revamped player segmentation module, offering customization options and personalized marketing options, and a renewed anti-fraud module that utilizes a color-coded risk scale that allows operators to set risk levels.
“This feedback from our customers is a great foundation for Slotegrator’s future report on future iGaming trends in 2025. We’re constantly collecting and updating information on new technologies, game types, payment methods and player behavior, and honest feedback on the new features of upgrades helps us understand the direction of our future development,” comments Yana Khaidukova, managing director at Slotegrator.
Innovation is key to keeping up with the fast-paced iGaming industry. In 2024, the Slotegrator team is focused on enhancing product quality and publishing insightful case studies to better demonstrate the capabilities of its products. So far, Slotegrator has published multiple case studies analyzing its clients’ success. Here are the two latest examples:
- BetSloty’s global expansion strategy in the online gambling industry.
- Alanbase’s experience optimizing affiliate marketing.
When it comes to modern iGaming trends, many of them haven’t changed — we should expect to see more VR integration in esports, AI, blockchain, and cryptocurrency adoption. Also, mobile-first gameplay will be a new standard. The Slotegrator team has also noted an increasing emphasis on responsible gaming throughout the iGaming industry. Slotegrator keeps all of these in mind when entering attractive markets with new partners — especially those in Latin America and Asia.
What about licenses? Slotegrator recommends keeping up to date with licensing conditions. Among the most promising jurisdictions are:
- Kahnawake
- The Isle of Man.
- Anjouan
Faruk Aydin, Chief Revenue Officer of Revpanda, a Slotegrator’s media partner, adds to the list of trends some points about promotion on the iGaming industry: “Within the first half of 2024, we’ve seen that human-written content has made a great comeback, thanks to Google’s recent core update. It has started to remove AI-written shallow content across the entire SERPs, and the SEO community expects this trend to continue. Overall, we can say that the first half of the year strongly demonstrates Google’s effort to fill the SERPs with high-quality, engaging, local, and relevant content, avoiding fluff and providing the most useful resources to people.”
William Sarto, PR & Marketing specialist at CasinoRIX or CasinoRIX team, comments:
“In recent months, Google has undergone several significant changes due to a major update that started in March and ended in April. Then, at the beginning of May, they launched another big update. We’ve already seen many affiliate sites affected by this, particularly those that overused AI-generated content. AI has become mainstream, so it’s important to integrate it into processes based on thorough market analysis and real statistical data.
Moreover, there’s a clear trend towards creating projects that offer additional value for players and partners. It’s crucial to build a brand, not just a network of sites, and to add values into what you create while striving to meet customer needs. We fully agree with the earlier comments that in-depth analysis and staying in tune with trends will lead to success and growth. As we can see, all major and well-known projects are steadily growing with these updates.”
The post Slotegrator’s review of the first half of 2024 in iGaming: results & trends appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
By: Evgeniy Babitsyn, Chief Marketing Officer, Bets.io
The sport industry finds itself amidst its own digital transformation journey with the introduction of new technologies, and at the forefront of this digital shift are NFTs – otherwise known as Non-Fungible Tokens.
NFTs can represent any kind of digital item, and in recent years have commonly been used for quirky collectibles and art work – but they now enter the sports arena in a unique way. The beauty of NFTs is the unique metadata and ownership information which is tracked via blockchain, making them a one-of-a-kind digital collectible that cannot be duplicated. As a result of their collectible nature, it’s only natural that NFTs caught the eyes of eager sports enthusiasts and die-hard fans.
In fact, according to Deloitte research, around 40% of Gen Z and millennial sports fans are at least somewhat familiar with the use of NFTs and fan tokens in sports.
But why is that? And how can they boost engagement?
NFTs are rapidly emerging as a powerful tool for sports brands in driving deeper fan engagement and unlocking new revenue streams. This is because sports fans are, by nature, competitive and eager to own exclusive content from their much loved players, teams and brands. They want to be part of the action.
By playing on this feeling, and reinforcing loyalty among fans in this way, sports brands have a huge opportunity to take their revenue streams to new heights and gain a competitive advantage over other brands.
Imagine an athlete releases a limited-edition NFT that represents the most iconic moment in their career, such as the winning shot or a record breaking performance. Fans who own that NFT can then access exclusive content related to that moment including behind-the-scenes footage or interviews.
There really is no limit to these tokens, and depending on the asset, they can be much sought after. As more and more sports fans embrace the digital tokens, sports brands are quickly learning that there is huge potential for fan engagement, if they continue to innovate with this technology.
Taking collectibles to the 21st Century
Sports memorabilia and collectibles have for centuries been a way for fans to feel more connected to their favourite teams and athletes. And now thanks to the advances of technology – more specifically, blockchain technology – fans can collect within the digital realm, gaining access to truly “own” unique digital items and experiences.
Beyond just digital art or collectibles, NFTs can also integrate the idea of gamification, exclusive content and experiences into their NFTs – allowing fans to engage more actively while unlocking new revenue opportunities.
The possibilities are endless, extending far beyond just digital collectibles. They can provide fans with access to exclusive digital or in-person experiences, events and merch as well. Think front row seats or the chance for a meet and greet post-game.
With this, NFTs provide an excellent way for brands to diversify their revenue streams by monetising their content and intellectual property strategically.
It really is win-win, fans can own a piece of their favourite team’s history while supporting their team financially. And sports brands can benefit from more loyal fans.
Transforming the fan experience
Engagement is everything to sports brands. After all, the fans are really the most important stakeholders in the end. And offering NFTs can be a powerful tool in fostering deeper engagement within fan communities. NFTs provide more innovative ways for fans to connect, prove their loyalty and gain recognition for their allegiance.
Let’s look at NBA Top Shot. NBA Top Shot is the perfect example of a blockchain-based platform that allows fans to own and collect officially licensed NBA collectibles digitally. The platform offers exclusive collectibles including videos of the biggest NBA moments and highlights.
And football teams are also following suit. Manchester City, PSG, FC Barcelona have all joined in on the NFT hype – offering their own NFT collections for keen supporters such as worn jerseys, trophies and more.
Sports Betting and NFTs
And when it comes to sports betting, NFTs take the iGaming experience to the next level. Fans can purchase NFTs that represent specific bets, such as the winner of a particular game or the performance of a specific player. These NFTs can then be traded or sold, just like other NFTs, providing a new level of flexibility and excitement for betting.
The use of NFTs in the sports industry is still in its early stages, but has already shown great potential. We can expect more applications to come in the world of sports – including at Bets.io. Watch this space.
Looking ahead, the future is incredibly promising for sports brands who leverage NFTs within their business operations. Those who embrace these new powerful ways to inspire fans and forge deeper relationships with their communities, will see their efforts translate into business value.
The post NFTs and the future of fan engagement: How NFTs can boost engagement with sports brands appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
Raketech has announced its Q1 2024 financial results.
Q1 2024 Financial Highlights
- Revenues in Q1 of 2024 totaled EUR 19.0 million (EUR 15.8 million), reflecting an organic growth increase of 20.1% (24.4%), driven by continued strong performance from sub-affiliation partially offset by weaker-than-expected results within affiliation marketing.
- EBITDA, adjusted for restructuring costs, was EUR 5.1 million (EUR 6.1 million), impacted by a weaker performance in Sweden compared to the previous year and soft performance of the Casumba assets following the Google Core update during the quarter. Other regions and products performed well, with sub-affiliation delivering a strong quarter in terms of EBITDA contribution.
- Operating profit, adjusted for costs related to re-structuring, amounted to EUR 2.0 million (EUR 3.8 million).
- Free cash flow before earnouts increased to EUR 6.5 million (EUR 5.6 million) with a positive working capital development from trade receivables.
- Earnouts settled during the quarter amounted to EUR 13.0 million.
Full-Year Outlook
Current trading, including April, implies an adjusted EBITDA of around EUR 20.0 million for the full year. Free cash flow before earnouts for the full year is estimated to come in just below adjusted EBITDA.
Subsequent Events After the End of the Period
On May 14, 2024, the board decided to withdraw its previously announced proposal to distribute dividends in 2024, in line with its commitment to maintaining financial flexibility and supporting the company’s long term growth ambitions. The primary focus is delivering value to shareholders and continuing to evaluate opportunities to enhance shareholder returns in a way that aligns with the Company’s long-term value-creation objectives.
Current Trading
Revenues in April 2024 amounted to EUR 5.9 million (EUR 5.9 million).
Raketech Acting CEO Johan Svensson said: “In the first quarter of 2024, we delivered EUR 19.0 million in revenues, representing an organic increase of 20.1%, primarily driven by Sub-affiliation. Adjusted EBITDA came in at EUR 5.1 million, while EBITDA was EUR 4.3 million, consistent with our trading update published on 1 May. We remain confident in our market-leading product offerings and see promising growth opportunities through our strategic initiatives in sports offerings, exclusive partnerships, and media deals. These efforts will position us well for continued growth in the coming years, and we remain committed to maximizing shareholder value.”
The post Raketech Announces Q1 2024 Results appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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