The SBC Summit Lisbon 2024, held from September 24 to 26, welcomed over 25,000 delegates, 450 speakers, and 600 exhibitors from the global gaming sector, positioning itself as one of the largest gaming events in Europe. The summit provided a dynamic platform for industry leaders to showcase their latest developments, exchange insights, and engage with a global audience.
Natalie Loshatynska, Head of PR & Marketing at DATA.BET, took part in the event, highlighting the company’s latest product innovations, including their Scoreboards, Pitch Tracker, and Bet Builder.
In an exclusive interview with Yogonet, Natalie discussed DATA.BET’s approach to enhancing esports betting experiences, the growing demand for personalization and fast betting, and the company’s plans for expanding its product portfolio as they enter the final quarter of the year.
What was the experience like during the event, and what were some of the main inquiries you received at the company’s stand?
The show was very busy. I had numerous meetings, so I didn’t have the opportunity to explore all the stands myself. However, the navigation was quite convenient, with the halls clearly divided by category, making it easy for attendees to move around.
Visitors who approached our stand were primarily interested in our recent product launches, particularly the Scoreboards and Pitch Tracker—our latest widgets designed for various disciplines. They were keen to learn more about these solutions and our overall product offerings.
What were some of the key highlights of your presentation, and how do your solutions stand out in the esports betting market in terms of technology and features?
We recently launched new features, including the aforementioned Scoreboards and Pitch Tracker. The Scoreboards provide live in-game statistics, such as team economy, player state, weapons, skins, and others, giving users a clear understanding of what’s happening. The Pitch Tracker is a 2D map that visualizes player performance, and both widgets are integrated as part of our embedded solution. These tools are particularly useful for users with lower internet speeds, enabling them to make informed betting decisions even without live video streams.
In addition to these, we also showcased our Bet Builder. This feature allows users to create custom bets across multiple markets within one event, offering a more tailored experience, especially for professional bettors. While Scoreboards are available for four major disciplines, Pitch Tracker currently supports Counter-Strike and League of Legends, and we are working on expanding it to Valorant and Dota.
Can you tell us more about the Bet Builder and its launch last month? The company says it is geared more toward professional bettors.
Yes, exactly. The Bet Builder is designed to provide a more comprehensive experience for bettors who want to play strategically. It gives them the ability to choose several markets within one single event, making the betting process more engaging and challenging.
This tool is particularly useful for professional players who prefer a deeper level of interaction with their bets. Currently, it’s available for Counter-Strike, and we’re actively expanding it to other major disciplines.
I also wanted to ask about the activities you hosted at the booth, which included a Counter-Strike tournament. Could you tell us more about that?
Yes, we hosted a Counter-Strike tournament, and we had one of the world's top players, GeT_RiGhT, join us. He’s a world champion, and people were excited to see him, taking photos and interacting with him.
The idea behind the tournament was to introduce the esports world to a broader audience and immerse them in the gaming atmosphere. We had a lot of attendees participate, including those who hadn’t played in years. Some attendees were nostalgic, mentioning they hadn’t played in over a decade, and we encouraged them to give it a try.
It was great to see their excitement as they played, especially as they grew more comfortable. For some, it was their first time, and they genuinely seemed to enjoy the experience. It was all about building that connection with the audience.
Speaking more broadly about the esports betting sector, what are some of the major trends and topics of discussion you see gaining momentum?
The main trends we’re seeing are personalization and fast betting. We’ve had great success with our Player Props feature, which allows users to place bets based on individual player performance, such as total kills or deaths. This feature accounted for 20% of our CS2 markets this quarter, and it’s growing in popularity. People enjoy being able to focus on their favorite players and make predictions.
Fast betting or micro-betting is another trend that’s gaining traction. With the influence of platforms like TikTok, users prefer quick and engaging content, and the same applies to betting. Our fast betting markets allow users to place bets that are settled within three to five minutes, keeping them engaged and providing instant results.
As we approach the last quarter of the year, can you share any new projects, plans, or goals for the near future? Also, which events will the company be attending next?
For the quarter, our main focus will be on expanding our Pitch Tracker feature to cover all top-tier esports disciplines. From a product perspective, this is our priority, and we are working to support other titles like Counter-Strike 2 and Valorant in a few weeks.
We also have several tournaments lined up, and our trading team will be busy managing these events. Additionally, all our departments are actively working on finalizing the strategy for the next year, including product plans and company-wide goals. As for upcoming events, we are still in the decision-making process.