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Caitlin Clark Boosted Betting on March Madness Women’s Games by 540%; a Bellwether on Her WNBA Impact: Optimove Insights’ Analysis
Results based on more than 19 million bets during the 2024 NCAA March Madness tournament also revealed women’s games had more TV viewers, men’s games received more bets
Optimove Insights, the analytical and research arm of Optimove, has conducted a comprehensive analysis of the 2024 NCAA March Madness tournament, shedding light on the significant impact of standout player Caitlin Clark on betting behavior in women’s games. The report revealed that she boosted betting on March Madness by an average of 540%, a bellwether on her likely impact to the WNBA. The report was released at SBC Summit North America.
Results based on 19 Million+ Bets
Between March 29 and April 9, Optimove Insights analyzed more than 19 million bets placed on the 2024 NCAA March Madness tournament, encompassing both men’s and women’s games. The focus of this analysis was to track the betting trends surrounding games featuring Caitlin Clark, a prominent player in women’s college basketball, and the first pick in the 2024 WNBA Draft.
Women’s Games: The Caitlin Clark Effect
Optimove Insights tracked the betting activity on women’s NCAA games from the Elite Eight stage through to the Championship game. The comparative baseline game, Oregon State vs. South Carolina, set at 100%, received the fewest bets among the games tracked.
The data revealed the impact of Caitlin Clark on betting activity, with games featuring her, witnessing an average 540% increase in bets compared to the baseline. This suggests a significant influence of individual players on the betting landscape, emphasizing the role of star power in driving fan engagement and betting interest.
Men’s Championship Game More Bets, Women’s Championship Game More Eyeballs.
Of note is that the women’s Championship game had an average of 18.7 million TV viewers compared to the men’s game at 14.8 million viewers, yet the men’s game attracted more than 3X the number of bets. This disparity underscores potential differences in viewer engagement versus betting activity between the two tournaments.
Men’s Games
The analysis also encompassed betting behavior in men’s NCAA games. Despite the men’s Championship game showing a 139% increase in bets over the baseline, the percentage increase in betting was notably lower compared to women’s games.
A likely explanation for this difference lies in the higher baseline of individual bettors in men’s games, resulting in lower percentage increases. Nevertheless, men’s games consistently attracted more bets throughout the tournament.
According to Rony Vexelman, VP of Marketing at Optimove, “As the WNBA season is about to tip off on May 14, it is doing so, with a generational player. The substantial boost in overall interest in women’s basketball catalyzed by Caitlin Clark is extraordinary. Her influence on boosting betting, TV viewership and more is already starting to drive a new women’s basketball economy in the trillions.”
The post Caitlin Clark Boosted Betting on March Madness Women’s Games by 540%; a Bellwether on Her WNBA Impact: Optimove Insights’ Analysis appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

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ELA Games Continues Its Expansion With of Peter Vonarshenko, Senior Business Development Manager
The appointment marks a crucial milestone in the studio’s growth
ELA Games, an innovative game development studio, announces the appointment of Peter Vonarshenko as Senior Business Development Manager.
Peter has garnered vast experience as a business development manager in the industry and has been a key growth factor in previous roles. His communication and sales skills, which have helped him develop relationships and negotiate deals with key industry players, will be a crucial asset for ELA Games going forward.
Together, ELA Games and Peter will work to solidify the studio’s position as a leading game development company and continue its growth. As Senior Business Development Manager, he will help with creating new, fruitful partnerships.
Peter Vonarshenko commented on the appointment, “It’s a pleasure to work with ELA Games after hearing about the company for a while. The studio’s vision and innovative content resonates with me, and I look forward to helping ELA Games grow into an online gaming powerhouse.”
ELA Games’ appointment of Peter highlights the studio’s proactive approach to its growth ambitions. This key leadership recruitment will drive our strategic growth and industry positioning.
The post ELA Games Continues Its Expansion With of Peter Vonarshenko, Senior Business Development Manager appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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Kaizen Gaming Displays the UEFA Europa League and UEFA Conference League Trophies in Bulgaria, Portugal and Romania
Trophy exhibitions in Romania, Portugal, and Bulgaria give fans unforgettable moments. Legendary goalkeeper, Gianluigi Buffon, joins the celebrations in Sofia.
Kaizen Gaming, one of the world’s biggest GameTech companies and owner of the Betano online sports betting and gaming brand, has joined forces with UEFA to bring the UEFA Europa League and Conference League trophies closer to European fans. Namely, the trophies were displayed in Romania, Portugal and for the first time in Bulgaria. The events are part of Betano’s 3-year global sponsorship of the UEFA Europa League and UEFA Conference League from the 2024/25 to the 2026/27 season.
The exclusive presentation of the UEFA Europa League and UEFA Conference League trophies took place at the Sofia Event Center in the Paradise Center mall on April 29th, with special guest UEFA Ambassador and legendary Italian footballer Gianluigi Buffon. Recognised as one of the best goalkeepers in football history, Buffon attracted intense media interest and was surrounded by fans during the event.
“I am truly honored to join the Betano Trophy Event as a UEFA Ambassador,” said Gianluigi Buffon. “It is a great opportunity to visit Sofia for the first time and engage with such a passionate football community. I’m excited to share this experience with Bulgarian fans and celebrate the spirit of the game together.”
Also in attendance at the event were Bulgarian football legend Krasimir Balakov and one of the favourite names of Bulgarian pop-folk – Galena.
Ιn January, the trophies were displayed to football fans in Romania in an unforgettable event at Park Lake Shopping Center, in Bucharest. The event drew big crowds of enthusiastic football fans who got to see the trophies in person while also enjoying a meet and greet with players from Fotbal Club FCSB, Romania’s current league champions, sponsored by Betano.
The trophies were also displayed in Porto, Portugal, where over 1,700 fans got up close with them. In addition to seeing the trophies in person, fans were also welcomed by former FC Porto captain and 2011 UEFA Europa League winner, Helton. During the event, the renowned goalkeeper reminisced about the all-Portuguese Europa League final in Dublin in 2011 and the fantastic moment of lifting the trophy in front of FC Porto’s fans.
Betano will look to host further UEFA Europa League and UEFA Conference League events in new locations during the next season.
The post Kaizen Gaming Displays the UEFA Europa League and UEFA Conference League Trophies in Bulgaria, Portugal and Romania appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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FBMDS launches Sea of Fortune, the newest slot title in the Sublime Series
FBMDS proudly unveils its latest online slot game, Sea of Fortune, a thrilling addition to its acclaimed Sublime Series. Set to chart new waters in the online casino landscape, Sea of Fortune delivers an immersive, high-impact experience that promises to captivate slot fans across multiple markets.
Set against the backdrop of the seven seas, Sea of Fortune invites players aboard the ship of the fearless Captain Golden Beard. With vibrant 3×3 reels, five paylines, and seamless gameplay across Desktop, Tablet, and Mobile, this game masterfully blends simplicity with excitement — offering smooth animations, detailed graphics, and a nautical soundtrack that completes the maritime adventure.
“Sea of Fortune enhances the Sublime Series legacy by combining stunning visuals and rewarding mechanics into a compelling adventure,” said Renato Almeida, Director at FBM. “It’s not just about spinning reels, it’s about diving into an epic treasure hunt that keeps players coming back.”
Key Features:
• Wild Symbol substitutes all others and can deliver up to 250x the bet when filling the grid.
• Spin Bonus mode, where only one paying symbol and Wilds appear on the reels, granting three re-spins and multipliers of up to x20.
• Wild Injection feature, adding Wilds at random moments for enhanced chances of winning.
The game also features thematic elements such as parrots, rum, anchors, swords, and cannon bombs — reinforcing the game’s swashbuckling spirit. Designed to boost player engagement, loyalty, and betting volume, Sea of Fortune is tailored for operators seeking content that performs.
With its release, FBMDS continues to support its 2025 growth strategy by delivering customized, regionally adapted content with optimized math models and rewarding bonus structures. Get ready to hoist the sails and set course for treasure — Sea of Fortune is here to make waves!
The post FBMDS launches Sea of Fortune, the newest slot title in the Sublime Series appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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