Africa

The Unit moves into second year as start-up LulaBet’s marketing services supplier

Published

3 years ago

June 29, 2023

the-unit-moves-into-second-year-as-start-up-lulabet’s-marketing-services-supplier

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This follows LulaBet’s successful launch in South Africa, as The Unit continues to build its reputation across the globe

28th June 2023 – The Unit, the leader in nearshore product development and marketing for sports betting and igaming, is continuing in its role as marketing services supplier for LulaBet following the operator’s successful launch in South Africa.

LulaBet launched last September after The Unit came on board, bringing extensive experience of providing strategic marketing expertise gained across several years in sports betting and casino. The Unit has provided this service to LulaBet with a particular focus on paid search and paid social.

Based in Cape Town, LulaBet was set up by an experienced team of industry experts and has rapidly become one of the leading online sports betting and casino operators in South Africa, combining customer insight and technology to provide a rewarding and engaging experience.

Through this partnership, The Unit has showcased its ability to provide its world-class services in geographic locations across the world, launching and growing paid search and paid social marketing channels for a start-up in the sports betting space.

The Unit’s experienced industry professionals provide expertise for each partner’s marketing roadmap. From strategic marketing to budgets and planning, The Unit can help partners launch their sportsbook/casino into new markets or improve marketing channels that are currently underperforming.

The marketing team is made up of consultants with strong practical backgrounds, having worked on the operator side for many years, which means they understand the issues partners face both on a strategic and day-to-day level.

After assisting with LulaBet’s launch and identifying the strengths of a start-up business, The Unit will work with LulaBet on further plans to expand in the South African market, with a second wave of growth expected as more product features are added by the LulaBet team.

Paddy Casey, Co-Founder at The Unit, said: “I am delighted to continue working with LulaBet following an enjoyable and successful first year of our partnership. LulaBet has proved it can gain cut-through in the South African market in a short space of time, and the experience brought into the project from both sides has led to a fruitful collaboration. I am excited to see how our marketing expertise can help them take their brand to the next level.

“We have built our reputation globally since launching five years ago, and our success in helping grow a start-up like LulaBet is further proof of how we can help businesses across several jurisdictions. I look forward to providing our services in more markets as we continue to showcase our abilities.”

Iain Gutteridge, Managing Director at LulaBet, said: “We wanted to work with an agency who had extensive sports betting experience. We chose The Unit because the team there has experience from the operator side which made our communication with them fast and direct. We are a team of experienced betting professionals who operate at a fast pace, so The Unit were a great fit with our culture.”

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Africa

Dive Into a Different Kind of Love This February with Springbok Casino’s ‘Whalentines Month’ and Claim 25 Free Spins

Published

19 hours ago

February 2, 2026

Wladimir P.

dive-into-a-different-kind-of-love-this-february-with-springbok-casino’s-‘whalentines-month’-and-claim-25-free-spins

This February, SpringbokCasino.co.za redefines the season of love with ‘Whalentines Month’, a unique feature inspired by the majestic whales visiting South Africa’s coast. The campaign celebrates love as a patient, enduring, and natural force.

Players are welcomed with 25 FREE SPINS on the popular slot Buffalo Mania: Thunder Springs.

“February is usually dressed in red — roses, ribbons, and familiar love stories that come and go as quickly as they arrive,” says Daniel Van Wyke, Casino Manager. “But along South Africa’s coastline, love follows a slower rhythm. Whalentines Month honors that deeper connection.”

The feature explores the ocean’s gentle giants:

Gentle Giants of Love: Highlights whales’ profound social bonds and family loyalty.
A Romantic Sanctuary: Showcases why South Africa’s waters are a chosen haven for whale courtship.
Oceanic Love Songs: Reflects on the whales’ haunting, far-traveling serenades.
Motherhood Depths: Reveals the ultimate devotion between whale mothers and calves.
Celebrating Right: Encourages embracing patience, care, and nature’s timeless love stories.

Whalentines Month invites everyone to discover love in its most powerful, natural form. Visit Springbok Casino to claim your free spins and experience a love story written in the waves.

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The post Dive Into a Different Kind of Love This February with Springbok Casino’s ‘Whalentines Month’ and Claim 25 Free Spins appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

Africa

Sun International Appoints Mark Sergeant as Chief Operating Officer of Gaming

Published

5 days ago

January 29, 2026

Wladimir P.

sun-international-appoints-mark-sergeant-as-chief-operating-officer-of-gaming

Sun International CEO Ulrik Bengtsson has announced the appointment of Mark Sergeant as chief operating officer: gaming, responsible for land-based revenue across the group.

Sergeant will head up the casino operations from February, reporting directly to the CEO. He also brings over 25 years of credible leadership experience across all spheres of Sun International’s operations, from gaming to leisure and hospitality, having led two of the UK’s largest casino groups.

As the group managing director at Genting Casinos he oversaw a portfolio of 35 casinos across the UK, an international casino operation in Cairo, a UK integrated gaming and leisure resort, and two online gaming businesses.

Sun International said the appointment marks another giant leap forward for the group as it pursues its strategy to become a digitally-led, market-leading omnichannel gaming company of scale.

Bengtsson said: “Mark brings all the right skills to drive our gaming operations forward as well as a fresh new perspective for how we can continue to build world-class capabilities”

“In addition to his notable skills, we were also impressed by his leadership expertise and his passion for people. He is widely recognised for building high‑performing teams, developing future leaders, and cultivating service‑driven cultures that will ultimately deliver exceptional customer experiences. He has also played a significant role in championing Responsible Gaming strategies, ensuring operational excellence while upholding the highest standards of compliance, integrity, and customer care.”

The post Sun International Appoints Mark Sergeant as Chief Operating Officer of Gaming appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

AFCON 2025

AFCON’s month of football did not lift iGaming demand — Blask data analysis

Published

2 weeks ago

January 22, 2026

Wladimir P.

afcon’s-month-of-football-did-not-lift-igaming-demand-—-blask-data-analysis

AFCON 2025 ran from 21 December to 18 January, packing 52 matches across 19 matchdays. Given that schedule and the heavy interest in favourites such as Senegal, Morocco, Nigeria and Egypt, many expected a measurable boost in online gambling activity. However, Blask data shows the tournament produced only occasional deviations from normal patterns — even in the nations with teams that reached the final stages.

Key findings from Blask data

No broad uplift: Overall iGaming demand did not climb consistently across markets during AFCON.
Weekly rhythm dominated: The Blask Index largely followed pre-existing weekly patterns; matchday timings rarely overrode those cycles.
Host-country anomaly: Morocco — with more viewer-friendly kick-offs (five of seven on Sundays or Friday evenings) — recorded the largest single day-to-day Blask Index move (26 December, Morocco vs Mali at 21:00 local).
Vertical competition mattered: Live-match excitement often drew attention away from casino play rather than increasing it. Hourly Blask Index figures frequently fell or stayed flat during national-team matches.
Market-share stability: Dominant brands (usually 1–4 operators) retained their daily shares; AFCON did not reshuffle leaders in most markets.

Why AFCON didn’t create a sustained iGaming spike

Calendar beats event noise. Daily and weekly user habits — workweek rhythms, prime-time viewing slots and local schedules — remained the strongest determinants of iGaming demand.
Attention is finite. While live betting benefits from matchday attention, casino verticals compete for the same user time. In practice, watching matches often reduced casino activity.
Operator strategy limits volatility. In markets controlled by a few large operators, firms manage audience attention by shifting promotions across verticals rather than expanding overall demand. That keeps market shares relatively steady.

Notable exception: Nigeria’s operator flip-flop

Nigeria bucked the broader trend: two brands controlling 70%+ of audience attention exchanged top positions frequently. Bet9ja was the 2025 leader overall, but SportyBet overtook it on most AFCON days, including all Nigeria team matchdays — showing how high-profile tournaments can temporarily reorder leaderboards where competition is extremely concentrated.

What this means for operators and marketers

Promotions should be tactical, not assuming scale. Expect matchday windows to deliver spikes in live-bet engagement but not necessarily a net rise across iGaming.
Vertical-specific offers perform better. Tailor live-betting promos during matches and protect casino revenues with off-peak incentives.
Local kick-off times matter. Host nations or markets with viewer-friendly schedules can see stronger short-term lifts — use that to time campaigns.

Conclusion

AFCON 2025 drew continent-wide interest, but Blask’s daily and hourly data indicate no broad, sustained iGaming uplift. Instead, the tournament rearranged attention — boosting live-bet engagement at times while leaving overall demand on its usual calendar-driven trajectory. For operators, the insight is clear: the calendar is king, and major sporting events tend to redistribute, not expand, iGaming activity.

The post AFCON’s month of football did not lift iGaming demand — Blask data analysis appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.