Industry News
Mumbai Indians Revealed as UK’s Favourite IPL Team in 2020
Mumbai Indians were the most popular IPL team in the UK in 2020 as interest in the T20 tournament surpassed that of 2019.
Rohit Sharma’s side was crowned champions of the IPL for the second year in a row and a record fifth time overall, but they have also enjoyed significant success off the pitch.
Research carried out by Cricket Bet India reveals that Mumbai was the most popular franchise among British fans, despite a total of 10 English players participating in the tournament and none of them featuring for the champions.
Rajasthan Royals had a strong English contingent with Jofra Archer, Ben Stokes, Jos Buttler and Tom Curran in the squad, and are unsurprisingly the second most popular side in the UK, with over 1000 monthly searches – a 9% decrease on Mumbai’s numbers.
Mumbai Indians are also the most popular side in India, with more than 13% as many searches on Google than their nearest rivals, CSK who remain popular with fans despite their initial struggles.
Research from Cricket Bet India also reveals that the IPL also enjoyed a 37% increase in online interest from the UK, with more fans searching Google for IPL terms during 2020 than 2019.
Previous studies from CBI showed how there were more TV viewers in the UK this year, and now the latest Google Trends research shows that there was more interest during the six-week tournament between September-November 2020 than March-May 2019.
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2025 financial results
ZEAL Reports Strong Double-Digit Growth
ZEAL Network SE, Germany’s leading online lottery provider, closed 2025 with another year of robust double-digit growth.
Despite a weaker jackpot environment, the company significantly strengthened its core lottery business, accelerated diversification, and expanded its customer base—setting a solid foundation for long-term scalability.
The group delivered 16% revenue growth, reaching €218.5 million, while EBITDA rose 11% to €68.8 million. EBIT also climbed 12% to €60.1 million year over year. These results reinforce ZEAL’s strategic focus on building a multi-pillar digital entertainment ecosystem.
“At every level, our results confirm that our strategy works,” said Dr. Stefan Tweraser, CEO of ZEAL Network SE. “Expanding scalable products alongside our strong core lottery business increases resilience and positions us for ambitious future growth.”
CFO Andrea Behrendt highlighted continued investment in reducing jackpot dependence: “Our efforts create a sustainable and profitable growth structure.”
Core Lottery Business Continues to Lead Growth
ZEAL’s primary lottery brokerage remains its strongest revenue driver. Even with softer jackpot cycles:
- Monthly active users climbed 8% to a record 1.558 million.
- Lottery billings reached €1.1 billion, up 2%.
- Gross margin increased to 17.7%.
- Lottery-specific revenue surged 16% to €195.3 million.
These gains underline the brand’s ability to attract and retain large numbers of customers independent of jackpot volatility.
Dream House Raffle Becomes a Major Growth Pillar
The Traumhausverlosung (Dream House Raffle)—launched in 2024—has rapidly evolved into a strong secondary revenue stream. With guaranteed winners and high-appeal prize structures, the charity lottery generated:
- €38.9 million in billings across four draws in 2025.
This success demonstrates the value of proprietary lottery products that complement ZEAL’s core business and enhance market differentiation.
Games Segment Accelerates With Expanded Portfolio
ZEAL also posted substantial growth in its digital Games division. The company extended its catalog to 650+ games, adding 400 new titles and strengthening collaborations with leading game developers.
As a result:
- Games revenue increased 46%, reaching €14.4 million.
- Active user numbers rose sharply.
- Player protection remained a top priority, supported by AI-driven safeguards.
Customer Base Expansion Remains a Strategic Priority
ZEAL made targeted investments to grow its user base, acquiring 1.171 million new customers in 2025. As expected with aggressive acquisition:
- Customer acquisition cost (CPL) increased to €46.47.
- Marketing spending rose 20% to €68.6 million.
This investment is key to sustaining ZEAL’s long-term market position and unlocking additional cross-sell opportunities in games and charity lotteries.
2026 Outlook: Continued Growth and Diversification
Looking ahead to 2026, ZEAL aims to expand its German market leadership and scale its charitable lotteries freiheit+ and Traumhausverlosung, while continuing to strengthen its Games offering.
Forecasts for 2026 include:
- Revenue between €250–260 million
- EBITDA between €70–75 million
These projections already factor in increased investment to accelerate diversification and future-proof the business.
The post ZEAL Reports Strong Double-Digit Growth appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
iGaming Select
iGaming Select launches initiative to champion product and tech innovation
iGaming Select, a fresh supplier hub dedicated to highlighting and evaluating iGaming technology, is now operational with a distinct goal to simplify the process for operators in finding the top products within an ever-growing and marketing-focused environment.
iGaming Select, created by BetComply CMO Martin Hodges, iGP CMO Michael Baker-Mosley, and Digital Footprints founders Sharon McFarlane and Steve Lee, gathers authenticated reviews of numerous iGaming products, allowing truly innovative solutions the opportunity to rival bigger players.
Martin Hodges, Co-Founder at iGaming Select, said: “The way operators select suppliers is no longer working. It has become less about technology and product, and more about visibility, marketing budgets and noise. iGaming Select is founded on the simple principle that great technology should be easy to identify, giving operators a place to evaluate and compare suppliers based on what they actually offer.”
Operators are now confronted with numerous suppliers presenting similar solutions, and iGaming Select assists decision-makers in discerning valuable information through clear product capability descriptions, organized categorization, relevant operational details, and reviews based on actual usage.
The platform will also offer perspectives on how innovation can grow sustainably, giving operators, suppliers, and investors a better grasp of where lasting value is generated.
The post iGaming Select launches initiative to champion product and tech innovation appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
Booming Games
Booming Games releases 64 Nuggets Hold and Win
Booming Games, a leading provider of premium gaming content, has unveiled 64 Nuggets Hold and Win, a thrilling new slot where players can dig for glittering treasures. Featuring a 5×5 grid and 30 fixed paylines, the game offers an impressive maximum win potential of 10,000x. Set in a mysterious gold mine with a distinctive art style, 64 Nuggets Hold and Win promises high-stakes excitement for players chasing big wins.
The game’s Gold Rush Respins feature elevates the action, locking winning symbols in place while the reels continue to spin. As symbols accumulate, multipliers can appear to boost payouts, keeping gameplay engaging and rewarding.
Adding further intensity, the Boom Blitz Hold & Win feature grants three respins and offers coin prizes of up to 1,000x. Special Boom Blitz symbols can either expand the grid to 8×8 or increase coin values up to 5x, raising the maximum win potential to a staggering 10,000x. Players can trigger this feature by landing five or more Cash Coins or by filling the Cart Collection Pot.
“Packed with stunning visuals, dynamic features, and powerful modifiers, 64 Nuggets Hold and Win delivers non-stop action,” said Craig Asling, Director of Games at Booming Games.
“Players can chase golden rewards on every spin, while the Boom Blitz Hold & Win feature keeps excitement high and engagement strong. It’s a thrilling experience we’re proud to bring to our audience.”
64 Nuggets Hold and Win is now live and ready for players seeking their next big jackpot adventure.
The post Booming Games releases 64 Nuggets Hold and Win appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
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