Industry News
Sports and Gaming – Playing by a New Set of Rules
The pandemic has brought the sports industry to its knees but against the backdrop of global crisis, opportunities have arisen for others. While the sports business is set to lose as much as US$61.6 billion1 in missed revenues by the end of the year, the gaming sector, on the other hand, will generate revenues of $159.3 billion, a +9.3% year-on-year increase.2
Although largely driven by unforeseen circumstances, the pandemic has highlighted the large gulf in the prioritisation of fan experience between the two. As OZ Sports CEO Gudjon Gudjonsson explains, the sports industry has much to learn from gaming if it is to maintain and grow its global fanbase.
If there is one positive element to come out of this all for the sports industry, it is that leagues, federations and teams have had to rethink their way of doing business. The pandemic has accelerated innovation on various fronts. This is especially the case with the return of sport behind closed doors, with the need to remotely manage the production of leagues and make fans feel part of the live experience from the comfort of their homes.
The temporary state of the live sports sector, with limited or no fans in stadiums, has only amplified a bigger and more recognisable challenge. Pandemic or no pandemic, studies show that 90% of fans are unable to watch their favourite team in their home stadium due to factors such as location or finance.
At OZ Sports, what COVID-19 has taught us is that we need to accelerate our vision in making the fan experience more interactive and engaging. The new generation of fans expects to be able to share their experiences without geographical boundaries. OZ is keeping sports more relevant, broadening the fanbase by opening up the physical stadium.
This is where we have looked to gaming. The prioritisation of user engagement has seen games companies constantly explore new ways to deliver content to consumers. As a result, gaming platforms are becoming social networks in their own right and established social platforms are seizing this opportunity to invest further in games to maintain and grow their user database. Gaming is driving forward the reality of the metaverse – virtual social spaces that are always open, always on, and always expanding.
So, what does that mean for the sports industry? We are still in the early days of sports broadcasting, and there is a lot we can learn from gaming. Our thinking around the intersection of sports and gaming can be seen everywhere in the OZ Sports strategy. It’s in how we think, how we work, and how we innovate as a company. As a tech business with influential investors from the gaming industry, we foster a different culture than traditional sports broadcasting companies.
Our tech stack is ours, from end-to-end. We mostly leverage technologies on how we do sports production that has until now mostly belonged to gaming companies, which opens up a totally new world for us. At the core, we have our gaming engine, built on a robust machine learning software stack that analyses what is going on in the game, in real-time. From there we further develop our broadcasting technologies, with a layer for services like augmented graphics and avatars, to applications like tracking or a more intuitive replay system, to name but a few. This allows us to work differently as a team of innovators and compete more creatively as a company.
By embracing everything that the gaming industry is positively doing to engage with its fans, we see the world of sports broadcasting becoming far more interesting than it is today. Out of the pandemic, we will see new companies that have succeeded, and these new leaders will foster far more vibrant communities around live events. Gen Z will have emerged with different needs and the more popular short format of sports storytelling will continue to rise.
New exciting technologies will continue to surface in the market that better serve fans’ sports esteem. Use of avatars will be the everyday normal, by representing the digital you in the new metaverse. Fans will be able to instantly express their emotions in the moment of the game, wherever they may be in the world, empowering fans to communicate in ways that are difficult to accomplish in today’s world.
The future of live sport is an exciting one; by embracing gaming technologies OZ Sports will continue to innovate at this intersection. Sports broadcasting as we currently know it is about to change forever, and we’re excited to be at the forefront of that transformation!
To celebrate its 25th anniversary, CT Gaming hosted an unforgettable three-day team-building event for its employees at the picturesque “Katarino” complex. The programme as dynamic, filled with diverse activities that fostered team bonding—from fun quizzes and sports tournaments to refreshing mountain hikes and moments of complete relaxation. The highlight of the event was the glamorous gala dinner, themed “Classic Stars,” where employees and departments with outstanding contributions to the company’s success were rightfully honoured by company Founder Milo Borissov and Vice President Rossi McKee. Following the formal part of the evening, the beloved actor and comedian Krasi Radkov brought smiles and laughter to the audience.
“Twenty-five years in the business is a significant achievement, one we couldn’t have reached without the dedication and ambition of the team behind CT Gaming. That’s why we decided to celebrate this milestone all of us – together,” Mr. Borissov, founder of CT Gaming, said.
“As we mark this anniversary, we celebrate not only the success of our products but also the dedication of our incredible team, as well as the trust of our partners and clients. Looking ahead, CT Gaming remains focused on business expansion and actively shaping the future of the gaming industry,” Rossi McKee, Vice President of CT Gaming, said.
The post CT Gaming Celebrated its 25th Anniversary with a Three-Day Team-Building Event appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
BC.GAME, a leading crypto gaming platform, has launched $BC Mining Rush, an exclusive event with a staggering prize pool of 1 billion $BC tokens. The event will run from October 1 to October 20, 2024, offering players the chance to win daily rewards simply by placing bets of $1 or more.
This event is designed to offer participants an easy entry into the crypto space, providing opportunities for daily wins while keeping participation straightforward and accessible.
Key Highlights of the $BC Mining Rush
Massive Daily Prize Pool: Win Big with Just $1
The $BC Mining Rush features an impressive 50 million $BC daily prize pool. With just a $1 wager, participants can enter the daily prize draw, and larger wagers can boost their share of the winnings. This setup allows players of all experience levels to compete for a portion of the 1 billion $BC total prize pool, maximising their potential returns.
Easy and Accessible Participation
The $BC Mining Rush has simplified the participation process to ensure that both new and seasoned players can easily take part. There are no complicated requirements or technical barriers—users simply place their wagers daily and watch their potential winnings grow. Daily winners will receive their rewards the following day, ensuring a smooth and transparent payout process.
Daily Rewards Structure: A Chance to Win Every Day
Each day of the event offers a fresh opportunity to claim a portion of the 50 million $BC prize pool. The more a player wagers, the greater their share of the daily prize pool. Players’ rewards are based on their percentage of total wagers for that day, making the event as fair as it is rewarding.
“We are thrilled to bring the $BC Mining Rush to our community. This event is our way of rewarding loyal players while introducing new users to the thrill of crypto gaming with the chance to win big,” said Jack Dorset, CEO of BC.GAME.
The post BC.GAME Launches $BC Mining Rush appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
Industry News
Rickard Vikström, CEO & Founder of Internet Vikings, Honored in Emerging Leaders of Gaming 40 Under 40 List
The Innovation Group, together with Global Gaming Business (GGB) magazine, has announced Rickard Vikström, CEO and Founder of Internet Vikings, as one of the honorees of the Emerging Leaders of Gaming 40 Under 40 Class of 2025. This list recognizes professionals under the age of 40 who have made significant contributions and are set to become leaders in the casino gaming industry.
Rickard Vikström has been recognized for his leadership in the field of in-state hosting solutions for the iGaming and online sports betting industry. As the CEO of Internet Vikings, Rickard has established the company which is now the fastest-growing hosting provider in the US, serving 24 states.
“I am honored to be included in this list of talented individuals making a bold impact in the casino gaming industry. I share this recognition with the entire Internet Vikings team and our leading hosting solutions that support the growth and success of our clients in the iGaming and online sports betting sectors,” said Rickard Vikström.
The Emerging Leaders of Gaming 40 Under 40 Class of 2025 was carefully selected by a distinguished committee including representatives from PENN Entertainment. Their decision reflects Rickard Vikström’s impact on the industry and his achievements in strategic leadership. Other 40 under 40 leaders include FanDuel’s Karolina Pelc and Everi’s Darryl DeRaedt.
The honorees will be celebrated at the Emerging Leaders of Gaming 40 Under 40 Networking Reception in partnership with Global Gaming Expo (G2E) on Wednesday, the 9th of October, 2024.
The post Rickard Vikström, CEO & Founder of Internet Vikings, Honored in Emerging Leaders of Gaming 40 Under 40 List appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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