Press Releases
UK betting technology supplier 20SHOTS accelerate funding with £400,000 raise at £5m valuation
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20SHOTS have geared up for the new football season in the UK by securing additional investment in a second funding round, including securing the backing of US VC Animal Capital
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New season will see new product rollout for popular Fantasy5 free-to-play fantasy football game, covering Champions League, Europa League and other European top flights
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Current growth trajectory sees Fantasy5 on course to recruit half a million players this season
20SHOTS, the UK technology supplier behind fast-growing free-to-play fantasy football game Fantasy5, have secured an additional £400,000 of investment at a £5 million valuation, with backers including Gen-Z focused US Venture Capital fund Animal Capital.
The American fund that counts social media stars Josh Richards, Griffin Johnson and Noah Beck focus on products that reach a new generation of customers. They have invested an undisclosed sum in 20SHOTS for the new football season, which will see the platform roll out its largest range of products added to its Fantasy5 game to date.
Fantasy5’s Premier League product, which uses a unique points system developed in-house based on fantasy football, offers cash prizes to winners who can successfully predict how well players will perform per gameweek.
Using their own risk management system and algorithmic trading software, the company will now look to supplement this with additional games covering the Champions League, Europa League and other top European leagues.
The roll out of additional leagues coupled with Fantasy5’s existing growth – bolstered last season by the recruitment of BoyleSports as its first tier one UK & Ireland bookmaker partner – keeps the game on course to break the 500,000 player mark.
Prizes for the additional leagues will remain at the standard £10,000 mark, as offered to Premier League players, and offer partners an increase in engagement and retention. 83% of players who played in the last four rounds last season have made an entry in the first two weeks. The investment in Fantasy5 also comes in advance of the Government’s highly-anticipated White Paper review of the gambling industry, which is likely to see traditional marketing practices come under scrutiny, creating additional need for operators to engage customers beyond traditional channels.
Jacob Kalms, co-founder and CEO of 20SHOTS said: “We’re pleased to welcome Animal Capital as investors as part of our most recent founding round which has raised £400,000 in capital.
“As demand grows in the ultra-competitive free-to-play space, we’re investing in our ability to quickly and seamlessly roll out products and games on a white label basis for a number of different partners across multiple divisions and competitions – with the ultimate objective of using the technology seamlessly across the most popular sports worldwide.
“Our growth model forecasts we will break the half a million player mark this season, with our scaling driving down the cost of acquisition for partners whilst maintaining our engagement, dwell and retention rates considerably above industry averages.”
He added: “Operators should also be considering how free-to-play and softer marketing funnels like those offered by games like Fantasy5 will help them navigate any changes thrust upon them by the upcoming gambling review. Whilst our audience is ultimately commercially valuable to any operator or affiliate, Fantasy5 remains a sustainable way to build a loyal audience over time.”
Marshall Sandman, Managing Partner of Animal Capital said: “In a crowded market of fantasy, free to play, and pay-to-play sports betting, 20SHOTS distinguishes itself with a best in class team and direction that has allowed the product to stand out distinctly and early.
“Their flagship game Fantasy5 is an early hit, their B2B relationships are uniquely positioned to make this an exciting asset and their ability to resonate and be sticky with a younger audience are all reasons why we were excited to be on the journey.
“Jacob the CEO and his team have conviction and direction, and they will continue to prove why they deserve to be big fish in this pond!”
Africa
The Top 5 Welcome Bonuses South African Online Casino Players Can Look Forward to in February 2025
South Africa’s online casino industry continues to thrive, boasting an ever-increasing array of high-quality gaming platforms. With many choices available, discerning a quality online casino has never been more crucial. Quality is determined by several factors including game variety, user experience, customer support, security, and especially the value of welcome bonuses offered.
Due to the extensive number of options, using a reputable guide to sift through the wealth of online casinos ensures that players can find the best experiences available. One such critical factor in this selection is the welcome bonus, which significantly enhances the initial gaming experience and boosts players’ chances from their very first deposit.
As the online casino landscape expands, the importance of reliable, knowledgeable guidance in choosing the right casino becomes imperative. www.nodepositcasinos.co.za, a leading portal for online casinos in South Africa, stands out as a prime resource. Our expertise allows us to navigate and recommend top-tier online casinos that promise not only enjoyment but also security and fair play.
This February 2025, www.nodepositcasinos.co.za has carefully selected the top 5 welcome bonuses available to South African players. These bonuses have been chosen based on their value, the quality of the casinos offering them, and their appeal to both new and seasoned players.
Here’s a detailed look at what players can expect:
- Springbok Casino
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- Yebo Casino
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- Punt Casino
- Welcome Bonus: R350 Free No Deposit Bonus, Coupon Code: SAC350; R10,000 Welcome Bonus
- Casino Highlights: Tailored for South African players, Punt Casino offers a vast array of games from Realtime Gaming since its inception in 2017. The site is known for its mobile compatibility and a variety of bonus offers, alongside top-notch security protocols ensuring a safe gaming environment.
- Thunderbolt Casino
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- Silversands Casino
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The post The Top 5 Welcome Bonuses South African Online Casino Players Can Look Forward to in February 2025 appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
BETBY, a leading sportsbook supplier, has announced a strategic partnership with iGaming provider Softlabs, in an agreement that will further increase the reach of its proprietary esports product. Through this partnership, BETBY’s award-winning esports solution, BETBY Games, will be made available to all operators on Softlabs’s partner network.
Softlabs will be seeking to to leverage the BETBY Games proven content that delivers fast-paced wagering action on a content lineup, which includes eSoccer, eBasketball, eFighting, eCricket, eShooter, eHorse Racing, eTennis, and eStreet Soccer. This will provide its partners with over 60 tournaments featuring over 350 markets, and 245,000 live matches per month.
“Softlabs has built a strong reputation in the industry and we are thrilled to join forces with them,” said Kirill Nekrasov, Head of BETBY Games. “This partnership allows us to extend the reach of BETBY Games and provide Softlabs with an even richer esports portfolio. Together, we’re pushing the boundaries of innovation in the esports betting landscape.”
Dmitrii Borodint, Chief Product Officer at Softlabs, commented: “Partnering with BETBY marks an exciting new chapter for us. The exceptional quality and variety of BETBY Games content will provide our clients and their players with a highly immersive and customizable esports experience, helping us to stand out in an increasingly competitive market.”
The post BETBY TO POWER SOFTLABS’ ESPORTS PORTFOLIO WITH BETBY GAMES appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
Salsa Technology is gearing up for SBC Summit Rio 2025, Brazil’s first major iGaming event this year, which takes place from February 25 to 27 at Riocentro, Rio de Janeiro. With its Brazilian DNA and deep local expertise, Salsa Technology is ready to meet with industry leaders to showcase how its FORMULA-BET ecosystem is driving success in Brazil’s newly regulated market.
As the regulatory landscape evolves, operators need speed, reliability, and full compliance to stay ahead. Salsa Technology, one of the few local companies approved in all regulatory proof-of-concept tests, offers a complete ecosystem designed to meet these demands. FORMULA-BET is built for high performance, delivering a powerful PAM platform, Salsa Omni, a fully certified game aggregator, Salsa Gator, and a flexible framework that integrates seamlessly with leading sports betting and payment providers. Designed to ensure full compliance with SIGAP, the Central Bank, and the Federal Revenue Service, FORMULA-BET gives operators the confidence to launch and scale their operations efficiently.
“SBC Summit Rio is a milestone event for the industry and, for Salsa Technology, it’s even more special—we’re playing on home ground. FORMULA-BET is designed to give operators a head start in Brazil’s regulated market, with fast deployment, full regulatory compliance, and the flexibility to meet each operator’s unique needs. Beyond technology, our Brazilian roots enable us to provide hands-on, local support, tailored to the realities of the market,” says Eliane Nunes, CGO at Salsa Technology.
More than just a technology provider, Salsa Technology is a true partner for operators, offering not only cutting-edge solutions but also the local expertise and personalised service that make a difference in such a dynamic market. With a boutique-style approach, the company provides consulting services, direct support in Portuguese, within the Brazilian time zone, and the ability to set up a fully trained player support team tailored to the needs of operators and their customers.
Salsa Technology’s leadership team will be available for meetings throughout SBC Summit Rio, discussing how FORMULA-BET can accelerate business success in the Brazilian market. Besides Eliane Nunes, Salsa’s team attending the event includes CEO Peter Nolte; Business Development Manager, Otavio Miranda; and Retention, Operations & CS Manager, Cathiussa Canez.
The post Salsa Technology gears up for SBC Summit Rio with FORMULA-BET appeared first on Gaming and Gambling Industry in the Americas.
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