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FUN88 unveils Tony Parker as its brand ambassador for Asia

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Basketball superstar and four-time NBA Championships winner, Tony Parker, has been unveiled as an official brand ambassador for FUN88, the powerhouse Asian sports betting operator.

In this new landmark role for FUN88, Parker will assist in fronting a series of dedicated promotions and thematic activations for one of the most popular and progressive sportsbook operators in Asia. This innovative partnership begins with immediate effect, leveraging long-term scope for collaboration.

Adored and recognized around the world after 18 storied years in the NBA (17 of which were at the San Antonio Spurs franchise, for whom he contested five NBA Finals and won one MVP award in 2007), Parker’s distinguished history, international appeal and commitment to excellence on and off the court make him a hot-hand ambassador for a brand that is setting the pace across the planet’s biggest continent as the leading igaming platform. The 41-year-old now follows in the sizeable strides of Steve Nash and the late, great Kobe Bryant on FUN88 ambassadorial duties.

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Parker’s engaging character, peerless speed and skill seamlessly chime with FUN88’s own core values around the responsiveness and agility of its underlying technology and client-facing site, both pre-game and in-play, not to mention its dynamic customer service for fans. His rapier reflexes famously shut out initial media assessments about his lack of stature by the NBA’s towering standards – and this underdog spirit, coupled with an ability to routinely surpass expectations, made this Hall of Famer a ready winner with sporting fan-bases worldwide. As eloquent examples, Parker boasts a 2M following on X (formerly known as Twitter), over 3M followers on Facebook, and 1M fans on Weibo in China.

FUN88 prides itself on its rich heritage in basketball and other international sports, with a roll call of stars and teams that positively separates the company from other brands in the sector. To which end, FUN88 has been highly active in global sports marketing over the past decade, and presently acts as the long-term Asian betting partner of two Premier League clubs in Tottenham Hotspur and Newcastle United FC while also leveraging another enduring ambassadorship with Spanish footballing legend, Iker Casillas. FUN88 has also enjoyed instrumental associations with the aforementioned Bryant, the renowned OG Dota 2 team in eSports, and cricketing stars Daren Sammy and Dale Steyn.

Now, this Tony Parker announcement sets up the new NBA season perfectly for further ambitious expansion from FUN88, broadening its footprint into more emerging markets where basketball’s popularity and audience share is coming to its zenith (e.g. China, the Philippines and South East Asia countries such as Thailand and Vietnam), with each new territory bolstered by the operator’s enduring mantra to engage, educate and entertain.

A senior spokesperson welcomed FUN88’s latest flagship ambassador: “We’re naturally delighted to have secured further net gains for FUN88’s unrivalled ambassadorial roster by signing Tony. He’s one of the most successful sports personalities his country has ever produced and retains a huge popularity worldwide. We’re confident that fans and FUN88 players alike will enjoy seeing Tony shine a light on the sport he loves, and share in his infectious enthusiasm with an engaged social media community.”

“His famous No. 9 jersey may have been retired, but his legacy and excitement for the game are as strong as ever. Together, we are committed to achieving our goals in the most engaging way possible, raising the bar of the end-user experience and social traction.”

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Parker, who becomes FUN88’s third Hall of Fame ambassador from the NBA, added: “I’m thrilled to be following Steve and Kobe’s lead as FUN88’s latest basketball frontman, as we look forward to an exciting renewal of the NBA campaign. They have built a brand here which directly aligns with my playing values of speed and strength, underpinned by a desire to operate as a team and confound the critics. Everyone used to tell me I was too small and too slight to make it in the NBA. That lit a fire in my soul and helped me inspire my teammates. It’s a combination that’s vital to winning any game and also entertaining your audience.”

“With that in mind, I can’t wait to help deliver more premium content, insights and activity to emerging Asian markets, and the basketball fans within them. From China to Thailand, these fans are making it rain! Hopefully, we can find some innovative offers and deeper connections for players to better engage with the sports they love.”

While FUN88 continues to develop its online offerings for football fans around the world, this latest landmark acquisition highlights its commitment to international representation and fostering a sports-friendly environment framed by a responsible igaming culture.

FUN88 has pioneered the gamified betting experience, thanks to a unique interface and personalised customer service that deliver a cohesive player journey from the log-in until the end result. This seamless experience has also ensured record levels of retention and consumer satisfaction amongst its active base.

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Natural8 India welcomes 2025 in style with Natural8 India X APT Manila Classic 2025

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Welcoming 2025 in spectacular style, Natural8 India has announced its latest India Exclusive, Natural8 India X APT Manila Classic 2025, to the delight of poker enthusiasts across the country. The multi-table tournament, scheduled to take place on January 19, will offer participants a chance to fight for the massive event prize pool and the glory of winning a prestigious APT Trophy. But that’s not all, for nine finalists will also secure an all-expense paid trip to participate in APT Manila – competing for the grand prize at a grand stage with some of the sharpest poker players in all of Asia!

With a buy-in of only INR 5,500, Natural8 India X APT Manila Classic 2025 will offer flight and stay packages for nine finalists, worth up to INR 100,000 each, for the upcoming APT Manila Classic. In addition, the top four finalists will secure a Main Event ticket worth INR 90,000 each at APT Manila Classic 2025, while the other five will win Mini Main Event tickets worth INR 37,000 each. The tournament also has various satellites running daily from January 12 to January 19, with a buy-in of just INR 550.

Speaking on the upcoming India Exclusive, Kunal Patni, Executive Director and Country Head – Natural8 India, said, “2024 was a spectacular year for Natural8 India and the broader Indian poker community. Throughout the year, we saw a strong response to the various India Exclusives, which not only nurtured the country’s growing poker landscape but also connected poker enthusiasts to the broader Asian poker scene on a more consistent basis. We took 23 players to various APT events in 2024 through these India Exclusive APT events. With the Natural8 India X APT Manila Classic 2025, we expect a similarly stellar response, especially with mega bonus on offer worth up to INR 15 lakh. Our latest India Exclusive will set the tone for the rest of the year and give poker enthusiasts and professional players across the country a chance to start 2025 on a bang!”

The post Natural8 India welcomes 2025 in style with Natural8 India X APT Manila Classic 2025 appeared first on Gaming and Gambling Industry in the Americas.

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Sands China Launches Alipay Tap! in Macao

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On Jan. 14, 2025, Sands China Ltd., Alipay and Macau Pass jointly introduced the Alipay Tap! service at Sands Resorts Macao. Utilising innovative payment interaction technology, the service will further enhance the payment experience of visitors in Macao and enable new digital business and marketing opportunities. It will also contribute to the city’s smart city development while supporting digital upgrades and connectivity within the Greater Bay Area.

Alipay Tap! is an innovative payment service introduced by Alipay in July 2024 in the Chinese mainland. Users can simply unlock their phones and tap the merchant’s payment device to complete the transaction, without opening the Alipay app. This solution has quickly become popular with both users and merchants and is currently available in over 100 cities and more than 1000 shopping malls and commercial districts in the Chinese mainland. In addition to payments, Alipay has also collaborated with partners to create over 50 Alipay Tap! digital industry solutions, such as “Tap to Order” and “Tap to Open Self-service Vending Machine”.

In this first phase, Sands China has rolled out Alipay Tap! across 300 merchants in its integrated resorts, including The Venetian Macao, The Parisian Macao, The Londoner Macao and Sands Macao. It can be used for a variety of payments, such as hotel accommodation, dining, shopping and ticketing, providing customers with a convenient payment experience. Chinese mainland tourists using Alipay Tap! in Sands Resorts Macao can also enjoy multiple offers during the promotional period, including an exclusive coupon for the first transaction via Alipay Tap! in Macao and other cross-border travel promotions released.

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Merchants can use one terminal to meet the payment needs of both tourists and local residents using mainstream e-wallets. A representative from a Sands Resorts Macao merchant shared, “As Chinese mainland tourists are generally familiar with Alipay Tap!, combined with various recent promotional offers, the number of Alipay Tap! transactions has significantly increased since its launch, greatly enhancing operational efficiency”.

Jiajia Li, Vice President of Alipay, Ant Group, said: “Macao has unique geographic advantages, providing an ideal environment for the introduction of innovative technologies. Alipay and Alipay+’s cross-border services have already covered nearly 90% of merchants in Macao. The successful introduction of Alipay Tap! in Macao will further enhance the convenience of payments for Chinese mainland visitors, accelerate the digital transformation of businesses, unlock more commercial potential, and promote the digital connectivity of digital everyday services within the Greater Bay Area.”

The introduction of Alipay Tap! in Macao is not just a simple replication of the payment model but also creates a local digital business model benchmark. The collaboration between the three companies integrates Alipay’s user experience and membership preferences, Sands China’s unique services and benefits, and Macau Pass’s regional coverage and operational expertise. Together, they have created a new digital business model.

The post Sands China Launches Alipay Tap! in Macao appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

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Bety.com Introduces a New Era of Casino Gaming with Web3 Innovations and Exclusive Perks

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Bety.com stands out as one of the most versatile crypto casinos in the Web3 landscape.

Bety.com, the first decentralized casino to enter the Web3 scene, continues to lead the revolution in the online casino industry. The platform has been at the forefront of innovation in blockchain-based casinos since its inception. As part of its ongoing development, the team reveals an enhanced offer proving why crypto casinos outrank traditional casinos in terms of user experience and perks.

Decentralized, Fair & Rewarding: An Unmatched Offer of New Crypto Games

Bety.com stands out as one of the most versatile crypto casinos in the Web3 landscape. As one of the pioneers in blockchain casinos, Bety.com built a solid reputation for gaming diversity and unequaled entertainment. The platform offers a wide selection of classic casino table games, including poker, blackjack, baccarat, craps, roulette, and more. A rich collection of slots, live casino games, Bingo, and game shows round off a unique and engaging offer.

Bety.com hosts 10,000+ games from reputable developers, including PGSoft, Evolution Gaming, Evoplay, Yggdrasil, Red Tiger, EG Games, and many more. These games are available in its casino and sportsbook. They are constantly updated to incorporate the latest industry trends and technological breakthroughs.

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Here is some selections of the games Bety.com offers

Slots: With over 3,000 online slots, Bety.com offers something for every player.  Explore classic three-reel slots or dive into the latest video slots packed with bonus features and the chance to win big.

Live Casino Games: Experience the thrill of a real casino from home with bety.com’s vast variety of live dealer games.  Play Blackjack, Roulette, Baccarat, Gonzo’s Quest and more, streamed live with professional dealers.

Sportsbook: Bety.com offers a comprehensive betting platform covering a wide range of sports and esports.  Traditional sports like soccer, basketball, and tennis are featured alongside niche options such as darts, snooker, and volleyball.  Esports enthusiasts can wager on over 300 events across multiple popular games, including League of Legends and Dota 2.  The platform also supports live betting, enabling users to place bets in real-time for a dynamic and engaging experience.

Introducing Original Bety.com Casino Games

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One of the most visited sections at Bety.com is the “Originals” casino gaming page. This part hosts several in-house games with exciting gameplay and appealing RTP rates. Bety.com features its own versions of Plinko, Wheel, Keno, Limbo, Dice, Mines, Coinflip, and more. All of them have a remarkable 98% RTP, inviting players to indulge in their favorite casino games with a Bety.com twist.

Many crypto enthusiasts choose Bety.com for its standout selection of hash games, including Hash Banker Player, Hash Bull, 3-Min Bull, 1-Min Banker Player, and more. These blockchain casino games are an upgrade of traditional casino games, allowing players to predict hash intervals with numerous betting options.

Lastly, Bety.com provides a generous offer of crypto up-down casino games. These exciting games allow players to have substantially high leverage levels of up to 1,000x, generating the opportunity for high returns.

Why Players Choose Crypto Casinos Over Traditional Platforms

The advent of blockchain technology has changed the outlook for numerous industries, including the online betting sector. For decades, traditional online casinos had no competition and, thus, failed to evolve and meet the increasing demands for a better user experience.

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As one of the first blockchain casinos, Bety.com saw how it can play a game-changing role in an industry hungry for innovation. The platform rose to the challenge, improving every aspect of the online casino gaming experience. Moreover, it developed its own original games, increased betting options, and boosted transparency and trust. Its probably fair game mechanics established one of the highest standards for fairness in the industry.

Meanwhile, traditional online casinos face the same challenges they did years ago. These platforms are famous for slow payouts, high deposits and withdrawal fees, and improvable game fairness and outcomes. More importantly, traditional casinos can take between 3 and 7 days to process withdrawals, depending on the user’s choice.

On the other hand, Bety.com processes payouts in only a few minutes, sometimes instantly, depending on the blockchain network’s congestion. It also facilitates instant Bitcoin deposits and withdrawals. Players can verify the fairness of each game on the platform’s dedicated verification page, using both server-side and client-side seeds and the cryptographic nonce.

Reshaping the Casino Gaming Industry’s Future

Bety.com allows crypto enthusiasts to play in complete anonymity and privacy. The platform guarantees equal winning odds for all players. It also supports quick deposits and withdrawals, provable fair game odds and outcomes, an exclusive VIP program, and high-quality, 24/7 customer support.

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The platform’s rich selection of original, in-house game productions and games from prestigious developers caters to high-end players. The appealing offer of betting options and high-leverage opportunities confirm why thousands of expert players visit it daily.

Ultimately, Bety.com aims to reshape the casino gaming industry through maximum fairness, optimal security, and highly entertaining gaming options. To this end, it combines the best developments in casino gaming with a unique, user-centric approach to deliver a standout playing experience.

The post Bety.com Introduces a New Era of Casino Gaming with Web3 Innovations and Exclusive Perks appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

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