Affiliate Industry
Gaming Innovation Group acquires AskGamblers
Gaming Innovation Group Inc. (GiG) has today signed an agreement to acquire the casino affiliate websites Askgamblers .com, Johnslots .com, Newcasinos .com and several smaller domains from Catena Media Plc. The total consideration is EUR 45 million, of which EUR 20 million will be paid in cash on closing, EUR 10 million twelve months after closing and the EUR 15 million balance 24 months after closing. Closing is expected in Q1 2023.
Askgamblers is an award-winning website recognised as a well-trusted website source in the iGaming industry with strong brand recognition by users. Johnslots and Newcasinos build on GiG Media’s strategy to diversify its business. With this acquisition, GiG Media cements its position in the industry as the leading casino affiliate.
The acquired websites generated revenue of EUR 12.9 million in the first nine months of 2022 with an EBITDA of EUR 8.4 million. GiG expects to have an EBITDA margin between 60-70% from the assets going forward. The assets are expected to generate around 53.000 FTDs in 2022.
The acquisition will diversify GiG Media’s business further in line with the strategy to create sustainable long-term growth and provide the business with several key strategic assets and multiple revenue opportunities. The acquired websites are strong in markets that currently are non-core markets for GiG Media, therefore expanding our current geographical reach. Further to the revenue growth potential, operational synergies are expected to be realised after the acquisition via the shared use of marketing technologies, business intelligence systems and key functions.
The transaction is structured by way of a Share Purchase Agreement (SPA) with GiG’s subsidiary Innovation Labs Ltd. (part of GiG Media) and includes the acquisition of the two companies Catena Publishing Ltd (Malta) and Catena Media D.O.O. Beograd (Serbia). These companies currently employ around 90 people.
GiG will finance the initial consideration through a combination of own cash, a revolving credit facility (RCF) and a share issue. Existing shareholders have committed to participate in the share issue and the RCF, securing sufficient financing to complete the transaction at closing.
Morten Hillestad, Director of Business Development in GiG Media, said: “After three years of consolidating and expanding the GiG Media business – realising strong annual organic growth – the time was ripe to act when this acquisition opportunity emerged. GiG Media has developed world class marketing technology and operational capabilities over the preceding years, and we feel that bringing the AskGamblers brand into the company structure will provide multiple opportunities for it to flourish.”
Jonas Warrer, Managing Director of GiG Media, said: “We are very pleased to welcome quality websites such as askgamblers.com into the business and look forward to integrating with the skilled teams that have built up the websites acquired. We want to be the leading casino affiliate in the industry, and this acquisition cements our position.”
Catena Media CEO Michael Daly said: “Today’s agreement is a major step in our journey to focus the business on online sports betting and casino affiliation in high-growth, regulated markets in the Americas. I am confident that in GiG we have found a buyer that will provide a strong environment for AskGamblers and the other brands and their talented people to develop and grow.”
Richard Brown, CEO of Gaming Innovation Group commented: “GiG is extremely excited to take over the premium AskGamblers brand from Catena. Combining the assets with GiG’s media technology and operational capabilities, provides us with a great opportunity to expand our global reach and to deliver a path for the brand to continue with its strong evolution. The expansion of our strategic position in conjunction with the deal structure gives the group another great blueprint for growth. We look forward to integrating the assets and current staff into Gaming Innovation Group.”
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SOFTSWISS, a leading tech provider with over 15 years of experience, announces that its innovative affiliate marketing management platform, Affilka by SOFTSWISS, will participate in the upcoming iGB Affiliate presenting new features.
iGB Affiliate 2025 will take place in Spain on 21-22 January at Fira Grant Via Barcelona. The event will host over 200 companies and more than 8,000 attendees from around the world.
Participating with the stand for the second year in a row, Affilka by SOFTSWISS is going to present new features and share 2024 year’s results. The platform currently powers over 410 brands, with more than 40 new additions in Q3 2024 alone. Since the beginning of the year, the platform has welcomed over a hundred new brands.
The number of new affiliate accounts registered on the platform increased by 39.6% during the first three quarters of 2024 compared to the same period of the previous year. Additionally, new player registrations grew by 62.7%, and the number of unique clicks on referral links increased by 8.9% during the same timeframe.
The growing metrics show the popularity of affiliate marketing in elevating iGaming projects. According to the recent iGaming Trends 2025 Report, affiliate marketing, along with SEO enhancement, paid advertising, and collaborations with influencers, remains one of the key tools for marketing promotion.
Constantly working on improving user experience, Affilka by SOFTSWISS recently introduced a new Geo-Distributed Redirect feature that reduces redirect times by 2.5 to 5 times. With tests showing a time drop from 1.5 seconds to 300–500 milliseconds, this improvement boosts site traffic by 3.5% to 7%, increasing registrations and deposits. It also enhances reliability and fault tolerance and ensures seamless traffic rerouting during disruptions, offering a faster and more dependable user experience.
Anastasia Borovaya, Head of Affilka by SOFTSWISS, summarises: “We acknowledge the essential role of affiliate marketing for promoting iGaming projects in a rapidly evolving landscape. The new feature is a game changer, addressing the common issue of players leaving sites due to lag. By drastically reducing latency, the Geo-Distributed Redirect feature ensures seamless navigation and maximises user engagement. Come to our stand at iGB Affiliate to learn more and share your ideas”.
Current and potential clients can book a meeting with the Affilka by SOFTSWISS team at stand C10 via the link.
About SOFTSWISS
SOFTSWISS is an international technology company with over 15 years of experience in developing innovative solutions for the iGaming industry. SOFTSWISS holds a number of gaming licences and provides comprehensive software for managing iGaming projects. The company’s product portfolio includes the Online Casino Platform, the Game Aggregator with over 23,500 casino games, the Affilka Affiliate Platform, the Sportsbook Software and the Jackpot Aggregator. In 2013, SOFTSWISS revolutionised the industry by introducing the world’s first Bitcoin-optimised online casino solution. The expert team, based in Malta, Poland, and Georgia, counts over 2,000 employees.
The post Affilka by SOFTSWISS to Present Updates at iGB Affiliate 2025 appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
Affiliate
AGS Announces Expiration of Hart-Scott-Rodino Act Waiting Period for Acquisition by Affiliates of Brightstar Capital Partners
PlayAGS, Incorporated (NYSE: AGS) (“AGS” or the “Company”), a global gaming supplier of high-performing slot, table, and interactive products, today announced the expiration of the waiting period under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976, as amended (the “HSR Act”), in connection with the previously announced agreement for the Company to be acquired by affiliates of Brightstar Capital Partners (“Brightstar”) for $12.50 per share in cash (the “Proposed Transaction”).
The HSR Act waiting period expired at 11:59 p.m., Eastern Time, on December 9, 2024, satisfying an important condition necessary for the completion of the Proposed Transaction, which is expected to close in the second half of 2025, subject to other conditions and regulatory approvals.
MightyTips is proud to announce its new partnership with Golden Star Sportsbook. This collaboration will enrich the iGaming experience for customers of both MightyTips and Golden Star.
Thanks to its well-developed SEO structure and diverse content, including bookmaker listings, bonus comparisons, and free daily expert football predictions, MightyTips will serve as a valuable gateway for potential Golden Star customers looking for a reputable sportsbook with features like instant withdrawals, weekly cashback, and more.
Golden Star is an online iGaming platform offering customers extensive sports betting options and over 4,000 casino games from leading software providers such as NetEnt, Evolution, and Microgaming. The site launched in 2012 and is licensed by Curacao.
Golden Star is owned by Dama N.V., a company that operates over 20 iGaming sites. Golden Star is part of the StarCrown Partners affiliate program, which recently introduced a loyalty rewards initiative to enhance the customer experience.
Golden Star has earned its reputation by offering a vast array of iGaming content on a secure, licensed platform that puts customers first. This aligns perfectly with MightyTips’ mission to connect iGaming enthusiasts with reliable and trustworthy operators.
Eugene Ravdin, MightyTips Head of Communications and Marketing, said: “At MightyTips, our goal is to provide iGaming enthusiasts with the best tools and insights to enhance their betting experience. This partnership expands our reach to a larger audience, particularly those passionate about sports predictions. With this collaboration, our readers can explore everything Golden Star has to offer.”
Sergei Trushkov, Golden Star Affiliate Team Lead, said: “We are delighted to partner with MightyTips, a respected leader in the betting affiliate industry. This collaboration is an exciting step forward in bringing Golden Star’s premium sportsbook experience to audiences across Central and Southern Europe, Australia, and Canada. Together, we are dedicated to enhancing the betting journey by providing expert insights and tailored offers for these markets.”
The post MightyTips announces partnership with Golden Star sportsbook appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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