Softswiss: Staying Ahead of the Curve

_{Softswiss celebrates 15 years of innovation in iGaming. (Image: Courtesy of Vitali Matsukevich)}

Sports betting and online casino software developer Softswiss supplies a wide range of certified solutions to iGaming operators around the world. 

With offices in Georgia, Poland and Malta, the firm recently celebrated its 15th birthday and prides itself on being able to deliver innovations offering high standards of customer service, data security and platform stability.

Casinos.com caught up with the Chief Operating Officer for Softswiss, Vitali Matsukevich, to speak about the company’s beginnings, its large array of solutions and its plans for the future. 

Can you tell us a bit about the emergence of Softswiss from July of 2009 and what have been some of the company’s most momentous milestones?

Since its founding by Ivan Montik, Softswiss has transformed from a small startup into a global iGaming leader. What began as a small venture has now become a tech giant with over 2,000 employees around the world and a reliable reputation as an innovator and trusted partner for more than 1,200 iGaming brands. 

In 2013, Softswiss made history by becoming the first provider to introduce cryptocurrency integration into the iGaming world. This was a game changer that boosted our success further. 

Over the years, Softswiss has complemented its primary product, the Casino Platform, by expanding its product portfolio with the Game Aggregator, Jackpot Aggregator, Sportsbook and the Affilka affiliate management platform.  

Did your firm do anything special during 2024 to mark its 15th birthday? 

Last year was a landmark period for Softswiss and we marked 15 years in business by integrating year-long commemorative campaigns into our marketing activities. We additionally expanded into new and promising markets such as South Africa via the acquisition of a major stake in Turfsport, which is a local wagering software provider. 

We also integrated a trio of new products into our sportsbook in the Lotto Software, Retail Betting Solution and Horse Racing modules. 

Among the latest achievements, I’d like to highlight that our game aggregator has reached over 27,500 games, officially becoming the largest content hub in the industry. Overall, Softswiss’ journey confirms that staying ahead of the curve requires continuous development and readiness to adapt to ever-changing industry demands.  

Your Game Aggregator solution was recently certified for use by operators in Brazil ahead of that nation’s January 1 launch of a regulated iGaming market. What were some of the challenges you faced in getting this innovation authorized?  

The booming Brazilian market has attracted lots of iGaming companies seeking local certification. However, this process comes with many challenges, particularly a complex tax landscape that pushes the overall tax rate above 50%. In addition, the $5.9 million cost of a five-year gaming license has created a significant barrier for many applicants. 

Despite these hurdles, Softswiss was ready to ensure its solutions meet the strict legal and responsible gaming requirements of the region. 

Our game aggregator became the first aggregator in the industry to be fully certified for the Brazilian market, both technically and legally. 

This was the result of the diligent work of many Softswiss departments, including the local business development team and our non-executive director for Latin America, Rubens Barrichello. 

How has your newly authorized game aggregator advance been received by iGaming operators serving the Brazilian market? 

Although we have only recently received the certification, some leading operators with huge audiences in the local iGaming market, such as Blaze and Jonbet, are already cooperating with the Game Aggregator. I think this is a good sign of the trust and reliability that we bring to the table.

We have also secured integration with leading game providers, including Pragmatic Play, Evolution and Playtech, and are actively working on integrating additional providers to help our clients grow their presence in Brazil. I'm really proud of Softswiss being at the forefront of this transformation. 

You followed up getting your Game Aggregator advance authorized for use in Brazil by securing an analogous certification for Peru. Can you tell us how this certification came about and what you are looking to accomplish in Peru?  

We worked diligently on the certification process for our product in Peru, closely monitoring all developments, including timeline changes. 

I’m proud to say that we successfully achieved certification and were fully prepared to operate with Peruvian operators as soon as the new regulations came into effect in early January.

Peru and Brazil are key focus markets. The Peruvian gambling market is among the fastest-growing and most promising in Latin America, with projections indicating a compound annual growth rate of over 5.9% and a market volume of $420.6 million by 2029. 

Additionally, smartphone penetration is expected to reach 77.7% by the same year, opening up significant opportunities for the iGaming industry. 

What other jurisdictions do you envision expanding into over the course of the coming twelve months? 

We continue to expand our presence in South Africa and are also focused on obtaining local certifications for other promising markets. Stay tuned as exciting updates are on the way and we’ll be sharing more news soon.  

What new trends or technologies do you foresee coming to the fore in the next few years and how do you intend to approach these? 

From a technological perspective, the focus in the coming years will be on building integrated product ecosystems and addressing cybersecurity challenges. The speed and reliability of platforms play a critical role in retaining player loyalty, making security and compliance top priorities for the industry. 

At the same time, product ecosystems offer substantial advantages for both operators and players. For operators, these ecosystems simplify business operations, facilitate growth and enhance scalability by providing all essential products from a single and trusted provider. 

For players, ecosystems deliver a seamless experience, enabling them to enjoy casino games, place bets and process payments without the need to switch between platforms. This integrated approach fosters a more convenient and engaging environment for everyone involved. 

At Softswiss, we excel in building these ecosystems and remain a reliable partner for our clients, ensuring they have the tools and support needed to thrive in this evolving landscape.  

You will be exhibiting your products at Spain’s Fira Barcelona Gran Via from January 20 to 22 as part of ICE Barcelona. What can attendees expect to see on your stand?  

We will be bringing our new creative, ‘Hungry for Success? Dive in with Softswiss’ campaign to ICE Barcelona. This concept is built around the image of a shark symbolizing our leadership, strength and commitment to driving progress in the iGaming industry. Just as sharks don’t follow currents but steer them, Softswiss sets trends and leads the way.  

Inside the venue, visitors to stand 2G42 will be guaranteed an engaging and memorable experience. They’ll find a fully immersive space equipped with 360° panoramic content featuring extended reality technologies. 

But our surprises extend beyond the venue itself, as we will be adding a unique local touch to our presence. Inspired by Barcelona’s vibrant culture, we’ve collaborated with talented local artists to create a pop-up performance near the venue entrance and you won’t miss it if you’re attending ICE Barcelona. 

What one innovation are you most looking forward to showing off to those attending the Barcelona exhibition? 

We’re incredibly excited to introduce our Sportsbook Network Jackpot at ICE Barcelona. We designed this solution to connect multiple brands within one network campaign that shares a collective prize pool. This solution benefits both operators and players. Operators can offer larger rewards without bearing additional costs while players get the chance to win big and enjoy a more thrilling and engaging gaming experience.  

The network jackpot mechanics have a confirmed economic effect, with our research showing this tool can boost average transactions per user by nearly 30%. The concept has been successfully tested in the casino segment where we launched the Prime Network Jackpot campaign with a €1 million prize pool. 

We’re now bringing this success to the sports betting sector and I’m sure it will attract significant attention from operators.  

As the number of participants grows, we expect the excitement in the industry to increase. This is a solution that really sets Softswiss apart and we invite visitors to our stand to learn more about this tool and how to integrate it into their projects.