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Investor files case against esports gambling startup Unikrn

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John Hastings, a resident of Las Vegas and one of the investors of Unikrn, a Seattle-based esports gambling startup, has sued the company for violations in securities law in connection with the sale of its cryptocurrency, UnikoinGold. The start-up has the backing of some big names like Ashton Kutcher and Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban.

Unikrn launched its cryptocurrency UnikoinGold, based on the Ethereum blockchain network, last September.  It is marketed as the chosen currency to be used on the Unikrn gambling platform, which allows users to bet on esports titles such as League of Legends, Dota 2, Counter-Strike: Global Offensive and more. During that September offering, Las Vegas resident John Hastings purchased UnikoinGold tokens with 10 Ethereum, worth approximately $2800 at that time.

Hastings filed suit Monday in King County, Washington, against Unikrn, a Bermuda-registered subsidiary of the company and its founders, former Microsoft Ventures general manager Rahul Sood and Karl Flores. In the suit, Hastings is seeking class-action status for all purchases of UnikoinGold. In a statement to GeekWire, Sood acknowledged the lawsuit and said Unikrn has retained Seattle-based law firm Perkins Coie to “vigorously defend” the company.

Hastings argues that statements made by Sood and other Unikrn staff contradict the assertion that UnikoinGold was intended to be used as a method to participate in the Unikrn gambling platform. Hastings alleges that the continuous offering of these tokens to the public, the alleged intent for purchasers to resell them at a later date and a private presale to accredited investors before the coin was offered to the public constitute an investment and that the company thus violated Securities and Exchange Commission regulations.

“Defendants have crafted a flimsy facade that UKG Tokens are not securities by claiming they are utility tokens,” Hastings alleges in the complaint filing, which was obtained by ESPN. “In reality, the UnikoinGold ICO was an offer and sale of securities. Indeed, it is evident that investors were purchasing UKG Tokens with the expectation that those tokens would increase in value and become worth more than the virtual currencies invested.”

In the suit, Hastings also cites an SEC investigative report released in July that states the cryptocurrency DAO Tokens were subject to federal security laws. Hastings argues that the case made by the SEC in the ruling against DAO applies to Unikrn and UnikoinGold.

At the time of the September initial coin offering, Unikrn Bermuda Ltd. filed a notice of exempt offering of securities with the SEC, stating that it offered $20 million and as of Sept. 19 had sold $16.02 million of those shares. UnikoinGold was first listed at 30 cents per token when the initial coin offering launched in September; it now rests at just under a nickel.

In October, Unikrn announced it had raised 112,720 Ethereum, worth approximately $31 million at that time, in a two-phase UnikoinGold initial coin offering that spanned 112 countries. Among the participating buyers in the first phase, an exclusive presale, were Cuban and Ethereum co-founder Anthony Diiorio.

Unikrn launched in November 2014 as one of the first regulated esports gambling sites. In June 2015, Unikrn raised $10 million from Cuban, Kutcher, Binary Capital and a number of high-profile investors. In May, Cuban told ESPN that Unikrn would “benefit significantly” from the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision to allow states to legalise sports gambling.

Unikrn has continued to expand its presence across the world. In December, it signed a partnership deal with MGM Resorts International to run esports tournaments in Las Vegas. It also is a shareholder in Berlin International Gaming, a professional esports team with a large foothold in Counter-Strike: Global Offensive.

 

Source: espn.com


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George Miller (Gyorgy Molnar) started his career in content marketing and has started working as an Editor/Content Manager for our company in 2016. George has acquired many experiences when it comes to interviews and newsworthy content becoming Head of Content in 2017. He is responsible for the news being shared on multiple websites that are part of the European Gaming Media Network.

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Allwyn commits to highest level of 2025 Gift Responsibly Campaign

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– National Lottery ‘Add some play to Christmas’ campaign supported by enhanced protection measures –
– In a UK National Lottery first, Allwyn becomes a Level 3 Gift Responsibly supporter –

National Lottery operator Allwyn has unveiled its multi-channel ‘Add some play to Christmas’ campaign, which puts National Lottery Scratchcards at the heart – positioning them as a fun way to come together, no matter the occasion or the group.

As part of that, Allwyn has once again signed up to the National Council on Problem Gambling’s (NCPG) 2025 Gift Responsibly Campaign – this year as a Level 3 sponsor, the highest possible level and a UK National Lottery first.

Founded in the early 2000s, the Gift Responsibly Campaign works to raise public awareness about the risks of youth gambling. Through partnerships with lotteries and other organisations, the campaign educates communities about the risks of buying lottery products for children.

As part of its commitments as a Level 3 supporter, Allwyn will carry a ’18+ Gift Responsibly’ mark across its National Lottery gifting-related festive advertising – to re-iterate the need for people to be 18 or older to buy, gift, receive and play.

The company has also created three brand new bespoke creative assets promoting responsible play that it will use:

  • across its @TNLUK and @AllwynUK social media channels
  • on in-store National Lottery media screens
  • as part of a digital campaign

Allwyn already carries out extensive training with its 43,500 retail partners to prevent underage and excessive play, as well as running a rigorous ‘Operation Guardian’ programme for mystery shopping and knowledge checks with National Lottery retailers to ensure compliance.

The company’s advanced NCPG participation will also see it prompting its tens of thousands of retail partners to remind their customers to gift National Lottery products responsibly this festive season, through direct communications and trade advertising.

Jordana Jackson, Head of Participant Protection at Allwyn, commented: “Since becoming National Lottery operator early last year, we’ve made great progress on our participant protection plans. We’re proud to once again be supporting the NCPG’s Gift Responsibly Campaign and, for the first time in the UK National Lottery’s history, commit to Level 3 sponsorship – the highest level of support possible. This commitment includes a range of activity to remind everyone that, while National Lottery Scratchcards can add festive fun and help raise over £30m a week for Good Causes, they’re strictly for adults.”

 

The post Allwyn commits to highest level of 2025 Gift Responsibly Campaign appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

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LeoVegas Group signs partnership deal with Valletta FC and boosts local footprint in Malta

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LeoVegas Group has entered into a two-year partnership agreement with Malta Premier League club Valletta Football Club. As Exclusive Online Gaming Partner, the LeoVegas Group corporate brand will feature on the men’s squad’s match kits, at training grounds, and prominently across the club’s digital channels. The partnership will enhance the Group’s brand visibility and commitment to the local community, while further strengthening its position as an employer of choice in igaming.

LeoVegas Group and Valletta Football Club, one of the most successful clubs in Malta’s history, today announced a new partnership that will see LeoVegas Group’s corporate brand become the club’s Exclusive Online Gaming Partner during the 2025/2026 and 2026/2027 seasons. The agreement includes match kit sleeve branding for the men’s squad, visibility across all club facilities, including the Rabat Football Ground and Dangli Football Ground and the matchday fanzone, as well as branding on the squad’s training bags. The club’s digital channels, which have tens of thousands passionate followers on social media such as Instagram and Facebook, will regularly feature the LeoVegas Group logo in their content.

As partners, LeoVegas Group and Valletta Football Club will also collaborate to create exciting branded experiences across the Maltese capital for both fans and employees. Group employees can look forward to exclusive matchday opportunities and VIP experiences. The partnership enables LeoVegas Group to further strengthen corporate brand awareness across the Maltese islands and continue positioning the Group as an employer of choice for talent seeking careers in the growing igaming industry.

Additionally, the partnership includes branding on the youth team’s kit. This shirt sponsorship opportunity will be donated by LeoVegas Group to a local non-governmental organization (NGO), which will be selected through a popular vote by club members during a club meeting.

Stefan Nelson, LeoVegas Group CFO and Malta Managing Director, said “We are very proud to partner with Valletta FC, one of the most successful and popular clubs in Malta. Our Group has considered itself a partly Maltese company almost since its inception, and we are thrilled to collaborate with the capital’s club to create exciting opportunities for fans, employees, and future talent alike. When two strong lions join forces, great things can happen!”. 

Claudio Grech, Valletta Football Club President, said “This partnership brings together two brands that share Malta’s global reputation for excellence in gaming, entertainment, and sport. LeoVegas Group has become a world leader in mobile gaming while Valletta FC stands as Malta’s largest football club. Both of us thrive on delivering excitement and engagement — whether through live football or immersive digital experiences. We also share a forward-looking vision that embraces technology and online communities to connect with our audiences. As LeoVegas Group continues to expand internationally, Valletta FC is equally determined to evolve into a regional football powerhouse, making this collaboration a natural and powerful alignment of ambition, innovation, and Maltese pride”.

 

The post LeoVegas Group signs partnership deal with Valletta FC and boosts local footprint in Malta appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

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Gamblers Connect Named Finalist in Three Categories at the International Gaming Awards 2026

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Gamblers Connect has been officially shortlisted in three categories at the International Gaming Awards 2026, one of the most respected global recognitions within the gaming and iGaming sectors.

This announcement marks an important milestone for the company, reflecting its continued growth, consistent industry presence and long-term commitment to responsible and high-quality affiliate operations.

Gamblers Connect has been shortlisted in three distinct categories: Affiliate (Company) of the Year, recognising its public-facing affiliate excellence; the Great Place to Work Award (Operator), highlighting the strength of its internal culture; and the Safer Gambling Award, which reflects the company’s commitment to responsibility standards across its operations.

The 19th annual International Gaming Awards will be held on 18th January during ICE Barcelona. It is regarded as one of the leading global recognitions for excellence across the gaming industry. Each year, the IGA highlights companies that show innovation, quality, responsibility and meaningful contribution to the sector.

Gjorgje Ristikj, Founder of Gamblers Connect, said: “Being shortlisted across three very different categories shows our strength on multiple levels. It recognises our public-facing work, the culture behind it and the responsibility standards that guide everything we do.”

The post Gamblers Connect Named Finalist in Three Categories at the International Gaming Awards 2026 appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

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