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Sorare raises a €40m Series A from Benchmark and Accel Partners to help fans own their football passion online
Sorare, the digital collectible football platform, announces that it has received €40 million in Series A financing, led by Benchmark, with additional funding from Accel and new business angels. The angels include Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian, Vaynermedia CEO Gary Vaynerchuk, football players Antoine Griezmann and Rio Ferdinand. The financing brings Sorare’s total funding to €48 million. The capital will be used to fuel the growth of the community, accelerate the hiring of a world-class team and launch a mobile application.
Fantastically real collectibles
Football is a common denominator for more than 4 billion people globally but today, fans feel further away from the game they love than ever before. As we spend more time online, the need for connection has significantly shifted to digital experiences. Sports card collectibles have long helped fans celebrate their love of the game, and now they can experience a whole new world online. Sorare is leading the new era of online football fandom, where fans can live football moments and true connections like never before.
The company’s mission is to build “the game within the game” and to give fans the platform to celebrate, share and own their football passion. Through tradable digital cards, Sorare is designing a collective fantasy football experience where you can manage your favorite players and hone your passion to earn prizes. Anyone, anywhere, can connect with the beautiful game on Sorare.
Growing across the globe
The company, which is already profitable, has experienced an explosive 52% month-on-month growth over the past 12 months, going from €50K worth of cards traded on the platform in January 2020 to €3.5M in January 2021 across 120 countries.
More than 120 football clubs have launched their digital cards on Sorare, with all European Champions actively participating in the growth of the game. Partnerships with Liverpool, Paris Saint-Germain, Bayern Munich, Real Madrid and Juventus make Sorare the first digital collectible platform to offer cards from Europe’s top five league champions. The company’s ambition is to onboard the top 20 football leagues globally. This next-generation gaming experience allows leagues and clubs to expand their international brand by reaching an untapped audience of fans. Sorare is effectively opening up a new traceable and sustainable revenue stream for them.
Crypto’s next consumer application
Sorare collectibles are backed by blockchain technology to provide transparency and portability into other games. More importantly, the blockchain Ethereum enables the act of collecting in the digital space by creating digital scarcity through “non-fungible tokens” (NFT). It secures the passion of fans and creates a new level of trust and freedom for gamers who can freely trade their assets over the internet.
Sorare joins the ranks of culturally impactful companies and innovative brands in the Benchmark and Accel portfolio, including Twitter, Snap, Instagram and Spotify.
Nicolas Julia, CEO at Sorare explained: “Sorare was born from our love for football. We’re building a gaming experience fueled by passion where fans can connect with football and a global community. On Sorare, they can truly own the game. Today is a watershed moment – both for Sorare as a company and for our community – that will enable us to touch new markets and radically improve our product to become the game within the beautiful game.”
Peter Fenton, General Partner at Benchmark commented: “We’re thrilled to partner with Sorare as their lead Series A investor. The company combines the global passion for football collectibles with the excitement of real-world play in fantasy league tournaments. The founders early work in blockchain technology gave them the unique insight into a killer application for a new NFT – real players in real games creating enduring value for a digital artifact. Their explosive growth codifies the utility of these technologies in everyday life.”
Andrei Brasoveanu, Partner at Accel added: “Sitting at the intersection of fantasy football and sports collectibles, Sorare is revolutionizing the way fans across the world engage with and enjoy sports. In just a year, Sorare has built an incredible viral community and secured partnerships with more than 130 football clubs, including five European Champions. This impressive growth is a testament to the ambition and determination of Nicolas, Adrien and the entire Sorare team. We’re excited to join Sorare on the next stage of their journey and help build the leading digital sports collectibles platform worldwide!”
Christian Miele, Partner at e.ventures, commented: “We have been impressed by Nicolas’ and Adrien’s vision from day one. For the first time in human history a digital collectible holds a utility and can be used in a wide field of applications to attract soccer fanatics, collectors, and investors alike. This is why Sorare is best positioned to create one of the largest next-generation entertainment companies in the world.”
Gerard Piqué, Strategic Advisor at Sorare, explained: “As world football has shifted from local supporters to global fanbases, football fans are looking for new ways to be connected to the game, the players and other fans. Nicolas and the team have a unique gaming experience with real-world impact, bringing fantasy to reality. I’m looking forward to helping the team and the Sorare community connect with more football clubs and leagues.”
Sia Houchangnia, Partner at Seedcamp, concluded: “Sorare is a truly category-defining company and has the potential to become one of the biggest consumer tech success stories out of Europe. In less than 2 years since our pre-seed investment, the Sorare team has built from scratch a complex economy within an incredibly compelling game. Most importantly, Sorare can count on one of the most vibrant communities of early adopters we’ve ever seen. The growth has been astonishing and there’s an entire ecosystem of games and content being built around Sorare’s football cards. This is one of the most exciting businesses we’ve had the chance to work with and we are incredibly excited to have Benchmark and Accel joining the journey.”
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El sector de iGaming de Brasil está entrando en una fase decisiva a medida que la creciente presión de los legisladores, el poder judicial y las autoridades de salud pública comienza a remodelar la trayectoria de la industria.
Con la aceleración del PL 4583/24, una creciente represión por parte del Tribunal Supremo Federal sobre la deuda relacionada con el juego y un mayor escrutinio sobre las prácticas de los operadores y los flujos de pago, el debate ha ido mucho más allá de la regulación hacia los ámbitos del impacto social y la estabilidad económica.
Al mismo tiempo, el creciente tráfico de usuarios destaca un mercado que continúa expandiéndose rápidamente, preparando el escenario para un complejo acto de equilibrio entre crecimiento, supervisión y responsabilidad en el cambiante panorama de las apuestas en Brasil.
Salud Pública en el Radar
El escenario legislativo brasileño en relación con el iGaming ha cambiado de nivel esta semana con la aprobación del régimen de urgencia para el PL 4583/24, de autoría del diputado Ruy Carneiro.
La decisión, tomada el miércoles (22), indica que el Congreso ya no ve la ludopatía simplemente como un efecto secundario, sino como una emergencia nacional que exige una estrategia de atención centrada en la adicción a los juegos y apuestas digitales.
El texto propone la creación del Programa Nacional de Asistencia Integral, que pretende movilizar las estructuras del SUS y del SUAS para ofrecer soporte médico, psicológico y social a los afectados.
La justificación de tal premura reside en cifras alarmantes que conectan la economía doméstica con la fiebre de las apuestas.
El autor del proyecto destacó un estudio del Banco Central que revela que, solo en agosto de 2024, los beneficiarios del programa Bolsa Família destinaron cerca de 3.000 millones de reales a plataformas de apuestas a través de PIX.
En la práctica, esto significa que 1 de cada 5 reales transferidos por el gobierno a estas familias termina en las “bets”.
Además del impacto financiero, el aumento en la demanda de atención de salud pública es evidente, con los casos de juego patológico atendidos por el SUS saltando de 108 a 1.200 entre 2018 y 2023.
El proyecto no se limita al tratamiento, sino que avanza sobre el monitoreo y la publicidad.
Se prevén directrices estrictas para proteger a los menores de edad y la creación de mecanismos técnicos para detectar comportamientos compulsivos directamente en las plataformas.
Para viabilizar estas acciones, las empresas de apuestas estarán obligadas a proporcionar datos anónimos para análisis epidemiológicos.
La financiación del programa provendrá de una combinación de impuestos sobre las propias plataformas, alianzas privadas y recursos del Fondo Nacional de Salud.
Con el régimen de urgencia, el texto puede ser incluido directamente en el orden del día del Pleno de la Cámara, ignorando plazos reglamentarios y el trámite demorado en diversas comisiones.
El STF y el “Mínimo Existencial”
Paralelamente al Legislativo, el Supremo Tribunal Federal (STF) ha iniciado un debate profundo que sitúa a las apuestas online como un factor central en la crisis de endeudamiento de los brasileños.
Durante el análisis de la validez de los decretos que fijan en 600 reales el valor del “mínimo existencial” para consumidores sobreendeudados, los ministros elevaron el tono contra el mercado.
El ministro Flávio Dino fue categórico al afirmar que el dinero necesario para la subsistencia básica está siendo drenado por manipulaciones perversas que conducen a desastres familiares y vulneran la dignidad humana.
El ministro Luiz Fux, relator de acciones relacionadas, clasificó a las plataformas como uno de los motores del endeudamiento, vinculando la adicción a problemas psiquiátricos graves y casos extremos de suicidio.
Fux recordó su decisión previa de prohibir el uso de recursos del programa Bolsa Família en apuestas y señaló que la alta recaudación de estas empresas genera tensiones institucionales que dificultan el tratamiento adecuado del problema.
Por su parte, el decano Gilmar Mendes citó a Portugal como ejemplo de buenas prácticas, donde la dependencia del juego se trata como una adicción patológica con sectores de atención especializados, y prometió que el Supremo tendrá un “encuentro marcado” con este tema en un futuro próximo.
El juicio, que se reanudará tras la solicitud de vista y ajustes en los votos, se encamina hacia un consenso sobre la necesidad de revisiones técnicas periódicas del valor del mínimo existencial por parte del Consejo Monetario Nacional (CMN).
Los ministros coinciden en que el escenario actual de los préstamos de nómina y la “maldición de los juegos” exige un análisis de impacto regulatorio constante para evitar que las deudas se vuelvan impagables y destruyan la red de protección social del país.
La Trinchera de la Integridad Sectorial
En el ámbito operativo, el papel de las empresas de pago se ha convertido en la pieza clave para garantizar que la regulación sea efectiva.
La empresa brasileña Pay4Fun, por ejemplo, ha reforzado su actuación internacional al participar en el Foro de Proveedores de Pago de la IBIA para mitigar riesgos y combatir operaciones ilegales.
La estrategia defendida es asfixiar financieramente a las plataformas no autorizadas, monitoreando las licencias de los operadores y fortaleciendo los procesos de verificación de usuarios, conocidos como KYC y KYB.
El CEO de Pay4Fun, Leonardo Baptista, sostiene que, al ser los canales por donde circula el dinero, los métodos de pago tienen la responsabilidad de identificar transacciones sospechosas y cuentas de fachada que alimentan fraudes y manipulaciones.
Con la vigencia de la Ley nº 14.790/2023, los proveedores tienen legalmente prohibido procesar transacciones para empresas sin licencia, lo que eleva la responsabilidad de estas instituciones en la protección del usuario y en la garantía de una competencia leal dentro del mercado regulado.
Brasil No Deja de Hacer Clic
Mientras Brasilia debate leyes y restricciones, el mercado de consumo muestra una vitalidad impresionante.
Datos recientes revelan que el tráfico en las diez principales plataformas de apuestas en Brasil superó los 1.340 millones de accesos mensuales entre 2024 y 2026.
Betano consolida su liderazgo absoluto con 426 millones de visitas mensuales, seguida de Superbet y 7Games. Estas tres empresas por sí solas concentran más de la mitad de toda la atención del público brasileño en el sector.
Se ha identificado un cambio de comportamiento notable: el usuario brasileño es más maduro en relación con las marcas.
En lugar de buscar términos genéricos como “apuestas deportivas”, el público realiza ahora búsquedas directas por los nombres de las operadoras, con Betano liderando también el volumen de búsquedas orgánicas.
El caso de Superbet también llama la atención por convertir altos volúmenes de accesos mediante estrategias agresivas de marketing y patrocinios, superando en tráfico a plataformas tradicionalmente fuertes en búsquedas, como bet365.
The post Bets bajo vigilancia: salud pública, el STF y el mercado en Brasil appeared first on Americas iGaming & Sports Betting News.
Brazil’s iGaming sector is entering a decisive phase as mounting pressure from lawmakers, the judiciary, and public health authorities begins to reshape the industry’s trajectory.
With the fast-tracking of PL 4583/24, a growing crackdown from the Supreme Federal Court on gambling-related debt, and increasing scrutiny over operator practices and payment flows, the debate has moved far beyond regulation into the realms of social impact and economic stability.
At the same time, surging user traffic highlights a market that continues to expand rapidly, setting the stage for a complex balancing act between growth, oversight, and responsibility in Brazil’s evolving betting landscape.
Public Health on the Radar
The Brazilian legislative landscape regarding iGaming reached a new level this week with the approval of urgency for PL 4583/24, authored by Congressman Ruy Carneiro.
The decision, made on Wednesday (22nd), signals that Congress no longer views ludopathy as a mere side effect, but as a national emergency requiring a focused care strategy for addiction to digital games and betting.
The text proposes the creation of the National Integral Assistance Program, which intends to mobilize SUS and SUAS structures to offer medical, psychological, and social support to those affected.
The justification for such haste lies in alarming figures connecting domestic finances to the betting fever.
The project’s author highlighted a Central Bank study revealing that, in August 2024 alone, Bolsa Família beneficiaries spent approximately R$ 3 billion on betting platforms via PIX.
In practice, this means R$ 1 out of every R$ 5 transferred by the government to these families ends up in “bets”.
Beyond the financial impact, the increase in public health demand is evident, with pathological gambling cases treated by SUS jumping from 108 to 1,200 between 2018 and 2023.
The project is not limited to treatment but also addresses monitoring and advertising.
Strict guidelines are planned to protect minors and create technical mechanisms to detect compulsive behaviors directly on the platforms.
To facilitate these actions, betting companies will be required to provide anonymous data for epidemiological analysis.
Funding for the program will come from a combination of taxes on the platforms themselves, private partnerships, and resources from the National Health Fund.
With the urgency regime, the text can be scheduled directly for the House Floor, bypassing regulatory deadlines and lengthy committee processes.
The STF and the “Existential Minimum”
In parallel with the Legislature, the Supreme Federal Court (STF) began a profound debate placing online betting as a central factor in the Brazilian indebtedness crisis.
During the analysis of decrees fixing the “existential minimum” for over-indebted consumers at R$ 600, ministers sharpened their tone against the market.
Justice Flávio Dino stated that money needed for basic subsistence is being drained by perverse manipulations leading to family disasters and violating human dignity.
Justice Luiz Fux, rapporteur of related actions, classified platforms as a driver of debt, linking addiction to severe psychiatric problems and extreme cases of suicide.
Fux recalled his previous decision to ban Bolsa Família funds from betting and noted that the high revenue of these companies creates institutional tensions that hinder proper handling of the issue.
Justice Gilmar Mendes cited Portugal as an example of best practices, where gambling dependency is treated as a pathological addiction with specialized care sectors, and promised that the Supreme Court has a “tryst with this theme” in the near future.
The judgment, set to resume after a request for view and vote adjustments, moves toward a consensus on the need for periodic technical reviews of the existential minimum by the National Monetary Council (CMN).
Ministers agree the current landscape of payroll loans and the “curse of gambling” requires constant regulatory impact analysis to prevent debts from becoming unpayable and destroying the country’s social protection network.
The Trench of Sectoral Integrity
In the operational field, the role of payment companies has become key to ensuring regulations are effective.
The Brazilian company Pay4Fun, for instance, has strengthened its international presence by participating in the IBIA Payment Providers Forum to mitigate risks and combat illegal operations.
The strategy is to financially suffocate unlicensed platforms by monitoring operator licenses and strengthening user validation processes (KYC and KYB).
Pay4Fun CEO Leonardo Baptista argues that payment methods have a responsibility to identify suspicious transactions and front accounts that fuel fraud and match-fixing.
Under Law No. 14,790/2023, providers are legally prohibited from processing transactions for unlicensed companies, raising their responsibility within the state-regulated ecosystem to protect users and ensure fair competition.
Brazil Can’t Stop Clicking
While Brasília debates laws, the consumer market shows impressive vitality. Recent data shows traffic to Brazil’s top 10 betting platforms exceeded 1.34 billion monthly visits between 2024 and 2026.
Betano consolidates its absolute leadership with 426 million monthly visits, followed by Superbet and 7Games. Together, these three companies hold more than half of the sector’s traffic.
A notable behavioral change was identified: Brazilian users are more brand-aware. Instead of generic searches, the public now searches directly for operator names, with Betano also leading in organic search volume.
Superbet also draws attention for converting high traffic volumes through aggressive marketing and sponsorship strategies, surpassing search-heavy platforms like bet365.
The post Bets Under Scrutiny: Public Health, the Supreme Court, and Brazil’s Market appeared first on Americas iGaming & Sports Betting News.
3et has launched in Ireland’s regulated betting market after securing an Irish betting licence, marking the operator’s first stated move into a locally regulated jurisdiction.
The company said the launch comes ahead of a planned wider roll-out into other regulated markets in 2027. 3et positions its sportsbook around odds and limits rather than entertainment features and cross-sell.
“We’re very excited to launch in Ireland,” said Micheál Deasy, Marketing Manager at 3et. “Irish bettors know sport, they understand value, and many of them are looking for a sportsbook that gives them sharp odds and proper limits without all the noise. That is where we believe 3et stands out.”
3et said it has operated for 14 years under an Alderney licence and opened its site to the public in 2023 after initially running an invite-only model. The company added that it began the process of acquiring an Irish licence in 2025.
In Ireland, 3et said it will concentrate on markets where its model is strongest, including major US sports and top soccer competitions. The operator highlighted core betting lines such as 1X2, Asian handicaps and totals as areas where it expects to compete on odds quality and staking flexibility.
The post 3et launches sportsbook in Ireland after securing local betting licence appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
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