Industry News
DAZN Calls for “New Deal” for Women’s Football
Brands, broadcasters and clubs are being invited to support a campaign to ensure a commercially robust future for women’s football.
DAZN, one of the world’s leading investors in women’s football, has already attracted commercial support, including from EA Sports and Adidas as global sponsors of UEFA Women’s Champions League coverage.
The New Deal for Women’s Football is named in recognition of a 1967 women’s football tournament in Deal, a seaside town in Kent. In staging the event, Arthur Hobbs, the organiser and a local carpenter, broke a ban imposed by the English FA since 1921. The tournament became a catalyst for change and the ban was lifted in January 1970.
DAZN sees the current environment as another watershed moment. “The women’s game is at a crossroads. We see two possible futures. In one, stakeholders come together to build a major global commercial sport. In the other, progress is slow and a golden opportunity to accelerate growth is lost.”
The New Deal for Women’s Football calls for:
• A new deal from clubs, improving the match day experience, providing better facilities and increasing marketing.
• A new deal from sponsors, adopting a long-term investment horizon.
• A new deal from media and broadcasters, delivering broad distribution, premium coverage and enhanced marketing.
• A new deal from rights holders, collaborating with clubs, brands, and broadcasters to maximise media value and drive growth.
In short, DAZN is calling for a new deal for fans, working together with all stakeholders to deliver consistently high-quality experiences wherever and however they enjoy the game.
For its part, on January 23rd DAZN is removing its paywall to the largest portfolio of women’s football worldwide. This will drive audience growth and provide a new global home for women’s football, offering greater access to games, content and the international women’s football community.
Women’s football now has an incredible platform for growth. The recent Women’s World Cup and Euros were hugely successful, capturing the attention of fans worldwide. The Barclays WSL, finework Liga F, Google Pixel Frauen Bundesliga, Serie A ebay, D1 Arkema, NWSL and other domestic leagues are breaking attendance records. TV and online audiences are growing and broadcasters are increasing their investment in media rights.
“Women’s football is the most compelling sports investment opportunity for a generation. To realise its potential the game needs another moment of bravery and rule breaking just like that 1967 tournament,” said Hannah Brown.
Esmeralda Negron, Co-CEO of Women’s Sport at DAZN, said: “We are committed to fostering and cultivating fandom for women’s football. Women’s football needs investment to realise its potential – developing a first-party relationship with fans across all demographics to scale its audience and become commercially viable.”
This comes in the wake of Karen Carney’s review of UK women’s football. The review aims to achieve world-leading standards for players and fans and calls for investment in building a sustainable pipeline of domestic talent, fully professional environments for the Women’s Super League and Women’s Championship, and increased investment in grassroots facilities. The Government has formally accepted all its recommendations.
Negron emphasises the importance of the grassroots, adding “Grassroots football has the potential to play a crucial role in driving the growth of the sport. Connecting the grassroots market to the women’s professional game is crucial in establishing a fanbase for women’s football from an early age.”
Industry News
LiveScore Group Announces Internal Restructuring as Part of Sustainable Growth Strategy
LiveScore Group has announced an internal restructuring process, expected to impact more than 100 existing roles across multiple business locations, including London.
The changes are seen as a difficult yet important step for LiveScore Group, streamlining the business to create improved structures and a pathway to long-term sustainable growth. All impacted employees have been informed and are now subject to a confidential consultation process.
Sam Sadi, CEO of LiveScore Group, said: “On behalf of all Directors of LiveScore Group, and the relevant subsidiary companies, we are saddened by the difficult decision to commence an internal restructure of the business, a process which impacts a significant number of our people.
“Whilst we celebrate our recent period of significant and exciting growth, we must now future-proof the organisation and ensure our internal structures allow us to achieve long-term and sustainable success.
“This is a hard time for all our people, as we say goodbye to colleagues who have played an important role in our journey across recent years.”
The announcement follows on from the recent news that LiveScore Malta Limited (part of LiveScore Group) is to withdraw its LiveScore Bet brand from the Netherlands following recent government tax increases in the market. The announcement includes those impacted by this. There will be no other customer impact in respect of any of the remaining LiveScore, LiveScore Bet or Virgin Bet sites globally.
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Industry News
Pronet Gaming Appoints Alex Karaoulis as its New Commercial & Product Strategy Lead
Pronet Gaming, an award-winning platform provider of full turnkey solutions, announced the appointment of Alexandros Karaoulis as its new Commercial & Product Strategy Lead.
With over 14 years of experience in the iGaming industry, Karaoulis brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise that will be instrumental in driving the company’s strategic initiatives forward.
Throughout his iGaming career, Karaoulis has held various senior roles with B2B sportsbook and casino providers, as well as with B2C operators. His extensive background in marketing and sales within the iGaming sector positions him as a true industry expert, ensuring that Pronet Gaming remains at the forefront of innovation in a rapidly evolving market.
“I am thrilled to join Pronet Gaming and excited to fulfill my role in developing and executing sales strategies to drive the company’s revenue growth in key markets,” Karaoulis said.
With a track record in commercial strategies and driving product excellence, Karaoulis’ appointment is invaluable as Pronet Gaming now seeks to expand its footprint to Asia. His vision and deep understanding of the iGaming landscape equip him to navigate the unique challenges and opportunities that the dynamic region presents.
“I want Pronet Gaming to lead the iGaming revolution by providing innovative, culturally tailored solutions that cater to the diverse and rapidly growing demands of the region. Through strategic partnerships, cutting-edge technology, and a deep understanding of local markets, we aim to empower operators to offer world-class gaming experiences that engage players and drive sustainable growth,” he added.
According to Karaoulis, Pronet Gaming is poised to make a splash in Asia by leveraging its advanced technology, flexible platform solutions and deep market expertise while adapting to the unique characteristics of the region.
“The key differentiation point of Pronet Gaming is that we have B2C experience, which greatly aids in understanding the needs of operators and helping them to improve and execute their strategy according to the market. I have worked in B2C roles for more than seven years in my iGaming Career and managed campaigns across various channels, optimised conversion funnels, and learned to use data to improve player acquisition and retention,” said Karaoulis.
Karaoulis acknowledges that the marketing skills he has acquired from B2C experience are valuable in every B2B environment. As he dives into his new role at Pronet Gaming, Karaoulis aims to guide his operator clients on how to better market their own sites, including providing them with advice on effective acquisition strategies, content marketing and campaign structures that appeal to iGaming audiences.
“I also focus heavily on engagement strategies, loyalty programs, bonuses, and personalised offers to keep players active and returning. In my new B2B role, I will advise clients on best practices for player engagement, helping them adopt effective loyalty programs, personalised marketing, and retention tactics that drive player lifetime value to improve the end-player experience for our clients’ sites,” Karaoulis added.
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Industry News
Vbet Wins Best Online Casino Operator 2024 at SiGMA Europe 2024
Vbet has been crowned the Best Online Casino Operator 2024 at the highly coveted SiGMA Europe event, cementing its position as a leader in the online gaming industry.
This achievement highlights Vbet’s commitment to providing an exceptional user experience by combining cutting-edge technology with a vast range of options and a secure process. The dedication to creating a responsible, enjoyable environment for players was recognised with this award, making this accolade even more significant. As Vbet continue to expand into new markets, the list of strategic partnerships grows alongside our constant drive to expand its offering. This award serves as a stepping stone on its path to reach more players and set new standards in the industry.
Arman Khachatryan, VBET’s Managing Director, said: “We are incredibly proud to receive the Best Online Casino Operator award at SiGMA Europe 2024. This recognition is a testament to the hard work, passion, and effort of our entire team. Our mission has always been to deliver the highest quality experience in the safest environment possible to our users. This award not only recognizes our dedication to this mission but also motivates us to continue expanding into new markets and territories.”
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