Payments is an industry constantly shaped by emerging technologies, and the gaming sector is no different. Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) have emerged as two of the biggest talking points in the tech scenes of both industries.
Nick Tucker, Co-Founder and CRO at Paytently, a B2B2C payments specialist and sponsor of the upcoming Payment Expert Summit in Lisbon, explains how the payments orchestration platform is incorporating both technologies into its operations, and what opportunities this poses.
What elements of SBC Summit work so well for your organisation, and why is it important for you to be there this year?
The SBC Summit 2024 is a dynamic event that aligns perfectly with one of our focus verticals and expertise in the gaming sector, offering us valuable networking opportunities, engaging discussions, and insights. It’s a key platform for strengthening our relationships with merchants, by understanding their current needs and interests.
This year, it’s especially important for us as we’re unveiling Paytently’s exciting new brand, showcasing a bold new look that reflects our commitment to forging authentic connections and captures the vibrant energy and future growth trajectory. The event also allows us to reconnect with industry friends and partners, some of whom we’ve collaborated with for over a decade, making our participation even more meaningful.
What’s your key objective at this year’s event and what are the main products/services you’ll be promoting?
Our key objective at this year’s SBC Summit is to strengthen our presence in the gaming sector by deepening relationships with existing partners and forging new connections with potential clients. We’re excited to unveil Paytently’s new brand, which highlights our evolving identity and capabilities.
Alongside the rebrand, we’ll be presenting our comprehensive payment orchestration platform, designed to optimise transaction success and enhance the overall payment experience for merchants in the gaming industry. With regulation becoming increasingly complex we are focused on delivering unique, tailored payment solutions for our clients that help them grow in a compliant manner.
What would you highlight as the biggest opportunity in the betting and gaming industry over the next couple of years?
The integration of AI and machine learning ML presents a significant opportunity for gaming companies to enhance customer experiences while also cutting costs. For instance, Klarna recently reported that AI helped them achieve 37% cost savings, equating to roughly $10mannually. Beyond reducing expenses in areas like customer support, AI can also deliver more interesting and engaging games, through tailored concierge gaming experiences, which capture the imagination of the player.
Another key opportunity is the growing adoption of alternative payment methods (APMs), particularly cryptocurrencies. Crypto-native platforms such as Stake.com and Shuffle.com are flourishing due to their flexible licensing and global reach, especially in emerging markets like Africa and Southeast Asia, where mobile internet and digital payments are rapidly expanding. As a result, we are likely to see more mainstream operators launching crypto only brands.
What elements of your business do you feel are best placed to take advantage of that opportunity?
We’re able to take advantage of these opportunities because we’ve designed our payments orchestration platform with advanced technologies, like AI, at its core. This allows us to offer our merchants innovative, automated payment solutions without the need for extensive in-house development. By building our platform from scratch with the latest tech, we have a significant advantage over legacy players, enabling us to quickly adapt and deliver cutting-edge payment capabilities that meet the evolving needs of the betting and gaming industry.
What areas of the business should we be looking to for innovation in the next 12 months?
Our product team is doubling down on innovation efforts over the next 12 months. We’ve focused on finding ways to control and disrupt the entire lifecycle of a transaction end-to-end, which would level up our entire product experience.
This means not only will we provide a full, one-stop shop experience from obtaining a payment to routing, settlement and managing funds through business banking, but we will do it seamlessly allowing merchants to focus on growing their customer base rather than payments or treasury.
What new technology do you feel will have the biggest impact for stakeholders?
The most impactful technology for Paytently’s stakeholders will be ML, particularly its role in optimising transaction acceptance rates, cost efficiency and payment speed. ML will personalise user experiences, enhance security through behavioural biometrics, and continuously improve system diagnostics. This means our clients will get to enjoy even higher transaction success, reduced costs and improved customer satisfaction.
What core challenges do you help solve for your customers/partners?
Our clients operate in highly regulated environments with complex requirements and rigorous compliance standards, which pose significant challenges, especially in managing relationships with acquiring bank partners. Paytently helps navigate these complexities by leveraging our deep expertise and broad network of acquirers.
Our reliable payment orchestration platform enables clients to scale efficiently, enter new markets seamlessly, and safeguard their revenue, all while ensuring compliance and minimising risk. We empower our clients to focus on growth, knowing their payment operations are in trusted hands.
What are you hoping to learn from the conference at SBC Summit and which elements of the agenda will you be focusing on the most?
We’re keen to gain deeper insights into the latest industry trends, regulatory shifts, and emerging technologies that are shaping the future of the gaming sector. Our goal is to leave the SBC Summit with fresh ideas on how to further enhance our products to better serve our clients.
We’re particularly interested in sessions focused on payment solutions, player engagement strategies, and the evolving regulatory landscape, as these areas are crucial to our mission of delivering tailored solutions that optimise gaming operations. Additionally, we’re excited to network with industry leaders, exchange ideas, and explore collaborations that could drive future growth.