ThriveFantasy has announced a strategic partnership with North American esports organisation Envy Gaming. 

The multi-year deal makes ThriveFantasy the ‘Official Daily Fantasy Esports Platform’ of Team Envy, and marks the first time the fantasy sports and esports proposition (prop) betting platform has teamed up with an esports organisation.

In addition to cross-branding and promotion across Envy’s teams, which include Call of Duty (Dallas Empire), CS:GO, Halo, Rocket League, Smash Bros, and VALORANT, the collaboration will also see ThriveFantasy offer a 360-degree second-screen engagement platform for fans during Envy matches. 

A Discord bot will also be launched on Envy’s Discord channel to educate new users on prop betting, and provide live in-game statistics. 

Discussing the new partnership CEO of Envy Gaming, Adam Rymer, said:

“We know gaming fans crave interactive experiences that can bring them closer to their favourite players and teams – and that is exactly what ThriveFantasy is powering with their focus on a fantasy esports ecosystem and prop betting.”

While Founder and CEO of ThriveFantasy, Adam Weinstein, added:

“Team Envy is the perfect partner for ThriveFantasy. Not only has Envy proven themselves as winners with several championships across major gaming titles, but they have one of the most loyal and passionate fanbases in North America.

“We look forward to pushing further into esports and becoming the go-to fantasy platform for the esports community with great team partners like Envy.”

Though when ThriveFantasy launched in April 2018 its focus was on the big US sports leagues, like many other operators, during the COVID-19 pandemic the company refocused attention on esports. And, according to the company, this has resulted in its esports vertical growing 140% in just six months. 

Team Envy also has commercial partnerships with fast food chain Jack in the Box, Acer’s gaming brand Predator, gaming peripherals brand Corsair, video game retailer GameStop, meat snack brand Jack Link’s, and social media tech company Team Infographics. 

AYO.NEWS says:

Like regular esports betting, fantasy got a huge boost from the COVID-19 lockdowns, with many operators and fans turning to it for lack of other options. The question now is, with many real-world sports now back up and running, even if society is still far from normal, can esports maintain its momentum? 

The answer may well depend on partnerships like that between ThriveFantasy and Envy Gaming, and whether they can drive engagement and interest, and keep drawing in new fans. 

Staying with Team Envy, just yesterday official in-game car decals, accessories, and banners were added to Rocket League’s in-game store program. 

‘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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Global sportsbook operator Tipico has launched its new app in New Jersey, marking its entry to the United States. 

The German company, which has opened a US headquarters and operations centre in Hoboken, New Jersey, says sports fans in the Garden State can now download the fast, secure, and user-friendly app to place bets on a wide variety of sports. 

Discussing the launch Managing Director, US Business, Tipico, Adrian Vella, said:

“After months of getting ready for launch, we are so excited to finally announce that the app is live and to share our offerings with the New Jersey market.

“Tipico is a betting experience unlike any other, and we are confident that as we expand our reach in the U.S., users will love the new features we are regularly adding to the app. This is just the start, but we are proud to call New Jersey our home and it’s been great to see the positive response from sports bettors across the state!”

For its US offering, Tipico has also debuted a new brand platform and advertising campaign, developed with the Öpinionated agency. 

Looking ahead, Tipico plans to launch in Colorado through its recent partnership with Century Casinos, and is in discussions to introduce the brand to more states. 

the author and does not necessarily reflect the views of Pentagon Digital Limited or its affiliates or associates. 

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Sportradar has announced a multi-year partnership with Australia’s Hungry Jack’s National Basketball League (NBL). 

The sports data intelligence, and sports entertainment, solutions provider will help the NBL bring its Live broadcast to a wider audience as international media (broadcast rights) distributor and OTT partner, starting from the upcoming season, due to commence in mid-January 2021.

Sportradar will work closely with the NBL to enhance distribution and coverage across broadcast and online platforms, utilising its global network, audiovisual technology, and data expertise to deliver the NBL to global audiences, across regions including China, South East Asia, the US, and Europe. 

Additionally, the company will be powering the NBL’s OTT platform, with plans to include NBL1 games on the relaunched platform for the first time. 

Sportradar will also become the official integrity partner of the NBL, providing odds monitoring services across Australia’s top men’s and women’s competitions, including the NBL, NBL1, and Big V. 

Discussing the partnership Sportradar’s, Director of Sports Media and Partnerships – Oceania, David Edwards, said:

“There’s no question that the NBL has rapidly become one of the top basketball leagues in the world, with a great mix of homegrown and imported talent across the competition. 

“Sportradar is looking forward to expanding the NBL’s global footprint through our technology-based, data-driven approach to rights distribution, and helping the league unlock new commercial partnerships and opportunities off the back of that increased engagement.”

While the NBL’s Chief Commercial Officer, Brad Joyne, added:

“The Hungry Jack’s NBL is delighted to work with Sportradar.  Through a combination of NBL’s local market reputation and growing fanbase and Sportradar’s focus on integrity and technology excellence proven in global markets, we feel confident that we can expand the NBL’s sphere of influence together and I very much look forward to seeing it happen.”

The Hungry Jack’s NBL is now widely considered to be one of the premier basketball leagues in the world outside of the NBA. Illustrating its popularity, last season’s game between the SKY Sport New Zealand Breakers and Illawarra Hawks, featuring recently drafted NBA players LaMelo Ball and RJ Hampton, saw nearly two million fans watch live on Facebook. 

Staying with Sportradar, last month the company renewed its integrity partnership with the Hero Indian Super League – India’s premier football league. 

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SBC has announced details of a new online conference and exhibition for the Indian betting and gaming industry, SBC Digital India 2021, and a partnership with the country’s leading skill games company Taj Rummy. 

The event on 20-21 January will bring together operators, suppliers, and affiliates with an interest in the Indian sports betting, skill games, fantasy sports, and casino markets for two days of high-quality content, knowledge sharing and networking. 

It has already attracted strong interest from the domestic industry and Taj Rummy has been confirmed as Title Sponsor for the inaugural edition of the event.  

The conference element of SBC Digital India will see 75 senior executives providing insights and ideas about the major regulatory, operational, technological and marketing-related issues affecting the growth of the industry. The speakers’ mix of on-the-ground experience of doing business in India and knowledge of the big-picture issues influencing local markets represent a valuable opportunity to gain reliable information of a type that is hard to find.

Day One’s agenda will focus on the future of India’s vast fantasy sports market, the legal challenges ahead for the sports betting industry as it seeks to establish itself in the country, and the relationship between professional sports and gambling companies. 

Attention will turn to gaming on Day Two, with an examination of the regulatory picture for land-based casinos and an in-depth look at the opportunities for rummy and poker operators. It will also feature an evaluation of the role of India’s flourishing tech and fintech sectors in the gambling industry. 

Running alongside the conference is a program of networking roundtables and an interactive product display area showcasing the latest innovations from major suppliers.

The exhibitors will include India’s biggest rummy brand Taj Rummy, which has an established own-brand real-money operation and a range of white-label solutions, as well as being renowned as a pioneer of the use of artificial intelligence for player protection.

Pariekshit Maadishetti, Founder Grid Logic Group; Taj Rummy, will be among the key speakers at the event.

Maadishetti said:

“India is already a huge market for skill games like with Rummy, Poker and Fantasy to name a few, but it remains largely unexplored by overseas companies. There is still room for vast growth across all forms of gaming, but businesses that are serious about succeeding here need a product tailored to local interests and an in-depth knowledge of the market. 

“We’re delighted to sponsor this new SBC event, as it will be a great opportunity for local and international companies to exchange valuable ideas, and for Indian businesses to showcase their technological excellence to the global industry.”

SBC is the leading specialist media and events company for the international betting and gaming industry, and organises major conferences and trade shows, such as SBC Summit, Betting on Sports America, CasinoBeats Summit, Betting on Sports Europe, SBC Summit Latinoamérica, and SBC Digital Africa. 

SBC Digital India 2021 is its first venture into India and CEO Rasmus Sojmark is excited about the prospect of taking its successful event format to a new market.

Sojmark said:

“India’s huge growth potential means it is one of the markets of greatest interest to the global gaming industry, but high-quality information about regulatory change, local player tastes, and the unique operational challenges in the individual states is difficult to come by. 

“We look forward to changing that at the inaugural SBC Digital India, when we will bring together the best of the country’s gaming industry and major international players to share knowledge, connect and talk business.” 

SBC Digital India 2021 is free to attend. To join the Indian and international delegates set to participate in the event, click here to register.

BtoBet has partnered with Nigeria-based Oat Gaming Network, further strengthening its presence in West Africa. 

The agreement will see BtoBet, and its regional Certified Partner for Africa, STM Gaming, supply the Oatbed brand with the Neuron 3 platform to power its online sportsbook. 

Neuron 3 will allow the provision of a wide portfolio of local and international sporting events and competitions, and extensive pre-match and in-play offerings, while also promoting other verticals like online casino and live casino, along with virtual sports. 

Commenting on the news BtoBet’s Chief Marketing Officer, Sabrina Soldà, said:

“We are looking forward to long-term cooperation together, and will ensure that our betting solutions provide Oatbet with the necessary technological edge and flexibility to expand its market share in the coming years. I am also pleased that our technologies and betting solutions are being so much sought after in such a demanding market, making BtoBet the primary gateway to the market.”

While Oatbet’s Chief Operating Officer, Ikay Arigbe-Osula, added:

“BtoBet’s strong presence in Africa, and particularly in Nigeria, made them the obvious choice when selecting the right technological partner. Market knowledge is fundamental for all those operators seeking to further expand their presence in any given market, and this is particularly true when it comes to Africa. 

“In BtoBet we found the ideal technological partner who will provide us with the necessary market knowledge coupled with advanced technological means that will allow us to differentiate our brand by providing a player-centric betting experience to our customers.”

AYO.NEWS says:

BtoBet, which was recently acquired by Aspire Global in a €20M cash deal, is rapidly positioning itself as the leading platform supplier for the rapidly growing African markets, from Nigeria in west to Tanzania in the east. 

Demonstrating its commitment to provide solutions tailored to the unique demands of various African markets, in August the supplier teamed up with Tola Mobile to expand its payment gateway portfolio and simplify the betting experience for players. 

‘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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US-based operator DraftKings has entered a multi-channel partnership with Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation in Connecticut. 

The agreement makes DraftKings the daily fantasy sports partner of Foxwoods Resort Casino, owned by the tribal group, and will see the operator go live with its online sports betting as soon as possible after it is legalised in the state. 

As things stand, Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation holds exclusive rights to operate gaming in Connecticut, and hands over 25% of slot revenue to the state. This arrangement is said to have raised around $8B for the state so far. Estimates suggest online gaming and sports betting could generate an additional $175M in revenue for Connecticut over the coming five years.

Commenting on the partnership co-founder and president of DraftKings North America, Matt Kalish, said:

“This is a landmark deal in collaboration with the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation as well as a critical next step to bringing America’s top-rated sportsbook app to sports fans in Connecticut.

“The national expansion of regulated sports betting is among our top strategic priorities. DraftKings today is live with mobile sports betting in 10 states, more than any other operator in the US, and teaming up with the tribe will allow us to extend our reach even further.”

As previously reported, DraftKings saw a massive 98% surge in year-on-year revenue during Q3 2020, driven by the unprecedented occurrence of all four big US sports leagues (NFL, NBA, MLB, and NHL) taking place in the same quarter. 

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