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FUN88 unveils Tony Parker as its brand ambassador for Asia

Published

3 years ago

October 27, 2023

Reading Time: 3 minutes

Basketball superstar and four-time NBA Championships winner, Tony Parker, has been unveiled as an official brand ambassador for FUN88, the powerhouse Asian sports betting operator.

In this new landmark role for FUN88, Parker will assist in fronting a series of dedicated promotions and thematic activations for one of the most popular and progressive sportsbook operators in Asia. This innovative partnership begins with immediate effect, leveraging long-term scope for collaboration.

Adored and recognized around the world after 18 storied years in the NBA (17 of which were at the San Antonio Spurs franchise, for whom he contested five NBA Finals and won one MVP award in 2007), Parker’s distinguished history, international appeal and commitment to excellence on and off the court make him a hot-hand ambassador for a brand that is setting the pace across the planet’s biggest continent as the leading igaming platform. The 41-year-old now follows in the sizeable strides of Steve Nash and the late, great Kobe Bryant on FUN88 ambassadorial duties.

Parker’s engaging character, peerless speed and skill seamlessly chime with FUN88’s own core values around the responsiveness and agility of its underlying technology and client-facing site, both pre-game and in-play, not to mention its dynamic customer service for fans. His rapier reflexes famously shut out initial media assessments about his lack of stature by the NBA’s towering standards – and this underdog spirit, coupled with an ability to routinely surpass expectations, made this Hall of Famer a ready winner with sporting fan-bases worldwide. As eloquent examples, Parker boasts a 2M following on X (formerly known as Twitter), over 3M followers on Facebook, and 1M fans on Weibo in China.

FUN88 prides itself on its rich heritage in basketball and other international sports, with a roll call of stars and teams that positively separates the company from other brands in the sector. To which end, FUN88 has been highly active in global sports marketing over the past decade, and presently acts as the long-term Asian betting partner of two Premier League clubs in Tottenham Hotspur and Newcastle United FC while also leveraging another enduring ambassadorship with Spanish footballing legend, Iker Casillas. FUN88 has also enjoyed instrumental associations with the aforementioned Bryant, the renowned OG Dota 2 team in eSports, and cricketing stars Daren Sammy and Dale Steyn.

Now, this Tony Parker announcement sets up the new NBA season perfectly for further ambitious expansion from FUN88, broadening its footprint into more emerging markets where basketball’s popularity and audience share is coming to its zenith (e.g. China, the Philippines and South East Asia countries such as Thailand and Vietnam), with each new territory bolstered by the operator’s enduring mantra to engage, educate and entertain.

A senior spokesperson welcomed FUN88’s latest flagship ambassador: “We’re naturally delighted to have secured further net gains for FUN88’s unrivalled ambassadorial roster by signing Tony. He’s one of the most successful sports personalities his country has ever produced and retains a huge popularity worldwide. We’re confident that fans and FUN88 players alike will enjoy seeing Tony shine a light on the sport he loves, and share in his infectious enthusiasm with an engaged social media community.”

“His famous No. 9 jersey may have been retired, but his legacy and excitement for the game are as strong as ever. Together, we are committed to achieving our goals in the most engaging way possible, raising the bar of the end-user experience and social traction.”

Parker, who becomes FUN88’s third Hall of Fame ambassador from the NBA, added: “I’m thrilled to be following Steve and Kobe’s lead as FUN88’s latest basketball frontman, as we look forward to an exciting renewal of the NBA campaign. They have built a brand here which directly aligns with my playing values of speed and strength, underpinned by a desire to operate as a team and confound the critics. Everyone used to tell me I was too small and too slight to make it in the NBA. That lit a fire in my soul and helped me inspire my teammates. It’s a combination that’s vital to winning any game and also entertaining your audience.”

“With that in mind, I can’t wait to help deliver more premium content, insights and activity to emerging Asian markets, and the basketball fans within them. From China to Thailand, these fans are making it rain! Hopefully, we can find some innovative offers and deeper connections for players to better engage with the sports they love.”

While FUN88 continues to develop its online offerings for football fans around the world, this latest landmark acquisition highlights its commitment to international representation and fostering a sports-friendly environment framed by a responsible igaming culture.

FUN88 has pioneered the gamified betting experience, thanks to a unique interface and personalised customer service that deliver a cohesive player journey from the log-in until the end result. This seamless experience has also ensured record levels of retention and consumer satisfaction amongst its active base.

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eSports

Esports Foundation names Faker Game Ambassador for EWC and ENC through 2028

Published

10 hours ago

July 15, 2026

Wladimir P.

esports-foundation-names-faker-game-ambassador-for-ewc-and-enc-through-2028

Lee “Faker” Sang-hyeok joins Cristiano Ronaldo and Magnus Carlsen in the Esports Foundation’s Ambassador Program.

The Esports Foundation (EF) has appointed Lee “Faker” Sang-hyeok as a Game Ambassador for the Esports World Cup (EWC) and Esports Nations Cup (ENC) through 2028, the organization said on July 15, 2026 in a statement issued from Riyadh and Paris.

EF said Faker joins Cristiano Ronaldo, listed as the Foundation’s Global Ambassador, and Magnus Carlsen as part of the Esports Foundation Ambassador Program. The Foundation said Faker will represent “the perspective of esports players” across its international events, athlete initiatives, media engagements and leadership forums.

“You can’t talk about esports without mentioning Faker. He is the defining athlete of competitive gaming: a champion whose excellence, discipline and longevity have inspired an entire generation,” said Ralf Reichert, Chief Executive Officer of the Esports Foundation. “As our Game Ambassador, Faker represents something fundamental to the Ambassador Program: esports creates its own global sporting icons. Across EWC, ENC and NGSC, he will help ensure that the players who built this sport have a voice in shaping where it goes next.”

Faker said: “Competition has shaped my life, and I am proud to join the Esports Foundation as Game Ambassador. I want to continue competing for the biggest titles with T1 while representing the players and fans who have helped esports grow worldwide. Through the Esports World Cup, Esports Nations Cup and the Foundation’s wider platforms, I hope to inspire the next generation to pursue excellence, remain resilient and believe in how far competitive gaming can take them. There is still much more to achieve.”

EF highlighted Faker’s competitive record, describing him as a six-time League of Legends World Champion, EWC 2024 winner, two-time MSI champion and ten-time domestic champion with T1. The Foundation also said Faker became the first esports athlete to receive the Blue Dragon Medal in 2026, describing it as the Republic of Korea’s highest sporting honor awarded by President Lee Jae-myung.

The post Esports Foundation names Faker Game Ambassador for EWC and ENC through 2028 appeared first on EE Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

Brand Partnerships

Midnite signs as Middlesbrough FC principal partner for 2026/27 season

Published

17 hours ago

July 15, 2026

Wladimir P.

midnite-signs-as-middlesbrough-fc-principal-partner-for-2026/27-season

Midnite has agreed a partnership with Middlesbrough FC that will see the UK bookmaker become the club’s principal partner and front-of-shirt sponsor for the 2026/27 campaign, which Middlesbrough describes as its landmark 150th season.

The companies announced the deal alongside a fan activation at Riverside Stadium on Thursday, July 9, branded “This Season’s On Us”. The initiative offered supporters prizes including 2026/27 season tickets, 2026/27 shirts, match tickets, or a £25 club shop voucher, with fans required to answer Middlesbrough trivia and complete a football challenge.

Middlesbrough former players Craig Hignett and David Wheater attended the event, and, according to the company, took bonus attempts on behalf of participants who missed out.

Andrew Mook, Midnite’s Head of Brand Marketing, said:

“Middlesbrough have a storied history and we’re delighted to announce this partnership during such a monumental year with the club celebrating their 150th anniversary.

“It was great to see so many Middlesbrough fans at the “This Season’s On Us” activation, we hope they enjoyed taking part and meeting club legends, with David Wheater hitting top bins on several occasions and allowing fans to win big with season tickets.

“We can’t wait to get to Riverside Stadium in August to kick-off a new season and we’re excited to say that we have plenty of new and captivating campaigns planned.”

Lee Fryett, Middlesbrough FC Chief Commercial Officer, added:

“We’re delighted to welcome Midnite as our new Principal Partner.

“We’re looking forward to working closely with Midnite to develop engaging campaigns, content and unique experiences that bring our fans even closer to the club.

“We’re confident this partnership will provide real value for our supporters while supporting our ambitions both on and off the pitch.”

The post Midnite signs as Middlesbrough FC principal partner for 2026/27 season appeared first on EE Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

AGCO

ThrillTech secures AGCO supplier licence for Ontario launch

Published

17 hours ago

July 15, 2026

Wladimir P.

thrilltech-secures-agco-supplier-licence-for-ontario-launch

ThrillTech has been awarded a Gaming-Related Supplier licence by the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO), clearing the company to launch in Ontario’s regulated market.

The licence allows ThrillTech to deploy its opt-in side bet jackpots technology with regulated online casino, sports betting and lottery operators across the province.

Benjamin Bradtke, Co-Founder of ThrillTech, said: “Securing our AGCO licence is a major step in our mission to transform how jackpots are delivered at scale across regulated markets. This latest certification is testament to our robust technology and trusted compliance frameworks, allowing us to continue our global growth trajectory. We are thrilled to bring our proven, compliant jackpot technology to Ontario, empowering locally licensed operators to uplift revenue without cannibalising existing spend.”

The company said its “ThrillPots” mechanics sit as an independent, player-funded side bet and do not alter the underlying game’s return-to-player mathematics.

ThrillTech said the Ontario approval enables its existing multinational partners that also operate in the province to launch its side bet jackpots locally, while it also holds talks with potential new operator partners. The company lists its regulated footprint as including the United Kingdom, Sweden, the Netherlands, Romania, Malta, Gibraltar, Brazil and Peru.

The post ThrillTech secures AGCO supplier licence for Ontario launch appeared first on EE Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.