Stake has witnessed unprecedented levels of sports betting activity during the 2024 Indian Premier League (IPL).

The operator customised its global sportsbook for cricket-crazy customers this season by enabling deposits in Indian rupees (INR) for the very first time.

The Indian rupee is the latest of six fiat currencies available on the flagship Stake.com sportsbook, as well as 20 cryptocurrencies.

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The currency integration was launched in tandem with a generous promo, which saw punters paid out as winners, even if their team went on to lose the match, as long as they managed to hit a six during the first four overs.

The only stipulation was that bets must have been placed in INR with a maximum payout of up to US$25.

This occurred during 30 of 48 selected IPL matches, or 63%, leading to handsome rewards for punters who took advantage of the offer.

The bets would have been settled as losses on any other platform, but instead resulted in an extra US$30m of winnings for Stake customers.

The promotion also served as a savvy customer acquisition strategy. More than 80% of users to have redeemed the offer were new to Stake as first time depositors.

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“We are constantly striving to improve our product and want to make Stake easily accessible to as many players as possible,” said Stake’s director of commercial Jarrod Febbraio.

“With more than US$100m wagered this season alone, the IPL is soaring in popularity, and so is Stake.

“We wanted to spice things up for the 2024 season, and this promotion was perfect for our customers who don’t like cricket, they love it,” he added.

The IPL is the most popular cricket league in the world. The current season ends on Sunday 26 May.

Betby, a premium sportsbook supplier, will be restoring its busy routine of travelling to international expos with its team of experts attending SiGMA Asia, in Manila, on June 3-5.

Considered as one of the biggest igaming gatherings in the Asian part of the world, Betby will be showcasing its premium sportsbook solution and products, including its proprietary Betby Games esports feed, and AI-based sportsbook tools under the umbrella of “AI Labs”.

Kirill Nekrasov, Head of Betby Games, will also be joining a panel of leading experts discussing in detail the growth of the eSports market. Together with his peers Nekrasov will also be discussing the inclusion of eSports in major sporting events, how it aids the diversification of revenue streams for operators and the potential implications for gambling sectors.

Betby will be showcasing its products alongside its ground-breaking solution for the Asian continent on June 3-5 welcoming all visitors at Stand B804.

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QTech Games and Song88, two powerhouses of the emerging markets and Asia-facing landscape, have renewed their support for the SiGMA Asia Invitational Golf Day, a popular charity event that kick-starts the influential iGaming summit which runs from 3-5 June in Manila.

Having hosted the inaugural event last year to universal acclaim, this golf day not only lifts the curtain on one of the sector’s best-attended C-Suite conferences, but also raises vital funds for a broad spectrum of good local causes throughout the Philippines at a challenging economic time.

In 2023, The event donated over $20,000 (1million PHP) through the SiGMA Foundation to help people in need – and could not have been done without the support of renowned suppliers like Aviatrix, Blueprint Gaming, Continent 8, Naga Games, Dragoon Soft and Habanero, who came together with QTech Games and Song88 to raise the much-needed monies. Now, QTech Games and Song88, alongside their partners, are aiming to match and surpass that total for the SiGMA Foundation at this year’s renewal, which will again be held on the opening morning of SiGMA Asia at the magnificent Club Intramuros Golf Course, where jaw-dropping cityscape views intersect with a stunning layout which is carved out around the historic ancient walls of Manila.

In recent months, QTech Games’ videography team has visited the Jose Depiro Formation Center, run by the inspirational missionary priest Joseph Cremona, who is doing such great work to deliver health, housing and education for local low or no-income families and their children. As chronicled in this short video, last year’s funds have already been put towards building two new houses as part of an effort to improve local accommodation and create a hub where its beneficiaries can find security, schooling and an environment in which they can thrive. As part of this ongoing charitable initiative, monies have also been donated to extend an existing concert hall and provide quality new instruments with which promising young musicians can help foster an inspirational and cohesive community for the future.

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The golf day will again be organized and held in partnership with Song88, the rising-star sportsbook taking the Far East by storm with a wide variety of sports, exciting player-orientated markets and the latest betting features. Song88 has quickly become one of Asia’s most popular new sportsbooks, painstakingly designed for the demands of Asian customers.

For its part, QTech Games continues to lead the way across developing territories worldwide, thanks to its ever-expanding reach, proprietary gaming tools and services, 24/7 support, and advanced AI technology which combine to bolster its partners’ offerings and elevate the customer experience. QTech Games is setting the gold standard, redefining the future of the online casino industry, with effortless distribution from its definitive one-stop-shop approach for online casino operators, underscored by 80+ providers, over 5,000 casino games and 1,000+ live tables, and counting.

Priest Joseph Cremona said: “We initially set up a music school to help children who would otherwise be idle on the roads, helping to give them a direction in life and develop their talents. Now, though, with the help of the SiGMA Foundation, we are doing so much more in the local community and it’s fantastic to see QTech Games and Song88 taking a real interest beyond their helpful donation and pledging to do more again this year. I am of the mindset that you give the rod, not the fish. No-one here wants to live on handouts, they only want the tools and the chance to work their own way out of poverty and provide a better, more sustainable future for current and coming generations.”

The leadership team at QTech Games and Song88 commented: “We’re really looking forward to welcoming friends old and new back to our charity golf day which, of course, doubles as a fantastic networking event and an important platform for local children’s causes. It’s a fun and relaxed way to start the show for our partners and peers, and we plan to hold more of these clubbable get-togethers at forthcoming industry summits.”

“Priest Joseph has been an inspirational figure here over the past 20 years, and our shared vision is to establish a safe sanctuary that promotes health and education to define more promising pathways for local children’s futures. We will continue to work in lockstep with SiGMA and Song88 to create a closer connection around similar charitable efforts which combine business with the pleasure of giving. This industry Invitational always pays fitting testimony to the spirit and camaraderie of the iGaming sector.”

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SiGMA Asia added: “Asia’s iGaming pulse beats fastest in Manila. And this June we’re gathering the best in business: from decision-making government officials to an impressive C-suite of industry heavyweights and even some celebrity influencers. SiGMA Asia is leading the charge for change – and charitable projects like this golf day are just the start of how we are returning value to the local communities in which we operate.”