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Premier League Football Stars, Shaun Wright Phillips and Jordan Stewart, Lead Investment in The Sports Metaverse
The Sports Metaverse pioneers esports with virtual land sales, metaverse personal training, sports betting and fan engagement
The Sports Metaverse, the world’s first virtual world specifically focused on sports, has announced that former professional football players, Shaun Wright Phillips and Jordan Stewart, have purchased land in the Sports Metaverse.
Shaun Wright Philips will use his land for events and to display his NFTs:
“I’m really excited to be involved in the Sports Metaverse. This is the new frontier when it comes to sports. The metaverse and owning a piece of it is about interaction and co creation – watching live sports with friends all around the world, hanging out with friends, and buying and selling NFTs are some of the things I’m really looking forward to doing here.“
Investment into VR real estate in the metaverse has grown exponentially, with brands like Adidas and top influencers looking to establish themselves in the virtual world. In the metaverse where possibilities are endless, investors see the potential to rent a virtual space for parties with sports stars, private lodges to view sporting events in VR stadiums, or offer key brands a space for sponsorship appearances. As a result, early investors are already making tenfold, million dollar profits. The returns are expected to continue to grow as Grayscale Research predicts annual revenues for the metaverse at $1 trillion, with $400 Billion for gaming worlds alone.
In addition to Shaun Wright Philips, Sports Metaverse announced that four companies have already pre-bought land. They include Phat Fantasy, Own the Moment, ThriveFantasy, Press Sports, and Beyond The Game Network. Brands can apply for the private sale here.
SportsIcon COO and Co-Founder Alexi Yovanoff said:
“Both Shaun and Jordan have played at the top of their profession, so it’s an honor to have these athletes join the Sports Metaverse. I still remember the goal that Shaun scored against Manchester United in 2004, and Jordan has had a great career here in the UK and in the USA.
What strikes me the most about these two is their passion for web3, communities, and the interaction with athletes that the Sports Metaverse will give to consumers.”
Shaun Wright Phillips is one of the best players of his generation, playing for England in the National Team, and for Manchester City and Chelsea. Jordan Stewart has had a successful career in both England and the United States at clubs such as Leicester City and the San Jose Earthquakes.
The Sports Metaverse is a digital world devoted solely to sports. It unites the most prominent sports stars, brands, and clubs together in one place. Sports Metaverse is built by SportsIcon and industry veterans from Sony, Doom, Playstation Home, and Nvidia. You can trade NFTs, buy land, interact with iconic sportspeople, and visit stadiums.
SportsIcon is backed by rapper turned investor Nas, Dapper Labs, Dapper Labs CEO Roham Gharegozlou, Youtube Founder Chad Hurley, Hedera and Reserve Founder Andrew Masanto, and ex NBA star Andrew Bogut.
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Buffalo Bonanza Hold & Win
ICONIC21 adds Buffalo Bonanza Hold & Win to its Buffalo slot series
New release follows Buffalo Wild Collection and includes Hold & Win jackpots and a Bonus Buy option.
ICONIC21 has launched Buffalo Bonanza Hold & Win, a new online slot and the second title in the supplier’s Buffalo series following Buffalo Wild Collection.
The game is set on a prairie-themed backdrop and features up to 1,024 ways to win. ICONIC21 said the Free Spin round removes lower-value symbols from the reels, leaving only higher-value symbols in play.
The slot also includes a Hold & Win mechanic triggered when gold coins land and lock. ICONIC21 said the feature builds multipliers and coin values toward one of four jackpot tiers: Mini, Minor, Major or Grand.
Buffalo Bonanza Hold & Win has a maximum prize of 10,000x stake and includes a Bonus Buy option to access bonus rounds. The release adds to ICONIC21’s slots line-up alongside its live casino, virtual, instant game and RNG table game portfolios.
Edvardas Sadovskis, Chief Product Officer at ICONIC21, said: “Buffalo Bonanza Hold & Win is built around a clear idea of stripping everything back to what matters most. The game’s Free Spin round does exactly that, putting the focus on the symbols with the highest potential.
“The Hold & Win feature then adds a second layer of engagement, turning the session into something more rhythmic as multipliers accumulate, and the jackpot tiers come into play. It’s a title with real bite, and we’re confident it will perform strongly for operators seeking to add a high-impact slot to their lobby.”
The post ICONIC21 adds Buffalo Bonanza Hold & Win to its Buffalo slot series appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
Booming Games
Booming Games Secures Strategic Partnership With Casino Portugal to Accelerate Growth in Southern Europe
Booming Games, a leading provider of premium gaming content, has announced a strategic partnership with Casino Portugal, one of the country’s most established and trusted online gaming platforms. The collaboration marks a significant step in Booming Games’ continued expansion across regulated European markets.
Through this partnership, Booming Games will integrate its portfolio of certified games into Casino Portugal’s platform, making a selection of its top-performing titles available to Portuguese players. The rollout will include popular releases such as Buffalo Hold and Win Extreme 10,000 and Inferno Fortune Power Hit, alongside newer hits like Greedy for Gold Power Hit, Tasty Bonanza 10,000, Trollfufu Bonanza, and Diamond Hits Trio: InstaStrike.
Casino Portugal, operated by the renowned Estoril Sol Group, was the first licensed online casino to launch in Portugal in 2016 and has since established itself as a leader in the market. Known for its premium user experience, strong regulatory compliance, and entertainment-led approach, the brand continues to innovate through exclusive content and omnichannel engagement strategies.
The partnership reflects Booming Games’ commitment to delivering high-quality, compliant content tailored to local markets, while strengthening its footprint in Europe. As demand for engaging, innovative casino content continues to grow in Portugal, the collaboration positions both companies to capitalise on new opportunities and enhance the player experience.
Lucia Baranda, Head of Partnerships at Booming Games, said: “We are delighted to partner with Casino Portugal, a brand that stands out for its strong reputation, premium positioning, and commitment to innovation. This collaboration represents an important milestone in our European growth strategy and allows us to bring our engaging content to a wider audience in Portugal.”
Tiago Sousa, Casino Manager at Casino Portugal, said: “We are excited to welcome Booming Games to our platform. Their portfolio of high-performing and visually engaging titles aligns perfectly with our commitment to delivering premium entertainment experiences to our players. We look forward to a successful partnership that will further enrich our offering.”
The post Booming Games Secures Strategic Partnership With Casino Portugal to Accelerate Growth in Southern Europe appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
BETANO
Betano signs sponsorship deal with Argentina national football team
Kaizen Gaming brand becomes an Official Regional Sponsor as World Cup 2026 approaches, with campaigns planned across digital, TV and OOH.
Betano has signed a new sponsorship agreement with the Argentina National Football Team, joining as an Official Regional Sponsor, the company said on April 29, 2026.
The deal was announced from Athens, Greece and Buenos Aires, Argentina, with the Kaizen Gaming-owned sports betting and gaming brand positioning the partnership ahead of the FIFA World Cup 2026.
According to the company, the sponsorship will include “local 360° campaigns” featuring Betano’s tagline “Confiá” across digital media, television, and out-of-home (OOH) advertising. Betano also said it plans “high-engagement activations” intended to connect fans with the team.
In the release, Kaizen Gaming framed the agreement as part of a broader strategy to invest in top-tier sports partnerships to support international brand growth and “responsible gaming experiences.” Financial terms, territories covered under the “regional” designation, and contract duration were not disclosed.
More relevant data as follows:
- Betano (Kaizen Gaming) official website; https://www.betano.com/ Primary source for brand and market presence details related to Betano.
- Kaizen Gaming official website; https://kaizengaming.com/ Company background and corporate announcements for Kaizen Gaming, the owner of Betano.
- AFA (Argentine Football Association) official website; https://www.afa.com.ar/ Authoritative reference for Argentina national team commercial partnerships and federation announcements.
- FIFA World Cup 2026; https://www.fifa.com/fifaplus/en/tournaments/mens/worldcup/canada-mexico-usa2026 Official tournament page to ground the timing reference to the FIFA World Cup 2026.
The post Betano signs sponsorship deal with Argentina national football team appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
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