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CUTTING EDGE by Frank Legato
Seamless Deposits PRODUCT: PayNearMe Platform MANUFACTURER: PayNearMe
s an iGaming operator, you want to make moving funds in and out of your platform as seamless as possible for players. Friction in the payments process, whether it’s failed deposits, limited payment types or slow payouts, can have a lasting negative impact on player experience—impacting your ability to attract and retain loyal players. With PayNearMe, operators can accept deposits faster and more reliably, with a mix of payment methods that appeal to nearly all player preferences. Players benefit from a simplified deposit experience that supports their favorite payment options, including cards, ACH, cash, and Apple Pay and Google Pay. In addition, operators can rapidly send payouts (via debit cards, RTP network, ACH, etc.) without having to manage multiple vendors or integrations. “Managing multiple third-party vendors and contracts is not only an administrative and technical burden for operators, but it also creates a disjointed experience for players during a crucial touchpoint—payments in and out,” says Michael Kaplan, chief revenue officer and General Manager at PayNearMe. “Operators can now consolidate key payment types—
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including Apple Pay and Google Pay—along with payouts onto a single payments platform built specifically for iGaming.” Over the past decade, PayNearMe’s innovative cash barcode technology has powered cash deposits for nine of the 10 largest operators as measured by gross gaming revenue (GGR). Unlike some cards and bank accounts, cash deposits are reliably accepted, minimizing the chance of failed deposits and frustrated players. PayNearMe is accepted at 20,000-plus retail locations, including participating 7-Eleven and CVS stores across the U.S. PayNearMe’s Smart Link technology gives players the ability to make a deposit in two clicks—without having to navigate through the cashier page. Operators can text, email or use native app push notifications to send players reminders, announcements, incentive promotions or other player engagements, along with a link they can click to make a deposit anytime, anywhere. PayNearMe is dedicated to making iGaming payments easy for operators and players. The company’s technology focuses on removing friction to enable operators to deliver a best-in-class player journey throughout the deposit and payouts process. With PayNearMe, operators get to market faster with one platform, one partner and one integration. For more information, visit paynearme.com.
In-Game Power PRODUCT: Instant Betting MANUFACTURER: Kambi
he quality of a sportsbook’s in-game offering is increasingly the key differentiator between an excellent sports betting experience and a merely good one. Looking at the U.S. betting market, the ratio of in-game wagering is steadily rising as bettors become more familiar with regulated sports wagering. The appetite was there from the onset following the 2018 repeal of the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act, with Kambi finding that over half of U.S. bettors placed an in-play wager within their first five bets of joining in April 2019, and overall engagement levels with Kambi’s live offering continue to rise steadily in 2021. With the growth of in-game betting comes an accompanying rise in the number of players engaging with Kambi’s extensive range of instant markets across its U.S. partner network. These are markets where bets are placed and settled swiftly, such as the next point winner in tennis or whether the next field goal in basketball will be a two- or three-pointer. Interest in these markets in the U.S. is growing significantly. In fact, across Kambi’s U.S. partner network in 2020, there was a threefold year-on-
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Global Gaming Business JUNE 2021
year increase in instant betting as a proportion of all NFL live turnover, spurred by markets such as “result of current drive.” Furthermore, Kambi was the only sportsbook, both B2B and B2C, observed to offer instant markets on the MLB World Series in 2020. Kambi’s unique “result of pitch” market accounted for close to a quarter of the company’s live turnover throughout the length of the competition, demonstrating the potential of a sophisticated instant betting offer to drive consistent engagement with the sportsbook. Crucially, Kambi has found that U.S. players who engage with instant betting place more wagers overall during a game, illustrating the impact a high-quality instant offering can have in not only attracting players, but having those players demonstrate higher levels of engagement. The power and complexity under the hood required to present a comprehensive range of instant markets in a seamless manner to the bettor, with low delays, cannot be overstated; nor can the expertise this requires in proprietary pricing. The growing popularity of instant betting clearly illustrates the need for a best-in-class sportsbook, underpinned by proven, high-performance technology in meeting the demands of the modern player. For more information, visit kambi.com.
