Press Releases
UK betting technology supplier 20SHOTS accelerate funding with £400,000 raise at £5m valuation
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20SHOTS have geared up for the new football season in the UK by securing additional investment in a second funding round, including securing the backing of US VC Animal Capital
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New season will see new product rollout for popular Fantasy5 free-to-play fantasy football game, covering Champions League, Europa League and other European top flights
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Current growth trajectory sees Fantasy5 on course to recruit half a million players this season
20SHOTS, the UK technology supplier behind fast-growing free-to-play fantasy football game Fantasy5, have secured an additional £400,000 of investment at a £5 million valuation, with backers including Gen-Z focused US Venture Capital fund Animal Capital.
The American fund that counts social media stars Josh Richards, Griffin Johnson and Noah Beck focus on products that reach a new generation of customers. They have invested an undisclosed sum in 20SHOTS for the new football season, which will see the platform roll out its largest range of products added to its Fantasy5 game to date.
Fantasy5’s Premier League product, which uses a unique points system developed in-house based on fantasy football, offers cash prizes to winners who can successfully predict how well players will perform per gameweek.
Using their own risk management system and algorithmic trading software, the company will now look to supplement this with additional games covering the Champions League, Europa League and other top European leagues.
The roll out of additional leagues coupled with Fantasy5’s existing growth – bolstered last season by the recruitment of BoyleSports as its first tier one UK & Ireland bookmaker partner – keeps the game on course to break the 500,000 player mark.
Prizes for the additional leagues will remain at the standard £10,000 mark, as offered to Premier League players, and offer partners an increase in engagement and retention. 83% of players who played in the last four rounds last season have made an entry in the first two weeks. The investment in Fantasy5 also comes in advance of the Government’s highly-anticipated White Paper review of the gambling industry, which is likely to see traditional marketing practices come under scrutiny, creating additional need for operators to engage customers beyond traditional channels.
Jacob Kalms, co-founder and CEO of 20SHOTS said: “We’re pleased to welcome Animal Capital as investors as part of our most recent founding round which has raised £400,000 in capital.
“As demand grows in the ultra-competitive free-to-play space, we’re investing in our ability to quickly and seamlessly roll out products and games on a white label basis for a number of different partners across multiple divisions and competitions – with the ultimate objective of using the technology seamlessly across the most popular sports worldwide.
“Our growth model forecasts we will break the half a million player mark this season, with our scaling driving down the cost of acquisition for partners whilst maintaining our engagement, dwell and retention rates considerably above industry averages.”
He added: “Operators should also be considering how free-to-play and softer marketing funnels like those offered by games like Fantasy5 will help them navigate any changes thrust upon them by the upcoming gambling review. Whilst our audience is ultimately commercially valuable to any operator or affiliate, Fantasy5 remains a sustainable way to build a loyal audience over time.”
Marshall Sandman, Managing Partner of Animal Capital said: “In a crowded market of fantasy, free to play, and pay-to-play sports betting, 20SHOTS distinguishes itself with a best in class team and direction that has allowed the product to stand out distinctly and early.
“Their flagship game Fantasy5 is an early hit, their B2B relationships are uniquely positioned to make this an exciting asset and their ability to resonate and be sticky with a younger audience are all reasons why we were excited to be on the journey.
“Jacob the CEO and his team have conviction and direction, and they will continue to prove why they deserve to be big fish in this pond!”
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Denmark
Peter & Sons Expands Its Danish Presence Through Partnership with Spillehallen
Reading Time: 2 minutes
Award-winning game studio Peter & Sons has expanded its reach in Denmark through a new partnership with Spillehallen, one of the country’s most trusted and innovative gaming brands.
Spillehallen is a 100% Danish-owned company with over 45 years of experience in the national gaming industry. Known for its craftsmanship and visionary development team, Spillehallen has successfully transitioned from the world of physical slot machines to the online space, bringing its rich legacy to Spillehallen.dk. The company’s goal has always been to recreate the authentic feel and functionality of traditional Danish slots while enhancing them with modern design and technology.
Through this collaboration, Spillehallen players will gain access to Peter & Sons’ expanding portfolio of video slots, celebrated for their handcrafted art, cinematic sound design, and imaginative mechanics. Titles such as Barbarossa, Voodoo Hex, and Wild One reflect the studio’s signature approach — blending storytelling, bold aesthetics, and engaging gameplay to create unforgettable experiences.
Denmark stands as one of Europe’s most mature and well-regulated iGaming markets, making it a natural fit for Peter & Sons’ continued growth strategy. The partnership with Spillehallen underscores the studio’s mission to deliver creative, story-rich, and premium-quality gaming experiences to players in regulated markets worldwide.
Yann Bautista, Commercial Director & Founder at Peter & Sons, said: “We’re thrilled to partner with Spillehallen — a brand that shares our passion for quality, innovation, and entertainment. Their deep roots in Danish gaming and their modern approach to digital experiences make them the perfect partner for our continued expansion in Denmark.”
Jacob Frostholm, Casino Manager at Spillehallen added: “Peter & Sons’ games stand out for their artistic style and creative gameplay. We’re excited to bring their unique worlds to our players and continue building on our tradition of offering the best and most entertaining gaming experiences in Denmark.”
This partnership marks another key milestone for Peter & Sons as it continues its expansion across Europe following recent launches in markets such as the UK, Italy, and the Netherlands.
The post Peter & Sons Expands Its Danish Presence Through Partnership with Spillehallen appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
Central Europe
Award-Nominated EGT Digital Brings Sweet Spins, Smart Tech, and New Thrills to SiGMA Central Europe 2025
Reading Time: 2 minutes
EGT Digital will showcase the upgraded Sugartime 1000, available for visitors to try in demo mode, and offer a sneak peek at the upcoming Hermes Fortunes 2000 at SiGMA Central Europe, Rome (4 – 6 November, booth 2050). Both titles build on fan-favorite originals, offering players thrilling upgrades, bold visuals, and massive win potential.
The company also kicks off SiGMA Rome 2025 celebrating five B2B Award nominations for innovation and growth:
- B2B Industry Leader Italy 2025
- AI Pioneer in Platform Innovation 2025
- Fastest Growing Aggregator 2025
- Best Game Provider Italy 2025
- Best Bonus Engine 2025
Sugartime 1000 – double the flavor, ten times the fun
Visitors will be able to experience Sugartime 1000 firsthand in demo mode. The sweet hit returns with multipliers up to x1000, the Toppling Reels feature, and the Clover Chance Jackpot for nonstop excitement.
Players can trigger Free Spins with 4 – 6 scatters or activate Super Free Spins with guaranteed high multipliers and wins reaching 25,000x the bet value. The result is a faster, more colorful, and even more rewarding experience that keeps the charm of the original.
Hermes Fortunes 2000 – mythic wins take flight
Visitors will get a sneak peek at this mythology-inspired sequel before its official release. The messenger of the gods brings bigger rewards with multipliers up to x2000, Free Spins where symbols can transform into multipliers, and a Super Free Spins mode guaranteeing x20+ multipliers. Linked to the Clover Chance Jackpot, this upgraded sequel offers a divine mix of myth and adrenaline.
“Both Sugartime 1000 and Hermes Fortunes 2000 reflect our respect for the players who made the originals so loved,” said Tsvetomira Drumeva, Head of Sales at EGT Digital. “We wanted to give fans the same excitement they cherish while upgrading every element of gameplay for an even more dynamic and immersive experience.”
Expanding the game universe
At SiGMA Central Europe, EGT Digital will also present its broader content lineup, featuring over 150 in-house developed slots and popular jackpots like Bell Link, Clover Chance, and Gods & Kings Link.
EGT Digital’s Aggregator solution will also be in focus, offering access to over 13,000 games from 200+ global providers through a seamless, high-performance integration.
Boosting engagement through innovation
EGT Digital will also highlight its X-Nave platform - an all-in-one, modular solution featuring Casino, Sportsbook, CRM, Payment Gateway, and the powerful Campaign Manager module.
Now enhanced with proprietary AI, X-Nave personalizes player experiences, optimizes performance, and ensures responsible gaming. Its Campaign Manager helps operators drive engagement, loyalty, and results through automated tournaments, Gift Spins, and Buy Bonus competitions, turning gameplay into measurable marketing success across all devices.
Visit EGT Digital at booth 2050 during SiGMA Europe, Rome, from 4 – 6 November.
The post Award-Nominated EGT Digital Brings Sweet Spins, Smart Tech, and New Thrills to SiGMA Central Europe 2025 appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
Bet It Drives
GR8 Tech’s Bet It Drives Season 2 Finale: Kelly Kehn on Opening iGaming to New Founders
Reading Time: 2 minutes
Lisbon’s streets set the pace for Season 2 of GR8 Tech’s Bet It Drives—the drive-time podcast where iGaming’s most interesting voices speak freely. Hosted by Yevhen Krazhan, Chief Sales Officer at GR8 Tech, each episode captures raw insight, candid stories, and the energy you can only find on the road.
Episode 4 of the Season 2 finale puts the spotlight on Kelly Kehn, founder, board member, and startup advisor in gaming. As co-founder of Defy the Odds (DTO), she’s building a launchpad and community connecting startups, investors, and operators—with a focus on female and minority founders. Previously, she co-founded the All-In Diversity Project, held ecosystem roles at happyhour.io and SBC, and serves on boards including FUNNZ.
During the ride, Kelly opens up about:
- Why iGaming events matter: the community, access, and acceleration you only get in the room.
- Defy the Odds (DTO): why she and her co-founders built it, what it is, and how founders plug in.
- Women in iGaming: real challenges and how to lower the barrier to entry; inclusion as a growth strategy.
- Pitch ideas that paid off and common startup pitch mistakes.
- The next possible unicorn in iGaming and what makes it possible.
- Soundtrack to success: the song for a win, the pre-coaching track, and the one that sums up her career.
- The boldest ideas: intention, asking for help, and doing the homework.
- The unwritten rule of iGaming.
- Halloween rubric: the scariest moments in life and career, and why saying the hard thing out loud matters.
- Kelly’s Champion Rule: Be kind to yourself and to others.
“As Kelly said, ‘When we open the space to more people and more perspectives, we all win and the pie gets bigger.’ This episode was the perfect finish of our Season 2 in Lisbon,” said Krazhan.
Watch or listen to Season 2, Episode 4 with Kelly Kehn on:
Season 2 of Bet It Drives launched with Rasmus Sojmark, kept pace with Tiago Pereira and Kyrylo Korobka, and now crosses the line with Kelly Kehn in the finale. But still, don’t unbuckle yet: Season 3 is coming soon with more interesting conversations and more reasons to hit play. Follow GR8 Tech to stay in the loop.
The next chapter of iGaming belongs to champions who play smart and bold. Join GR8 Tech at SiGMA Central Europe 2025, Rome, November 3–6, booth 5028-2, and discover the Heavyweight Rulebook—built for operators ready to scale, localize, and win.
The post GR8 Tech’s Bet It Drives Season 2 Finale: Kelly Kehn on Opening iGaming to New Founders appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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