Two Decades of Virtual Vision: DS Virtual Gaming Turns 20
In an industry known for rapid change and fierce competition, few names carry the weight and legacy of DS Virtual Gaming. From pioneering pre-recorded historical races to engineering ultra-stable transmission systems that perform even in low-bandwidth environments, DS Virtual has consistently chosen the path of quality over quantity, authenticity over imitation, and partnership over transactional growth. This anniversary feature isn’t just about looking back – it’s about doubling down on a vision that’s always been ahead of its time.
Through conversations with leaders across the company, from CEO Michael Matzner to regional heads and technical innovators, one thing becomes clear: DS Virtual is not just a content provider – it’s a catalyst for progress, a trusted partner to operators, and a standard-setter for what virtual sports can and should be. As the next chapter begins, the company remains focused on what has always set it apart: innovation with intention and a steadfast commitment to helping its partners grow shoulder to shoulder.
What’s your assessment of DS Virtual Gaming’s contribution to the virtual sports industry?
Michael Matzner, Chief Executive Officer: DS Virtual Gaming has been at the forefront of the virtual sports industry since its inception 20 years ago. As pioneers in this segment, we take great pride in being the first provider to offer truly historical races – all our games have been meticulously pre-recorded from the world’s most famous venues since day one. This innovation has set us apart by delivering an unparalleled level of realism and authenticity that operators and players alike value highly. Our contribution goes beyond just technology; it’s about creating immersive experiences that engage audiences and drive growth within the virtual sports market.
Over the past two decades, DS Virtual Gaming has consistently pushed the boundaries, combining cutting-edge technology with rich content to meet the evolving needs of operators worldwide. We see ourselves not just as a product provider, but as a trusted partner helping operators expand their offerings and capture new customer segments. Celebrating 20 years in this industry is a testament to our commitment to quality, innovation, and long-term collaboration with our clients.
In a saturated market, how has DS Virtual Gaming stood the test of time and adapted to new entrants?
Michael Matzner: In today’s increasingly saturated market, many focus solely on quantity, but at DS Virtual Gaming, we believe the true differentiator is quality. From the very beginning, our guiding principle has been to deliver the highest-quality virtual sports content, leveraging the latest technologies to create engaging and authentic experiences. We understand that standing out isn’t about simply increasing the number of offerings, but about refining and innovating the product to meet the exacting standards of operators and players.
By continuously investing in technological advancements and focusing on the realism and reliability of our historical race content, we have maintained a leadership position that new entrants find challenging to replicate. Our longevity is a testament to this approach – prioritising excellence and meaningful innovation over mere market presence, which allows us to consistently earn the trust of operators and grow alongside them in a competitive landscape.
What excites you most about the future of DS Virtual Gaming?
Michael Matzner: What excites me most about the future of DS Virtual Gaming is the unlimited potential to innovate, create, and deliver exceptional experiences to our partners and their customers. As technology continues to evolve rapidly, we are presented with endless opportunities to push the boundaries of virtual sports – enhancing realism, interactivity, and engagement like never before.
Our commitment to innovation means we are constantly exploring new ways to enrich our product portfolio, integrating emerging technologies to offer even more immersive and captivating content. This allows us not only to meet the changing demands of the market but also to anticipate and shape its future. Looking ahead, I am confident that DS Virtual Gaming will continue to set industry standards and provide our operator partners with groundbreaking solutions that drive growth and captivate audiences worldwide.
How do you reflect on being part of DS Virtual Gaming’s 20-year legacy?
Araksi Sargsyan, Chief Commercial Officer: Having been part of DS Virtual Gaming for over five years, I’ve had the privilege to witness firsthand how the company operates with an unwavering commitment to excellence. I often describe DS as a ‘quality lab’ – a place where every detail is carefully crafted and tested to ensure we deliver the best possible products. Being part of this 20-year legacy means contributing to a culture that values innovation, precision, and continuous improvement. It’s inspiring to work in an environment where quality is not just a goal but a daily standard, driving everything we do.
What is DS Virtual Gaming best known for?
Araksi Sargsyan: DS Virtual Gaming is best known for our responsibility and honesty. We deeply understand what true partnership means, and from the very start of any collaboration, we make it a priority to fully understand the operator’s needs and goals. We believe that successful partnerships are built on clear communication and aligned objectives. If we’re not on the same page from the beginning, it’s difficult to move forward. This transparent and thoughtful approach has been key to building long-lasting, trusted relationships with our partners.
What are your goals for the commercial department in the next phase of the company’s growth?
Araksi Sargsyan: Our goal for the commercial department is straightforward: to find and build meaningful business partnerships that allow us and our partners to grow successfully together. We don’t view our role as simply making sales – that’s why we don’t have a traditional sales team. For us, business development is about shared vision and mutual success. We are selective and unafraid to say no when our vision doesn’t align with a potential partner. True partnership means walking shoulder to shoulder, working closely to achieve common goals. This approach ensures long-term growth and sustainable success for all involved.
What innovations have played a significant role in DS Virtual Gaming’s longevity?
Ivan Francia, Head of Technical Department: One of the most critical innovations behind our longevity is the stability of our transmission. In virtual games, where there’s no alternative source for results, uninterrupted and reliable delivery is absolutely essential. That’s why we’ve continuously invested in strengthening the stability of our systems — it’s the foundation of trust with players.
Another key factor is our ability to adapt to challenging market conditions, especially in regions with limited internet infrastructure. We’ve optimised our technology to function smoothly with as little as 1–2 Mbps, ensuring accessibility without compromising performance. At DS Virtual Gaming, we don’t chase trends — we focus on proven, effective methods that ensure reliability, efficiency, and long-term success for our partners.
What are the biggest technical challenges when it comes to virtual sports?
Ivan Francia: One of the biggest technical challenges in virtual sports is ensuring real-time, uninterrupted delivery of the content, regardless of the operator’s infrastructure. Since there is no external verification source for virtual game results, even a short transmission failure can cause serious trust and operational issues. Another major challenge is adapting to varied technical environments — not every market has the same level of connectivity or hardware.
We need to guarantee that our system performs reliably in both high-tech and low-bandwidth conditions. This requires continuous optimisation of data efficiency, resource usage, and fail-safe mechanisms. Ultimately, the key challenge is to maintain high-quality, low-latency, and consistent service across all markets – and that’s something we’ve become highly specialised in over the years.
What emerging trends or technologies are central to DS Virtual Gaming’s strategy going forward?
Ivan Francia: AI is becoming increasingly central to our strategy, and we see it as a transformative force across every industry — including ours. At DS Virtual Gaming, we’re already integrating AI to optimise processes, automate support, and enhance system efficiency. It’s not just a trend; it’s a practical tool that’s helping us save time, reduce resource use, and deliver even greater reliability and performance. As we move forward, AI will continue to play a key role in how we innovate and scale our operations.
How are customer expectations from a virtual sports provider changing?
Yesika Rodriguez, Business Development Manager: Customer expectations are becoming more complex and diverse, and they vary significantly depending on the operator’s market experience, local regulations, and overall business vision. What works well in one region might not be suitable in another, so it’s essential for us to approach each partnership individually.
At DS Virtual Gaming, we take time to engage in detailed discussions with every client to understand their specific goals and operational needs. This allows us to adapt our offering and provide tailored solutions that align with their strategy. It’s not just about delivering a product – it’s about supporting performance. A big part of our development efforts goes into creating tools, features, and configurations that help operators optimise results in their specific environment. Flexibility and collaboration are more important than ever.
What’s DS Virtual Gaming’s approach to maintaining client relationships?
Yesika Rodriguez: It may sound simple, but the foundation of our client relationships is active listening. We fully recognise that we’re not physically present in every operational market — we can’t know the day-to-day realities as well as the operators themselves do. Our clients know their markets and their players better than anyone, so our role is to listen carefully, understand their feedback, and respond with the right solutions. This approach builds trust and helps us adapt quickly to real-world needs. At the end of the day, long-term partnerships are built on mutual respect and communication.
Are there new markets, customer segments, or products you’re particularly excited about?
Yesika Rodriguez: Every new market and potential client brings its own unique challenges and opportunities. That’s part of what makes our work so exciting. I firmly believe that we haven’t yet created our best product – there’s always room to improve and innovate to better serve diverse needs. Each achievement motivates us to push further and develop solutions that truly please all our partners. This continuous drive for excellence and growth is what excites me the most about the future.
How would you describe the business development strategy of DS Virtual Gaming?
Jessica Quevedo, Head of Business Development LatAm: My vision for DS Virtual Gaming’s business development is focused on smart expansion that fully respects and aligns with local regulations, challenges, and market requirements. At the core of any successful business development is knowledge — the more we understand the markets we enter, the better positioned we are to succeed.
This knowledge is built through attentive listening to our partners and gaining hands-on experience in each region. By combining these elements, we ensure our growth is sustainable, responsible, and tailored to meet the unique demands of each market.
What opportunities in Latin America are at the top of DS Virtual Gaming’s list of priorities?
Jessica Quevedo: Latin America is a still-growing market facing many regulatory changes and challenges. For many countries in the region, virtual gaming is still a new segment, and we see our role as planting the seeds for successful long-term operations that will bear fruit over time. What excites me most is that more markets are becoming regulated, allowing us to operate with greater confidence in countries like Peru, Colombia, Brazil, and Paraguay.
This regulatory progress is crucial because, as a provider, we collaborate exclusively with licensed operators, ensuring compliance and sustainability in all our partnerships. These developments create promising opportunities and reinforce Latin America as a strategic focus for DS Virtual Gaming’s growth.
Where do you see scope for expansion in the business?
Jessica Quevedo: We maintain close communication with regulators across many Latin American countries, providing them with detailed information about the virtual sports segment. Our goal is to encourage regulation that allows operators to access our portfolio smoothly and securely. We proactively share our certifications and technical documentation to ensure regulators fully understand how our products are built and operated.
We are happy to expand in any market that is open to our segment and supports legal operations. For us, any expansion must be wise and responsible, grounded in compliance and long-term sustainability.
