Canada
Fandom Invests in Video Across Its Portfolio of Brands with New Original Content Slate
On the heels of its recent acquisition of leading gaming and entertainment brands including GameSpot, Metacritic and TV Guide, Fandom is investing in its new portfolio with a slate of original video content that superserves fans and unlocks new branded content opportunities for advertisers. Beginning in May with the launch of seven new shows, Fandom is delivering against consumer and advertiser demand with more short-form original video content across its brands, made “for gamers, by gamers” including destination programming and personality-hosted shows.
Both endemic and non-endemic advertisers can target and engage with fans, particularly gaming audiences, across their entire consumer journey including reference, news, reviews and ratings. This new slate of video content offers additional branded content opportunities for partners looking to authentically reach true gaming and entertainment fans at scale.
“Gaming is our largest and fastest growing audience, eclipsing 150 million monthly visitors, so we’re doubling down on our gaming content with this new original programming lineup,” says Michael Chiang, Chief Business Officer, Fandom. “The acquisition of these leading editorial brands created new avenues for us to serve fans and clients in even more immersive ways, and our fan-first, premium content allows us to authentically connect with our audiences and truly stand out in the digital media space.”
In May, Fandom will release five fan-focused original shows on GameSpot’s YouTube channel that explores every aspect of the world of video games including:
- The Kurt Locker: With his distinctive style and personality, GameSpot Senior Producer Kurt Indovina explores current trends in gaming, as well as their impact on gaming culture and gamers themselves through unique video essays that are approachable, cozy, and kinetic. The Kurt Locker premieres on May 2 with new episodes airing weekly on Tuesdays.
- No Hud: Premiering on May 3 and airing every Wednesday, GameSpot examines new ways to play video games that make them feel fresh and new.
- Experts React: This limited-run series calls on various experts – from sword masters and viking historians to tattoo artists – to break down and analyze the hottest gaming titles for an in-depth analysis of how close games come to reality. Experts React premieres on May 4 with new episodes airing Thursdays.
- Spot On: A weekly premium news show airing Fridays hosted by GameSpot’s Managing Editor Tamoor Hussain & Senior Producer Lucy James. Spot On premieres on May 5.
- How It Saved: Hosted by Dave Klein, GameSpot’s Senior Producer, How It Saved shows how specific games have pulled franchises back from the brink of failure, or reversed the fortunes of entire companies. The first episode premiering on May 7 will be “How Resident Evil 4 SAVED Resident Evil”. New episodes of this limited series will air Sundays.
- Metacritic Review Lab on Fandom Entertainment’s YouTube channel: With the massive data-set of Metacritic’s review aggregator, plus Fandom’s own in-house critics and data experts, the Metacritic Review Lab sorts through the noise of varied critical opinion and fan sentiment to bring you the clearest, fairest evaluation of new movie release’s quality that you can find online. Metacritic Review Lab premieres in May with 2-3 new episodes debuting each month. Upcoming episodes include reviews of Fast X, The Little Mermaid, Across the Spiderverse and Indiana Jones 5.
- Honest Trailers Presents on Screen Junkies’ YouTube channel: With over 1 million views each week, Fandom is giving its Emmy-nominated “Honest” series a fresh spin with new formats including celebrity biography, TV theme songs, and commercial advertising. Honest Trailer Presents premieres on May 2 with new episodes airing monthly on Tuesdays.
- GameSpot Insider: GameSpot Insider is a quarterly limited series that pulls back the curtain on some of the most beloved video game studios in the world. With unique access, we delve deep into the creation of some huge, eagerly anticipated titles. Each episode leverages the talents of GameSpot’s seasoned writers, interviewers, and editors to deliver a documentary-quality viewing experience that is informative, insightful, and entertaining. It will also be part of a wider content rollout that includes written articles.
- Challenge Accepted: GameSpot talent and content creators are tasked to come up with the most creative solutions to out-of-the-box gaming challenges in Challenge Accepted. From getting your entire team to rage quit, to beating Mario with a Guitar Hero controller, to coaching your mom through her first Call of Duty deathmatch, we’ll push GameSpot employees, influencers, and content creators to their absolute limit with challenges they’ve NEVER faced before.
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Blanka Homor
Playson Signs Agreement with Light & Wonder in Global Distribution Deal
Playson, the accomplished digital entertainment supplier, has forged a major global content deal with Light & Wonder to significantly enhance the reach of its extensive games portfolio.
This landmark agreement will enable Light & Wonder’s expansive operator network across the UK, Canada, and Latin America to gain access to Playson’s engaging offering.
UK-based operator Dazzletag Entertainment Ltd was the first to go live with the studio’s creative releases last month, with SUPERCHARGED CLOVERS: HOLD AND WIN and 3 POTS RICHES: HOLD AND WIN launched across its online casino brands.
Light & Wonder’s content marketplace is utilised by some of the biggest operator brands from across the globe, providing them with access to more than 3500 games from a host of third-party studios to allow them to build personalised, mobile-ready player experiences and stay ahead of regulatory changes.
The partnership signifies the strength of Playson’s reputation as a respected and highly sought-after provider to operators globally, as the rising demand for its games looks set to take the studio to new heights for 2025.
Blanka Homor, Sales Director at Playson, said: “Our deal with Light & Wonder is a major milestone in our strategic roadmap, as we embark on the next chapter of our global growth. This agreement expands our reach and allows us to deliver our appealing titles to new operators and players.
“The launch of our titles across Dazzletag’s two brands is a great start, and we are confident this relationship will further elevate our presence in the ever-evolving online casino space.”
Steve Mayes, Senior Director of Partnerships at Light & Wonder, said: “We are delighted to be working with such a highly respected digital entertainment provider and deliver their portfolio to our network. This strengthens our commitment to offering operators the best game releases available.
“We look forward to other successful launches in 2025, as we continue to support our operators with diverse content.”
The post Playson Signs Agreement with Light & Wonder in Global Distribution Deal appeared first on Gaming and Gambling Industry in the Americas.
Bragg Gaming Group
Bragg Gaming Announces Preliminary Unaudited Results for the Year Ended December 31, 2024 and 2025 Strategic Initiatives and Guidance
Bragg Gaming Group announced its preliminary unaudited results for the year ended December 31, 2024 based on information currently available to management and certain strategic initiatives and issued financial guidance for 2025, highlighting anticipated double-digit growth in Revenue and Adjusted EBITDA driven by a strategic focus on proprietary and exclusive content.
Anticipated Full Year 2024 Results Highlights
The Company expects the financial results for full year 2024 to include the following highlights: Revenue not less than EUR 102 million, an increase of 9% from EUR 93.5 million for 2023, Adjusted EBITDA of not less than EUR 15.4 million, an increase of 1% from EUR 15.2 million for 2023.
Anticipated Financial Highlights for 2025
Revenue Guidance: Revenue for the year ended December 31, 2025, is expected to reach between EUR 117.5 million and EUR 123.0 million, representing double digit growth compared to the Company’s anticipated 2024 revenue.
Adjusted EBITDA Guidance: Adjusted EBITDA is forecasted to range between EUR 19.0 million and EUR 21.5 million, supported by a shift toward higher-margin product offerings.
Strategic Business Drivers
The Company is expecting to realize its anticipated 2025 results in part, as a result of certain strategic initiatives, including:
• Shift in Revenue Concentration: The percentage of revenue from the Company’s proprietary and exclusive content business is expected to increase providing a more margin-accretive mix and improving profitability with reduced reliance on third party content revenue by year end.
• Growth in Key Markets: Content-focused products, including proprietary, exclusive and aggregated content are projected to drive significant revenue growth in North America and Brazil, which are expected to contribute up to 10% and 15% of revenue, respectively by year-end.
• Brazil’s Growth Potential: The Company believes that its proprietary and exclusive content and aggregation businesses are strategically positioned to capture a significant share of Brazil’s $1.5 billion iGaming market, projected to more than double to over $3.3 billion by 2029, according to H2 Gambling Capital.
• US Market Penetration: The Company believes that it is strategically positioned for significant growth in the US market by leveraging its proprietary and exclusive content portfolio. Through integration with top-tier operators such as DraftKings, FanDuel, Rush Street, Caesars and BetMGM, and licenses in all key iGaming states, the Company’s content is accessible to over 90% of the US iGaming market, valued at over $9.5 billion, according to H2 Gambling Capital. Under the leadership of Neill Whyte, Chief Commercial Officer, and Garrick Morris, SVP (Commercial, US & Canada), veterans of the iGaming industry with multi-decade successful market penetration experience under their belt, the Company has strong leadership to garner enhanced market share. It is expected that proprietary and exclusive content growth in the US will be further driven by the recently announced technology and content partnership with Caesars Entertainment Inc. This partnership, which leverages the Company’s cutting-edge technology and innovative development strengthens the Company’s profile in a competitive and dynamic market.
• Stronger Penetration in Major European Markets: Bragg aims to expand content distribution in key Western European markets, including Italy, UK, Spain, and Sweden, by leveraging existing integrations with top operators and implementing targeted sales strategies.
• Expand Exclusive Partnerships: The Company plans to increase its roster of partner studios to enhance the release cadence of titles in North America. Additionally, Bragg aims to grow exclusive content distribution in Central European markets, including the Czech Republic and Germany, through strategic partnerships with studios such as Gamomat and King Show Games.
• Stability in PAM Business: The Company’s PAM business is expected to remain flat year-over-year, an overall positive, despite the anticipated contraction of the Netherlands market in 2025 due to regulatory changes made in the fourth quarter of 2024.
• Enhanced Technology Profile: The Company continues to innovate with technologies such as FUZE, which provides bonuses, free rounds, tournaments, jackpots, recommendation engine and other engagement and promotional tools seamlessly across all iGaming, Sportbetting and iLottery products, requiring no additional integration. These advanced features enhance player experience and contribute to the growth of the Company’s product portfolio revenue.
• Data and AI Enhancements: By leveraging extensive gaming data, the Company generates actionable insights and employs AI-driven optimizations to elevate player experiences and enhance operator profitability, thereby accelerating profitable growth in proprietary and exclusive content verticals. Opportunities to leverage AI to reduce costs and enhance product margins are also being actively explored.
• Pipeline Opportunities: A robust pipeline of opportunities is under development, which, if realized, could further enhance 2025 performance but are not yet reflected in the current guidance.
• Stock Appreciation Rights Plan: Bragg has also introduced a new Stock Appreciation Rights (SAR) plan for its executive management team, further aligning management interests with those of shareholders. The SAR plan has been implemented under the Company’s Amended and Restated Omnibus Equity Incentive Plan and pays out only if the Company’s share price increases over a three-year period, with a full payout contingent on achieving a four-fold increase from a base price of $5 CAD. This structure ensures that executive compensation is firmly tied to delivering significant shareholder value. Additionally, the plan includes accelerated vesting provisions in the event of a change of control, preserving alignment with shareholder interests in all value-creation scenarios. SAR award payouts may be settled through the payment of cash, the issuance of shares, or through a combination of both, subject to the discretion of the Company’s Board and availability of shares under the Company’s equity incentive plan at the time.
“I am pleased with where we believe 2024 results will land and very excited about the strong growth trajectory outlined in our 2025 guidance. Our strategic investments in proprietary and exclusive content as well as various Data, Player journey and AI enhanced engagement features, are expected to drive our growth in 2025. By focusing on margin-accretive products, we are well-positioned to boost both revenue and profitability while pursuing opportunities in key markets such as Brazil and the United States. Our PAM product remains a top-tier performer, and while our 2025 growth will largely come from the content side of the business, we have exciting prospects to expand our PAM offering. Additionally, I’m particularly proud of the strong executive team that we have assembled at Bragg this past year. The recently announced Caesars deal highlights their impressive capabilities,” said Matevž Mazij, CEO of Bragg.
The post Bragg Gaming Announces Preliminary Unaudited Results for the Year Ended December 31, 2024 and 2025 Strategic Initiatives and Guidance appeared first on Gaming and Gambling Industry in the Americas.
Canada
Playson signs agreement with Light & Wonder in global distribution deal
The award-winning game studio will deliver titles to players in the UK, Canada and Latin America
Playson, the accomplished digital entertainment supplier, has forged a major global content deal with Light & Wonder to significantly enhance the reach of its extensive games portfolio.
This landmark agreement will enable Light & Wonder’s expansive operator network across the UK, Canada, and Latin America to gain access to Playson’s engaging offering.
UK-based operator Dazzletag Entertainment Ltd was the first to go live with the studio’s creative releases last month, with SUPERCHARGED CLOVERS: HOLD AND WIN and 3 POTS RICHES: HOLD AND WIN launched across its online casino brands.
Light & Wonder’s content marketplace is utilised by some of the biggest operator brands from across the globe, providing them with access to more than 3,500 games from a host of third-party studios to allow them to build personalised, mobile-ready player experiences and stay ahead of regulatory changes.
The partnership signifies the strength of Playson’s reputation as a respected and highly sought-after provider to operators globally, as the rising demand for its games looks set to take the studio to new heights for 2025.
Blanka Homor, Sales Director at Playson, said: “Our deal with Light & Wonder is a major milestone in our strategic roadmap, as we embark on the next chapter of our global growth. This agreement expands our reach and allows us to deliver our appealing titles to new operators and players.
“The launch of our titles across Dazzletag’s two brands is a great start, and we are confident this relationship will further elevate our presence in the ever-evolving online casino space.”
Steve Mayes, Senior Director of Partnerships at Light & Wonder, said: “We are delighted to be working with such a highly respected digital entertainment provider and deliver their portfolio to our network. This strengthens our commitment to offering operators the best game releases available.
“We look forward to other successful launches in 2025, as we continue to support our operators with diverse content.”
The post Playson signs agreement with Light & Wonder in global distribution deal appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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