Press Releases
Return of Sports Brings a Resurgence of Online Betting

As the legal infrastructure becomes more friendly towards sports betting, specifically in the online space, many companies in the gambling industry are beginning to offer more sports betting options. According to a report by the Associated Press, companies like DraftKings are making serious strides in developing easy to use systems available to the public through partnerships with sports leagues. Now, as the restrictions of social distancing are slowly being scaled back in numerous states, new numbers on gambling and sports betting are being reported. For example, a report by the Chicago Sun-Times indicates that New Jersey gamblers set a nationwide record for the most money bet on sports in a single month, spending almost USD 668 Million in August on events including resurgent baseball, basketball and hockey seasons that had been interrupted by the outbreak. FansUnite Entertainment Inc. (OTC: FUNFF) (CSE: FANS), DraftKings Inc. (NASDAQ: DKNG), International Game Technology PLC (NYSE: IGT), Boyd Gaming Corporation (NYSE: BYD), Penn National Gaming, Inc. (NASDAQ: PENN)
New Jersey has been the first state to make sports betting legal back in 2018. In total, sports betting is legal in some form in 24 states, according to date provided by ESPN. Of course, sports betting legalization in the United States is a complex issue. Nevertheless, despite the legal challenges, interest in the industry is high. According to a report by MarketWatch, many have invested money into a new exchange-traded fund that tracks the sports betting and online gambling industries. This represents a “remarkable vote of confidence for a fund that’s only a few days old,” said Dave Nadig, a longtime industry veteran now at ETF Database. “I am a fan of this fund. If you believe online sports betting is the next big thing, this fund will capture everything from back-office infrastructure to front-facing retail plays.”
FansUnite Entertainment Inc. (OTC: FUNFF) (CSE: FANS) announced earlier last week that,
“McBookie Ltd (“McBookie”) has continued its impressive performance since becoming part of FansUnite.
The Scottish based operator increased its overall year-over-year (“YOY”) turnover for the months of July and August by 108% – from $3M CAD to $6.3M CAD, with 78% of the turnover growth led by the return of sport.
The increase resulted in a YOY increase in Gross Gaming Revenue over the same period of 412%, resulting in gross gaming revenue of $371K for July and August 2020 and a gross margin of $161K. During the same period last year the platform generated $72K in gross gaming revenue resulting in a gross margin loss of $66K.
With the strong results over the last two months, McBookie is preparing to continue the positive trend with the return of the English Premier League and the other major European leagues in the coming weeks.
‘We are very pleased that McBookie has been able to continue its strong 2020 performance despite the slowdown in sports betting from the global pandemic,’ said Scott Burton, CEO of FansUnite. ‘The figures for the past 60 days have been exceptional and continue to validate our belief in this leading B2C betting brand and the management team behind it. For the duration of 2020, major European leagues are set to begin again and present a great opportunity for McBookie to capture the attention of new and existing customers. We will work directly with McBookie in ensuring their presence in the U.K. expands and they are in a position to service this growing user base of bettors.’
‘The team at FansUnite has worked very hard to improve all aspects of our business since joining FansUnite and it is great to see that replicated in the numbers,’ said Paul Petrie, founder and Director of McBookie. ‘With just one month to wait until the whole of Scottish football is back, having the resources and expertise of FansUnite helps puts us in an excellent position to continue building on our recent success.’
While the return of sport has provided an uptick in betting volume, casino turnover during the two-month period was strong as well with $3.1M wagered. McBookie will be looking to build on these numbers with the recent launch of a Live Casino product earlier this month.
‘After launching a successful Virtual Sports betting offering in March, we decided to expand our platform with the addition of a Live Casino,’ continued Paul Petrie. ‘It represents another betting alternative for our loyal customers and helps us diversify our revenue stream.’”
For our latest “Buzz on the Street” Show featuring FansUnite Entertainment Inc. recent corporate news, please head over to: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SkSk3GQD6GI
DraftKings Inc. (NASDAQ: DKNG) announced yesterday a multi-year agreement with ESPN to become a co-exclusive sportsbook link-out provider and exclusive daily fantasy sports provider of the media giant. Links across ESPN digital platforms will connect fans to DraftKings’ products and services. “ESPN helped revolutionize the 24/7 sports news cycle and continues to be the go-to source for many fans today on the latest and largest sports stories,” said Jason Robins, Co-Founder, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, DraftKings. “We look forward to this collaboration to exclusively showcase DraftKings’ daily fantasy content and offerings while also advancing further visibility and mainstream adoption of our regulated sports betting products.” Under the agreement, DraftKings will now be able to integrate its products and offerings across ESPN’s digital platforms. DraftKings will also power existing and future ESPN studio shows with dedicated segments for promotion, beginning with daily fantasy sports.
International Game Technology PLC (NYSE: IGT) announced last month that it has expanded its PlaySports offering for the U.S. sports betting market with the formation of its own full-service Trading Team based in Las Vegas, Nev. The diverse and talented team adds another dimension of service to the most widely deployed B2B sports betting solution in the U.S. market and further cements IGT’s market leadership. “IGT’s in-house, U.S.-based Trading Team enhances the appeal of the entire PlaySports offering and enables us to deliver an ‘all-indone’ solution for operators seeking a single sports betting service provider,” said Enrico Drago, IGT PlayDigital Senior Vice President. “IGT PlaySports’ pure B2B focus, the Trading Team’s in-depth knowledge of regional and local betting preferences and trends, and the Company’s favorable regulatory standings in tribal and state-governed jurisdictions across the U.S. continue to create opportunities for our customers and drive our nationwide sports betting leadership.”
Boyd Gaming Corporation (NYSE: BYD) and FanDuel Group just announced the debut of the FanDuel Par-A-Dice Sportsbook in the state of Illinois. Sports bettors across the state of Illinois now have access to FanDuel’s industry-leading online and mobile sports-betting platform, with wagering options available in professional football, basketball, baseball, hockey and more. Additionally, FanDuel will operate a retail sportsbook located at Boyd Gaming’s Par-A-Dice Casino in East Peoria, Illinois, pending regulatory approval. Keith Smith, President and Chief Executive Officer of Boyd Gaming, said: “Given the tremendous success of our existing FanDuel Sportsbooks, we are confident that the FanDuel Par-A-Dice Sportsbook will quickly become Illinois sports bettors’ mobile app of choice. We are excited for the opportunity to offer both mobile and retail sports betting in one of the most populous states in the country, as we continue to expand our strategic partnership with FanDuel Group.”
Penn National Gaming, Inc. (NASDAQ: PENN) announced on July 1st, that it had entered into a partnership with Sportradar, the global provider of sports data and content, to use official National Football League (“NFL”) data on the Company’s sports betting platforms. As part of the partnership, Penn National has the ability to offer a wide array of live, in-game wagering options on NFL games at its retail sports betting locations and on its Barstool Sportsbook app, which is expected to launch in the third quarter of 2020. “We are thrilled to be partnering with Sportradar for NFL data in advance of the upcoming football season,” said Jon Kaplowitz, Senior Vice President of Penn National’s interactive gaming division. “Delivering official NFL data to our growing, loyal audience, including over 66 million Barstool fans and our 20 million casino customers, will provide tremendous wagering opportunities where we operate sports books across the country.”
SOURCE FinancialBuzz.com
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Rivalry Reports Full-Year 2024 Results as Strategic Turnaround Takes Hold, Operating Loss Narrows, and Efficiency Improves

Operating expenses reduced 17%, net loss narrows, and foundational rebuild positions Rivalry for a leaner, more efficient, and financially disciplined 2025
Rivalry Corp. (the “Company” or “Rivalry”) (TSXV: RVLY), an internationally regulated sports betting and media company, announces its financial results for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2024.
While Rivalry’s 2024 financials reflect only the earliest signals of its company-wide restructuring, the foundational work – most of which began in the second half of 2024 – is now beginning to show results in 2025. The Company narrowed its net loss, reduced operating expenses by 17%, and entered the new year leaner, more focused, and closer to breakeven.
“We made hard decisions last year – rebuilding the product, cutting costs, and refining our approach to players – and those changes are beginning to show signs of positive impact,” said Steven Salz, Co-Founder and CEO of Rivalry. “The latter half of 2024 set the stage, and we’re encouraged by the progress seen so far in 2025.”
FY2024 Highlights
- Net revenue of $13.6 million, compared to $16.2 million in 2023.
- Operating expenses decreased 17% to $32.2 million, down from $38.8 million.
- Net loss of $22.4 million, compared to $23.8 million.
- Deferred revenue of $4.1 million related to pre-sales of Rivalry’s on-platform crypto token.
- Year-end cash of $2.7 million, with materially lower run-rate operating expenses entering 20251.
Organizational Rebuild & Operating Leverage
Rivalry spent the latter part of 2024 and into Q1 2025 executing a comprehensive overhaul across its cost base, product, player strategy, and operational structure. With most changes now implemented, early signs of progress are emerging. Highlights include:
- Lean operating model, with breakeven net revenue now approximately $600,000 USD/month, down from over $2 million USD/month a year ago. Further reductions to operating costs are planned in Q3 2025 to lower the breakeven point even more.
- Restructured VIP program and onboarding, improving retention and monetization from high-value players.
- Expanded casino product, improving baseline stability through missions, races, and progression-based systems.
- Platform upgrades enhancing site speed, responsiveness, and conversion.
- Crypto-native infrastructure overhaul, including a rebuilt cashier, improved user experience (“UX”), and token-ready architecture to support long-term on-chain growth.
These efforts have driven early improvements across the Company’s core key performance indicators in 2025:
- Net revenue per active user and wagers per user at record levels (excluding customary outliers).
- Deposit growth in nearly every month from November 2024 through June 2025, despite minimal marketing spend.
- Monthly new first-time depositors (FTDs) up approximately 40% since January 2025 on flat monthly spend. Average payback on cohorts acquired during this period was approximately 1.5 months, highlighting improved customer acquisition efficiency.
2025 Momentum and Execution
In the first half of 2025, Rivalry continued executing against its strategic turnaround, with a focus on increasing player value, tightening operational efficiency, and accelerating near-term revenue drivers. Key initiatives included:
- Loyalty Program v2: Building on the success of the end-2024 launch, the next iteration of Rivalry’s on-site loyalty program is in development, designed to deepen progression, improve engagement, and anchor major campaigns throughout Q3 2025.
- New Promo Engine: Launching this summer, the rebuilt system introduces immediate-match deposit offers and new promo types, integrated directly into onboarding and reactivation flows to lift first time deposits and retention.
- Customer Relationship Management (“CRM”) and Always-On Optimization: Active performance reviews of core flows, geo-targeted reactivation campaigns, and structural upgrades to improve output across the customer lifecycle.
- VIP & High-Value-Player Activity: Fully structured outreach live across geos, with segmentation, high-touch CRM, and LTV-based targeting to reactivate high-value-players.
- Cashier & Site Speed: Continued improvements to platform speed, including faster load times, and reduced friction in cashier UX.
- Ongoing UX Improvements: Consistent updates across the site aimed at visual polish, design coherence, and front-end responsiveness to deliver a cleaner, more reliable user experience.
These initiatives have laid a foundation entering the second half of 2025. The focus now is on maintaining momentum, tightening execution, and scaling revenue through improved player economics and operational leverage.
Strategic Review
The Company’s previously announced evaluation of strategic alternatives remains ongoing. Rivalry continues to explore a range of potential outcomes aimed at maximizing shareholder value. There is no assurance regarding the timing or results of this review.
Outlook
While the 2024 annual results capture only the early innings of Rivalry’s strategic transformation, the changes made throughout the year have meaningfully repositioned the Company. With a leaner cost structure, stronger product, and increasing revenue efficiency, Rivalry is entering the second half of 2025 with sharper operational discipline and renewed focus.
Additional updates will be provided alongside the release of the Company’s financial results for the three months ended March 31, 2025, which are expected to be released on or prior to July 14, 2025.
Unsecured Loan
The Company also announces that it has secured a US$475,000 principal amount senior unsecured loan from its existing senior lender, maturing on September 30, 2025, with an interest rate of 10% per annum (the “Loan”). The Loan reinforces the Company’s senior lender’s support for the Company’s ongoing strategic review process and provides the Company with additional flexibility to continue pursuing its strategic initiatives to maximize long-term stakeholder value.
Update Regarding Management Cease Trade Order
The Company is providing this update on the status of a management cease trade order granted on May 1, 2025 (the “MCTO“) by its principal regulator, the Ontario Securities Commission (the “OSC“), under National Policy 12-203 – Management Cease Trade Orders (“NP 12-203“). On May 2, 2025, the Company announced that there would be a delay in the filing of its annual financial statements, management’s discussion and analysis and related CEO and CFO certificates for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2024 (collectively, the “Annual Filings”), as required under applicable Canadian securities laws (the “Default Announcement“). On June 18, 2025 the Company further announced that it expects to file its unaudited financial statements and management’s discussion and analysis for the three months ended March 31, 2025 and related certifications (collectively, the “Q1 Filings“) on or prior to July 14, 2025. Although the Annual Filings have now been filed, the OSC has advised the Company that the MCTO will remain in place until the Q1 Filings have been completed.
The Company advises that: (i) there have been no material changes to the information contained in the Default Announcement; (ii) it intends to continue to comply with the alternative information guidelines of NP 12-203; and (iii) except as previously disclosed, there are no subsequent specified defaults (actual or anticipated) within the meaning of NP 12-203.
The MCTO will remain in effect until the Company is no longer in default with respect to its filing requirements and the OSC lifts the cease trade order.
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Zenith partners with Paraguay’s Jugamax to expand ONEAPI Game Aggregation across LatAm

New partnership to see Asia’s leading aggregator expand with operator across Paraguay, Chile and Mexico
Zenith, Asia’s premier iGaming platform provider, has today announced a new partnership with Jugamax, one of Paraguay’s leading operator brands.
Through this new partnership, Zenith will deliver an expanded gaming experience to Jugamax’s players across LatAm via ONEAPI, its award-winning game aggregation platform.
Zenith’s latest deal is expected to be the first of many in LatAm with 2025, with Asia’s leading aggregator already delivering its services to 500 global operators and over 50 million players.
This collaboration will provide Jugamax with seamless access to more than 10,000 top-quality game titles from 150 studios across the operator’s key markets including Chile, Mexico and Paraguay.
Through Zenith’s single, easy-to-integrate solution, Jugamax can now tap into a world-class library of slots, live casino and instant games, each designed to drive both engagement and retention – empowering Jugamax to scale rapidly as it continues its expansion across LatAm.
Jugamax’s integration with ONEAPI will also enable the operator to benefit from faster onboarding, dedicated technical support and access to exclusive rates for leading studios.
This partnership reflects Zenith’s ongoing commitment to providing operators with scalable, efficient and high-performing solutions tailored to the unique intricacies of markets across the LatAm region.
Commenting on the new partnership, Karina Moral, Senior Business Development Manager at Zenith, said: “Partnering with Jugamax marks an exciting step in Zenith’s expansion across LatAm. Their local expertise combined with our powerful aggregation platform will create new opportunities for growth, innovation, and player engagement in Paraguay, Chile and México.
“We already have a global reputation as an award-winning Asia aggregator and we have big plans to expand across LatAm in 2025 and beyond, with a tailored suite of product designed for the exact needs of local players.”b
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Yaspa receives $12m investment led by Discerning Capital to fuel US expansion

Open Banking fintech incorporates US entity based in Atlanta
Yaspa, a hyper-growth London fintech, has received investment in a funding round led by Discerning Capital to fuel its expansion in the United States.
Yaspa is an award-winning fintech providing instant payment and identity services, using open banking technology and AI to help regulated businesses elevate customer intelligence – and cashflow – via its proprietary real-time payments solution, Intelligent Payments.
Along with participation from Metavallon and TechStars Ventures, Discerning Capital is investing $12m (£9m) as it believes Yaspa’s payments process will disrupt the gambling payments ecosystem while adding native player protections.
Yaspa is headquartered in London and it processes payments across a growing number of markets including Europe. It has also recently incorporated a US entity, based in Atlanta, Georgia.
The United States’ open banking market is projected to witness a CAGR of 22.5% during the forecast period 2024-2031, growing from USD 7.08 billion in 2023 to USD 35.79 billion in 2031, according to a 2024 Markets and Data industry report.
Discerning Capital invests in companies that operate at the intersection of online gambling, sports, media, and technology. It focuses on businesses that have proven their model works and need scale capital to further their success. While Yaspa is in hyper-growth mode in its existing markets, Discerning Capital believes that account-to-account (A2A) payments has global appeal for regulated gambling operators, given it is cheaper, reduces chargebacks and allows for seamless integration of player protections.
Yaspa is led by CEO James Neville, who co-founded the company in 2017 after having previously served as a CTO at Worldpay.
He said: “This significant investment marks a major milestone for Yaspa. It enables us to take our proven technology into a new market at pace – hiring a local team, building strategic partnerships and adapting our platform to meet the specific needs of operators.
“We’re looking forward to supporting businesses that want to lead on compliance, player safety and user experience as the market matures.”
David Williams, Partner at Discerning Capital, who will be joining the Yaspa board following the transaction said: “We are excited to be partnering with Yaspa to help them expand deeper into regulated gambling.
“The high-risk nature of gambling payments makes it an area in need of innovation and we believe Yaspa addresses two of the biggest issues: chargebacks and player protections. We believe that any operator who evaluates Yaspa’s A2A product versus their existing payments provider will end up adding Yaspa.”
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