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Carry1st Raises $4.0 Million to Catalyze Mobile Gaming in Africa

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Carry1st has raised a Series Seed round of US$2.5 million led by CRE Venture Capital with participation from Perivoli InnovationsChandaria CapitalLateral Capital, Transsion’s Future Hub, and Kam Kronenberg III, among others. This round brings its total capital raised to $4.0 million. Proceeds will go to recruiting top-tier talent, investing in platform technology, and publishing new content. Pardon Makumbe, Managing Partner at CRE, and Henry Lowenfels, Chief Product Officer of One Team Partners (former Scopely SVP), will join the board.

Carry1st is the leading mobile games publisher serving the first generation of African smartphone users. Since launching in 2019, the company has reached over 1.5 million users across the region. Carry1st Trivia was ranked the #1 free-to-play Android game in Nigeria and Kenya; and was named the Best Media & Entertainment Solution for 2019. The company plans to partner with international studios to launch multiple games in 2020 and scale its audience to over a million monthly active users.

“Social gaming is the largest and fastest-growing form of mobile media, grossing more than three times all other app categories combined. Our mission is to bring this world of interactive content to Africa and likewise to connect Africa to the world,” said Cordel Robbin-Coker, Carry1st CEO and former Carlyle dealmaker. “Our belief is that building a local publisher, with differentiated tech and operating capabilities across marketing, distribution, and monetization is the way to be this bridge. We are pleased to partner with CRE and our investor group to accelerate this vision.”

Founded by Cordel Robbin-CokerLucy Hoffman, and Tinotenda Mundangepfupfu, the company addresses key challenges in Africa for consumers and content producers alike. Carry1st serves the world’s fastest-growing market, set to add over 350 million smartphone users and increase data consumption by 17x by 2025. By providing tailored content, localized engagement, and payments solutions, Carry1st aspires to accelerate the growth of the African mobile content market, which is already projected to increase by 400% over 5 years.

CRE Partner, Pardon Makumbe said: “We are excited to partner with the world-class team at Carry1st to take the pain out of distributing and monetizing games across Africa. The continent is young, vibrant, and mobile-first — by focusing on the building blocks, we believe Carry1st is well-positioned to define the category, and catalyse the development of the industry for Africa’s over 1.3 billion consumers.”

Lucy HoffmanCarry1st VP of Operations added: “It’s really exciting to be part of developing a new industry in an emerging region. In doing so, we will stimulate thousands of jobs and drive digital inclusion. When people come online for the first time, they want to connect with people and have fun. In these unusual times we are reminded of the power of games to delight, to educate, and ultimately to unite.”

 

SOURCE: Carry1st

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Africa

Logifuture-powered Bet9ja releases Moses Itauma mini-series ahead of Jermaine Franklin fight

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Logifuture-powered Bet9ja releases Moses Itauma mini-series ahead of Jermaine Franklin fight

  • Nigeria’s leading sportsbook to provide fans with exclusive behind-the-scenes access

  • Logifuture-powered Bet9ja announced sponsorship deal with Itauma in August

  • Bet9ja social media followers grew by more than 10% to 3.1m since Itauma partnership

  • Unbeaten Itauma due to fight Franklin in Manchester in January

Bet9ja, Nigeria’s leading sportsbook, powered by Logifuture, has launched a series of videos, giving boxing fans exclusive access to brand ambassador Moses Itauma as he prepares for his next fight.

Itauma, an unbeaten British Heavyweight of Nigerian descent, became an ambassador for Logifuture-powered Bet9ja in August this year.

Since then, Bet9ja has been given unprecedented access to Itauma’s camp, including his preparation for his victory over Dillian White, which took his professional record to 13 wins, with 11 by knockout.

Bet9ja x Moses Itauma: The Homecoming is being released in four parts, with the first available on Bet9ja’s YouTube channel today.

Watch: Moses Itauma Homecoming Episode 1 will premiere on YouTube at 10am GMT on Monday, December 1: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/Y9Lx9MLlnnA

The series features footage from Itauma’s visit to Lagos, Nigeria in October – a trip supported by Logifuture and Bet9ja.

Arriving on a Bet9ja-branded private jet, Itauma was greeted by fans at Lagos airport, before attending the Bet9ja sponsored Chaos In The Ring boxing event in the city.

The following day saw Itauma join a sparring session with promising boxers at a local boxing gym before attending a Bet9ja retail outlet and hosting a party with notable guests from Nigerian music, arts and politics.

The number of followers across Bet9ja’s social channels have grown more than 10% since the partnership with Itauma was officially announced and now stands at more than 3.1 million.

Itauma is now back in camp preparing to face American opponent Jermain Franklin in Manchester on January 24.

Itauma said: “It was an immensely proud moment to return to the place of my father’s birth and the reception I received from everyone in Lagos was truly humbling.

“I am extremely proud of my heritage and I cannot say enough thanks to everyone for such a warm welcome and messages of support that I will take with me into my next fight in January.”

Bet9ja is powered by Logifuture, a leading provider of iGaming products and services, including Simulate, Zoom Soccer and Swipe Games.

Logifuture CMO Ben Cove said: “We are thrilled to be able to give fans unprecedented access to Moses through the Bet9ja x Moses Itauma: The Homecoming series and contribute to the excitement as he prepares for his next challenge against Jermaine Franklin.

“When we partnered with Moses, we knew we were backing an extraordinary talent destined to make his mark on world boxing. But beyond his ability in the ring, his connection to Nigeria and his pride in that heritage make him a perfect fit for Bet9ja.

“Moses embodies the energy, resilience and ambition that define Nigerian sport and culture. Seeing him return to Lagos and receive such a heartfelt welcome from fans shows exactly why this partnership matters – to him, to Bet9ja and to the millions who follow his journey.

“We’re proud to stand beside Moses as he continues to inspire and build his legacy, both in the ring and across the wider sporting community.”

The post Logifuture-powered Bet9ja releases Moses Itauma mini-series ahead of Jermaine Franklin fight appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

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GinjaBet goes live with QTech Games casino content in Nigeria

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Nigerian operator unveils fresh suite of games via new integration with leading emerging-markets aggregator

GinjaBet, a rapidly growing Nigerian operator, is now firmly established with an extensive portfolio of casino content delivered through its integration with QTech Games, the leading game aggregator for emerging markets across Africa.

GinjaBet is a rising-star challenger brand with big plans for the Nigeria market and beyond. As this market coalesces, customers are increasingly demanding experiences that are not only functional but also convenient to use, and personalised to their preferred betting patterns. In this regard, QTech Games and GinjaBet have aligned their complementary skills to deliver a simplified betting experience and optimised user journey across casino, thanks to an adaptable range of content that is both locally authentic and appealing to the next generation of players.

This collaboration will also explore new cross-sell opportunities between sportsbook and casino, with next summer’s football World Cup on the horizon, always a key acquisition and retention driver for global sportsbooks, but above all in Africa where soccer is king.

GinjaBet’s UI has been optimised for mobile-first play, a cornerstone of QTech’s RNG model, which is founded on its fully-owned and customised technical platform, affording operators the fastest integration available, backed by reliable performance and customer support, localised for every region across Africa. By leveraging QTech’s wider global expertise, GinjaBet enjoyed a seamless casino launch, and is now well-positioned to sustain its rapid growth in the near future with a casino product that rides on a scalable and robust framework. This project has also been carefully curated to responsibly track Nigerian player proclivities.

Ekaterina Mayorova, QTech Games’ Head of Region for Africa, said: “We’re thrilled to already be live in Nigeria with GinjaBet, a dynamic brand that is picking up some irresistible momentum in a competitive marketplace. We’re proud to put our shoulder to the wheel of their ambitions, affording GinjaBet the ability to scale their casino content with more localised games and product developments.

“QTech Games has placed a premium on understanding markets at a hyper-local level, alongside bridging that gap between retail and online channels, to open a flexible gateway to success in the Nigerian betting environment. With its mobile-first penetration, comparatively mature smartphone adoption rates and ramping digital economy, Nigeria remains one of Africa’s largest economies, and GinjaBet’s recent growth only underscores the opportunity.

“And we have a suite of other product improvements designed to keep our partners ahead of their rivals in a region where no leadership position can be taken for granted. In addition, our proprietary tech means we’re the only aggregator which is not just showcasing fantastic games but also adding engaging features (such as our AI-driven recommendation engine, QTech Play, alongside other tournament and progressive-jackpot elements) to bolster QTech’s vantage point across the African landscape. We’re constantly adding new content to the platform, prioritising suppliers that deliver unique and localised content, including games which solve familiar local challenges to engagement, such as handset quality limitations, restricted access to fast networks, or high data costs.”

Joe Richa, Ginjabet CEO, added: “GinjaBet is committed to a conscious strategy of harnessing world-class technology and local Nigerian culture. This partnership with QTech is an organic extension of that approach across our stunning new casino suite which showcases globally recognised games, ably supported by specialised content, culturally pertinent promotions, and a tone of voice pitched to connect with younger Nigerian demographics.

“We’re a fast-moving Nigerian brand, focused on delivering specialised, reliable, and entertaining gaming experiences tailored to African markets, driving innovation through responsible gaming and operational efficiency. Our dynamic growth since launch in 2025 has already been hugely encouraging, but QTech’s flexible platform ecosystem has now put us in a position where we can plan for the future with confidence across casino and sportsbook, particularly with the World Cup upcoming fast.”

The post GinjaBet goes live with QTech Games casino content in Nigeria appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

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Booming Games and SportPesa forge strategic partnership to elevate the African gaming market

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Booming Games is thrilled to announce a significant milestone in its growth journey through a strategic partnership with the leading African operator, SportPesa. This collaboration marks a pivotal step forward in Booming Games’ mission to expand its footprint in the African gaming market.

As a result of this partnership, Booming Games’ high-quality slots are now seamlessly integrated into SportPesa’s platform, enabling players across Africa to access an array of top-performing titles.

Notable games include fan favourites such as ‘Burning Classic’, ‘Gold Gold Gold’, ‘TNT Bonanza’, and ‘Cash Pig’. Additionally, SportPesa’s players will now have access to Booming Games’ diverse portfolio, featuring exciting games like ‘Ronaldinho Spins’, ‘Power of the Vikings’ and ‘Buffalo Hold and Win’.

This collaboration underscores SportPesa’s commitment to growth and innovation, as well as its strategic focus on fostering robust partnerships to achieve new heights in the global gaming industry with partners such as Booming Games.

Solomon Godwin, Head of Africa at Booming Games, expressed his enthusiasm: “We’re delighted to continue our expansion in the African betting markets, and SportPesa’s strong and trusted brand will only enhance these possibilities. Our slot offerings are as wide-ranging as they are high quality, providing exceptional entertainment and sustainability for their customers. We believe we can offer real value to African players.”

Paul Wilson, Senior Product Manager at SportPesa, added: “We are very happy with the new partnership with Booming Games. Offering their immersive, dynamic, and vibrant games to our customers in Kenya, Sportpesa Tanzania, and around the globe on our platform is exciting. Booming Games’ titles will be a great addition to our market-leading casino lobby, and I’m sure our customers will enjoy playing them.”

The post Booming Games and SportPesa forge strategic partnership to elevate the African gaming market appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

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