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Sportradar Launches Curated Event Series – Sportradar Connect
First event to kick off with legendary sports entrepreneur and investor Ted Leonsis; moderated by Sportico’s Eben Novy-Williams
Sportradar, the global provider of sports betting and sports entertainment products and services, today announced the launch of Sportradar Connect, its new multi-faceted in-house curated event series which will provide exclusive insight, analysis and ideas on the business of sport, technology and innovation.
Sportradar Connect will feature conversations with a range of prominent thought leaders and executives organized by Sportradar, while also utilized as a platform for bespoke sessions designed for specific customer and partner groups throughout 2021.
The first leadership session will be a digital event on February 23, 2021, featuring Ted Leonsis, the founder, chairman, principal partner and CEO of Monumental Sports & Entertainment in Washington, D.C. (which owns the NHL’s Capitals, NBA’s Wizards and WNBA’s Mystics and Capital One Arena) and co-founder and partner of Revolution Growth, an investor in Sportradar.
Sportradar Global CEO Carsten Koerl will introduce Leonsis, and the event will be moderated by Sportico business reporter Eben Novy-Williams.
Leonsis will discuss the impact the global pandemic has had on the sports industry and larger sports ecosystem, sharing his unique perspective on the way forward and how sports enterprises and sports tech start-ups are utilizing technology and unique fan experiences to power their recovery and to propel growth
Over the course of the session, Leonsis will cover the following:
- The road to recovery– there are challenges ahead in 2021, but the accelerated adoption of diverse fan experiences in streaming/OTT, sports betting and esports gives cause for optimism
- Engaging Generation Z– their complex digital and entertainment consumption habits create unique opportunities for developing the next generation of sports fans
- Fan experience– as sports and technology continue to converge, fans today enjoy more content and access to players, more data and analytics, and more visually compelling news from the athletes and sports they love – which provides sports enterprises multiple platforms on which to display creativity and innovation
- Esports– the pandemic expedited the growth of esports and now professional sports leagues, clubs and players are using it to connect with younger and more global fans, creating major commercial opportunities
“At Sportradar, we set the industry agenda by continuously pushing the boundaries of the work we do. Sportradar Connect is an opportunity to highlight the key technology and innovation trends to partners and the wider industry at large, while stimulating conversation and debate,” said Koerl. “We’re excited to welcome Ted as our first guest speaker. He is one of the pre-eminent business brains at the intersection of sports and innovation and it is an honor for Sportradar to have him launching our new event series.”
Sportradar Connect will be launching several events (first digitally due to current restrictions and then eventually in-person) in 2021. Attendance will be invite-only. Register your interest by clicking https://sportradar.com/connect/
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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.
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Swintt Joins Forces with TOPsport to Capitalize on Lithuanian Market

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.
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Ukrainian Security Service, NCEC and AUGO Shut Down 133 Illegal Online Casinos

Ukraine’s Security Service, the State Service of Special Communications and Information Protection, the National Commission for the State Regulation of Electronic Communications, Radiofrequency Spectrum and the Provision of Postal Services (NCEC), and the Association of Ukrainian Gambling Operators (AUGO) have jointly blocked 133 illegal online casinos operating within Ukraine’s digital space.
According to AUGO’s press release on Tuesday, Derzhspetszviazok issued Directive No. 435/3236 on July 1, ordering the blocking of IP addresses and websites involved in illegal gambling. The directive was sent to internet providers and industry associations on July 3 and is mandatory for implementation within three working days—by July 8.
The association estimates that the joint operation disrupted a shadow business generating UAH 3 to 5 billion in illicit turnover every quarter.
Beyond blocking the sites with technical and software tools, the operation included broader organisational and technical efforts targeting the infrastructure that enabled these illegal platforms to function. Notably, unauthorised financial processing was halted, and associated P2P transactions were frozen.
“In chess terms – white has made the first move, and black is already losing pieces on the board… No, w’re not grandmasters yet. But this will be a decisive chess match, and we’re convinced the illegal players will eventually have no choice but to leave the game,” said AUGO President Oleksandr Kohut, as quoted in the press release.
He emphasised that illegal casinos – most of which now have ties to Russia – inflict direct harm on the Ukrainian state, legal businesses and its citizens. These sites, which are frequently cloned after being blocked, also pose a high risk of fraud and the leakage of players’ personal and financial data.
This marks the first time the Security Service, Derzhspetszviazok, and NCEC have actively partnered with AUGO on such an initiative. The association, which was launched three months ago, provided software, analytical and informational support for the operation to dismantle the illicit online gambling sector.
Kohut affirmed that AUGO remains committed to further collaboration with regulators – including the Ministry of Digital Transformation and the newly formed PlayCity agency – as well as with law enforcement to swiftly detect and shut down illegal casinos online. AUGO also plans to work with state regulators to inform media outlets of future blocking decisions as soon as they are made and communicated to telecom operators.
The post Ukrainian Security Service, NCEC and AUGO Shut Down 133 Illegal Online Casinos appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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