Esports Entertainment Group Inc., has signed a letter of intent to acquire certain assets of FLIP Sports Limited (FLIP). 

The deal includes the acquisition of staff and all intellectual property of FLIP, a mobile games studio that uses proprietary in-play, peer-to-peer technology to provide a unique multi-platform second-screen experience. 

Commenting on the acquisition CIO/CTO of Esports Entertainment Group, John Brackens, said:

“The FLIP team are leaders in building iGaming platforms that take the player experience to new heights. Their expertise will strengthen our efforts in esports and help us further create a best-in-class immersive experience for esports fans.”

While CEO of Esports Entertainment Group, Grant Johnson, added:

“FLIP has brought together a talented team with proven industry experience that we believe will provide immense value to Esports Entertainment Group as we enter a period of tremendous opportunity and rapid growth.

“As the first US-based iGaming company to list on NASDAQ, we are in a great position to capitalize on the fragmented esports market and will continue to pursue acquisition opportunities. FLIP is set to be the latest example of the success of our roll-up strategy.”

AYO.NEWS says:

Malta-headquartered EEG isn’t wasting any time in scaling its operations, and clearly has ambitions to dominate not just esports wagering, but also the sports betting and iGaming spaces too. 

At the end of last month, the company appointed Wall Street veteran Jeff Cohen as VP Strategic Planning & Investor Relations, while in July it acquired the assets of Argyll Entertainment, operating company of online sportsbook sportnation.bet. 

‘AYO.NEWS says’ features the opinion of the author and does not necessarily reflect the views of Pentagon Digital Limited or its affiliates or associates. 

All original content featured on this site is © Pentagon Digital Limited, 2020

Online gambling operator Celton Manx has signed a multi-year partnership with English Premier League club Leeds United. 

The record-breaking five-year deal will see the Isle of Man-based operator’s SBOTOP sports betting brand become the football club’s front of shirt sponsor for its new Adidas kit, and will also include training kit sponsorship. 

SBOTOP will also be Leeds United’s principal sponsor, with its branding featured on media interview backdrops and digital perimeter panels.

Commenting on the partnership Celton Manx/SBOTOP executive director, Bill Mummery, said:

“We are thrilled to enter into a relationship with Leeds United, a club with a rich heritage and an enormous fan base. We have experience of working in the Premier League and this strategic partnership allows us to work closely with the club as they enter into this next phase of their history, back in the top flight. 

“This agreement comes at a pivotal point in the development of our business in the Isle of Man. We are in the process of creating some 26 new local jobs to serve our expanding global online gaming product and are also significantly growing our risk trading capability at our Braddan headquarters.”

While Leeds United executive director, Paul Bell, added:

“Today’s announcement with SBOTOP represents a landmark day for Leeds United’s commercial strategy as we attract new global brands to our official partners programme.

“We have been in discussions with Bill Mummery and his team at SBOTOP/Celton Manx for some time, looking at various ways to work together and I’ve been very impressed by their experience and the proactive way in which they have looked to engage with the club. 

“Now that we have returned to the Premier League, we are in a position to work with SBOTOP on a truly global platform as we both look to achieve our goals.”

AYO.NEWS says:

Deals like this illustrate just how important gambling sponsorship deals are to English football – but there are dark clouds on the horizon, with growing calls to follow Spain in banning such deals. 

Previously, when it was in the English Championship, Leeds United was sponsored by Kindred’s 32Red, with Unibet branding on its training kit. 

‘AYO.NEWS says’ features the opinion of the author and does not necessarily reflect the views of Pentagon Digital Limited or its affiliates or associates. 

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Malta-based Gaming Innovation Group Inc. (GiG) reports Q2 2020 revenues of €16.7 million and an EBITDA of €2.8 million.

Financial Highlights

• Continued quarterly growth with revenues in Q2 2020 of €16.7m (11.3), 47% growth Y/Y and 49% Q/Q
• EBITDA in Q2 2020 was €2.8m (1.5), 93% growth Y/Y and 382% Q/Q. EBITDA margin of 17.0% (13.0%)
• Revenues in Media Services were €8.6m (8.6) in Q2 2020, EBITDA was €4.8m (4.7) with all time high for Paid
• Revenues in Platform Services were €8.2m (4.2) in Q2 2020, EBITDA was €-0.9m (-1.1)
• EBITDA for Sports Betting Services improved to €-0.9m (-1.5) due to reduction in operating expenses by 44%
• Cash flow from operations in Q2 2020 was €10.1m (3.2) and cash used in investing activities was €1.5m (3.5).

Operational Highlights

• The B2C vertical was divested to Betsson effective on 16 April 2020, with Betsson as a new long term customer on Platform Services
• Media Services continued its quarterly growth in both revenue and FTDs, up 5% and 22% respectively
• SkyCity’s successful online expansion in 2020 confirms GiG’s ability to transition a land based casino to online
• Signed long-term agreement with GS Technologies Limited for the provision of GiG’s platform and front-end development to a new casino brand
• The sales pipeline developed positively, however some of the final contract negotiations was delayed as land based operators came to terms with actions around Covid-19
• Cost savings initiatives are progressing according to plan, which is expected to further reduce operating expenses by year end 2020
• The number of employees decreased from 709 to 487 year-on-year
• The SEK300 million bond was repaid on 22 April 2020.

Events after Q2

• Signed three new long-term agreements for GiG’s platform including sports and managed services, further agreements are expected to be signed before year end
• The positive development continues after Q2, July revenues on adjusted basis were up 38% compared to same period last year
• The revenue guiding for continued operations for 2020 are increased to between €52 – 57 million, with an EBITDA expected in the range of €12 – 15 million.

Reflecting on the quarter GiG CEO, Richard Brown, said:

“Q2 was a strong start for GiG as its first quarter as a B2B only company, and the signings after the quarter confirm further my confidence that the Company can continue to grow and flourish which will deliver shareholder value in the years to come.”

Staying with GiG, last week the company announced it had signed a head of terms agreement with Grupo Slots, with a view to entering the Buenos Aires online gaming market in Argentina. 

Sports and esports betting supplier BETBY has been granted a supplier license by the Malta Gaming Authority (MGA). 

The new license will allow the company to supply its AI-driven sportsbook solution to operators in several European jurisdictions, offering a full end-to-end platform. 

BETBY’s flexible, fully-customisable solution can be tailored to offer regionalised content based on geolocation settings and a full suite of marketing tools, including BETBY’s UX-enhancing widgets. 

Commenting on the news Chief Executive Officer at BETBY, Leonid Pertsovskiy, said:

“Being awarded our MGA supplier licence is an important step for us as we continue to establish our presence as a leading sportsbook supplier.”

Last month, BETBY’s sportsbook and its esports offering, Betby.Games, which offers wagering on popular titles like FIFA, NBA 2K, and Rocket League, went live with iGaming solutions provider Advabet. 

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Global online betting operator Betway has announced a two-year sponsorship deal with top-flight Spanish football club Real Betis Balompié.

The partnership will see Betway’s logo featured on the club’s iconic green and white jerseys for the 2020/21 La Liga season, and will also include perimeter branding at the Benito Villamarin stadium. 

Commenting on the deal Betway CEO, Anthony Werkman, said:

“Real Betis play in one of the most popular leagues in the world, where we already have a tremendous presence. We couldn’t be happier to be partnering with one of the established clubs with a great history. We look forward to showcasing Betway to their fans and the people of Seville.”

While General Director of Business of Real Betis Balompié, Ramón Alarcón, added:

“At Real Betis we have been working in the digital environment for many years to increase the value of our advertising assets. This sponsorship agreement, which is the most important quantitatively in our history, recognises this work, for which we are proud. In addition, the agreement comes with a leading company in the sector, with scrupulous compliance with current regulations.”

Betway has been involved in La Liga shirt and betting partner sponsorships since 2018, and has also sponsored English Premier League club West Ham United since 2015. 

AYO.NEWS says:

With the new Spanish gambling sponsorship ban expected to be in place by the 2020/21 La Liga season, either Betway knows something we don’t, or they are being wildly optimistic and hoping the legislation gets held up or struck down at the European Union level. 

‘AYO.NEWS says’ features the opinion of the author and does not necessarily reflect the views of Pentagon Digital Limited or its affiliates or associates. 

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Paddy Power has apologised for using a homophobic slur in a marketing video. 

The Flutter Entertainment-owned betting brand is no stranger to controversial marketing, although its recent series of “Fan Denial” videos has played it fairly safe until now. 

The offending video, which has now been removed, was shared on social media following Arsenal’s FA Cup final win over Chelsea, and featured a fan saying “salty rent boy.”

Before Paddy Power removed the video, it attracted criticism from fan groups including Chelsea Pride, Gay Gooners, Proud Baggies, and anti-discrimination charity Kick It Out, whose chairman, Sanjay Bhandari, said:

“An advert like this is designed to provoke and does nothing to further inclusion in football. All it will do is encourage people to keep using this hideous language, not just on social media but in matches too.”

Responding to the incident, Paddy Power said “it does not condone the use of such derogatory terms.” 

Our statement regarding the homophobic video posted by @paddypower. Following the response from @kickitout and many other members for the #lgbtq football community. pic.twitter.com/BPAvNxueed

— Chelsea Pride (@ChelseaPride_) August 5, 2020

Yesterday, following @paddypower’s FA Cup fan denial video, we sent an email to CEO Peter Jackson. We highlighted continued actions & thought are needed more than one-off campaigns & our role to #CallItOut.

We’re glad to see the video has been removed & hope PP learn from this. pic.twitter.com/aLH52LikGv

— Gay Gooners – Arsenal’s LGBT+ fans (@gaygooners) August 5, 2020

AYO.NEWS says:

What is it with Paddy Power’s marketing team? It’s almost like they do things like this just to get attention…

‘AYO.NEWS says’ features the opinion of the author and does not necessarily reflect the views of Pentagon Digital Limited or its affiliates or associates. 

All original content featured on this site is © Pentagon Digital Limited, 2020