Affiliate Industry
Better Collective Acquires American Sports Media Company Playmaker HQ
On the journey toward becoming the leading digital sports media group, Better Collective significantly expands its efforts within social media and sports content production by acquiring Playmaker HQ for a total consideration of up to 54 mUSD, 15 mUSD of which will be upfront.
Playmaker HQ is a leading sports and entertainment media platform headquartered in South Florida, US. The sports media group specializes in providing original entertainment and sports content with exclusive athlete collaborations and creator talent mainly targeting the US market.
Currently, Playmaker HQ distributes more than two thousand monthly pieces of sports content mainly on Instagram, TikTok, Twitter, Snapchat, and YouTube. The group has more than 20 million followers across these platforms, increasing from seven million in 2020. Monthly, the content reaches over 500 million users. Playmaker has partnered with a wide variety of top brands including leaders in the sports apparel and fast moving consumer goods industries. Furthermore, the company has won several awards including Hashtag Sports’ “Top Snapchat Show” as well as four film festival awards.
Highlighted Acquisitional Synergies
- Adding to Better Collective’s legacy audience of sports betting enthusiasts, the group gains access to a new and large audience of highly engaged generalist sports fans which subsequently increases the value offering to Better Collective’s existing partners.
- Playmaker HQ holds extensive sponsorship sales know-how that will increase Better Collective’s ability to monetize audiences outside its core sports betting audience.
- Currently, Playmaker HQ is only active in North America, and expects to be able to scale content and know-how internationally across the group’s global presence.
Transaction Details
Playmaker HQ is experiencing rapid growth, and is targeting full year revenue of >10 mUSD in 2023 with an EBITDA-margin of 20-25%. Given the rapid growth the deal has been constructed with an earn-out component to ensure the growth continues.
Better Collective will pay up to 54 mUSD on a cash and debt free basis, including an upfront cash consideration of 15 mUSD, 1 mUSD in deferred payments, and up to 38 mUSD in performance-based earnout payments over a three year period.
In order to reach the full earn-out payment, Playmaker HQ will have to generate >75 mUSD in accumulating revenues and >25 mUSD in accumulating operational earnings (EBITDA) during the first three years post acquisition.
The acquisition will be conducted as an asset purchase meaning that Better Collective expectedly will benefit from certain tax deductions related to the acquisition price. The transaction will be funded by cash, with optionality to pay some of the earn out in Better Collective shares.
Marc Pedersen, CEO Better Collective North America, said: “We have been following Playmaker HQ for some time, and are excited to announce the transaction today. Playmaker HQ offers access to millions of sports fans in the US, the majority of which are new in the Better Collective user base. We are excited to help enhance these fans’ sports betting experience, while also being able to utilize Playmaker HQ’s know-how to scale the product and revenue stream across Better Collective’s global portfolio.”
Brandon Harris, CEO Playmaker HQ, said: “Joining forces with Better Collective marks a significant milestone for Playmaker HQ. We cannot wait to make plays with Better Collective’s world class team who will help us create amazing content, experiences and opportunities, reaching an even wider audience of sports fans globally. I know our creators are going to do amazing things with the support of Better Collective’s team and resources. We are just scratching the surface, and we are so excited to align with Better Collective to help achieve OUR vision of building the world’s leading sports media group.”
Affiliate Industry
Affilka by SOFTSWISS to Present Updates at iGB Affiliate 2025
SOFTSWISS, a leading tech provider with over 15 years of experience, announces that its innovative affiliate marketing management platform, Affilka by SOFTSWISS, will participate in the upcoming iGB Affiliate presenting new features.
iGB Affiliate 2025 will take place in Spain on 21-22 January at Fira Grant Via Barcelona. The event will host over 200 companies and more than 8,000 attendees from around the world.
Participating with the stand for the second year in a row, Affilka by SOFTSWISS is going to present new features and share 2024 year’s results. The platform currently powers over 410 brands, with more than 40 new additions in Q3 2024 alone. Since the beginning of the year, the platform has welcomed over a hundred new brands.
The number of new affiliate accounts registered on the platform increased by 39.6% during the first three quarters of 2024 compared to the same period of the previous year. Additionally, new player registrations grew by 62.7%, and the number of unique clicks on referral links increased by 8.9% during the same timeframe.
The growing metrics show the popularity of affiliate marketing in elevating iGaming projects. According to the recent iGaming Trends 2025 Report, affiliate marketing, along with SEO enhancement, paid advertising, and collaborations with influencers, remains one of the key tools for marketing promotion.
Constantly working on improving user experience, Affilka by SOFTSWISS recently introduced a new Geo-Distributed Redirect feature that reduces redirect times by 2.5 to 5 times. With tests showing a time drop from 1.5 seconds to 300–500 milliseconds, this improvement boosts site traffic by 3.5% to 7%, increasing registrations and deposits. It also enhances reliability and fault tolerance and ensures seamless traffic rerouting during disruptions, offering a faster and more dependable user experience.
Anastasia Borovaya, Head of Affilka by SOFTSWISS, summarises: “We acknowledge the essential role of affiliate marketing for promoting iGaming projects in a rapidly evolving landscape. The new feature is a game changer, addressing the common issue of players leaving sites due to lag. By drastically reducing latency, the Geo-Distributed Redirect feature ensures seamless navigation and maximises user engagement. Come to our stand at iGB Affiliate to learn more and share your ideas”.
Current and potential clients can book a meeting with the Affilka by SOFTSWISS team at stand C10 via the link.
About SOFTSWISS
SOFTSWISS is an international technology company with over 15 years of experience in developing innovative solutions for the iGaming industry. SOFTSWISS holds a number of gaming licences and provides comprehensive software for managing iGaming projects. The company’s product portfolio includes the Online Casino Platform, the Game Aggregator with over 23,500 casino games, the Affilka Affiliate Platform, the Sportsbook Software and the Jackpot Aggregator. In 2013, SOFTSWISS revolutionised the industry by introducing the world’s first Bitcoin-optimised online casino solution. The expert team, based in Malta, Poland, and Georgia, counts over 2,000 employees.
The post Affilka by SOFTSWISS to Present Updates at iGB Affiliate 2025 appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
Affiliate
AGS Announces Expiration of Hart-Scott-Rodino Act Waiting Period for Acquisition by Affiliates of Brightstar Capital Partners
PlayAGS, Incorporated (NYSE: AGS) (“AGS” or the “Company”), a global gaming supplier of high-performing slot, table, and interactive products, today announced the expiration of the waiting period under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976, as amended (the “HSR Act”), in connection with the previously announced agreement for the Company to be acquired by affiliates of Brightstar Capital Partners (“Brightstar”) for $12.50 per share in cash (the “Proposed Transaction”).
The HSR Act waiting period expired at 11:59 p.m., Eastern Time, on December 9, 2024, satisfying an important condition necessary for the completion of the Proposed Transaction, which is expected to close in the second half of 2025, subject to other conditions and regulatory approvals.
Affiliate Industry
MightyTips announces partnership with Golden Star sportsbook
MightyTips is proud to announce its new partnership with Golden Star Sportsbook. This collaboration will enrich the iGaming experience for customers of both MightyTips and Golden Star.
Thanks to its well-developed SEO structure and diverse content, including bookmaker listings, bonus comparisons, and free daily expert football predictions, MightyTips will serve as a valuable gateway for potential Golden Star customers looking for a reputable sportsbook with features like instant withdrawals, weekly cashback, and more.
Golden Star is an online iGaming platform offering customers extensive sports betting options and over 4,000 casino games from leading software providers such as NetEnt, Evolution, and Microgaming. The site launched in 2012 and is licensed by Curacao.
Golden Star is owned by Dama N.V., a company that operates over 20 iGaming sites. Golden Star is part of the StarCrown Partners affiliate program, which recently introduced a loyalty rewards initiative to enhance the customer experience.
Golden Star has earned its reputation by offering a vast array of iGaming content on a secure, licensed platform that puts customers first. This aligns perfectly with MightyTips’ mission to connect iGaming enthusiasts with reliable and trustworthy operators.
Eugene Ravdin, MightyTips Head of Communications and Marketing, said: “At MightyTips, our goal is to provide iGaming enthusiasts with the best tools and insights to enhance their betting experience. This partnership expands our reach to a larger audience, particularly those passionate about sports predictions. With this collaboration, our readers can explore everything Golden Star has to offer.”
Sergei Trushkov, Golden Star Affiliate Team Lead, said: “We are delighted to partner with MightyTips, a respected leader in the betting affiliate industry. This collaboration is an exciting step forward in bringing Golden Star’s premium sportsbook experience to audiences across Central and Southern Europe, Australia, and Canada. Together, we are dedicated to enhancing the betting journey by providing expert insights and tailored offers for these markets.”
The post MightyTips announces partnership with Golden Star sportsbook appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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