BETBY: 24/7 Live Chess Betting is Here
BETBY launches industry’s first 24/7 live chess betting content with proprietary live model, transforming chess into a mainstream betting vertical for sportsbook operators worldwide.
Key Takeaways:
- First-ever 24/7 live chess content for betting, developed entirely in-house by BETBY
- Chess engine tournaments provide continuous, high-quality content with structured seasonal format
- Launch coincides with upcoming FIDE World Rapid & Blitz Championships 2025
Continuous Chess Betting Arrives
BETBY has introduced the iGaming industry’s first 24/7 live chess content, supported by a fully in-house developed live model. This innovation addresses a fundamental challenge in chess betting: the lack of continuous events that previously limited engagement and prevented operators from offering consistent betting options.
The solution came through chess engine tournaments, where leading chess programs compete under standardized conditions with unified hardware settings and long time controls. These tournaments follow a round-robin and playoff structure, ensuring games reach either a decisive result or a theoretical draw, creating reliable content flow for sportsbooks.
Sophisticated Modeling for Complex Gameplay
Developing accurate live models for chess engines presented significant challenges due to the complexity of chess systems and the vast number of possible moves. BETBY’s product, trading, and AI teams collaborated to build a modeling framework that supports various live market offerings, including winner markets, handicaps, total rounds, and in-play options.
“Introducing continuous live chess is a turning point for both our team and the industry,” said Kirill Nekrasov, Head of Sportsbook Product at BETBY. “For the first time, operators can offer a stable stream of premium chess content supported by a sophisticated live model, even in a format as demanding as engine-vs-engine competition. This is the foundation for chess becoming a mainstream betting vertical, and we’re only just getting started.”
Strategic Timing and Future Plans
The launch timing aligns with the upcoming FIDE World Rapid & Blitz Championships 2025, allowing chess enthusiasts to remain engaged with the sport even outside active tournament hours. When official competition pauses, BETBY’s 24/7 chess ecosystem enables continued betting activity as a natural extension of the event.
BETBY is already working on expanding coverage and adding new tournaments, positioning chess as an important engagement driver for sportsbook operators. The company views this as just the beginning of its chess betting innovation strategy.
ICE Barcelona Showcase
This development precedes BETBY’s major brand activation at ICE Barcelona 2026, where the supplier will demonstrate its long-term investment in chess betting. The showcase will feature global brand ambassador Magnus Carlsen, world number two Hikaru Nakamura, and leading chess content creator Levy Rozman (GothamChess).
BETBY invites all ICE attendees to visit stand 5K20 to experience the activation and explore its latest sportsbook innovations.