FIRST.bet's CEO, Tom Light, has voiced concerns regarding a recent study by Kambi that compares World Cup market coverage. In a LinkedIn post, Light claims that the report inaccurately portrays FIRST.bet's market coverage when juxtaposed with Kambi's offerings.
Light emphasized that in the main comparison, 11 out of the 13 negative marks against FIRST.bet were incorrect. "We have many settled customer bets, each with a unique and auditable Bet ID, proving those markets were live," he stated. He pointed out that the remaining two discrepancies involved niche markets, specifically, those only covering the second 15 minutes of extra time. Despite selective market choices, Light believes Kambi misrepresented their performance.
The CEO also highlighted issues with another table addressing penalty markets, arguing that three markets labeled as unavailable on FIRST.bet were, in fact, operational during the World Cup, allowing for settled bets. This further substantiates FIRST.bet's claims about their market coverage capabilities.
Light stressed the importance of these inaccuracies, noting that Kambi's report has been circulated among operators, customers, partners, and investors. He pointed out how misleading information can affect the perception of sportsbook providers among potential clients.
Before making his observations public, Light reached out to Kambi's CEO, Werner Becher. He mentioned, "To his credit, Werner responded quickly and said that if the inaccuracies were confirmed, Kambi would circulate a correction. We sent the evidence, including the relevant Bet IDs, but we are still waiting. Mistakes happen. What matters is correcting them, clearly and to the same audience that received the original information."
As sportsbook providers increasingly rely on market coverage and product comparisons, the scrutiny surrounding these metrics is likely to intensify.
