Asia
Iker Casillas signs with FUN88 as its brand ambassador ahead of the World Cup 2022
Iconic Spanish goalkeeper dons a new jersey as front-man for the leading Asian sportsbook operator, calling on fans to “Live Your Dream”
Football legend and World Cup-winning Spanish Captain, Iker Casillas, has taken his gloves off to become the official brand ambassador for Fun88, the powerhouse Asian sports betting operator, ahead of the FIFA World Cup 2022 in Qatar which runs from 20 November to 18 December.
This breakthrough partnership arrives three short years after FUN88 signed the late, great Kobe Bryant ahead of the FIBA Basketball World Cup. And, like Bryant before him, Casillas has been recruited to encourage fans to “Live Your Dream”, a resounding call-to-action tagline that echoes the best of FUN88’s brand values.
Consequently, the former goalkeeper, one of the game’s most outstanding players thanks to his inspirational leadership roles at Real Madrid and the Spanish national team, has undertaken to responsibly promote the transcendent values of competition and entertainment on the World Cup stage, giving greater visibility to the fun and social engagement the game of football can bring to diverse international audiences.
Casillas and FUN88’s combined goal is to enhance fan engagement around the game’s biggest tournament by creating fresh content and discovery opportunities for diverse audiences. This timely partnership is now set to drive deeper engagement amongst soccer supporters across the globe. Accordingly, Casillas now joins the likes of Robbie Fowler, Steve Nash and the much-missed Bryant in Fun88’s historic stable of superstars, all putting their shoulders to the wheel in building the brand’s global sports exposure.
FUN88 will continue its ongoing work to engage with fans across both mature and emerging Asia markets via a series of creative activations and promotions involving Casillas. The brand has also developed a popular presence on social media, where its myriad customers are already interacting through its feeds and forthcoming World Cup content, where many more will benefit from its competitions and premium prize giveaways.
This combined collaboration will also leverage an increasing number of dedicated local channels and promotional activities, all focused on acquisition and retention of a loyal audience both pre-game and in-play. After all, World Cup football is always a tent-pole event for operator performance and correlated marketing targets around long-term new-account acquisition.
A senior spokesperson welcomed FUN88’s new flagship ambassador: “We’re delighted to have signed Iker Casillas to our team as FUN88’s World Cup 2022 brand ambassador. Long story short, he is a leader and an inspiration to all, having made a peerless contribution to both club and international football.
“Unlike other goalkeepers known principally for their safe pairs of hands, Iker was always a natural entertainer on the field with his cat-like reactions and jaw-dropping shot-stopping regularly getting fans out of their seats. Accordingly, he and FUN88 are committed to achieving our goals in the most engaging and enjoyable way possible. Of course, there’ll also be the chance for our customers to gain exclusive insight and analysis from one of the clearest-thinking minds in football – remember, Iker holds the record for the most clean-sheets in the Champions League and for Spain’s national team!
“FUN88 intends to harness this breakout partnership to drive awareness and participation around our progressive brand values across both mature and developing Asian territories. We’re constantly looking for original ways to connect with our customers across digital channels and betting verticals as varied as sportsbook, eSports and casino. Iker is a dream fit for the energy and expertise that FUN88 is delivering across varied markets, where a proven global reputation can deliver on localised challenges, helping push the envelope of technology and raise the game for the end-user experience and social traction.”
Casillas, Spain’s most garlanded captain, added: “I’m excited to be representing FUN88 for this Autumn’s World Cup in Qatar. They have built a brand which directly aligns with my footballing history and sporting passions, underpinned by a desire to fuse fun with fairness and flair across wider sport. It’s a combination that’s vital to winning any game and also entertaining your audience.
“As a result, I look forward to bringing some top-class content and activity to Asian markets with my signature style and professionalism, allowing fans to find new and deeper ways in which to engage with and enjoy the sports they love. It was a penalty-kick decision to commit for me, so live your dream with FUN88!
“In short, I’m energised to be joining a new squad at FUN88 and very grateful for being given the chance to act as their ambassador and public face across an electric World Cup program.”
While FUN88 continues to develop its online offerings for football fans around the world, this latest landmark acquisition highlights its commitment to international representation and fostering a football-friendly environment within a responsible gaming culture.
FUN88 has pioneered the gamified betting experience, thanks to a unique interface and personalised customer service that deliver a cohesive player journey from the log-in until the end result. This seamless experience has also ensured record levels of retention and consumer satisfaction amongst its active base.
Construction has officially begun on Japan’s first integrated resort with a casino, as MGM Osaka held its groundbreaking ceremony last week. The event, hosted by Osaka IR KK, the project’s promoter, was attended by Osaka Governor Hirofumi Yoshimura and representatives of MGM Resorts International and Japan’s Orix Corporation, the lead partners behind the ¥1.27 trillion ($8.8 billion) development.
Located on the man-made island of Yumeshima in Osaka Bay, MGM Osaka is scheduled to open in the autumn of 2030. The project marks a key milestone in Japan’s long-debated foray into legalised casino gaming. Once operational, it is expected to generate around $5.9 billion annually in gross gaming revenue.
MGM Osaka will feature a casino, three hotels with approximately 2500 rooms, and extensive convention and entertainment facilities, including a 3500-seat theater, 330,000 square feet of exhibition space and 400,000 square feet of conference areas. Dining and retail outlets are also part of the expansive master plan.
“In collaboration with Osaka Prefecture and Osaka City, this project… is expected to contribute to the development of Japan’s tourism industry and the growth of the Kansai region,” a press statement reads.
The complex’s timeline coincides with the tail end of Expo 2025, also hosted on Yumeshima Island. To minimise disruption during the event, construction will be scaled down on peak days and the use of heavy machinery delayed until after the Expo concludes in October.
The resort will benefit from enhanced transportation access. A new Osaka Metro station opened in January to serve Expo 2025 and eventually MGM Osaka, while the Kintetsu Nara Line is being extended to further improve connectivity before the resort opens.
Financially, the project is backed by a ¥530 billion ($3.68 billion) debt financing package led by Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group and Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corp., with investments from regional businesses in Osaka.
The post Construction of Japan’s First Integrated Resort with a Casino Begins appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
Hero Esports, an industry leader and the largest esports company in Asia, has announced its championship venues for the Asian Champions League (ACL) Grand Finals 2025 taking place May 16-18 in Shanghai. The landmark event will transform three of the city’s most iconic venues into battlegrounds for nine premier esports titles, cementing Shanghai’s status as the global esports capital.
The tournament is expected to attract 80,000+ live attendees across three venues, with global broadcasts reaching millions via Twitch, YouTube and TikTok. Participating teams will be competing for a total prize pool of $2 million. Selected ACL winners will earn direct entry to the Esports World Cup in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia—the largest esports event in history due to take place from July to August.
“Shanghai’s selection as our host city reflects its unmatched esports infrastructure and passionate community. By combining elite competition with DreamHack’s festival energy, we’re creating a new blueprint for global esports events,” said Jonny Wang, CEO of ACL.
“This is Hero Esports’ most ambitious project to date. The ACL bridges Asian talents with the world stage while delivering unforgettable fan experiences through cutting-edge production,” said Danny Tang, Co-Founder & CEO of Hero Esports.
The post Hero Esports Announces Venues for ACL Grand Finals 2025 appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
LiveScore, home to the world’s leading app for sports scores, announces it is expanding its brand activation and presence in Thailand. This development marks a significant milestone in its ongoing commitment to localising its services and engaging with football fans across Asia.
This strategic move highlights LiveScore’s commitment to expanding its presence in the region, beginning with Thailand and Indonesia. LiveScore has experienced substantial growth in Asia Pacific, with Thailand and Indonesia specifically representing a significant portion of LiveScore’s 7.6m users in Asia in 2024.
In line with this expansion, LiveScore has partnered with local agency, Holarchy, to enhance brand awareness and activation in the region. This step is crucial to the overall strategy aimed at engaging fans and brand partners throughout Asia. With the World Cup nearing, this expansion allows LiveScore to connect with dedicated football fans as it seeks to establish itself as the leading platform for football fans, and paves the way for exciting collaborations with regional brands.
This expansion showcases LiveScore’s ongoing commitment to Fuelling Fans’ Passion for Sport, providing localised content, live scores, and news that resonates with fans on a personal level.
To further cement its commitment to local audiences, LiveScore has launched its official Thai social media account, @livescore.th. LiveScore’s Thai-specific account will feature localised content from the global LiveScore account, complimented with content specifically crafted for Thai fans, making it easier than ever for fans to stay engaged with their favourite sports.
Beyond social, fans can look forward to a series of LiveScore events such as watch parties, with all activations designed to bring more fans closer to the games they love.
Dominic Vye, Marketing Director, LiveScore, said: “Sports, especially football, hold immense popularity across Asia. We’ve chosen Thailand as the first country for our Asia expansion because of the undeniable passion of Thai fans. From their vibrant love for food to their pride in national teams and unwavering enthusiasm for the Premier League, Thai fans stand out. With LiveScore already enjoying a strong following and a loyal user base, this expansion marks an incredibly exciting step forward for both us and the fans.”
“LiveScore has always been driven by our mission to Fuel Fans’ Passion for Sport, and the incredible passion of Asian football fans only motivates our commitment to building a personal connection with fans in every market. We’re witnessing a phenomenal growth as fans from all over the world engage with us more than ever, especially as excitement builds towards the World Cup in 2026, and we’re proud to provide them with real-time updates and content that is tailored to their interests and needs.
“This is just the beginning, and we’re looking forward to working with more like-minded brands committed to building meaningful connections with football fans across Asia.”
The post LEADING SCORES APP LIVESCORE EYES ASIA GROWTH WITH EXPANDED BRAND PRESENCE IN THAILAND appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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