Fantasy Sports
Gerard Piqué invests and becomes Sorare strategic advisor
Football superstar Gerard Piqué and ex Coca-Cola VP Emmanuel Seugé through his fund Cassius Family are investing EUR 3 million in Sorare as a seed extension. Sorare card sales volume grew by more than 1000% in 2020 with 80 clubs joining during the year including European Champions: Bayern Munich, Juventus, Paris Saint-Germain, Porto, and Zenit with more Champions coming before the end of the year.
Fans no longer want to just consume football entertainment, they wish to participate in new and exciting ways. Gerard Piqué has been at the forefront of reimagining these new paths with Kosmos and now with a strategic investment in Sorare. Gerard Piqué will join Sorare’s board as a Strategic Advisor, together with existing board members Christian Miele, co-founder Nicolas Julia, and co-founder Adrien Montfort.
Gerard Piqué, Chairman of Kosmos, comments: “I see a huge potential in the sports gaming segment in a digital economy where the attention of audiences is the single most important unit of currency. I’m looking forward to helping Sorare expand their partnerships with football leagues, clubs, and players worldwide to build the best fantasy experience that exists.”
Sorare CEO Nicolas Julia added: “Gerard is not only one of the best defenders in the world but he is also an active entrepreneur and is re-defining the sports and entertainment industry. The strategic counsel and business acumen Gerard brings to our board is invaluable. I’m excited to have him join our team to unlock people’s football fandom online with Sorare.”
European Giants have joined Sorare in 2020
5 European 2020 Champions have all launched their digital cards on Sorare this year. Bayern Munich, Juventus, Paris Saint-Germain, Porto, and Zenit with more Champions coming before the end of the year. Since opening the beta in December 2019, 80 football clubs have joined Sorare from 11 countries to help create a unique and global fantasy football experience. Sorare is an opportunity for clubs and leagues to allow their fans to express their fandom with digital cards, amidst the current lack of live games as well as to expand their international brand by reaching several untapped audiences of fans. It is effectively opening up a new revenue stream for clubs, by creating a new licensing category: fantasy football licensing.
Fans want to further engage with football entertainment
While sports fans have been able to collect and trade player cards for decades, this was limited to the physical world. Sorare is on a mission to unlock people’s football fandom online. The company is creating an open world of games with digital cards, where people can express their affiliation with a club or player, build meaningful identities and relationships with it, and seize new economic opportunities around it. The Sorare cards are fully licensed, and provably scarce thanks to blockchain technology, creating a new level of trust for fans and clubs.
Fans collect digital cards of players for the same reasons they collect cards offline – status, differentiation, identity, and membership. This also offers the most direct way of investing in the upside of a sports player. Sorare’s current total addressable market is at the intersection of fantasy football and sports cards and memorabilia that is respectively estimated at $5.4B and $18.6B globally. After having acquired more than 50,000 users in 2020, Sorare is expecting to see these numbers more than triple next year.
Powered by WPeMatico
Acquisitions/Merger
FantasySpin and FastDraft Announce Merger to Create the Ultimate Fantasy Sports Platform
FantasySpin, a premier Daily Fantasy Sports (DFS) operator, and FastDraft, the rapidly growing Best Ball platform, announced a corporate merger. The strategic combination will create a fantasy sports powerhouse offering sports fans an unparalleled, all-encompassing fantasy experience.
FantasySpin and FastDraft booked over $1M in contest entries in the first year. The stage is now set for massive 2026/2027 growth as FantasySpin contests will be available to an expanded population of 330 million people across 38 U.S. states and Canada.
DFS Innovation Leader
FantasySpin, renowned for its groundbreaking contributions to the Daily Fantasy Sports (DFS) industry, strengthens its market position with this merger. The company’s patented DFS products gamify the process of building fantasy lineups to provide immediate gratification. FantasySpin users leverage skill and strategy to build teams in a thrilling, slots-like experience—sitting at the intersection of iGaming and fantasy sports. The merger reinforces FantasySpin’s commitment to delivering hyper-engaging user experiences and fostering innovation within the DFS space.
“This merger is a monumental step forward for the fantasy sports industry. Our community loves the immediate gratification of DFS, and we recognize the explosive popularity of the Best Ball format. By joining forces with FastDraft, we are giving more than 60 million fantasy gamers in North America the ultimate toolkit to play how they want and when they want, fast,” said Steve “Dakota” Happas, CEO of FantasySpin.
Revolutionizing Best Ball
FastDraft’s proprietary, user-friendly best ball format allows drafts to finish in under five minutes. The platform eliminates the need for constant in-season roster management, waivers, and trades. The merger allows FastDraft to instantly expand its NFL products to the NBA, PGA, MLB, NHL, and other major sports. With the addition of FantasySpin DFS contests, FastDraft users may now enjoy sweating the action across all major professional sports 365 days a year.
According to FastDraft founder Matt Kelley, the partnership is a game-changer for fantasy sports players around the world.
“These two brands teaming up is excellent news for fantasy players worldwide, and I’m thrilled to witness the exciting possibilities that lie ahead as we unite the best daily and season-long fantasy formats on the planet,” said Kelley.
A Unified Platform Vision
The merger signifies a milestone as FantasySpin looks to integrate its engaging free-to-play and real-money game formats across 5 major professional sports, as well as college football and basketball, into FastDraft’s full suite of NFL fantasy sports contest formats. Users will soon be able to deposit and play seamlessly between platforms, marking a significant advancement in fantasy sports offerings. Anticipated integrations include:
• New DFS Markets: 86% of the U.S. population will have access to FantasySpin’s slots-meets-daily fantasy contests.
• Expanded Contest Optionality: Users will have a robust suite of gamified DFS experiences and rapid Best Ball draft formats across major sports.
• Unified Wallet System: A single account and shared bankroll to manage funds across all game types.
• Shared Promotions and Loyalty Rewards: Earn special prizes, promo funds and free-play bonuses regardless of which format you choose to play.
“The sports gaming ecosystem is heading toward a significant consolidation — operators like DraftKings, FanDuel, Fanatics, Underdog, and Betr are all competing for the same users, many of whom already have accounts across every platform, and the rise of prediction markets (Kalshi, Robinhood) has only accelerated that disruption and pressure on traditional operators. The companies that survive will be those who find ways to differentiate their product or merge with others, and we built FantasySpin around a truly unique experience — where skill meets thrill — precisely for that reason,” said Steve “Dakota” Happas, CEO of FantasySpin.
The post FantasySpin and FastDraft Announce Merger to Create the Ultimate Fantasy Sports Platform appeared first on Americas iGaming & Sports Betting News.
Fantasy Sports
PrizePicks Returns to New York
PrizePicks, the leading sports entertainment operator in North America, announced that it has launched its innovative peer-to-peer fantasy sports contest in New York. Players across the state can now compete in engaging leaderboard style fantasy sports games.
“Returning to New York is a testament to the state’s commitment to embracing innovative gaming products,” said Nick Zabriskie, SVP of Government Affairs, PrizePicks. “Players deserve a competitive landscape, allowing them to engage with their favorite contests in a regulated environment. We’re excited to bring our games back to sports fans who have eagerly been awaiting our return and to extend our footprint in the Empire State.”
In October, PrizePicks was awarded an interactive fantasy sports license by the New York State Gaming Commission. New York is the 16th state to formally ratify PrizePicks’s fantasy contests as games of skill under its interactive fantasy sports rules.
As PrizePicks continues to expand to new markets, investment into Responsible Gaming remains a key focus. In 2025, PrizePicks was awarded iCAP accreditation by the National Council on Problem Gambling (NCPG) for its Responsible Gaming practices and efforts, becoming the first and only fantasy sports operator to earn the certification.
The post PrizePicks Returns to New York appeared first on Americas iGaming & Sports Betting News.
Arizona
Arizona Department of Gaming Marks Fifth Super Bowl of Legal Sports Betting — November Wagers Top $965M
The Arizona Department of Gaming today highlighted a major milestone: the upcoming Super Bowl will be the fifth played under Arizona’s legal, state-regulated sports wagering framework. Since regulated event wagering launched in 2021, Arizona’s oversight—guided by state law and Tribal-State Compacts—has aimed to protect consumers, preserve integrity, and generate public revenue.
Key November 2025 figures: strong wagering growth
In its latest monthly report, the Department said Arizona bettors wagered approximately $965 million on sports and events in November 2025 — about a 7.5% increase versus November 2024. The state collected roughly $5.5 million in privilege fees for the month.* Fiscal year-to-date privilege fees total $26.3 million (about $25.7M from event wagering and $637,399 from fantasy sports).
Arizona also recorded its highest monthly event wagering in October 2025 with $967,141,269, and the second-highest in November 2025 with $965,233,844.*
Regulated framework and consumer protections
Arizona’s regulated model requires licensed operators to follow statutory rules, Tribal-State Compacts, and ongoing regulatory oversight. The Department conducts audits, compliance reviews, and integrity controls designed to prevent fraud and illegal activity. Licensed event wagering operators remit privilege fees, calculated as a percentage of gaming revenue — with 90% of those fees directed to Arizona’s General Fund to support state programs and priorities.
There are currently fourteen licensed event wagering operators approved to offer wagering in Arizona, each subject to ongoing Department review and potential audit adjustments.
Responsible play and support resources
The Department emphasizes the importance of using state-licensed event wagering and fantasy sports apps or retail locations. For guidance and safety tips, players are encouraged to visit Check Your Bet at gaming.az.gov/checkyourbet.
For individuals and families affected by problem gambling, the Department’s Division of Problem Gambling offers confidential, subsidized treatment and resources statewide at problemgambling.az.com.
* Disclaimer: Monthly operator figures are self-reported and subject to adjustment after Department audits and review. The Department does not guarantee the final accuracy of the self-reported totals.
The post Arizona Department of Gaming Marks Fifth Super Bowl of Legal Sports Betting — November Wagers Top $965M appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
-
iGaming industry5 days agoPragmatic Play Releases its Latest Slot Game “The Big Dog House”
-
Aphrodite Legends of Olympus™5 days agoInspired Expands Portfolio with Three New iGaming Slots: THE GREAT EGGSCAPE™, APHRODITE LEGENDS OF OLYMPUS™, GOLD FEVER MINE ALL MINE™
-
betting market5 days agoBiS Brasília brings together experts and authorities to discuss the future of Brazil’s betting market
-
Altenar6 days agoPhilippine Sportsbook ArenaPlus Selects Altenar as Technology Provider
-
Canada7 days agoSt8 extends Wazdan content distribution into Ontario
-
Balkans7 days agoCT Interactive Launches Diamond Tree Jackpot on Efbet in Bulgaria
-
Aviator Studio6 days agoAviator Studio marks another major win in São Paulo court
-
Aviator Studio6 days agoAviator Studio Achieves Major Legal Victory in São Paulo



