eSports

SimWin Sports Signs Multi-Year Deal with Bidstack

Published

3 years ago

January 25, 2023

Reading Time: 4 minutes

Bidstack, the technology company pioneering native in-game advertising, today announces the launch of Bidstack Sports – a dedicated division formed to expand the scope of access and depth of activation for sponsorship and fan engagement models in virtual sports environments. A multi-year technology partnership with SimWin Sports coincides with the launch and will see the world’s first virtual fantasy sports league integrate Bidstack’s enterprise technology across its growing universe of sports franchises and properties.

The foundational product launch for Bidstack Sports is a first-of-its-kind tech solution that enables both league and club rights holders to instantaneously deliver dynamic content and messaging within their virtual stadiums and environments, supporting the versatile control of highly-valuable digital spaces. This marks a step change for traditional sports sponsorship by establishing a technological gateway that enables real and virtual world activations to operate in parallel, unlocking new complementary revenue models, whilst simultaneously supporting next-gen fan engagement and continued industry growth.

Bidstack Sports is led by EA SPORTS veteran and former head of commercial partnerships for Madden NFL,Alex Nunez, who partnered with Pizza Hut to create the world’s first virtual stadium rights deal, inside Madden NFL 20.

Alex Nunez, SVP & Head of Bidstack Sports, commented:

“Each year, the advancements in sports simulation gaming are bringing fans closer to the real-world experience – from gameplay animation and athlete likenesses to the environmental and atmospheric detail of the most iconic venues in sport. Our mission is to help amplify that evolving realism, while introducing innovative commercial growth and fan-engagement opportunities in the virtual space made possible through Bidstack’s tech. The new product we’ve created addresses the largely untapped media values available for the sports industry in gaming by enabling publishers and rights holders to natively monetize and dynamically communicate inside virtual stadiums through a controlled content management dashboard. This tech solution represents a remarkable opportunity to drive net-new sponsorship revenues and increase communication with the next generation of fans.

“We’re incredibly proud to launch Bidstack Sports with SimWin Sports, a first-of-its-kind platform that resembles a traditional sports architecture of individual leagues and franchises portrayed in the virtual space; this partnership showcases the power, sophistication and control of Bidstack tech and shines the light on our potential to expand to every corner of the sports industry.”

SimWin Sports, the world’s first virtual sports league that provides daily fantasy players and esports fans with the ability to watch, predict, collect, play, and earn, will launch with a league of 32 American football teams before spanning out to basketball, soccer and other sports with teams and franchises under the stewardship of celebrity owners and sports stars, including Magic Johnson and Jerry Rice. Bidstack’s technology and new rights holder product will underpin SimWin’s stadium sponsorship and marketing ecosystem by allowing franchise owners to manage and monetise virtual environments through advanced audience targeting, native rendering and data processing capabilities.

SimWin Sports is led by fellow EA SPORTS veterans David Ortiz and Tom Goedde, with over 30 years of gaming experience each. In his video game career, Goedde excelled at product, brand and athlete marketing, and parlayed that into an impressive Real Money Gaming career launching the first U.S. online sportsbooks with DraftKings and taking them public prior to spearheading SimWin with Ortiz. Ortiz has been involved in the gaming industry since college and, through his innovation, has earned several prominent gaming awards, including a spot on the 100 Most Influential People in Gaming list.

SimWin Sports CEO, David J. Ortiz, said:

“Bidstack’s technology is a natural fit to power sponsorships in our sports metaverse. Advertising is critical to success in real-world and digital sports leagues, and Bidstack brings superior technology and capabilities to the games. Their ability to segment, target, and serve integrated, immersive ads authentically within the SimWin universe enables our franchise owners to curate unique stadium atmospheres for sponsors and fans. These uniquely designed game developer tools are unlocking new levels of growth potential for SimWin Sports.”

NFL Hall of Famer and Super Bowl Champion Marshall Faulk joins an all-star roster of SimWin franchise owners, having acquired the San Diego Battleships team. Kicking off the digital season, Faulk aims to draft the ultimate roster, driving his team to a historic inaugural championship.

San Diego Battleships Owner, Marshall Faulk, commented:

“Bidstack takes SimWin’s in-game advertising capabilities to the next level. My San Diego Battleships team utilizes this tech to mirror every aspect of a traditional pro sports sponsorship inventory, from ad space across jumbotrons and ribbon boards to stadium naming rights and jersey patch sponsors. With Bidstack, SimWin franchises maintain full creative control, supported by a range of data-targeting and advanced reporting capabilities that help demonstrate clear value to our sponsors. This tech is delivering the next generation of sports advertising within the next generation of sports gaming, and I’m excited to be a part of it all.”

Bidstack Sports will build on existing ties to the sports industry, which began with the iconic Football Manager franchise in 2017. James Draper, Founder and CEO of Bidstack, initially formed the lasting bonds between the company and both Football Manager’s Sports Interactive and Norwich City FC, which recently renewed its longstanding relationship with Bidstack to serve as its esports sponsor and fan engagement partner.

James Draper, Founder and CEO of Bidstack, said:

“Bidstack has been inseparable from the sports industry since we signed Football Manager more than five years ago. Even back then, as a small startup, we had the conviction to sponsor Norwich, knowing that sports would play a huge role in our future. I’m thrilled that Bidstack Sports will intensify our company’s bond to the sports industry.”

Bidstack’s in-game advertising technology has already been integrated into dozens of sporting titles, with the latest product iteration set to further develop Bidstack’s existing partnerships and introduce new growth strategies that accelerate an era of innovation within the sports industry.

data providers

DATA.BET reports 168% turnover growth from virtual content in Q1 2025–Q1 2026

Published

12 hours ago

May 21, 2026

Wladimir P.

data.bet-reports-168%-turnover-growth-from-virtual-content-in-q1-2025–q1-2026

DATA.BET says turnover from its virtual content grew 168% between Q1 2025 and Q1 2026, with the supplier reporting the product accounted for 39% of total virtual sports turnover and 45% of profits over the period.

The company said the content is developed fully in-house and delivered through automated bot-vs-bot matches that run 24/7 without dependence on real-world fixture schedules. DATA.BET positioned the format as a way to provide continuous events and reduce operational overhead for operators.

Across the same period, DATA.BET reported +299% active users, +129% across clients GGR, +246% events per quarter, and +218% bets placed.

DATA.BET also said the audience profile overlaps with live football bettors, which it believes supports retention during seasonal breaks. The supplier added that the algorithm-driven format “carries no fraud exposure,” supports In-Stream Betting overlays, and provides near-zero latency between broadcast and market updates.

“Over the past year, our bot-vs-bot virtual content has delivered consistent, measurable results across every operator deployment. Building e-Football in-house gives us the flexibility to configure it to what each operator actually needs — whether that is a specific league structure, a particular mix of bot and player content, or a branded competition format,” mentioned Rostyslav Likhtin, Head of Product at DATA.BET.

The post DATA.BET reports 168% turnover growth from virtual content in Q1 2025–Q1 2026 appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

energy drinks

Team Vitality names FYZIO official sports nutrition and energy drinks supplier

Published

2 days ago

May 19, 2026

Wladimir P.

team-vitality-names-fyzio-official-sports-nutrition-and-energy-drinks-supplier

Multi-year deal adds Laboratoires Gilbert’s new brand to jerseys across CS2, VALORANT, Rocket League and LoL teams ahead of a September 2026 launch.

Team Vitality has signed a multi-year partnership with FYZIO, naming the brand its new official sports nutrition and energy drinks supplier. FYZIO is a sports nutrition and hydration brand developed by Laboratoires Gilbert, a French healthcare company established in 1904.

The partnership will put FYZIO branding on the left sleeve of Team Vitality’s official jerseys for several flagship rosters, including CS2, VALORANT (VCT), Rocket League, and League of Legends teams across the LEC, LFL, and Rising Bees. FYZIO will also support Team Vitality teams competing in Teamfight Tactics, Tekken, and Trackmania.

FYZIO is scheduled to launch in September 2026. Team Vitality said the brand will supply products intended to support areas including hydration, fatigue and stress reduction, concentration and memory, and sleep quality.

“We are delighted to announce this partnership with FYZIO and proud to support the launch of this ambitious new brand from the French group, Laboratoires Gilbert. By integrating its specialised nutrition products into our teams’ routines, we are further strengthening our commitment to high-performance excellence,” comments Vas Roberts, Co-CEO of Team Vitality.

“For more than 120 years, Laboratoires Gilbert has been developing solutions dedicated to health and well-being. With FYZIO, we are bringing this expertise to a new ambition: helping everyone achieve their goals, whatever they may be, through a modern, accessible, and responsible approach to sports nutrition. Our partnership with Team Vitality reflects this shared vision of progress, high standards, and sustainable performance. Your performance, our nature“, explains Cédric Batteur, Chairman & CEO, Laboratoires Gilbert.

The post Team Vitality names FYZIO official sports nutrition and energy drinks supplier appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

eSports

McDonald’s Germany signs on as presenting partner for G2 NORD and G2 Hel

Published

3 days ago

May 19, 2026

Wladimir P.

mcdonald’s-germany-signs-on-as-presenting-partner-for-g2-nord-and-g2-hel

McDonald’s Germany has partnered with G2 as presenting partner of G2 NORD, the organisation’s League of Legends academy team competing in Germany’s Prime League. The deal also includes support for the return of G2 Hel, G2’s women’s League of Legends team.

Under the agreement, McDonald’s Germany branding, including the “ich liebe es” (I’m lovin’ it) tagline, will appear on G2 NORD and G2 Hel jerseys. The partners also plan a year-long content programme focused on player storytelling and behind-the-scenes access, including a series featuring team president Niklot “Tolkin” Stüber.

G2 positioned the partnership around its regional development pathway. G2 NORD was formed earlier this year through a collaboration between G2 and NORD Esports, and the organisation said the roster has already won the Prime League Winter Snowdown and reached the playoffs in its first EMEA Masters run.

The company said McDonald’s Germany’s backing enables G2 Hel’s return, with the team set to compete in the upcoming Game Changers circuit. “This partnership goes beyond traditional sponsorship, it’s a shared commitment to pushing the boundaries of talent development and creating meaningful opportunities within the space,” said Alban Dechelotte, CEO of G2. Stijn Mentrop-Huliselan, CMO of McDonald’s Germany, added: “We’re proud to support G2 Nord and to celebrate the return of G2 Hel – a strong signal for equity, visibility and inclusion in esports.”

To launch the collaboration, McDonald’s and G2 released an announcement video featuring Jankos, Sola, Tolkin, Team Nord and Caltys, produced in-house by G2. McDonald’s Germany said its lead agency Scholz & Friends supported the development and execution of the partnership.

The post McDonald’s Germany signs on as presenting partner for G2 NORD and G2 Hel appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.