Rostyslav Likhtin, DATA.BET: “We plan to elevate the user experience to a new level for both our partners and the end-users of our solution”

Ahead of ICE Barcelona 2026, DATA.BET’s Head of Product Rostyslav Likhtin discusses data integrity, AI-driven automation, and the key product and market trends shaping the future of esports betting.

Exclusive interview.- As esports betting continues to mature, operators are increasingly focused on accuracy, scalability, and user confidence. In this interview with Focus Gaming News, Rostyslav Likhtin, head of product at DATA.BET, reflects on the company’s strong 2025 performance, including a significant boost in profitability, and explains how advanced risk management, automation, and AI-powered models are driving sustainable growth. Looking ahead to 2026 and ICE Barcelona, Likhtin shares DATA.BET’s priorities around personalisation, microbetting, deeper league coverage, and regulatory readiness, outlining how the company aims to stay ahead in an increasingly sophisticated and competitive market.

As you prepare for ICE Barcelona 2026, what are your main goals for the exhibition, and what role does the event play in DATA.BET’s global expansion strategy for the year ahead?

We see the show as an essential element of DATA.BET’s global development strategy for the year ahead. The main goals of ICE 2026 are threefold. First, we aim to support existing partnerships. We will conduct in-person meetings to review results. We will also align on plans for the new year. Second, we want to attract more partners and contacts. DATA.BET is set to expand our network significantly. Third, we seek to deepen our market understanding. We will analyse trends, competitors, and emerging solutions. This will be accomplished through direct conversations with industry participants. Overall, ICE plays a practical role in accelerating business development and helping us validate priorities for our global expansion.

Looking back at 2025, DATA.BET achieved remarkable growth in esports betting performance, including a 79 per cent profit increase in Q3. Which specific product or trading enhancements do you believe were most decisive in driving this momentum?

In 2025, a key factor behind DATA.BET’s growth was our focus on trading tools and process automation. One of the most decisive improvements was a significant upgrade to our Risk Management System in sports models. While this functionality existed before, we enhanced the ability to automatically adjust odds based on load and player behaviour, with individualised line corrections tailored to each partner’s specific needs. Another key improvement involved broadening our market coverage depth across the Top-4 esports disciplines, offering operators a wider range of betting markets and more comprehensive wagering options. At the same time, we worked closely with existing partners, supporting them in using esports content more effectively, and we connected new partners, which added additional volume and supported scaling. Together, these steps created the momentum that enabled strong technical and financial growth, as evident in the Q3 2025 results.

AI has been a recurring theme in the industry. How will DATA.BET further incorporate AI-driven technologies in 2026, particularly for personalisation, predictive analytics, or risk management?

AI is undoubtedly a powerful tool that is already reshaping many industries, especially technology products. We were among the first in the market to utilise neural networks for building our models across various sports, recognising objects in broadcasts, and ranking sports events for specific users. Therefore, for us, this is not something new. When we speak specifically about LLMs, we are actively implementing them to automate routine tasks, saving our team a significant amount of time. 

Looking ahead to 2026, our plans include expanding personalisation and developing match-level betting suggestions. At the same time, the market already has similar “tips” solutions. We recognise the value that existing players bring to the space, and we see an opportunity to contribute by focusing specifically on recommendation accuracy and consistency. We care deeply about end-user comfort, so we prioritise delivering reliable insights that users can trust and act upon confidently.

“AI is undoubtedly a powerful tool that is already reshaping many industries, especially technology products. We were among the first in the market to utilise neural networks for building our models across various sports, recognising objects in broadcasts, and ranking sports events for specific users.”

Rostyslav Likhtin, head of product at DATA.BET.

Your coverage of esports continues to expand, both in scale and depth. Do you expect to introduce new disciplines, markets, or Player Props verticals next year, especially as titles like League of Legends and Rainbow Six show strong growth?

We do plan to continue expanding our coverage and product capabilities, but at this stage we’re not ready to share specific details about new disciplines, markets, or Player Props verticals. We’ll communicate updates as soon as we can, so the best way to stay informed is to follow DATA.BET on our official channels.

From your perspective, what will be the main industry trends shaping esports and betting in 2026 – whether in content formats, regulatory developments, or user behaviour – and how is DATA.BET preparing to stay ahead?

We expect microbetting to continue growing, and esports has strong potential in this direction in 2026. Our team also anticipates increased demand for deeper coverage of local leagues, which helps avoid situations where bettors have limited options during low seasons or certain time windows. Another critical factor is that esports bettors are typically more knowledgeable about the game than sports bettors. Therefore, we will continue to invest in ranking and mathematical models to ensure our offerings remain accurate and competitive. Additionally, we continue to track regulatory changes in markets like Germany, where esports betting remains restricted, keeping these potential opportunities aligned with our expansion roadmap.

“We will continue to invest in ranking and mathematical models to ensure our offerings remain accurate and competitive.”

Rostyslav Likhtin, head of product at DATA.BET.

What are the company’s main objectives for 2026?

In the new year, we plan to elevate the user experience to a new level for both our partners and the end-users of our solution. Our objectives include expanding personalisation, further developing bonus mechanics, maximising content coverage by increasing both the number of markets and the number of events, and continuing the development of virtual sports by adding more disciplines and events. At the same time, we will continue our B2B expansion with our solution, which is built for operators, online casinos, and platforms.