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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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Andrew Cochrane
Soft2Bet Wins in Two Categories at the EGR B2B Awards 2026
Soft2Bet has won two major honours at the EGR B2B Awards 2026. The igaming company took home titles for Innovation in Mobile and Innovation in Casino Software.
The awards recognise Soft2Bet’s ability to turn product development into practical growth tools for operators, from native mobile apps and platform migration to MEGA and back-office control. Its technology is shaped by local market needs, partner strategy and strict compliance standards, helping operators launch securely, adapt quickly and grow in competitive markets.
The Innovation in Casino Software award highlights Soft2Bet’s casino platform, back-office tools and MEGA, its Motivational Engineering Gaming Application. The platform brings casino, sportsbook, CRM, CMS, KYC, payments, risk, promotions and player engagement into a single operating setup, giving operators greater control and reducing the need to manage multiple suppliers.
MEGA adds gamification engines to casino and sportsbook journeys through missions, challenges, rewards, segmentation and player progression. For operators, this supports stronger retention, higher LTV and clearer commercial performance. Recent network performance figures show 190% year-on-year Casino Games GGR growth, 173% year-on-year Sportsbook GGR growth, more than 200 million game rounds processed each day and 99.99% platform uptime.
Andrew Cochrane, Chief Commercial Officer at Soft2Bet, said: “Recognition from EGR is a strong endorsement of the product development our teams are delivering across mobile, casino software and gamification. Operators want technology that helps them compete, retain players and improve performance without adding unnecessary complexity. These awards support that direction and give us added momentum as we bring MEGA and our platform to more partners.”
The Innovation in Mobile award highlights Soft2Bet’s native app delivery and mobile-first design. Its edge-optimised mobile architecture supports fast load times, stable gameplay, simple one-thumb navigation, haptic feedback, adjustable text sizes and voice-enabled navigation.
Recent mobile work across Betinia and Swiper shows how Soft2Bet creates distinct app journeys for different brands and markets. Betinia reached No. 1 in Sweden and Denmark, and QuickCasino Sweden recorded a 30% improvement in conversion following an App Store Product Page test.
Soft2Bet’s two wins at the EGR B2B Awards 2026 add further recognition to 10 years of building iGaming technology for operators. The company continues to expand its B2B turnkey offering for operators seeking platform migration, native mobile apps and support for new market launches.
Each project is shaped around local player behaviour, partner strategy and strict compliance standards, helping operators enter markets securely and reduce operational complexity. MEGA, Soft2Bet’s API-based gamification product for casino and sportsbook, adds missions, rewards, segmentation and player progression, supporting stronger engagement, retention, LTV and long-term commercial performance.
The post Soft2Bet Wins in Two Categories at the EGR B2B Awards 2026 appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
Amusnet
Amusnet Brings Football Passion to New Heights with Stoichkov #8 Crash Edition
Feel the intensity of the stadium lights and the thrill of split-second decisions with Stoichkov #8 Crash Edition, a high-energy crash game from Amusnet where football excitement and rising multipliers collide. Inspired by legendary football icon Hristo Stoichkov, this adrenaline-fuelled experience places players right at the heart of the action, where instinct, timing and courage define every round.
From kickoff, the tension builds fast. Players place their wager and watch as the multiplier begins climbing higher and higher, increasing with every passing second. The challenge is simple but intense: cash out before the multiplier crashes. Wait too long, and the opportunity disappears in an instant.
Adding a strategic twist to the gameplay, the 50% Cash Out feature allows players to secure half of their progress mid-round while leaving the rest in play. It creates a dynamic balance between cautious play and daring ambition, turning every decision into a defining moment on the virtual pitch.
Driven by a Provably Fair algorithm, every round delivers transparent gameplay and unpredictable excitement, ensuring that each multiplier rise feels authentic and engaging. Combined with energetic visuals, football-inspired design and the unmistakable presence of the football legend Hristo Stoichkov himself, the game captures the emotion and pressure of a decisive match moment.
Fast-paced, competitive and packed with atmosphere, Stoichkov #8 Crash Edition transforms every round into a battle of nerves where football spirit meets high-voltage crash action. The whistle has blown, the crowd is roaring and the next legendary moment is only seconds away.
Multipliers
The game starts with a multiplier set at 1x and rises gradually and can go up to a max coefficient of 1,000,000. Multiplier can potentially crash at 1x, ending the game round.
50% Cash Out
Players can cash out 50% of their bet during the game round and continue playing with the remaining 50%.
Gamble
Play the game and multiply the winnings through the Gambling feature.
Jackpot Cards
The Jackpot Cards bonus game is triggered at random during the gameplay to allow players to win impressive jackpots.
The post Amusnet Brings Football Passion to New Heights with Stoichkov #8 Crash Edition appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
Daniel Fischer
Fennica Gaming Goes Live in Germany with Lotto Baden‑Württemberg
Fennica Gaming, a leading provider of innovative lottery entertainment, announced the successful launch of its first interactive games with Lotto Baden‑Württemberg, a trusted state lottery serving millions of players in southwest Germany. The collaboration marks for Fennica a significant step in bringing a modern and player‑centric experience to the German lottery market while maintaining the highest regulatory standards.
The rollout of the interactive game takes Lotto Baden‑Württemberg’s digital product portfolio to the next level. Until now, Lotto Baden‑Württemberg has successfully offered digital versions of its popular instant products; with Fennica Gaming, the portfolio now expands to include engaging content designed to meet today’s players’ preferences.
“We are happy moving forward with our strategic market expansion. This partnership adds another major German lottery to Fennica Gaming’s growing European footprint. We have had good connections with Lotto Baden-Württemberg for a long time and now it led to this mutually desired outcome,” said Joni Hovi, SVP Customers & Marketing at Fennica Gaming.
The cooperation was characterised by close alignment and efficient joint execution between teams. Fennica Gaming’s flexible architecture enabled a straightforward rapid technical onboarding, enabling Lotto Baden‑Württemberg to broaden its portfolio quickly and responsibly.
“With this cooperation, we are strengthening our digital portfolio and laying the foundation for continuous development across all platforms. Our top priority is to ensure that our offerings meet the highest standards of player protection, transparency, and regulatory compliance. In Fennica Gaming, we have found a strong partner who meets both our own requirements and those of our customers, enabling us to provide a secure and reliable gaming experience for the long term,” said Daniel Fischer, Product Manager Instants at Lotto Baden‑Württemberg.
“We’re proud to partner with Lotto Baden‑Württemberg, a highly respected and innovative German lottery. Together we’ll deliver a modern, entertaining player experience with rapid time‑to‑market, compliant operations, and simple integration. We are welcoming the Lotto Baden-Württemberg’s approach to meet the players there where they are,” said Marcus Bischoff, Sales Director Europe at Fennica Gaming.
The post Fennica Gaming Goes Live in Germany with Lotto Baden‑Württemberg appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
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