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

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  • 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 4th 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 3rd 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 4th 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 8th 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.

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ENJOY gains Italian approval amid advancing regulated expansion strategy

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Approval clears the path for future operator collaborations in one of Europe’s fiercest markets.

ENJOY, the vibrant iGaming content creator, has received official certification to provide its content in the Italian market, signaling an important achievement in the company’s European growth strategy.

After receiving approval from Italy’s regulatory body, Agenzia delle Dogane e dei Monopoli (ADM), ENJOY is now permitted to provide its range of slot games, live casino, and hybrid live experiences to licensed operators in one of Europe’s most prominent and competitive iGaming markets.

The certification marks an important milestone in ENJOY’s long-term expansion strategy, allowing the company to penetrate the Italian market via several forthcoming collaborations with prominent local operators. These collaborations will present Italian gamers to ENJOY’s unique combination of captivating game mechanics and superior production quality.

The provider’s catalog features an array of successful slot games centered on established mechanics like Bison Strike and newer entries such as Hotfire Diamonds XXL. It also features an expanding range of live game show experiences like Enchanted Forest and the soon-to-debut Energy Roulette Hold & Win, created at its cutting-edge studio.

Italy’s well-established regulatory system and competitive environment position it as a crucial market for suppliers aiming to secure a solid foothold in Europe, closely aligning with ENJOY’s emphasis on regulated expansion and sustainable market entry.

Christos Zoulianitis, Chief Commercial Officer at ENJOY, said: “Securing certification for the Italian market represents a key milestone in ENJOY’s European expansion. Italy is one of the most established and competitive regulated markets, and gaining approval to supply our content here reflects both the quality of our portfolio and our commitment to meeting the highest regulatory standards.

“This certification allows us to move forward with a number of exciting operator partnerships, ensuring our games are introduced to Italian players in a way that supports long-term growth and strong engagement.”

The post ENJOY gains Italian approval amid advancing regulated expansion strategy appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

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Megaways Casino Is Back: Built to Play the Mega Way

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The legendary Megaways™ home is now active and eager to greet a new wave of players.

The official Megaways Casino has returned! SkillOnNet has reintroduced MegawaysCasino.com, reaffirming its position as the ultimate destination for the Megaways™ mechanic with an innovative new platform, a revitalized identity, and a brand centered entirely on a single commitment: ‘Play the Mega Way.’

Megaways™ changed online gaming dramatically when it was launched in 2016. The original casino focused on the mechanic is now reimagined as a vibrant, entertainment-driven venue crafted for contemporary players.

Megaways™ Casino debuts featuring hundreds of Megaways titles, such as Monopoly Megaways, Rasputin Megaways, Extra Chilli Megaways, and Bonanza — the original game that brought Megaways™ to the public.

Alongside its extensive Megaways™ collection, the platform offers more than 8,000 games, encompassing top-tier slots, crash games, table games, and live casino — providing a wide range of options.

Created by Big Time Gaming, Megaways™ transformed slot design by unveiling a flexible reel-modifier system that provides as many as 117,649 winning combinations on each spin. The breakthrough transformed the trajectory of the online gaming sector and evolved into one of the most identifiable and extensively licensed mechanics in contemporary iGaming.

Megaways Casino is currently the sole official online casino brand entirely focused on honoring that heritage.

Within the SkillOnNet framework, the brand re-emerges with a contemporary, performance-enhanced platform, unique content, a striking visual identity, and a commitment to long-term investment in the UK market.

Giordana Anticoli Kalifa, Country Manager Emerging Markets at SkillOnNet, said: “Play the Mega Way” is more than a tagline. It captures the DNA of Megaways™ — the high-energy pace, thrilling variety and unpredictability of the mechanic — and injects it into the entire brand world.Megaways™ has always been one of the most powerful and recognizable mechanics in online gaming. With this relaunch, we’re not just bringing back a brand, we’re building an entire entertainment ecosystem around it.

“‘Play the Mega Way’ reflects our ambition to transform the energy, scale and unpredictability of the Megaways™ mechanic into a full brand experience. We are made for players who expect more.”

The post Megaways Casino Is Back: Built to Play the Mega Way appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

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Barbie Nerz Head of Online Games at Staatliche Toto-Lotto GmbH Baden-Württemberg

Peter & Sons Partners with Staatliche Toto-Lotto GmbH Baden-Württemberg for German Market Entry

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The innovative iGaming studio Peter & Sons, based in Barcelona, has enhanced its presence in Europe by entering a new partnership with erwin, the virtual slot platform of Staatliche Toto-Lotto GmbH Baden-Württemberg, a prominent and well-established gaming operator in Germany.

Established in 1948, Staatliche Toto-Lotto GmbH Baden-Württemberg has earned a solid reputation for dependability, integrity, and creativity in Germany’s regulated gaming industry. The operator is key to the nation’s lottery landscape and is enhancing its digital entertainment services with authorized online gaming products. Since 2023, Staatliche Toto-Lotto GmbH Baden-Württemberg provides virtual slot games at www.lotto-bw.de/erwin. Here, you can explore a diverse range of fun and appealing slots that are refreshed frequently.

Additionally, Staatliche Toto-Lotto GmbH Baden-Württemberg seeks to provide gambling products in its range that cater to the changing requirements of its customers. By doing so, the organization emphasizes trust and safety. Ensuring adherence to measures for the protection of youth and players is consequently a foremost concern.

Famous for its collection of art-focused games, unique characters, and captivating game environments, Peter & Sons has gained global acclaim for advancing the limits of creativity in slot design.

Yann Bautista, Founder and Commercial Director at Peter & Sons, said: “We are delighted to partner with Lotto Baden-Württemberg, an operator that has earned enormous trust within the German gaming community. Germany represents an important regulated market for us, and working with such a respected partner allows us to introduce our games to a broad audience of players who appreciate high-quality entertainment and distinctive design.”

Barbie Nerz, Head of Online Games at Staatliche Toto-Lotto GmbH Baden-Württemberg: “Peter & Sons has developed a reputation for producing visually striking and highly engaging games, and we are excited to welcome their portfolio to our platform. Our goal is always to provide players with diverse, high-quality content, and this partnership represents another step forward in expanding the entertainment experiences we offer.”

The post Peter & Sons Partners with Staatliche Toto-Lotto GmbH Baden-Württemberg for German Market Entry appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

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