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WeChat is World’s Strongest Tech Brand
As the pandemic continues to wreak havoc on the global economy, tech brands have recorded mixed fortunes this year. The top 100 most valuable tech brands in the Brand Finance Tech 100 2021 ranking have grown by 9% on average, faring much better than other sectors globally.
The Brand Finance Tech 100 2021 ranking is split into sub sectors, with electronics, retail, semiconductors, software, media & games, travel sites analysed separately as these brands make up more than 80% of the total brand value in the ranking. All brand values are correct as at 1st January 2021.
Electronics: Apple bites back
Apple has overtaken Amazon and Google to reclaim the title of the world’s most valuable tech brand, according to the latest report by Brand Finance – the world’s leading brand valuation consultancy. Apple has the success of its diversification strategy to thank for an impressive 87% brand value increase to US$263.4 billion and its position at the top of the ranking. For the fist time since 2016, Apple has also been crowned the world’s most valuable brand, according to the Brand Finance Global 500 2021 ranking.
Under Tim Cook’s leadership, especially over the past five years, Apple began to focus on developing its growth strategies above and beyond the iPhone – which in 2020 accounted for half of sales versus two-thirds in 2015. The diversification policy has seen the brand expand into digital and subscription services, including the App Store, iCloud, Apple Podcasts, Apple Music, Apple TV, and Apple Arcade. On New Year’s Day alone, App Store customers spent US$540 million on digital goods and services.
Apple’s transformation and ability to reinvent itself time and time again is setting it apart from other hardware makers and has contributed to the brand becoming the first US company to reach a US$2 trillion market cap in August 2020. With rumours resurfacing that Apple’s hotly anticipated Titan electric vehicle foray is underway again, it seems that there is no limit to what the brand can turn its hand to.
Lorenzo Coruzzi, Associate, Brand Finance commented:
“Apple has successfully reinvented its capabilities, while remaining faithful to its core: enriching people’s life through innovative design. Under Tim Cook’s leadership, it has been successfully diversifying its revenue mix shifting towards more profitable segments – showcasing that it is truly resilient against its competitors.”
Retail: Alibaba.com up 108%
Despite relinquishing its position at the top to Apple, second-ranked Amazon has still managed to record a healthy 15% brand value growth to US$254.2 billion and is the second most valuable tech brand. The retail giant is one of the few brands that benefitted considerably from the pandemic and the resulting unprecedented surge in demand as consumers turned online following store closures. Over Q2 and Q3 of 2020, e-commerce platforms experienced the highest revenue growth since 2016.
Most recently – further leveraging the circumstances of the pandemic – Amazon has acquired 11 passenger planes from struggling North American airlines to expand its air logistics capabilities. A tactical purchase to support its fast-growing customer base, but also a strategic move towards building its own end-to-end supply chain, the fleet can allow the brand to become a serious contender in air transportation in due time.
Another example of Amazon’s relentless innovation in the face of global adversity, the brand has also announced its foray into the health sector with the launch of Amazon Pharmacy and fitness tracker Halo. Before it brought success to Apple, daring diversification had already been the hallmark of Amazon’s growth strategy, which it continues to pursue with impressive results.
Amazon’s Chinese equivalent, Alibaba.com has also benefitted from the unprecedented surge in demand, as consumers in China turned to online shopping during the pandemic. The retail giant’s brand value has been boosted by an eyewatering 108% to US$39.2 billion, making it the fastest growing brand in the ranking. Alibaba subsidiaries, Taobao, up 44% to US$53.3 billion, and Tmall, up 60% to US$49.2 billion, have enjoyed parallel successes, their online business models providing ease of access and convenience for consumers.
Semiconductors: Nvidia acquisition of Arm pays off
As artificial intelligence, data centres, 5G technology, IoT, and autonomous vehicles are rapidly growing, semiconductor brands are perfectly positioned to match this growth as this demand requires a new era of sensors, memory, and chips. On average, semiconductor brands have grown 16%, of these Nvidia is the fastest growing, up 73% to US$8.1 billion.
Nvidia’s announcement of the US$40 billion deal to acquire Arm – British chip designer company – has caused quite a stir across the industry as Nvidia sets its sights on becoming the top player for the next generation of processing and AI.
The most valuable semiconductor brand by a significant margin, Intel, has increased its brand value by 16% this year to US$31.8 billion. From its next-generation chips being set back due to delays in sales of its current-generation chips, to Apple making the move to make its own computer chips, Intel has negotiated a turbulent year. Perhaps in a move to remain relevant, Intel has undergone a rebranding, introduced as part of the brand’s effort to be more aspirational and reflect the goals ahead.
Lorenzo Coruzzi, Associate, Brand Finance commented:
“Intel has been the largest chipmaker for most of the past 30 years, combining the best designs with cutting-edge factories. While the decision to outsource chip manufacturing has not yet officially been taken, long delays in production and design have been hindering the brand in recent years, placing it in a tricky position against competitor TMSC and other players. Outsourcing would mean giving up Intel’s historical competitive advantage and might have deep geopolitical consequences in the years ahead. With the arrival of the new CEO, Pat Gelsinger, in February it will soon be clearer the direction the company begins to take.”
Software: WFH boosts brands
Video conferencing and business communication software has taken centre stage as the working from home revolution takes hold globally. Salesforce’s (brand value up 29% to US$ 13.2 billion) acquisition of Slack is a clear signal that the brand wants to become more competitive in the space, especially against leader Microsoft (up 20% to US$140.4 billion). It will remain to be seen whether this platform integration will be effective and deliver the expected value.
Google is the most valuable software brand and sits in the third in the complete tech ranking, following a marginal 1% uplift in brand value to US$191.2 billion. Slightly behind its peers in terms of diversification, Google recorded its first ever revenue decline as a result of the pandemic. The vast majority of the brand’s revenue comes from advertising, which took a hit over the last year as marketing budgets tightened.
Media & Games: WeChat is sector’s & world’s strongest
Brand Finance determines the relative strength of brands through a balanced scorecard of metrics evaluating marketing investment, stakeholder equity, and business performance. According to these criteria, WeChat is the strongest tech brand – and the world’s strongest brand – with a Brand Strength Index (BSI) score of 95.4 out of 100 and a corresponding elite AAA+ brand strength rating.
Alongside revenue forecasts, brand strength is a crucial driver of brand value. As WeChat’s brand strength grew, its brand value also enjoyed a rapid boost, increasing by 25% to US$67.9 billion.
As one of China’s home-grown tech successes with very strong equity, WeChat enjoyed high scores in reputation and consideration among Chinese consumers. WeChat has successfully implemented a broad and all-encompassing proposition, that offers services from messaging and banking, to taxi services and online shopping – the all-in-one app has become essential to many users’ daily lives.
During the pandemic, WeChat ran several government-mandated health code apps to keep track of those travelling or in quarantine, providing access to real-time data on COVID-19, online consultations, and self-diagnoses services powered by artificial intelligence to over 300 million users.
The media landscape continues to evolve with traditional media outlets falling victim to their modern counterparts. In line with positive trends in brand value in the new media sector, Spotify has climbed 15 spots in the ranking from 80th to 65th, enjoying an impressive 39% boost in brand value to US$5.6 billion. The last year has seen a significant increase in new users as the music streaming platform expanded its operations into 13 new markets. Spotify is primed for further success as it continues to develop its capabilities, signing exclusive podcast contracts with Archie Comics and Joe Rogan, and acquiring Megaphone from Graham Holdings to improve its own podcast technology.
In contrast, Twitter has recorded a 18% brand value drop to US$3.1 billion. The social media platform’s actions have come under intense scrutiny as the handling of former President Trump’s account has sparked raucous debate, surrounding freedom of speech versus Trump’s use of the platform to incite violence, and spread false claims.
Lorenzo Coruzzi, Associate, Brand Finance commented:
“Podcasts are one of the key reasons why consumers move to premium subscription on music streaming services. The global podcast market size was expected to reach US$11.1 billion in 2020 and is expected to grow by nearly 30% by 2027. With these predictions, and competitors already demonstrating their intent in the market, it won’t be easy for Spotify to retain the crown of music streaming brand”.
Travel sites: victims of COVID-19
As holidays are cancelled and people are instructed to work from home, the hospitality sector has reached an almost complete standstill both from tourism, as well as corporate travel. Online booking platforms are crashing too. Booking.com has recorded a 19% brand value loss to US$8.3 billion, simultaneously dropping 10 positions in the ranking from 32nd to 42nd. The story is similar for Airbnb as 30% of its brand value eroded to US$3.4 billion.
Expedia has dropped out of the ranking this year, following a 25% brand value decrease.
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An engaged, mobile-first audience represents one of the biggest revenue opportunities in the global sports betting market.
Optimove, the #1 player engagement platform for iGaming and sports betting operators, today released its LATAM 2026 World Cup Betting Intentions Report, revealing that 86% of Latin American bettors plan to place bets on the tournament.
The study was conducted by Optimove Insights, the company’s research and data analytics division.
The report positions Latin American audiences as mature, highly engaged, and mobile-focused bettors. The combination of strong interest, confidence, and continuous engagement, even after their national team is eliminated, creates a significant opportunity for the industry.
Among bettors planning to participate, 75% have already bet on a previous World Cup, including 20% who bet in both 2018 and 2022.
The remaining 25% will be betting on a World Cup for the first time, driven by the expansion of legal sports betting across the region.
At the same time, 94% describe themselves as moderately or highly confident in their betting knowledge, reinforcing that this is an experienced audience that expects precise and relevant communication.
The LATAM 2026 World Cup Betting Intentions Report is based on a survey of 882 bettors worldwide, conducted in early 2026, including 264 respondents from Latin America.
Research highlights
- High confidence and year-round engagement. 60% of Latin American bettors rate themselves as highly confident in their betting knowledge, while another 34% consider themselves moderately confident—totaling 94%. Additionally, 35% bet on football several times per week, and another 26% do so weekly.
- Strong loyalty to national teams. 90% support a favorite national team during the World Cup. When their team plays, 50% say they will definitely bet, and another 37% are very likely to bet. Even after elimination, 78% will continue betting.
- Live betting and multi-betting behavior. 77% plan to bet live during the tournament. For 33%, this is the preferred format, while 44% combine pre-match and live betting.
- Push notifications dominate communication. 38% prefer push notifications as their main communication channel, far ahead of email, which is preferred by only 14%.
- The World Cup as an engagement accelerator. 91% will continue betting on football after the tournament. Among their preferred destinations, 72% will move to the Copa Libertadores, 62% to the UEFA Champions League, and 34% to the Premier League.
- Use of multiple betting operators. 65% plan to use two or more platforms during the tournament. The main selection criteria are ease of use (59%), promotions (52%), and a trusted, familiar platform (46%).
“This is one of the most engaged sports betting audiences in the world. Nearly nine in ten Latin American bettors will follow the World Cup through betting and remain active year-round, mobile-first, and demanding personalization, not generic promotions.
Operators that succeed in LATAM will be those able to match this level of intensity with equally precise communication.
This is what Positionless Marketing enables,” said Optimove Founder and CEO Pini Yakuel.
To the full report here.
Optimove
Optimove is the creator of the Positionless Marketing concept and the #1 player engagement platform for iGaming and sports betting operators.
Positionless Marketing frees marketing teams from fixed-role limitations, empowering every marketer to execute any task instantly and independently.
Positionless Marketing has been proven to improve campaign efficiency by 88%, enabling marketing teams to drive more personalized engagement with existing customers.
For the second consecutive year, Optimove was named a Visionary in the Gartner Magic Quadrant for Multichannel Marketing Hubs, recognized for its AI-driven decisioning, prescriptive insights, and ability to orchestrate thousands of real-time personalized campaigns across channels.
AI-driven marketing is a hallmark of Optimove’s leadership.
By embedding AI directly into its platform since 2012, Optimove helped establish today’s Positionless Marketing standard.
Its platform includes Optimove Engage and Orchestrate for cross-channel campaign decisioning and orchestration; Optimove Personalize, a digital personalization engine; and Optimove Gamify, a loyalty and gamification platform.
Today, its full AI-powered suite is at the forefront of enabling marketers to streamline workflows from insight to creation and optimization.
Optimove delivers industry- and use-case-specific solutions for leading consumer brands worldwide.
Optimove insights
Optimove Insights is Optimove’s analytics and research arm, dedicated to delivering valuable market insights and data-driven research to empower B2C businesses.
The post Optimove report reveals: 86% of Latam plan to bet on the FIFA World Cup 2026 appeared first on Americas iGaming & Sports Betting News.
apuestas deportivas
OKTO destaca el crecimiento de nuevos apostadores en Argentina rumbo al Mundial 2026
La Copa Mundial de la FIFA 2026 se perfila como el mayor evento de apuestas que la industria haya visto, no solo por el formato ampliado del torneo, sino porque el perfil del apostador ha cambiado fundamentalmente desde Qatar 2022.
Una encuesta ealizada por OKTO PAYMENTS, el proveedor líder de servicios de pago diseñado para el comercio digital de alto rendimiento, revela que la próxima ola de crecimiento de las apuestas en Argentina estará impulsada por usuarios casuales, primerizos y altamente sensibles a la experiencia, lo que genera tanto una gran oportunidad de adquisición como un importante desafío operativo para los operadores de iGaming.
En 2022, la Copa del Mundo se disputó durante la madrugada y las primeras horas de la mañana en los husos horarios sudamericanos, con transmisiones concentradas en la televisión lineal y un mercado de apuestas fragmentado donde las transferencias bancarias y las tarjetas de crédito eran los métodos de pago dominantes.
En 2026, los partidos se emitirán en horario prime time, con cobertura multiplataforma y alianzas oficiales con YouTube y TikTok.
El impacto comercial de este año podría ser significativo. Según un estudio del banco multinacional británico Barclays, el Mundial de Qatar 2022 generó 35.000 millones de dólares en apuestas deportivas. Esta cifra fue un 65 % superior a la registrada en Rusia 2018.
Las proyecciones para 2026 son, naturalmente, aún mayores, según los analistas de mercado.
Este crecimiento se está produciendo en toda la región, aunque a diferentes velocidades: mientras Brasil reguló el sector e implementó sus normativas en 2025, Argentina ha avanzado de forma más gradual en la creación de marcos legales para las apuestas deportivas.
Sin embargo, según la encuesta, el cambio más importante podría venir del comportamiento del consumidor, incluso más allá del aspecto regulatorio.
Casi la mitad de los consumidores encuestados en la región (43,8%) afirma que normalmente no realiza apuestas, pero planea hacer una excepción durante el Mundial.
Este apostador ocasional es predominantemente femenino, ya que el 57% de las mujeres encuestadas indicó que solo apostará durante el torneo, y además tiende a tener más de 35 años.
Cuanto mayor es el grupo etario, mayor es la proporción de consumidores que planea apostar exclusivamente durante la Copa del Mundo: entre los mayores de 56 años, la cifra alcanza el 57,1%.
“La Copa del Mundo crea un entorno completamente diferente para la adquisición de usuarios por parte de los operadores”, afirma André Boesing, gerente general de OKTO para el Cono Sur.
“Una gran parte del volumen de apuestas en 2026 provendrá de usuarios que interactúan con una plataforma de apuestas deportivas por primera vez.
Evaluarán toda la experiencia de la plataforma —registro, velocidad de depósito, verificación y retiros— en cuestión de segundos”.
Un fan argentino sabe exactamente lo que significa ganar algo que parecía perdido.
En los últimos 40 minutos de la final del Mundial 2022, Argentina ganó, sufrió el empate, volvió a ponerse arriba y nuevamente empate, incluso estuvo cerca de perderlo (de no ser por aquella atajada salvadora del arquero argentino).
Luego llegaron los penales, más de 20 minutos de tensión, y el alivio solo llegó con el penal final de Montiel. Ese día, nadie apagó el televisor. Nadie se fue.
El resultado valió cada segundo de sufrimiento.
Cobrar una apuesta ganadora también vale la pena, pero ahí termina la tolerancia.
Ese jugador que acaba de vivir toda esa intensidad no quiere atravesar otro proceso que lo haga esperar. Cada minuto de demora para retirar sus ganancias se convierte en el punto máximo de frustración con la plataforma.
La encuesta también destaca la creciente importancia del comportamiento de apuestas en tiempo real. Casi la mitad de los encuestados (42,3%) afirma que espera momentos clave durante el partido —como penales, revisiones VAR o tarjetas rojas— antes de realizar una apuesta.
Al mismo tiempo, más de un 50% asegura que planea apostar por Argentina independientemente de las cuotas, generando picos altamente predecibles de tráfico y volumen de transacciones durante los partidos de la selección nacional.
Esto reduce significativamente la ventana operativa para los operadores.
Es poco probable que un apostador que reacciona a un evento en vivo espere largos procesos de KYC, depósitos demorados o experiencias lentas de retiro.
El impulso emocional del partido queda directamente ligado al rendimiento de los pagos.
Los fanáticos pueden tolerar esperar el anuncio de una alineación o el desenlace dramático de un partido.
Lo que no tolerarán es esperar para acceder a sus ganancias.
El aumento esperado en la actividad de apuestas también trae consigo un desafío paralelo.
Más del 70% de los operadores encuestados reporta incrementos significativos en el riesgo de fraude durante grandes eventos deportivos, y alrededor del 40% cree que este riesgo será aún mayor durante el Mundial 2026.
La llegada masiva de nuevos usuarios sin historial previo en las plataformas incrementa ese riesgo y, al mismo tiempo, vuelve más críticos los procesos de verificación, ya que los apostadores ocasionales tienen poca tolerancia hacia procedimientos de onboarding extensos.
Casi la mitad de los operadores reconoce que la fricción en estos procesos perjudica activamente las tasas de conversión.
Mientras los operadores se preparan para el ciclo de la Copa Mundial 2026, los resultados refuerzan la creciente importancia de contar con infraestructuras de pago capaces de soportar depósitos y retiros en tiempo real, onboarding sin fricciones, prevención inteligente de fraude y un rendimiento resiliente de las transacciones durante los momentos de mayor demanda de apuestas.
Andre Boesing, gerente general de OKTO para el Cono Sur, afirmó: “La Copa Mundial 2026 no solo será más grande en cantidad de partidos.
También traerá un tipo de usuario que el mercado de apuestas nunca había visto a esta escala: alguien que abrirá una cuenta en una plataforma por primera vez, probablemente durante el entretiempo, desde su celular y sin ninguna paciencia para procesos burocráticos.
Nuestra investigación muestra que alrededor del 40% de los que normalmente no apuestan planea hacer una excepción durante el mundial. Eso cambia por completo lo que la infraestructura necesita ofrecer”.
OKTO PAYMENTS apoya a los comercios con capacidades integradas de pagos, tesorería, banca y liquidez, diseñadas para ayudar a los operadores a maximizar la conversión, simplificar operaciones y escalar de manera confiable durante eventos deportivos globales de alta demanda y más allá.
The post OKTO destaca el crecimiento de nuevos apostadores en Argentina rumbo al Mundial 2026 appeared first on Americas iGaming & Sports Betting News.
The leading iGaming aggregator Alea has announced a new partnership with FAZI, the internationally recognized gaming provider with more than 30 years of experience delivering casino entertainment across more than 60 markets worldwide.
Through this collaboration, FAZI’s portfolio of nearly 300 games will become available to Alea’s global operator network through a single API integration, supporting the company’s expansion across regulated markets in Latin America, Africa, and Europe.
The agreement brings a selection of FAZI’s best-performing titles to the Alea platform, including Wild Hot 40, Golden Crown, Wild Hot 40 Free Spins, Very Hot 5, and Wild Hot 40 Blow.
“We’re happy to welcome FAZI to the Alea platform,” said Eduard Verdaguer, Partnerships Manager at Alea.
“They have a strong portfolio with games that already perform well in different markets, and we’re looking forward to making their content available to our operators.”
“Alea’s strong operator network makes them a valuable partner in scaling our distribution globally,” said Bojan Mitic, CEO of FAZI.
“This collaboration allows us to reach new markets more efficiently and strengthen our position across key regions.”
The partnership further expands the range of content available through Alea’s aggregation platform, giving operators access to a wider variety of games through a single integration while continuing to simplify distribution across global markets.
Alea
Alea is a leading iGaming aggregator, offering a customizable platform that provides operators worldwide with seamless access to over 23,000 games from 170+ top-tier providers through a single API integration.
Known for its innovative technology, Alea simplifies the integration journey and delivers a flexible, scalable solution designed to enhance game variety, player experience, and operational efficiency.
Alea is highly committed to a security-first infrastructure, ensuring reliability and trust at every level.
In addition to game aggregation, Alea has introduced Alea Pay, an exclusive payment gateway that further optimizes financial transactions.
With a strong focus on security, compliance, and ongoing support, Alea continues to empower operators with cutting-edge tools to thrive in the evolving iGaming market.
The post Alea expands global content offering through partnership with FAZI appeared first on Americas iGaming & Sports Betting News.
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