Latest News
Sharp Alpha Closes Fund II With Over $25 Million To Back Sports, Gaming, Entertainment Startups
Sharp Alpha Advisors announced the closing of Sharp Alpha Fund II, an oversubscribed $25 million venture capital fund investing in early-stage sports, gaming, and entertainment businesses.
Existing investments in Fund II include C15 Studio, which recently emerged from stealth mode as the operator and distributor of Formula 1’s new streaming channel. Previous investments include Almost Friday Media, Jackpot.com, and Betcha (acquired by Vivid Seats).
The fund targets seed investments ranging from $1 – 2 million. Sharp Alpha also operates a co-investment vehicle that provides limited partners the ability to invest additional capital in select deals alongside the fund.
Managing Partner Lloyd Danzig was recently named to Business Insider’s Top Venture Capitalists in Sports and ELG’s 40 Under 40. He is frequently featured by CNBC, The New York Times, and The Wall Street Journal.
The fund is backed by public companies, US fnancial institutions, pro sports team owners, family offces, top venture capitalists, and funds of funds, among others.
According to Danzig, there is a signifcant opportunity at the intersection of sports, gaming, media, and technology. “The competitive entertainment category is experiencing exponential growth but at the same time is desperate for innovation that early-stage companies are best positioned to supply.”
The fund has exceeded its $25 million capital raise target and expanded the size of its deal team.
Commenting on current market conditions, Danzig explained, “we are entering the most favorable period in the last 15 years to bet on great founders.”
Sharp Alpha’s advisory board includes Keith Horn, founder of Loring Capital Advisors and former COO of Elliott Management and Global Head of Leveraged Finance at Merrill Lynch; Emanuel Pearlman, the former Chairman of Empire Resorts and board member at several public companies; Daniel Bernard, Founder and Chairman of Redwood International Sports; Roy Behren, the President and Chief Investment Offcer of a $5.2 billion asset manager; and Don Kornstein, the Vice Chairman of Caesars Entertainment and former executive at numerous successful gaming companies.
In addition to investment capital, the frm provides portfolio companies with a suite of resources and opportunities spanning fundraising, revenue generation, brand awareness, commercial strategy, fnancial planning, and product development.
Latest News
Bagelmania Backroom Comedy night lineup announced for Thursday, Feb. 26
The iconic Jewish delicatessen Siegel’s Bagelmania has announced the comedic line up that will leave guests “laughing their bagels off” at the next Bagelmania Backroom Comedy night on Thursday, Feb. 26.
Hosted monthly by Las Vegas-based and nationally touring comedian couple Noah Gardenswartz and Ester Steinberg, the event Thursday night will welcome Chris Clarke as the headliner along with acclaimed comics Kristeen Von Hagen, Gabe Quire and Lauren Rochelle.
Clarke, known as a high-energy and imaginative comedian, now tours the country with veteran comedian Rob Schneider. He also has amassed more than 40 million views on his popular YouTube channel “Csnacks,” where he tastes food and snacks from the front seat of his car. His hilarious and unique way of describing different flavors led to national commercials for Checkers and Rally’s, a one-hour special on the Cooking Channel titled Baby Got Snack, and an appearance as a food critic judge on Beat Bobby Flay.
Siegel’s Bagelmania will offer a special Backroom Comedy menu of its signature delicatessen cuisine as well as a full bar so guests can enjoy great comedy, dinner, and drinks in a unique, relaxed setting.
The Bagelmania Backroom is open to attendees 18 and older. Doors open for drinks and dinner at 7 p.m. Show time is 8 p.m. Tickets for Bagelmania Backroom are on sale for $20 online at https://siegelsbagelmania.com/backroomcomedy/ and will be sold at the door while supply lasts.
The post Bagelmania Backroom Comedy night lineup announced for Thursday, Feb. 26 appeared first on Americas iGaming & Sports Betting News.
Latest News
ACR Poker OSS XL Returns With $50M GTD
ACR Poker has officially announced the return of its flagship Online Super Series (OSS) XL, running from March 1 to March 23, 2026, with a massive $50 million in guaranteed prize pools.
Following the success of its recent Dual Venom tournaments, which paid out more than $11 million, ACR Poker is once again delivering high-value online tournament action designed for players of all skill levels and bankroll sizes.
Three Main Events With $5 Million Guaranteed
The headline events of OSS XL include three major Main Events launching March 15:
- $2,650 buy-in – $2 million guaranteed
- $1,050 buy-in – $2 million guaranteed
- $215 buy-in – $1 million guaranteed
These marquee tournaments anchor the series, offering players high-stakes competition alongside accessible mid- and low-stakes opportunities.
Phil’s Thrill XXL and Multi-Flight Action
Kicking off the series on March 1 is Phil’s Thrill XXL, featuring a $1.5 million guarantee and a $10,300 buy-in. Players can qualify for as little as $95 through ACR’s Road to the Big One promotion.
The schedule also includes a $630 buy-in Multi-Flight Event with $1.5 million guaranteed, with Day 1 flights beginning March 1 and Day 2 set for March 23.
For bounty hunters, OSS XL offers five Mystery Bounty Multi-Flight tournaments, including:
- Three $500,000 guaranteed events ($109 buy-in)
- A $150,000 guaranteed event ($33 buy-in)
- A $100,000 guaranteed event ($5.50 buy-in)
These tournaments provide dynamic prize opportunities and strong value across all buy-in tiers.
$65,000 Leaderboard Contest
To enhance engagement, ACR Poker’s Leaderboard Contest returns with $65,000 in cash and tournament tickets across three buy-in tiers:
- High Stakes: $15,000 top prize
- Mid Stakes: $7,500 top prize
- Low Stakes: $4,000 top prize
According to ACR Pro Chris Moneymaker, OSS XL stands out for its inclusive structure, substantial guarantees and daily leaderboard incentives that reward consistent participation.
With $50 million guaranteed and a broad mix of Main Events, Mystery Bounties and multi-flight tournaments, OSS XL reinforces ACR Poker’s position as a major force in the global online poker tournament landscape.
The post ACR Poker OSS XL Returns With $50M GTD appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
affiliate management system
Alanbase and Gamblers Connect announce new partnership
Gamblers Connect, the award-winning iGaming media and affiliate platform, has announced a new strategic partnership with Alanbase, a cloud-based SaaS “constructor” built to power advanced affiliate programme development.
The collaboration strengthens Gamblers Connect’s B2B Providers section, a curated hub designed to connect iGaming professionals with trusted, high-performance industry solutions. By integrating Alanbase into its ecosystem, Gamblers Connect enhances access to cutting-edge affiliate management technology tailored to competitive iGaming markets.
A Customizable SaaS Solution for iGaming Affiliates
Alanbase differentiates itself through its fully customizable SaaS architecture. Unlike traditional affiliate software, Alanbase allows operators to build dashboards, performance indicators and statistical tables using their own formulas. This “constructor” model ensures the platform adapts to each business workflow — not the other way around.
The cloud-based system also delivers high-speed data refresh capabilities, enabling operators to monitor player activity in near real time. This performance advantage provides deeper analytical insight and supports faster decision-making in fast-moving iGaming environments.
Gjorgje Ristikj, Founder of Gamblers Connect, highlighted that the partnership aligns with the platform’s mission to feature transparent, value-driven B2B providers. By adding Alanbase to its verified partner network, Gamblers Connect reinforces its commitment to showcasing tools that improve affiliate program scalability, operational efficiency and measurable growth.
Expanding the iGaming B2B Ecosystem
The partnership reflects growing demand for flexible affiliate SaaS platforms that prioritize customization, automation and performance tracking. As competition intensifies across global iGaming markets, data-driven affiliate management solutions are becoming a critical component of operator success.
With Alanbase now featured within Gamblers Connect’s B2B Providers hub, industry professionals gain streamlined access to enterprise-grade affiliate infrastructure designed for scalability and precision.
The post Alanbase and Gamblers Connect announce new partnership appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
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