Press Releases
Crazy Sports Joins JD Convenience Stores to Introduce Sports Lottery New Retail Business across China
One of China’s top 100 internet companies, V1 Group Limited, is pleased to announce that the wholly owned subsidiary of the Group, Beijing Crazy Sports Management Company Limited (“Crazy Sports”), has entered into a strategic partnership with Suqian Jingdong Derui Enterprise Management Co. Ltd. (“Suqian Jingdong”) to introduce sports lottery new retail services into JD Convenience Stores in China. The parties will promote the development of sports lottery new retail business, riding on the wave of upcoming major sports events to seize market opportunities and promote the “buy sports lottery at convenience stores” lifestyle.
JD Convenience Stores is one of the series of innovative smart stores forged by JD New Markets; which focuses on upgrading traditional small and medium-sized stores across China, providing them with the brand of JD, as well as strengthening the uniformity in six aspects including store image, store management control, facilities configuration, service standards, product planning and logistical delivery; to fully refined consumer experience. It joint hands with Crazy Sports to combine the strengths of both parties, to commence sports lottery new retail business and forge “All-purpose convenience stores” by installing sports lottery terminals in JD Convenience Stores throughout the country; to provide sports lottery sales and related services for the vast lottery players in the country. JD Convenience Stores now cover all administrative regions in China except Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan, and has initiated comprehensive coverage at airports, train stations and highway service stations. According to public information, JD Convenience Stores’ geographical coverage will also expand into rural villages, towns and counties. This will effectively carry the sports lottery new retail business of Crazy Sports to third- and fourth-tier cities and towns, thus reaching even more new users.
During the first half of 2020, Crazy Sports has also signed cooperation agreements with other convenience stores including Shenzhen China Resources Vanguard , Dalian Lianhua Quik and Shanghai 007. Together with the 12 chain enterprise lottery sales channels that has been previously announced by Crazy Sports such as Guangdong 7-Eleven, Bianlifeng, Haolinju, and Jiajiayue, it will continuously install sports lottery terminals at sales channels in each province and municipal city to provide convenient sales channels of sports lottery tickets for residents.
The new retail business of Crazy Sports will provide lottery sales and related services for vast sports users, and act as an entry point for our lottery recommendation services ”Crazy Red Insights” to form a closed-loop commercial system. With this strategy in place, Crazy Sports has succeeded in becoming a large and unique internet sports community and lottery information distribution platform in China leveraging its core lottery user data and further refined the structure of its comprehensive online and offline sports community and lottery e-commerce ecosystem, thereby allowing users to participate in sports and sports lottery activities via multiple channels. This strategy is also capable of driving fission growth among the online and offline user base and creating a new retail model featuring online to offline user redirection and consumption through both channels, thereby bringing a positive prospect of quick linear growth.
As the five upcoming major tournaments resumes, it is expected that the sports lottery industry will see a ”retaliatory” rebound with huge commercial potential. The 2021 Tokyo Olympics, European Cup, Copa America, 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics and Qatar World Cup will bring enormous opportunities to the development of sports and lottery businesses. Crazy Sports will accelerate its offline layout to seize the resources in the lottery new retail market.
Mr. PENG Xitao, Joint Chief Operations Officer of V1 Group Limited and Chief Executive Officer of Crazy Sports, said, “Crazy Sports is very honoured to be in this cooperation with JD to bring lottery new retail services into JD Convenience Stores, which will not only facilitate sports lottery users to purchase sports lottery tickets easily, but also strengthen the development of Crazy Sports’ offline physical sports lottery sales network, thus expanding our user base. Looking forward, Crazy Sports will continue to form partnerships with different parties and establish more chain enterprise sales channels and ”365 Smart Stores” to attract more offline traffic, which could then convert into online users to propel the development of our sports lottery new retail business, and seize the huge potential of the upcoming major sports events.”
Dr. ZHANG Lijun, Chairman of the Board of Directors of V1 Group Limited, said, “The partnership between Crazy Sports and JD coincides with the 15th anniversary of VODone Information Engineering Group Co., Ltd, a core enterprise of V1 Group Limited. We have composed remarkable stories of success in the past 15 years, and we will start another grand new chapter today! I believe, with the solid support from our numerous users, the passionate work of our employees, as well as the confidence and support from our shareholders, V1 Group will make life better and happier; thus creating greater value for our users, employees and shareholders!”
SOURCE V1 Group Limited
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eSports
Esports Foundation names Faker Game Ambassador for EWC and ENC through 2028
Lee “Faker” Sang-hyeok joins Cristiano Ronaldo and Magnus Carlsen in the Esports Foundation’s Ambassador Program.
The Esports Foundation (EF) has appointed Lee “Faker” Sang-hyeok as a Game Ambassador for the Esports World Cup (EWC) and Esports Nations Cup (ENC) through 2028, the organization said on July 15, 2026 in a statement issued from Riyadh and Paris.
EF said Faker joins Cristiano Ronaldo, listed as the Foundation’s Global Ambassador, and Magnus Carlsen as part of the Esports Foundation Ambassador Program. The Foundation said Faker will represent “the perspective of esports players” across its international events, athlete initiatives, media engagements and leadership forums.
“You can’t talk about esports without mentioning Faker. He is the defining athlete of competitive gaming: a champion whose excellence, discipline and longevity have inspired an entire generation,” said Ralf Reichert, Chief Executive Officer of the Esports Foundation. “As our Game Ambassador, Faker represents something fundamental to the Ambassador Program: esports creates its own global sporting icons. Across EWC, ENC and NGSC, he will help ensure that the players who built this sport have a voice in shaping where it goes next.”
Faker said: “Competition has shaped my life, and I am proud to join the Esports Foundation as Game Ambassador. I want to continue competing for the biggest titles with T1 while representing the players and fans who have helped esports grow worldwide. Through the Esports World Cup, Esports Nations Cup and the Foundation’s wider platforms, I hope to inspire the next generation to pursue excellence, remain resilient and believe in how far competitive gaming can take them. There is still much more to achieve.”
EF highlighted Faker’s competitive record, describing him as a six-time League of Legends World Champion, EWC 2024 winner, two-time MSI champion and ten-time domestic champion with T1. The Foundation also said Faker became the first esports athlete to receive the Blue Dragon Medal in 2026, describing it as the Republic of Korea’s highest sporting honor awarded by President Lee Jae-myung.
The post Esports Foundation names Faker Game Ambassador for EWC and ENC through 2028 appeared first on EE Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
Brand Partnerships
Midnite signs as Middlesbrough FC principal partner for 2026/27 season
Midnite has agreed a partnership with Middlesbrough FC that will see the UK bookmaker become the club’s principal partner and front-of-shirt sponsor for the 2026/27 campaign, which Middlesbrough describes as its landmark 150th season.
The companies announced the deal alongside a fan activation at Riverside Stadium on Thursday, July 9, branded “This Season’s On Us”. The initiative offered supporters prizes including 2026/27 season tickets, 2026/27 shirts, match tickets, or a £25 club shop voucher, with fans required to answer Middlesbrough trivia and complete a football challenge.
Middlesbrough former players Craig Hignett and David Wheater attended the event, and, according to the company, took bonus attempts on behalf of participants who missed out.
Andrew Mook, Midnite’s Head of Brand Marketing, said:
“Middlesbrough have a storied history and we’re delighted to announce this partnership during such a monumental year with the club celebrating their 150th anniversary.
“It was great to see so many Middlesbrough fans at the “This Season’s On Us” activation, we hope they enjoyed taking part and meeting club legends, with David Wheater hitting top bins on several occasions and allowing fans to win big with season tickets.
“We can’t wait to get to Riverside Stadium in August to kick-off a new season and we’re excited to say that we have plenty of new and captivating campaigns planned.”
Lee Fryett, Middlesbrough FC Chief Commercial Officer, added:
“We’re delighted to welcome Midnite as our new Principal Partner.
“We’re looking forward to working closely with Midnite to develop engaging campaigns, content and unique experiences that bring our fans even closer to the club.
“We’re confident this partnership will provide real value for our supporters while supporting our ambitions both on and off the pitch.”
The post Midnite signs as Middlesbrough FC principal partner for 2026/27 season appeared first on EE Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
AGCO
ThrillTech secures AGCO supplier licence for Ontario launch
ThrillTech has been awarded a Gaming-Related Supplier licence by the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO), clearing the company to launch in Ontario’s regulated market.
The licence allows ThrillTech to deploy its opt-in side bet jackpots technology with regulated online casino, sports betting and lottery operators across the province.
Benjamin Bradtke, Co-Founder of ThrillTech, said: “Securing our AGCO licence is a major step in our mission to transform how jackpots are delivered at scale across regulated markets. This latest certification is testament to our robust technology and trusted compliance frameworks, allowing us to continue our global growth trajectory. We are thrilled to bring our proven, compliant jackpot technology to Ontario, empowering locally licensed operators to uplift revenue without cannibalising existing spend.”
The company said its “ThrillPots” mechanics sit as an independent, player-funded side bet and do not alter the underlying game’s return-to-player mathematics.
ThrillTech said the Ontario approval enables its existing multinational partners that also operate in the province to launch its side bet jackpots locally, while it also holds talks with potential new operator partners. The company lists its regulated footprint as including the United Kingdom, Sweden, the Netherlands, Romania, Malta, Gibraltar, Brazil and Peru.
The post ThrillTech secures AGCO supplier licence for Ontario launch appeared first on EE Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
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