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Stats Perform co-founder launches social gaming disruptor PickGuru with £2.6m investment round back by leading angels including Paddy Power.
PickGuru, a brand new social gaming platform, has secured £2.6m in seed funding in their quest to revolutionise the interaction between real-money wagering and live sport. The new platform will allow friends and fans to challenge each other in a wide variety of exciting sports prediction games.
With a concept built and refined by some of the most successful sports entrepreneurs in the UK, PickGuru will allow users to test their knowledge to win big cash pots for small stakes in nationwide leagues or compete with their friends in mini-leagues. Powered by seamless real-time data feeds, PickGuru leaderboards will update dynamically as games progress and reward successful sports gurus with cash prizes.
The funding round will be used to launch and scale PickGuru, set for early 2022.
PickGuru is headed by an experienced founding team including Oliver Slipper (co-founder of Stats Perform/DAZN), Paul Cobley (founder of Matulo Software), Paul Watkins (ex-FP&A director at Stats Perform/DAZN, ex-finance director at Sportquake), Jon Owen and Jon Youell (founders of Pitch International) and Adam Perrin (co-founder of Masomo Games, ex-brand director at Paddy Power).
What began as a competition amongst friends is now set to change the way fans interact with live sports forever. As told by PickGuru’s founders, the platform’s origins started as a manual spreadsheet-based tipping competition which was shared with friends and colleagues during the 2020 Masters tournament. After the game spread across the UK and became a viral sensation, the idea for a new and innovative platform to bring sports fanatics together was born.
PickGuru, is currently looking to fill 10 roles across development, compliance and marketing with a view to recruit a further 20 roles over the next 12 months.
Speaking about the latest fund raise, Oliver Slipper, chairman and co-founder of PickGuru, said: “I certainly didn’t expect things to take off less than a year after sending out a simple game to friends but the massive popularity of it convinced me that I was onto something.
“Following months of hard graft and huge investment, we’re proud to be building the first UK-focused platform that uniquely combines elements of fantasy sports, gaming and live action, and strongly believe users will love the result.”
He continued: “I’m delighted that some of the most successful sports entrepreneurs shared our vision and I thank them for backing our ambitious plans for the business.”
Following a £6m pre-money valuation, PickGuru brought together a list of angel investors including Paddy Power (ex-communications director, Paddy Power), Simon Wear (founder and chairman of Global Cycling Network), Oliver and Alexander Kent-Braham (founders of recent unicorn, Marshmallow) and Will Neale (founder of Grabyo).
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Partnership includes Men’s and Women’s football, Olympic sports, and Flamengo TV
Betano, one of the world’s largest online sports betting and gaming brands, has become the new principal and front-of-shirt partner of Clube de Regatas do Flamengo. The agreement, until the end of 2028, covers the men’s and women’s professional football teams, Olympic sports, and Flamengo TV.
With this partnership, Flamengo joins a select roster of major international clubs partnered with Betano, including F.C. Bayern München, Club Atlético River Plate, Aston Villa F.C., F.C. Porto, Sporting CP and SL Benfica, among others.
Flamengo, with one of the largest fan bases in the world and supporters spread across Brazil and beyond, was a natural fit for Betano. The club’s nationwide reach and passionate following were some of the key factors leading to the new partnership. For Flamengo, Betano is seen as the ideal partner to support its international expansion, with activations planned in both Europe and Latin America as part of the agreement. Equally important, Betano is a brand leading at the forefront of promoting responsible gaming, both in Brazil and across the international markets where it operates.
“Sponsoring Flamengo is a strategic decision that connects us with the largest and most passionate fan base in Brazil, strengthens our presence in the country and further expands our brand globally. We understand the responsibility this partnership carries and are committed to building a successful journey alongside the club,” said George Daskalakis, co-founder and CEO of Kaizen Gaming, operator of the Betano brand.
In addition to brand exposure through teams and athletes, the partnership also includes investment in social and sports development initiatives, reinforcing Betano’s and Flamengo’s commitment to creating a positive impact both on and off the field.
“This partnership with Betano is historic for Flamengo. Beyond being the biggest sponsorship in Brazilian football, it strengthens our projects across football and Olympic sports, supports our global expansion, and reinforces our commitment to our fans”, commented Luis Eduardo Baptista, President of Clube de Regatas do Flamengo.
The post Betano and Flamengo Seal Historic Principal Partnership appeared first on Gaming and Gambling Industry in the Americas.
Gambling in the USA
Scientific Games Wins Three 2025 International Business Awards for Supply Chain Sustainability and Technology Innovation
Global Lottery Technology Supplier Wins Sustainable Supply Chain Gold Award for National Logistics Centre in UK Serving The National Lottery
Scientific Games has been honored with three prestigious accolades in the 2025 International Business Awards, recognizing the company’s leadership in supply chain sustainability and cutting-edge lottery technology solutions.
The global lottery company earned the Gold Award for Sustainable Supply Chain for its National Logistics Centre in Warrington, UK serving The National Lottery’s vast network of 40,000+ retailers as a partner to Allwyn UK. Opened in February 2024 to support Allwyn on its journey of building a net zero National Lottery, the 92,000-square-foot facility integrates advanced, technology-driven sustainability practices, including AI-powered demand forecasting and inventory management technology, dynamic routing to minimize emissions, fully electric internal transport and zero-waste operations.
Scientific Games also received two Bronze Award recognitions in the 2025 International Business Awards:
- Achievement in Product Innovation for SCiQ, Scientific Games’ cutting-edge ecosystem that is transforming the way instant games are sold and managed. SCiQ delivers advanced inventory control, strengthened security and real-time sales data, providing retailers, lotteries and players with a smarter, more secure instant game experience.
- Emerging Technology Solution for PlayCentral Powered by SCiQ, which integrates the company’s groundbreaking SCiQ retail ecosystem into PlayCentral HD self-service vending machines, delivering unmatched inventory control, enhanced game security and operational efficiency.
“These honors reflect the dedication of our global teams to delivering both environmental leadership and unmatched retail innovation for our lottery partners,” said Pat McHugh, CEO of Scientific Games. “From transforming the sustainability of our supply chain in partnership with Allwyn in the UK to advancing the future of instant game retailing worldwide, we’re committed to creating positive impact for our customers, players and the communities they serve.”
More than 3,600 nominations from organizations in over 60 nations were evaluated by more than 300 professionals worldwide in this year’s IBAs.
Earlier this year, Scientific Games received two Gold Annual American Business Awards for SCiQ and PlayCentral Powered by SCiQ, in the Operations Management Solutions and Emerging Technology categories, respectively.
With operations on five continents, Scientific Games provides retail and digital games, technology, analytics and services to 150 lotteries in 50 countries worldwide.
PlayCentral HD® and SCiQ® are registered trademarks of Scientific Games. ©2025 Scientific Games, LLC. All Rights Reserved.
The post Scientific Games Wins Three 2025 International Business Awards for Supply Chain Sustainability and Technology Innovation appeared first on Gaming and Gambling Industry in the Americas.
Mobile iGaming isn’t a trend anymore—it’s the new default. With 96% of the world’s digital population accessing the internet via smartphones, operators can no longer treat mobile as a “nice to have.” On Atlaslive, most players already come through mobile, showing just how deep this shift has gone. So they have investigated the reasons for it.
5 reasons are driving the rise of mobile play:
- Smartphones & 5G: Affordable devices and low-latency connections make betting and live casino seamless.
- Mobile-first UX: Fingerprint login, in-game wallets, and scrollable lobbies remove friction.
- New market regulations: Markets like Brazil are now opening to licensed apps, unlocking millions of players.
- Frictionless payments: From Apple Pay to Brazil’s Biometric Pix, fast deposits are now a mobile-native feature.
- User behavior shifts: Millennials and Gen Z expect short, impulsive, on-the-go sessions—and mobile delivers.
Mobile iGaming has clearly become the main arena for user activity and revenue growth. To find out more and see how operators can improve engagement and drive revenue with mobile strategies, read the full article.
About Atlaslive
Atlaslive, formerly known as Atlas-IAC, underwent a rebranding campaign in May 2024. It is a B2B software development company that specializes in creating a multifunctional and automated platform to optimize the workflow of sports betting and casino operators. Key components of the Atlaslive Platform include Sportsbook, Casino, Risk Management and Anti-Fraud Tools, CRM, Bonus Engine, Business Analytics, Payment Systems, and Retail Module. Follow the company on LinkedIn to stay updated with the latest news in iGaming technology.
The post 5 Reasons Mobile iGaming is Growing (and How to Earn from It) appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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