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Sorare raises a €40m Series A from Benchmark and Accel Partners to help fans own their football passion online

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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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Fiona Hickey

Hub88 Enters into Partnership with Games Inc

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Hub88 has further strengthened its aggregation platform through a partnership with Games Inc, delivering the studio’s portfolio, shaped by more than a decade of close collaboration with operators, to its global network.

The deal introduces Games Inc’s range of more than 70 tried and tested titles to Hub88’s partners, including slots and table games, granting access to premium content developed with a focus on performance, engagement and player-first design.

Founded in 2012, Games Inc began as a bespoke slot developer for some of the world’s biggest operators, before transitioning into a fully independent global content provider.

For Hub88’s partners, Games Inc’s rich knowledge translates into a line-up designed with entertainment and high performance in mind. Each release seamlessly combines engaging mechanics, balanced maths, captivating graphics and immersive audiovisual effects for the ultimate experience.

The agreement further strengthens Hub88’s reputation for choosing partners with intriguing content and robust technology that drives success.

Ollie Castleman, Managing Director at Hub88, said: “Games Inc brings a level of experience and deep operator understanding that really stands out to us. They have spent years building custom games meticulously, and this is reflected in how their portfolio performs. Their content is shaped by real-world insight and data, and this will only bring further benefits to our operator network.”

Fiona Hickey, Managing Director at Games Inc, said: “Hub88 is a key partner for us, with their values, way of working and enduring reputation unlocking access to more brands worldwide. Their platform is technically excellent and significantly boosts our reach. We are confident that our style and creative approach will resonate with their partners across multiple global markets.”

The post Hub88 Enters into Partnership with Games Inc appeared first on Americas iGaming & Sports Betting News.

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The IBJR stresses that combating the illegal market is crucial for Desenrola 2.0

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The Brazilian Institute for Responsible Gaming (IBJR) warns that the effectiveness of financial protection measures in Desenrola 2.0 fundamentally depends on a rigorous fight against the illegal betting market.

It is also worth emphasizing that in 2025, bets placed on licensed platforms accounted for the equivalent of only 0.46% of household consumption in the country, an extremely small share within the Brazilian budget, according to data from a study by LCA Consultoria.

This reinforces that the main factor of indebtedness in the Brazilian budget continues to be the high cost of credit.

The entity also emphasizes that restrictions on access to the regulated sector may encourage users to migrate to clandestine platforms, which already move around R$ 40 billion per year and operate without any oversight or consumer protection mechanisms.

Combating the illegal market is the most urgent step to prevent unlicensed operators—often associated with organized crime—from exploiting periods of restriction to attract vulnerable audiences.

This concern is heightened by the proximity of the World Cup, a period of natural increase in the volume of sports betting, and by the potential loss of R$ 10.8 billion in revenue for the country if consumption shifts to the underground market.

The IBJR reinforces that the real protection of citizens and the integrity of Desenrola 2.0 depend on coordinated action between the government and the private sector.

The organization advocates for public policies that combine financial education, strengthening responsible gambling, and a strategic offensive against clandestine websites, ensuring that entertainment occurs exclusively within a safe, transparent, and properly monitored ecosystem.

The post The IBJR stresses that combating the illegal market is crucial for Desenrola 2.0 appeared first on Americas iGaming & Sports Betting News.

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ALT Sports Data Announces a New Partnership with Caesars Entertainment

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ALT Sports Data, a global leader in engagement solutions and official data for emerging sports, has announced a new partnership with Caesars Entertainment. The partnership powers a new, next-generation Formula 1 betting product for Caesars’ sports betting platforms, delivering one of the most advanced wagering experiences ever offered on motorsports across Caesars Sportsbook and William Hill digital and retail platforms.

Caesars Sportsbook and William Hill will leverage ALT Sports Data’s proprietary Formula 1 models, pricing, and real-time data infrastructure to offer a comprehensive and differentiated suite of betting markets. Built on sub-second latency data and hundreds of inputs per car, the platform enables dynamic pricing and continuous market recalibration throughout Formula 1 race weekends.

The product introduces a new category of Formula 1 betting, combining pre-race, in-race, and micro-market opportunities into a single, integrated experience. This includes live race micro markets, predictive driver performance modeling, and large-scale race simulations that generate thousands of possible race outcomes per event, allowing for deeper and more accurate pricing across every lap.

“Formula 1 is one of the most complex and data-rich environments in global sport, and that complexity creates an opportunity to completely redefine the betting experience. Our platform is designed to unlock that potential at scale, and partnering with Caesars allows us to bring a truly differentiated, always-on product to market that reflects the speed, strategy, and unpredictability of Formula 1,” said Joe Dunnigan, CEO and Founder of ALT Sports Data.

“Formula 1 continues to captivate fans with its intensity, strategy, and constant innovation. By integrating ALT Sports Data’s advanced modeling and real-time official data, we’re able to elevate our Formula 1 offering and give customers a more dynamic way to experience every moment of the race weekend,” said Eric Hession, President of Caesars Digital.

In addition to core markets such as race winner and podium finishes, Caesars and William Hill will offer an expanded set of in-play and micro markets, including lap-by-lap driver matchups, fastest segment performance, pit stop outcomes, overtakes, and position-based milestones. These markets are designed to evolve in real time, enabling a true race-within-a-race experience for bettors.

As the Official and Exclusive Betting Data Supplier of Formula 1, ALT Sports Data is building the foundational infrastructure to support the sport’s growing focus on regulated sports betting and fan engagement. With Formula 1 increasing its investment in official betting partnerships and data-driven engagement, the expansion of sophisticated betting products represents a key strategic initiative for the league and its global ecosystem.

The agreement further establishes ALT Sports Data as a key infrastructure partner for sportsbooks and leagues seeking to unlock the next phase of growth in global sports betting through official data, advanced modeling, and real-time fan engagement.

The post ALT Sports Data Announces a New Partnership with Caesars Entertainment appeared first on Americas iGaming & Sports Betting News.

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