Join host Haley Glover as she sits down with Oliver Pohl Sanchez, Commercial Director and investor at Stadiobet, a fast-growing social sportsbook and casino in Mexico. Oliver shares the journey of blending a lifelong passion for sports and gaming with his expertise in commercial strategy to create a community-first betting platform.
In This Episode, You'll Discover:
The Origins of Stadiobet: Oliver and his partner, Eric, identified a significant gap in the Mexican market for an interactive, community-focused online casino and sportsbook. They saw an opportunity to bring value to customers by offering a platform that addresses issues like slow payments and lack of engagement.
The Social Betting Concept: Learn how Stadiobet is revolutionizing the betting experience by integrating social media features (like sharing content, giving likes, and following influencers/tipsters) directly into the sports betting app. The goal is to create a unified platform—a "social sportsbook"—where users can bet and interact around sports content without the "noise" of general social media.
From Fan to Operator: Oliver discusses the surprising complexity of the gaming business, contrasting the customer's mindset ("the house always wins") with the reality of running an operation. He even shares how his business perspective has changed his view on rooting for his favorite team, Real Madrid.
Driving User Growth & Marketing Strategy:
The Importance of Data: Oliver emphasizes a focus on marketing channels with clear, measurable data, prioritizing organic growth through affiliates, content creators, and influencers over high-cost, non-measurable sponsorships like five-second TV ads.
Key Performance Indicator (KPI): Customer Acquisition Cost (CPA) is his main focus. Stadiobet aims for a CPA of $40-$50 USD for affiliates, significantly lower than the market average of $70-$120 USD for a first-time deposit in Mexico.
Building Trust and Loyalty: Stadiobet focuses on key factors for the Mexican market, including fast payments and strong loyalty programs. This includes giving 10-15% of lost money back to the player weekly to foster a sense of fairness.
Scaling and Innovation: Looking ahead, Stadiobet’s vision includes being the one-and-only platform for sports entertainment, focusing on new revenue streams (like localizing ads for brands) and embracing payment innovations like crypto. They also focus on providing key local payment options, like charging money through 7-Eleven stores in Mexico, which many competitors overlook.
Advice for Entrepreneurs: Oliver’s core advice is to "go for it," be open for change, be skeptical of everything, and "pivot fast"—testing concepts and adapting quickly, as a small, agile organization can do more effectively than large competitors.
Don't miss this insightful conversation on entrepreneurship, marketing metrics, and the future of social sports betting in Latin America!