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Entain Doubles Funding to SportsAid Through to Paris 2024 Olympics
Leading Corporate SportsAid Sponsor Backs 2021 Paralympians
Entain, the leading global sports betting and gaming entertainment operator, is today pleased to announce that its Foundation has extended its long-term partnership with sports charity, SportsAid, to provide critical funding to the most talented young British athletes all the way through to the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
The Entain Foundation will double its financial backing thus far to SportsAid, taking its total financial commitment to around £500,000 by Paris 2024– making Entain one of SportsAid’s largest corporate partners.
The extension comes as the Paralympic Games get underway in Tokyo. Around a quarter of the Entain-SportsAid recipients are para-athletes, aiming to compete in future Paralympic Games. Recipients include para table tennis player Craig Allen; the wheelchair fencer Abigail Marshall; track and field stars Charles Dobson and Joel Clarke-Khan; and wheelchair basketball talent Dylan Wade.
Overall, 165 of the 227 members of the Paralympics GB squad in Tokyo (73%) have received financial support and recognition from SportsAid during their careers. Forty-eight of the SportsAid alumni announced to represent Paralympics GB in Tokyo have received support from the charity since Rio 2016.
Entain (owner of Ladbrokes and Coral in the UK) first partnered with SportsAid, a charity dedicated to support the next generation of elite British athletes, in 2018. Entain supports over 50 aspiring athletes a year across England, Northern Ireland, Wales and Scotland with each athlete receiving an annual financial support to contribute towards training, competition, travel and equipment costs.
The Entain-SportsAid partnership has so far distributed over 150 athlete awards with sponsorship and event fundraising key to this. Previous beneficiaries of the Entain-SportsAid partnership include Bethany Shriever, who this weekend added the World title to the gold medal for she won for BMX Supercross and at the Tokyo Olympics.
In the recent Tokyo Olympics, SportsAid alumni starred for Team GB, winning 14 gold, 19 silver and 14 bronze medals – 72% of Team GB’s total medal haul – across 20 different sports, surpassing the total of 46 medals won at Rio 2016.
In addition to direct financial assistance, Entain also works with SportsAid to supply athletes with recognition and personal development opportunities. An integral aspect of the partnership is the delivery of workshops for the athletes and their parents and guardians, where they receive expert advice on a range of topics including nutrition, mental wellbeing and dealing with the media.
Grainne Hurst, Group Director of Corporate Affairs at Entain: “Following the incredible performance from British athletes at this year’s Olympic Games and the Paralympics getting under way in Tokyo, we are delighted to extend our SportsAid partnership for a further three years. Our collaboration with SportsAid is a huge source of pride for everyone at Entain and plays a pivotal role in supporting the next generation of British sporting heroes.”
Danny Crates, former 800m Paralympic gold medallist, world Champion and former world recorder holder: “Talented young athletes need the right support, at the right time, to help them fulfil their potential and ultimately achieve their ambitions,” said Danny Crates – a Paralympic gold and bronze medallist who is a leading SportsAid ambassador. “SportsAid has maintained a crucial presence across British sport over the last 45 years – playing an important role in the country’s international success throughout that time.
“It’s the overall package offered by SportsAid which helps make such a difference to athletes – financial backing, recognition of talent, workshop support, personal development opportunities – and this has really been enhanced in recent years. The outstanding commitment of the charity’s partners, such as Entain, is vital to making that a reality and I’m delighted to see this relationship going from strength-to-strength.
Tim Lawler, CEO of SportsAid said: “Entain’s extended commitment will take us all the way up to the Paris Olympic and Paralympic Games in 2024 and comes at a very important time for talented young athletes – particularly following a challenging period over the last 18 months.”
“Our partnership with Entain has continued to evolve year-on-year and the well-rounded support provided to these aspiring young sports stars gives them added confidence and motivation to pursue their ambitions. We have also seen an increased awareness of SportsAid and a much wider audience is hearing the stories behind the next generation of sporting heroes.”
The support for young athletes via SportsAid is part of The Entain Foundation’s multi-million-pound grassroots sports investment programme. This also includes support for local football clubs in the Trident Leagues, as part of the “Pitching In” initiative, backing for aspiring Greek athletes through bwin’s Team Future programme and further international initiatives in the countries in which Entain operates to support grass roots and community sport.
Brazil
Play’n GO games now live in Brazil
Play’n GO, the world’s leading casino entertainment provider, has today announced that its industry-leading games are now live in Brazil.
Players in the world’s newest regulated market can now enjoy an initial suite of more than 50 titles including Play’n GO’s all conquering Rich Wilde and the Book of Dead, multiple games from the fan favourite ‘Toonz and Moon Princess series, as well as Sweet Alchemy Bingo and Rainforest Magic Bingo that are expected to be hits in the South American market.
As of January 2025, Play’n GO offers a portfolio of close to 400 premium titles in over 35 regulated jurisdictions worldwide.
Magnus Olsson, Chief Commercial Officer at Play’n GO, said:
“The industry has been waiting for more than a decade for Brazil to open a regulated market and it’s fantastic to see what was once just a pipe dream now become reality.
“As is the Play’n GO way, we’re excited to be among of the first in the new market with a wide range of games certified and ready to go. Our customers know they can launch Play’n GO games with confidence, and we’ve seen that pay dividends time and again when new markets open like now in Brazil or markets re-regulate.”
Michele Stefanelli, Sales Leader for Southern Europe and LATAM at Play’n GO, added: “The Brazilian market has proven itself in the pre-regulated phase and we’re excited to see our games launch with some of the biggest operators in the world who are committed to making the regulated Brazilian market a success.”
Chief Revenue Officer and Vice President Sales & Marketing at EGT
EGT has appointed a new director of its office in Argentina
EGT’s office in Argentina has a new director: Christian Graffigna, who took the position in December 2024.
He graduated from the prestigious UADE (The Argentine University of Enterprise) and studied a PAD at the management school of the University of Piura in Peru and at IESE Business School. Mr. Graffigna has extensive professional experience in the gaming and entertainment sectors. Previously, he worked at CIRSA and Luckia and for the last 7 years served as the General Manager of Starbay Casino in Panama. He joins EGT with the firm intention of turning the company into one of the leading suppliers of gaming equipment in Argentina.
Mr. Graffigna said: “I am very happy to join EGT’s international team of talented and successful professionals, thanks to whom the company is in the elite of the industry on a global level. I have an ambitious strategy for the development of the office in Argentina, which I believe will successfully implement to justify the trust placed on me.”
Nadia Popova, Chief Revenue Officer and Vice President Sales & Marketing at EGT, also shared her positive expectations regarding this appointment: “I am glad that Christian Graffigna will head our office in Argentina. This is a market with enormous potential for our products, and I am confident that he has the vision and leadership qualities necessary to position us among the key players in the local gaming industry.”
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