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.
Gamepop
GAMEPOP: The Culture of Play by Red Bull Media House – the first bookazine devoted entirely to video game culture
Introducing GAMEPOP: The Culture of Play, a new premium bookazine by Red Bull Media House and the world’s first magazine dedicated entirely to video-game culture. Designed as a rich, book-like publication, GAMEPOP rethinks what a magazine can be, capturing the creativity, personalities and ideas shaping modern gaming. GAMEPOP will debut at the Red Bull Tetris World Final in Dubai from December 11 to 13, followed by The Game Awards on December 11. The issue will then be available through select international retailers in the weeks that follow.
Across 180 pages, the issue brings together a wide range of cultural voices, including Japanese game designer Hideo Kojima, leading DC Comics creators, the Oscar-nominated team behind Grand Theft Hamlet and contributors with bylines in Vogue. The bookazine also spotlights standout Red Bull talent, including YouTube star Ludwig, Twitch creators Emiru and Caedrel, and Red Bull athlete MenaRD.
Rather than treating gaming as a standalone medium, GAMEPOP looks at how games influence, and are influenced by, wider culture. Through original photography, long-form features, illustration and visual essays, the publication explores how gaming connects to global trends in style, music, movement, storytelling and performance, and the creative communities driving that conversation.
The issue also includes interactive elements, including a bespoke Choose Your Own Adventure story created exclusively for the launch. A limited collector edition of 150 copies takes the concept a step further, featuring a fully functioning Tetris® device embedded directly into the cover – an industry first that turns the magazine into an object of play.
The post GAMEPOP: The Culture of Play by Red Bull Media House – the first bookazine devoted entirely to video game culture appeared first on Gaming and Gambling Industry Newsroom.
Latest News
Red Rake Gaming Expands Global Presence Through Partnership with QTech Games
Red Rake Gaming is pleased to announce a partnership with QTech Games, a leading aggregator and platform renowned for its strong presence in emerging markets on a global level. This collaboration brings Red Rake’s diverse and visually engaging portfolio of slots to QTech Games’ extensive aggregation platform, giving players across multiple continents access to high-quality, entertainment-focused casino content.
Founded in 2015, QTech Games is celebrating its 10-year anniversary in 2025. Over the past decade, the company has grown from rapid early-stage expansion to become a dominant force into emerging markets worldwide. With a global presence —including a new tech hub in Spain and offices in Malta—and Latin America, QTech Games has established itself as a fully-fledged international powerhouse.
Players can now enjoy titles from the Million Series, the Super Stars Series, and seasonal slots such as Halloween Wins and Christmas Wins, alongside new adventures including Azteca Gold Collect, Sherlock and the Stolen Gems, Beating Alcatraz, Big Size Fishin’, and Midas Wins.
QTech Games CEO, Philip Doftvik, said: “It’s another notch on our belt to have integrated more premium content from Red Rake. Theirs is a growing and constantly innovating library, delivering impressive support to the depth of our broad igaming-vertical spread.”
Nick Barr, Managing Director for Red Rake Gaming Malta, commented: “We are thrilled to partner with QTech Games and bring our portfolio of games to their growing network. Their leadership in emerging markets and innovative approach to aggregation allow us to reach new players and provide them with high-quality gaming experiences featuring unique features and visually engaging content. This collaboration marks an important step in strengthening our presence in key markets and further establishing Red Rake Gaming’s international presence.”
The post Red Rake Gaming Expands Global Presence Through Partnership with QTech Games appeared first on Gaming and Gambling Industry Newsroom.
Betly
White Hat Studios launches with Betly mobile sportsbook and casino in West Virginia
Partnership sees leading branded content and popular Jackpot Royale
integrated into Delaware North’s Betly online casino in the Mountain State
White Hat Studios, the “House of Brands” provider to the United States iGaming market, has partnered with Delaware North to launch on its Betly mobile sportsbook and casino in West Virginia.
The leading provider aims to build its online casino offering with the addition of the industry’s top-performing games.
Betly players in West Virginia will now have access to White Hat Studios’ acclaimed portfolio of premium branded titles, including Ted
, The Goonies
, and the award-winning 7s Fire Blitz
series.
Also included in the rollout are the popular Jackpot Royale
and Jackpot Royale Express
progressive jackpot networks, currently live across more than 40 titles, and the first Betly-branded iCasino game – Betly Player’s Choice Blackjack.
Designed to elevate player engagement and boost retention, the addition of these promotional tools adds another layer of excitement to the Betly casino offering.
White Hat Studios has made significant strides in its U.S. growth trajectory since launching in 2021, consistently delivering high-performing content across multiple states. West Virginia remains a key market for the provider, following its remarkable success in all seven regulated U.S. iGaming states.
The collaboration represents another major step in White Hat Studios’ expansion across regulated U.S. states and reinforces its reputation as a go-to content partner for forward-thinking operators.
Daniel Lechner, SVP Sales and Marketing at White Hat Studios, said: “We’re thrilled to be partnering with Delaware North on the Betly online casino app in West Virginia.
“This partnership reflects our ongoing commitment to delivering top-tier content quickly and seamlessly to operators across the U.S. With our portfolio of fan-favorite branded titles and innovative features like Jackpot Royale
, we’re confident we’ll make an immediate impact for Betly and its players.”
Bob Akeret, General Manager for Betly, added: “We’re excited to welcome White Hat Studios onto our Betly platform in West Virginia. Their reputation for delivering engaging, high-quality games, especially branded content, makes them an ideal partner as we continue to elevate our casino experience.”
The post White Hat Studios launches with Betly mobile sportsbook and casino in West Virginia appeared first on Gaming and Gambling Industry Newsroom.
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