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OpenBet: Inside the Rise in Wagering on Women’s March Madness

Published

5 months ago

April 19, 2024

OpenBet: Inside the Rise in Wagering on Women's March Madness

Wagering on women’s sports is experiencing a meteoric rise in popularity, according to the latest data provided by global sports betting company OpenBet. The excitement surrounding the NCAA’s Women’s March Madness, boosted by the ‘Caitlin Clark Effect’, has marked a sea change for a sport and competition in which the men’s game has historically dominated wagering activity.

This year, the women’s college basketball championship saw record wagers processed through the OpenBet sports betting platform, as South Carolina’s victory over Iowa it clutched the title of most watched national basketball game in five years.

The tournament’s Final Four also attracted an average of 10.8 million views per match, up more than 130% on last year and higher than the men’s game. This upward trend in recognition of women’s sport shows no sign of slowing down.

“The women’s national championship between Iowa and South Carolina was the highest wagered event of the entire tournament,” said Jake Schmidt, MTS Trader at OpenBet.

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As interest in women’s basketball skyrockets, OpenBet is strengthening its player props offering to remain competitive and attract more bettors than ever before.

“A constituent and increasing offering of player prop markets is vital to ensuring the popularity of women’s March Madness across the sports betting landscape continues to grow,” Schmidt said.

“With different universities making the tournament each year, I believe this will continue to keep consumers engaged as it is something new each year.”

There also continues to be wider coverage of women’s sports in the US media and on TV than ever before. Iowa’s Caitlin Clark, at the age of just 22, has left a lasting impact on women’s basketball as the NCAA’s top scorer and gaining endorsements from the likes of Nike.

“This year, there were multiple high-profile players driving this increase in popularity,” said Schmidt.

“The media highlighted all games including key players such as USC’s Juju Watkins, South Carolina’s coach Dawn Staley and player Kamilla Cardoso, and others from LSU, UConn and Iowa Hawkeyes.”

Another reason for its increase in prominence and wagering activity is down to the length of time women typically spend at college.

“In contrast to the men’s game, female athletes generally choose to remain in college for longer before choosing to participate in the WNBA draft, allowing consumers to get to know them more and build familiarity,” said Schmidt.

OpenBet continues to deliver a robust and reliable betting engine enabling more people than ever to wager on women’s sports with confidence. As this trend continues, the award-winning provider will add further player props and sports to exceed expectations from sports bettors.

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SCCG Announces the Launch of SCCG NextGen: Redefining Possibilities in Gaming with Brand Influence and IP

Published

1 hour ago

September 11, 2024

Niji Narayan

SCCG Management, a leading global advisory firm in the gaming industry, announced the official launch of SCCG NextGen, marking its expansion into the talent agency sector. Designed to meet the evolving needs of the gaming landscape, SCCG NextGen brings together talent, intellectual property (IP), and strategic brand partnerships to drive growth and innovation across the real money gaming industry.

SCCG NextGen provides a comprehensive suite of services aimed at supporting partner growth. From celebrity-branded games and influencer integration to IP integration and content development, NextGen helps gaming brands navigate an increasingly competitive market. The company specializes in incorporating brand elements into gaming products and developing effective monetization strategies. By focusing on brand optimisation and real money gaming opportunities, SCCG NextGen leverages its understanding of global and local markets to help partners achieve sustainable growth.

Stephen A. Crystal, Founder & CEO of SCCG Management, said: “NextGen represents the next frontier of growth for our partners. By bridging talent and technology, we are providing an unparalleled opportunity for brands to harness the power of celebrity influence, create engaging gaming experiences, and expand their global footprint. This launch solidifies SCCG’s commitment to innovation and leadership in the gaming industry.”

The new talent agency focuses on gamifying intellectual property (IP) and developing monetization opportunities. SCCG works closely with partners to create engaging, interactive content that enhances brand value while driving new revenue streams. Through strategic partnerships, innovative game development, and brand integration, NextGen helps gaming companies build marketing strategies that resonate with players while unlocking new opportunities for growth.

SCCG NextGen specializes in identifying gaming opportunities that leverage valuable intellectual property (IP) and talent. The agency works with platforms, studios, developers, brands, and operators to integrate both talent and IP into real money and casual gaming experiences, across both retail and online environments. Focusing on sustainable commercial models, SCCG NextGen helps brands and operators create engaging experiences that drive fan engagement and player loyalty, supporting long-term growth. With expertise in bridging the gap between talent and the gaming industry, the agency ensures that each collaboration is strategically aligned and maximizes value.

Canada

Edmonton Oilers and Play Alberta Extend Partnership

Published

2 hours ago

September 11, 2024

Niji Narayan

The Edmonton Oilers and Play Alberta announced a new agreement that makes Play Alberta the exclusive sports betting and online gaming partner of the Edmonton Oilers.

The deal will see the Play Alberta logo featured prominently on the Oilers home jerseys and GameSense, AGLC’s responsible gambling program, displayed on the helmets of the Oilers for each home game.

“Play Alberta is proud to continue its partnership with the Edmonton Oilers over the next several seasons. We value our patrons and the fans of the Oilers and are thrilled to see PlayAlberta.ca, Alberta’s trusted gambling platform along with the best-in-class responsible gambling program – GameSense – as prominent fixtures on the Oilers uniformsuniforms,” said Kandice Machado, Chief Executive Officer at AGLC.

PlayAlberta.ca is a leader in the iGaming landscape in the province. All money generated through the site goes to the General Revenue Fund, which supports programs and services that Albertans rely on every day. In addition, the website has integrated AGLC’s GameSense and Self-Exclusion programs to better support players in their gambling journey.

“We are proud to call Play Alberta the official sportsbook of the Edmonton Oilers. With the revenue generated by Play Alberta going to valued services and programs that help enrich the lives of Albertans, donning the Play Alberta logo on our iconic home jersey is a testament to our long-term commitment to communities across Oil Country,” said Stew MacDonald, President & Chief Revenue Officer, OEG Sports & Entertainment.

The relationship between the Edmonton Oilers and PlayAlberta.ca will allow fans to experience the Play Alberta and GameSense brands through promotions in Rogers Place and ICE District, as well as giveaways throughout the season, including game tickets and memorabilia.

This past year, PlayAlberta.ca generated $235 million in net sales, an increase of more than $42 million from 2022-23. That number contributes to the $1.5 billion in total gaming revenue that’s sent to Alberta’s General Revenue Fund and supports programs and services that Albertans rely on every day.

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Optimove Announcement: Appoints Adi Dagan as Senior Director of Partnerships

Published

2 hours ago

September 11, 2024

Adrienn Sarkany

Optimove, the #1 CRM Marketing Solution for iGaming and Sports Betting, is pleased to announce the appointment of Adi Dagan as Senior Director of Partnerships. A seasoned entrepreneur and gaming industry leader, Dagan will be responsible for expanding Optimove’s strategic partnerships and fostering growth across key markets.

Dagan brings over two decades of experience scaling online businesses and building partnerships. As the co-founder and CEO of Beehive, which was acquired by Playtech, he brings extensive experience in business development for online companies, focusing on growth through strategic partnerships. Dagan also co-founded Everybuddy Games, where he expanded operations globally and secured $25M+ in venture capital.

In his new role, Dagan will focus on growing Optimove’s partner ecosystem and identifying new business opportunities. His immediate priorities include engaging with key partners and clients at high-profile industry events such as SBC Summit and G2E.

Pini Yakuel, CEO of Optimove, commented, “We are thrilled to welcome Adi to the team. His expertise will be instrumental in expanding our partner ecosystem and delivering even more value to our clients. Under his leadership, we are poised to expand and deepen partnerships that deliver next-level personalized engagement solutions to leading brands across the globe.”

Dagan’s appointment follows Optimove’s recent announcement of partnerships with Captain Up and Gamanza, marking the industry’s first AI-orchestrated gamification for iGaming and sports betting operators. These partnerships combine Optimove’s AI-powered marketing orchestration with Captain Up’s engagement platform and Gamanza Engage’s loyalty suite, in a best-of-breed solution that sets a new standard for personalized player experiences.

“I am extremely excited to join Optimove. It is the clear leader in CRM Marketing for iGaming and Sports Betting,” said Dagan. “Optimove’s cutting-edge platform and proven ability to enhance customer engagement through AI-orchestrated, data-driven marketing create a market advantage. Optimove is a clear market differentiator for any partner. I am looking forward to help Optimove continue to build valuable partnerships that drive measurable success for marketers.”

As Dagan noted, AI-orchestrated marketing is a hallmark of Optimove. In 2012, Optimove was the first CRM Marketing Platform to natively embed AI to predict customer migrations between lifecycle stages, followed by the launch of OptiBot in 2016. Its most recent innovation, OptiGenie, announced in November 2023, empowers marketers to optimize workflows from insight to creation and orchestration.

Optimove will be exhibiting at SBC Summit Lisbon, September 24-26, at stand #D120.