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FanDuel Group Announces Exclusive Multi-Year Partnership with Charles Barkley
FanDuel Group announced an exclusive content deal with Sports Emmy Award-winning analyst and Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Famer Charles Barkley.
This new partnership designates FanDuel as Barkley’s exclusive sports betting and daily fantasy sports partner. Additionally, Barkley will serve as the company’s brand ambassador and spokesperson and will appear in FanDuel advertising and Turner Sports promotions featuring FanDuel’s free to play contests. Barkley will also provide unique content for FanDuel Group’s social media channels and make guest appearances on FanDuel Group affiliated podcasts and television programs as part of the agreement.
“The Inside the NBA crew and I really enjoyed working with FanDuel during last season’s playoffs and I’m grateful to now be their brand ambassador,” said Barkley. “FanDuel helps our show be more informative and interactive, and they do it in a way that any knucklehead could understand. So even if your team is down by 20 in the fourth quarter, with FanDuel you’ll have a reason to keep watching.”
In July, FanDuel Group became the exclusive sports betting provider for Turner Sports’ NBA programming and Bleacher Report NBA content and Charles Barkley took the time to educate his co-hosts on Inside the NBA, along with millions of viewers, on the ins and outs of sports betting. One of the highlights of each broadcast since the integration of FanDuel Sportsbook odds, was the “Charles Barkley Guarantee.” These entertaining segments became popular on social media and will continue to be a big part of this partnership.
“Charles has been with the Turner Sports family for more than 20 years, bringing his unique flair, personality and predictions to our NBA on TNT telecasts,” said Will Funk, Executive Vice President, Sports Partnerships and Branded Content, Turner Sports. “We look forward to featuring him in engaging FanDuel brand integrations on Turner Sports’ and Bleacher Report’s NBA programming.”
‘Tis the season and the start of the NBA season, so it’s time to celebrate Christmas Week Tipoff with a special $30 million holiday delivery from “Jolly Ol’ Saint Chuck” in the form of free bets, credits and prizes for FanDuel Customers. Among the gifts that “Saint Chuck” will deliver under the tree to sports fans this holiday season are:
● A risk free bet or site credit for all sportsbook customers valid for use on 12/22 and 12/23
● A free entry for all FanDuel daily fantasy customers into an NBA daily fantasy contest between 12/22-12/25.
● Special “Barkley Boosts” on odds at the FanDuel Sportsbook for NBA Tip-Off and Christmas Day NBA games that will pay out even larger winnings to customers.
● In honor of Barkley’s retired number 34, FanDuel Group will donate 340,000 meals to Feeding America, the nation’s largest domestic hunger-relief organization. The Feeding America network of food banks and partner food pantries and meal programs serve every community in the United States.
“Charles Barkley is an American sports icon, a television legend and gaming royalty, so he’s the perfect person to ring in the holidays for our customers,” said Mike Raffensperger, Chief Marketing Officer of FanDuel Group. “For the next few years, we look forward to amplifying his voice and adding Barkley’s one of a kind personality will continue to differentiate FanDuel and make sports betting fun for everyone.”
Barkley is the newest member of FanDuel’s roster of exclusive sports betting talent and influencers headlined by Pat McAfee and the PMI Team, in addition to World Wide Wob, Cousin Sal, and JJ Zachariason. FanDuel has also formed exclusive sports betting partnerships with blue chip media companies like Turner Sports, Bleacher Report, The Ringer, SportsGrid, Entercom and Minute Media. This is all in addition to FanDuel’s own sports betting and daily fantasy content offerings that includes numberFire, The Duel, an extensive podcast network with a total of seven podcasts, and More Ways to Win on TVG.
Turner Sports will officially tip off the 2020-21 NBA regular season with an Opening Night doubleheader, Tuesday, Dec. 22 on TNT: the Golden State Warriors will take on the Brooklyn Nets at 7 p.m. ET, and the LA Clippers will face the defending NBA Champion Los Angeles Lakers at 10 p.m. Along with expansive portfolio-wide content on Bleacher Report, House of Highlights and social media channels, TNT will host a special two-hour pregame show with the Sports Emmy Award-winning studio team of Ernie Johnson, Barkley, Shaquille O’Neal and Kenny Smith, beginning at 5 p.m.
About FanDuel Group
FanDuel Group is an innovative sports-tech entertainment company that is changing the way consumers engage with their favorite sports, teams, and leagues. The premier gaming destination in the United States, FanDuel Group consists of a portfolio of leading brands across gaming, sports betting, daily fantasy sports, advance-deposit wagering, and TV/media, including FanDuel, Betfair US, and TVG. FanDuel Group has a presence across all 50 states and 8.5 million customers. The company is based in New York with offices in California, New Jersey, Florida, Oregon, and Scotland. FanDuel Group is a subsidiary of Flutter Entertainment plc, the world’s largest sports betting and gaming operator with a portfolio of globally recognized brands and a constituent of the FTSE 100 index of the London Stock Exchange.
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Independent slots studio Thunderkick has agreed a deal with Ontario-based operator Betty to supply the rapidly growing online casino with a diverse collection of globally popular titles.
Betty, an official partner of sporting franchises Toronto Maple Leafs and Toronto Raptors, has risen to prominence since its 2022 establishment, when it was built following the consultation of 300 casino players to create the optimal iGaming environment.
Distinguishing itself from North American competitors by catering specifically to slot enthusiasts rather than sports bettors, the operator has curated a portfolio of 2,800 games, hand-picked to deliver customers maximum entertainment value.
Thunderkick’s content is the latest to be integrated into Betty’s online casino, and the agreement will see a selection of its most popular titles, including The Wildos 2, Midas Golden Touch 3, and Esqueleto Explosivo 3, made available to a greater number of Ontarian players.
Thunderkick marked its debut in the Canadian province in Q2 of 2024, and has since partnered with a network of leading operators to improve its market position. The collaboration with Betty will further amplify its visibility in a key jurisdiction as the provider looks to reinforce its reputation as a global slot developer.
Svante Sahlström, CCO at Thunderkick, said: “It’s our mission at Thunderkick to go deeper, not wider, in 2025. That means forging meaningful, lasting relationships in target markets as opposed to securing as many commercial deals as possible.
“Since entering Ontario over 12 months ago, we have worked tirelessly to enhance our presence in the province, and working with leading brands such as Betty allows us to bring our unique games to a deeper pool of Canadian players.”
Paraskeva Smirnova, Casino Operations Manager at Betty, added: “Betty’s USP has always been our drive to build a slot portfolio with the very best titles from the industry’s most creative suppliers.
“Thunderkick’s passion for slot development is there for all to see, and the introduction of its games to our casino further elevates the consumer experience.”
The post Thunderkick commits to growth in Ontario with Betty partnership appeared first on Gaming and Gambling Industry in the Americas.
BCLC is pleased to announce the return of the New Horizons in Safer Gambling Conference, taking place November 2–4, 2026, at the JW Marriott Parq Vancouver.
This global event brings leading voices in research, policy and industry together to explore innovative approaches to safer gambling. Attendees can expect two days of forward-thinking dialogue, evidence-based insights and collaborative solutions to help shape the future of player health.
Sponsorship Opportunities Now Available
New to the 2026 conference, BCLC is excited to offer sponsorship opportunities to organizations that share BCLC’s passion for safer gambling. Benefits of sponsoring New Horizons 2026 include industry visibility, leadership recognition and meaningful engagement with a global audience. To learn more about sponsorship, please e-mail [email protected].
Registration and program details will be released later this fall.
The post Save the Date: BCLC’s New Horizons in Safer Gambling Conference Returns November 2026 appeared first on Gaming and Gambling Industry in the Americas.
Internet Gaming Operator by the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO).
This significant milestone authorizes absolutebet to offer regulated iGaming services in Ontario’s legal market under the oversight of AGCO and iGaming Ontario (iGO).
The registration marks a key step in absolutebet’s mission to bring a trusted, responsible, and innovative online casino experience to Ontario players. absolutebet is committed to operating with integrity and transparency, meeting all provincial standards for player protection, responsible gambling, anti-money laundering, and game integrity.
“Securing AGCO registration is more than a milestone—it’s the start of absolutebet’s journey in one of the most exciting regulated markets in the world,” said Chen Truman, Founder of absolutebet. “We are building a brand that will grow with the Ontario community and set the stage for future expansion.”
On the regulatory milestone, Krisztina Kalla, Legal & Regulatory Compliance Advisor of absolutebet, commented: “I’m incredibly proud to see all the hard work behind this license pay off. Securing AGCO registration has taken months of preparation and close collaboration with regulators and partners. I am very happy to see the result of that work, and even more excited as we move into the launch phase and open up the absolutebet community to Ontario players in a fun and responsible way.”
Ontario is recognized as one of the most competitive and fast-growing regulated iGaming markets in North America. With AGCO registration secured, absolutebet will move forward with the final stages of its iGO onboarding process in preparation for launch.
The post absolutebet Secures AGCO Registration as an Internet Gaming Operator in Ontario appeared first on Gaming and Gambling Industry in the Americas.
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