Latest News
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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Edvardas Sadovskis CPO at ICONIC21
ICONIC21 Lights Up the Night with Las Piggas
Essential content provider launches new title aimed at enhancing engagement, increasing session durations, and generating higher operator revenue with an entertaining theme and captivating gameplay.
The Piggies are hitting The Strip in the newest blockbuster slot game from sought-after iGaming content creator, ICONIC21.
Las Piggas revolves around neon lights, velvet ropes, and three unique pig characters – Elvis Pig, Marilyn Pig, and Cowboy Pig, all of whom aspire to strike it rich in the City of Sin.
Integrating an advanced 6×4 game grid, a 4,096 ways engine, and a vibrant Vegas style, Las Piggas aims to attract both casual gamers and dedicated high stakes players.
In Las Piggas, gamers are taken to the center of the Strip where the piggie heroes are enjoying life to the fullest.
The main gameplay centers on the dual-end Collect system – in contrast to typical collection slots, Las Piggas includes Collect symbols on reels one and six, increasing the chances for players to gather Coin symbols that have Multiplier values reaching 5,000x the wager.
Central to the player experience are the three pig characters – Elvis Pig, Marilyn Pig, and Cowboy Pig, which rest above the reels.
When Pig Coins fall, they are collected by their respective character, activating a perceived ongoing growth mechanism.
When the Bonus Game starts, players receive eight Free Spins with special modifiers depending on the pig that activated the round.
Elvis Pig – Reels two and five become synchronised. With each spin, two, three, or four adjacent reels may also synchronise, allowing massive 2×2, 3×3, or 4×4 Coin symbols to land.
Marilyn Pig – A win Multiplier is awarded with all wins and Coins boosted by 3x.
Cowboy Pig – An additional eight Spins are awarded to the Bonus Game.
To enhance Max Win potential, various features can function together at once, resulting in a Super Bonus where all character skills are engaged simultaneously.
In the Bonus Game, the values of all Coin symbols are accumulated in the Bonus Pot. After the round concludes, a Bonus Spin occurs where a 4×4 Mega Coin symbol displaying the entire Bonus Pot value appears on reels two through five.
To obtain the Bonus Pot, at least one Collect symbol needs to appear on either reel one or reel six. Once collected, the Mega Coin value contributes to the overall win – if the Mega Coin appears on reels one and two, the Bonus Pot value is increased twofold. Oink!
Edvardas Sadovskis, CPO at ICONIC21, said: “Las Piggas is all about player enjoyment and pure entertainment. We wanted to create a game that feels exciting from the very first spin — combining a popular 4,096-ways format with three distinctive bonus experiences, all wrapped in the iconic neon energy of Las Vegas.
The pig characters aren’t just visuals; they each bring their own personality and bonus style, giving players different ways to experience the game every time they trigger a round. Whether it’s the synchronised reels, boosted multipliers, or extended spins, Las Piggas delivers variety, anticipation and big-win potential in a theme that feels instantly recognizable and fun.
At the heart of it, this game was designed to make players smile, stay engaged, and feel the thrill of Vegas with every spin.”
The post ICONIC21 Lights Up the Night with Las Piggas appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
Africa
Gaming Realms Makes South African Debut in Partnership with Hollywoodbets
Gaming Realms, a top supplier of mobile-centric gaming content, has expanded its global presence following its entry into South Africa with prominent operator Hollywoodbets.
Gaming Realms’ varied collection of Slingo games is now accessible to local gamers, featuring titles created through the provider’s distinctive IP and brand collaborations, including Slingo Lucky Larry’s Lobstermania, Slingo Sweet Bonanza, and Slingo Xxxtreme.
Hollywoodbets ranks among South Africa’s biggest betting and gaming brands, featuring both physical and online operations, along with a loyal customer base. The collaboration with Gaming Realms was executed via Hollywoodbets’ regional aggregation partner Light & Wonder.
The collaboration signifies Gaming Realms’ initial venture into the African market, following other recent market entries that have greatly expanded the company’s global presence. The firm is currently operational in more than 30 regulated markets and intends to grow further in 2026, including in Africa.
Gareth Scott, Chief Commercial Officer at Gaming Realms, said: “Adding new regulated markets is imperative as we continue to cement our position as a leading supplier of unique and engaging content.
“Entering South Africa together with such a prominent partner as Hollywoodbets is a significant signal of intent and we have great ambitions to make the African region a key focus for Gaming Realms, as it offers great potential and an opportunity to reach completely new audiences.”
Wayde Dorkin, Head of Product at Hollywoodbets, said: “Gaming Realms is a provider that truly brings something unique, and we are excited to be the first operator to introduce Slingo and their wider game portfolio to players in South Africa.
“Their Slingo content appeals to a wide player demographic, blending the best from slots and strategy, and we have already seen it really resonate with our customers.”
The post Gaming Realms Makes South African Debut in Partnership with Hollywoodbets appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
Anthony Dalla-Giacoma
NetBet Greece Bolsters its Game Library with Addition of Swintt as a Provider
NetBet Greece has expanded its online portfolio once again, welcoming leading game developer Swintt to its growing list of software partners. A variety of engaging Swintt titles will now be accessible to players in the Greek market.
Over the years, NetBet has consistently enhanced its iGaming platform, building a diverse games collection through collaborations with some of the most respected providers in the industry. Each partner is carefully selected to ensure players enjoy innovative, high-quality entertainment within a secure and responsible environment.
This latest agreement with Swintt marks another significant step in NetBet’s ongoing strategy to deliver a premium online experience – and keep content fresh and exciting for all customers.
Claudia Georgevici, PR Manager at NetBet, said: “We’re delighted to add Swintt to our portfolio and introduce their games to our players. For those in Greece who haven’t yet discovered Swintt’s content, this is a fantastic opportunity. Partnering with Swintt underlines our commitment to delivering a varied, innovative, and high-quality gaming experience – something our customers have come to expect from us.”
Anthony Dalla-Giacoma, CCO at Swintt, added: “We’re proud to be joining forces with NetBet, a brand that shares our ambition to innovate and raise standards within the iGaming industry. This collaboration also reinforces our shared focus on responsible gaming, while allowing us to bring our diverse range of titles to an even wider audience.”
The post NetBet Greece Bolsters its Game Library with Addition of Swintt as a Provider appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
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