Affiliate Industry

Raketech strengthens its global sports portfolio and footprint in the fast-growing US market

Published

4 years ago

July 9, 2021

Raketech, the iGaming performance marketing partner, announced a sports focused acquisition, delivering growth on strategically important markets such as the US. With the acquisition of P&P Vegas Group Inc, Raketech significantly strengthens its sports footprint on the fast-growing US market with assets such as the US betting tipster community; Picksandparlays.net. Furthermore, the company acquires all assets from QM Media AB, including the leading cricket betting website; Onlinecricketbetting.net with majority of its traffic from India. The total purchase price amounts to EUR 16m, payable in cash and issuance of new shares as at closing.

As a result of the acquisition, Raketech’s revenues originating from the US are expected to approximately double and the Indian revenues to reach 5-10 percent of the group’s total, already in Q4 of this year. Furthermore, Raketech’s sports vertical is expected to reach approximately 30 percent of the group’s total revenues in Q4 of this year.

The agreed purchase price amounts to EUR 16m on a cash and debt free basis which will be settled in a cash payment of EUR 9m and an issuance of 3,881,968 new Raketech (RAKE) shares amounting to EUR 7m. The number of Raketech shares issued has been determined by the volume-weighted RAKE share price 30 trading days up until 5 July 2021. Further, the issued RAKE shares will be subject to a lock-up of 24 months following completion of the transaction. The purchase price represents a multiple of approximately 5.6x EBITDA and 3.8x revenues for the last twelve months.

Through the acquisition of P&P Vegas Group, headquartered in Ohio, Raketech will be reinforced with a network of sports betting experts and a local team of 6 FTEs, bringing valuable knowledge about the local US sports market to the group. Picksandparlays, with strong presence in Social Media, Web and Video, has provided high quality sports betting content in the US market for over a decade and attracts around half a million unique monthly users. Current revenue streams are primarily relating to user subscriptions, sale of picks (tips), which is something Raketech aims to keep, while at the same time monetizing on Raketech’s existing commercial relationships with all major US sports book operators, with the aim to generate additional growth by adding traditional affiliation as well.

Oskar Mühlbach, CEO of Raketech said: “With these acquisitions we are delivering on several strategically important goals. Significant sports revenues, revenues from high growth markets, boots on the ground in the US and asset diversification and new revenue streams. Furthermore, by adding such a strong brand as PicksandParlays, Raketech will be able to add significant value to the US business through the implementation of the affiliate marketing sales in all licensed states. And with the talented and committed team that comes with the acquisition, I am very much looking forward to having them join forces with our central operations team to accelerate growth even further.”

The popularity of Cricket is growing globally with India being one of the most important markets. QM Media AB holds the position as the largest cricket sports betting affiliate with an impressive track record of profitable growth. The brand; Onlinecricketbetting.net reach over a million unique users during major events such as IPL. With the acquisition of Onlinecricketbetting.net, Raketech will not only gain a significant position within affiliation of cricket betting, but also take a leading position in the Indian market. In addition to the cricket assets, a portfolio of sports assets targeting the Nordics is part of the acquisition.

Marcus Egstam, CEO of QM Media said: “By partnering with Raketech we gain access to their well-established infrastructure that will help leverage our strong brands and market positions. We are enthusiastic to become shareholders in Raketech and to be a part of the exciting future we have planned.”

The acquisition will, as at closing as per 15 September 2021, be settled using Raketech’s current cash together with funding from Raketech’s credit facility. The employees of P&P Vegas Group Inc will become integrated part of Raketech as of 15 September 2021.

Affiliate Industry

MelBet Partners to Bring UFC Champion Kamaru Usman to SiGMA Central Europe

Published

1 week ago

October 31, 2025

Niji Narayan

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SiGMA Europe is one of the most significant events in the iGaming industry. This year, the event is taking place in Rome and will bring together over 30,000 attendees, 1200 sponsors and feature four stages with 550+ top speakers.

On November 05, in partnership with MelBet Partners & Affiliates, former MMA legend and World Champion Kamaru Usman will join the event as a special guest. At booth 5067G attendees of SiGMA Central Europe have the chance to take photos, hear insights and what it takes to rise to the top on a global stage.

During the conference, there will be two activities available for guests at MelBet’s booth:

Punch Challenge. Anyone can come to the booth on November 4 and test their punching power. The person with the strongest punch will have the honour of competing against Kamaru Usman himself.

Want to get exclusive merchandise and take a photo with the MelBet Partners & Affiliates championship belt? Visit the booth. Follow MelBet’s official Instagram account and take a picture with the belt. Those who post a story with the championship belt and tag MelBet will automatically be entered into a drawing for exclusive UFC-themed merchandise.

There will also be a private party, Triumph of the Gladiators, exclusively for the partners and representatives of MelBet Partners & Affiliates, which Kamaru himself will attend. This evening will be an epic event, where history and modernity merge into one.

The post MelBet Partners to Bring UFC Champion Kamaru Usman to SiGMA Central Europe appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

Affiliate Industry

When Logic Finds a Face: Meet Refie, ReferOn’s New Living Interface

Published

2 weeks ago

October 28, 2025

George Miller

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Refie, the new living interface inside ReferOn, it’s here.

ReferOn, the next-generation affiliate management platform, has launched Refie — a built-in interface layer that gives the platform its own awareness, making interaction faster, clearer, and more human.

Refie represents a new level of interaction within ReferOn, designed to make complex affiliate data easier to perceive and act on through visual feedback that turns system logic into something instantly understandable. He now lives inside the platform’s interface, appearing on onboarding screens and system state pages, where he reflects how the system feels and responds in real time.

Refie isn’t a chatbot or a mascot — he’s an integrated UX layer that connects technical precision with human intuition. By reducing noise and guiding attention naturally, he helps affiliate managers work faster while avoiding mistakes and staying aligned with live performance data.

We like to call this approach “lazy intelligence” — systems that think before you do so you can focus on what actually matters. Refie is the first visible step toward that.

Roadmap: From Awareness to Assistance

Refie’s introduction marks the beginning of ReferOn’s next development stage.
He’s the foundation for what comes next: gamification, engagement, and, ultimately, intelligent assistance. Through him, we’ll introduce a more interactive, rewarding experience where every action feels meaningful. Over time, Refie will evolve from a visual signal into a personal AI agent — the intelligent core of the ReferOn platform.

Vlad Bondarenko, ReferOn’s Head of Product, commented, “Refie isn’t just an add-on or feature — it’s a reflection of how our platform and team think. For years, affiliate platforms have been built for reporting, not for people. We wanted to change that. Refie was born to simplify. He embodies how we think about technology: clarity, control, and connection should feel natural, not forced.

With Refie, ReferOn has learned how to say hi — not with words, but quietly, through awareness. It’s how the system shows it understands what’s happening. He represents the moment ReferOn moved beyond functionality and toward awareness, emotion, and intelligence. The launch goal is to show that the era of faceless B2B tools is ending.”

The ReferOn team will showcase the platform’s latest innovations at SiGMA Central Europe in Rome (Booth 5044). There, attendees can explore the system in action, connect with the team, and experience Refie — the living interface making its first public debut.

The post When Logic Finds a Face: Meet Refie, ReferOn’s New Living Interface appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

Affiliate Industry

IZIGROUP and Gamblers Connect Enter a New Partnership

Published

2 weeks ago

October 27, 2025

George Miller

izigroup-and-gamblers-connect-enter-a-new-partnership

Reading Time: 2 minutes

Gamblers Connect, a leading and trusted iGaming Medium & Affiliate website for the iGaming sector, is excited to announce its latest strategic partnership with a true pillar of the European gaming industry: IZIGROUP.

Based in Malta, IZIGROUP is one of the most respected and established operators in the iGaming world. Its influence is immense, serving as the exclusive concessionaire for the National Lottery of Malta through their subsidiary, National Lottery plc. They also operate Malta’s most iconic land-based casino, the Dragonara Casino, a name synonymous with quality and heritage since 1964. The group also has a sports and casino betting platform, IZIBET.

But this partnership isn’t just about land-based prestige. IZIGROUP has powerfully translated its decades of experience into the digital realm with a formidable iGaming presence. This includes their flagship online brands, Dragonara Online Casino and IZIBET which are rapidly expanding beyond Malta into international markets.

Gamblers Connect’s mission has always been to act as the essential bridge, connecting its community with the most trusted, innovative, and responsible operators in the industry.

This partnership is a perfect embodiment of that goal. IZIGROUP’s entire operational philosophy is built on the same values: a deep commitment to safe, responsible, and engaging gaming experiences.

With €920 million in total gaming turnover last year and a clear strategy focused on digital innovation, IZIGROUP represents the gold standard of a modern, successful, and ethical gaming operator.

Gamblers Connect is proud to feature IZIGROUP’s brands and to provide users with a direct connection to their world-class portfolio. This collaboration strengthens the network and, more importantly, reinforces a promise to only partner with the best.

Gregory Busuttil, Acquisition & Retention Executive at IZIGROUP, commented: “This feels like a true partnership, not just another campaign — and that’s what sets it apart.”

Gjorgje Ristikj, Founder & CEO at Gamblers Connect, stated: “Our collaboration with IZIGROUP marks an important milestone for Gamblers Connect. Joining forces with a reputable Malta-based brand allows us to combine credibility with reach, delivering stronger exposure, better performance and a more mature presence in the industry. We see this partnership not as a campaign, but as the beginning of a long-term strategic relationship.”

The post IZIGROUP and Gamblers Connect Enter a New Partnership appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.