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PLAYMAKER ACQUIRES VIDEO-FIRST MEDIA PLATFORM CRACKS, YOUTUBE’S LARGEST SPANISH-LANGUAGE SPORTS NEWS CHANNEL

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Playmaker Capital Inc., the digital sports media company that delivers authentic content experiences through its portfolio of sports media and technology brands, announced today the acquisition of Mexico-based video-first sports platform, Cracks. Cracks is a soccer-centric collection of digital media assets that has a total audience across all channels in excess of 12.6 million subscribers worldwide, including the most followed Spanish-language sports news channels on YouTube (Cracks Global Edition, Cracks Mexico, Cracks Colombia, and Cracks Argentina).

Cracks Global, its flagship YouTube channel, has nearly 5.5 million subscribers and has attracted more than 2.7 billion lifetime views on YouTube. Based on January 7, 2022 data, Cracks Global generates an average of 502,000 views per video, which ranks 15th amongst the top-50 sports channels by subscribers on YouTube globally. Across the entire Cracks YouTube portfolio, including Cracks Global, Cracks Mexico, Cracks Colombia, and Cracks Argentina, there are over 7 million active subscribers.

Cracks, originally founded by Guadalajara-native Manuel Bravo, one of the most prominent YouTuber’s in Mexico and Latin America, also significantly increases Playmaker’s social media following across other key social channels. Cracks reaches 2.9 million followers on Facebook, 1.1 million followers on Instagram, 203,000 followers on Twitter, 818,000 followers on TikTok, and 46,000 followers on Twitch.

The acquisition of Cracks establishes video production and monetization as a new centre of excellence for Playmaker, complementing its existing robust in-house editorial expertise across its multiple web properties, social media channels, mobile apps, and fan pages. The acquisition will also provide additional opportunities for enhanced partnerships, including the creation of on-premise original content created during the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar featuring Manuel Bravo as lead talent.

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“Cracks’ story is one of passion, persistence and professionalism, led by “Manu” since the company’s inception. We are thrilled that he chose Playmaker to take Cracks to the next level,” commented Federico Grinberg, EVP of Playmaker and CEO of Futbol Sites, a Playmaker brand. “Cracks will give us access to a completely new revenue stream: original video creation and monetization through syndication on third-party platforms, mainly YouTube and Facebook. This acquisition will enrich our commercial offering by bringing an original product and adding the talented Cracks staff to our team, providing Playmaker the opportunity to offer much more powerful branded content solutions to our advertisers.”

“Cracks started as an amateur project that maintained a continuous upward growth trajectory despite its limitations,” commented Bravo. “Since the platform was created, our team’s job transitioned from creating high-quality and entertaining content to becoming leaders and a point of reference in the industry. Now that Playmaker is acquiring Cracks, we will not only continue to be leaders in our field but can also aspire to make a leap in quality across the board. Ultimately, we are confident our audience will benefit, as we continue to build the best possible version of Cracks.”

In line with one of Playmaker’s goals to be the definitive digital sports media destination for the Latin American and US Hispanic markets, Playmaker has now acquired four Latin American-based organizations since November, 2021, including Varsky Sports (Argentina), Grupo SuperPoker (Brazil), Futmarketing (Brazil), and Cracks (Mexico). These businesses will be operated by the Futbol Sites leadership team. Playmaker’s aspiration to be the premier source of sports content in Latin America and the U.S. Hispanic market mirrors its efforts in North America. In 2021, Playmaker acquired Yardbarker (USA) and The Nation Network (Canada).

TRANSACTION DETAILS
Pursuant to the terms of an asset purchase agreement, Playmaker acquired 100% of the digital assets, marks, and copyright of Cracks for aggregate consideration of up to US$1.7 million. The purchase price consideration consisted of (i) a cash payment of US$0.4 million on closing, and (ii) cash payments of up to a maximum of US$1.3 million payable to the seller upon Cracks achieving certain milestones and performance related targets over the 12-months following closing.

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ROGA Launches National College Education Campaign

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The Responsible Online Gaming Association (ROGA) has launched the “Know Your Play” campaign in partnership with EPIC Global Solutions, Kindbridge Behavioral Health, and the Responsible Gambling Council (RGC). This is a major initiative designed to provide college-aged students with detailed content focused on responsible gaming, mental health and well-being, and financial literacy.

“College students are learning to navigate newfound financial independence and equipping this age group with resources to make informed decisions that can build good financial habits will serve them throughout their lives, whether they engage in gaming or not. While previous programs have focused on student-athletes, our campaign intends to educate the broader student population about responsible gaming concepts that can help this age group set realistic expectations and see gaming as a form of entertainment, not as a way of making money,” ROGA Executive Director Dr. Jennifer Shatley said.

The campaign utilizes digital learning tools, resources, and videos available to all college-aged students at knowyourplay.org, even if they are not enrolled in a university. These resources will educate students on key responsible gaming concepts, including randomness, impulsiveness, and limit setting, while addressing myths like the illusion of control in sports betting. It will also focus on the role stress and mental health play in overall student wellbeing and provide practical tips for management. Additionally, extended resources will be piloted with select universities.

“EPIC has vast expertise and experience in creating programs that resonate with college-aged audiences and are delighted to partner with ROGA on a campaign that will provide critical education to college students across the country. By combining expert knowledge with personal stories, our program aims to foster a well-rounded understanding of financial literacy, decision-making, and risk-taking,” Teresa Fiore, SVP of Partnerships at EPIC Global Solutions, said.

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The campaign will begin rolling out at college campuses over the next several weeks with in-person learning sessions and workshops in tandem with digital delivery tools for greater accessibility and reach, ensuring that the program effectively engages students across diverse campuses and demographics.

“College life presents unique pressures, from financial independence to academic performance, all of which can impact mental health. By fostering decision-making skills that bridge these areas, we’re helping students build resilience, manage stress, and develop healthy habits that will serve them well beyond their college years,” Kindbridge Group CEO Daniel Umfleet, said.

“College students face an increased risk of harm from gambling, making prevention education essential in protecting this important audience. RGC has a long history of creating prevention programs for young adults, and we are proud to partner with ROGA on this crucial initiative. This campaign will equip students with the knowledge and skills needed to make informed decisions should they choose to gamble. By providing valuable information, digital tools, and resources, we are empowering young adults to approach gambling with a lower-risk mindset and reduce potential harm,” RGC CEO Sarah McCarthy said.

The post ROGA Launches National College Education Campaign appeared first on Gaming and Gambling Industry in the Americas.

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Siyata Mobile Announces New Order from Leading Canadian Gaming and Entertainment Company

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Siyata Mobile Inc, a global vendor of Push-to-Talk over Cellular (PoC) devices and cellular signal booster systems, announced a new order for SD7 handsets and related accessories for a new customer, a leading gaming and entertainment company located in Canada.

This order marks one of Siyata’s first entries into the gaming and casino industry, a sector with significant growth potential for the Company. The customer operates dozens of gaming, entertainment, and hospitality venues across Canada and will deploy the SD7 handsets for Push-to-Talk (PTT) communications among its security and maintenance teams.

“This new order is an exciting milestone for Siyata as we expand further into the gaming and casino market. There is a growing industry trend toward modern, cellular-based communication solutions. Casinos require reliable, cost-effective, and easy-to-use communication tools with exceptional audio clarity, and our SD7 handsets and accessories are an ideal fit for those demands. This casino is replacing traditional Land Mobile Radio (LMR) two-way radios with advanced PoC technology for its security and maintenance personnel. The SD7’s robust capabilities, including instant push-to-talk functionality and superior coverage, make it an attractive choice for businesses prioritizing security and operational efficiency,” Marc Seelenfreund, CEO of Siyata Mobile, said.

The post Siyata Mobile Announces New Order from Leading Canadian Gaming and Entertainment Company appeared first on Gaming and Gambling Industry in the Americas.

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CasinoCanada Started a New Partnership With Ocean Spin by LaLa Stars

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CasinoCanada, the number one gambling guide for players in Canada, is thrilled to announce its new partnership with Ocean Spin a brand under the umbrella of LaLa Stars.

This collaboration marks an exciting step in CasinoCanada’s mission to provide its audience with the most comprehensive and up-to-date information on top gaming experiences.

The partnership agreement will grant LaLa Stars premium visibility across high-traffic sections of CasinoCanada’s website, which has been a trusted source for Canadian players for over 20 years.

LaLa Stars presents itself as an affiliate program that generates double-digit profits by making it easy and enjoyable to promote the brands. The program features a memorable design, a player-centric retention system, top-tier payment options, and game providers. Fast payments, flexible commission models, high-converting brands, powerful reporting, no middlemen, and outstanding conversion make LaLa Stars a popular choice. Additional company benefits are: a revenue share of up to 60%, a CPA of up to €500, hybrid CPA.

Ocean Spin Casino, a brand of LaLa Stars company, despite being quite new on the iGaming market, is a huge online gambling platform where all casino newcomers are greeted with a welcome bonus of 100% for up to €500, and 200 free spins plus one Bonus Crab. It comes as a first deposit bonus for a minimum deposit amount of €20. Sports-betting enthusiasts can also claim a welcome bonus of 100% for up to €100.

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Ocean Spin Casino’s games include: gaming machines, roulette blackjack, betting, video poker, bingo, baccarat, jackpot games, and live games.

“We are excited to meet our new partner Ocean Spin Casino, and hope to bring maximum use and value to our community,” said Aleksandra Drigo, Sales Director at CasinoCanada. “This partnership perfectly reflects our dedication to highlighting the best in the gaming industry while offering our audience valuable insights and chances to experience top-notch gaming. We hope for a productive and long-term partnership!”

The partnership is now live, featuring LaLa Stars reviews and exclusive offers on the CasinoCanada website. This collaboration is set to deliver even more thrilling updates, exclusive content, and personalized promotions for the Canadian gambling community.

The post CasinoCanada Started a New Partnership With Ocean Spin by LaLa Stars appeared first on Gaming and Gambling Industry in the Americas.

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