iGaming payment gateway and processing platform MoneyMatrix has extended its payment solutions portfolio with 25 new options since the beginning of this year. 

As a result, MoneyMatrix successfully entered into new gaming jurisdictions and continues to offer iGaming operators localised payment methods across the world.

MoneyMatrix, part of the EveryMatrix group, has focused heavily on growing both its number of payment solutions and the covered territories. Since the beginning of 2021, the processor has included 25 new payment options in their portfolio, covering several new countries in Latin America, Africa and Europe.

The newly available solutions have been selected to allow operators even more flexibility in creating the perfect mix of local and global payment methods. The list includes CashtoCode eVoucher for Latin America and Africa, Pix, the payment method developed by the Central Bank of Brasil, and VIVA Wallets and Spots, widespread in European countries such as Greece and Bulgaria.

Samoil Dolejan, CEO of MoneyMatrix, says: “Our business approach is clear: to help merchants provide a seamless and exceptional payment experience at each stage of the customer journey. Different countries have different spending trends, spending power, levels of digitalisation and laws and regulations. For the gaming industry, localisation is key and, to maximise conversion, we need to make sure we offer our merchants’ payment options that players are familiar with.”

Earlier this year, MoneyMatrix announced the launch of their new Identity Monitoring Application, a microservice assisting iGaming operators to significantly improve and automate their Risk Management and KYC processes

Sports event promotions company Matchroom has acquired live streaming and production specialist Loop Streaming and Productions Limited. 

Following the deal, Loop has become a wholly-owned subsidiary of Matchroom Media, the broadcast production division formed earlier this year.

Loop has a long history of working with Matchroom across a variety of sports, producing streams for Matchroom’s OTT platform, Matchroom.Live, social channels, and broadcasters around the world. 

Matchroom’s content includes Boxing, PDC Darts, Matchroom Pool, World Snooker Tour, and a host of Matchroom Multi Sport events. Recent productions from Loop including WST Home Nations and European Series broadcast coverage, all Matchroom Boxing’s Week Activity, Matchroom Multi Sport’s Championship League Pool, and the Professional Darts Corporation’s Super Series. 

Katie Hearn, Director of Programming at Matchroom Media, said: “After many years working alongside Loop, we’re delighted that they will now be a part of the Matchroom Group and look forward to joining forces to grow our production services. We have always been impressed by their progressive approach to producing quality live productions for both OTT and linear platforms and are excited to push on together with more broadcasts.” 

Nick Oldfield, formerly Head of Production at Loop, and now taking on the role of Managing Director, added: “Katie and Matchroom’s plans to grow its in-house production arm is very exciting. Loop prides itself on its innovative, aggressive and streamlined production workflows. Couple this with Matchroom’s ever growing array of new live OTT and broadcast events, makes for a refreshing move in the industry. Myself and rest of the team can’t wait to get started!” 

Recently Matchroom was reported to have agreed an exclusive rights deal with DAZN. Slated to come into effect on 1 July, when the company’s existing deal with Sky Sports expires, it is said to be worth a nine-figure sum. 

As previously reported, earlier this month Matchroom also announced a partnership with UK-based esports organisation, LDN UTD, aimed at bringing together esports and traditional sports.

Betway’s parent company, Super Group, looks set to go public with a valuation of around $5.1B USD (€4.22B euro). 

Super Group says it has entered an definitive agreement with publicly traded special acquisition company, Sports Entertainment Acquisition Corp, to enable it to go public on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE). 

Under the terms of the deal, Eric Grubman, Sports Entertainment executive chair, will become chairman of Super Group, while Sports Entertainment CEO, John Collins, will take a place on Super Group’s board.

Betway has also announced plans to acquire Digital Gaming Corporation, which will give the group a foothold in ten US states. 

Discussing the news, Super Group CEO, Neal Menashe, said: “We have established our group as a truly global, scaled and profitable digital gaming business, delivering on our vision to bring first-class entertainment to the worldwide betting and gaming community. Becoming a public company will give us the tools to continue to grow our leading product and technology offering and deliver a strengthened brand-driven marketing strategy.”

“This listing will position us strongly to capitalize on the significant global growth opportunities ahead ‒ including in the U.S. market ‒ enabling us to further expand our robust, loyal and engaged customer base. In Eric and John, we have found the perfect partners with expertise across sports, entertainment and public markets to help us navigate our next phase of growth.”

Eric Grubman, Sports Entertainment executive chair, added: “Super Group is an online gaming and betting powerhouse with a track record of global growth and a strong balance sheet. Super Group’s core DNA is rooted in digital technology, which drives its unparalleled expertise in data and analytics. Neal and Super Group’s diverse and multi-talented global team have a great playbook for how to successfully launch and achieve profitable growth in new markets, and we look forward to partnering closely with them on this exciting next chapter as a public company.”

Super Group is currently licensed in 23 jurisdictions globally, excluding the US. Its flagship brand, Betway, has more than 60 brand partnerships with teams, leagues, and personalities around the world, including U.S. NBA teams Chicago Bulls, Golden State Warriors, Brooklyn Nets, and LA Clippers; English Premier League football team West Ham United; and esports organisations, Ninjas in Pyjamas, and PSG Esports, among many others. 

AYO.NEWS says:

As predicted years ago, the sheer scale of the potential waiting to be unlocked in the US markets is pushing firms to fortify their positions, through mergers, acquisitions, and public offerings. Just last week we saw Caesars Entertainment complete its historic $3.7B acquisition of iconic British bookies William Hill. Though the US markets are still in their infancy, it’s already gearing up to be a true clash of the titans.

LSports has signed a strategic data distribution and co-development partnership with the American Ultimate Disc League (AUDL). 

The five-year partnership makes Israel-based LSports the AUDL’s Official Data Partner, giving it exclusive rights to the distribution of AUDL Official Data and enhanced betting solutions. 

LSports will also be collaborating with AUDL’s majority-owned technology development company, UltiX Technology, to “develop and deliver the world’s first predictive betting algorithms and AI designed specifically for the sport of Ultimate”. 

Dotan Lazar, CEO of LSports, said: “LSports is known internationally for its real-time data solutions, including pre-match and in-play odds, bet stimulations services and more. We had been looking to partner with a fresh new sports property as we enter the North American market. 

“With twenty-two teams, 139 live events and full control over its data and video streaming assets, the AUDL provided us with the perfect launching pad. Our partnership with SCCG Management will help us meet the demand for more exciting and high scoring team sports from betting partners in the US and around the world.”

Steve Hall, AUDL CEO and Commissioner, added: “A key part of our growth strategy has been based on combining our data, technology, media and gaming assets to attract new fans to our exciting, action packed sport. We could not have found a better data partner to help us achieve this goal than we have with LSports. They are agile, focused, and innovative and share our vision for the huge entertainment value of our sport around the world.”

The partnership was facilitated by SCCG Management.

AYO.NEWS says:

AUDL may be pretty much unheard of outside the US right now, but as LSports’ CEO Dotan Lazar said in a recent interview with Yogonet, he believes the US sports betting  market “will be bigger than the entire European and Asian markets altogether”, so it seems like a good call. 

US gambling giant Caesars Entertainment has announced the completion of its $3.7B USD (£2.9B GBP) acquisition of historic British bookmaker William Hill. 

It follows approval for the deal by the High Court of Justice in England and Wales earlier this week. All issued and to be issued share capital of William Hill, except those shares already owned by Caesars, have now been acquired by Caesars subsidiary, Caesars UK Bidco. 

William Hill has now delisted from the London Stock Exchange, and its shareholders should receive their pay-outs by 6 May. 

Combined, Caesars and William Hill already offer sports wagering in 18 US jurisdictions, including mobile sports wagering in 13 markets, and the firm is expected to grow this footprint significantly over the next few years as it looks to dominate the American markets. 

There are currently over 170 William Hill retail sportsbooks in the United States, representing a 29% market share. 

Commenting on the news, CEO of Caesars Entertainment, Tom Reeg, said: “We are thrilled to complete the acquisition of William Hill, combining two of the premier operations in the sports betting and online gaming industries under one roof. We look forward to announcing future sports partnerships that will drive long-term growth.”

Caesars has previously stated it only intends to keep William Hill’s US assets, and will be looking to sell its UK and international business. 

AYO.NEWS says:

Caesars Entertainment, which lets not forget only merged with Eldorado Resports in July 2020,  is now in a massively strong position in terms of its US offering, and we expect it will waste no time in pursuing very aggressive expansion. Elsewhere it’s going to be interesting to see what happens to William Hill’s UK and international assets – will the COVID crisis have made its retail estate less attractive?

London-based video virtual sports specialist Highlight Games Limited has won a multi-year contract with Sisal Sans – a joint venture between Italy’s Sisal and Turkey’s Demirören Holding.

Highlight Games will supply games featuring real and exclusive archive footage for use in Sisal Sans retail venues. SOCCERBET featuring Turkish League football under the branding Serbest Vurus Pro is currently available in 650 Sisal Sans shops, with rollout forecast to reach 2,000 venues by the end of Q2 2021.

Additional products from Highlight Games including English and Italian football variants of SOCCERBET and NBA Last 60 will be introduced later in the year.

Discussing the news, Co-CEO of Highlight Games, Steven Holmes, said: “Highlight Games is proud to announce this transformative deal and to lead the way into Turkish National Lottery retail venues.

“We have built strong business relationships in Turkey over the past two years, and the fruition of this partnership with Sisal Sans is an exciting result.  This deal signals a first for legal virtual sports on the Turkish mainland, built on the strength of performance of Highlight’s games in Sisal venues in Italy and Morocco and the differentiated product we can offer which is specifically tailored to the market with archive Turkish League football footage.  

“I am confident that our lead football product will replicate the success of our Italian Serie A game in Italy, and I look forward to working with our partners in Turkey to bring additional products to market in the near future.”

Selim Ergün, CEO, Sisal Sans, added: “Sisal Sans is delighted to be partnering with Highlight Games to bring its unique portfolio of content to Turkish retail venues. Video virtual sports engage players like no other product in the virtual sports space and we are confident that our players in Turkey will respond to these games as they have in our Italian and Moroccan venues.”