The СEO of the live casino provider ATMOSFERA, Yury Ermantraut, has answered the most pressing questions about the changes in the iGaming market, talked about upcoming product releases, revealed secrets of effective team management, and discussed brand ambassadorship in the new GBC Time interview.
The online gambling industry has always been transforming, which significantly affects the business running. How has the ATMOSFERA company changed since its foundation?
I would say it a little differently. Our industry is not transforming, it is expanding. I see new unique products, categories, and competitors with interesting offers appearing almost every day. Almost 60-70% of the market plays classic products. Undoubtedly, the development of the market calls us to offer them something new. We focused on the live casino category and developed Music Wheel. We always try to add to our products exceptional features that would add more interest without changing the user experience.
The recent announcement about the upcoming product has surprised the audience. May you tell our readers more about BlackJack?
We have been working on Blackjack all this year, for ATMOSFERA, it is the most important release of 2022.
Nothing tells a better story about a product than playing the product itself. Therefore, from November we will be happy to present our product to the world. In the first iteration, it will be classic blackjack, and in the second we’ll try to offer an interesting side bet.
In the next interview, I will be able to share the results and demand for this feature.
Are there any other upcoming products the audience should expect in 2024-2025?
This year only Blackjack, our product portfolio was replenished with three products – keno, auto roulette, and blackjack. We have already started working on a product from the show category. The plans are to launch at least two products from the show category.
The main driver of any company’s success is the team. What is the special and unique approach of the team at AMOSFERA?
We have already reached a stage, where the embedded principles and values from me, as CEO, not only reached each member of the team but began to be implemented within the micro-team. And this is already manifested not just in the team spirit, but in professional responsibility and independence. My task for the next year is to offer new interesting team-building things and principles for making the team stronger.
What are the top tips on team management in the gambling business? How to motivate the team members to achieve the goals?
In fact, everything is simple – people should love their work and get excited about what they do. Then your motivation, as the head of the company, is not particularly needed, because they are already passionate about their work. But of course, we must not forget that in difficult moments, crunches (unexpected tasks) need to act as an inspirer. All the basic principles of support and respect work here, and it is also necessary to give time to replenish strength after each difficult period. And it is also important, as a CEO, to be the main example for the team.
Brand ambassadors play an essential role in the company’s promotion and awareness growth online. Is there any special approach to the selection process of ambassadors and further communication with them?
We do not appoint brand ambassadors, we encourage people to share their expertise. Regular sharing experience makes a person an ambassador of the company in the public space, and only then do we try to further support and develop this in ATMOSFERA.
Can you describe the best brand ambassador for the ATMOSFERA company? What qualities or professional skills should a brand ambassador have?
A brand ambassador must love ATMOSFERA, and our values, enjoy working in this industry, grow as a professional, and be open to sharing his experience. Of course, this is a big responsibility, but any employee of the company can become an ambassador if he or she really wants to and makes an effort.
