partnerships

Southampton FC scouting sports tech startups for Future of Football challenge

Published

3 years ago

January 4, 2023

Reading Time: 2 minutes

The Future of Football challenge is open to innovative companies ready to shape and test their solutions for updated football experiences in either the football development or fan engagement space. In spirit with its values of innovation and doing things differently, Southampton FC will offer a 4-week virtual programme — powered by Sport Republic and Yolo Group — to create opportunities and break away from conventional methods.

The challenge welcomes Web3 and sports tech startups and scaleups with novel solutions to:

Football development (scouting, training, recovery, game analytics etc.)
Fan engagement (gamification, loyalty programmes, matchday experiences, global fan engagement etc.)

Selected teams will rapidly test and pilot their solutions, participate in tailored workshops, and have regular and direct access to Southampton FC, Sport Republic, and Yolo Group decision-makers. At the St. Mary’s finale, teams will pitch for a commercial relationship with SFC and a £100k discretionary prize pool for post-programme solution development.

“Southampton FC’s commitment to innovating and creating a positive impact is central to the way we operate and make decisions. We’re excited to see programme participants create the future of football” said Sarah Batters, Director of Marketing and Partnerships as SFC.

European Gaming Congress 2024 (Warsaw, Poland)

Sport Republic, the owner of Southampton Football Club is a London-based investment firm in the sports and entertainment industry. Founded by Henrik Kraft and Rasmus Ankersen and backed by Lead Investor Dragan Šolak, Sport Republic’s vision is to grow high potential sports businesses and sports tech companies.

“Sport Republic are really looking forward to being part of the Future of Football challenge to power innovation in sports tech. We are continuously seeking the most innovative sports tech companies to join our portfolio and leveraging our clubs to drive growth and achieve digital transformation. ” said Henrik Kraft, Sport Republic and SFC Chairman.

Yolo Group is the managing partner for the Future of Football challenge. Yolo Group is a leader at the cross section of gaming, fintech, and blockchain, and operates the Sportsbet.io brand. Sportsbet.io is Southampton FC’s Main Club Partner.

“This programme is designed to push boundaries, to bring together a spectrum of solutions from startups around the globe. It’s a chance to create truly unique approaches — and test them. We’re driven by innovation; so, we’re looking forward to seeing the results,” said Tim Heath, GP at Yolo Investments, and founder of Yolo Group. The application deadline is 23 February 2023. Find more information and apply here: https://www.southamptonfc.com/saints-partners/future-of-football-challenge

Brazil

Inspired Partners with Jogo de Ouro in Brazil

Published

2 days ago

July 18, 2025

GamingAmericas.com

inspired-partners-with-jogo-de-ouro-in-brazil

Inspired Entertainment, Inc., a leading provider of B2B gaming content, systems, and solutions, is excited to announce a new partnership with Jogo de Ouro, a Brazilian-based sportsbook and casino operator, to bring Inspired’s acclaimed slot titles to its players.

This partnership signals a major step forward in Inspired’s growth strategy, as the market expands during its new era of regulation. With this launch, Jogo de Ouro’s players in Brazil will now have access to Inspired’s rapidly expanding catalogue of online slot content, including hit titles such as Golden Winner (Campeão de Ouro), Big Piggy Bank (Super Confrinho da Sorte), Big Fishing Fortune (Super Pescaria da Fortuna), alongside global fan favourites like Gold Cash Free Spins (Grana de Ouro Giros Gratis), Cops ‘n’ Robbers Big Money (Policia e Ladrao Muita Grana), and more.

Jogo de Ouro will feature regular content releases from Inspired, giving its players access to a variety of new experiences, including proven, high-performing global hits. The portfolio blends iconic classics, innovative features, and seasonal favourites, all designed with high-impact mechanics that drive both engagement and retention. The partnership with Jogo de Ouro broadens Inspired’s global footprint and brings proven content to one of the most promising iGaming markets, in the world.

Claire Osborne, Vice President of Interactive at Inspired Entertainment, said: “We’re thrilled to be partnering with Jogo de Ouro to bring our diverse games portfolio to Brazilian audiences. From player-favourite classics to fun seasonal titles, our games are crafted for engagement and have proven performance. This collaboration will deliver exceptional entertainment experiences to Jogo de Ouro’s players.”

Flavio Sukar, CEO at Jogo de Ouro, added: “This partnership positions Jogo de Ouro at the forefront of Brazilian iGaming, delivering top-tier casino content to our players. We’re proud to partner with Inspired, and we look forward to bringing their high-quality games and regular new releases to audiences across the country.”

The post Inspired Partners with Jogo de Ouro in Brazil appeared first on Gaming and Gambling Industry in the Americas.

bingo

Tombola and Sisal Join Forces to Enhance Online Bingo Offering in Italy

Published

2 days ago

July 18, 2025

Niji Narayan

tombola-and-sisal-join-forces-to-enhance-online-bingo-offering-in-italy

Reading Time: 2 minutes

Flutter Entertainment’s online bingo brand, tombola, announced its first-ever platform partnership, bringing its innovative product and deep liquidity pool to Sisal, Flutter’s sports betting and gaming brand in Italy. The collaboration between the two leading brands represents the latest example of the Flutter Edge in action – the Group’s distinct competitive advantages across product, technology, expertise and scale, all of which are evident in this partnership.

Sisal’s bingo customers now get to enjoy tombola’s proprietary bingo product as an integrated feature on their app and website. Games will continue to be Sisal-branded to maintain consistency but will be powered by tombola’s product offering and expertise. Meanwhile, Italian tombola players will see the introduction of Super Bingo, a new playing experience involving a game of 75-ball bingo that will generate significant full house prizes well beyond what has been available in the market up to now.

Importantly, the integration and these new products allow both sets of customers to avail of a much deeper liquidity pool, giving them opportunities to play for larger prizes and bigger guaranteed jackpots.

Rosangela Robbiani, Chief Product Officer at Flutter Southern Europe and Africa (SEA), which includes Sisal, said: “We’re thrilled to see this combination happening, as Italy proves once again to be a fertile ground for collaboration across Flutter’s brands, particularly within Southern Europe and Africa. Leveraging the advantages of the Flutter Edge, we’re unlocking new ways to enhance the customer experience. Sisal has a long-standing track record in pioneering product innovation: this initiative is a clear example of how cross-brand collaboration within Flutter can accelerate innovation and deliver meaningful value for our players.”

The Sisal launch represents the first phase of an ambitious partnership. Later this year, tombola’s casino product will launch on Sisal, fully integrated with engaging player chat capabilities and tombola’s signature side-games solution as part of the enhanced bingo proposition. This multi-product approach will create a strong ecosystem that leverages the best of both brands.

Beyond Italy, the successful integration represents a new opportunity for the Group to transform its bingo proposition within existing markets, while expanding the product’s reach globally through strategic partnerships.

“This is a hugely exciting moment for tombola, as we take the next step in our evolution and bring our award-winning bingo product to Sisal’s players in Italy. The ability to seamlessly integrate and scale our platform for future partnerships represents a fantastic opportunity for Flutter to transform the bingo proposition, both within our existing markets and beyond,” said Marion Ryan, Managing Director at tombola.

The post Tombola and Sisal Join Forces to Enhance Online Bingo Offering in Italy appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

Brightstar Lottery PLC

Brightstar Lottery Modernizes Retail and Digital Solutions for Missouri Lottery with OMNIA Deployment

Published

2 days ago

July 18, 2025

GamingAmericas.com

brightstar-lottery-modernizes-retail-and-digital-solutions-for-missouri-lottery-with-omnia-deployment

Brightstar Lottery PLC announced that it will deploy its fully-integrated lottery solution, OMNIA, to modernize retail and digital solutions for the Missouri Lottery via an eight-year contract. OMNIA seamlessly connects retail and digital lottery channels and was designed to simplify operations and elevate player experiences. Brightstar will also enhance the Missouri Lottery’s digital program to include Connected Play, second-chance promotions and loyalty program.

“For more than 30 years, the Missouri Lottery has relied on Brightstar’s world-class technology and insight to help contribute more than $8.5 billion to public education throughout our state. We are excited to build upon this long-term partnership over the course of the next eight years and deliver new, premier experiences for our players,” said Lester Elder, Missouri Lottery Executive Director.

“Brightstar is honored to support the Missouri Lottery as it embraces the evolving lottery landscape and implements innovative solutions that will increase flexibility to manage its operations and engage players in new ways. We look forward to delivering these high-performing solutions, while helping the Lottery achieve its goals of maximizing funds to education,” said Scott Gunn, Brightstar Chief Operating Officer North America Lottery.

Brightstar will also deliver new retailer equipment including 5250 Retailer Pro S2s, 2220 GameTouch 28s, 75 GameTouch 20s, 250 GameTouch Draws, 1250 Digital Menu Boards, and an enhanced communications network. These solutions drive player engagement and offer versatility, reliability, and convenience, backed by the high performance and integrity of Brightstar’s market-leading central system.

Brightstar serves nearly 90 lottery customers and their players on six continents. It is the primary technology provider to 26 of the 46 lottery jurisdictions in the US and seven of the world’s 10 largest lotteries.

The post Brightstar Lottery Modernizes Retail and Digital Solutions for Missouri Lottery with OMNIA Deployment appeared first on Gaming and Gambling Industry in the Americas.