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Premier League Football Stars, Shaun Wright Phillips and Jordan Stewart, Lead Investment in The Sports Metaverse

Published

4 years ago

June 2, 2022

Reading Time: 2 minutes

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.

Caspar Hobbs CEO of SWA

SWA, Sportradar Collaborate on First-of-its-Kind In-Play MMA Betting Offering

Published

53 minutes ago

January 14, 2026

Wladimir P.

swa,-sportradar-collaborate-on-first-of-its-kind-in-play-mma-betting-offering

SWA Ltd, a London-based frontrunner in live data and AI technology for real-time betting prediction systems, today revealed a new collaboration with Sportradar to introduce the industry’s first-ever in-play MMA betting model.

The innovative product is now accessible to Sportradar customers.

Utilizing the official data streams from the UFC and PFL, the updated model will offer extensive in-play markets for significant MMA events, with more promotions planned for integration in the following weeks.

The platform is created to provide hundreds of live betting markets, establishing the basis for an expanded combat sports package to be offered via Sportradar.

“Our science team has developed data driven bottom-up generative ai modelling that outputs tens of thousands of potential outcomes every second, pricing each one in real time.

This enables unlimited micro-parlay and social betting opportunities on the same platforms,” said Caspar Hobbs, CEO of SWA. “MMA has been one of the fastest-growing sports globally for many years, but its speed and complexity have made it difficult to model for betting. We are delighted to partner with Sportradar on this breakthrough MMA product and look forward to delivering wider combat offerings in the coming weeks, as well as expanding into additional sports.”

The post SWA, Sportradar Collaborate on First-of-its-Kind In-Play MMA Betting Offering appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

Burst Games

Step into Royal Drop — Queen Lizzie’s Quest from Mirror Image Gaming

Published

53 minutes ago

January 14, 2026

Wladimir P.

step-into-royal-drop-—-queen-lizzie’s-quest-from-mirror-image-gaming

Are you prepared drop? That’s the dilemma players encounter when they launch Royal Drop, the newest Burst Game from Mirror Image Gaming, driven by FortuneEngine.io.

Royal Drop is a character-focused, high-octane “Burst Game” that aims to dominate online casino lobbies with its captivating and enjoyable gameplay.

Players team up with Queen Lizzie, who is bold, fierce, and fabulously untroubled, as she trades scones and biscuits for a twin-winged plane that drops her into one of the wildest online casino escapades.

Players trail behind Queen Lizzie as she zooms across the sky, flipping and twisting while gathering flags and collecting coins, all while providing witty remarks that expose her etiquette as far more vibrant than anyone could have anticipated.

The flags and coins serve as Prizes and Multipliers, accumulating as Queen Lizzie descends towards landing areas.

There are a total of five, which include:

Royal Palace – 5,000x Jackpot

Underground – 100x Payout Multiplier

Big Ben – 50x Payout Multiplier Royal Guard – Squares the Payout Multiplier

Royal Carriage – 5x Payout Multiplier

Following her is her nervous son and successor to the throne. He worries about their image, particularly Queen Lizzie’s dubious driving skills showcased in the Bus Multiplier feature.

This is activated by the Bus Scatter, which amplifies the ascent to as much as 11x.

Queen Lizzie is courageous and fearless, and she definitely shouldn’t perform her own stunts – yet she does them regardless. That’s the reason you can gain an additional 0.2x whenever Queen Lizzie performs a Flip or a Back Flip.

However, be cautious of the Dangers and particularly the Thunderheads that separate the amassed victory.

Players of the Royal Drop will soon discover that within the Royal Family, there is only one individual with nerves of steel.

Royal Drop features three RTP options – 96%, 94%, and 92% – and is positioned at the mid to high level of the volatility spectrum. The smallest wager is established at 0.10 with an adjustable maximum stake. The highest possible win is 5,000 times.

Gray Wagner, CEO at Mirror Image Gaming, said: “Our Burst Games have taken online casino game lobbies by storm and in Royal Drop we have a title that celebrates the magic and majesty of the royal family while allowing players to unlock regal wins.

“Our Burst Games are incredibly fun and put players on the edge of their seats as they ride out the drop and collect as many prizes as they can on the way down. Of course, where they land determines the ultimate size of the payout.

“The heir to the throne might be shouting “Slow down mommy” but players will be encouraging Queen Lizzie to go faster and scoop up more of those coins and flags as she dials in on the landing zone.”

The post Step into Royal Drop — Queen Lizzie’s Quest from Mirror Image Gaming appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

Booming Games

Booming Games upgrades senior management to support aggressive growth strategy

Published

53 minutes ago

January 14, 2026

Wladimir P.

booming-games-upgrades-senior-management-to-support-aggressive-growth-strategy

Booming Games, a top supplier of high-quality gaming content, has today enhanced its C-suite by appointing a new Chief Operating Officer and establishing a new Chief of Staff position. The hires demonstrate Booming Games’ dedication to attracting and developing elite talent, as the company aims for significant growth in the next years and expands its international footprint.

Dan Paleu, who first entered the company as Director of Technical Operations, has been elevated to Chief Operating Officer effective immediately. Before joining Booming Games, Dan worked for 16 years at IGT PlayDigital, formerly iSoftBet, where he held multiple positions, with his latest role being Head of Games. In this role, Dan shaped the company’s overall gaming strategy and managed the production process for new games, from idea to release. He is considered a forward-thinker with an impressive history in the sector.

Dan’s substantial industry experience enables him to enhance Booming Games’ offerings effectively. His attention will center on enhancing operational excellence throughout game delivery, technology, and commercial operations, while guaranteeing regulatory compliance in every market. He will additionally assist in the ongoing growth into new regulated markets, with entries into Switzerland, Bulgaria, and the Czech Republic set for 2026.

In addition, Ramona Petrina has been named Chief of Staff, a newly established role, effective immediately. In November 2022, Ramona became the Director of HR at Booming Games and brings more than 15 years of experience in the industry. Her promotion arrives as the company has definite intentions to strengthen its workforce and attract premier talent to enhance customer experience.

In her new position, Ramona will serve as a strategic ally, aiding in executive planning and decision-making. Her primary emphasis will be to create a distinct set of objectives that align with the broader leadership strategy and assist in implementing essential growth initiatives. In addition, Ramona will keep refining the company’s people strategy, making certain the organization is properly organized and ready for its upcoming growth stage.

Dan and Ramona will attend ICE Barcelona later this month, accompanied by several C-suite peers, to present Booming Games’ new titles and converse about upcoming plans for the year.

Max Niehusen, Founder of Booming Games, said: “We are pleased to announce these two promotions at a key moment in our growth journey. With extensive experience in their fields, Dan and Ramona have already made a significant contribution to the business, providing invaluable expertise. Their promotions reflect our longstanding commitment to retain and nurture top talent, in order to better serve our rapidly expanding customer base.”

Dan Paleu, Chief Operating Officer at Booming Games, said: “After joining Booming Games I quickly understood why the business has an unrivalled reputation in the industry for innovation. The business has set out ambitious growth plans and I am proud to be taking up the position of Chief Operating Officer to help deliver these. I look forward to continuing working closely with Max in the role, providing a market leading experience for our customers and players.”

Ramona Petrina, Chief of Staff at Booming Games, said: “Booming Games has built a powerful foundation, from its product vision and people to its ambition and execution. The scale we’ve achieved is the result of clear direction and strong leadership, and I’m excited to help shape the next phase of the company’s growth as we continue to expand and evolve.”

The post Booming Games upgrades senior management to support aggressive growth strategy appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.