Pulse

OKTO – The Complete Package

Simon Dorsen, CCO of OKTO, reflects on a year of transformative growth and innovation in an exclusive interview ahead of ICE 2025. From groundbreaking product launches in Europe and the UK to pioneering payment solutions in LatAm and India, OKTO has continued to shape the future of payments with a sharp focus on localisation and regulatory excellence. Simon shares the highlights of 2024 and unveils how OKTO is gearing up for an even bigger impact in 2025.

OKTO made significant strides across Europe, LatAm, and India in 2024. What were the major milestones for the year, and which regions took center stage?

2024 has been nothing short of extraordinary for OKTO! We’ve been setting the standard for digital payment innovation, with Europe, Latin America, and India leading the charge. Trusted by 100+ global partners and having processed over €11 billion via the OKTO platform, we’ve proven our commitment to operational excellence and cutting-edge solutions.

This year, we made waves with the launch of OKTO.WALLET online in Romania and OKTO.DIRECT in the UK, giving operators a taste of next-gen payments. In Latin America, we pushed boundaries with OKTO’s U4C Authorization of Paraiba Lottery, the launch of OKTO Bank in Brazil, and Payment Orchestration in Mexico and Argentina. And let’s not forget India, where we debuted OKTO.CASH, capturing the essence of a booming, dynamic market.

We didn’t stop there—expanding further in Germany, Greece, the Czech Republic, and Switzerland. Wrapping up the year with a bold entry of our eWallet into Italy’s PVR market, we have proven that payment innovation and operational excellence know no borders.

With OKTO’s acquisition of Aplauz CH, what drove this strategic move, and how does it accelerate your expansion in Switzerland?

Our decision to acquire Applauz CH GmbH wasn’t just strategic—it was transformative. By bringing Applauz into the OKTO group, we’ve opened the door to scaling up in Switzerland and delivering unparalleled payment experiences to the market.

This acquisition seamlessly transitioned Applauz’s prepaid service into OKTO.VOUCHER, maintaining strong ties with online merchants. But the real game-changer? The planned rollout of our OKTO.CASH service already trusted across Europe, giving Swiss merchants and users a frictionless way to bridge cash and digital payments further. 

Under OKTO’s leadership, Aplauz CH GmbH holds the necessary regulatory approvals from the Self-Regulatory Organization (SRO) VQF to offer both OKTO.VOUCHER and OKTO.CASH services in Switzerland – further enhancing our impressive licensing portfolio.

OKTO.CASH and OKTO.WALLET form a unified payment ecosystem. How do these solutions work together to meet the unique needs of operators and their customers?

Think of OKTO.CASH and OKTO.WALLET as the perfect duo for iGaming—two solutions that work hand-in-hand to revolutionise payments for operators and players alike for instant pay-ins and payouts.

OKTO.CASH makes depositing funds fast and hassle-free, while OKTO.WALLET not only handles seamless withdrawals but also supercharges the player experience with the OKTO Visa Card for instant access to funds. Together, they create a closed-loop ecosystem for pay-in and pay-out, designed for ultimate simplicity and security.

Operators love it. Players can’t get enough of it. And the iGaming ecosystem just keeps winning. 

When it comes to customer adoption of cashless solutions, how would you reflect on OKTO’s achievements over the past 12 months? Have there been any advancements fuelling this growth?

This year, we set out to revolutionise cashless payments in gaming—and we delivered. With OKTO.DIRECT, our cutting-edge retail payment gateway, we brought our vision of a cashless, Apple Pay-like experience on gaming machines to life.

The results? Game-changing. The UK became our proving ground, where sign-ups skyrocketed—50 times more users in just 12 months compared to the past three years combined of wallet. This isn’t just progress; it’s a cashless payments revolution in full swing. 

Looking ahead, Romania and Spain are gearing up to roll out the service soon, staying attuned to local market nuances. For instance, in Spain, we prioritised enhancing user adoption by integrating Bizum, a trusted local payment method, to ensure a seamless and familiar payment experience. We’re proud of how far we’ve come, but for us, the journey is just beginning. 

What’s on the horizon for OKTO in 2025? What are the market goals shaping your vision for the future?

The future is bright, and 2025 is shaping up to be a milestone year for OKTO! We’re laser-focused on expanding into high-growth markets like Asia and North America, all while strengthening our strongholds in Latin America, Europe, and India.

In Europe, we are prioritising growth in Italy, where we aim to meet the demands of the PVR IT market with the expansion of our wallet service. Simultaneously, in Brazil, we are advancing further with OKTO Bank, offering enhanced banking and investment services. Building on this momentum, we are accelerating the rollout of our payment orchestration services across Latin America and India. Moreover, we are expanding our trusted OKTO.CASH solution into additional markets, further solidifying our presence and delivering value globally. Additionally, the continued expansion of our OKTO.CASH & OKTO.WALLET complete ecosystem will continue to drive seamless payment solutions for merchants and users alike.

With a presence in 20+ markets across three continents, we’ve built a reputation for innovation and adaptability. 

Our goal? To deliver payment solutions that are as unique as the regions we serve, empowering merchants and users alike. Additionally, we remain open and flexible regarding new markets as well as industries, selecting them based on their appeal for our services with a data-driven approach or at the request of our strategic partners, with whom we build strong relationships supporting them with a robust payment platform and services. By staying bold, agile, and customer-focused, we’re not just keeping up with the future of payments—we’re shaping it.

As 2024 unfolds, what milestones is OKTO aiming to achieve, and how pivotal is ICE in helping you reach those goals?

2024 has been a year of bold moves, and ICE is one of the ultimate stages for our ambitions to move forward, a springboard for our goals in the beginning of the year. We’re setting our sights on expanding product offerings, forging deeper merchant partnerships, and making waves in new markets. At ICE, we’re not just showing up, we’re showing off with our biggest presence ever! From OKTO.WALLET and OKTO.CASH to tailored solutions for Brazil and advanced payment orchestration and cashless payments, our networking lounge 4A32 is where payment innovation takes centre stage. 

For visitors attending the show, where can they find OKTO, and why should your booth in Barcelona be a must-visit destination?

If you’re heading to ICE Barcelona, you won’t want to miss us at OKTO’s Networking Lounge 4A32. We’re bringing the complete package with live demos of OKTO.WALLET, OKTO.CASH, OKTO.DIRECT, and our cutting-edge payment orchestration services and cross border tailored for LatAm and India. Plus, we’re unveiling exclusive insights into our Brazilian solutions through OKTO Bank, showcasing PIX banking innovations designed to redefine payment standards.

What sets us apart? Our unwavering commitment to operational excellence, a localised approach that resonates with regional markets, and our expertise in navigating regulatory requirements. It’s how we’re delivering solutions that not only comply with local regulations but are also tailored to meet the unique needs of each market.