Robert Kraft, CEO & Co-Founder of Atlas World Sports – iGaming Interviews

Robert Kraft, CEO and Co-Founder of Atlas World Sports, is a seasoned entrepreneur with a strong background in direct marketing and M&A. Known for scaling a previous venture to $60 million in revenue, Robert has been named a Top 100 Influential Figure in U.S. iGaming and is a two-time Inc. 5000 honoree, highlighting his leadership in high-growth businesses.

Atlas World Sports is a streamlined platform dubbed the “Expedia for Sportsbooks,” aggregating multiple sportsbooks and betting options in one interface. By consolidating data from multiple accounts, the app simplifies sports betting, offering users an efficient and personalized experience.

Can you share the story behind the founding of Atlas World Sports? What inspired you to create a platform dedicated to enhancing the sports betting experience?

You know, it’s funny how these things happen. I was in my office, back in May of 2018 when the Supreme Court overturned PASPA (The Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act of 1992), and it was like a light bulb went off. Right then, I knew the sports betting world was about to explode, and I had to be a part of it. Being a direct marketing entrepreneur, I saw a unique opportunity.

Everyone was rushing to become an operator, the “gold miners” of the industry. But I thought, why not partner with them instead? Why not create a platform that helps users navigate this new world, find the best odds, and ultimately, #BetBetter? That’s how Atlas World Sports was born.

Atlas World Sports is described as the “Expedia for Sportsbooks.” How did you arrive at this concept, and what key challenges did you face in making it a reality?

The idea came from my own experiences with travel booking. Remember the days before Expedia, when you had to call airlines and travel agents? Then Expedia came along and revolutionized everything. We saw the same potential in sports betting.

We wanted to create that one-stop shop where users could compare odds, access multiple sportsbooks, and get all the information they need in one place. It’s about making the experience seamless and efficient, just like Expedia did for travel. It’s also about giving the average bettor – or even professional bettors – tools that will help them make optimal wagers. Of course, building this wasn’t without its challenges.

We had to assemble a top-notch team, secure funding, and navigate the regulatory landscape, which brings with it a ton of red tape. But through strategic partnerships, constant innovation, and a focus on the user experience, we’ve overcome those hurdles and built a truly unique platform.

Personalization is a core part of Atlas World Sports. What specific features make the app unique in terms of personalizing the betting experience for each user?

We’re all about personalization. With Atlas World Sports, the user is in the driver’s seat. Our content feeds can be customized to each player’s choice of sports, leagues, or teams. We offer AI-powered predictions that analyze data and help our users with opinions and predictions.

We strongly believe our bet tracking, bankroll management, and odds comparison features are among the best in the business and can really help bettors make smarter decisions. Our goal is to build a global community of sports fans and bettors where they can connect, share their tips and opinions, ask questions, and engage in friendly competition.

In simple terms, we want Atlas World Sports to be a one-stop shop for all things sports betting.

How do you envision Atlas evolving to meet the future needs of sports fans, especially as betting and gaming technology continues to advance?

We’re always looking ahead. Our vision is to create a truly immersive and personalized sports entertainment experience.

We’re planning to launch localized versions of our app in Central and South America in the near future. I just returned from the SBC Summit Latinoamérica event in Florida. The excitement and potential surrounding this market is immense.

We’re also exploring the Metaverse and other immersive platforms to offer the kind of experiences during live sporting events that aren’t available anywhere else right now, and, of course, we’re always refining our AI algorithms and developing new features to provide the very best experience for our users.

Atlas recently acquired Lockspread, a popular daily fantasy sports (DFS) platform. Can you talk about what this acquisition means for Atlas and how Lockspread fits into the company’s broader vision?

The Lockspread acquisition is a major step forward in our mission to become the ultimate sports entertainment destination. By integrating DFS into our platform, we’re offering users even more ways to engage with their favorite sports and players.

Lockspread’s betting format adds a new dimension to our offerings, appealing to both casual and seasoned DFS players. This acquisition aligns perfectly with our vision of providing a comprehensive and engaging experience for all sports enthusiasts.

With the integration of Lockspread, what new features or experiences can users expect to see in Atlas World Sports in the coming months?

Primarily, our users will have access to Lockspread’s game formats and participate in “More or Less” contests and other DFS offerings. And they’ll be able to utilize our already existing sports betting tools and real-time data to help with their DFS strategies.

Again, becoming that one-stop shop for both sports bettors and fantasy players is what will set us apart.

You were recently recognized as one of the Top 100 Most Influential Figures in the U.S. iGaming Industry. What does this recognition mean to you, and how do you view your role in shaping the future of sports betting?

It’s an honor to be recognized alongside so many incredible leaders in the iGaming industry. I was really humbled to be on the same list with industry stalwarts like Contessa Brewer from CNBC, Illinois Governor JB Pritzker, and CEOs from the biggest sportsbook brands in the world, like Amy Howe at FanDuel and Jason Robins at DraftKings.

I see my role as a connector and innovator. We’re bridging the gap between sports fans, operators, and technology. We’re creating a more engaging and personalized experience for everyone. Finally, and maybe most importantly, we’re doing our part by advocating for responsible gaming and helping make sure there is a sustainable future for the sports betting industry.

With so many sportsbooks and DFS options available today, what makes Atlas World Sports stand out as the go-to platform for sports fans?

As mentioned, Atlas World Sports is more than a sportsbook or DFS platform. We’re building a comprehensive ecosystem where users can access all of the sportsbooks they play with in one place so they can compare odds and find the best lines, which is crucial to their success. We make it very easy for our users to see what their account balances look like, and what their profit and loss statement looks like, a crucial differentiating element that is helpful when it comes to responsible gambling and knowing your limits.

We also want the experience to be fun, so that’s why we always try to be forward-thinking and think about what the future will look like for sports bettors, a place where they can immerse themselves in cutting-edge technologies like the Metaverse.

Looking ahead, what do you see as the biggest opportunities and challenges in the iGaming and sports betting industry over the next few years?

The future of iGaming is incredibly bright. We see immense opportunities to penetrate new markets in the very near future and connect with a wider audience. It’s exciting to continue to see technological innovation. The sky is the limit when it comes to AI, the Metaverse, and other emerging technologies that are going to change and enhance the way we all watch and bet on sports.

But we’re realistic. We’re also well aware of the challenges that the industry faces with evolving regulations and promoting safe and responsible betting practices to protect users. And from Atlas World Sports’ point of view, we know full well that we have to continue to improve and advance our technology and user experience so we can stand out in a crowded market and attract new users.

That said, Atlas World Sports is well-positioned to capitalize on these opportunities and overcome these challenges. We’re committed to staying agile and user-focused. As Jeff Bezos famously once said, “We’re not competitor obsessed, we’re customer obsessed.” We’ve employed the same motto, and that keeps us laser-focused on our ultimate goal of helping our users become more informed and educated bettors.

Thank you for the great interview, readers who wish to learn more should visit Atlas World Sports.