Latest News
FUN88’S ONGOING PARTNERSHIP WITH NEWCASTLE UNITED EVOLVES AS ITS OFFICIAL BETTING PARTNER
FUN88 has redefined its association with English Premier League (EPL) football club Newcastle United as its Official Betting Partner for Asia, as a six-year long ongoing partnership naturally evolves with the Champions League club for the 2023/24 season and beyond.
During those six years as Newcastle United’s premium jersey sponsor, FUN88 saw its breakout brand carried to rollercoaster success – from the club’s spell in the EFL Championship, promotion to the EPL, throughout the fluctuating fortunes of the previous administration’s era, and on to this year’s spectacular run to Champions League qualification via fourth place in the Premier League.
FUN88 will continue its ongoing work with the club across a series of activations to engage with fans in both mature and emerging Asian markets. The brand has also developed a popular presence on social media, supported by over 2.5m engaged Newcastle United followers, with thousands of worldwide Magpies supporters interacting with its accounts and many benefitting from its competitions and prize giveaways (such as tickets and shirts) for the majority of the past decade.
The combined collaboration will also open up an increasing number of dedicated local channels and promotional activities, all focused on engaging and retaining this established audience both pre-game and in-play.
Moreover, FUN88 will renew its branding presence on LED perimeter boards inside the storied St. James’ Park Stadium, one of the more commercially valuable and premium pitch-side media spaces in the Premier League. And although FUN88 had the option to continue as shirt sponsor, it was happy to adapt the nature of its partnership, given the changing environment of football sponsorship in the Premier League.
FUN88 has always supported Newcastle United’s commercial development, as has been documented by the club itself, and has hugely enjoyed its time as Newcastle United’s official shirt sponsor. Now this time has come to an amicable end, it is delighted to stay on as an Official Partner of Newcastle United, focusing on growing club-awareness and appreciation in Asia as part of a wider global strategy.
While FUN88 continues to develop its online offerings for football fans across the planet, this latest move underscores its dedication to international club representation and fostering a football-friendly environment within a responsible gaming culture. FUN88 has pioneered the gamified betting experience, thanks to a unique interface and personalised customer service that deliver a cohesive player journey from log-in until the end result. This unified experience has also delivered great levels of retention and consumer satisfaction amongst its active user-base.
A FUN88 spokesperson said: “We are thrilled to seamlessly advance our longstanding relationship with Newcastle United as their Official Betting Partner for Asia. We have seen our brand grow and develop in unison with Newcastle United over much of the past decade, and look forward to promoting further success stories in this next chapter of our enduring journey together.
“We are also excited to organically develop our partnership with Newcastle United for a new era. Of course, during our six years to date, we have witnessed the natural ups and downs of life, but we are in this for the long haul together and FUN88 is proud to move forward with the club and our shared community.
“FUN88 is adamant that this continued collaboration will help us to solidify our status as one of the leading gaming and entertainment platforms in Asia. Our customers will see more in terms of team interaction and exclusive Newcastle United offerings, so watch out for a range of upcoming campaigns with the club, which will now reclaim its rightful spot in the Champions League 2023/24!”
Newcastle United have said: “Thank you, FUN88, for your incredible support as lead shirt sponsors over the past six seasons. Building on the success of our partnership to date, we look forward to this next phase and working together to engage fans and grow our collective reach throughout Asia.”
FUN88 provides one of the broadest offerings of markets and odds for the sports bettor. Customer satisfaction and socially-responsible entertainment remain at its heart, with the latest technology and games, all complemented by impeccable personalised customer service.
The company prides itself on a strong heritage in football and international sports, alongside a stellar line-up of ambassadors which positively sets FUN88 apart from its competitors in the sector. The brand has been very active in global sports marketing over the past decade, notably becoming a partner of Tottenham Hotspur FC in 2012 and the jersey sponsor of Newcastle United FC, before repositioning its support into a betting-partner role this year. Away from football sponsorships, FUN88 has also enjoyed instrumental associations with the late great basketball legend Kobe Bryant, the popular OG Dota 2 team in eSports, and cricketing superstar Daren Sammy.
Cool Bus Shelter
The UAE Lottery backs Cool Bus Shelter initiative for outdoor workers
The UAE Lottery has partnered with SmartLife Foundation to support outdoor workers during the UAE summer, backing the Cool Bus Shelter initiative in Abu Dhabi on July 20, 2026.
The programme aligns with the UAE’s Midday Break rules, which require outdoor work to stop between 12:30 PM and 3:00 PM during peak heat. As part of the initiative, air-conditioned buses were stationed near labour sites to provide workers a place to rest before returning outdoors.
Volunteers from The UAE Lottery and SmartLife Foundation provided cold towels, cold water and drinks, according to the organisations. Workers also received portable rechargeable neck fans intended to provide additional cooling after the break.
Suzan Kazzi, Associate Director – Corporate Social Responsibility at Momentum- The UAE Lottery, said: “Outdoor workers are the backbone of our cities’ urban development, and initiatives like the Cool Bus Shelter ensure they receive the care and recognition they deserve during the most challenging months of the year. This is our small way of saying thank you and reminding them that their wellbeing truly matters”.
Abhijeet Oak, Vice President at SmartLife Foundation, added: “At SmartLife Foundation, we believe that protecting the wellbeing of outdoor workforce is a shared responsibility. Through the Cool Bus Shelter initiative, we are proud to collaborate with organizations such as The UAE Lottery and other community partners to create moments of comfort, appreciation and human connection that leave a lasting impact”.
The post The UAE Lottery backs Cool Bus Shelter initiative for outdoor workers appeared first on EE Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
Bally’s Intralot
Intralot Ireland Limited Signs Seven Year Contract Extension with Premier Lotteries Ireland
Bally’s Intralot announced that its subsidiary Intralot Ireland Limited has signed a seven year contract extension, through November 2034, with Premier Lotteries Ireland (PLI). The agreement supports PLI’s continued operation of the Irish National Lottery through the remainder of its license period and reinforces Bally’s Intralot’s role as a trusted technology and services partner.
Under the terms of the agreement, Bally’s Intralot will modernise PLI’s technology ecosystem by deploying its next-generation LotosX Omni solution and PlayerX Player Account Management platform. The solution will provide a modern, cloud-based technology foundation supporting lottery operations across retail and digital channels, while incorporating advanced retailer management, instant games management, device management and content management capabilities. The agreement also includes comprehensive support and maintenance services, along with cloud operations and cybersecurity services for the first year, designed to ensure the long-term reliability, security and performance of PLI’s technology environment.
Through this partnership, Bally’s Intralot will support PLI in delivering a future-ready operating environment designed to enhance operational efficiency, accelerate innovation and strengthen player engagement. The modernisation will provide a secure, scalable and resilient platform that enables PLI to continue evolving its offerings while improving time-to-market implementation of new initiatives, along with maintaining the highest standards of reliability and service to players and retailers across Ireland.
“We are pleased to extend our partnership with Bally’s Intralot, a relationship built on trust, commitment to excellence, and shared ambition since 2014. As we look to the future, this agreement provides a strong platform for continued innovation and growth, ensuring we can deliver a modern, secure, and world-class National Lottery that places responsible play at its heart while continuing to benefit communities across Ireland,” said Cian Murphy, CEO of PLI.
Robeson Reeves, CEO of the Bally’s Intralot Group, said: “We are proud to extend our long-standing partnership with Premier Lotteries Ireland for a further seven years. This agreement reflects the strength of our technology and the trust we have built with PLI over more than a decade of collaboration. We look forward to continuing to support the National Lottery of Ireland and to delivering innovative, responsible gaming experiences to players across the country.”
The post Intralot Ireland Limited Signs Seven Year Contract Extension with Premier Lotteries Ireland appeared first on EE Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
Artificial Intelligence
Kambi Delivers Record-breaking World Cup with More Than 100 Million Bets as Bet Builders and Player Props Take Centre Stage
Kambi, the home of premium sports betting solutions, and its global network of Turnkey Sportsbook partners have exceeded 100 million bets placed during the ongoing FIFA World Cup, with data showing the continued evolution of player betting preferences towards higher-margin products.
Data from Kambi’s global partner network shows the continued growth of player props and Bet Builder, reducing the dependency on traditional core markets to drive engagement and margin performance. This is illustrated by last week’s semi finals which had more than 700,000 unique combinations placed on each game.
The expanded tournament has delivered on the increased turnover potential that was anticipated, yet Kambi has also exceeded average turnover per match and seen an increase in average stake compared to 2022. Kambi’s geographically diversified partner network has driven betting volume across a wider range of markets and time zones, while diversifying risk and liabilities across its broad global partner base.
Key World Cup 2026 betting trends (versus 2022) across Kambi’s Turnkey Sportsbook include:
• Pre-match Bet Builder turnover up 3.6x
• Average pre-match Bet Builder selection size now 3.5 compared to 2.9
• Player shots on target is the top pre-match Bet Builder offer by turnover, generating 2x the turnover of match winner market
• Share of pre-match turnover from bets other than match winner up from 57% to 63%
• Live Bet Builder turnover up 10x
• Player shots on target is the most popular live bet, accounting for 15% of live turnover
Together, these trends underline the transition to more complex, higher-margin recreational play, helping Kambi sustain a strong tournament margin despite a competition in which the top four seeds reached the semi-finals and leading strikers frequently scored.
This shift has been facilitated by Kambi’s AI trading system, with the tournament becoming the first World Cup where bet offers across both pre-match and live were fully compiled and traded by Kambi’s proprietary algorithmic capability. This has supported greater efficiency and scalability while enabling a broader, deeper betting offer.
Combining advanced AI-driven technology with the vast data generated by its global network has enabled Kambi to deliver a wide range of product improvements, from expanded player props markets and increased Bet Builder combinability to reduced suspension times, lower live delays and enhanced uptime.
Werner Becher, CEO of Kambi, said: “Surpassing 100 million bets before the final demonstrates both the scale of our network and the progress we are making in sportsbook innovation. This is the first World Cup fully traded by our AI-powered capabilities and we’ve seen the impact in stronger product performance, greater engagement with player props and Bet Builder, and a betting mix that continues to evolve beyond traditional markets. At a tournament where results have not always been favourable for some bookmakers, these advances have enabled us to continue performing strongly and delivering for partners.”
Kambi will publish its Q2 2026 Report on 22 July, when it will share further insights from the World Cup and provide additional detail on the performance of its sportsbook products during the tournament.
The 100 million bet milestone applies to Kambi’s Turnkey Sportsbook only and does not include the millions of bets driven by Kambi’s Odds Feed+ product.
The post Kambi Delivers Record-breaking World Cup with More Than 100 Million Bets as Bet Builders and Player Props Take Centre Stage appeared first on EE Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
-
ESPN Networks3 days agoTHE 57th ANNUAL WORLD SERIES OF POKER® CONCLUDES AN EXTRAORDINARY SUMMER OF GLOBAL ENGAGEMENT AND ELITE COMPETITION
-
Latest News6 days agoEveryMatrix’s Fantasma Games launches three-reel slot Bonus Bullets
-
Latest News4 days agoBooming Games launches Tasty Bonanza Max Scatter slot
-
Latest News5 days agoSCCG Management Launches Dedicated SCCG Brazil Division with Local Partner Thomas Carvalhaes
-
Latest News6 days agoBlokotech adds Wicked Games slots in new content deal
-
Canada5 days agoThrillTech secures AGCO supplier licence for Ontario launch
-
Latest News5 days agoEsportes Gaming Brasil takes two ClienteSA Awards 2026 wins; exec named Personality of the Year
-
Canada4 days agoPeter & Sons launches full game portfolio in Alberta



