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Royale Finance Raises $1.45 Million to Bring Decentralized Finance to iGaming

Published

5 years ago

on

January 14, 2021

By

George Miller

Reading Time: 2 minutes

Royale Finance introduces liquidity pools to support iGaming companies that use provably fair algorithms that are by default verifiable and transparent

Royale Finance today announced it has raised $1.45 million to merge DeFi with iGaming, a multi-billion dollar market that includes online casinos, sports betting, poker, prediction markets, lotteries, and more. Royale Finance is a cross-chain DeFi solution that uses liquidity pools to provide funding for iGaming startups, supporting innovation and transparency in a fast-moving, competitive sector. Contributors to Royale’s funding round include Alphabit Fund, AU21 Capital, Fomocraft Ventures, Kyros Ventures, and Vendetta Capital.

The online gambling market is expected to reach $127.3 billion USD by 2027, a compound annual growth rate of 11.5 percent. Researchers say that the rise of digital assets and secure digital payments are contributing to the sector’s growth. However, many online games have little transparency in how they operate, leading to concerns over trustworthiness among both players and the platforms that feature them.

Royale Finance solves this by supporting iGaming platforms that use provably fair algorithms, which randomize number generation ensuring that players cannot be cheated and are a verifiable source of truth. As a double layer of security, these random number generators (RNG) are also certified by an accredited testing lab for quality assurance. For any iGaming startup to access liquidity within the Royale Finance network, it must be licensed and have its provably fair RNG certified. Royale provides an incentive for developers to make their games fair, and provides online casinos with the confidence that any Royale-supported game has achieved this standard of trustworthiness.

“Centralized finance has stifled innovation in the iGaming sector. There is a lack of accountability and transparency, with too much control in the hands of few,” said Giorgio Andrews, CEO of Royale Finance. “Royale takes a hybrid approach that combines blockchain technology and DeFi to bring both fairness and accessibility to the sector, opening the door to the next wave of innovators. By doing this, not only will iGaming startups earn more, but every online casino operator will soon be able to attract provably fair games supported by our network and token holders.”

The Royale Finance ecosystem is powered by ROYA, a valueless governance token used to coordinate between DeFi liquidity providers within the Royale Finance stablecoin collateral pool, which disperses loans to iGaming startups. Token holders vote on which games to support, and developers keep their equity while they build and launch their games. This ‘optimized liquidity’ helps seamlessly power iGaming innovation, and is the first network-driven liquidity approach bridging DeFi with iGaming.

Along with this network-driven liquidity, Royale Finance optimizes liquidity pools within the ecosystem to provide sustainable yield. Following the completion of their Version 1 Web 3.0 App, Royale Finance will build a suite of provably fair games available to online casino operators. The project also aims to eventually transition to a complete Decentralized Autonomous Organization (DAO) as the technology develops.

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blask

When LATAM gambles: Blask reveals seasonality patterns across six countries

Published

14 minutes ago

on

February 12, 2026

By

Wladimir P.

when-latam-gambles:-blask-reveals-seasonality-patterns-across-six-countries

Brazil, Argentina, Mexico, Chile, Peru and Colombia represent six distinct iGaming markets — each with its own regulatory framework, player base and cultural rhythms. Yet beneath these differences lie powerful shared drivers: domestic football seasons concluding in Q4, mandatory year-end bonuses injecting billions into local economies, and national holidays that stretch into multi-day celebrations.

Using Blask’s Seasonality feature, player activity across all six countries was analyzed to map engagement peaks by month, day and hour. While regional trends are visible, the execution varies sharply at the local level.

Here’s what the data reveals.

Brazil: The Q4 Convergence Effect

In Brazil, November and December form a clear peak driven by three converging factors.

The Brasileirão season concludes in early December, with title races and relegation battles intensifying betting activity. At the same time, the Copa Libertadores semifinals and final fall in October and November — and Brazilian clubs’ recent dominance has kept engagement high.

The economic boost comes from the décimo terceiro, Brazil’s mandatory 13th salary paid in two instalments by November 30 and December 20. In 2024 alone, it injected R$321 billion into the economy, increasing disposable income during football’s decisive phase.

Saturday edges out Sunday as the top-performing day, reflecting the league’s fixture concentration. Weekends dominate overall, with a pronounced spike between 1 AM and 5 AM on Friday-to-Saturday nights — a sign that late-night casino sessions complement live sports betting.

Argentina: Aguinaldo and League Finals

December leads the calendar in Argentina, driven by the Liga Profesional’s mid-December conclusion and the aguinaldo, the country’s mandatory 13th salary paid by June 30 and December 18.

Sunday ranks highest for engagement, closely followed by Saturday, aligning with concentrated weekend fixtures. The peak activity window — midnight to 3 AM on Saturday-to-Sunday nights — reflects pre-match anticipation and late-night casino play following the workweek.

The pattern closely mirrors Brazil’s Q4 surge, but with a stronger Sunday bias.

Mexico: Liguilla and Late-Night Culture

December again stands out, coinciding with the Liga MX Apertura playoffs (Liguilla) and the championship final in mid-December. The aguinaldo — at least 15 days’ salary, paid by December 20 — provides additional liquidity at the same time.

Sunday leads weekly activity, with Saturday close behind. However, Mexico’s most distinctive feature is its consistent 2–3 AM activity peak across all days, amplified on weekends.

This pattern suggests a strong late-night gambling culture, where casino verticals such as slots, crash games and live dealer experiences drive engagement alongside sports betting.

Chile: September Over December

Unlike its regional peers, Chile’s biggest month is September — not December.

The surge is powered by Fiestas Patrias (September 18–19), the country’s most significant national celebration. When calendar alignment allows, festivities can stretch into a full week, with fondas, music and social gatherings creating a nationwide party atmosphere that extends into online gambling.

Saturday is the dominant day, with activity elevated throughout. Peaks occur around midnight on Friday-to-Saturday nights and again during Saturday afternoon (3–5 PM), indicating a blend of late-night casino play and daytime sports betting.

Peru: The Purple Month Effect

October and November represent Peru’s peak period, with November slightly ahead.

The Clausura tournament reaches its decisive stretch in early November, while October is dominated by Señor de los Milagros — the country’s largest religious festival. Celebrations extend into All Saints’ Day (November 1) and Day of the Dead (November 2), creating a sustained festive period.

Unlike Brazil and Mexico, Peru’s engagement is concentrated during daytime weekend hours, particularly morning and afternoon. This suggests a stronger alignment with live Liga 1 fixtures rather than late-night casino sessions.

Colombia: Primetime Precision

In Colombia, November leads, with October close behind.

The Torneo Finalización enters its cuadrangulares (semifinal group stage) during this period, building toward a December final. Anticipation around the prima de servicios — a mandatory half-month salary bonus due by December 20 — also supports late-year liquidity.

Sunday is the clear weekly leader, with evening primetime activity standing out. Engagement closely mirrors Liga BetPlay broadcast schedules, indicating sports betting is the primary driver rather than late-night casino behaviour.

The Bigger Picture: Regional Liquidity, Local Execution

Across LATAM, the Q4 bonus cycle — décimo terceiro, aguinaldo, prima de servicios and similar payouts — represents a predictable liquidity event spanning six major markets within an eight-week window. Crucially, it coincides with domestic football seasons reaching their climax.

However, peak timing differs significantly:

Mexico’s engagement spikes at 2 AM, while Peru’s is daytime-focused.
September outperforms December in Chile.
Colombia revolves around Sunday primetime broadcasts.
Brazil peaks on Saturday nights.

The takeaway is clear: while seasonality patterns are regional, execution must be hyper-local. Campaigns, product pushes and marketing spend need to align not just with the right month — but the right day and even the right hour in each individual market.

The post When LATAM gambles: Blask reveals seasonality patterns across six countries appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.