partnerships
Flutter Awards Bumper £400K Lifeline to Community Clubs
Cash-strapped community clubs across the UK and Ireland will share in a £400,000 windfall after betting and gaming group Flutter UKI unveiled the winning bids for its “Cash4Clubs” grassroots sports programme.
Flutter UKI – home to Paddy Power, Sky Betting & Gaming, Betfair and tombola – is awarding grants of £2000 a time to 200 clubs involved in everything from badminton and skateboarding to American Football, wheelchair rugby and surfing.
Community clubs and charities were able to bid for vital funding to improve their facilities, purchase new equipment, help fund coaching programmes or to invest in the sustainability of their operation.
A particular emphasis this year was placed on clubs in impoverished areas and those aiming to reach under-represented communities.
The awards come just months after the Culture Secretary Lucy Frazer announced the UK Government’s “Get Active” strategy to drive participation in sport by improving access to physical activity.
Flutter UKI originally set aside £200,000 for the 2023-24 “Cash4Clubs” awards but decided to double the fund after receiving an unprecedented 1282 applications.
“The Cash4Clubs fund will help to deliver on our ambition to get an additional 3.5 million adults and children physically active by 2030, and provide important support for community sport clubs. Staying active is vital for our health and wellbeing which is why the Government is investing over £400 million in grassroots facilities to make sure every community has access to the facilities they need,” Gambling Minister Stuart Andrew said.
Winning “Cash4Clubs” bids this year include the Team Solent wheelchair rugby club, which needed funding to survive and enter national competition, the Taibach Tigers Rounders Club in Wales and the Northern Powerhouse Boxing Academy in Todmorden, Yorkshire.
Flutter UKI CEO, Ian Brown, said: “Community clubs are the bedrock of sport in the UK and we are committed to doing everything we can to help small clubs make a real difference to people’s lives. I’m delighted we were able to double the size of this year’s Cash4Clubs fund to £400,000 after seeing a record number of applications come in. We are convinced Cash4Clubs will have a real impact in those areas that need it most.”
Since Cash4Clubs was launched in 2008, nearly £5 million has been invested into community sports by Flutter through its brands. Research shows that for every £1 invested in sports, an average of £6 is returned in social value.
Hayley Williams, captain at the Taibach Tigers, said: “It’s fantastic that we’ve been awarded a Cash4Clubs grant. We’re delighted and excited to see how we can improve the team and attract new members to the sport.”
Josie McNamara, general manager of the Northern Powerhouse Boxing Academy, said: “As a club involved in community work, receiving grants that directly support essential roles like our Head Coach is vital. A big thank you to Cash4Clubs and Flutter UKI.”
Flutter UKI worked with leading UK community sports charity Sported to deliver the Cash4Clubs programme.
Africa
BGaming debuts in Africa with Premier Bet
Popular iGaming content provider BGaming has signed a multi-brand content deal with African licenced operator Premier Bet, marking another major market entry.
Through this new collaboration, BGaming has delivered a selection of its games to Premier Bet’s platform. Titles such as Fruit Million, Wild Cash X9990, Bonanza Billion, Aztec Clusters and Merge Up are all available to the operator’s registered players across several African markets.
Premier Bet dates back to 1997 and currently operates in 17 countries on the continent. It is one of Africa’s biggest betting companies, offering gaming and business opportunities to people across the west, east, centre and south of the continent.
Africa has always been an epicenter for innovation and resilience, and one industry exemplifying its dynamism in recent years is gambling. This latest market expansion demonstrates BGaming’s exponential global growth and lays the foundations for further success in the thriving region.
Olga Levshina, CCO at BGaming, said: “BGaming continues to penetrate international iGaming markets, with its fresh approach to online casino proving a hit with a wide demographic of players. With this partnership, we have added some of our most appealing titles to Premier Bet’s games line-up as it seeks to expand its player base.”
Karen Hope, Director of Casino at Premier Bet, added: “We are pleased to partner with BGaming to drive this next phase of Premier Bet’s development across several key African markets. The studio’s vibrant games add variety to our casino games collection.”
BGaming is a fast-growing iGaming content provider converting gambling into gaming. Thanks to an expert team and a player-driven approach, the studio creates innovative and engaging products featured on reputable platforms and 1,100+ online casinos worldwide. BGaming is the world’s first to support cryptocurrencies and offer Provably Fair games. Today the brand’s portfolio includes 150+ products with HD graphics and a clear user interface for every device. The studio is also known for its brand exclusives created in partnerships with leading operators in the industry.
The post BGaming debuts in Africa with Premier Bet appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
Balkans
Wazdan adds to Croatian presence with SuperSport tie-up
Wazdan, the gain-focused developer behind some of the world’s most rewarding casino game experiences, has gone live with SuperSport, expanding its foothold in Croatia.
As part of the agreement, an initial tranche of games go live with the operator, including its top-performing hits such as 9 Coins™ Grand Gold Edition, 9 Lions, 12 Coins™ and Burning Sun™, with more titles set to be uploaded in batches at a later stage.
Thanks to the new deal, SuperSport’s players can now enjoy the provider’s renowned mechanics including Cash Infinity™, Sticky to Infinity™ and Hold the Jackpot™, which deliver proven results to operators.
With over 20 years of experience in the betting and gaming industry, SuperSport’s online platform is a market leader in Croatia and is now set to benefit from Wazdan’s pristine titles.
The Balkans have remained a key growth area for Wazdan as it continues to expand across regulated markets worldwide.
Radka Bacheva, Sales and Business Development at Wazdan: “Marking another step in our growth strategy, the Balkans have quickly emerged as one of the most exciting markets in Europe and we are delighted to bring our dynamic titles to SuperSport, a market leader in Croatia.
“Through our engagement-boosting features, we can guarantee an unmatched gaming experience to its players and can’t wait to see how they react.”
Robert Milic, Head of Games at SuperSport said: “Wazdan’s award-winning features and titles add real value to our offering, so we are thrilled to bring an influx of its games to our players.
“As a market leader in Croatia, it is imperative that our content remains of the highest calibre and genuinely excites players. By forging agreements with providers such as Wazdan, we can achieve this whilst elevating our position in the industry to new heights.”
The post Wazdan adds to Croatian presence with SuperSport tie-up appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
Craig Levine
Zenni Optical Announces Partnership with ESL FACEIT Group (EFG)
Zenni Optical, the world’s leading online eyewear retailer, announced a partnership with ESL FACEIT Group (EFG), the leading esports and video game entertainment company. Designed to integrate eye health education with innovative eyewear solutions for the esports community, the partnership will officially launch at DreamHack festival in Dallas, taking place from May 31 to June 2.
This collaboration will showcase a co-branded collection of lifestyle and competitive eyewear and accessories, highlighting Zenni Optical’s commitment to promoting overall eye health, particularly in addressing issues like eye fatigue and strain. Additionally, the initiative will incorporate essential eye health education across various DreamHack Festivals, in alignment with EFG’s broader mission to foster inclusive gaming worlds and engaged, supported communities.
“DreamHack and ESL represent some of the most community-centric and prestigious competitive events in the world. In their own unique ways, they embody esports for everyone. By partnering with these incredible brands across the gaming and esports spaces, we aim to create engaging experiences that combine eye-health education with innovative eyewear solutions for players and fans at all levels,” said Robb Chiarini, Head of Gaming, Sports, & Events at Zenni Optical.
“We are thrilled to partner with Zenni Optical as the Official Eyewear Partner of DreamHack and ESL. The genuine passion that Zenni has for the esports industry is a refreshing sight to see, and a major driving factor for the decision behind our partnership. Zenni’s ongoing commitment to provide eyewear for everyone mirrors our own drive to create worlds beyond gameplay for gamers everywhere,” Craig Levine, Co-CEO at EFG, said.
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