The Malta Gaming Authority (MGA) is the ‘ideal platform’ for Pinnacle Solution’s ambitious growth plans as it looks to partner with more sportsbooks in more markets. That was a key message from Pinnacle Solution CEO Paris Smith.

Speaking to SBC News, Smith explains how the sportsbook management software provider plans to stand out from the competition in Malta before giving us a snapshot of what delegates can expect at ICE 2022 next week.

SBC: Congratulations on the MGA licence! Can you walk us through the licensing process?

PS: Being approved by respected bodies such as the MGA is a team effort and positions us well for strategic growth. It requires a company-wide effort to ensure our products and processes are up to scratch across every department, as well as being compliant with the high standards required. Fortunately, we’ve been operating at those levels for some time, so the process had more to do with the refinement and aligning ourselves with new criteria.

SBC: Why is the MGA licence so important for Pinnacle Solution?

PS: The MGA licence is widely respected around the world, particularly in Europe. Being approved for this licence means we can look to partner with more sportsbooks in more markets, and with ambitious growth plans in the coming months, the MGA is the ideal platform to support that.

We’ve proven our risk management expertise in arguably more challenging markets than those relevant to the MGA licence, and so we feel that we’ve got a ready-made solution that will empower more sportsbooks to optimise their betting action while driving more revenue in the process. From their point of view, operators can work with us and trust not just our brand name, but also our regulatory standing in whichever territory they are operating in.

SBC: How will Pinnacle Solution ensure that it delivers a first-class service for its partners in MGA-related markets?

PS: Delivering a first-class service is part of the package, wherever our partners operate and under whatever licence. This approval further confirms that in a tangible way, with the MGA known to only license those which meet its exacting standards.

Those who may not have chosen to, or were not able to, work with us prior to this Maltese licence, will now be able to experience what we have delivered to our growing list of 50+ partners. In short, that’s an ability to drive more revenue and maximise the hold on that enhanced action. We’ve done this for decades and we can’t wait to scale it up in the years to come.

SBC: Tell us a bit about how you will make sure that your trading practices and technology stack can be scaled quickly. 

PS: We develop our products and trading methods with best practice and a long-term vision in mind, while they’re also built on decades of operational experience. Our B2B, tech, and trading teams work together closely to ensure we meet the needs of all partners simultaneously, not just finding quick fixes for a couple at a time. And coupled with having a team of experienced sports betting specialists, this adds up to a development process that is robust and usable by various types of operator.

SBC: Malta is a very crowded marketplace – how do you propose to differentiate Pinnacle Solution from the throng?  

PS: There’s no shortage of sports betting suppliers out there, but our focus on the trading fundamentals and our significant commitment to esports betting over the past decade sets us apart from the majority of others out there. 

As trading functions become increasingly automated, many in the industry have seen that as an excuse to copy lines or to churn out market-average prices. Inevitably, this means a poorer product with a less profitable return for operators. Our risk management expertise ensures we can deliver more to partners, working to maximise the returns from their liabilities with pricing services and trading processes that have set the industry standard for years.

Similarly, when it comes to esports, few can match our heritage, in-house resources, and importantly, understanding of the unique esports community, who are increasingly looking to bet. We can quickly deliver an authentic, money-making esports product to partners who have struggled to engage with this audience, or simply want to see better performance from what is a challenging vertical to profit from consistently.

SBC: Finally, can you give us a sneak preview of the new esports product you will be launching at ICE?

PS: All I can say is that we’ve invested a lot of time into developing what we believe is already a pioneering esports offering. This launch is set to smash that out the water, providing end users and esports fans with a betting experience that matches – and in many ways – goes beyond what’s already available in the traditional sports world.

We’ve been refining it in recent months and ICE will be the first time the industry will be able to see exactly what an esports product should look and play like. We’re excited to hear delegates’ reactions, which I’m sure will be positive across the board.