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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.
Gamification
Soft2Bet launches MEGA Shoot World Cup gamification engine
Soft2Bet has launched MEGA Shoot, a football-themed gamification engine designed around the 2026 FIFA World Cup, aimed at helping sportsbook operators retain players during the tournament.
The product will be deployed across selected Soft2Bet brands including Betinia, Swiper, Campobet, ToonieBet and Elabet, with availability spanning markets including Denmark, Greece, Mexico, New Jersey, Ontario, Romania, and the rest of Canada, according to the company.
MEGA Shoot uses a player-versus-player best-of-five penalty shootout format. Players alternate between striker and goalkeeper, with the striker selecting where to shoot and the goalkeeper selecting where to defend. Each round resolves as a goal or a save before roles switch.
Soft2Bet said early internal results show 31.9% engagement among active players across selected brands, with 71.2% of MEGA Shoot players going on to play a second match. The company also claims a 13.5% player retention uplift.
Yoel Zuckerberg, Chief Product Officer at Soft2Bet, said: “The World Cup runs from 11 June to 19 July, so retention has to work across the full tournament calendar. MEGA Shoot gives operators a football game that players can understand quickly, with head-to-head competition tied to the sport they already follow. With almost 32% engagement among active players and about 71% converting into a second match, the early data shows how tournament-led gamification can strengthen sportsbook engagement during major football events.”
The post Soft2Bet launches MEGA Shoot World Cup gamification engine appeared first on EE Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
european igaming
Kinetic Digital data: Slingo.com tops €285,992 jackpot as classic slots lead
Kinetic Digital has published new jackpot data across its casino brands, showing more than €600,000 paid out across the top 10 progressive jackpot wins. The biggest single payout in the dataset was a €285,992 win by a Slingo.com player.
In the breakdown, Slingo.com, Mega Casino and Genting Casino Online accounted for all of the top 10 wins cited in the release. Kinetic Digital said Slingo.com delivered three of the 10 largest jackpots, including the €285,992 payout on Fluffy Favourites Mega Jackpot, while its second-largest win was “more than €70,000.”
Mega Casino recorded four of the top 10 payouts, making it the most frequent brand in the top tier. Its largest jackpot in the dataset came from 777 Strike (€63,254), and another player won €48,684 on Piggy Riches 2 Megaways.
Genting Casino Online contributed two entries, with wins of €40,683 and €37,438 respectively.
Kinetic Digital also pointed to a portfolio-wide trend: the biggest jackpots skewed toward long-running slot franchises rather than newer releases. The company highlighted titles including 777 Strike, Age of the Gods and Rainbow Jackpots as prominent among the largest wins, suggesting established mechanics and jackpot networks continue to drive progressive play.
The post Kinetic Digital data: Slingo.com tops €285,992 jackpot as classic slots lead appeared first on EE Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
csr
UAE Lottery partners SmartLife and GEMS to run financial workshop for bus staff
The UAE Lottery, operated by The Game L.L.C., partnered with SmartLife Foundation and Premier Schools Accommodation – GEMS Education to deliver a financial awareness workshop in Abu Dhabi on 18 June, 2026.
Held at GEMS Education’s Premier Schools Accommodation, the session brought together more than 60 school bus drivers and helpers for training on budgeting and saving basics, fraud prevention, and retirement planning. The workshop also included quizzes and certificates.
Suzan Kazzi, Associate Director – Corporate Social Responsibility at Momentum- The UAE Lottery, said: “Financial knowledge is a powerful enabler of confidence, and long-term financial stability. Through H.O.P.E., we are committed to driving initiatives that equip individuals with practical life skills to help them build better opportunities for themselves and shape a more secure future. This workshop reflects our belief in people-focused partnerships that create meaningful and lasting impact across communities.”
Abhijeet Oak, Vice President at SmartLife Foundation, added: “At SmartLife Foundation, we strongly believe that knowledge creates empowerment. Many bluecollar workers dedicate themselves tirelessly to supporting their families yet often have limited access to structured financial education. Through partnerships like this, we can help individuals make informed financial decisions, build healthier financial habits, and plan more confidently for the future.”
The organisers said the initiative sits under the “Opportunities” pillar of H.O.P.E., The UAE Lottery’s CSR platform covering Healthcare, Opportunities, Planet, and Enrichment, and is aligned with national priorities for social impact in the UAE.
The post UAE Lottery partners SmartLife and GEMS to run financial workshop for bus staff appeared first on EE Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
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