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Network Gaming secures four new partners ahead of World Cup

Published

3 years ago

November 18, 2022

Reading Time: 3 minutes

Network Gaming, a betting technology company innovating the next generation of sports prediction games around small-stakes-big-win betting products, has secured four new key partners ahead of the World Cup. Featuring new product launches across multiple sports, spearheaded by its headline World Cup Tournament Survivor game, Network Gaming’s new partners are:

Planet Sport, media and B2B technology specialists who publish Football365, TEAMtalk, PlanetF1 and others as well as delivering a range of B2B products, content and services
WhoScored.com, the football data analysis website
At The Races, the horse racing media rights company which operates the Sky Sports Racing TV channel
101 Great Goals, the football live streaming and betting tips website, part of XL Media

Mike Grenham, Managing Director of Betting at Planet Sport, said: “We’re delighted to be partnering with Network Gaming, they have been a pleasure to deal with and the whole integration process has been seamless. We can’t wait to see how our audience of 15m users enjoy these great games.”

Matthew Taylor, Director of New Media and Innovation of At The Races, said: “Whilst ATR is first and foremost a digital platform for horse race fans, we fully understand that their interest in sport isn’t confined to equine excellence. The World Cup transcends traditional boundaries and we have historically devoted significant editorial coverage for tournaments but this year we also wanted an extra layer of engagement.

“We have partnered with Network Gaming, the brand leader in terms of pay-to-play predictive sports games, to deliver a series of World Cup games that will engage sports fans throughout the tournament and offer a small-stakes-big-prize-pool opportunity – winners will require a combination of strategy, skill and of course luck.

“The timescales were tight but both ATR and Network Gaming worked as a well-oiled team to deliver the game. We look forward to working with Network Gaming on future projects where the appeal of the event rises above typical borders of engagement.”

Thomas Rooney, Director of EU Sport at XL Media, said: “This year’s World Cup is played offline, but experienced online and we are delighted to serve up the 101greatgoals .com audience with this fun, engaging and hugely popular game, thanks to Network Gaming. The guys have been superb from our initial conversation through to going live. They do all the work behind the scenes, we send traffic to the game – it’s hopefully just the start of a long and successful partnership.”

Network Gaming made its name with the success of its first pay-to-play game, the Fantasy Masters golf, and recently attracted cornerstone strategic investment from a host of industry heavyweights, including Betfair co-founder Andrew Black.

The company’s star-studded product team are creating small-stakes-big-win products that deliver real value-for-money enjoyment. Recreational customers are not simply assembled in a pool of players where only a handful of sharks dominate the winning positions in the leaderboard. Similarly, innovative mechanics within the products keep players in contention for as long as possible, thereby deepening fan engagement and interaction, boosting repeat visits and digital dwell-time.

Network Gaming’s ongoing partnerships are comprised of top-tier operator Fitzdares, talkSPORT, whose popular sports news and analysis shows drive audience engagement across a number of live-broadcast platforms, and The Sun’s fantasy football offering of Dream Team.

Network Gaming is looking ahead to an exciting 2023, with notable expansion into the U.S., where a growing product suite (comprising NFL, NBA, MLB and horse racing) will see it broaden and deepen its reach. The North American market remains a greenfield opportunity because Network Gaming games work particularly well for U.S. sports. They can function in either fixed-odds or DFS-style-license formats, opening up a prolific pipeline of free-to-play or pay-to-play games with great repeat-play metrics to media companies or affiliates. Equally, any sportsbook can benefit from integrating a versatile vertical that is neither DFS nor fixed-odds betting to help them differentiate their product in a progressively homogenised market.

To find out more, entries are now open for the World Cup Tournament Survivor game, which follows a similar format to Network Gaming’s classic Survivor format which has proved so popular in its initial offering around the English Premier League. It’s a value-for-money bet during the cost of living crisis, whereby one £10 entry fee buys customers two lives and possibly a whole tournament of entertainment.

Thousands of players are already taking part, with the final prize pool likely to be over £25,000.

Harry Collins, CEO at Network Gaming, said: “We are delighted to support our new partners in engaging their audiences and growing wallet share with our exciting and truly differentiated product portfolio. Network Gaming products are easy to integrate and increase time on site. As a team, we’re also energised to continue to unveil more new products across a wide range of sports to all our prestigious partners in the coming year.”

eSports

Esports Awards 2026 Returns for Global Honors

Published

11 hours ago

April 7, 2026

Wladimir P.

esports-awards-2026-returns-for-global-honors

The Esports Awards is set to return in 2026, bringing together the global esports community for its annual celebration of excellence.

Scheduled to take place in North America later this year, the awards will honor the top players, teams, creators, and innovators who defined the past year in competitive gaming. Exact dates and venues will be revealed in the coming months.

Last year marked a major milestone for the Esports Awards, celebrating 10 years of esports achievements at the HyperX Arena in Las Vegas. The ceremony recognized industry icons such as Mathieu “Zywoo” Herbaut, iShowSpeed, and Animesh “Thug” Agarwal, while inducting six new members into the Lifetime Achievement in Esports: Class of 2025. Earlier in 2025, the Esports Awards hosted the one-off Decade Awards, which drew a global audience of 36.25 million live viewers.

For the 2026 edition, fan-favorite categories such as Esports Game of the Year, Esports Personality of the Year, Streamer of the Year, and Esports Team of the Year will return, giving fans a direct voice in recognizing the standout moments and figures in esports over the past year. Winners will be determined through a combination of community voting and input from the Esports Awards Panel, which includes seasoned industry veterans, broadcasters, creators, and professional players, ensuring both credibility and integrity.

In addition to the main ceremony, the Esports Awards Golf Invitational will make a comeback, offering a day of networking and friendly competition for industry leaders, creators, and esports competitors ahead of the awards.

Michael Ashford, CEO of the Esports Awards, said: “The Esports Awards continues to shine a spotlight on the very best in esports and gaming, and we’re pleased to return for 2026. Following the success of the Decade Awards and our 10th anniversary celebrations, we look forward to recognizing the individuals, teams, and moments that defined the past year in esports.”

Fans are encouraged to follow the Esports Awards’ official X account for updates on venues, dates, nominees, and voting.

The post Esports Awards 2026 Returns for Global Honors appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

Acquisition

Optimove Buys Smartico, Keeps Independence

Published

11 hours ago

April 7, 2026

Wladimir P.

optimove-buys-smartico,-keeps-independence

In a strategic move set to reshape the competitive landscape of iGaming marketing technology, Optimove has announced the acquisition of Smartico. Despite the deal, both companies will continue to operate independently—preserving their brands, leadership teams, and product strategies.

This acquisition comes at a pivotal moment for the global online gambling industry. According to recent market research, the sector reached an estimated $95.3 billion in 2024 and is projected to nearly double to $185.17 billion by 2033. As the industry scales, so does its complexity, driven by evolving regulations in Europe, fragmentation in the United States, and rapid expansion across Latin America, Africa, and Asia. In this environment, robust customer relationship management (CRM) solutions are no longer optional—they are essential.

A Strategic Alliance Without Integration

Unlike traditional acquisitions that lead to integration, Optimove’s approach is notably different. Smartico will remain a fully autonomous business unit, with its founders continuing to lead strategic direction, product development, and day-to-day operations. Clients can expect no disruption in services, pricing, or product offerings.

This independence reflects a deliberate strategy: fostering competition within the same ecosystem. Both companies will continue to innovate separately, pushing each other—and the broader industry—forward.

Two Distinct Visions of iGaming CRM

The deal unites two of the most influential approaches to CRM in iGaming:

Optimove built its reputation on advanced data analytics and AI-driven marketing. As the originator of the “Positionless Marketing” concept, the company enables marketers to orchestrate campaigns using intelligent agents that deliver hyper-personalized experiences at scale. This approach has reportedly improved campaign efficiency by up to 88%.
Smartico, on the other hand, carved out its niche by integrating gamification directly into CRM systems. By embedding game-like mechanics into player engagement strategies, Smartico has helped operators drive deeper interaction and retention. The company is now advancing further by incorporating generative AI across its platform.

Together, these two philosophies—data-centric intelligence and gamified engagement—represent the future of player retention and marketing in iGaming.

Strengthening Market Leadership

According to Pini Yakuel, the decision to acquire Smartico was driven by its originality and execution. He emphasized that Smartico stood out as a competitor due to its pioneering role in combining gamification with CRM—an innovation that has since become a key differentiator in the market.

Similarly, Arman Gal highlighted that the partnership allows Smartico to scale faster while maintaining its identity. With Optimove’s backing, the company gains additional resources to expand its innovation capabilities and global reach.

Competition as a Catalyst for Innovation

Interestingly, both companies will continue to compete in the same market. Optimove will further develop its gamification solution, Optimove Gamify, while Smartico continues executing its independent roadmap. This dual-track strategy is rooted in the belief that competition drives better outcomes for operators.

Rather than consolidating power, the acquisition creates a dynamic ecosystem where two leading platforms evolve side by side—each pushing the boundaries of what CRM can achieve in iGaming.

The Role of AI in the Next Phase of Growth

Artificial intelligence remains at the core of this transformation. Optimove has been embedding AI into its platform since 2012, long before it became industry standard. Today, its AI-powered decisioning agents enable real-time campaign orchestration across multiple channels.

Smartico is following a similar trajectory, integrating generative AI to enhance its gamification-driven engagement model. This convergence signals a broader trend: the fusion of AI, CRM, and user experience design as the next frontier in digital marketing.

A Defining Moment for iGaming Marketing

This acquisition underscores the maturation of the iGaming CRM sector. What began as a niche category has evolved into a critical component of modern marketing infrastructure. With two leading innovators now aligned—yet independent—the industry is poised for accelerated innovation.

For operators navigating an increasingly complex global market, the message is clear: the future belongs to those who can combine data intelligence, personalization, and immersive engagement.

THE ESPORTS AWARDS RETURNS IN 2026 FOR A CELEBRATION OF ESPORTS EXCELLENCE

Published

11 hours ago

April 7, 2026

GamingAmericas.com

the-esports-awards-returns-in-2026-for-a-celebration-of-esports-excellence

The Esports Awards will return later this year for its 2026 edition, taking place in North America and honouring the outstanding players, teams, creators and innovators of the past year in esports
Last year marked a major milestone for the Esports Awards, celebrating 10 years of excellence at the HyperX Arena, alongside the one-off Decade Awards, which reached 36.25M live views globally
The Esports Awards Golf Invitational will also return, bringing together industry leaders, creators and competitors for a day of networking and competition ahead of the main ceremony
Full details on the venue, date, nominees and voting will be revealed in the coming months

The Esports Awards has announced the return of its annual ceremony for 2026. Bringing together the global esports community under one roof, the Esports Awards will once again recognise the players, teams, creators and innovators who have defined the past year. The ceremony will take place in North America later this year, with exact dates and venue to be revealed in the coming months.

Last year’s edition of the Esports Awards marked a significant milestone, celebrating 10 years of esports excellence at the HyperX Arena in Las Vegas. The ceremony honoured some of the industry’s most recognised figures, including Mathieu “Zywoo” Herbaut, iShowSpeed and Animesh “Thug” Agarwal, while welcoming six new inductees into the Lifetime Achievement in Esports: Class of 2025 award. Earlier in the year, the Esports Awards also hosted the one-off Decade Awards in August, presented by Trevor “Quickshot” Henry, Jessica “JessGOAT” Bolden and Barney Banks, reaching 36.25M live views globally.

For the 2026 edition, fan-favourite categories including Esports Game of the Year, Esports Personality of the Year, Streamer of the Year and Esports Team of the Year will return, giving the community a voice in recognising the moments and individuals that shaped the past year in esports.

Winners will be determined through a combination of community voting and input from the Esports Awards Panel, a group of industry veterans, broadcasters, creators and players, ensuring the integrity and credibility of the awards.

In addition to the main ceremony, the Esports Awards Golf Invitational will return, bringing together industry leaders, creators and competitors for a day of networking and competition ahead of the awards.

“The Esports Awards continues to shine a spotlight on the very best in esports and gaming, and we’re pleased to return for 2026” said Michael Ashford, CEO of the Esports Awards. “Following the success of the Decade Awards and our 10th anniversary celebrations, we look forward to recognising the individuals, teams and moments that defined the past year in esports.”

Further updates regarding the venue, date, nominees and voting will be announced in the coming months. Fans are encouraged to follow the Esports Awards’ X account for the latest updates.

The post THE ESPORTS AWARDS RETURNS IN 2026 FOR A CELEBRATION OF ESPORTS EXCELLENCE appeared first on Americas iGaming & Sports Betting News.