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Eneba raises $8M from InReach, Practica and VInted’s Mikuckas to grow gaming marketplace

Published

5 years ago

December 22, 2020

Reading Time: 3 minutes

Slick localized buying experience, innovative approach to fraud and automated local gaming trend detection contribute to Eneba’s status as a preferred marketplace for gaming community with stratospheric growth to 26M users

Eneba (www.eneba.com), the world’s fastest growing marketplace for gamers, has today announced that it has raised a total of $8M led by Practica Capital and InReach Ventures, the AI-powered venture capital firm, with contribution from FJ Labs and a group of established Angel investors including Mantas Mikuckas, COO of Vinted.

Launched in 2018 by two Lithuanian school friends, Vytis Uogintas and Žygimantas Mikšta, Eneba provides a marketplace for gamers to safely purchase everything they need for the world’s most popular games. Combining an unrivalled buying experience with superior proprietary security features, Eneba has already attracted a community of 26 million unique users.

Operating under the radar until now, Eneba has quickly made an impact in the gaming sector thanks to its new approach, where previously others have not innovated. Eneba presented the market with a superior ‘one-click buy’ gamer experience and a faster, more secure service by using proprietary machine learning and fingerprinting technology.

The team also created localised gaming experiences that proved an immediate hit with gamers by using automatic optimising discovery tools for locally trending gaming products.

As COVID-19 struck Eneba was already growing fast, but, with an increased shift to digital entertainment, the startup experienced exponential growth and an increased interest from US gamers; now the company’s fastest growing geography.

“We had a lot of new users coming to Eneba during these uncertain times. While it was extremely satisfying to see our numbers increasing tenfold, there was a challenge to meet the demand. To better reflect our user numbers, we had to quickly expand our team,” said Co Founder and CMO, Žygimantas Mikšta. “We now have a 130-strong team of brilliant software developers, risk analysts and marketing experts that have built a delightful experience for 26 million consumers across multiple geographies such as the UK, Germany, Lithuania, Spain, France, Poland, and other European countries.”

As the startup grew, there were many challenges for the company in order to maintain its new found momentum. Vytis Uogintas, CO Founder and CEO said that rapid organization growth has been one of the biggest to date. However, he also emphasizes that Eneba’s breakthrough has been determined by the team.

“Finding people you can trust and who share your vision is not easy. However, we had plenty of contacts from our previous ventures that kickstarted the whole process. Right from the get-go, we were emphasizing our company culture as our top priority. For me, it’s much more enjoyable to see happy colleagues and when they’re happy, it’s easier to communicate with them and reach desired goals.”

Eneba will use its funding to accelerate investments in product development making the platform faster, safer and easier to use, and to expand further in the US and across other key global markets. To prepare for this roll-out, Eneba has developed its own risk management system. The new system was developed in-house to better fit the company’s goals. It eliminates many risky transactions, simplifies the refunding process, and blocks majority fraud threats, thus making Eneba stand as one of the safest marketplaces on the internet.

“We are thrilled to be backing Vytis and Žygimantas. We’ve been impressed by their ability to execute at such speed as their company quickly scales, and to drive an incredible product with a unique value proposition for gamers. It also could not have come at a better time. We are excited to support one more team from the Baltics that has a clear ambition to lead their sector globally,” said Donatas Keras, partner at Practica Capital.

Co-founder of InReach Ventures, Roberto Bonanzinga, said “In Europe we have a tradition of building successful companies in the gaming space. We are very excited to have discovered Eneba thanks to our AI platform when the company was unknown and under the radar. We have been extremely impressed by what the founders have been able to build in such a short amount of time.”

Azerlotereya

How Groove Technologies Powered a Landmark Year of Global Expansion

Published

8 minutes ago

January 7, 2026

Wladimir P.

how-groove-technologies-powered-a-landmark-year-of-global-expansion

As the iGaming industry enters 2026, award-winning platform and aggregator Groove Technologies is reflecting on a transformative 2025. This landmark year was defined by strategic expansion, technological innovation, and a significant deepening of its global roots, solidifying Groove’s role as a comprehensive growth engine for operators worldwide.

Strategic Leadership and Market Penetration

A key catalyst for this growth was the appointment of Giusy Campo as Business Development Director. With over 15 years of experience (including a notable tenure at GLI), Campo’s mandate was to structure and accelerate the company’s push into complex regulated markets.

The “LATAM Story”: Brazil and Argentina

A headline achievement for the year was securing a license to operate in Brazil as the country launched its regulated market on January 1, 2025. Coupled with established activity in Argentina, this move forms the foundation of Groove’s Latin American strategy.

“Brazil isn’t just another market; it’s a statement of intent,” says Yahale Meltzer, Co-Founder and COO. “With Giusy Campo leading our business development, we are systematically building the partnerships necessary for long-term success in regulated regions.”

Technological Innovation: Groove Command & Instant Tournaments

2025 saw Groove transition from a powerful aggregator to a complete engagement ecosystem with the launch of its proprietary Instant Tournaments tool, integrated directly into the Groove Command (Sinatra) Back Office.

Key Platform Advancements:

Self-Service Marketing: Operators can now launch and manage tournaments and Free Round Bonuses (FRB) in minutes without technical intervention.
Ecosystem Growth: The platform onboarded 20+ new game providers and 10+ new operator partners in 2025.
Vertical Expansion: Significant growth in the Sweepstakes and Crypto gaming sectors, responding to evolving partner demand.

Metric	2025 Achievement
New Providers	20+ Added
New Operators	10+ Onboarded
Total Game Catalog	15,000+ Titles
Global Presence	10 Major Events across 4 Continents

Diversified Partnerships: From Crypto to National Lotteries

Demonstrating the platform’s versatility, Groove secured a landmark partnership with Azerlotereya, the national lottery of Azerbaijan. This collaboration validates the robustness and compliance of Groove’s infrastructure in government-backed, high-stringency environments.

Operational Scale and Global Infrastructure

To support these ambitions, Groove scaled its global support network. The company now maintains offices in Israel, Georgia, and Malta, offering 24/7 multilingual technical and account services.

“Our expansion into sweepstakes and crypto wasn’t opportunistic; it was a response to clear partner demand,” reflects Meltzer. “When an operator in Georgia or a partner in São Paulo has a question, they get an answer from someone who understands their market context, not just their technical issue.”

The post How Groove Technologies Powered a Landmark Year of Global Expansion appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

DUPR Ratings

USA Pickleball “Golden Ticket” Returns to Las Vegas: February 2026 at the Plaza

Published

2 hours ago

January 7, 2026

Wladimir P.

usa-pickleball-“golden-ticket”-returns-to-las-vegas:-february-2026-at-the-plaza

USA Pickleball is heading back to the “Sports and Entertainment Capital of the World” for the USA Pickleball Golden Ticket – Las Vegas, presented by Tommy Bahama.

Taking place from February 18–22, 2026, the event moves to a new iconic home at the Plaza Hotel & Casino in downtown Las Vegas. As a premier qualifying event for the 2026 USA Pickleball National Championships, this tournament offers amateur players their fastest “Path to Nationals.”

The “Golden Ticket” Advantage

In the competitive world of pickleball, a “Golden Ticket” is the ultimate prize for amateur athletes.

Priority Registration: Gold medalists in each age and skill bracket receive a Golden Ticket, granting them guaranteed priority registration for the National Championships in November.
Tiered Point System (TPS): Participants who do not win gold still earn maximum ranking points toward Nationals eligibility, as Golden Ticket events sit at the highest tier of the sanctioned points system.
Official Rankings: As a sanctioned event, results are reported to DUPR, providing athletes with verified skill ratings.

Venue Spotlight: The Plaza Hotel & Casino

The Plaza has established itself as the premier pickleball destination in Las Vegas, boasting more courts than any other hotel-casino resort in the city.

16 Tournament-Level Courts: The venue features 12 permanent rooftop courts and a dedicated championship court area that can expand to accommodate large-scale tournament play.
Rooftop Experience: Players compete on the Plaza’s fifth-floor pool deck, offering panoramic views of the Las Vegas valley and the historic Fremont Street District.
Capacity: The event expects to host over 500 athletes across five days of high-stakes competition.

“This venue allows us to deliver an extraordinary athlete experience, from professional operations to the energy that makes Las Vegas such a special host city,” said Jose Moreno, Chief Marketing Officer of USA Pickleball.

Tournament Registration & Logistics

Registration for the Las Vegas Golden Ticket is currently open, with several key deadlines and costs for participants:

Registration Deadline: February 8, 2026.
Cost: $95 Registration Fee + $45 Event Fee (Amateurs).
Skill Levels: Open to players in skill brackets 3.0 to 5.0, with age divisions ranging from 19 to 80+.
Exclusive Rates: A special hotel rate is available at the Plaza using group code SUSAPGT for bookings made by February 2nd.

For more information on Golden Ticket tournaments and the Path to Nationals, visit https://usapickleball.org/goldenticket/.

The post USA Pickleball “Golden Ticket” Returns to Las Vegas: February 2026 at the Plaza appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

DUPR Ratings

USA Pickleball Golden Ticket Heads to the Plaza Hotel and Casino in downtown Las Vegas next month

Published

2 hours ago

January 7, 2026

GamingAmericas.com

usa-pickleball-golden-ticket-heads-to-the-plaza-hotel-and-casino-in-downtown-las-vegas-next-month

USA Pickleball Golden Ticket Las Vegas presented by Tommy Bahama set for Feb. 18-22

USA Pickleball is returning to Las Vegas next month with the USA Pickleball Golden Ticket – Las Vegas presented by Tommy Bahama, bringing one of the organization’s premier qualifying events back to the city after a highly successful 2024 tournament. The event will take place Feb. 18–22, at the Plaza Hotel and Casino in downtown Las Vegas, offering athletes a new venue and an elevated tournament experience.

Golden Ticket Tournaments are official qualifying events for the USA Pickleball National Championships, the sport’s most prestigious competition. Winners earn a coveted Golden Ticket, securing priority registration to Nationals, while all participants earn points as part of USA Pickleball’s Tiered Point System.

Golden Ticket Tournaments attract top players from across the country, offering a professionally run environment with certified referees, official rules, and first-class venues designed for fair and competitive play. As sanctioned USA Pickleball events, participants earn official DUPR ratings and ranking points, helping athletes track progress and advance competitively.

“We’re excited to bring the Golden Ticket back to Las Vegas and to do it at the Plaza Hotel and Casino, with an expected 500+ athletes,” said Jose Moreno, Chief Marketing Officer of USA Pickleball. “This venue allows us to deliver an extraordinary athlete experience, from professional operations to the energy that makes Las Vegas such a special host city. Golden Ticket tournaments are a vital part of The Path to Nationals, and Las Vegas is the perfect place for players to test themselves, earn their way forward, and compete among the best in the country.”

“With the most pickleball courts of any resort, the Plaza has become the premier destination for pickleball in Las Vegas,” said Jonathan Jossel, CEO of the Plaza Hotel & Casino. “We are excited to host this prestigious tournament and welcome the top USA Pickleball players from across the country to the Plaza. This event will be one not to miss with exciting, competitive matches played on our courts that offer unforgettable views of the Las Vegas valley.”

A special hotel rate at the Plaza is available for tournament participants. Rooms must be reserved online by Feb. 2, with group code SUSAPGT at https://book.passkey.com/go/SUSAPGT. Guests can also make reservations by phone, 1-800-634-6575, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 10 p.m., or Saturday and Sunday, 5 a.m. to 10 p.m.

For more information on Golden Ticket tournaments and the Path to Nationals, visit https://usapickleball.org/goldenticket/.

The post USA Pickleball Golden Ticket Heads to the Plaza Hotel and Casino in downtown Las Vegas next month appeared first on Americas iGaming & Sports Betting News.