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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.

Dmitry Starostenkov

EvenBet Gaming Launches its Turnkey Casino Platform and Game Aggregator

Published

47 minutes ago

May 6, 2026

Wladimir P.

evenbet-gaming-launches-its-turnkey-casino-platform-and-game-aggregator

EvenBet Gaming, a global card games and poker software provider, has expanded its product portfolio with the launch of its Turnkey Casino Platform and Game Aggregator, marking its formal expansion into the casino vertical.

With more than 20 years of experience in the poker industry, the move marks the next phase of growth for the company, bringing together its proven poker software and advanced casino solutions into a single framework.

At the core of this expansion is the Turnkey Casino Platform, designed to minimise launch friction and provide a structured and accessible entry into the market, supported by scalable infrastructure to facilitate long-term growth.

The ecosystem combines a ready-to-launch casino platform with EvenBet’s Game Aggregator, comprising over 15,000 titles from more than 230 providers. It also includes an advanced promotional and bonus toolkit, payment infrastructure, KYC tools, an internal revshare affiliate module and external CPA service integrations, enabling operators to launch and scale efficiently without needing extensive technical resources.

EvenBet’s strategy is designed to support a seamless product journey, accommodating both new market entrants seeking an efficient launch and established operators looking to expand their portfolio. Underpinned by a single player account and shared balance, the platform is built to drive cross-vertical engagement, enabling a natural transition between casino and poker.

Supporting this approach is its suite of purpose-built hybrid games tailored to casino players. One Click Poker removes the traditional poker lobby, eliminating a common barrier to entry, while Spins Poker blends player-versus-player gameplay with fast-paced, slot-style mechanics.

Additional casino side games and rewards within the poker lobby play a vital role in supporting the transition of poker players into casino, further optimising the two-way conversion pipeline.

With a track record of delivering first-class poker solutions to tier-one operators worldwide, the expansion positions EvenBet to unlock previously untapped revenue streams as it targets further global growth.

Dmitry Starostenkov, CEO at EvenBet Gaming, said: “The integration of our Turnkey Casino Platform and Game Aggregator into the EvenBet ecosystem represents a natural evolution of our offering.

“The modular platform has been engineered to remove the complexities typically associated with launching a casino, while also providing a clear pathway to a full-scale poker product.

“By leveraging two decades of industry experience and deep technical expertise, we are well equipped to support operators at every stage of their journey, from initial launch to global scale.”

The post EvenBet Gaming Launches its Turnkey Casino Platform and Game Aggregator appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

Amusnet Italy

Amusnet Italy Announces Strategic Partnership with StarVegas

Published

47 minutes ago

May 6, 2026

Wladimir P.

amusnet-italy-announces-strategic-partnership-with-starvegas

Amusnet Italy has announced a new strategic partnership with StarVegas, a prominent operator in the Italian iGaming landscape. This collaboration represents another step in the company’s mission to deliver top-tier gaming content to local players.

Under the agreement, StarVegas will integrate a selection of Amusnet’s some of the most successful titles, known for combining the nostalgic appeal of classic slot design with cutting-edge technology. The partnership aims to enhance the operator’s premium casino offering, delivering a more diverse and high-quality entertainment experience to its established player base.

The launch features some of the market’s top-performing titles, such as Extra Crown and Shining Crown, the engaging mechanics of 20 Golden Coins, and the fan-favourite 20 Super Hot. These games are recognised for their seamless performance, intuitive gameplay and high-quality graphics.

“Partnering with StarVegas is a significant milestone for our growth in Italy. We are confident that our iconic portfolio will bring strong value to their players and further reinforce our position as a leading provider in the region,” said Polina Nedyalkova, Director at Amusnet Italy.

“We are proud to welcome Amusnet to StarVegas, enriching our portfolio with a curated selection of titles inspired by traditional slot gameplay and enhanced with modern visuals and streamlined mechanics. This partnership reflects our commitment to delivering a diverse and engaging gaming environment, where accessibility, variety, and quality remain central to the player experience,” said Paolo Marchi, Brand Manager at StarVegas.

This agreement highlights Amusnet’s continued commitment to expanding its footprint in the Italian market, bringing its high-performing portfolio to an even broader audience.

The post Amusnet Italy Announces Strategic Partnership with StarVegas appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

Andrew Kong

REEVO Announces New Partnership with Pitta+

Published

47 minutes ago

May 6, 2026

Wladimir P.

reevo-announces-new-partnership-with-pitta+

REEVO has announced a new partnership with Pitta+, an emerging iGaming content provider focused on delivering engaging slot titles and interactive gaming experiences to operators worldwide. This collaboration further strengthens REEVO’s aggregation ecosystem, expanding its content offering with dynamic titles designed to appeal to a broad range of player preferences.

Through this partnership, Pitta+’s portfolio is now available on the REEVO aggregation platform, giving operators seamless access to fresh and engaging content through a single, efficient integration. The addition of Pitta+ reinforces REEVO’s commitment to continuously enhancing its platform with diverse and high-performing content that supports operator growth.

For REEVO, this partnership reflects its ongoing strategy to collaborate with innovative studios that bring creativity and performance to its growing aggregation platform.

Daniel Cuc, Head of Account Management at REEVO, said: “Partnering with Pitta+ is another exciting step forward for REEVO as we continue to grow our aggregation platform with diverse and engaging content. What stands out is their ability to deliver accessible gameplay combined with strong themes that resonate across different player segments. At REEVO, we focus on building an ecosystem that helps operators succeed, and this partnership strengthens our ability to offer content that drives engagement and long-term value.”

Andrew Kong, Head of Business Development at Pitta+, said: “We are very excited to partner with REEVO and bring the Pitta+ game portfolio to their extensive network. This collaboration represents an important milestone for us as we continue expanding our global distribution. REEVO’s strong aggregation platform and global reach make them an ideal partner, and we look forward to building a successful and long-term collaboration together.”

The post REEVO Announces New Partnership with Pitta+ appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.