Georgia’s largest betting operator adjarabet has signed a strategic partnership agreement with event organiser SBC that sees the Flutter Entertainment-owned business become the exclusive betting partner of the forthcoming SBC Digital Summit CIS. 

The senior executive team of adjarabet will also play a key role in the virtual conference and expo on 4 – 5 November, with three of them joining the line-up of 75 expert speakers from betting and gaming operators, governments, suppliers, law firms and professional sports in the CIS, Georgia and Ukraine. 

Deputy CEO and member of the Board of Directors Irakli Asanishvili, and Management Board members Irakli Davarashvili (CMO) and Giorgi Gvenetadze (Gaming Director) will share some of their unrivalled expertise on one of the agenda’s key themes – how to grow a gambling business in the region.

Headquartered in Georgia, adjarabet has a market-leading 40% share of the fast-growing regulated online sector in its home territory and up to a 20% share of the developing regulated market in Armenia.

The success of the sportsbook, casino and poker room attracted the attention of major international gambling companies and, in February 2019, Flutter Entertainment paid £101 million for a 51% stake in Adjarabet. 

At the time of the deal, the London-listed gaming giant cited adjarabet’s “leading brand presence and strong management team” among the factors that made it an attractive acquisition target. 

Speaking ahead of the SBC Digital Summit CIS, Asanishvili said:

“Adjarabet joined the Flutter family in 2019. We attribute this success to our team’s solid gaming experience, and to our organic market development. 

“I am particularly proud of Adjarabet.am. It has become the second biggest player in the Armenian gambling market, after only three years of operation.”

Davarashvili added:

“Adjarabet’s core brand value is to offer unrivalled entertainment and creative campaigns to its customers. Our novel approach to the ever-growing competitive online gaming industry is to always be the pioneers in creative ideas and implement campaigns which might seem impossible at the first glance; a good example of this is ‘Arena’.”  

Arena is the first ever interactive movie-game. It allows each player to decide how their movie plot will develop, while playing different games within the movie. Every decision has an influence on the outcome of the next scene. This campaign has landed adjarabet a place on the shortlist for Marketing Campaign of the Year at the SBC Awards 2020.

Delegates at SBC Digital Summit CIS, which is being organised in association with Sports Media Holding, will have a rare opportunity to benefit from the experience of adjarabet’s hugely successful management team when they share their insights on doing business in the region. 

Rasmus Sojmark, Founder & CEO of SBC, said:

“Our international betting and gaming industry events are renowned for the quality of their speaker line-ups, so we’re delighted to be joined by some of adjarabet’s leadership team for the debut edition of SBC Digital Summit CIS.

“adjarabet has led the way in the thriving Georgian market with a combination of a great product, inventive marketing strategies and excellent customer service, and it will be fascinating for our audience to hear the inside story of how it achieved that.” 

Lasha Machavariani, Founder and CEO of Sports Media Holding, said:

“The opportunities which CIS gaming markets offer are astounding, but to capture those, one needs a very clear understanding of the uniqueness of these markets and customer behaviour patterns. And the upcoming digital summit offers a great way to understand those nuances. 

“Also, it was a great honour for me to have played a part in establishing a strategic partnership between adjarabet and SBC through the SBC Digital Summit CIS.”

In addition to the high-level conference focused on the issues driving the growth of the betting and gaming industry in the region, the event has a number of features designed to help delegates learn and make business contacts. 

There will be an interactive product display area with leading suppliers showcasing the latest sportsbook, casino and payments innovations tailored to local markets, as well as a programme of networking roundtables to make it easy for attendees to connect and talk business. 

Click here to register for a free pass for SBC Digital Summit CIS.

Sports betting operator FanDuel has been named official sportsbook partner of Entercom.

The six-year partnership will see FanDuel promoted across Entercom Communication Corp’s sports broadcast stations and RADIO.COM – the fastest growing digital audio platform in America. 

Entercom listers will enjoy unique access to FanDuel odds, insight, and promotions via Entercom on-air stations and personalities, while both companies will also collaborate on on-depth integrations and co-produce content. 

Discussing the partnership Chief Executive Officer at FanDuel, Matthew King, said:

“Entercom has revolutionized the audio and entertainment industries and we’re beyond excited to be their preferred partner in the sports betting and fantasy categories.

“In the two years we have been doing business with Entercom, it is abundantly clear to us that their authentic connection to sports fans is one of the best ways for us to engage FanDuel customers. We will work together to offer sports fans access to information wherever, whenever, and however they consume content, providing them with the tools to learn and win.”

While President and Chief Executive Officer at Entercom, David Field, added:

“We believe this is the largest advertising commitment ever made within the radio industry. We are focused on delivering the best sports betting experience for our audiences in markets where legalized sports betting will be pervasive.

“The marketplace is growing exponentially and FanDuel is an ideal partner to take full advantage of the influence and reach of Entercom’s robust sports platforms to deliver an even better, audio sports experience to our listeners.”

Entercom operates 39 all-sports radio stations across the United States, including stations in New York, Philadelphia, and Chicago. The company says it’s broadcast portfolio reaches nearly 30 million sports fans monthly, and serves as flagship home for 41 professional teams and over 50 Division 1 collegiate programs, including the New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox, Dallas Cowboys and Kansas City Chiefs, Golden State Warriors and Chicago Bulls, and University of Michigan and University of Oregon, among others.

AYO.NEWS says:

In this internet dominated age it’s easy to forget that radio is still hugely popular, especially among older demographics, and remains an effective way to reach consumers. So, this could be a major boost for FanDuel in its battle to win market share in the increasingly competitive US sports betting markets. 

‘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.

The Spanish government has told football clubs to cancel gambling sponsorship deals before the end of the season.

Despite many in the industry expecting the planned ban on football gambling sponsorships to be softened, or even dropped completely, at the eleventh hour, the Spanish government has advised all clubs to terminate their deals before the end of the season. 

According to Reuters, a letter, signed by minister of consumer affairs, Alberto Garzon, and sent on Wednesday, has informed clubs that their contracts with gambling companies will be prohibited once the controversial royal decree is approved by the cabinet and signed into law. 

In the letter, Garzon accused teams and athletes of “normalising a practice with serious health and social risks which needs to be minimised in the field of advertising.”

Seven of the 20 clubs in La Liga, Spain’s top division, currently have sponsorship deals with gambling companies, including Europa League title holders Sevilla and six-time league champions Valencia. 

AYO.NEWS says:

Though Spain’s incoming ban has been discussed at length for a year now, it seems like many clubs and gambling companies were clinging to the hope the decree would be thrown out, or at least heavily watered down, at the last minute as the financial impact on clubs was realised. 

However, the ban now looks certain to come into force, prompting clubs to search for alternative sponsors, and throwing a spanner in the works of operators’ marketing plans.

Also, with Italy already having banned all gambling advertising, and Spain about to follow suit, it will probably put more wind in the sails of those hoping to introduce similar laws in the UK and other European countries.  

‘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.

SportsTech business Stats Perform has pledged full support for the new International Betting Integrity Association (IBIA) Data Standards Process. 

The London-based company, which is an Affiliate Member of the IBIA, has confirmed it will be immediately applying to the IBIA’s independent audit process, led by eCogra, to achieve the Data Standards Kitemark and demonstrate that it meets and goes beyond those standards in its betting data operations. 

In May, IBIA launched a project to create a set of standards to help ensure the integrity of sports, its data, and the associated betting markets. You can find the complete data standards here. 

Discussing the new standards Chief Betting Officer at Stats Perform, Andrew Ashenden, said:

“Implemented and monitored effectively, a global set of standards would contribute positively across the sports and betting industries from an integrity perspective. 

“At Stats Perform, we have a longstanding programme of investment in maintaining the strongest quality assurance and integrity processes across our data supply chain. We look forward to working with the IBIA on best practices going forward and to demonstrate through the independent audit process how Stats Perform is going the extra mile to ensure the reliability and credibility of its data.”

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English Championship club Swansea City has partnered with The Big Step initiative to tackle problem gambling.

The football-focused partnership with The Big Step, which is part of the Gambling with Lives Charity, aims to raise awareness and provide education regarding the risks associated with gambling. Set to run for 18 months, the gambling harms prevention program will be delivered by recovering gambling addict, and Swansea supporter, Nick Phillips. 

Formed in September by individuals with experience of living with gambling related harm, The Big Step Project recently organised a 130-mile walk to publicise its call for an end to gambling sponsorships and advertisements in football. 

Talking about the aims of the project, Senior Program Manager at Gambling with Lives, and The Big Step Founder, James Grimes, said:

“As a recovering gambling addict, I am passionate about preventing young people going through the same thing that I did. This partnership will show how football can be a positive social vehicle in preventing and reducing gambling harms in its community through our education, awareness and signposting work.”

While Swansea East MP, Carolyn Harris, added:

“This programme will play a critical role in ensuring that young people are made aware of the real risks of gambling and gambling addiction.”

As previously reported, in August Swansea City ditched gambling sponsorships, ending its relationship with YoBet, and replacing it with a sponsorship from Swansea University. 

AYO.NEWS says:

While we totally support increased education around gambling, as we’ve argued many times, a ban on gambling sponsorships and advertisements is a bridge too far. The UK already has one of the strictest and most effective regulatory regimes – both in terms of gambling-specific rules, and general advertising and marketing standards – despite what vehement anti-gambling crusaders say. 

Time and again we come down to the fundamental truth that it is not the place of the state to prevent people taking responsibility for their own actions. People do many things which can become addictive and damage themselves and those around them, but banning things for the masses because of the problems encountered by a minority (and it truly is a minority, again, despite how it is portrayed by those ideologically opposed to gambling) is a ridiculous approach that can only end in a dystopian nightmare of long-term unintended consequences. 

Of course, as with everything from excessive drinking, smoking, drugs use, and financial management, if we expect people to be able to exercise self-control and rational judgement, we need an education system that is thorough and effective. The real problem the UK, and many other countries, is that they are fundamentally failing to provide effective education for youngsters. And, that is largely the fault of successive generations of politicians. 

‘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.

US-based sports betting supplier DraftKings Inc. and British sportsbook MansionBet have renewed and extended their partnership. 

The agreement will see DraftKings continue to supply its B2B technology to power MansionBet, and provide a suite of managed services covering compliance, payments and anti-fraud protocols, to the Gibraltar-based sports betting brand of the Mansion Group.

Discussing the partnership DraftKings Chief International Officer, Shay Berka, said:

“Across multiple global jurisdictions, DraftKings is changing the way fans engage with sports. Our renewal and extension with MansionBet, a tier one operator in the highly competitive U.K. market, is another example of the strategic value DraftKings’ cutting-edge B2B technology provides to our clients.”

While CEO at Mansion, Karel Manasco, added:

“DraftKings’ B2B platform has been instrumental to the success of MansionBet since we launched. The extended deal will allow us to provide our players with the ultimate sports betting experience, including increased offerings and an enhanced horse racing product, utilising the impressive platforms and services that DraftKings provide.”

MansionBet launched in 2018 and has seen significant success in a very competitive market. The extended partnership with DraftKings will significantly enhance MansionBet’s customer offering, especially regarding horse racing, which will now include more streaming coverage and Timeform content from UK and international race tracks. 

In August MansionBet was announced as principal partner for English Championship football club Bristol City. And, earlier this month, DraftKings became the latest partner of the International Betting Integrity Association – a move which gives its clients across US and international markets the benefit of access to the IBIA monitoring and alert platform. 

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