INSIGHT VIRTUAL SPORTS INSPIRED
Ian Freeman Chief Commercial Officer — Virtual Sports Inspired
What's your view on the role of virtual sports in the way audiences engage with sports and entertainment on a global scale?
Virtual Sports transform global sports and entertainment by offering 24/7 event accessibility across various platforms and jurisdictions. Tis anytime/anywhere accessibility has transformed the way fans consume sports, allowing them to enjoy their favourite games while commuting, traveling, or even socialising in a sportsbook like OPAP in Greece.
Te flexibility and convenience of Virtual Sports enable fans to participate in games and place bets at their own pace, regardless of time zones or personal schedules.
What is an optimal virtual sports betting experience in 2024?
To elevate the experience, Virtual Sports betting platforms should focus on authenticity. Using actual game footage from previous years or real-time data can create a sense of realism that attracts and retains sports fans. Tis approach facilitates users’ engagement with their favourite teams and players, fostering a deeper connection to the game.
Beyond betting, the experience should be entertaining and engaging, with dynamic gameplay, captivating visuals, and interactive elements that keep users hooked. Social features such as live chats, community events, and leaderboards can also enhance user interaction, creating a sense of community and friendly competition among users.
To provide an optimal Virtual Sports betting experience, it's crucial to deliver seamless access from any location, at any time. Whether users are at home, on-the-go, or in a local betting shop, they should be able to access and navigate the platform effortlessly.
By combining these elements, Virtual Sports betting platforms can create a unique and unforgettable experience that sets them apart from traditional sports betting options.
What differentiates Inspired's virtual sports portfolio?
Inspired's Virtual Sports portfolio stands out due to its unparalleled experience,
WIRE / PULSE / INSIGHT / REPORTS P126
Ian Freeman joined Inspired in November 2023 as Chief Commercial Officer — Virtual Sports. A seasoned industry veteran with more than two decades of experience in sports and iGaming, he has held leadership positions with two companies in global gaming and technology.
Before joining Inspired, Ian served as Chief Revenue Officer for FSBTech, a leading sports and iGaming platform provider, where successful launches in Ontario and South Africa demonstrated his focus on driving customer acquisition and retention, revenue growth, and global market expansion.
Ian was previously Vice President Global Business Development & Commercial at IGT PlayDigital, playing an instrumental role in the rollout of IGT PlaySports across North America and helping to drive the commercial growth of IGT PlayDigital’s iGaming content portfolio worldwide.
His impressive career also includes five years at Kambi, a leading sports betting technology provider, where he served as Chief Commercial Officer and was a member of the executive management team that navigated the company's successful IPO and gained a foothold in UK and Colombian markets.
Our design process maintains flexibility, placing a strong emphasis on creating games that deeply resonate with
players' desires. Development and delivery are collaborative efforts, led by a team with a unique blend of creative flair and sharp mathematical acumen. This includes our
esteemed Virtual Sports design team, recognised for their BAFTA award-winning
achievements and meticulous attention to detail in crafting lifelike player experiences.
innovative approach, and diverse offerings. With more than 25 years of expertise, we were the first to develop a virtual horse race and have since perfected the art of blending high-quality graphics, engaging gameplay, and extensive betting markets to deliver an immersive experience for users.
Our design process maintains flexibility, placing a strong emphasis on creating games that deeply resonate with players' desires. Development and delivery are collaborative efforts, led by a team with a unique blend of creative flair and sharp mathematical acumen.
Tis includes our esteemed Virtual Sports design team, recognised for their BAFTA award-winning achievements and meticulous attention to detail in crafting lifelike player experiences.
We prioritise intuitive designs and the seamless integration of our products to guarantee visually stunning and seamless experiences for our esteemed Tier 1 operators and valued partners.
What further distinguishes us are our exclusive licensed offerings, including NFL football, NBA basketball, NFLA football and eSports games tailored specifically for North American players and global eSports enthusiasts. Additionally, our expansion into the V-Play lottery portfolio has solidified our reach, bolstered by strategic partnerships with leading lottery operators such as the Pennsylvania State Lottery and DC Lottery.
What are the latest simulation technologies, graphics and physics engines, and artificial intelligence advancements, and how are they helping to mimic the dynamics of real-world sports?
Simulation technologies, graphics, physics engines, and artificial intelligence are significantly boosting the realism of Virtual Sports, mimicking real-world dynamics and experience. We have invested heavily in the latest motion capture technology to ensure that our virtual representations closely mirror real movements and behaviours of professional athletes and deliver a similar kind of consumer experience to the real thing.
Artificial intelligence can further augment this realism by processing and interpreting captured data points. AI algorithms help in refining the animations and enhancing the
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84 |
Page 85 |
Page 86 |
Page 87 |
Page 88 |
Page 89 |
Page 90 |
Page 91 |
Page 92 |
Page 93 |
Page 94 |
Page 95 |
Page 96 |
Page 97 |
Page 98 |
Page 99 |
Page 100 |
Page 101 |
Page 102 |
Page 103 |
Page 104 |
Page 105 |
Page 106 |
Page 107 |
Page 108 |
Page 109 |
Page 110 |
Page 111 |
Page 112 |
Page 113 |
Page 114 |
Page 115 |
Page 116 |
Page 117 |
Page 118 |
Page 119 |
Page 120 |
Page 121 |
Page 122 |
Page 123 |
Page 124 |
Page 125 |
Page 126 |
Page 127 |
Page 128 |
Page 129 |
Page 130 |
Page 131 |
Page 132 |
Page 133 |
Page 134 |
Page 135 |
Page 136 |
Page 137 |
Page 138 |
Page 139 |
Page 140 |
Page 141 |
Page 142 |
Page 143 |
Page 144 |
Page 145 |
Page 146 |
Page 147 |
Page 148 |
Page 149 |
Page 150 |
Page 151 |
Page 152 |
Page 153 |
Page 154 |
Page 155 |
Page 156 |
Page 157 |
Page 158 |
Page 159 |
Page 160 |
Page 161 |
Page 162 |
Page 163 |
Page 164 |
Page 165 |
Page 166 |
Page 167 |
Page 168 |
Page 169 |
Page 170 |
Page 171 |
Page 172 |
Page 173 |
Page 174 |
Page 175 |
Page 176
