Connect with us
Prague Gaming & TECH Summit 2025 (25-26 March)
football-legend-michael-owens-joins-sunbet-as-a-brand-ambassador football-legend-michael-owens-joins-sunbet-as-a-brand-ambassador

Africa

Football legend Michael Owens joins SunBet as a Brand Ambassador

Published

on

Reading Time: 2 minutes

 

In a stunning coup, former Liverpool, Manchester United, and England star Michael Owen is to spearhead Sun International’s online betting platform SunBet’s attack as brand ambassador.

Leading online betting platform SunBet, part of the Sun International group, has signed footballing superstar and world-renowned pundit Michael Owen as its brand ambassador.

Owen has signed an exclusive deal from June 2023 as part of the betting platform’s 13th birthday celebrations, heralding a new era for the business.

Advertisement
European Gaming Congress 2024 (Warsaw, Poland)

SunBet CEO Simon Gregory said: “We are absolutely delighted to have Michael on board as a brand ambassador to provide and share his deep insights of the game of football with SunBet customers.

“Anyone who loves the English Premier League and football in general will appreciate his deep knowledge of the game, coupled with his articulate and insightful commentary and analysis which have made him one of the most sought-after football media personalities in the world.

“As a former player at the highest level, he knows exactly what goes through the minds of players and managers at key points in a match and during the course of an arduous season and brings this to bear in his commentary and analysis.”

The 2001 Ballon d’Or winner will provide score predictions, expert tips and insights, weekly football betting odds, and signed memorabilia, among other duties. Owen, who is also an accomplished racehorse owner and trainer, will also be relied on to give periodic and fascinating insights into the horseracing industry.

“I have come to know South Africa very well over the years in my various roles as a football analyst and I know the deep and incredible passion there is for football in this country. From the PSL, to the Premier League and I cannot wait to share my knowledge and passion with SunBet fans. I am thrilled to be joining one of South Africa’s leading brands and one which shares my passion and enthusiasm for football, horse racing and other pursuits,” said Owen.
Owen burst onto the football scene with English giants Liverpool in 1997 as a 17-year-old, becoming the club’s youngest player as well as goal scorer. In a footballing career that took him from the Reds to bitter rivals Manchester United and Newcastle United, via Spanish heavyweights Real Madrid, Owen scored over 220 goals in nearly 500 appearances at the club level. His exploits at international level were equally impressive, as he netted 40 goals in 89 appearances for England.

Advertisement
European Gaming Congress 2024 (Warsaw, Poland)

From strength to strength

In 13 short years, SunBet has grown from a platform that began with the main sporting codes of football, rugby, cricket, golf, horseracing major events such as world cups and more.

The SunBet platform has further evolved into offering fixed odd bets on the outcome of slots and tables games such as roulette, blackjack and baccarat.

In 2022, SunBet paid out well over R1-billion as online entertainment continues to show impressive growth. “We are predicting another great year for SunBet as our customer numbers are up and we are predicting record revenues for the 2023 financial year.

“However, without a doubt, football remains our biggest ticket item and SunBet is able to provide soccer betting offerings with literally thousands of markets and competitive odds,” explained Gregory.

Advertisement
European Gaming Congress 2024 (Warsaw, Poland)

The installation of a pundit of the stature of Michael Owen is a sign of things to come as SunBet lines up another record-breaking year.

 

Africa

Soft2Bet takes its first steps into Africa with a multi-year Turnkey deal with media leader Channels TV

Published

on

soft2bet-takes-its-first-steps-into-africa-with-a-multi-year-turnkey-deal-with-media-leader-channels-tv
Reading Time: 2 minutes

 

Soft2Bet has signed a multi-year turnkey agreement with leading Nigerian media company Channels Media Group to provide its powerful platform solution and Managed Services in the largest regulated market in Africa.

As part of the deal Soft2Bet will power Waddibet, Channels Media Group’s online sports betting and casino offering, driving value for the group by managing its entire customer acquisition and retention strategy through its market-leading ‘Managed Services’ offering.

The partnership will make full use of Channels local knowledge and Soft2Bet’s online sports betting and casino expertise as the broadcaster leverages its reach to deploy Soft2Bet’s Motivational Engineering Gamification Application (MEGA), the gamification solution that enables operators to deliver market-leading ROI by providing quality content and driving player engagement in regulated jurisdictions.

Advertisement
European Gaming Congress 2024 (Warsaw, Poland)

 

Regulatory expansion

Soft2Bet’s regulatory footprint grew significantly in 2023 as the group entered major markets like Sweden, Denmark, Romania and Italy and in 2024 this has continued and it is set to forge ahead on this path with worldwide expansion into Africa’s largest economy and most populous country with Channels TV.

As the company executes on its strategic roadmap throughout 2025 it will continue integrating new partners to its B2B platform and adding to its content library to deliver the richest and most complete turnkey solution for its partners.

Martin Collins, Chief Business Development Officer of Soft2Bet, said: “As a group, Soft2Bet is truly delighted to announce its first African partnership with a high-calibre media partner like Channels TV. Nigeria is the continent’s largest economy and a vibrant market and the combination of Channels TV’s strong brand equity and our highly localised and powerful solutions will deliver strong growth in this major market.”

Advertisement
European Gaming Congress 2024 (Warsaw, Poland)

Tobi Momoh, Group Strategist & Consultant of Channels Media Group, added: “Our joining forces with Soft2Bet will see us  blend our local expertise with their cutting-edge online sports betting and casino operations. We’re also highly excited at the thought of integrating Soft2Bet’s MEGA gamification and are confident in our ability to deliver premium content and elevate player engagement across this market. Together, we’re committed to setting new industry standards and establishing a leading iGaming brand that will provide unmatched entertainment to our players.”

The post Soft2Bet takes its first steps into Africa with a multi-year Turnkey deal with media leader Channels TV appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

Continue Reading

Africa

BetBlocker expands to support African markets with the launch of Bemba, Nyanja and Tonga language support

Published

on

betblocker-expands-to-support-african-markets-with-the-launch-of-bemba,-nyanja-and-tonga-language-support
Reading Time: < 1 minute

 

BetBlocker, the UK registered gambling charity that provides free, anonymous to use blocking software, had today announced the expansion of service to support users in the Bemba, Nyanja and Tonga languages.

With a rapidly expanding userbase, this is the first language support provided by BetBlocker to specifically target users in Africa. Using funding provided by Entain to support Zambian users, these three languages were selected and the most prominent indigenous languages, with almost 75% of the Zambian population speaking one of these dialects.

Working in partnership with Fresh Start Zambia, a charitable organisation working to minimise gambling harm, who supported the translation work, the three languages go live today.

Advertisement
European Gaming Congress 2024 (Warsaw, Poland)

Founder and Trustee for BetBlocker, Duncan Garvie, had this to say about the launch of the Bemba, Nyanja and Tonga versions of the app:

“For BetBlocker it’s critical to be able to reach users in a language that they can comfortably engage in to ensure a smooth and speedy set-up process. Native languages also help us step past cultural barriers, showing that BetBlocker isn’t simply available to these communities, it’s actively working to support them.

This is especially important in under-served and under-supported markets, like many of the African countries. The sad truth is that there simply aren’t the support services available for many African nationals that exist in more established jurisdictions. To my mind that makes it doubly important to ensure that BetBlocker is available and easily accessing.”

The post BetBlocker expands to support African markets with the launch of Bemba, Nyanja and Tonga language support appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

Advertisement
European Gaming Congress 2024 (Warsaw, Poland)
Continue Reading

Africa

Altenar obtains National Manufacturer licence in South Africa

Published

on

altenar-obtains-national-manufacturer-licence-in-south-africa
Reading Time: < 1 minute

 

Leading sportsbook provider prepares to debut in African market after rigorous certification process

Altenar, a leading sportsbook and iGaming software provider, has successfully obtained a licence from the Western Cape Gambling and Racing Board (WCGRB), marking a significant milestone in its expansion into the burgeoning South African market.

Altenar is now a registered and licenced National Manufacturer in the thriving jurisdiction, following a rigorous process. During the initial stages, several stakeholders were required to complete detailed KYC and compliance checks, as well as fill in significant paperwork to demonstrate the provider’s suitability.

Advertisement
European Gaming Congress 2024 (Warsaw, Poland)

This latest market debut demonstrates Altenar’s position as a sought-after partner with a flexible and localised solution. The opportunity opens up the doors to further expansion on the African continent and demonstrates its appeal to operators across multiple continents.

Sam Hill, Sales Director at Altenar, said: “Altenar is delighted to receive our licence to supply our sportsbook solution into South Africa. It is another significant step for us globally and is a key target market for us to further establish our product. We’re confident we have all the necessary product features and quality to offer the best solution on the market. This is across core sports such as football and racing, as well as offering customers the ease to prioritise key local content and sports via our highly flexible UI/UX.

“There are also a variety of ways that we support seamless cross-sell between products, which in a market such as South Africa, with the popularity of all verticals, will stand us and our customers in good stead. We are looking forward to the future in South Africa and the wider African market.”

The post Altenar obtains National Manufacturer licence in South Africa appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

Advertisement
European Gaming Congress 2024 (Warsaw, Poland)
Continue Reading

Trending