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Leading players from the gaming and tech industry invest in short-video startup

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What do leaders from Whatsapp, Playrix, Nekki, Aptoide, Dashdash and Unbabel have in common? They recently invested in Replai, a Portuguese startup that uses artificial intelligence to create short-videos in real time and increase the value of gaming audiences. The $1.3M seed round led by Bright Pixel, alongside Ideias Glaciares, Clever Advertising and other c-level business angels from the mentioned companies will be assigned to business development, recruitment and international expansion, with the UK and the US as priorities.

Founded in 2019 by João Costa and Francisco Pacheco, both with relevant backgrounds in mobile gaming and monetization, Replai is an AI-based pioneering platform that automates the creation of short-videos and optimizes them for different target audiences, improving sponsorship and advertising deals for the content owner. With short-videos as a rising trend in the digital sphere and already one of the most popular formats amongst Gen-Z, Replai identified an untapped opportunity in the market, since video editing at scale requires many hours and resulting content yields uncertain returns. Aiming to fill this gap, the Portuguese startup relies on advanced artificial intelligence algorithms that analyze longer videos, extract almost instantly the main highlights adapted to preferences of different users and predict their revenue potential.

Replai’s solution automatically puts together a set of highlights from any gaming livestream, creating custom-made clips for each social network to maximize audiences and generate revenue for sponsors and advertisers. “This round allows us, above all, to gather a panel of experts in gaming and technology that will help us take the next step growth-wise as soon as possible”, say João Costa and Francisco Pacheco, founders of Replai.

For Bright Pixel, who led this debut round, the investment reflects a reinforcement of its positioning on emerging technologies, such as artificial intelligence, and poses as evidence of the remarkable entrepreneurial ecosystem in Portugal. The Portuguese startup has a team of 10 employees and is as advisors counts on people who are part of well-known companies worldwide such as EA Sports, Microsoft and WhatsApp.

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“Replai stands out for their AI technology which enables automatic creation and distribution of short videos, this being a transversal need to any area that uses video as a communication method. Besides the innovative solution, Replai is founded by two young entrepreneurs with a proved record of user acquisition, strong technical know-how and the ambition to grow the business globally. This combination of factors was decisive and provides us confidence in consolidating Replai’s success” explains Benjamin Júnior, co-founder and a member of the investment team at Bright Pixel.

Alexander Lubchenko, CMO at Nekki, mentions that “Replai is providing a way to improve the value of gaming and esports as a mainstream entertainment platform and allows promoters, broadcasters and communities to grow. Their use of AI ensures scalability by solving a lot of pain points when using livestreams and video, while allowing content creation instantly at scale. I’m excited to partner with them on this journey.”

“I’m really excited to be part of the Replai journey. Their AI developed solution will massively accelerate distribution and monetisation of gaming and esports streaming and greatly move the industry forward. I feel Replai’s impact will start to be felt very soon – watch this space!” says Wolfgang Allisat, Chief Revenue Officer at Unbabel.

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Gambling in the USA

Gila River Resorts & Casinos hosts $5.9 million Big Game prop play contest

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To celebrate the Big Game, Gila River Resorts & Casinos is offering one lucky player the chance to win a $5.9 million prize by correctly predicting the outcome of 26 Big Game prop plays through its $5.9 Million Prop Play Contest.
“Nobody does full gaming entertainment like Gila River Resorts & Casinos, and we’re proving it with an unprecedented chance to win $5.9 million,” said Dominic Orozco, President and Chief Marketing Officer, Gila River Resorts & Casinos. “As a sports-centric gaming brand, we’re not just offering the largest casino sportsbook in the state—we’re delivering a complete Las Vegas-style entertainment experience across four incredible properties. This isn’t just another game day promotion; this is our way of making the Big Game bigger and better for everyone. Let’s make history together.”
In addition to traditional game predictions, the 26 prop plays span the entire Big Game experience. From predicting which team will win the coin toss to the game MVP, the contest brings an immersive way to engage with the game. In addition to the $5.9 million jackpot prize, there will be lower-tier prizes and other instant win opportunities.
Players can enter the contest by completing a prop card online and activating it at any Gila River Resorts & Casinos property. Entry is free; players will need to provide their full name, email and date of birth. Guests must be 21 or older to play. Entries and activations will be accepted from Jan. 27 to Feb. 8 at 11:59 p.m. The winner(s) will be announced on Monday, Feb. 10.

The post Gila River Resorts & Casinos hosts $5.9 million Big Game prop play contest appeared first on Gaming and Gambling Industry in the Americas.

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Gambling in the USA

Spinomenal makes US debut with New Jersey market entry

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Spinomenal, the leading iGaming content provider, has made its US debut after launching an exciting collaboration with a leading operator in the state of New Jersey, and is anticipating many more valuable collaborations with top tier online casinos.

Following impressive growth rates, Spinomenal is making a major move into the New Jersey iGaming market, marking a key step in its global expansion. By entering this crucial U.S. region, Spinomenal will bring its innovative games to a new audience, strengthening its presence and leadership in the iGaming industry.

Spinomenal’s specially selected titles will be going live via Pariplay’s Fusion aggregation platform in the New Jersey market. Some of the outstanding titles being made available for NJ players are Demi Gods II, Majestic Wild Buffalo and Kitsune’s Scrolls.

This marks a major milestone in Spinomenal’s strategic expansion plan, as this debut establishes the company’s initial presence within the New Jersey market, with further growth anticipated across the US iGaming ecosystem. This move underscores Spinomenal’s commitment to expanding its global footprint and further solidifying its position as a leader in the online casino industry.

Lior Shvartz, CEO for Spinomenal commented: “After a decade of establishing and positioning Spinomenal as a leading provider in the iGaming industry, we have now taken a big leap and will provide our exciting content to the esteemed New Jersey audience. We are highly optimistic about entering this prominent market, following the process of obtaining approval from the DGE.”

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The post Spinomenal makes US debut with New Jersey market entry appeared first on Gaming and Gambling Industry in the Americas.

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Hard Rock International

Hard Rock Bet, Unity by Hard Rock Loyalty Programs Come Together for Unprecedented Rewards

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Hard Rock International announced that Hard Rock Bet is now fully integrated into Unity by Hard Rock, a one-of-a-kind loyalty program that rewards members for doing the things they love across Hard Rock’s portfolio of more than 200 locations including hotels, casinos, cafes, and Rock Shops around the world.

Hard Rock Bet, Hard Rock International, and Seminole Gaming’s top-rated sports betting and online casino platform, will maintain its free online Loyalty Rewards program, which gives players the opportunity to earn points and one-of-a-kind rewards for their play. With the Unity integration, players will earn Tier Credits for both programs with their online play at Hard Rock Bet and can seamlessly transfer points between the two programs for online and on-property rewards. Upon signing up for Hard Rock Bet, players will automatically be registered for a Unity by Hard Rock account if they aren’t already a member.

The complimentary Unity by Hard Rock global loyalty program offers an array of benefits and services at participating Hard Rock locations where members can earn and redeem Unity Points toward free nights, dining experiences, great merch, and free play. Hard Rock also embarked on a partnership with Royal Caribbean International and Celebrity Cruises to reward travelers on land, sea and at ports of call with reciprocal benefits through Unity by Hard Rock, Royal Caribbean’s Club Royale and Celebrity Cruises’ Blue Chip Club. Now inclusive of Hard Rock Bet players, members gain exclusive access to offers, promotions, and rewards, as well as discounts to participating Hard Rock properties.

“Integrating Hard Rock Bet into Unity will be a game-changer for guest engagement. This enhancement not only offers a fun, interactive way for guests to earn points when placing bets, but also significantly boosts loyalty. By rewarding guests for their playtime, we create a win-win scenario where guests enjoy an enriched experience, and we foster an introduction to all the amazing verticals in our brand through point redemption opportunities at Hotels, Casinos, Cafes, Rock Shops and entertainment venues,” said Keith Sheldon, President of Entertainment & Brand Management at Hard Rock International and Seminole Gaming.

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The post Hard Rock Bet, Unity by Hard Rock Loyalty Programs Come Together for Unprecedented Rewards appeared first on Gaming and Gambling Industry in the Americas.

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