Geolocation solution provider Mkodo has made significant strides in the lottery and igaming sectors, particularly in the newly legalized Ontario market. The firm’s proven GeoLocs platform plays a key role in this progression, according to Managing Director Stuart Godfree.
Can you tell us a little bit about mkodo and the things it does?
mkodo, a B2B supplier that provides mobile and front-end tech to igaming operators, including lottery, sportsbook, and casino, is an international award winner. We have over 20 years experience and deliver mobile-first solutions that create the best digital experiences in the lottery and igaming industry.
We were purchased by Pollard Banknote, a global lottery company. Our position as the industry’s leading expert in mobile app delivery has been strengthened by this acquisition. From designing mobile apps and website development to offering curated products for the lottery and igaming industry including GeoLocs, our geolocation certified service, we do it all.
How has the year 2022 been for the company so far, with the sector still recovering from COVID?
The continued openness of North American markets has been the most important topic for mkodo. We have been able to continue to develop and promote our products, including GeoLocs (our proven geolocation platform), which is exclusively designed for lottery and igaming.
Our focus has been on building new networks as well as spreading GeoLocs’ name and brand. GeoLocs has been a major focus for this year. We also focused on promoting GeoLocs.
Since over 10 years, we’ve supplied Canadian operators with websites and apps. This gives us a lot of experience with dealing with North America’s changing landscape.
Your geolocation product GeoLocs is being taken to SBC Summit Barcelona. We would like to know more about GeoLocs and its workings.
GeoLocs was created in 2009. It was the first time we released an igaming application. We had to create a geolocation compliance program as part of Apple’s App Store submission requirements. We knew we had an excellent product and that it was worth offering to the operators three years ago. We did it. The product was taken out of our portfolio and rebranded. It is now a simple software development kit that can be used by all lottery and igaming operators.
This service acts as a regulatory and location validation platform. The service works by taking location data from devices and verifying that it is valid (whether or not the information is true). This information is then used by GeoLocs to verify that the device is located in an approved region. GeoLocs may deny the user access to this service if they are not located in the regulated area.
Could you speak more about GeoLocs? Where is it operating at the moment?
Ontario is the most interesting market right now for GeoLocs. Since 2002, we have been providing the geolocation platform for Ontario Lottery Group’s apps. We have been providing the Ontario geolocation platform since then.
We are excited about the new market because we not only have an excellent reputation with OLG partners, but also understand the AGCO guidelines and market well. Our platform has been fully tested and ratified with thousands of requests per hour. We know our product can handle the traffic and load of large areas like Ontario. Furthermore, we are able to comply with any regulatory requirements in Ontario.
New clients have been added to our roster across North America. We will be announcing them later in the year. Geolocs is used by all of our clients in multiple countries.
What key features does GeoLocs deliver?
Geolocs’ development and evolution has spanned over twelve years. It’s an extremely mature product. GeoLocs’s main strength has been its ability to be managed by anyone. The product can be managed by operators without the need for mkodo. Operators can manage and create geo-boundaries themselves. That is one of the key features.
We have also worked with the product and approached it very closely from the app space (geolocation essential for lottery and igaming operators running apps). Our tooling is proven to help operators validate and verify their deployments of this technology in the app market. This integration is seamless, and it’s one its key benefits.
GeoLocs’ seamless functionality doesn’t stop there. GeoLocs doesn’t require users to install a companion application to confirm their location. It makes it easier to use the web and mobile apps.
It is also clouded so it can be operated in multiple countries and states around the globe. This makes it extremely available. GeoLocs is able to run on Azure as well as AWS Amazon Services. This gives it a lot of flexibility and high performance.
This is an excellent platform. It is very simple to use. It is also free from legacy and constraints that other vendors of geolocation services, like us, have. GeoLocs will delight many customers, as well as future customers.
Which are the biggest geolocation problems currently facing the industry?
There are several challenges facing the geolocation industry. Operators have had limited options because there was only one supplier on the market. Operators now have more options when it comes to choosing who to partner with, what they value in a supplier of geolocation, thanks to GeoLocs and the other market competitors.
GeoLocs is a dedicated company to the lottery and igaming sector. We understand operators’ needs when it comes geolocation, as well as the different jurisdictions and regulations. It is crucial to find a provider of geolocation. The different regulations and jurisdictions can make it difficult to navigate. This makes working with someone who understands this market invaluable.
Which are the most significant changes in geolocation technology that you have seen recently? How are these benefits for both the operator and end-user?
One of the most significant changes in geolocation that we have seen recently is the way the technology is being used not only for compliance but also for targeted marketing.
Operators can use geolocation technology (such as the one we use to create GeoLocs) for location-based advertising. It targets players within a specific region by sending them promotional offers or marketing messages. Geolocation technology is used to notify players about special offers if they happen to be near a casino or shop. It helps increase player engagement. Players also benefit from personalized and pertinent marketing information.
Other than geolocation, which other areas in the mkodo industry can be accessed for innovation and new development?
Our company is growing at an incredible rate and now offers all of our services and products to the lottery and igaming industry, from geolocation to custom apps that are built using a white label framework. We are focusing on our core offering, which is delivering best-in class, customized casino, sports betting, and lottery apps. Additionally, we have a growing list of clients that include big players in the industry.
We’ve seen an increase of operators who are interested in our consulting services. We have provided our expertise on all things, including app store guidelines and improved user experience.
