Marek Suchar, Co-founder and Managing Director of Odin.gg, warns that equating esports betting with traditional sports is a misguided approach, highlighting the intricate nature of esports.
«Esports is not the same as football or tennis. It consists of rapidly changing digital environments, each necessitating specialized knowledge, infrastructure, and risk management strategies,» he commented during a discussion with SBC News.
In contrast to traditional sports, which feature relatively stable rules, esports landscapes change swiftly. Game updates can instantly alter the dynamics, compelling betting operators to modify their models and strategies rapidly.
Suchar underscores the importance of real-time risk management at Odin.gg
According to Suchar, many providers make a mistake by only offering odds feeds. While these feeds calculate and send probabilities to bookmakers, they fail to provide insights into bettor behavior.
«An odds feed is a one-way street,» he clarified. «If a game update disrupts models, the provider may not detect this until weeks later… By then, it may be too late to address the issues effectively.»
To mitigate the risks, Oddin.gg implements real-time risk management, facilitating what Suchar describes as a «two-way feedback loop.» Every betting slip is analyzed promptly, allowing for immediate adjustments to models. «Almost 80% of our total betting volume originates from clients utilizing our risk management solutions,» he indicated.
Suchar asserts that Oddin.gg’s strength lies in its blend of technology and human expertise. The trading team, consisting of over 100 experts, ensures that even subtle gameplay changes, such as small adjustments in Dota 2 or modifications to maps in CS2, are recognized and incorporated into live betting models.
«An odds feed without accompanying risk management leaves providers at a disadvantage, while risk management without expert interpretation may overlook critical context. Oddin.gg merges both approaches,» he stated.
Creating a sustainable ecosystem for esports betting
Suchar noted that the inherent volatility of esports betting makes it one of the most challenging markets for profitability. Extracting game data and generating accurate odds, especially during crucial phases of games like Dota 2 or League of Legends, adds to the complexity.
He explained that sustaining profitability becomes increasingly difficult in a landscape where rules and dynamics can change overnight. Every game patch, match, and tournament introduces variables that can expose flaws in static models. Without effective risk management, providers and operators often find themselves unclear about the causes of their losses.
Suchar emphasized that Oddin.gg has developed what he calls «the only comprehensive end-to-end solution on the market» to tackle these challenges, encompassing data processing, proprietary models, in-house trading, and flexible risk management.
«In an industry frequently fueled by hype, we prioritize stability and long-term profitability. That’s what operators require–and that’s the key to making esports betting successful,» he concluded.
