Industry News
Better Collective Enters into Definitive Agreement to Acquire Playmaker Capital

Better Collective has announced that it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Toronto-based Playmaker Capital, a leading digital sports media group that owns and operates a number of strong sports media brands in the US, Canada, and across South America. Upon closing of this transformational transaction, Better Collective is expected to become the market leader in South America with the largest audience across its sports media brands and will also strengthen its leading position in North America.
Acquisition Highlights
- Better Collective’s second largest acquisition with a total price consideration of 176 mEUR
- Transformational acquisition to take market leadership in South America and enhance North American market leadership
- Acquiring strong digital sports media brands with a combined monthly audience of more than 200 million visits from across the Americas
- Experienced leadership team to stay onboard to help drive the business forward
- Clear path to synergies post integration bringing EV/EBITDA of 2026e to below 5x, implying an EBITDA margin in line with Better Collective’s publishing business of +40%. Positive synergistic effects are expected to expand further in the years thereafter
- The transaction will be funded by 65% Better Collective shares (partly by the transfer of 1,387,580 treasury shares and up to 1,713,300 newly issued shares) and 35% cash, corresponding to a dilution of approximately 3.1%. Better Collective shares will be settled at 270.48 SEK/share
- Upon closing of the transaction Better Collective will revisit its long-term financial targets for the period 2023-2027.
Playmaker Capital is a leading digital sports media group operating a strong portfolio of sports media brands across the Americas. Following the closing of the transaction, Playmaker Capital will be a wholly owned subsidiary of Better Collective. Once integrated, Better Collective expects to significantly ramp up its media capabilities and expand its audiences across its sports media portfolio.
Jesper Søgaard, Co-founder & CEO of Better Collective, said: “Acquiring Playmaker Capital is in many ways transformational for Better Collective and will be an important milestone in our journey towards becoming the leading digital sports media group. Upon closing of the acquisition, we will significantly grow our audience and reach a larger segment of generalist sports fans. For years, Playmaker Capital has built incredibly strong sports media brands and excited sports fans across the Americas with high-quality sports content, cultivating a loyal and dedicated following. The skilled team behind Playmaker Capital brings a unique set of media competencies that will boost our organization. Saying that I am excited to welcome the new team to the Better Collective group would be an understatement.”
Jordan Gnat, Co-founder & CEO of Playmaker Capital, said: “Over the past 12 months I have been talking a lot about a transformational deal for Playmaker and its shareholders that will take this company to the next level. Today’s announcement does exactly that and I could not be more excited for the Playmaker family to join the Better Collective family. Their success is undeniable and their vision to become the leading digital sports media group aligns with us exactly. The cultures of our companies are very similar and I see the integration and synergies to be incredibly accretive to shareholders.”
The closing of the transaction is subject to approval by the shareholders of Playmaker Capital, court approval, applicable regulatory approvals and certain other closing conditions customary in transactions of this nature. The transaction is expected to close before the end of Q1 of 2024, whereafter Playmaker Capital will be consolidated into the Better Collective group.
Industry News
Full House Resorts Announces Promotion of Lewis Fanger to President

Full House Resorts Inc. announced that it has promoted Lewis Fanger to President, Chief Financial Officer, and Treasurer, effective July 11, 2025. The title of President was previously held by Daniel Lee, the Company’s Chief Executive Officer. As previously disclosed, Mr. Lee extended his employment agreement as the Company’s Chief Executive Officer in June 2025.
“Since our arrival approximately ten years ago. Full House Resorts has undergone a significant transformation, from a small regional casino operator to one of the fastest-growing companies in our industry. Lewis’s financial leadership has helped enable that growth, allowing us to improve our existing assets and expand the Company through new developments such as American Place and Chamonix. Lewis has been an invaluable part of our team over the past decade, and his promotion to President will help ensure a continuity of leadership,” Mr. Lee said.
Industry News
NCPG Announces 2025 Board of Directors Election Results and Board Leadership

The National Council on Problem Gambling (NCPG) has announced the newly elected members of its Board of Directors, as well as the slate of officers who will lead the organization for the upcoming year.
Following the annual election in June, NCPG members voted to elect the following individuals to serve on the Board of Directors from 2025 to 2028:
• Diana Goode – Affiliates Seat
• Wiley Harwell – Affiliates Seat
• Lori Manson – Affiliates Seat
• Glenn Yamagata – Affiliates Seat
• Jamie McKelvey – Organizations Seat
• Amanda Quintana – Organizations Seat
• Brian Ward – Individuals Seat
Glenn Yamagata and Jamie McKelvey will serve a two-year term from 2025 to 2027.
In addition, the Board has elected the following officers to lead NCPG for the 2025–26 term:
• President: Derek Longmeier, Executive Director, Problem Gambling Network of Ohio
• Vice President: Christina Gray, Executive Director, Indiana Council on Problem Gambling
• Secretary: Wiley Harwell, Executive Director, Oklahoma Council on Problem Gambling and Gaming
• Treasurer: Amanda Quintana, Player Health Manager, Colorado Lottery
The Board’s esteemed leadership and expertise are instrumental in fostering NCPG membership, shaping policies, implementing strategies, and attaining organizational objectives. By leveraging their subject matter knowledge, skills, and experience, Board members are dedicated to serving all NCPG stakeholders through the development of comprehensive policies and programs for all those affected by problem gambling.
Industry News
SharpLink Gaming Announces $425,000,000 Private Placement to Initiate Ethereum Treasury Strategy

SharpLink Gaming Inc. announced that it has entered into securities purchase agreements for a private investment in public equity (PIPE) for the purchase and sale of 69,100,313 shares of common stock (or common stock equivalents in lieu thereof) at a price of $6.15 per share ($6.72 per share for certain members of the Company’s management team), for expected aggregate gross proceeds of approximately $425,000,000, before deducting placement agent fees and other offering expenses.
Consensys Software Inc. acted as the lead investor, and the offering included participation by prominent crypto venture capital firms and infrastructure providers such as ParaFi Capital, Electric Capital, Pantera Capital, Arrington Capital, Galaxy Digital, Ondo, White Star Capital, GSR, Hivemind Capital, Hypersphere, Primitive Ventures, and Republic Digital among others including Rob Phythian, SharpLink’s CEO, and Robert DeLucia, SharpLink’s CFO.
The closing of the offering is expected to occur on or about May 29, 2025, subject to the satisfaction of customary closing conditions. The Company intends to use the funds to acquire the native cryptocurrency of the Ethereum blockchain commonly referred to as “ETH” pending identification of working capital needs and other general corporate purposes. ETH will serve as the Company’s primary treasury reserve asset.
A.G.P./Alliance Global Partners is acting as the sole placement agent in connection with the offering.
“This is a significant milestone in SharpLink’s journey and marks an expansion beyond our core business. On closing, we look forward to working with Consensys and welcoming Joseph to the Board,” said Rob Phythian, Founder and CEO of SharpLink.
“On close, Consensys looks forward to partnering with SharpLink to explore and develop an Ethereum Treasury Strategy and to work with them in their core business as a strategic advisor. This is an exciting time for the Ethereum community, and I am delighted to work with Rob and the team to bring the Ethereum opportunity to public markets,” said Joseph Lubin, Founder and CEO of Consensys and Co-Founder of Ethereum.
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