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Devilfish.com Sells Out Genesis NFT Collection, Pioneering a Sweepstakes-Style Model for Social Poker
Stand-first: The sell-out of the Web3 poker brands first digital asset collection underscores significant market demand for a community-led, free-to-play poker experience poised to disrupt the traditional player acquisition funnel.
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Devilfish.com, the Web3-powered social poker brand, today announced the complete sell-out of its Genesis Avatar NFT collection. This milestone validates the company’s strategic approach to creating a player centric brand, which applies a sweepstakes-membership style, free-to-play (F2P) model to poker, creating a powerful new top-of-funnel acquisition and retention engine for the industry.
The success of the Genesis Mint signals a clear market appetite for players to be part of a brand and a new social movement, as against the high-friction, real-money-first poker model, which has long struggled with high customer acquisition costs (CPAs) and a significant player churn rate. By removing the initial financial barrier commitment from the player, Devilfish.com is building a vibrant and engaged community, attracting a diverse demographic of traditional poker players, gamers, and crypto natives.
This F2P, community-centric model is designed to address the industry’s long-standing retention problem, where an estimated 85% of recreational players are long-term net losers, resulting in a poor player experience.
JJ Williams, CEO of Devilfish.com, commented: “We are thrilled by the overwhelming response to our Genesis collection, but we are not surprised. This is a powerful signal of how creating a brand centric story to the industry that poker has a sustainability problem and that the solution lies within the community, not just in cash.
For too long, the industry has focused on a small segment of winning players while inadvertently punishing the vast majority who play for the love of the game. Our community platform model offers a welcoming, safe haven and a gamified environment that enables you to master the game without incurring a financial burden, promoting a healthier ecosystem in the era of responsible gambling requirements. This sell-out isn’t just a win for Devilfish; it’s the blueprint for the future of brand-led community poker engagement.”
Inspired by the explosive growth of social and sweepstakes casinos, Devilfish.com is positioning itself as a vital partner for the broader gaming industry. For online operators, land-based casinos, and poker publishers, the platform offers a low-friction pathway to attract new demographics, build massive prospect databases, and re-engage lapsed players in a brand-safe environment.
The Genesis Avatars represent a player’s unique digital identity, which is a significant component of the Devilfish brand ecosystem, including membership. It grants holders access to exclusive benefits and a stake in the community’s future. The company will now focus on executing its roadmap, which includes expanding the platform’s features and delivering the promised utility to its founding members.
The post Devilfish.com Sells Out Genesis NFT Collection, Pioneering a Sweepstakes-Style Model for Social Poker appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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DoubleDown Interactive Enters into Agreement to Acquire German Social Casino Operator WHOW Games
DoubleDown Interactive, a leading gaming company delivering exceptional player experiences across multiple genres, announced that it has entered into a Share Purchase and Transfer Agreement with Azerion Tech Holding to acquire WHOW Games GmbH, a social casino developer headquartered in Hamburg, Germany.
The initial consideration for 100% ownership interest in WHOW Games is €55 million (approximately $64.7 million). An additional earn-out payment of up to €10 million, payable to Azerion at €5 million annually, is contingent upon WHOW Games meeting certain performance targets during each of the first and second year following the closing date. The acquisition will be financed through DoubleDown’s cash reserves and is expected to close during the third quarter of 2025.
DoubleDown intends to leverage WHOW Games’ proven expertise in the Europe market and partner-driven business model alongside its own operational strength, marketing capabilities and extensive gaming content to pursue growth opportunities in Europe, particularly in Germany. According to research from Eilers & Krejcik Gaming LLC, the European social casino market grew in 2023 and 2024 as compared to the overall market which has entered a mature stage. WHOW Games offers a versatile portfolio of social casino apps with proprietary brands such as MyJackpot and Lounge777 as well as third-party labeled social casino offerings including Merkur24 through strategic licensing agreements with prominent global brick and mortar casino companies.
In Keuk Kim, Chief Executive Officer of the Company, said: “This acquisition marks a significant step toward increasing our competitiveness in the growing German social casino market. Leveraging our combined operational expertise and enhanced scale, we aim to unlock valuable synergies. We are delighted to welcome the WHOW Games team to DoubleDown and look forward to working collaboratively on initiatives to drive growth across the business.”
Giovanni Valerio Valeriota, Chief Executive Officer of WHOW Games, said: “We are excited to begin this new chapter as part of the DoubleDown family. Their deep expertise in gaming makes them a natural fit for WHOW Games, and we believe that this partnership will accelerate our growth and innovation. I would like to express our sincere gratitude to Azerion, whose support and strategic guidance during our time together has been instrumental in shaping WHOW Games into the strong and dynamic company it is today.”
The post DoubleDown Interactive Enters into Agreement to Acquire German Social Casino Operator WHOW Games appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
Swintt – the award-winning software provider behind recent slot sensations Big Max Pot Hunter and Big Fish – has announced it has formed a new partnership with established Lithuanian betting brand, TOPsport, that will see the studio further raise its profile in the country.
With the new deal now in place, Swintt is already live with 36 Premium releases on the TOPsport platform, with these giving players access to a roster of classically-themed games that combine the design elements of traditional land-based slots with exciting mechanics and bonus features.
Established in 2002, TOPsport is Lithuania’s first and largest gambling operator, boasting a strong bricks-and-mortar presence that includes 50 casino slot saloons spread across 26 towns in addition to its online enterprise. Given the brand’s rich land-based heritage, the SwinttPremium range seems to be ideally suited for its customers, who will enjoy the slots’ familiar look and feel.
Among the Premium options now available at TOPsport.lt, players will be particularly keen to try the acclaimed Extra Win X, which adds an innovative Bonus Wheel to the iconic fruit machine format, and Max The Winner, which features a unique gathering mechanic that sees the titular cartoon squirrel appear on the reels during the bonus feature to collect acorns and award prizes.
With these just being two of the standout examples from the new collection of Swintt slots that are now available at TOPsport.lt, the brand will be able to further cement its reputation as the country’s leading operator while Swintt continues to reach more players in the Lithuanian market.
David Mann, Chief Executive Officer at Swintt, said: “With TOPsport being Lithuania’s oldest and most-trusted betting brand, we’re delighted to be able to introduce our Premium releases to players on the platform. With all of these games offering themes and features that are inspired by traditional land-based slot machines, we’re sure they’ll prove a popular addition to their line-up.”
Linas Dargenavičius, Chief Commercial Officer at TOPsport, said: “With a diverse library of over 3,000 slot titles, TOPsport offers the most extensive selection of online casino games in Lithuania. The addition of SwinttPremium titles further strengthens our portfolio, bringing in games that resonate with players familiar with classic land-based machines. Their engaging mechanics make them a valuable extension of the experience we aim to provide.”
The post Swintt Joins Forces with TOPsport to Capitalize on Lithuanian Market appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
SYNOT Games has announced a strategic partnership with Starcasino NL, a licensed online casino in the Netherlands. This collaboration marks a key milestone in SYNOT Games’ expansion in the Dutch market and highlights its mission to deliver engaging gaming experiences worldwide.
As part of this partnership, Starcasino NL will seamlessly integrate SYNOT Games’ extensive and diverse portfolio of slots, including acclaimed titles such as Firebird 27, Legend of Medusa and Wild Vaults. These games are celebrated for their captivating gameplay, cutting-edge features and immersive audiovisual design, offering players a dynamic and entertaining experience that sets a new benchmark in the iGaming sector.
“Our mission has always been to provide entertainment of the highest standard while prioritizing safety and transparency. By partnering with trusted and fully licensed operators like Starcasino, we’re reinforcing our position in the Netherlands and showcasing our dedication to responsible growth in the iGaming sector,” said Martina Krajčí, Chief Commercial Officer at SYNOT Games.
“We’re proud to join forces with SYNOT Games, whose creativity and technical excellence are truly inspiring. This partnership lets us offer Dutch players an even richer and more thrilling gaming experience, while staying true to our core values of fairness, trust, and fun,” said Pieter van den Bos, Director at Starcasino NL.
By teaming up with Starcasino NL, SYNOT Games is not only strengthening its foothold in the Netherlands but also contributing to a thriving and competitive gaming ecosystem driven by innovation and responsible gaming practices.
The post SYNOT Games Announces Strategic Partnership with Starcasino NL appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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