The COO of SOFTSWISS spoke with Focus Gaming News about his expectations for ICE Barcelona and the goals for 2025.
Exclusive interview.- SOFTSWISS is looking forward to leveraging the exciting move of ICE from London to Barcelona. In an exclusive interview with Focus Gaming News, Vitali Matsukevich, COO of SOFTSWISS, shares his views on the event as an opportunity to showcase innovations.
What are SOFTSWISS's expectations for this first edition of ICE in Barcelona?
I believe that the move of ICE from London to Barcelona opens a new and exciting chapter for this event. It is expected to be the largest exhibition in history, with a record number of participants and exhibitors. For SOFTSWISS, it is a perfect opportunity to share our vision of the future of igaming with industry leaders and showcase our latest innovations.
We are thrilled to present our new creative campaign: "Hungry for success? Dive in with SOFTSWISS". This concept is represented by the powerful image of a shark, symbolizing our strength, leadership, and technological superiority. Like sharks, we do not follow currents but create them, driving the igaming industry.
This act of collaboration symbolizes the continuous evolution of the igaming industry, a space that transforms and grows with the contributions of its boldest players and partners. Together, with the art of Slim Safont, we will create a powerful visual representation of leadership and teamwork, reflecting SOFTSWISS's vision of creating the future of igaming together.
And, of course, we are eager to surprise visitors with our immersive stand featuring 360° panoramic content, light shows, and XR technologies.
Will SOFTSWISS unveil any new developments at the fair?
Of course. We will introduce updates to our product portfolio, such as the new lottery software, the retail betting solution, and the integrated horse racing module in our Sportsbook. Among our latest developments, we are introducing new engagement tools, such as a network jackpot solution for the Sportsbook, for example.
We expect our recent Brazilian certification to generate great interest. SOFTSWISS is one of the first igaming providers to have received it, and we are ready to explore potential partnership opportunities during ICE.
Artificial Intelligence and Cybersecurity will continue to be among the main technological trends in 2025. What progress is the company making in these areas?
Cybersecurity is an ongoing race, and we have taken significant steps to stay ahead. We will expand our Bug Bounty program launched last year. It invites so-called white hat hackers and security experts to detect vulnerabilities in our products in exchange for rewards that can reach up to 3,500 euros depending on the complexity of the problem. This program allows us to discover potential weak points and ensure the highest levels of data protection for our clients.
In addition, SOFTSWISS is constantly working to educate its clients about cyber threats and emphasize the importance of adhering to essential security practices. These include the use of reliable cloud-based protection solutions, hiding IP from external servers, implementing CAPTCHA, etc. These measures may seem obvious, but the market periodically reports leaks that occurred due to violations of basic standards.
Furthermore, we are working to equip our platforms with AI-based features that operate in several directions: they create more efficient systems and detect cyber threats, in addition to helping us improve the overall user experience.
In 2024, SOFTSWISS applied the principle of "players first" in all its products and solutions. How important is it to have tools to promote responsible gaming?
Promoting responsible gaming and creating a safe gaming environment on all our platforms is one of the main priorities of SOFTSWISS. We invest heavily in training our employees to ensure that our team interacts responsibly with players.
We collaborate with leading organizations that promote responsible gaming approaches, such as Betknowmore Global and RGF Malta. Additionally, we are working to expand our list of services like BetBlocker, which helps limit access to gaming platforms for problem players.
SOFTSWISS is also developing its own responsible gaming risk scoring tool, which uses machine learning to detect early signs of problematic behavior. This allows us to intervene proactively and help players before problems worsen.
Additionally, we have recently reduced the industry standard thresholds for identifying gaming problems by 10 percent, setting a new benchmark for player safety. Our approach is to continuously improve our standards to better protect players.
How will the start of the regulated market era in Brazil affect the sector? Will it also spur the growth of other emerging markets trying to replicate this transformation?
The change in Brazilian regulations on online gaming changes the rules of the game: the country has shown that smart reforms can boost economic growth and innovation. We foresee that other emerging markets with similar economies may use Brazil's approach as an example of how to establish their regulatory frameworks.
Additionally, Brazil's regulatory success may create a domino effect that inspires other countries to open their markets and foster competition. This will attract investments and encourage entrepreneurship, accelerating innovation in other areas, such as financial technology and digital payments.
What are the main goals the company has set for this year?
This year, we are focusing mainly on expanding into new regions, particularly Latin America and Africa, and on "white markets" regulated with local licenses. SOFTSWISS has maintained its collaboration with Rubens Barrichello, who played a key role as Non-Executive Director of the company to strengthen our presence in Brazil.
We are also prioritizing service quality by restructuring our operations department to better meet the needs of our partners. Additionally, we are shifting to an account-based marketing approach to further improve our efficiency and service delivery.
Above all, our goal is to consolidate our position as a technology-driven company with the best product portfolio in the global igaming industry.
