(AsiaGameHub) –   In this interview, Vagelis Bairlis, Head of Sales Operations at Altenar, discusses the company’s expansion strategy in Asia, the importance of localisation in regulated markets, and the technological advancements powering its sportsbook in the Philippines.

Interview.- Altenar is expanding its presence in Asia as part of a wider global growth plan. We spoke with Vagelis Bairlis, the company’s head of sales operations, regarding their strategy for entering regulated markets, the necessity of localisation for regional success, and the evolution of their sportsbook technology to satisfy shifting player demands.

Altenar has officially entered the regulated Philippine market through its partnership with ArenaPlus. What factors made the Philippines the ideal location for Altenar’s Asian expansion at this specific point in time?

The Philippines is among the world’s most dynamic and fast-expanding regulated iGaming markets, serving as an ideal target for Altenar’s Asian expansion. Supported by a proactive and clear regulatory framework from PAGCOR, the market provides the stability and long-term viability Altenar seeks when deploying its technology.

At this phase of global growth, the focus is on entering regions where a deeply rooted, compliant presence can be established. Collaborating with a top-tier, market-leading brand such as ArenaPlus enables Altenar to enter the Philippine market at the highest standard, showcasing the scalability, reliability, and regulatory readiness of its sportsbook solution.

“The Philippines is one of the world’s most dynamic and rapidly expanding regulated iGaming markets, making it the ideal focus for our Asian expansion”

Vagelis Bairlis, Head of Sales Operations at Altenar.

The Philippines is known as a highly mobile-first and sports-oriented market. What specific market trends did Altenar identify and aim to address prior to launching in the Philippines?

Our pre-launch research identified a digitally savvy demographic seeking a fast, interactive, and highly localised user experience. To address this, we utilized our flexible, widget-based front-end technology to create a customizable, zero-latency user interface. This adaptable framework enabled real-time layout optimization and the seamless integration of customized content, ensuring the platform remains highly responsive.

Crucially, we utilized this front-end flexibility to cater to the nation’s intense passion for basketball. Instead of a standard layout, we customized the interface to prioritize comprehensive, high-quality coverage of global giants like the NBA, as well as the PBA (Philippine Basketball Association) and other beloved local leagues, capturing the true essence of Filipino sports culture.

Localisation and enhanced PBA player props are key features of this partnership. How significant is localized content and the betting experience when competing in Southeast Asian markets?

Localisation is not merely important; it is the ultimate competitive edge in Southeast Asia. A generic, global sportsbook will not succeed here. In the Philippines, basketball reigns supreme, and the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) is a national obsession.

By introducing deeply localized content, particularly enhanced PBA player props and specialized end-game markets, we provide Filipino fans with a personalized way to engage with their favorite local athletes. True localization involves understanding the cultural nuances of what players wish to bet on and how they wish to view it. This precise customization is how Altenar assists its partners in outperforming rivals.

Live betting demand is growing rapidly across Asia. How has Altenar adapted its sportsbook technology to meet the specific expectations of Filipino bettors?

Filipino bettors expect live betting to be fast, intuitive, and seamless. To meet these high standards, Altenar has invested heavily in premium, official real-time data feeds, removing dependence on single-source streams. This guarantees faster odds updates and immediate bet acceptance.

We have modified our live-betting UI to include features such as Fast Markets and a customizable Bet Builder, optimized for mobile viewports. By eliminating the traditional latency of mobile browser betting and utilizing our proprietary rendering engine, we ensure that live betting is a fluid, real-time extension of the sporting event itself.