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ASX and Esports Technologies (EBET) join forces in strategic esports alliance

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The American SportZ Exchange (ASX), the world’s first virtual sports-trading exchange, has announced its latest strategic alliance with Esports Technologies, Inc. (Nasdaq: EBET), a leading provider of esports wagering products and associated technologies.

The alliance considers both entities joining forces in a tactical alliance that commits to bringing ASX players higher liquidity and bridging the cross-vertical divide between the esports markets and the exchange betting model. The intended result is to increase margins and improve retention opportunities in one of the gaming and entertainment industry’s fastest-growing verticals.

In the wake of the pandemic and an uncertain timetable of international sport, esports has been one of the few verticals able to maintain a robust and regular schedule of events, delivering an opportunity for millions of fans to enjoy a deeper engagement in esports, wherever they are in the world.

This fragmented global calendar for live sports has also accelerated the rise of esports as a popular betting medium, as more and more players pivoted their attention and enthusiasm to relatable esports content which fosters a familiar environment and comparable excitement. And despite the return of traditional sports from the sidelines in 2021, esports audiences have largely remained intact with fan engagement continuing growth momentum.

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Through this complementary association, best-in-breed esports data from Esports Technologies (both pre-game and in-play) is intended to create a new level in authentic live engagement and peer-to-peer predictions for customers and data consumers on the ASX platform.

ASX is a hybrid next-generation fantasy sports betting company, fronted by gaming sector pioneer Paddy Power, where virtual shares in players and teams can be “traded”. This flagship startup, which allows its users to buy or sell “shares” premised on individual “player” and collective “team” performance, offers “share prices” around individual players and teams based on anticipated performance across a number of key criteria, unique to every underlying sports game.

The ASX platform is presently capitalizing on the soaring demand for esports player and team markets, whose worldwide appeal is premised on the granular statistics and player data which already drive the latest video games and fantasy football leagues across mature global markets.

Working in close collaboration with Esports Technologies, ASX seeks to promote and refine esports’ escalating popularity across worldwide regulated markets, familiarizing and educating fans via dynamic data and premium content.

Bart Barden, COO at Esports Technologies, said: “It’s great to be working with former Paddy Power leadership, aligning on an exciting shared vision for the future of esports through this strategic alliance with Paddy’s bold startup venture, ASX. I’m eager to bring our collective experience to bear, unlocking the strategic synergies of these companies via this strategic alliance.

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“Esports Technologies’ deep and diverse range of pre-play and in-play data can quickly attract and educate new and existing esports audiences, particularly for a US fanbase raised on DFS and consequently primed for markets that run on individual player or team statistics.”

Paddy Power, President and Co-founder at ASX, added: “Esports Technologies are trailblazers in this rapidly emerging esports domain, while Bart’s previous sterling work at a leading International betting exchange, when we overlapped at Paddy Power Betfair, earmarked him as our go-to guy for esports once this ASX opportunity presented itself. Together, we now stand at the intersection of some of the most progressive technology and untapped verticals in the industry. It’s a thrilling time to see how we might again collaborate to mutually-beneficial effect over the coming months and years.

“ASX is the next logical step in the DFS evolution, fusing the excitement of an active trading marketplace with the most immersive retention aspects of fantasy management. By combining intuitive and recognizable stock-exchange transaction mechanics with the dynamics of live sporting events and record low-latency data distribution, we are now paving the way for the next generation in esports betting and fan-engagement ecosystems.”

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Rivalry Reports Q1 2025 Results Highlighting Strengthened Unit Economics, Operating Leverage, and Strategic Progress

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Rivalry Corp., an internationally regulated sports betting and media company, announced financial results for the three-month period ended March 31, 2025 (“Q1 2025”). All dollar figures are quoted in Canadian dollars unless otherwise noted.

Q1 2025 was the first full quarter operating under Rivalry’s restructured model, following a company-wide transformation that began in Q4 2024. This included a strategic shift toward high-value users, deep cost rationalization, significant product upgrades, and tighter execution across every layer of the business. The result is a streamlined, modernized operating model with materially improved performance and long-term leverage.

“This quarter marks the full emergence of Rivalry 2.0 – leaner, sharper, and structurally stronger,” said Steven Salz, Co-Founder and CEO of Rivalry. “We’ve rebuilt the foundation of the business around high-efficiency acquisition, high-value users, and a proprietary product – and we’re already seeing the impact. Rivalry today is not just a leaner version of itself – it’s a fundamentally different company built for scalability.”

Key Highlights

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  • Net revenue of $1.3 million, consistent with the preliminary results announced on April 16, 2025. While temporary sportsbook margin variance impacted topline outcomes, underlying KPIs continued to improve and validate the strength of Rivalry’s rebuilt model.
  • Operating expenses decreased 58% year-over-year to $4 million in Q1 2025, down from $9.6 million in Q1 2024.
  • Net loss reduced by 43% to $3.0 million in Q1 2025 from $5.2 million in the prior-year quarter.
  • A meaningful portion of Q1 expenses were non-recurring or non-operational in nature, including annual audit costs, regulatory fees, and legacy payables from prior periods. The Company’s adjusted marketing spend during the quarter was approximately $175,000, materially lower than the reported figure due to these factors.
  • Average Customer Acquisition Cost payback across H1 2025 was approximately 1.5 months, reflecting improved funnel conversion, higher player value, and stronger retention – all achieved under constrained spend conditions.
  • Q2 2025 set new all-time records across key user economics1:
    • Net revenue per player increased 49% versus Q1 2025, and was 210% higher than the historical average prior to the Q4 2024 transformation.
    • Wagers per player rose 7% quarter-over-quarter, and nearly 300% above the pre-rebuild average.
    • Average monthly deposits per player in Q1 2025 were over 175% higher than the historical average. In Q2 2025, this increased a further 28%.
    • Monthly deposit frequency per player in Q1 2025 was up 115% over the historical average, and rose another 22% in Q2 2025.
  • Ongoing improvements in VIP identification, segmentation, and servicing, driven by Rivalry’s proprietary Business Intelligence (“BI”) tools and Customer Relationship Management (“CRM”) infrastructure, further contributed to gains in deposit behavior and overall player value.

These improvements reflect the effectiveness of Rivalry’s strategic overhaul – including product modernization, in-house BI tooling, optimized segmentation, and CRM systems that support higher-value customer behavior and lifecycle retention.

Streamlined Operations

Rivalry’s breakeven net revenue is now approximately $600,000 USD per month, down from more than $2 million USD per month a year ago, based on current run rate operating expenses, with further cost optimizations planned in Q3 2025. The rebuilt business is operating on a structurally lower fixed-cost base with proven user economics and performance-ready infrastructure.

“We’ve created an operating model that is not only lean and disciplined, but also high-leverage,” Salz added. “This is a structurally better business than it was a year ago. The team is tighter, the product is stronger, and the KPIs are outperforming – all with limited capital deployment. The engine is rebuilt.”

Strategic Review & Outlook

Rivalry is actively exploring strategic alternatives aimed at maximizing shareholder value. As part of this ongoing process, the Company is also evaluating non-dilutive capital options as part of broader strategic initiatives to accelerate growth. These are intended to complement the broader review and enable Rivalry to fully capitalize on the performance capacity of its rebuilt model.

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As the Company progresses into H2 2025, key initiatives include:

  • Deployment of a new promo engine, enabling more dynamic and cost-efficient bonus structures.
  • Casino-led engagement mechanics, including lootboxes, missions, and summer campaigns to drive offseason activation.
  • Geographic reactivations and enhanced CRM, focused on high-value player segmentation and deeper lifecycle engagement.
  • Further operating cost reductions in Q3 2025, aimed at lowering the breakeven point and increasing flexibility.

Rivalry’s transformation over the past three quarters has positioned the business with a distinct set of structural advantages: a deeply aligned and experienced team, proprietary technology and BI systems, strong regulatory licenses in Ontario and the Isle of Man, and a globally recognized brand with demonstrated reach. These strengths now form the basis of a highly scalable and differentiated operator in the global online gambling market.

“Rivalry today is a high-performance engine – structurally rebuilt, road-tested, and positioned to scale,” said Salz. “We’re focused on unlocking the next chapter of growth, and the strategic review process is designed to support that path.”

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AGCO Updates Responsible Gambling Training Standards for Gaming and Lottery

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As of July 11, 2025, the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) no longer requires Registrar approval for responsible gambling (RG) training programs for casino and lottery employees. This change applies to both the Gaming and Lottery Standards and supports a more flexible, outcomes-based approach.

What’s changing

• Standard 2.5 has been updated to remove the need for Registrar approval of RG training.

• Training must still be mandatory, regularly updated, and based on best practices.

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• Employees must understand responsible gambling, their role in player protection, and how to support those showing signs of gambling harm.

What this change means for operators and lottery retailers

• Casino and lottery operators now have more flexibility to design and update RG training.

• Existing PlaySmart training remains valid.

Why this change matters

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This change reduces red tape, encourages innovation, and maintains Ontario’s high standards for player protection. This also aligns with AGCO’s outcomes-based regulatory approach and brings greater consistency across gaming sectors, including iGaming.

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Soft2Bet’s Brand ToonieBet Named an Official Sports Betting and Casino Partner of the CFL

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ToonieBet, Soft2Bet’s premier sportsbook and online casino brand tailored for Canadian players, has been named both an Official Sports Betting Partner and an Official Online Casino Partner of the Canadian Football League (CFL).

The multiyear partnership also establishes ToonieBet as an Official Partner of the CFL’s championship game, the Grey Cup. Fans from coast to coast to coast annually gather for Canada’s largest single-day sporting event to celebrate an incredible season, and to witness one team earn the right to hoist the iconic trophy. The 112th Grey Cup will be played at Princess Auto Stadium in Winnipeg on Sunday, November 16.

Fans in Ontario aged 19-and-over will be able to responsibly wager on CFL games through ToonieBet with access to in-game betting and futures. The collaboration will also explore exciting branded online casino experiences on the ToonieBet platform to entertain existing fans and engage new ones.

ToonieBet’s partnership with the CFL underscores Soft2Bet’s ongoing commitment to Canadian sports fans and a further investment in the Canadian sporting tradition, as the deal marks Soft2Bet’s second sports partnership in the country within the last three months, following ToonieBet’s designation as the Official Online Casino Partner of the NHL’s Ottawa Senators, which was recently expanded with a full sportsbook offering.

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“This partnership is for the fans. Together with ToonieBet, we will unlock exciting avenues of entertainment, delivering new products, responsible gaming options and unique activations, to better serve the future of fandom. In the stadium, at home or online, we’re doubling down on engagement and innovation like never before,” said Tyler Keenan, the CFL’s Chief Revenue Officer.

“Partnering with the CFL will elevate our robust offerings in the Canadian market and allow us to continue building our passionate sports and online gaming community in Ontario. Our team at ToonieBet is deeply committed to building a premium fan experience, while delivering exceptional customer hospitality and ensuring both responsible and safe game play,” said Steve Spindler, ToonieBet’s Canadian Country Manager.

“We are proud to partner with the CFL and its local teams. This partnership goes beyond visibility – it’s about building relevance and establishing a real connection with fans. Aligning with one of Canada’s most trusted leagues allows us to strengthen our bond with Ontarians and deliver a best-in-class sports betting and gaming experience through ToonieBet,” said Martin Collins, Chief Business Development Officer at Soft2Bet.

Additionally, ToonieBet has been designated as an Official Authorized Gaming Operator of the CFL, allowing Soft2Bet to deliver best-in-class gaming experiences with official CFL data and statistics to sports fans and sportsbook users across Ontario through the ToonieBet platform.

ToonieBet will also serve as the presenting partner of CFL Fantasy, and the Game Tracker in Ontario on CFL.ca and LCF.ca, in addition to being the CFL’s odds provider on the league’s digital scoreboard.

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The post Soft2Bet’s Brand ToonieBet Named an Official Sports Betting and Casino Partner of the CFL appeared first on Gaming and Gambling Industry in the Americas.

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