Interviews
Exclusive Q&A with Gianfranco Capozzi, Head of Esports at Catena Media
Here we have with us Gianfranco Capozzi, the Head of Esports at Catena Media. He’s had one of the amazing careers you’ll ever find in this industry. An avid gamer from the childhood, he had worked five years in the Italian Army before finding his true niche in gaming and esports.
Jump straight to the interview to read his insightful commentary on the present trends and technologies in esports and the role of cryptocurrencies, blockchain and artificial intelligence in this sector.
Q. Let’s begin with a quick introduction. It would be great if you briefly tell our readers about yourself and your career.
A. I had one of those atypical careers, I wore different hats and spent some time chasing after different opportunities: I spent 5 years in the Italian Army within the Engineer Corps, then I moved to the sunny island of Malta where I started working in HR and recruitment- before entering the world of gaming and esports.
That is where I’ve found my real vocation. I am adopting digital marketing channels and building digital products from scratch for an audience similar to myself.
I’ve been an avid gamer for all my life, I started playing with my uncle’s Commodore 64 when I was 10, and eventually moved from PC to console gaming. Age of Empires and Dark Age of Camelot were my first online multiplayer games where I spent uncountable hours.
Q. We shall talk about esports now. How would you define the esports market? Is it a media product or a niche betting market? Enlighten our readers.
A.Esports are without a doubt a media opportunity for all brands and companies, even for those that are galaxies away from the gaming industry.
All you need to do is look at the different sponsors that have shown up at the leagues and tournaments: from BMW to McDonald’s, marketers have understood that if they want to attract the new generations, traditional advertising channels are no longer enough. TV advertising, magazines, and other legacy media are part of history.
As we grow older and our responsibilities grow, the time available for playing games (especially competitively) decreases. For those who want to stay connected with gaming, watching esports is a nice option.
Even if you can’t play, you can always place a bet on esports. It’ll definitely make the match even more thrilling.
Q. What are the growth rate and new trends in the esports sector?
A. We’re seeing an unprecedented growth rate in the esports sector. As has been shown in various reports from Newzoo, Statista and even BusinessInsider, the esports market is growing rapidly with projections of a value over $1.5 billion by 2023.
Aside from the statistics, which are typically interesting for investors or professionals in the industry, a shift in mindset is becoming more and more prominent.
Originally set as a subsection of sport, or of the larger gaming sector, esports are now becoming a full industry with a vivid ecosystem and a strong presence in all 5 continents.
The major driving force, in my opinion, will be the release of new games which are oriented towards generating new leagues and competitive teams. We have been closely watching the rise and glory of the battle royale games (such as Fortnite, PUBG), to the second Riot title which encountered immediate success, VALORANT, and even mobile gaming which is constantly on the rise.
I think it’s difficult to predict what will happen next, what game will be the top-notch in the market, or which revolutionary game genre or feature will disrupt the growing ecosystem. What we can do is follow the scene, contribute to it with our interests, and work on its development.
Q. How do you think the Covid 19 outbreak affected the growth of esports, especially after a number of outdoor sports events were cancelled?
A. I believe that Covid-19 accelerated the growing trend of esports. We moved on from asking ourselves if “Esports is considered a sport” to the 2020 statement “Esports is the only sport available”.
People who never had any interest or knowledge in esports suddenly became interested, as that was mainly the only option. We’re pretty confident that many liked it after the first dip, and even stayed interested in esports following the pandemic.
Q. What are the new esports betting technologies and innovation that you would like to witness the iGaming industry?
A. We’ve already seen some great and innovative products being built and constantly upgraded in recent years, especially in relation to esports betting technologies. With more operators being attracted to the industry, we can be sure that we will see even more products being reinvented or actually created for the needs of esports betting.
You only need to look at the opportunities to Bet on Streamers (pioneers like Unikrn, GG.bet and Rivalry have been advancing on these), or Virtual Esports- where you bet on the outcome of AI-driven games, making it available 24-7 and more similar to a Casino product, rather than the traditional sportsbooks.
These and similar products are the next game-changers, as Millennials and GenZ are becoming the main customers of the online betting industry.
Q. What is your take on the combined growth of esports and cryptocurrencies? Why these two new-age elements are ideally placed to coexist and flourish together?
A. I am a great supporter of the cryptocurrency movement and I believe that Betting on esports with crypto will soon become the norm.
The combination of these two new-age elements is ideally placed to coexist and flourish together, because it’s easy for anyone anywhere in the world to make a bet using cryptocurrency at odds which are better than ever before.
The esports and crypto industries have a lot in common, as their audiences are both highly engaged, with a decentralised mind-set and thirst for innovation.
Moreover, the vast majority of esports audiences are young and tech savvy – which makes them perfect candidates for crypto enthusiasts as well.
Q. How are blockchain technology and cryptocurrencies going to impact the esports betting industry?
A. I believe blockchain technology and cryptocurrency can revolutionize the esports betting industry, it will allow for a more transparent betting experience, lower transaction fees and an easier way to identify underaged users. This is particularly important for our young and emerging industry.
Blockchain technology is already starting to be implemented in the esports industry, not only for the betting contract-security component, but even through the release of NFTs and assets that can be adopted and boosted by small or large enterprises at any level. Adopting blockchain technology and cryptocurrency in this day and age is a step toward the future that we’re building – especially for the upcoming generations.
Q. How will AI and machine learning affect the online marketing for betting and gambling? Do you foresee a takeover by machines?
A. AI and machine learning are already being used in online marketing, with programs that automatically optimize the website design and other aspects of a company’s marketing campaign.
But nope! The human element is what makes betting fun – it can’t be automated to make decisions for you (unless we’re talking about blackjack). What AI can improve, in my view will be the gaming experience, as it allows you to collect and analyse huge volumes of data, and generate feedback and suggestions for further improvements.
Gaming providers and esports betting operators can implement AI and machine learning solutions to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of their services in different departments: from customer support -via Chatbots for example, to odds trading, digital marketing campaigns and so on.
Q. Finally on to Catena Media. What makes Catena special from the other companies in the vertical of lead generation?
In Catena Media, and in particular when it comes to our esports betting division where we operate specialist products like EsportsBets.com, we’re after innovation and creativity. We have the customer acquisition tools, the analytical insights and the understanding of how to use them for maximum effect. That is invaluable in this industry.
And it’s not just about our own products either – we work with partners too, ensuring they get to market as quickly and efficiently as possible, irrespective of whether it’s a world-famous brand or a new start-up which is just about to get started within the sector.
Dr. Eyal Loz Chief Product Officer at RubyPlay
Built for the branded reality – RubyPlay’s high velocity approach to the US market
With localisation, speed to market, and cross-state scalability at the heart of its strategy, RubyPlay is proving that relevance—and results—come from understanding both the player and the moment. Dr. Eyal Loz, Chief Product Officer at RubyPlay, discusses the company’s fast growing US presence and how its agile, insight-driven approach is resonating with players and operators alike. From crafting bespoke branded content to rolling out favoured mechanics with modern twists, RubyPlay is positioning itself as a key partner in the evolving iGaming landscape.
Just a few months into RubyPlay’s US journey, how has player response shaped your perception of the market? And how will these insights shape your roadmap going forward?
We see very strong player preferences to games that combine a Hold and Spin mechanic with perceived persistence. We also see that American players respond well to classic themes with a clear modern flavour. None of this was very surprising, as we are very well tuned with the preferences of players in America. The RubyPlay offering was always optimised for American players, and it’s nice to see that our roll out is working so well, as we expected it to.
We also explored a handful of innovative mechanics that are less prevalent in traditional land-based casinos, and we are happy to see that these were also well received.
Titles like Mad Hit® Diamonds and Diamond Explosions 7s® SE are a few of your early standouts. What do you think is making these games click with the US audience compared to other markets?
These two titles are solid performers in all markets, so we had high expectations to see these perform very well with American players. Both these mechanics have all the elements that make for a strong US title – Hold and Spin, perceived persistency, Buy Feature and a solid art package with a classic yet modern feel.
The US iGaming market is unique, not just in regulation, but in how players engage with content. How does your strategy for the US differ from other global regions and how do you maintain global competitiveness while staying locally relevant?
It’s important to remember that top performing mechanics tend to transcend time and space. Hold and Spin mechanics have performed well in almost all markets since they were introduced over 10 years ago. What makes a specific game more relevant to one specific region is the theme and flow of the game. For example, games featuring mahjong tiles will perform well in South East Asia but will not perform to the same level of success in the US. Similarly, games with strong Egyptian themes will not perform in Asia but have a good potential in the US.
RubyPlay’s superpower is in our velocity and adaptability. We are able to identify opportunities with operators to support their brand identity and create specialised bespoke content for them, taking into consideration elements such as the relevance of that theme to the market, and the brand of the operator. We live in a branded reality, and we consider our client’s brand a top priority.
You’ve spoken about empowering brands through strong partnerships. How do you approach collaboration in the US market to ensure both RubyPlay and its partners succeed?
Brands are a lifestyle in the USA. We have to understand this first in order to reach the audience in the way that our US partners take as second nature. By focusing on building high velocity, we are able to create relevant bespoke content for our partners that is unique to their needs.
Velocity is really important because branding opportunities don’t last very long. When a client negotiates a collaboration between their brand and a 3rd party, the deal will always close very late and will not last very long. Our ability to be in tune with the reality of such short deliveries on tight schedules, measured in weeks, not years, has given us a disproportionate advantage.
We have a stronger awareness of special events, whether sports, holidays, or cultural, and our responsiveness allow us to always stay relevant through our portfolio or bespoke content with the timings of such events in mind.
What role does localisation play in your expansion strategy?
Localisation is absolutely crucial. As I mentioned before, the combination of a robust and large variety of game mechanics, combined with the ability to minimise time to market thematically, we are able to always stay relevant to new markets we started operating in. When entering a new market, it’s hard to predict what is going to work, so building velocity, and keeping an open mind is key.
With more states opening up, how is RubyPlay preparing to scale its presence across the country? Any new or upcoming experiences or innovations players and partners can expect this year?
We are well on our way to enter Pennsylvania and West Virginia as we are well aware that US. operators are heavily focused on a cross-state strategy regarding promotions. If we can support this by having the top states, we ensure a stronger and more effective experience for players with branding in mind. After all, markets are one of the most important product features.
Other than that, we are planning to roll out our Awarded Feature with many of our direct clients. This will allow operators to award the Buy Feature for free via a back-office campaign. We saw this can be very effective in branding, retention and acquisition, and allow operators to either award players with the best part of the gaming experience, or up-sell promotions via their CRMs.
I’m very excited to see the impact the Awarded Feature will have with our partners on all areas of their business.
The post Built for the branded reality – RubyPlay’s high velocity approach to the US market appeared first on Gaming and Gambling Industry in the Americas.
Revolutionising Cricket Premier League: Max Sevostianov – COO at Betbazar, shares insights on how AI-Cricket and hyper-local data products are helping Operators engage, convert, and retain players year-round
With the start of the Premier League cricket season in India, what key trends are you seeing in the iGaming industry around this sport?
We’re witnessing explosive demand for faster, more immersive cricket content. Ball-by-ball gaming is really taking off, driven by players who crave real-time action and micro-engagements. This has pushed Operators to double down on mobile-first experiences — speed, accessibility, and UX are everything in this space.
Another standout trend is hyper-localisation. It’s no longer enough to offer cricket content in English — platforms are integrating regional languages, tailoring promotions based on local fandoms, and weaving in fantasy-style formats that resonate deeply with Indian audiences.
Perhaps the biggest shift we’re seeing is strategic: cricket is evolving from a seasonal event to a sustainable, year-round revenue channel. Operators aren’t just riding the IPL wave — they’re building ecosystems around domestic leagues, international fixtures, and even niche formats, ensuring engagement doesn’t drop off after the final.
Do you think the league will trigger a revenue surge for South Asian Operators? What should they focus on to make the most of this opportunity?
Absolutely — the Premier League is essentially Black Friday for cricket in India and the wider South Asian market. It’s the peak of the calendar, where user engagement and volumes skyrocket. But high traffic alone doesn’t guarantee high returns.
To truly capitalize on this opportunity, Operators need robust infrastructure. That means rock-solid uptime, especially during critical moments like the toss or final overs when activity spikes. Fast bet settlements, wide market coverage — from traditional formats to more niche or prop bets — and content that keeps users hooked, like virtuals or eCricket, are all must-haves.
This season, the winners won’t just be those with the most users — they’ll be the ones who can scale seamlessly, automate efficiently, and deliver content that’s as thrilling as the match itself.
What cricket-related products are currently making the biggest impact in the iGaming market?
Three products are really making waves right now.
First, Virtual (AI) and eCricket formats are proving to be game-changers. These always-on experiences keep players engaged even between live matches, maintaining momentum throughout the season and beyond.
Second, high-frequency data feeds are unlocking a new level of interactivity. Instant markets, player props, and ball-by-ball gaming are now the norm, providing users with a dynamic and deeply immersive experience, especially appealing to mobile users who seek fast, responsive gameplay.
Finally, localised and gamified content is crucial. We’re seeing strong traction with fantasy-style elements and UI’s designed specifically for cricket fans. When combined with regional language support and tailored promotions, this kind of personalisation boosts both engagement and long-term retention.
These innovations are driving serious volume — and, more importantly, keeping players coming back.
Betbazar recently launched a new product – AI Cricket. Can you walk us through its key features and what makes it so promising?
AI-Cricket is the latest innovation on Betbazar’s marketplace, and it’s setting a new benchmark for virtual sports. At its core, it delivers 24/7 AI-powered cricket matches with realistic gameplay that mirrors live action — from batting styles to fielding dynamics — all generated by advanced algorithms.
What truly sets AI Cricket apart is its end-to-end automation. Everything from match creation to odds generation is fully automated, allowing Operators to run with minimal overhead and maintain a consistent 8% margin, without the need for manual trading.
On the user side, it’s all about engagement. The product supports fantasy-inspired modes and even customisable avatars, offering a highly immersive experience that feels fresh every time. And because it’s always available, it gives Operators a powerful tool to drive retention, even during downtime in the real-world sports calendar.
So AI-Cricket blends innovation with profitability, making it a standout product for today’s cricket-focused iGaming market.
Сricket coverage in Betbazar’s Live Data Feed is described as unique. How broad is the coverage, and what specific advantages does it offer to operators?
Betbazar’s Live Data Feed offers one of the most comprehensive and operator-friendly cricket solutions in the market today. We’re talking about 15,000+ pre-match and over 9,000 live Cricket & Kabaddi Events, and an additional 10,000+ AI Cricket events each year — a scale that ensures operators can engage users year-round.
But what really sets it apart is the quality behind the quantity. Settlement times for top events are incredibly fast, typically within five minutes after the match, giving players confidence and keeping the gaming process flow smooth.
From a technical perspective, we’ve built it for performance, featuring low-latency updates, a high SLA for reliability, and customisable margins that allow Operators to fine-tune their offerings to suit different markets and risk profiles.
In short, it’s a powerful, high-performance data solution designed to meet the fast-paced demands of modern cricket, enabling operators to stay ahead of the game.
About Betbazar
Betbazar is a B2B worldwide iGaming marketplace which has set a new sales standard, sourcing specialist iGaming products and advising on their role within existing strategies to deliver growth to our partners. The company’s ambition is to build a digital iGaming marketplace that connects creators with operators, accelerating growth through best-in-class products.
The post Betbazar Explores Cricket in iGaming: What Operators Need to Know appeared first on Gaming and Gambling Industry in the Americas.
Conferences in Europe
Speaking the Player’s Language: Promatic Group’s Take on Game Localization in CEE
The Prague Gaming & TECH Summit 2025 brought together some of the brightest minds in the iGaming and tech industries – and the conversation didn’t stop when the curtains closed. As this year’s General Sponsor through its Promatic Games brand, Promatic Group made a powerful impact on-stage and behind the scenes. In a dynamic keynote presentation titled “Localizing Slot Games: Does the Central European Player Need Localized Content?”, Maciej Makuszewski, iGaming Director, and Luka Oblak, Head of Product Design, explored how cultural nuances shape player engagement and game performance across regional markets.
Now, post-event, we caught up with Maciej Makuszewski to delve deeper into the topic of localization, player behavior, and what makes content truly resonate in Central and Eastern Europe.
Maciej, your keynote at the Summit offered compelling insights into how culture and language affect game engagement. What do you believe is the biggest misconception about localization in the iGaming industry today?
It is that it is enough to hire a translator of a game to deliver localized content. This is not the end of the road – on the contrary – this is just the beginning. This may sound like saying the sun rises in the east, but I still would say there can be a lot more attention paid to giving games a local touch.
But coming back to translations, nowadays, even at this basic level, we can observe so many pitfalls and mistakes that could have been avoided if people really had the player at the core of their strategy. I guess we are past this time in history of globalization that unified products and content simply entered new markets with no tailoring whatsoever and there was demand for them, because there hadn’t been much of a choice of anything else. We’d like to see companies try harder when they enter new markets. I hope we will become one that actually gets the hyperlocalization just right.
You and Luka presented some standout cases on localized content. Could you share one example that truly surprised your team – either by outperforming expectations or revealing a cultural insight you hadn’t anticipated?
I guess that would be the transformation of a simple fruit game launched as Red Hot Jackpot in Poland, into a rich animations theme game it became in Nigeria. The nigerian version of Red Hot Jackpot is called Naija Wheels and it is the exact the same math model and game logic as Red Hot Jackpot, but what makes it appealing to the local customers of slot halls in Nigeria is its hyperlocal theme. Naija Wheels is a funny story of things you see in Lagos traffic. So instead of a Cherry symbol you have a symbol of a police officer. Instead of a plum symbol, you have an okada driver from Lagos etc.
Very different game themes, same logics, same business effects – the game is a great performing slot in Poland and a superb hit in Nigeria.
In your view, what are the non-negotiables when designing localized slot content for Central and Eastern European markets? Are there elements developers often overlook?
There are so many local markets in the CEE that it is really hard to unify this. But in a nutshell – we know in our region, highly volatile fruit themed games are very popular. Having said that, it is not a surfire way to success. You may want to localize the content even further through cultural and humor references.
The ROI of local-branded slots is often debated. Based on Promatic Group’s experience, when does it make strategic and commercial sense to invest in hyper-local content – and when is it better to focus on broader appeal?
It all depends why you do this and how you measure the ROI. If you measure a single game ROI this might be a trap. It will very much depend on the math model and features of the particular game. Apart from revenue stream, there are also costs to be considered. If we’re talking about a “game reskin” then certification will be something you can optimize and so on. There are numerous ways to tackle this issue. Sometimes you can come up with a hyper local game and just launch it somewhere else to test if it works, which will boost your revenue stream and the total ROI. All in all we are very happy with our local approach and we intend to stick to it.
Let’s talk about the future. With shifting player expectations and tech advancements like AI personalization, how do you see the localization strategy evolving over the next 2–3 years at Promatic Group?
I would expect this hyperlocalization becomes a commodity in the industry. This will also require a lot of human factor so that it is done the right way. AI will speed things up, but I believe that the human touch will be key. We already have amazing tools, but using them the right way is what will make a great difference.
The post Speaking the Player’s Language: Promatic Group’s Take on Game Localization in CEE appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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