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New Sports Apps Face Struggles during COVID-19 Crisis
The COVID-19 pandemic’s negative effect on the gambling industry has been felt across the board both offline and online. Beyond the closing of land-based casinos and bet shops, the online industry continues to feel the impact of the novel coronavirus with, so far, no end in sight.
This is especially true for online sportsbooks that don’t have a casino offering and new bookies who haven’t yet had time to establish their brands and gain a foothold in the market. Without other revenue lifelines and with challenges mounting during this disease-driven economic crisis, many of these new operations could fold.
Some of the Challenges faced by New Sports Apps
New online bookmakers and mobile first-bookies with a focus on sports apps are struggling to stay alive in this strange betting world where horse racing and football – the bread and butter of the sportsbook industry – have been halted across Europe since mid-March. With that said, challenges that some of these brands may be facing include:
Lack of casino offering
More established bookmakers have found other ways to survive the economically crushing pandemic by offering their customers alternative gambling entertainment, such as slots, casino games, live casino, poker, lotto, etc. However, most of the bookies that have been able to switch their marketing focus to these other gambling streams are well-established names in the industry and already have these products in place. That said, there is a lack of casino department for most smaller bookies that have taken a niche approach and built their brands solely around sports.
Competing with big name sportsbooks
Sportsbook giants like William Hill, Bet365, Ladbrokes Coral and Paddy Power have another advantage over smaller businesses. They have been established for years and have the advertising funds that lesser known bookies do not. Moreover, they have a better chance of survival as their operations are much larger and extend beyond sports betting.
Threat of daily gambling limit
In March the Gambling Related Harm All Party Parliament Group (APPG) called on the British gambling industry to impose a £50 daily spending limit for customers throughout the duration of the coronavirus pandemic. The APPG’s concern is that as the crisis deepens, more people will turn to online and mobile gambling as a distraction, including those who have never considered gambling before. The APPG fears that this could take a toll on the nation’s financial and mental health. Needless to say, if such a daily spending limit was enforced, this would further cripple gambling business, making it nearly impossible for smaller bookies to survive.
There May Be Some Light at the End of the Tunnel
In spite of all the challenges, if some of the smaller bookies manage to stay afloat for another couple of months, they may be able to survive COVID-19. The reason is that football might be back soon and provide a lifeline as early as June.
According to The Guardian, Premier League clubs have discussed re-starting the season by 13-14 June. This would allow the competition to finish by 31 July and clear up August for the completion of both the Champions League and Europa League.
In this best-case scenario clubs would begin a “pre-season” from 10 or 14 May, which would give players four weeks to regain their fitness. Then, with seven weeks to complete the season, (as 16 clubs have nine matches remaining and another 4 clubs have 10), it is believed that this timeframe should be sufficient for the campaign to finish without being too rushed.
Unfortunately, due to the unpredictability of the virus, there is no telling if this best-case scenario will occur. The worst-case scenario, on the other hand, would be for football to remain on hold until October, which would be seven months after the last round of matches and a brutal blow to sportsbooks both big and small worldwide.
With any luck, the best-case scenario for football will come to light. For now, though, new sports apps and online bookies will need to focus their efforts on bringing in revenue through other markets like virtual sports and eSports betting, and hope for the best.
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Red Bull announces brand-new Trackmania tournament ‘Red Bull Faster’, set to descend on Red Bull Racing’s Milton Keynes HQ
Start your engines as Red Bull teams up with top Trackmania creator Øyvind “Wirtual” to bring the ultimate high-speed tournament to Red Bull Racing’s Milton Keynes HQ.
An adrenaline-fueled showdown, Red Bull Faster is set to take place on 1 March at MK-7, with online qualifiers open from 24 January, 7pm CET (6pm GMT / 10am PST) until 7 February. Players globally can head to the in-game club ‘Red Bull Faster’ to access the tournament’s custom maps.
Hopeful competitors can put the pedal to the metal, racing across 3 challenging maps in Time Attack mode to clinch the best cumulative time on the global leaderboard. The Top 100 fastest players will advance to the stage 2 online qualifiers, with the Top 8 securing a coveted spot on the starting line at the offline Grand Finals in Milton Keynes.
Hosted by an iconic Trackmania creator, “Wirtual” will be livestreaming all the daring jumps, hairpin turns, and dizzying loops of the high-octane competition across his YouTube and Twitch channels. With the clock ticking, it’s time for seasoned pros and rising racers to grind the ladder, burn rubber on the virtual speedway, and drift, dive, and drive to pole position before qualifiers close on 7 February.
As Red Bull Faster gears up to be the ultimate test of speed and skill, racing fans can also join the action with limited in-person spectator tickets now available. Tickets include food for attendees and photo opportunities with Red Bull’s F1™ race cars.
The post Red Bull announces brand-new Trackmania tournament ‘Red Bull Faster’, set to descend on Red Bull Racing’s Milton Keynes HQ appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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UNdisputedly GR8 ICE 2025 with GR8 Tech, RTF by Oleksandr Usyk, and the Leaders of iGaming
ICE 2025 marked GR8 Tech’s second birthday and a strong start to the year for the company. The provider showcased innovative iGaming solutions and reinforced its position as a high-performing industry leader, unveiling its partnership with Ready to Fight co-founded by boxing champion Oleksandr Usyk.
“GR8 Tech is dedicated to excellence in iGaming technology. Our solutions are designed not only to be fast, reliable, and innovative but to empower operators with a competitive edge in their markets. ICE 2025 was a celebration of our journey so far and a showcase of the market-leading solutions that define us. We are thrilled to continue pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in iGaming and delivering the tools our partners need to lead their markets as undisputed champions,” said Sergey Ghazaryan, CRO at GR8 Tech. GR8 Tech at ICE Barcelona 2025: The UNbelievably GR8 Recap!
A Game-Changing Partnership Usyk’s RTF Platform
The partnership with Ready to Fight was officially officially unveiled during the third day of ICE 2025 with a presentation by GR8 Tech’s CRO, Sergey Ghazaryan, and Bohdan Salii, CVO at Ready to Fight. The presentation attracted a mix of conference attendees, including industry leaders from organizations like Clarion Gaming and SiGMA Group, who gathered to witness the launch of this exciting collaboration.
Following the presentation, the stand came alive with an engaging arm-wrestling challenge. Prominent industry leaders, founders, and top managers from SiGMA Group, NEXT.io, Gaming Operations Academy, ICS-digital, and others participated, bringing energy and excitement to the event. The ultimate prize—a pair of boxing gloves signed by Usyk—went to the winner of the challenge, Zakaria El Maaroufi, Head of M&A Brokerage at SiGMA Group. To keep the fun going, a lottery draw later in the day gave attendees another chance to win their own signed gloves, making it a truly memorable experience.
Throughout the partnership announcement and celebration, GR8 Tech showcased signed boxing gloves worn by Oleksandr Usyk during his historic victory over Tyson Fury in the spring of 2024. These gloves, complete with a certificate of authenticity, were prominently displayed in the ring area of the stand, symbolizing the unstoppable performance that both Usyk and GR8 Tech bring to the table.
New Deals with a Tailored High-Performance Solution Portfolio
As the first major event of the year, ICE sets the tone for business opportunities and innovation across the industry. GR8 Tech used this opportunity to introduce a refreshed product portfolio solution, known for delivering an adaptable, scalable, and cost-effective platform that guarantees above-market profit margins. Visitors were also introduced to the updated Sportsbook Turbo iFrame, which provides an award-winning sportsbook that can be integrated within a week. The showcase of the Infinite Casino Aggregation impressed attendees with its vast selection of over 15,000 games and over 175 game providers, appealing to those looking to diversify and expand their portfolios with ease.
“ICE 2025 highlighted GR8 Tech’s sharp business focus and the well-organized nature of the event. It was the perfect mix that helped us connect with the right people and have valuable conversations. We had hundreds of productive meetings, setting the stage for some exciting deals and partnerships. This event has once again been a great step forward in growing our presence and solidifying our position as leaders in the industry,” said Yevhen Krazhan, CBDO at GR8 Tech.
Looking ahead
After celebrating its milestone birthday at ICE, GR8 Tech is energized for the year ahead. With an UNprecedented roadmap for 2025, the company’s next major trade show is iGB Live in July—with new surprises from the RTF partnership in store. Stay tuned for more exciting updates from GR8 Tech as the journey continues.
The post UNdisputedly GR8 ICE 2025 with GR8 Tech, RTF by Oleksandr Usyk, and the Leaders of iGaming appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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Betway signs UFC Champion Dricus “Stillknocks” du Plessis as Global Ambassador
Leading global online betting and gaming brand, Betway, has signed the Ultimate Fighting Championship Middleweight Champion, Dricus du Plessis, as a global brand ambassador.
Du Plessis, the reigning and undisputed Middleweight Champion is currently undefeated in the world’s biggest mixed martial arts organization, boasting a commanding 10-fight win streak with a stellar 22-2-0 career record.
The African MMA superstar joins the Betway Squad as he prepares to defend his title at UFC 312 in Sydney, Australia on Saturday 8 February.
Betway Africa’s Head of Marketing, Mark Rowles, who was delighted to add du Plessis to the impressive Betway Squad commented, “At Betway, we pride ourselves on aligning our global recognised brand with exceptional sporting properties such as the Betway SA20, Betway Premiership, and the Springboks, as well as working with inspirational sports stars and we are immensely proud to have Dricus join us. He is a great ambassador for South Africa and African MMA, he has established himself as one of the top MMA athletes in the world, his International Fighter of the Year award is testament to the incredible year he has had in the UFC, and we wish him well for his title defence at UFC 312. We are all behind the champ.”
du Plessis made history at UFC 297 in Toronto when he became South Africa’s first UFC world champion after beating American Sean Strickland by split decision. He has since continued his meteoric rise by defending his belt against former two-time champion Israel Adesanya, winning by submission at UFC 305 in Perth in August of last year.
“Betway having chosen to invest in me and my sport is a tremendous honour, by and in itself. Knowing that this collaboration creates opportunity for aspiring MMA-athletes and South African sports talents, provides me with a tremendous sense of pride and motivation to maintain our country’s championship status, you can bet on that!
The 31-year-old continues to inspire a nation through his performances in the UFC octagon and hopes to see more people take up the sport after firmly putting African MMA in the spotlight in 2024.
The post Betway signs UFC Champion Dricus “Stillknocks” du Plessis as Global Ambassador appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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