Latest News

UK Gaming Company Six to Start Bought by Australian Listed Olivex in USD9.5m Deal

Published

5 years ago

March 8, 2021

Reading Time: 2 minutes

UK company Six to Start Limited (Six to Start) is pleased to announce that it is being acquired by OliveX Holdings Limited the digital health and fitness company. OliveX will acquire 100 per cent of the issued shares of Six to Start for an initial cash and share consideration equivalent to US$6,650,000 and deferred, performance-based, consideration in cash and shares of up to US$2,850,000.

Six to Start is an award-winning UK-based game developer and fitness technology company which creates immersive and motivating smartphone audio stories and gaming experiences including Zombies, Run!, The Walk, and Zombies, Run! 5k.

Zombies, Run! is the world’s leading gamified health and fitness app with an average 300,000 active users per month, approximately 50,000 paid subscription users, and a digital fitness platform with augmented reality capabilities that have been recognised as best in class. Multi award-winning novelist Naomi Alderman is the main author of Zombies, Run!

Six to Start’s gamification assets include intellectual property, content creation and distribution channels that are strategically important to OliveX as it continues to commercialise its KARA Smart Fitness mirror – an interactive mirror that updates with live and on-demand workout classes.

As part of the acquisition, Adrian Hon, CEO and founder of Six to Start will become Chief Innovation Officer at OliveX whilst continuing in his role as Executive Director of Six to Start, further driving its growth and the execution of the company’s innovation strategy.

Adrian Hon, CEO, Six to Start said: “Six to Start has built a strong business model and a huge subscriber base of loyal users for our apps including Zombies, Run! and our growth strategy is a perfect fit with OliveX. We’ve both created innovative, game-changing technology that, when combined, will really advance the future of digital fitness making the

OliveX suite of products and solutions truly world leading. I’m incredibly excited to join OliveX as Chief Innovation Officer, and I’m really looking forward to what lies ahead.”

In relation to the acquisition, Hong Kong based Keith Rumjahn, CEO, OliveX said:

“At OliveX we’re passionate about making fitness fun, and that’s exactly what Six to Start does. With average revenues per paid subscriber exceeding £25 a year, and with real growth potential, Six to Start will bring immediate value to OliveX. Most importantly though we see enormous benefit in their global, loyal, subscriber base and the team’s product design and monetisation expertise.”

Tim Cooke, Chairman, and Jo Goodson, Non Executive Director, Six to Start, said: “Adrian and his team have demonstrated the creativity and strength of the UK games industry with the globally recognised brand Zombies, Run!

“Six to Start’s story-driven games have proved incredibly popular during the pandemic-driven lockdowns now that health and fitness are on people’s minds more than ever. Post lockdowns, Six to Start will continue to help millions achieve their fun and fitness goals by combining immersive and engaging online experiences with the real world, alongside massive companies such as Zoom, which have shown how integral they have become to people’s lives.”

OliveX intends to undertake a capital raising to raise a minimum of A$6,000,000 (before costs) in the coming days which will fund its initial cash obligations under the acquisition and provide additional working capital. In addition, OliveX hold a meeting of shareholders in due course to obtain any necessary shareholder approvals (including in relation to the issue of shares and performance rights under the Acquisition).

2025 financial results

ZEAL Reports Strong Double-Digit Growth

Published

31 minutes ago

March 26, 2026

Wladimir P.

ZEAL Network SE, Germany’s leading online lottery provider, closed 2025 with another year of robust double-digit growth.

Despite a weaker jackpot environment, the company significantly strengthened its core lottery business, accelerated diversification, and expanded its customer base—setting a solid foundation for long-term scalability.

The group delivered 16% revenue growth, reaching €218.5 million, while EBITDA rose 11% to €68.8 million. EBIT also climbed 12% to €60.1 million year over year. These results reinforce ZEAL’s strategic focus on building a multi-pillar digital entertainment ecosystem.

“At every level, our results confirm that our strategy works,” said Dr. Stefan Tweraser, CEO of ZEAL Network SE. “Expanding scalable products alongside our strong core lottery business increases resilience and positions us for ambitious future growth.”

CFO Andrea Behrendt highlighted continued investment in reducing jackpot dependence: “Our efforts create a sustainable and profitable growth structure.”

Core Lottery Business Continues to Lead Growth

ZEAL’s primary lottery brokerage remains its strongest revenue driver. Even with softer jackpot cycles:

Monthly active users climbed 8% to a record 1.558 million.
Lottery billings reached €1.1 billion, up 2%.
Gross margin increased to 17.7%.
Lottery-specific revenue surged 16% to €195.3 million.

These gains underline the brand’s ability to attract and retain large numbers of customers independent of jackpot volatility.

Dream House Raffle Becomes a Major Growth Pillar

The Traumhausverlosung (Dream House Raffle)—launched in 2024—has rapidly evolved into a strong secondary revenue stream. With guaranteed winners and high-appeal prize structures, the charity lottery generated:

€38.9 million in billings across four draws in 2025.

This success demonstrates the value of proprietary lottery products that complement ZEAL’s core business and enhance market differentiation.

Games Segment Accelerates With Expanded Portfolio

ZEAL also posted substantial growth in its digital Games division. The company extended its catalog to 650+ games, adding 400 new titles and strengthening collaborations with leading game developers.

As a result:

Games revenue increased 46%, reaching €14.4 million.
Active user numbers rose sharply.
Player protection remained a top priority, supported by AI-driven safeguards.

Customer Base Expansion Remains a Strategic Priority

ZEAL made targeted investments to grow its user base, acquiring 1.171 million new customers in 2025. As expected with aggressive acquisition:

Customer acquisition cost (CPL) increased to €46.47.
Marketing spending rose 20% to €68.6 million.

This investment is key to sustaining ZEAL’s long-term market position and unlocking additional cross-sell opportunities in games and charity lotteries.

2026 Outlook: Continued Growth and Diversification

Looking ahead to 2026, ZEAL aims to expand its German market leadership and scale its charitable lotteries freiheit+ and Traumhausverlosung, while continuing to strengthen its Games offering.

Forecasts for 2026 include:

Revenue between €250–260 million
EBITDA between €70–75 million

These projections already factor in increased investment to accelerate diversification and future-proof the business.

The post ZEAL Reports Strong Double-Digit Growth appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

GamingTECH CEE Awards 2026

WinSpirit wins Best Online Casino in CEE at the GamingTECH CEE Awards 2026

Published

6 hours ago

March 26, 2026

Wladimir P.

winspirit-wins-best-online-casino-in-cee-at-the-gamingtech-cee-awards-2026

Online casino brand WinSpirit has been announced as the winner in the Best Online Casino in CEE category at the GamingTECH CEE Awards 2026 — a respected industry event celebrating excellence across the iGaming sector.

Since launching in mid-2022, WinSpirit has rapidly gained recognition for its dynamic approach to product development, creative marketing, and a genuine player-first philosophy. The brand stands out by successfully combining innovative features, high-quality entertainment, and strong focus on player experience.

Over the past year, WinSpirit has demonstrated impressive growth across key metrics, significantly expanding its loyal player base, VIP segment, and overall betting activity. The brand has also introduced unique interactive formats, enhanced its loyalty system with the real-time Gift Shop, and continued to invest in smart personalisation across the platform.

This award adds to WinSpirit’s growing list of international recognitions. The brand also maintains excellent player ratings across major review platforms, consistently receiving high marks for service quality and user experience.

With this latest victory, WinSpirit continues to solidify its reputation as one of the most dynamic and player-oriented online casinos in the industry — combining rapid growth with innovation and a clear focus on player satisfaction.

The post WinSpirit wins Best Online Casino in CEE at the GamingTECH CEE Awards 2026 appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

Denmark

Stake.dk Offers Money Back on Denmark’s World Cup Playoff Match Against North Macedonia

Published

6 hours ago

March 26, 2026

Wladimir P.

stake.dk-offers-money-back-on-denmark’s-world-cup-playoff-match-against-north-macedonia

Stake.dk, Denmark’s leading online casino and sportsbook, today announces the launch of an exclusive campaign in connection with Denmark’s decisive World Cup playoff match against North Macedonia on March 26, 2026 in Parken.

Stake Sportsbook offers Danish football enthusiasts a unique opportunity to support the national team without risk: Players can place a single bet on Denmark to win on the 1×2 market before the match starts, and if Denmark does not win in regular time, the player will get their stake back in cash – up to DKK 1,000.

The campaign is created to celebrate one of the most important moments in Danish football in 2026. With a direct entry ticket to the World Cup at stake, the atmosphere is high, and Stake.dk wants to give its customers the opportunity to experience the match with full support and minimal risk.

To qualify for the promotion, players must place a single bet of at least DKK 25 on the 1×2 market with Denmark as the winner before the scheduled match kick-off. The offer only applies to the first qualifying bet per player, and the refund will be paid as pure cash directly to the player’s Stake account within 48 hours if Denmark does not win in regular time.

Denmark will meet North Macedonia on Thursday, March 26 at 20:45 CET in Parken as part of the World Cup playoff.

The campaign emphasizes Stake.dk’s dedication to delivering relevant and engaging experiences to its Danish customers in connection with major sporting events.

The promotion is available to all Stake customers with an active betting account at stake.dk. Full list of terms and conditions is available on the promotion page.

About Stake

Stake is the world’s most popular online casino and sportsbook. Founded in 2017, Stake attracts over 80 million monthly visitors – more than any other iGaming platform – and handles over 100 billion bets per year. Stake is recognized for its innovation in crypto gaming, as well as its growing expansion into regulated local currency markets in Italy, Denmark, Brazil, Colombia and Peru. Stake also has an impressive portfolio of global sponsorships, including Canadian superstar Drake, X Games, Everton Football Club and UFC.