Following Sportradar’s acquisition of omnichannel platform provider Optima, the firm’s CEO Carsten Koerl said that the deal can elevate the sports betting capabilities of both brands.
Reflecting on the deal in an interview with SBC News, Koerl and Optima CEO Jacob Lopez praised the formation of this new one-stop-shop data, betting, trading, marketing and player management platform business.
Koerl described the Seville based supplier as being ‘highly attractive’ to Sportradar, bolstering its progression to a ‘360 product portfolio offering a full sportsbook solution for clients’.
He added: “The acquisition is an integral part of our future growth. The platform will extend our current risk management and trading solution, Managed Trading Services (MTS), to effectively make us a complete betting, trading and platform business.”
Looking ahead, Koerl revealed that expansion is at the heart of the acquisition, specifically in the US: “One of the key reasons behind our decision to acquire a platform is because of the ongoing emergence of legalised betting markets, such as in the US,” he explained.
“In line with some of our core objectives, we believe this will lead to a more transparent and nascent sports and betting industry worldwide and, ultimately, we want to help our sports and betting clients to reap the benefits.
“With almost two decades within the industry, we understand the uniqueness of each global market and why having a one-stop-shop sports betting provider is so expedient for clients. In the US in particular, the platform gives us a greater degree of control for if and when licensing opportunities arise in newly regulated states.
“With it we are better able to meet local requirements, which is crucial in the various markets across the US and the rest of the world.”
Meanwhile, Optima’s Lopez described it as ‘a natural step for Optima’, adding: “I think the combination of Sportradar products and services with the OptimaMGS platform not only cover all services an operator needs today, but are those that a leading operator will definitely demand from a top quality turnkey sports betting and gaming solution.
“Our products are rich in functionalities and are designed to perform, to scale and to be flexible. The combined forces of Sportradar and Optima are no doubt creating the organisation with the strongest potential in the worldwide B2B market today.
“I doubt there could be anyone in my position that would not be very excited. I’m really lucky to be able to push forward this vision.”
