"Skilrock is coming to the EL Congress & Tradeshow with a lot of enthusiasm and a suite of innovative solutions"

June sees the return of the European Lotteries (EL) Congress & Tradeshow, set to take place Jun. 4-7 in Šibenik, Croatia. The 11th edition of the event is expected to attract major stakeholders of the lottery sector under the "Looking Forward" motto, gathering them all under one roof to showcase their latest products and discuss the state of the industry at a point of technological and consuming changes.

Among the attendees set to exhibit at the expo this month is Skilrock. At Booth 204, the lottery and gaming solutions provider will be presenting its latest novelties for the sector, including Scan-n-Play, a solution that offers easy online gameplay without the need for player registration and which Skilrock promises will revolutionize the lottery vertical.

Ahead of the event, Yogonet caught up with Julian Arabadjiyski, Regional Manager - Europe, Skilrock, to discuss this new solution and the company's plans for the tradeshow, as well as the state of the lottery sector.

What opportunities does this event offer to the company and what are your expectations in terms of meeting clients and networking?

There’s no doubt that EL Congress 2023 is an excellent opportunity for us to meet with our European clients and partners. Our expectations from the event are huge as we look forward to meeting & connecting with like-minded individuals, industry experts and potential collaborators. Building a network and making meaningful connections will be our top priority. 

Most importantly, we are coming there with a lot of enthusiasm and a full suite of instant lottery solutions, new games and many other innovative solutions. Our focus will be on helping lottery operators engage the next generation of players. Moreover, the company's stand will display its latest and most exciting offering, Scan-n-Play, which is developed specifically for the retail sector. 

The event will be held under the “Looking Forward” theme, with a focus “on all developments that the lottery sector is facing now and in the near future.” In your opinion, what are some of the major issues the lottery vertical is experiencing at the moment? Where do you see it headed in the near future?

There is an increased interest in emerging technologies such as Blockchain, AI/ML, VR, Metaverse, etc. Plus, brick-and-mortar stores are searching for ways to modernize their offerings. They are facing increased competition from digital channels and need ‘new & innovative’ solutions to survive and grow. That’s why we have developed Scan-n-Play as a game-changing solution for our retail clients.  

It does not stop here as we want to ensure our clients face no hurdles in adopting innovations and moving ahead with the changing times. Our updated product portfolio will also reflect these sentiments at the trade show. In fact, this will set us apart from the rest on this prestigious platform. 

Skilrock will be showcasing its products at Booth 204, including the aforementioned Scan-n-Play solution, which offers “easy online gameplay without the need for player registration.” What are its main features and what sets it apart from other products? How does it change the retail experience?

Scan-n-Play is all about Simplifying E-Instant For Retail. Scan-n-play is a retail lottery technology solution that enables frictionless, convenient retail lottery experiences without the need for player registration. It supports a huge variety of engaging games that can be played at a variety of locations, such as supermarkets, banks, retail stores, malls and vending machines. It empowers a retail lottery business and digitalizes the player journey.

All in all, it combines the strengths of digital lottery technology with the charm of retail channels. It creates a unique experience for players. I’d like to add that it is built on Skirlock’s continued pioneering work with the aim of enabling lottery retailers to compete and innovate in the competitive landscape. The emphasis will be on elaborating on real-life scenarios, providing a practical understanding of the changing retail landscape and how we can help with our latest solution. 

What other products will you be focusing on for this edition, and what should attendees approaching the company’s stand expect?

We will feature our groundbreaking INFINITI, which is an omnichannel and omnigaming platform. As the name suggests, addresses the infinite needs of diverse markets - games, channels, and technologies of today and is fully extensible for tomorrow. We understand that gaming operators have their own unique goals and objectives depending on multiple factors. 

Hence, our platform comes with a powerful set of customizable features, turnkey solutions, white-label products & services, multilanguage support, multiple currency support, advanced security, cashless gaming, and much more. It supports all types of games such as lotto, bingo, casino, sports, scratch and slots.

Our visitors can also look forward to mutually-beneficial discussions with our team members. From the moment visitors step into our booth, they can immerse themselves in a world of possibilities and get introduced to many cutting-edge products through LIVE demonstrations and explanations. 

How would you describe the European industry and your clients' current demands? What European jurisdictions play a key role for Skilrock at the moment, and which ones present an opportunity for growth?

The European market has always been an early adopter when it comes to adopting technological innovations, going digital, or anything else. In fact, the demand for digital solutions is quite impressive in the region, especially after the outset of the pandemic.

Our major focus is on the Eastern European market, which is showing signs of good growth. It is a highly competitive market where there is a demand for customization and related services. At Skilrock, we take pride in our platform & services that can be customized to meet the specific needs of our clients.