partnerships
Southampton FC scouting sports tech startups for Future of Football challenge
The Future of Football challenge is open to innovative companies ready to shape and test their solutions for updated football experiences in either the football development or fan engagement space. In spirit with its values of innovation and doing things differently, Southampton FC will offer a 4-week virtual programme — powered by Sport Republic and Yolo Group — to create opportunities and break away from conventional methods.
The challenge welcomes Web3 and sports tech startups and scaleups with novel solutions to:
- Football development (scouting, training, recovery, game analytics etc.)
- Fan engagement (gamification, loyalty programmes, matchday experiences, global fan engagement etc.)
Selected teams will rapidly test and pilot their solutions, participate in tailored workshops, and have regular and direct access to Southampton FC, Sport Republic, and Yolo Group decision-makers. At the St. Mary’s finale, teams will pitch for a commercial relationship with SFC and a £100k discretionary prize pool for post-programme solution development.
“Southampton FC’s commitment to innovating and creating a positive impact is central to the way we operate and make decisions. We’re excited to see programme participants create the future of football” said Sarah Batters, Director of Marketing and Partnerships as SFC.
Sport Republic, the owner of Southampton Football Club is a London-based investment firm in the sports and entertainment industry. Founded by Henrik Kraft and Rasmus Ankersen and backed by Lead Investor Dragan Šolak, Sport Republic’s vision is to grow high potential sports businesses and sports tech companies.
“Sport Republic are really looking forward to being part of the Future of Football challenge to power innovation in sports tech. We are continuously seeking the most innovative sports tech companies to join our portfolio and leveraging our clubs to drive growth and achieve digital transformation. ” said Henrik Kraft, Sport Republic and SFC Chairman.
Yolo Group is the managing partner for the Future of Football challenge. Yolo Group is a leader at the cross section of gaming, fintech, and blockchain, and operates the Sportsbet.io brand. Sportsbet.io is Southampton FC’s Main Club Partner.
“This programme is designed to push boundaries, to bring together a spectrum of solutions from startups around the globe. It’s a chance to create truly unique approaches — and test them. We’re driven by innovation; so, we’re looking forward to seeing the results,” said Tim Heath, GP at Yolo Investments, and founder of Yolo Group. The application deadline is 23 February 2023. Find more information and apply here: https://www.southamptonfc.com/saints-partners/future-of-football-challenge
Boyd Interactive
Play’n GO announces landmark partnership with Resorts Digital Gaming
Play’n GO, the world’s leading casino entertainment provider, has today announced its latest US operator partnership, with Resorts Digital Gaming, in the state of New Jersey.
Resorts Digital Gaming was acquired by Boyd Interactive in September 2024, and this announcement sees the group’s players on the www.resortscasino.com and www.mohegansuncasino.com brands in New Jersey gain access to a multitude of classic Play’n GO game titles, such as the legendary Book of Dead, Rise of Merlin, and Rise of Olympus.
Play’n GO entered New Jersey in September 2022, shortly after first launching in the US via the state of West Virginia in July of that year. It has since seen its games live in Michigan, Pennsylvania, and most recently, Connecticut.
Magnus Olsson, Chief Commercial Officer at Play’n GO, commented “New Jersey has been of crucial importance to our US operations for over two years now, so it is with great pleasure that we make this announcement in conjunction with Resorts Digital Gaming.
“The company joins together two instantly recognizable operator brands, and the addition of Play’n GO’s games will be of enormous mutual benefit. We confidently describe ourselves as the world’s leading casino entertainment provider, and partnerships like this one are of great importance to us in establishing that idea. We’re excited to see this partnership flourish.”
Jim Ryan, Chief Executive Officer at Boyd Interactive, added “The whole Resorts Digital Gaming team is excited to bring Play’n GO games to our players. Play’n GO is one of the world’s leading iGaming brands, and we’re confident that our players are as excited as we are to see those Play’n GO titles on both www.resortscasino.com and www.mohegansuncasino.com.”
Dr. Ralph Thomas
The Casino @ Dania Beach Successfully Upgrades to QCI Enterprise Platform Version AGI55
The Casino @ Dania Beach has announced that it has successfully upgraded to the Quick Custom Intelligence’s (QCI) latest Enterprise Platform, version AGI55. This upgrade brings a host of innovative features, including the highly anticipated Chatalytics, an integration with OpenAI that redefines how casinos interact with their data.
The AGI55 release offers a range of powerful tools designed to enhance operational efficiency and drive revenue growth. Notable features include Slot Copilot, Player Copilot, and a newly enhanced Dashboard, which provide real-time insights and actionable data across the casino floor. The standout addition, the Robot Button, allows users to safely query their data using OpenAI, delivering rapid, AI-powered insights that elevate decision-making capabilities.
Josh Crowder, Director of Marketing for The Casino @ Dania Beach, said: “We are thrilled to be among the first to implement QCI’s AGI55 platform. The integration of Chatalytics with OpenAI is a game-changer for us, enabling our team to ask complex questions and get immediate, actionable answers. Features like Slot Copilot and Player Copilot provide us with enhanced data visibility, while QCI Go streamlines host interactions and improves player engagement. It’s a transformative step forward for our operations.”
AGI55 also introduces the latest versions of QCI Slot Dispatch, providing improved slot maintenance coordination, and QCI Events, which now includes advanced Power Pack Reporting capabilities for comprehensive event analysis. These enhancements, combined with QCI Go for host interactions, underscore the platform’s commitment to delivering robust, user-friendly solutions tailored for the gaming industry.
Dr. Ralph Thomas, CEO of QCI, said: “We are delighted to see The Casino @ Dania Beach embrace the full capabilities of our AGI55 release. This upgrade is the culmination of our dedication to bringing cutting-edge AI technology and seamless data integration to our customers. By introducing tools like Chatalytics and the Robot Button, we are empowering casinos to unlock new levels of insight and efficiency. We look forward to seeing how these advancements will benefit The Casino @ Dania Beach and enhance their guest experience.”
The Casino @ Dania Beach’s successful upgrade to AGI55 highlights QCI’s continued innovation and leadership in the casino technology space, offering a comprehensive suite of tools that set a new standard for data-driven decision-making and player engagement.
Barstool Sports
Jackpocket Announces New Collaboration with Barstool Sports
Jackpocket, the leading lottery app in the US, and Barstool Sports announced a new collaboration naming Jackpocket as the “Exclusive & Official Digital Lottery Partner of Barstool Sports”. The deal with Barstool follows Jackpocket’s parent company, DraftKings, announcing a similar agreement with the media company in February 2024.
“Barstool is an American entertainment powerhouse that Jackpocket fans know and love. This collaboration allows us to reach our players directly and bring Jackpocket’s easy, convenient lottery experience to more like-minded Americans. We’re excited to bring fans opportunities to have fun and potentially win big with the best in the business,” said Peter Sullivan, Senior Vice President of Lottery at DraftKings.
“Everyone knows we’re teamed up with DraftKings, and now we’re excited to be bringing Jackpocket into the mix. Our relationship is all about making it super easy for our fans to get in on the action, no matter where they are. What’s better than being able to play the lottery, and potentially win the jackpot, straight from your phone. Jackpocket makes it simple and fun,” said Barstool Sports founder, Dave Portnoy.
This collaboration centers around the integration of Jackpocket in Barstool’s content. Fans can participate in the lottery alongside some of Barstool’s biggest names such as Dave Portnoy, Big Cat & PFT from Pardon My Take – the leading sports podcast in America, Wallo & Gillie from Million Dollaz Worth of Game and more. Jackpocket will work closely with the Barstool team to continue to bring new content, activations and opportunities to win cash and Jackpocket credits to its fans.
Jackpocket is also the exclusive partner of the NHL, MLB, NFL, and major media companies such as Gannett, Z100, and more.
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