Unlocking the Potential of Esports Betting: Insights from OddsMatrix Head of Sales Ivan Rozic

In an ever-evolving gaming landscape, esports has emerged as a crucial component for sportsbooks looking to attract and engage younger audiences. Ivan Rozic, Head of Sales at OddsMatrix, the sportsbook arm of EveryMatrix, recently shared his insights on the importance of esports betting and the challenges of appealing to Gen Z in an exclusive Q&A.

With eight years of experience in the industry, Rozic emphasizes the significance of offering a wide range of content, including esports, to cater to the diverse preferences of modern punters. However, he acknowledges that the industry has yet to crack the code when it comes to effectively appealing to the younger generation of esports enthusiasts.

"I think for esports, nobody's unlocked the golden trick to it, because the core focus for most of the traditional B2Cs out there has been traditional sportsbook players. Everybody is struggling on how to appeal to younger audiences who are into esports," Rozic explains.

He predicts that esports player transfers and signings may soon rival or even surpass those in traditional sports like football, highlighting the growing value and popularity of esports. Rozic believes that B2Cs and providers will continue to iterate until they find the winning formula for engaging Gen Z.

One of the unique challenges in esports betting is the constantly evolving nature of the games, with new weapons, characters, and updates regularly introduced. Rozic sees this as an opportunity for esports to lead the way in data automation, ensuring more reliable and accurate information compared to traditional sports, where manual data entry is still prevalent.

Rozic also touches on the integrity concerns surrounding esports, stating that the automated nature of esports data makes it more difficult to manipulate, and the integrity of esports players is arguably higher than in some traditional sports.

When it comes to the synergy between traditional sports and esports, Rozic observes that while there may be some overlap, esports has been a niche market for a long time. However, he sees the crossover becoming more complete as time goes on, with a growing number of punters betting on both esports and traditional sports.

Looking to the future, Rozic is eager to see which operator will crack the code and become the go-to platform for esports betting. He believes that the key lies in integrating the betting experience into the overall esports journey, focusing on the individual players rather than just the teams, as is the case in US sports.

As more Gen Z individuals enter the workforce, Rozic expects fresh ideas and approaches to emerge, emphasizing the need for a new mindset when tackling esports betting. He cautions against falling into the trap of doing things the old way, as esports presents a unique format that requires innovative thinking.

While the industry has experienced various "gold rushes" over the years, from esports to the US market and now Brazil, Rozic stresses that success doesn't happen overnight. It takes time, evolution, and iteration to crack the code and unlock the full potential of esports betting.

As the gaming industry continues to evolve, the insights shared by Ivan Rozic serve as a valuable reminder of the importance of adapting to the changing preferences of younger audiences and the need for innovation in the esports betting space. With the right approach and mindset, the industry is poised to unlock the vast potential of esports betting and engage the next generation of punters.