Latest News

Real Madrid and Barcelona neck-and-neck as world’s most valuable football brands in the face of COVID-19

Published

6 years ago

July 30, 2020

George Miller

Reading Time: 3 minutes

Real Madrid remain world’s most valuable football brand, but Barcelona narrow the gap to just €6 million
COVID-19 causes total brand value of top 50 clubs to decrease for the first time in 6 years – €751 million or 3.7% is knocked off
English clubs dominate the ranking with six brands in top 10 and 19 in top 50
Liverpool inches two spots up into 4^th place, following historic Premier League win
Bundesliga’s 1. FC Köln is this year’s fastest-growing brand, followed by Leicester City and RB Leipzig – all recording over 40% growth
Tottenham Hotspur’s new stadium takes top spot in Buro Happold’s Venue Performance Rating

Real Madrid remain the most valuable football club brand in the world for 2020, according to the latest edition of the Brand Finance Football Annual. Boosted by winning the LaLiga title for the first time since 2017, the club retained its position at the top of the table in the football industry, but against a backdrop of economic and social disruption, caused primarily by the COVID-19 pandemic, Real Madrid’s brand value has declined by 14% to €1,419 million.

Real Madrid’s disappointing on-pitch performance prior to 2019-20, which saw an earlier-than-normal exit from the UEFA Champions League in 2018-19 and a second successive season adrift of LaLiga champions Barcelona, eroded the club’s dominance of the Brand Finance ranking. The situation was exacerbated by COVID-19, along with a lack of stability around the management of the team. Barcelona, Real’s fierce rivals, are just €6 million behind Real with a brand value of €1,413 million, supported by strong and diverse revenue generation and continued domestic performance in Spain.

COVID-19 knocks off €751 million of brand value

Real Madrid is not the only club to see a drop in brand value this year. COVID-19 has caused the total value of the top 50 football brands to decrease for the first time in 6 years. Through its effect on the three main revenue streams – Matchday, Broadcasting, and Commercial – €751 million or 3.7% has been knocked off the cumulative brand value of the world’s top 50 most valuable football clubs.

The COVID-19 pandemic has challenged professional football worldwide and across all levels. Matchday income for the 501 games remaining in the big 5 leagues dropped to zero, but it is often the smaller clubs and leagues which are more reliant on this revenue stream – in Scotland it makes up 43% of total revenue, compared to only 13% in England.

There have been some positive signs, as Southampton vs Manchester City on BBC broke the Premier League TV audience record with 5.7 million viewers, but the longer-term damage to the game’s economic structure has yet to be revealed.

Richard Haigh, Managing Director of Brand Finance, commented:

“Top-level football has been confronted with the largest existential threat since the Second World War. Loss of income, coupled with health concerns about mass gatherings, have raised question marks about the future of the industry and the financial resilience of clubs across all levels. The full damage of the COVID-19 crisis has yet to unfold and it is not inconceivable there will be casualties in the form of club bankruptcies and changes in ownership.”

Despite the huge implications of COVID-19 for football clubs and their financial results, the majority of the brand value is secured by the clubs’ long-term future – provided they can survive the initial shock. For example, only 21% of Real Madrid’s brand value is delivered by the next five years’ financial results.

Premier power

Real Madrid and Barcelona are followed by a cluster of English Premier League clubs in the Brand Finance Football Annual 2020 ranking, with Manchester United in 3^rd position after their brand value fell by 11% to €1,314 million. Liverpool, who won their first league title since 1990 in runaway style, are in 4^th spot jumping above Manchester City in terms of brand value, rising from €1,191 million in 2019 to €1,262 million, a 6% increase. Chelsea dropped one place in the table to 8^th after their value fell for the fourth consecutive year to €949 million. This was arguably due to the club being absent from the UEFA Champions League and also suffering a transfer ban after being charged with breaking Financial Fair Play Regulations.

Africa

RubyPlay signs World Sports Betting deal to expand in South Africa

Published

43 minutes ago

June 4, 2026

Wladimir P.

rubyplay-signs-world-sports-betting-deal-to-expand-in-south-africa

Operator adds RubyPlay slots including Elephant Stampede, Diamond Explosion® 7s and Mayan Cache to its online platform.

RubyPlay has partnered with South African operator World Sports Betting to roll out a selection of the supplier’s slot titles on the bookmaker’s online platform.

Under the agreement, World Sports Betting has integrated RubyPlay Studios games including Elephant Stampede, Diamond Explosion® 7s and Mayan Cache.

RubyPlay said South Africa remains a key market in its international growth strategy. The supplier entered the country in 2023 and said the World Sports Betting deal builds on a series of local partnerships.

Dima Reiderman, CCO at RubyPlay, said: “South Africa has been a real focus for us since we entered the market three years ago, and the traction we have seen in that time makes this partnership with World Sports Betting a genuinely engaging one. They are an established, highly respected brand and adding our portfolio to their platform is a strong example of how we are continuing to establish ourselves as a tier-one supplier across regulated markets.

“World Sports Betting has a deep understanding of their players and a clear vision for how they want to grow their offering. That kind of operator mindset is what we look for in a long-term partnership, and it gives us a strong foundation to build on together in what remains one of the most intriguing markets worldwide.”

Ryno Du Plessis, Chief Operating Officer at World Sports Betting, added: “Our focus is on delivering a high-quality iGaming experience, with a high breadth of standout content playing a key role. RubyPlay stands out as a quality content supplier, not only for the strength of its portfolio, but for its clear approach to game development and delivery.

“Their ecosystem model supports long-term player engagement, which aligns with our strategy as we grow our offering. Bringing in-demand titles such as Elephant Stampede, Diamond Explosion® 7s and Mayan Cache to our players is an exciting move, and we see strong potential in the partnership moving forward.”

The post RubyPlay signs World Sports Betting deal to expand in South Africa appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

Dan Brown Business Development Manager at Foxium

Games Global and Foxium launch Reels Avenue Link&Win slot

Published

43 minutes ago

June 4, 2026

Wladimir P.

games-global-and-foxium-launch-reels-avenue-link&win-slot

New 5×4 Vegas-themed title adds four Link&Win modifiers and four-tier jackpots, with a stated top payout of 10,000x.

Games Global has launched Reels Avenue Link&Win, developed with its exclusive studio partner Foxium. The new Vegas-themed slot is a 5×4 title built around a Link&Win mechanic, four feature modifiers and four-tier jackpots, with the company stating win potential of up to 10,000x.

The base game uses classic slot symbols including BARs, bells and fruits. Collect symbols on reels one and five award the value of all money symbols landing simultaneously.

Coloured money symbols feed meters beside the reels and can randomly trigger the Link&Win bonus. In the feature, cash and jackpot coins drop on two 5×4 grids. Four modifiers can apply: Collect Club (adds up cash symbols on the same grid), Twin Heart (replicates value to the adjacent grid), Multi Spade (increases prizes by up to 5x) and Boost Diamond (increments up to four random cash symbols).

The game includes four jackpots that can be enhanced by jackpot tokens in the base game and are awarded when diamonds are collected in each bonus round.

Dan Brown, Business Development Manager at Foxium, said: “There will always be a place for Vegas-themed slots, and for us, it is less about trying to replicate that style, and more about how we can rework it for the modern player. This release provides that nostalgia, but delivers the depth in gameplay that we know drives engagement.”

Dave Reynolds, Director of Games Strategy and Partner Management at Games Global, added: “Foxium have a real knack for building games that grab attention right from the get-go. Reels Avenue Link&Win takes the classic Vegas slot and drags it firmly into the modern era – four distinct Link&Win modifiers, four-tier jackpots, and audiovisual design that delivers on every level.”

The post Games Global and Foxium launch Reels Avenue Link&Win slot appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

Latest News

Relax Gaming launches football-themed Dream Drop slot with Bet Slip side bets

Published

43 minutes ago

June 4, 2026

Wladimir P.

relax-gaming-launches-football-themed-dream-drop-slot-with-bet-slip-side-bets

World Class Kick Off Dream Drop is the supplier’s first football slot and adds a sportsbook-style feature ahead of the 2026 World Cup.

Relax Gaming has released World Class Kick Off Dream Drop, the latest entry in its Dream Drop jackpot series and the supplier’s first football-themed slot.

The company positions the launch around the 2026 World Cup, pitching the game as a cross-sell product aimed at sports bettors as well as casino players.

World Class Kick Off Dream Drop includes six progressive jackpots, including a €2 million MEGA Jackpot, according to Relax Gaming.

The title also introduces Relax Gaming’s Bet Slip feature, which lets players place side bets on specific symbols during gameplay for additional rewards. The supplier describes it as an “industry-first” mechanic designed to bring a sportsbook-style layer into a slot.

Tony O’Mahony, Chief Product Officer at Relax Gaming, said: “The new Bet Slip feature brings an exciting layer of engagement inspired by sports betting, while still delivering the huge jackpot potential players expect from our Dream Drop Jackpots. This one will appeal to casino players and sports punters who enjoy the chance to win big!”

The post Relax Gaming launches football-themed Dream Drop slot with Bet Slip side bets appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.