Asia
Iker Casillas signs with FUN88 as its brand ambassador ahead of the World Cup 2022
Iconic Spanish goalkeeper dons a new jersey as front-man for the leading Asian sportsbook operator, calling on fans to “Live Your Dream”
Football legend and World Cup-winning Spanish Captain, Iker Casillas, has taken his gloves off to become the official brand ambassador for Fun88, the powerhouse Asian sports betting operator, ahead of the FIFA World Cup 2022 in Qatar which runs from 20 November to 18 December.
This breakthrough partnership arrives three short years after FUN88 signed the late, great Kobe Bryant ahead of the FIBA Basketball World Cup. And, like Bryant before him, Casillas has been recruited to encourage fans to “Live Your Dream”, a resounding call-to-action tagline that echoes the best of FUN88’s brand values.
Consequently, the former goalkeeper, one of the game’s most outstanding players thanks to his inspirational leadership roles at Real Madrid and the Spanish national team, has undertaken to responsibly promote the transcendent values of competition and entertainment on the World Cup stage, giving greater visibility to the fun and social engagement the game of football can bring to diverse international audiences.
Casillas and FUN88’s combined goal is to enhance fan engagement around the game’s biggest tournament by creating fresh content and discovery opportunities for diverse audiences. This timely partnership is now set to drive deeper engagement amongst soccer supporters across the globe. Accordingly, Casillas now joins the likes of Robbie Fowler, Steve Nash and the much-missed Bryant in Fun88’s historic stable of superstars, all putting their shoulders to the wheel in building the brand’s global sports exposure.
FUN88 will continue its ongoing work to engage with fans across both mature and emerging Asia markets via a series of creative activations and promotions involving Casillas. The brand has also developed a popular presence on social media, where its myriad customers are already interacting through its feeds and forthcoming World Cup content, where many more will benefit from its competitions and premium prize giveaways.
This combined collaboration will also leverage an increasing number of dedicated local channels and promotional activities, all focused on acquisition and retention of a loyal audience both pre-game and in-play. After all, World Cup football is always a tent-pole event for operator performance and correlated marketing targets around long-term new-account acquisition.
A senior spokesperson welcomed FUN88’s new flagship ambassador: “We’re delighted to have signed Iker Casillas to our team as FUN88’s World Cup 2022 brand ambassador. Long story short, he is a leader and an inspiration to all, having made a peerless contribution to both club and international football.
“Unlike other goalkeepers known principally for their safe pairs of hands, Iker was always a natural entertainer on the field with his cat-like reactions and jaw-dropping shot-stopping regularly getting fans out of their seats. Accordingly, he and FUN88 are committed to achieving our goals in the most engaging and enjoyable way possible. Of course, there’ll also be the chance for our customers to gain exclusive insight and analysis from one of the clearest-thinking minds in football – remember, Iker holds the record for the most clean-sheets in the Champions League and for Spain’s national team!
“FUN88 intends to harness this breakout partnership to drive awareness and participation around our progressive brand values across both mature and developing Asian territories. We’re constantly looking for original ways to connect with our customers across digital channels and betting verticals as varied as sportsbook, eSports and casino. Iker is a dream fit for the energy and expertise that FUN88 is delivering across varied markets, where a proven global reputation can deliver on localised challenges, helping push the envelope of technology and raise the game for the end-user experience and social traction.”
Casillas, Spain’s most garlanded captain, added: “I’m excited to be representing FUN88 for this Autumn’s World Cup in Qatar. They have built a brand which directly aligns with my footballing history and sporting passions, underpinned by a desire to fuse fun with fairness and flair across wider sport. It’s a combination that’s vital to winning any game and also entertaining your audience.
“As a result, I look forward to bringing some top-class content and activity to Asian markets with my signature style and professionalism, allowing fans to find new and deeper ways in which to engage with and enjoy the sports they love. It was a penalty-kick decision to commit for me, so live your dream with FUN88!
“In short, I’m energised to be joining a new squad at FUN88 and very grateful for being given the chance to act as their ambassador and public face across an electric World Cup program.”
While FUN88 continues to develop its online offerings for football fans around the world, this latest landmark acquisition highlights its commitment to international representation and fostering a football-friendly environment within a responsible gaming culture.
FUN88 has pioneered the gamified betting experience, thanks to a unique interface and personalised customer service that deliver a cohesive player journey from the log-in until the end result. This seamless experience has also ensured record levels of retention and consumer satisfaction amongst its active base.
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JBO, a well-established online gaming and entertainment platform, has announced an exciting new promotion tailored for the highly anticipated Esports World Cup 2025. Esports enthusiasts in Thailand now have a compelling opportunity to win up to 30,000 Jcoin by placing wagers on the thrilling “World Cup Qualifiers” matches. This shows JBO Thailand’s commitment to giving great value and fun experiences to all its players.
This exclusive event is ongoing and will conclude on August 24, 2025, at 23:59 (GMT+8). This period strategically aligns with the intensified global esports calendar, leading up to the Esports World Cup and its critical qualifying rounds. JBO Thailand is actively creating an immersive environment that allows fans to engage more deeply with preferred teams and competitive events. Participation in the promotion is straightforward. Players are simply required to place bets on eligible “Esports World Cup Qualifiers” matches through JBO’s designated esports betting providers, IM Esports and TF Esports. The promotion is conveniently accessible via the “Reward Corner” section on the JBO platform, ensuring a seamless and intuitive user experience for all participants.
At the core of this attractive offer is JBO’s innovative Jcoin reward system. Players who log in to JBO and achieve a weekly turnover exceeding 3000 in the Esports category will automatically qualify for Jcoin rewards. The reward system gives bigger prizes as you play more, with up to 30,000 Jcoin available each week.
JBO also ensures a smooth and secure experience through the easy-to-use JBO app available for both Android and iOS devices. With fast withdrawals and smooth gameplay, the platform is ideal for esports fans to enjoy and earn real rewards. JBO is trusted across Asia and has Dimitar Berbatov as its brand ambassador, showing it as a top sportsbook and esports operator.
The post JBO Thailand Launches Esports World Cup Promotion appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
Uzbekistan has introduced strict penalties for illegal gambling operations as the country prepares to launch its regulated betting market on October 9, 2025.
The new penalties target both domestic and foreign operators offering gambling services without a license. The new rules authorise fines indexed to the Uzbek Base Calculation Unit (BRV), a fiscal benchmark used for administrative penalties.
Foreign firms face fines of up to 25,000 Base Calculation Units, around US$882,000. Authorities can also seize illegal earnings, block access to banking and internet services, and ban repeat offenders from the Uzbek financial system. Unauthorised physical casinos, betting shops and mobile terminals will face the same sanctions.
Violations of anti-money laundering rules or personal data misuse carry fines of 15,000 BRV (about US$529,200), and unlicensed deposit-taking could result in penalties of up to US$352,900.
The changes were drafted by the National Agency for Perspective Projects (NAPP), which is overseeing the rollout of Uzbekistan’s new gambling law. NAPP will act as the interim regulator until a permanent authority is established.
Licensed operators must meet strict financial requirements. Online gambling firms need authorised capital of $4.57 million and a $2.05 million reserve fund. Lottery providers must show at least $1.64 million in capital and $1.11 million in reserves.
“This is not a pay-to-play regime. It’s a compliance-first market that will reward transparency and capital discipline,” NAPP has clarified in communications with potential applicants.
Gambling has been banned in Uzbekistan since 2007, except for limited state-run lotteries. The new system marks a shift from prohibition to strict regulation. A centralised system, the Unified State Register of Bets and Players (USRBP), will track all wagers and enforce ID checks and monthly betting limits.
Sanctions will be issued by NAPP’s director after internal review. Offending companies will have 15 days to appeal through NAPP or the courts. Half of all fines will go to the state budget; the rest will fund regulatory operations. Paying fines does not shield companies from further legal action.
President Shavkat Mirziyoyev approved the new framework in 2024, requiring that gambling revenue be used to fund national sports programmes. Licensing guidelines will be released soon, with applications opening before the October launch.
The post Uzbekistan Introduces Penalties for Illegal Gambling Operations appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
NODWIN Gaming, South Asia’s leading esports and gaming company, has announced that Sony LIV has acquired the Hindi and English language media rights for select matches of the Esports World Cup (EWC) 2025, further amplifying the tournament’s reach and representation across India.
As part of the partnership, Sony LIV will stream select matches from the Esports World Cup in India, bringing the action to millions of fans in languages they resonate with. The Hindi-language broadcast will be available exclusively on the Sony LIV app and official website.
In addition, Sony LIV will also stream the weekly shows, behind-the-scenes features and player interactions spotlighting EWC athletes and teams, curated for both core and casual esports audiences. This collaboration follows NODWIN Gaming’s recent partnership with the Esports World Cup Foundation (EWCF) to manage media rights and regional distribution across South Asia.
Akshat Rathee, Co-Founder and Managing Director of NODWIN Gaming, said: “Our goal is to bring the Esports World Cup to as many passionate fans across South Asia as possible, and this partnership with Sony LIV is a major step in that direction. It combines Sony LIV’s incredible reach with NODWIN’s focus on building localized, fan-first esports experiences. With both Hindi and premium English content, we are creating a viewing experience that feels personal, immersive, and truly regional.”
With the addition of Sony LIV as the exclusive Hindi broadcast partner and NODWIN Gaming as the strategic regional media and marketing partner, the EWC is poised to reach unprecedented heights in South Asia. This aligns with the mission of making esports more inclusive, accessible and locally relevant.
With top-tier Indian talent competing across multiple titles, the Esports World Cup 2025 presents a unique opportunity to showcase India’s growing presence in global esports and to unite audiences around a shared national dream.
The post NODWIN Gaming Partners with Sony LIV for Streaming Rights of Esports World Cup 2025 appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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