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Erik Bergman’s Great.com donates more than $100,000 and pledges another $1M+ to a community of philanthropic entrepreneurs

Published

6 years ago

June 29, 2020

Reading Time: 3 minutes

iGaming entrepreneur Erik Bergman pledges over $1M in CTTMF shares to Founders Pledge, a global community of entrepreneurs, and donates another $100,000+ as an operational supporter.

Erik Bergman launched Great.con in 2018 with a mission to end the global climate crisis. Using his expertise in iGaming, Erik wanted to build a revenue-generating platform that would help carry out this mission.

The business concept of Great.com is to build the world’s most trusted iGaming review website, which would generate profits through affiliate partnerships – 100% of which would be donated to vetted charities working to solve climate change.

Not only is the business concept unique, but the organizational structure and management of Great.com is also groundbreaking. Transparency is one of its core values with employee conditions and work culture shared openly. For example, Great.com records and publishes weekly meetings to its website along with employees’ salaries.

Erik was quoted in Forbes saying that “I believe the people we want to attract and want in our team – are the same people that resonate with transparency.”

The ambition of Great.com is not just to end the climate crisis but to challenge the traditional norms associated with work. Erik has set out to build a more open, inclusive, and sustainable organization which he hopes will set the blueprint for other companies to follow.

Since its inception, Great.com has donated more than $225,000 to charitable causes. Now, another donation of $100,000 is being made to help fund the operational costs associated with Founders Pledge – a global community of more than 1,400 entrepreneurs. Every member of Founders Pledge must make a legally binding “pledge” to donate a chosen portion of their current or future wealth to charity.

This $100,000 donation to Founders Pledge as an operational supporter will help mitigate the burden that COVID-19 has had on their organization and will enable their team to continue its efforts of expanding its community, securing more pledges, and channeling millions of dollars to high-impact charities working on key global issues such as climate change.

In addition to this $100,000 donation, Erik Bergman also joined Founders Pledge as a member and signed a future pledge to donate 20% of his shares in Catena Media (CTTMF) which is currently valued at $1.3 million.

Founders Pledge is a unique community of entrepreneurs who have a shared purpose of wanting to do the most good in the world. The organization has a research team that focuses on charity due diligence, data collection, and the curation of high-impact causes throughout the world that are being underserved philanthropically. They strive to use data and analysis to recommend charities which will offer the largest return per dollar donated.

For example, in response to COVID-19, Founders Pledge created a single fund that would enable members and the public to contribute resources into which would then be dispersed by Founders Pledge to vetted charities aimed at pandemic preparedness, stopping the spread of COVID-19, and lessening the social and economic burden on the most affected communities. Founders Pledge takes an adaptive approach with its fund allocation to

COVID-19 relief which means they are making strategic decisions every time they contribute

– choosing the cause for which that donation would have the greatest impact. Erik Bergman, founder of Great.com, comments:

“When I founded Great.com, it was because I wanted to build an organization that could make the greatest difference possible for our environment – both from a climate and organizational perspective. So, it is important for me to find ways to create compounding returns. Founders Pledge is one such organization, as they have built up unique expertise on how to create the greatest impact with charitable giving. It’s an honor for me that Great.com can now help this incredible organization further their altruistic efforts.”

David Goldberg, founder, Founders Pledge, adds:

“It is very welcome that Erik Bergman and Great.com join our network. We bring together entrepreneurs with cutting-edge skills that are all driven by helping to do good for our world. The exchange between members is very valuable and Great.com can now take advantage of the unique knowledge we possess, to be able to make more well-founded donations.”

“My wish is that entrepreneurs and companies around the world start to be driven by serving a greater purpose. By joining Founders Pledge, I want to inspire others to do the same. You can make a difference if you do the right research and manage it through the right organizations”, Erik Bergman concludes.

BC.GAME

BC.Game Names Kar Kheng Giam as CEO

Published

7 hours ago

March 26, 2026

Wladimir P.

BC.Game, a leading global crypto-focused online gaming platform, has announced the appointment of Kar Kheng Giam (“KK”) as its new Chief Executive Officer. Giam brings over 30 years of international leadership experience across gaming, technology, and consumer industries.

Before joining BC.Game, KK served as Vice President International at Coyote Bioscience, leading global expansion initiatives. He also co-founded Topgame and Tinymobi, developing successful mobile social and casino-style games. Earlier in his career, KK held executive positions including CEO roles at multiple organizations and regional leadership at Nabisco Asia.

In his role as CEO, KK will oversee BC.Game’s strategic direction, operational leadership, and financial performance, with a focus on scaling globally, expanding into regulated markets, and driving innovation in crypto gaming.

“BC.Game has built a strong global community by combining cutting-edge technology with engaging entertainment experiences,” KK stated. “With the rising adoption of crypto in online gaming, our focus will be on enhancing the platform, building trust, and strengthening our presence in licensed markets.”

BC.Game currently holds licenses in multiple jurisdictions, including Anjouan, Nigeria, Kenya, Mexico, and Tanzania, as part of its long-term strategy to expand into fully regulated markets worldwide. This appointment aligns with the company’s ambitions to grow its global footprint and strengthen compliance while delivering innovative gaming experiences.

The post BC.Game Names Kar Kheng Giam as CEO appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

2025 financial results

ZEAL Reports Strong Double-Digit Growth

Published

8 hours ago

March 26, 2026

Wladimir P.

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.

GamingTECH CEE Awards 2026

WinSpirit wins Best Online Casino in CEE at the GamingTECH CEE Awards 2026

Published

13 hours ago

March 26, 2026

Wladimir P.

winspirit-wins-best-online-casino-in-cee-at-the-gamingtech-cee-awards-2026

Online casino brand WinSpirit has been announced as the winner in the Best Online Casino in CEE category at the GamingTECH CEE Awards 2026 — a respected industry event celebrating excellence across the iGaming sector.

Since launching in mid-2022, WinSpirit has rapidly gained recognition for its dynamic approach to product development, creative marketing, and a genuine player-first philosophy. The brand stands out by successfully combining innovative features, high-quality entertainment, and strong focus on player experience.

Over the past year, WinSpirit has demonstrated impressive growth across key metrics, significantly expanding its loyal player base, VIP segment, and overall betting activity. The brand has also introduced unique interactive formats, enhanced its loyalty system with the real-time Gift Shop, and continued to invest in smart personalisation across the platform.

This award adds to WinSpirit’s growing list of international recognitions. The brand also maintains excellent player ratings across major review platforms, consistently receiving high marks for service quality and user experience.

With this latest victory, WinSpirit continues to solidify its reputation as one of the most dynamic and player-oriented online casinos in the industry — combining rapid growth with innovation and a clear focus on player satisfaction.

The post WinSpirit wins Best Online Casino in CEE at the GamingTECH CEE Awards 2026 appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.