Altenar’s new Head of Sales: Exclusive interview

Altenar’s had an outstanding year for commercial success, new partnerships and multiple award wins at the EGR Nordics, EGR Italy and Baltic & Scandinavian Awards.

Off the back of its record-breaking 2022, European Gaming thought it would be the perfect time to sit down with the sportsbook provider’s newly appointed Head of Sales, Antonino Barra.

As well as congratulating him on his appointment, we talked through his plans for 2023 with the company and also why he made Altenar his destination of choice. Read on to find out more!

Congratulations on your move to Altenar! What are your main objectives for your new role, and what do you hope to achieve?

Thank you, I am joining at an exciting time in the company’s development – and I can’t wait to begin my Altenar journey. Overall, what I am setting out to accomplish is Altenar’s further expansion across Northern Europe and Emerging Markets.

With the company’s world-class sportsbook solutions, I believe we are already ideally placed to foster increased growth in the months to come. The company has won multiple EGR Awards in the last 12 months, in both the Nordics and Italy, as well as being shortlisted for multiple SBC Awards, and that is real testament to Altenar’s quality.

What about Altenar’s overall vision prompted the move?

Altenar’s commitment to providing 360-degree solutions resonated with me – across its pre-match and live betting offerings, full promotional suite and market-leading customer support across risk management, limits and 24/7 communication. Their tech is some of the best out there, and the company is dedicated to providing scalable solutions that fit the needs of the customer, and I am thrilled to be a part of taking these products to a wider audience.

What key markets do you think offer the most potential, and how will you be targeting them going forward? 

Emerging markets in Europe are rich with potential, and Altenar’s product suite is fit to meet their demands. With recent successes already including the likes of LatAm, Belgium and Spain, the continued growth of the company is something to be admired.

We have also made impressive inroads into Canada seeing our sportsbook go live in Ontario. Of course, Altenar has become one of the industry’s most advanced sportsbook providers. Our platform boasts a wide range of capabilities, with multiple specialisations across Esports, data and retail, as well as EGR award-winning selection of virtuals – so further expansion falls well within our remit.

What skills are you bringing with you from your previous career experience, and how do you intend to implement them at Altenar?

My wealth of experience has seen me take on a series of diverse roles within the iGaming sector, most notably spending almost five years at Malta-based Together Gaming as Chief Operating Officer and Key Account Manager. Whilst there, I oversaw several standout achievements, with the company being named White Label Provider of the Year for two consecutive years following his implementation of a new system that helped manage and sustain operations in Northern Europe.

My tenure saw me drive significant growth, and the high performance of the mobile channels implemented ensured that partnership brands remained one step ahead of the competition.

I have also been an Operations Manager at Arenacube and COO and Partner at Eligence Consulting group, both of which were also Malta-based – my knowledge of the Maltese market is extensive, and I intend to utilize this to enhance Altenar’s knowledge of this market in my time here.

Finally, what’s on the horizon for you in your first few months in the role?

Starting out at Altenar is sure to pose a lot of exciting challenges. I intend to bring a good operational knowledge in terms of both operating a platform and establishing the connections necessary to run a successful business in the casino and sportsbook industries.

I’m also here to keep the company aligned and creating new strategies that will boost the company’s output in the iGaming sphere. As mentioned, Northern Europe and Emerging Markets will be a strong focus for us – and I’m looking forward to getting to work. Next stop will no doubt be SiGMA!