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Football legend Michael Owens joins SunBet as a Brand Ambassador

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In a stunning coup, former Liverpool, Manchester United, and England star Michael Owen is to spearhead Sun International’s online betting platform SunBet’s attack as brand ambassador.

Leading online betting platform SunBet, part of the Sun International group, has signed footballing superstar and world-renowned pundit Michael Owen as its brand ambassador.

Owen has signed an exclusive deal from June 2023 as part of the betting platform’s 13th birthday celebrations, heralding a new era for the business.

SunBet CEO Simon Gregory said: “We are absolutely delighted to have Michael on board as a brand ambassador to provide and share his deep insights of the game of football with SunBet customers.

“Anyone who loves the English Premier League and football in general will appreciate his deep knowledge of the game, coupled with his articulate and insightful commentary and analysis which have made him one of the most sought-after football media personalities in the world.

“As a former player at the highest level, he knows exactly what goes through the minds of players and managers at key points in a match and during the course of an arduous season and brings this to bear in his commentary and analysis.”

The 2001 Ballon d’Or winner will provide score predictions, expert tips and insights, weekly football betting odds, and signed memorabilia, among other duties. Owen, who is also an accomplished racehorse owner and trainer, will also be relied on to give periodic and fascinating insights into the horseracing industry.

“I have come to know South Africa very well over the years in my various roles as a football analyst and I know the deep and incredible passion there is for football in this country. From the PSL, to the Premier League and I cannot wait to share my knowledge and passion with SunBet fans. I am thrilled to be joining one of South Africa’s leading brands and one which shares my passion and enthusiasm for football, horse racing and other pursuits,” said Owen.
Owen burst onto the football scene with English giants Liverpool in 1997 as a 17-year-old, becoming the club’s youngest player as well as goal scorer. In a footballing career that took him from the Reds to bitter rivals Manchester United and Newcastle United, via Spanish heavyweights Real Madrid, Owen scored over 220 goals in nearly 500 appearances at the club level. His exploits at international level were equally impressive, as he netted 40 goals in 89 appearances for England.

From strength to strength

In 13 short years, SunBet has grown from a platform that began with the main sporting codes of football, rugby, cricket, golf, horseracing major events such as world cups and more.

The SunBet platform has further evolved into offering fixed odd bets on the outcome of slots and tables games such as roulette, blackjack and baccarat.

In 2022, SunBet paid out well over R1-billion as online entertainment continues to show impressive growth. “We are predicting another great year for SunBet as our customer numbers are up and we are predicting record revenues for the 2023 financial year.

“However, without a doubt, football remains our biggest ticket item and SunBet is able to provide soccer betting offerings with literally thousands of markets and competitive odds,” explained Gregory.

The installation of a pundit of the stature of Michael Owen is a sign of things to come as SunBet lines up another record-breaking year.

 

Africa

QTech Games launches more fast-paced content from Shacks Evolution Studios for Africa

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QTech Games, the leading game aggregator for all emerging markets, has signed its latest supplier partnership with global B2B content developer and provider Shacks Evolution Studios, enabling its platform customers to access the supplier’s expansive catalogue. The portfolio is specifically tailored for Africa, featuring an array of instant-win, crash, and virtuals content.

Shacks Evolution Studios was founded in 2021, and is dedicated to delivering localized quality casino content for African and other previously untapped international markets. Styling itself as Africa’s first iGaming studio, the supplier’s content is carefully curated and developed, with a strategic outlook to surmount barriers to entry such as local languages, currencies, low end phones or latency issues.

Popular hits include crash games like Busly or Matatu, virtuals like Penaldo, wheel games such as Reel Wheel or Spin The Bottle, instant games like Coin Toss, and leading mines game Citadel, alongside more traditional table games. These titles are light and fast to load, providing a ready solution to overcoming local obstacles to engagement in emerging markets, such as handset quality limitations, restricted access to fast networks, and high data costs.

This breakthrough announcement with QTech now affords the supplier wider reach across Africa’s emerging markets, where QTech has already staked multiple jurisdictional flags, and beyond. In turn, incorporating this ever-evolving production line emphasizes QTech Games’ diverse range of gaming options, providing a definitive one-stop shop, which has fast become the “go-to” solution for operators across the ripening African marketplace.

As the fastest-growing aggregator over the past few years, QTech’s platform offers the most expansive gaming portfolio around, localised for each region, with native mobile apps, powerful reporting and marketing tools, and 24/7 local-language support.

QTech Games CEO, Philip Doftvik, said: “We’re committed to rolling out more and more high-class content for Africa, and this exciting new deal with Shacks Evolution Studios showcases an agile array of content which solves for fine-grained, local requirements in countries where light, rapid-load games are a must.

“Being local is always vital, and it’s a domain of igaming activity in which QTech excels. In high-growth regions like Africa, content diversity matters enormously because player demand evolves very quickly — and it’s also shaped by local realities such as mobile usage, data costs, device types, and payment preferences.

“From what we’ve observed in Africa to date, localised design drives player behaviour when it comes to: familiar mechanics reducing friction and increasing adoption; local themes and culturally relevant formats significantly lifting engagement; and faster game cycles increasing repeat play among younger cohorts. And Shacks Evolution Studios’ varied content embodies these requirements.”

Esther Osifo, Growth and Operations Manager at Shacks Evolution Studios, added: “Shacks is all about giving promising African developers the chance to shine. It’s about building a full ecosystem from virtuals and crash games to homegrown titles that defines Africa’s ascendant position on the igaming map. 

“QTech’s platform is a gateway to fresh audiences, and nowhere does that apply more in Africa, where they are already a mature player. We can’t wait to see how our highly engaging games perform for a host of new local operators, including both established and challenger brands.”

The post QTech Games launches more fast-paced content from Shacks Evolution Studios for Africa appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

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Africa

Virgin Bet goes live in South Africa

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Virgin Bet is excited to reveal the start of its operations in South Africa, signifying the brand’s inaugural expansion beyond the UK.

Launching in 2019, Virgin Bet has developed into a top betting brand in the UK. Its expansion into the South African market signifies a significant milestone in the brand’s development, marking its debut in an international market.

Virgin Bet operates under LiveScore Group, a worldwide frontrunner in sports media and betting, which includes renowned brands such as LiveScore, LiveScore Bet, and Virgin Bet. The introduction in South Africa enhances the company’s presence in Africa, expanding on LiveScore Bet’s current operations in Nigeria.

Responsible gambling is fundamental to the virginbet.co.za platform, prioritizing player wellbeing as a key element. The brand provides an extensive array of responsible gambling resources, such as deposit caps, time-outs, and self-exclusion choices for every customer, along with strict age verification measures. Dedicated local customer support teams back these measures, and additional initiatives are set for South Africa to promote safer gambling, aligning with Virgin Bet’s overall corporate social responsibility (CSR) commitments.

Ahead of its launch, Virgin Bet has been consistently forming a robust local leadership team to assist its long-term goals in South Africa, featuring Gail Odgers, recognized as one of iGaming South Africa’s most “influential women in gaming,” as the Head of Marketing.

Virgin Bet is driven by its brand mission, “A Good Bet,” signifying that every wager should be thrilling and beneficial regardless of the result, as players maintain control and gamble responsibly.

Virgin Bet is dedicated to providing its customers with outstanding rewards. Spanning from wagering promotions to unique deals within the broader Virgin ecosystem, the brand seeks to provide exceptional experiences while keeping betting enjoyable and secure.

Gail Odgers, Head of Marketing, Virgin Bet South Africa, said: “Launching in South Africa is a proud moment for us. At Virgin Bet, we believe that ‘A Good Bet’ means delivering standout experiences for our customers, while also taking our responsibility to players and communities seriously.

South Africans care deeply about sport. Whether it’s football, rugby or cricket, sport is part of everyday conversation. That passion is what makes this market so exciting for us.

Our role is to enhance that experience responsibly, offering standout moments and exceptional rewards, while setting a high standard for responsible gambling from day one. We’re focused on building trust and introducing Virgin Bet in a way that South Africans can feel confident in.”

The post Virgin Bet goes live in South Africa appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

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TaDa Gaming Enters South Africa via Strategic Betway Partnership

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TaDa Gaming marks its entry into the South African iGaming market through a landmark partnership with Betway, bringing premium casino content to local players.

With slots tailored for the SA market, Betway players will have immediate access to releases including Crazy 777, Coin Tree, 40 Sparkling Crown, Devil Fire 2 and Rapid Gems 777 as well as the Fortune Gems series. Distribution is through Light & Wonder Inc.

TaDa is renowned for attracting new and younger demographics with its immersive content. As winner of the SiGMA Africa Slot Newcomer of the Year, 2025, all games are expertly localised and mobile first for lightweight deployment and swift loading times, a critical factor for success.

Taking a glocalised approach has enabled TaDa to build a transnational brand across the continent for delivering scalable, regulated business success in emerging and high growth countries.

This experience gained from operating in over 15 countries including Nigeria, Kenya, Ghana, Uganda and Tanzania makes TaDa a valuable partner in South Africa, a key destination for the ambitious content provider.

Ray Lee, Director of Business Development at TaDa Gaming, said: “Building our brand for immersive and tailored gaming in South Africa has been enhanced through securing collaborations with key operators like Betway. We are delighted to be working together to deliver new and exciting experiences for players across the SA market.”

The post TaDa Gaming Enters South Africa via Strategic Betway Partnership appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

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