Canada
Play Globally Inc. Welcomes Stephen Crystal to its Advisory Board and Partners with SCCG Management
Play Globally, Inc., a worldwide provider of free-to-play gaming innovations, today proudly announced the appointment of Stephen Crystal to its advisory board as well as a new partnership with Crystal’s firm, SCCG Management. This partnership brings additional expertise in sports betting, iGaming, sports team marketing, affiliate marketing, intellectual property protection, product commercialization, esports, capital formation, M&A, joint ventures, casino management and legal affairs in the casino and iGaming industry.
Crystal will join veteran Advisory Board members Susan Hensel and Victor Pronk, providing over 75 years of collective experience across the sports betting and iGaming space. These globally recognized leaders provide high-value strategic prowess to Play Globally’s seasoned executive team as the company prepares to launch its LuckyFans prototype. LuckyFans drives live and recorded in-play sports data into a poker engine to determine the outcome of a fast-paced poker game. LuckyFans is free-to-play and leverages advanced machine learning and GPS technology for contextual fan engagement, sweepstakes, and prizes.
SCCG was founded by Stephen Crystal who has served as President/CEO of multiple casino holding and public gaming companies. SCCG brings a vast international network of strategic client partners including top sportsbooks and racebooks, sports and racing leagues, fantasy sports and rewards entities, communications and marketing platforms, authentication technology and casino entities.
Crystal has worked as an investor and advisor on financial and M&A projects totaling over $4B and served as the President, owner and operator of four major Las Vegas casinos. In addition to Crystal, the SCCG team also includes David Hanlon who served as a C-level executive at gaming giants Caesars World, Inc., Harrah’s, the Rio, and IGT in addition to serving as an Advisor to the Wharton Entrepreneurial Program. Pierre Cadena also plays a key role on the SCCG team, having helped to position Playtika, Otter Media and Crunchyroll for acquisition, each totaling over $1B. During his tenure at Caesars Interactive Entertainment as the VP of Strategy and Corporate Development, Pierre helped build Playtika, one of the world’s largest social mobile games.
“The addition of Stephen to the Play Globally Advisory Board and the addition of his SCCG team to Play Globally’s team provides our company with a wealth of expertise in our space,” says Play Globally’s President/CEO Stephen Dunham. “We’re excited to partner with such well-respected industry leaders and to join their global network of strategic partners.”
“Play Globally’s ingenuity and strategic role in the sports betting space presents a unique opportunity for leagues, teams, fans, and aligned entities worldwide,” says Stephen Crystal. “The combination of Play Globally’s existing intellectual property, their executive and advisory team, new upcoming technologies, and strategic positioning in the industry, particularly when combined with SCCG’s extensive network and capabilities, makes this opportunity particularly exciting.”
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23 Broadway
23 Broadway secures $3m seed funding to launch AI-powered user acquisition financing platform
23 Broadway has secured $3 million in Seed funding to accelerate the next phase of its growth and launch a fully integrated AI-powered user acquisition financing platform.
The funding round was co-led by Betty and Will Ventures, with participation from 359 Capital, CEAS Investments, and Dave Bartman.
23 Broadway was integral in catapulting Betty to an 18% market share in Ontario through its world-class performance marketing team and proprietary AI system called Atlas.
Atlas determines the optimal cost of acquiring a customer and their predicted long-term value.
With this new funding, 23 Broadway will add non-dilutive capital to fund user acquisition to run alongside its existing performance marketing and technology capabilities into a single integrated solution.
Jordan Tuch, CEO of 23 Broadway, said: “23 Broadway is reimagining user acquisition financing by not only providing capital but deploying it through proprietary technology and performance marketing expertise. We’ve created a model that empowers businesses to scale faster without needing to build complex technology or marketing infrastructure themselves. The ability to use AI and execute bids based on a customer’s predicted lifetime value means we can deploy capital far more efficiently. That combination of predictive intelligence and funding creates a powerful growth engine for our partners.”
The underlying thesis is that platforms combining in-house technology and performance marketing expertise can offer a truly differentiated and durable user acquisition financing solution.
Growth-stage businesses benefit from access to dedicated capital for customer acquisition without equity dilution, while also being able to implement advanced marketing execution across platforms such as Google Ads and other major advertising ecosystems.
Funding will be allocated to develop Atlas further and enhance 23 Broadway’s predictive modelling capabilities. Another focus will be building new AI-driven models to help gaming companies strengthen retention marketing strategies. A final part will be to onboard additional partners seeking scalable user acquisition financing solutions.
The post 23 Broadway secures $3m seed funding to launch AI-powered user acquisition financing platform appeared first on Americas iGaming & Sports Betting News.
23 Broadway
23 Broadway secures $3m seed funding to launch AI-powered user acquisition financing platform
23 Broadway has raised $3 million in Seed funding to drive the next phase of its growth and launch a fully integrated, AI-powered user acquisition financing platform.
The funding round was co-led by Betty and Will Ventures, with participation from 359 Capital, CEAS Investments, and Dave Bartman.
The company played a key role in helping Betty achieve an 18% market share in Ontario, leveraging its world-class performance marketing team and proprietary AI system, Atlas. Atlas predicts the optimal cost to acquire a customer and estimates their long-term value, allowing marketing spend to be deployed with precision.
With this new capital, 23 Broadway will integrate non-dilutive financing with its existing performance marketing and technology capabilities, offering a single, streamlined solution for user acquisition.
Jordan Tuch, CEO of 23 Broadway, said: “23 Broadway is reimagining user acquisition financing by not only providing capital but deploying it through proprietary technology and performance marketing expertise. We’ve created a model that empowers businesses to scale faster without needing to build complex technology or marketing infrastructure themselves. The ability to use AI and execute bids based on a customer’s predicted lifetime value means we can deploy capital far more efficiently. That combination of predictive intelligence and funding creates a powerful growth engine for our partners.”
The company’s strategy centers on combining in-house technology with performance marketing expertise to deliver a differentiated, durable user acquisition financing solution. Growth-stage businesses gain access to dedicated capital for customer acquisition without giving up equity, while also benefiting from advanced marketing execution across major advertising platforms like Google Ads.
The funding will support further development of Atlas and enhance 23 Broadway’s predictive modeling capabilities. Additional priorities include creating new AI-driven tools to strengthen retention marketing for gaming companies and onboarding more partners seeking scalable user acquisition financing solutions.
The post 23 Broadway secures $3m seed funding to launch AI-powered user acquisition financing platform appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
AiGC
Soft2Bet Eyes Alberta iGaming Market Expansion in Canada
Soft2Bet, a global provider of turnkey iGaming solutions, has announced plans to pursue entry into the regulated gaming market in Alberta as part of its broader strategy to expand its footprint across Canada.
The company confirmed that its entry will depend on regulatory approval once the province finalizes its evolving legal framework for online gaming. The move reflects Soft2Bet’s growing commitment to the Canadian market and its strategy to scale operations across newly regulated territories in North America.
A Strategic Move Toward Alberta’s Emerging iGaming Market
As one of Canada’s most economically robust provinces, Alberta has quickly become a focal point for iGaming operators and technology providers preparing for potential market liberalization.
Industry forecasts indicate that Alberta’s regulated online gaming sector could become one of the country’s most lucrative regional markets. Estimates from analysts at Citizens JMP Securities suggest that the province’s iGaming industry could generate over $700 million in annual revenue once the market reaches maturity.
Soft2Bet’s early evaluation of the market demonstrates the company’s proactive approach to identifying high-growth opportunities in newly regulated jurisdictions.
Monitoring the iGaming Alberta Act
Soft2Bet is closely observing developments surrounding the proposed regulatory framework established under the iGaming Alberta Act. The legislation outlines the structure for Alberta’s regulated online gaming industry and establishes oversight responsibilities for provincial authorities.
Under the proposed system, the Alberta iGaming Corporation would oversee the province’s online gaming ecosystem, while regulatory enforcement would remain with the Alberta Gaming, Liquor and Cannabis.
Soft2Bet has indicated that it is preparing to meet Alberta’s anticipated compliance and technical standards, ensuring its platform technology aligns with the province’s regulatory expectations.
Building on Canadian Experience
Soft2Bet’s potential expansion into Alberta builds upon its experience operating in Ontario, where the company already offers localized gaming services through its consumer-facing brand ToonieBet.
The Ontario market has become one of North America’s most successful regulated online gaming jurisdictions since its launch in 2022, attracting numerous international operators and platform providers.
By leveraging insights from its Ontario operations, Soft2Bet aims to deliver tailored gaming experiences for players in Alberta while maintaining full compliance with regional regulations.
Localization as a Key Strategy
Localization remains a central pillar of Soft2Bet’s international growth strategy. The company emphasizes adapting its platforms and gaming products to match the cultural preferences, language requirements, and regulatory expectations of each market in which it operates.
Soft2Bet plans to apply this hyper-localized approach in Alberta by ensuring that its gaming offerings reflect the specific needs and preferences of Canadian players.
This includes customized content, localized branding, and user experiences that resonate with regional audiences.
Commitment to Innovation and Player Experience
According to company leadership, innovation remains a driving force behind Soft2Bet’s expansion strategy.
David Yatom Hay, General Counsel at Soft2Bet, highlighted the company’s commitment to delivering engaging gaming experiences that align with local player expectations.
The company continues to invest in platform technology and product development to create dynamic gaming environments that combine entertainment, compliance, and user-friendly design.
Expanding Across Regulated Markets
Soft2Bet’s interest in Alberta is part of a broader roadmap for 2026, which includes entering additional regulated markets around the world.
As governments increasingly adopt regulated frameworks for online gaming, technology providers like Soft2Bet are focusing on scalable solutions that allow them to quickly adapt to different regulatory environments.
Turnkey platforms, which include player management systems, gaming content, and compliance tools, have become essential for operators looking to enter new markets efficiently.
Canada’s Growing iGaming Landscape
Canada has rapidly become one of the most promising regions for online gaming growth in North America. The success of Ontario’s regulated market has encouraged other provinces to explore similar frameworks.
If Alberta successfully launches a competitive iGaming market, it could further strengthen Canada’s position as a key hub for regulated online gaming innovation.
Operators, developers, and platform providers are closely monitoring the regulatory process, positioning themselves for entry once licensing becomes available.
Looking Ahead
For Soft2Bet, Alberta represents a strategic opportunity to expand its presence in Canada while reinforcing its reputation as a global iGaming platform provider.
By preparing early for regulatory approval and leveraging its experience in Ontario, the company aims to deliver localized gaming experiences that meet the expectations of Canadian players and regulators alike.
As Alberta moves closer to establishing its regulated online gaming framework, Soft2Bet’s planned market entry signals the growing interest from international technology providers seeking to participate in Canada’s evolving digital gaming ecosystem.
The post Soft2Bet Eyes Alberta iGaming Market Expansion in Canada appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
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