Latest News

Dan Bilzerian’s Battle Royale Smashes Expectations With 282,100 Entries In First Fortnight

Published

5 years ago

June 25, 2021

George Miller

Reading Time: 2 minutes

Over 80% of those who played on Day 1 enter exciting new game type multiple times

Dan Bilzerian’s Battle Royale, GGPoker’s new poker game combining multi-table Sit & Go mechanics with the wildly popular multiplayer battle arena format, has proven to be the online poker room’s most popular new game launch to date.

Other headline statistics from Battle Royale’s first two weeks include:

Total number of games run – 2,821

Average Duration – 53 minutes 25 seconds

Average 1st Prize – 25.5 times the buy-in (15.6 bounty / 9.9 tournament prize)

Top 1st Prize – $317.33 by Excalibur11 in a $10 buy-in on June 12

Percentage of Day 1 players that have played multiple times:

80% played 2 or more
51% played 5 or more
28% have played 10 or more

Battle Royale is a revolutionary new Sit & Go format inspired by battle arena video games, with each No Limit Hold’em Progressive Bounty game beginning once 100 participants have registered. The game is made up of three levels:

Level 1: Rush Zone
- Gameplay Format: this is a non-stop action Rush Tournament level, during which players instantly move to a new table and are dealt hole cards whenever their involvement in the previous hand finishes
- Length: level 1 ends once the number of players is reduced to 50 or at the 15-minute mark if more than 50 participants remain; in this circumstance the top 50 players by chip count advance

Level 2: Shootout Zone
- Gameplay Format: this is a high-intensity shootout level, with the remaining 50 players seated at ten five-handed tables, each playing down to a single surviving participant
- Length: level 2 ends once there is a single surviving player seated at all ten tables; if more than one participant survives at any table after 15 minutes of play, the gameplay changes to Flipout, with the remaining players automatically all-in until all table winners are determined

Level 3: Final Table
- Gameplay Format: standard final table, with each of the 10 remaining players guaranteed a prize and the outright battle royale victor taking home the winner’s share of the prize pool
- Length: as long as it takes!

“The action’s been thrilling and intense in equal measures since Dan Bilzerian’s Battle Royale launched,” said Paul Burke, Head of PR at GGPoker. “The percentage of players coming back to take their shot in multiple games has remained at a consistently high level since Day 1, and the feedback we’re getting is overwhelmingly positive.”

New GGPoker players are eligible to claim the poker room’s Welcome Bonus, earn even more rewards with the Honeymoon for Newcomers promotion and automatically join GGPoker’s Fish Buffet loyalty program, with regular cash prizes on offer.

For further details on Dan Bilzerian’s Battle Royale, please visit: https://en.ggpoker.com/poker-games/dan-bilzerians-battle-royale/

Alona Shevtsova

Sends CEO Alona Shevtsova moderates Global Gaming Expansion panel in Riyadh

Published

5 hours ago

June 25, 2026

Wladimir P.

sends-ceo-alona-shevtsova-moderates-global-gaming-expansion-panel-in-riyadh

Alona Shevtsova, CEO of Sends, will moderate a panel at The Blockchain show on 29^th June, bringing together experts from entertainment, location-based gaming, and content localisation to examine what it takes to build sustainable gaming ecosystems across emerging markets.

The panel, titled “Global Gaming Expansion: Lessons from Untapped Markets,” will structure its discussion across four themes: the growth dynamics reshaping emerging gaming markets; the role of localisation in creating experiences that genuinely connect with new audiences; the infrastructure and communities needed to build gaming ecosystems beyond the game itself; and the lessons and opportunities that will define successful expansion in the years ahead.

Alona Shevtsova plans to frame the discussion around the central challenge for companies looking to expand globally: entering a new market requires far more than bringing an existing product to a new audience. Understanding local cultures, building communities, adapting experiences, and creating ecosystems that allow gaming to grow sustainably are all as important as the product itself.

Alona Shevtsova, CEO of Sends, said:

“The future growth of gaming will come not only from new technologies, but from understanding people — their cultures, communities, and the experiences they want to be part of. Successful expansion will belong to those who can combine global ambition with local understanding.”

The first segment will examine why regions including the Middle East, Africa, and South Asia are becoming increasingly significant for developers, operators, and investors — driven by young audiences, accelerating digital adoption, and new entertainment models creating substantial growth potential. Panellists will explore how consumer preferences differ across markets and what trends among younger audiences are shaping the future of gaming and entertainment.

The third segment will broaden the lens beyond the game itself, exploring the role of location-based entertainment, gaming centres, esports, and experiential destinations in attracting new audiences and building long-term communities. Panellists plan to address how entertainment ecosystems — spanning physical venues, events, and community infrastructure — accelerate gaming adoption in markets where the category is still establishing itself.

Earlier this month, Alona Shevtsova was shortlisted for the 2026 Great British Entrepreneur Awards in the Established Business of the Year category. Her team is also preparing for the Fintech Connect conference in London later this year. Sends will be a leading sponsor of this event.

*Sends is a trade name of SMARTFLOW PAYMENTS LIMITED, registered in England and Wales (Company No.11070048). For more information, visit sends.co .

The post Sends CEO Alona Shevtsova moderates Global Gaming Expansion panel in Riyadh appeared first on EE Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.