partnerships
Flutter’s Sky Bet and EFL Launch Transformational “Building Foundations” Football Fund
Flutter Entertainment’s leading UK sports betting brand Sky Bet, the title partner of the English Football League (EFL), and the EFL are launching the “Building Foundations” Fund to provide £6m of vital funding for community projects across England and Wales.
The “Building Foundations” Fund represents the largest multi-year sponsor-backed fund dedicated solely to community activity and will give the 72 EFL clubs a chance to bid for grants of up to £100,000 to invest in ongoing programmes or to develop new initiatives.
From the current 2023/24 season, Sky Bet will invest £1 million per year into the Fund. A panel of industry experts, including Sky Bet ambassador Jeff Stelling, will agree the winning bids across a range of categories, such as improving local sporting facilities or promoting the physical and social benefits of the game. To mark the start of the “Building Foundations” Fund, Club Community Organisations (CCOs) at each of the 72 EFL Clubs will have the opportunity to spend an initial £10,000 grant.
Dan Colton, Managing Director at Sky Bet, said: “We’re incredibly proud of our long-standing partnership with the EFL – it’s a relationship that has gone from strength to the strength over the past decade and we wanted to raise the bar further still with the ‘Building Foundations’ Fund. The Fund is a core pillar of our new agreement with the EFL and we’re very excited to see the impact the £6 million will have on such important projects across England and Wales.”
EFL chair Rick Parry said: “Unrestricted funding for community activity on this scale is hard to find and presents an exciting opportunity for EFL clubs to further enhance the impact in the areas they are located. We are extremely grateful to Sky Bet for its ongoing support to the professional game in this country and this new investment via the ‘Building Foundations’ Fund will create a long-lasting legacy for the EFL and Sky Bet partnership.”
Jeff Stelling, former Sky Sports Soccer Saturday lead presenter, said: “Everybody knows my love of the English Football League. I also know all too well how lower league clubs and the communities around them struggle for financial support. I’m delighted to play a part in the ‘Building Foundations’ Fund and I truly believe it presents a great opportunity to make a real difference.”
Former Leicester City, Liverpool and England star Emile Heskey joined Sky Bet Managing Director Dan Colton and EFL chair Rick Parry at Barnsley’s 3G pitch to meet participants from its walking football programme, an existing community scheme for over 35’s that will benefit from the 2023/24 funding.
Blackburn Rovers plan to use the initial £10,000 to grow its “Remember the Rovers” programme which holds weekly sessions at Ewood Park, bringing people living with dementia together, who may otherwise be in social isolation, through the power of footballing memories.
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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