Connect with us

Latest News

Smarkets raises Series B funding round to supercharge international and domestic growth

Published

on

Reading Time: 2 minutes

 

Smarkets, one of the world’s largest betting exchange and prediction market platforms, has announced the closing of a significant minority investment from Susquehanna Growth Equity (SGE).

Having raised just £3.8m ($5.4m) since its inception in 2008, with its Series A round coming back in 2013, Smarkets has built a leading exchange platform that processes billions of pounds in traded volume each year. The company has offices in London, Los Angeles, and Malta, licensed customer-focused operations in five countries, and in 2019 released innovative sportsbook app SBK.

Smarkets is delighted to welcome SGE, which joins existing investors Passion Capital and Deutsche Telekom in supporting the company’s mission to fix betting with the fairest odds in the industry.

This new investment will allow Smarkets to accelerate its rollout in the US, where it is already live in Colorado with sportsbook app SBK and set to go live in Indiana soon. The funding will also bolster SBK’s position in the UK mainstream betting market after its successful launch in August 2019.

The new investment will contribute to:

Furthering the company’s US presence, including market-access deals in new, regulated states
Capturing an even greater share of the UK betting exchange market and accelerating SBK’s growth in the UK’s mainstream sportsbook market
Expanding Smarkets’ development of new products for customers and focus on industry-leading prices on sports, politics, and current affairs
Continuing to capture the best and brightest worldwide engineering talent with a view to doubling headcount by the end of 2022
Further expansion into new and recently entered markets such as Denmark and Sweden

Jason Trost, founder and CEO of Smarkets, said:

“This is an incredibly exciting day. I’ve always been amazed what the passion and energy of a comparatively small group of committed people can accomplish against much bigger rivals; Smarkets and SBK are the product of exactly that. At Smarkets we have always been guided by our vision of fixing betting with the best prices and products, and SGE is just as excited as us to challenge the status quo. This is a huge endorsement of our technology and will allow us to further upend the industry by offering bets as close to fair value as possible.

“We are super proud of what we have achieved so far in the UK betting space, and this new investment will help take us to the next level and beyond in the UK, US, and other international markets. I’d like to thank the women and men that work and have worked at Smarkets for getting us to where we are.

“I truly believe the best is yet to come. This investment will allow us to fight with greater resources, move faster, and be bolder in our mission. We’re so excited about the opportunities this investment unlocks.”

Scott Feldman, Managing Director with Susquehanna Growth Equity, said:

“We are delighted to be able to join Smarkets on their upward journey. We immediately identified with their vision of using technology to take on the betting industry’s big operators by providing the fairest odds in the world and maintaining a clear focus on product excellence.

“Smarkets have achieved a huge amount with little investment to date and we can’t wait to see them go from strength to strength as they expand further into both the US and UK mainstream market.”

Powered by WPeMatico

Continue Reading
Advertisement

Brook Bakery

MIDNITE PARADES GIANT CHIP BUTTY AHEAD OF STEEL CITY DERBY

Published

on

midnite-parades-giant-chip-butty-ahead-of-steel-city-derby

Midnite, principal partners of Sheffield United, unveiled a giant chip butty ahead of the Steel City derby against Sheffield Wednesday. The display coincided with the Blades’ 2-1 victory, which relegated their city rivals.

To celebrate the club’s iconic chip butty anthem, Midnite collaborated with Brook Bakery to create the oversized butty, which was showcased on the touchline prior to kick-off. In addition, hundreds of chip butties will be donated to local homeless charities and food banks across Sheffield in the coming weeks.

Andrew Mook, Head of Brand at Midnite, said: “We wanted to give something back to Sheffield United fans in a way that is synonymous with the club. The chip butty anthem is instantly recognisable as being something unique to Sheffield United, and by creating a giant chip butty, we wanted to have some fun, while ultimately delivering a strong message.

“Midnite is dedicated to offering value to Sheffield United fans. We aren’t just here to use the club and stick our logo on the shirt. We want to become a part of the club, and our initiatives and activations have all been designed to bring fans closer to the clubs they love.

“It has been great to work alongside local Sheffield businesses to create the chip butty, and then to help give back to the community foodbank and charities.”

Throughout the season, Midnite has supported fans by covering travel for away matches, providing complimentary haircuts to celebrate the new year, and unveiling a 50-square-metre mural honoring Chris Wilder opposite Bramall Lane.

The post MIDNITE PARADES GIANT CHIP BUTTY AHEAD OF STEEL CITY DERBY appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

Continue Reading

Latest News

Stakelogic goes live with Spanish entertainment giant Luckia

Published

on

stakelogic-goes-live-with-spanish-entertainment-giant-luckia

Stakelogic has partnered with Luckia to expand its presence in the regulated online market of Spain.

Through the agreement, a selection of Stakelogic’s slot portfolio will be integrated into Luckia’s online platform via the Light & Wonder aggregation system. The rollout includes both classic and modern video slots featuring a wide range of themes and gameplay styles designed to appeal to diverse player preferences.

Founded in 1972, Luckia has evolved from a traditional slot machine operator into a multi-channel entertainment provider offering sports betting, casino games, bingo, and slots across online and retail channels, supported by more than 2,500 employees.

Roberto Navarrete, Senior Account Manager at Stakelogic, said: “Luckia is one of Spain’s most prominent and long-standing gaming and entertainment groups, with a significant retail heritage and a growing digital presence. Partnering with a brand of this scale and reputation is a major step for Stakelogic in the Spanish market. We are excited to bring our slot portfolio to Luckia’s platform and are confident their players will enjoy the variety, quality and gameplay depth our titles are known for.”

Eloy Fernandez, Head of Product Team at Luckia, added: “Adding Stakelogic’s content allows us to further diversify the entertainment we offer online, with games that combine distinctive design and well-balanced gameplay. Strengthening our slot portfolio in this way is an important part of ensuring our digital platform continues to evolve in line with player expectations and market trends.”

The post Stakelogic goes live with Spanish entertainment giant Luckia appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

Continue Reading

Baltics

HIPTHER Baltics Launches in Vilnius with Agenda Revealing Lithuania’s 2026 Regulatory Reset

Published

on

hipther-baltics-launches-in-vilnius-with-agenda-revealing-lithuania’s-2026-regulatory-reset

A new Baltic-focused conference era begins on 21 April 2026, uniting iGaming, fintech, compliance, and innovation leaders in Lithuania’s digital-first capital

HIPTHER officially announces the agenda for HIPTHER Baltics: Vilnius 2026, the inaugural event of its newly launched Baltic conference series, taking place 21 April 2026 at the Hilton Garden Inn Vilnius City Centre.

Marking the evolution of the landmark MARE BALTICUM Gaming & TECH Summit, the new HIPTHER Baltics format introduces targeted, country-focused gatherings designed to deliver deeper regulatory insight, stronger regional dialogue, and practical strategic value for decision-makers operating across gaming, fintech, and digital innovation.

At the heart of the Vilnius edition lies a defining theme: Lithuania’s Great Regulatory Reset — a decisive transition toward stricter supervision, strengthened compliance frameworks, and sustainable, quality-driven growth across financial services and iGaming.

Lithuania 2026: From Easy-Access Hub to Compliance-Driven Ecosystem

As Lithuania sharpens oversight across banking, fintech, blockchain, and gaming, the conference agenda explores four structural shifts shaping the market:

  • Banking: Cyber-resilience stress testing, the rise of specialised institutions, and a pivot toward sustainable profitability
  • Fintech: Account-to-account dominance, international B2B expansion, and the emergence of agentic AI beyond chatbot automation
  • Blockchain: Post-MiCA enforcement, strengthened AML leadership requirements, and institutional tokenisation of real-world assets
  • iGaming: Advertising restrictions, ISP blocking acceleration, and intensified identity and source-of-funds compliance

Together, these forces signal a new operational reality for regulated digital industries in the Baltics.

Agenda Highlights Across Two Strategic Stages

Stage 1 — Strategy, Compliance & Banking

Key discussions will include:

  • Regulators’ Panel: Bank of Lithuania and FNTT on MiCA transition and new iGaming ISP-blocking protocols
  • Banking Transformation: How credit unions and specialised banks challenge Nordic incumbents
  • Post-MiCA Survival: Maintaining VASP licensing under 2026 regulatory structures
  • iGaming Advertising Ban: Operator strategies in a zero-marketing environment
  • AML 2.0: Implementing enhanced source-of-wealth requirements for high-stakes players
  • Cross-Industry Debate: Can tokenisation solve transparency challenges between blockchain and iGaming?

Stage 2 — Innovation, Blockchain & iGaming Tech

  • Agentic AI in Fintech: From conversational tools to autonomous financial advisors
  • Tokenising the Real World: Real-estate and debt instruments on-chain in the Baltics
  • Next-Generation Payments: A2A integration across gaming and retail ecosystems
  • Digital Euro & CBDCs: Technical readiness for the European Central Bank’s 2026 roadmap

A Boutique Summit Built for Decision-Makers

HIPTHER Baltics: Vilnius 2026 will gather 100+ senior attendees, 30+ expert speakers, and 15+ key industry topics in a one-day, high-impact format combining:

  • High-level regulatory and industry panels
  • Curated networking among operators, fintech leaders, regulators, legal experts, and investors
  • A premium, centrally located boutique conference environment

The event is designed for iGaming operators, fintech and payment providers, compliance professionals, regulators, affiliates, startups, and regional investors seeking actionable intelligence in a rapidly tightening regulatory landscape.

From MARE BALTICUM Legacy to HIPTHER Baltics Future

Reflecting on the transition, Zoltán Tűndik, Co-Founder & Head of Business at HIPTHER, stated:

Lithuania is entering one of the most defining regulatory transitions in its modern digital economy. With HIPTHER Baltics in Vilnius, we are creating a focused platform where regulators, financial institutions, fintech innovators, and iGaming leaders can engage in honest, high-level dialogue about what sustainable growth truly means in 2026 and beyond.

With HIPTHER Baltics launching in Vilnius, the Baltic region enters a new phase of dialogue — closer to local markets, deeper in expertise, and stronger in cross-industry collaboration.

The journey begins in Vilnius on 21 April 2026.

The post HIPTHER Baltics Launches in Vilnius with Agenda Revealing Lithuania’s 2026 Regulatory Reset appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

Continue Reading

Trending

Get it on Google Play

Fresh slot games releases by the top brands of the industry. We provide you with the latest news straight from the entertainment industries.

The platform also hosts industry-relevant webinars, and provides detailed reports, making it a one-stop resource for anyone seeking information about operators, suppliers, regulators, and professional services in the European gaming market. The portal's primary goal is to keep its extensive reader base updated on the latest happenings, trends, and developments within the gaming and gambling sector, with an emphasis on the European market while also covering pertinent global news. It's an indispensable resource for gaming professionals, operators, and enthusiasts alike.

Contact us: [email protected]

Editorial / PR Submissions: [email protected]

Copyright © 2015 - 2024 - Recent Slot Releases is part of HIPTHER Agency. Registered in Romania under Proshirt SRL, Company number: 2134306, EU VAT ID: RO21343605. Office address: Blvd. 1 Decembrie 1918 nr.5, Targu Mures, Romania