Press Releases
Sports Betting Set For Explosive Growth in 2021: CEO’s of MGM Resorts, FansUnite, fuboTV, and DraftKings Share Outlook
Wall Street Reporter, the trusted name in financial news since 1843, has published reports on the latest comments and insights from leaders at: MGM Resorts International, FansUnite, fuboTV, and DraftKings.
Wall Street Reporter highlights the latest comments from industry thought leaders:
MGM Resorts International (NYSE: MGM) CEO, Bill Hornbuckle: “BetMGM emerging as long-term leader sports betting and iGaming”
“…The sports betting and iGaming market is one of the largest and most exciting growth opportunities in the U.S.A. today, and BetMGM is emerging as a long-term leader. BetMGM began 2020 in just 3 markets and has ended the year with 10. It is now currently live in 12 states, and we expect to be in 20 states by the end of 2021 with access to approximately 40% of the U.S. adult population. As each state rolls out, MGM is securing a leading market share position. In the fourth quarter, BetMGM’s market share was 17% in its retail and online markets and 19% if you exclude Pennsylvania, which were only open for part of December. This is a testament to BetMGM’s successful execution and strong management teams as it continues to enter new states on day one….BetMGM’s key competitive advantage is its ability to lever MGM’s destinations our broad-based experiential offerings and our M life loyalty program as efficient and effective customer acquisition tools. Once engaged, we know that omnichannel customers have vastly greater value to our company than single-channel customers. And again, while we’re still in this in the early days in Michigan, we are already proving this out. We are currently seeing customer acquisition costs below the $200 range.”
FansUnite “Positioned for Exponential Revenue Growth in iGaming, E-Sports, Online Sports Betting”
In their latest presentation at Wall Street Reporter’s NEXT SUPER STOCK livestream, FansUnite (OTC: FUNFF) (CSE: FANS) CEO Scott Burton, and President Darius Eghdami explained how FUNFF’s latest distribution deal with an online casino games aggregator, sets the stage for exponential revenue growth opportunities. In the next 12 months, FUNFF plans to expand its current line from three games to twelve – while adding multiple aggregators for each game – reaching millions of new online casino customers worldwide. With each game generating as much as $500,000 in revenue per month for FUNFF – per online casino – and the potential to be in hundreds of online casinos – these numbers can quickly add up.
May 5 – FUNN engages SeventySix Capital Sports Advisory (“SSCSA”), a preeminent sports and entertainment consulting group, to assist the Company in advancing its sportsbook platform expansion in the United States. SSCSA and its affiliated companies have an extensive network spanning some of the biggest brands within the sports and entertainment industry. By leveraging SSCSA’s extensive network of key partners, FUNFF will be able to identify U.S. sports, esports media and other companies and brands that are looking for a betting platform partner to provide wagering services to its followers. A partnership with these brands will enable FUNFF to capitalize on their fanbase, which will further solidify the Company’s footprint in the U.S. sports betting market, and generate significant income through a revenue share model when it licenses its B2B online gambling solutions to these companies.
April 14 – FUNNF reports record $28.3M in betting volume and a 136% increase in revenue for its McBookie subsidiary in Q1 2021, compared to same period last year.
March 17 – FUNFF enters into a strategic partnership with TGS Esports Inc. (TGS), a leading esports solutions provider, to launch live esports tournament prediction games.
TGS partners with organizations and brands to build and grow their esports communities via tournaments, broadcast production and events.
March 4 – FUNFF applies for UK Gambling licenses, which will unlock its suite of betting products to operators in the U.K. online gambling market and deploy its B2C wagering platforms in the United Kingdom. These applications represent a critical step for FansUnite to expand its operations to the U.K., a jurisdiction that is considered to be one of the largest gambling markets in the world.
DraftKings Inc. CEO, Jason Robins “New Sports Betting Markets Openings Are Fueling Growth”
“…We are raising our revenue outlook for 2021 due to our expectation for continued growth, the outperformance of our core business and newly launched states that were not included in the guidance we shared in November…Looking ahead, I remain very confident in the continued growth of the online sports betting and iGaming markets in the U.S. Even in a market like New Jersey where we’ve been live for 2.5 years, substantial growth continues. Our handle in New Jersey grew over 100% in 2020 and we are profitable in the state despite the impact of the COVID pandemic…. In the fourth quarter, we launched sports betting in Tennessee. In January, Iowans were able to register via our mobile app rather than in person at a retail casino. We also launched mobile sports betting and iGaming in Michigan and we launched mobile sports betting in Virginia…”
“…We continue to be live with mobile sports betting in more states than any other operator. Our launch in Michigan is going very well. Early results are consistent with our goal to always maximize overall user engagement and monetization across our product offerings…DraftKings achieved 25% share of mobile sports betting handle and GGR and 20% share of iGaming GGR in the first 10 days of a highly competitive market. Our iGaming handle per capita in Michigan on Super Bowl Sunday with 1.9 times the average of our iGaming handle per capita in New Jersey, Pennsylvania and West Virginia on their first Super Bowl…We’re excited for the future. DraftKings is well positioned with over $1.8 billion in cash to enter new states as soon as practicable, to drive our continued product innovation, acquire customers and explore opportunistic M&A…”
fuboTV CEO David Gandler: ”At Intersection of Sports Streaming and Wagering”
“…From an execution standpoint, Q3 was by far the strongest quarter in the company’s history. Our results have exceeded previously raised guidance with solid growth across every KPI we track. Revenues were up 47% to $61 million. That’s well ahead of the guidance range we provided of $52 million to $55 million. …Paid subscribers at quarter end totaled 455,000, and that’s 58% above the 288,000 last year. Net additions came in at 167,000. That’s up almost 100% year-over-year…FUBO sits firmly at the intersection of 3 megatrends: The first is the secular decline of traditional television viewership; the second is the shift of TV ad dollars to connected devices; and the third is online sports wagering, a market we absolutely intend to enter. Our growth opportunities are numerous, and there are great many reasons for us to be optimistic given the optionality in the business…”
“We’re super excited about wagering. I would say that we’ve already started executing on our strategy. And at the appropriate time, we’ll provide more details. But the way we think about wagering is we look at it from a 3-bucket perspective: we have an acquisitions advantage, we have an engagement advantage and we have a monetization advantage. For acquisitions, you should think of it that we’re starting with 500,000 paying subscribers. And what you’ve heard from our ability to sell attachments this quarter, we think that we’re going to be able to also sell in a lot of wagering opportunities. Number two was on the engagement front. We have over 50,000 sporting events on the platform, and we’re getting people to watch over 120 hours per month. So there are going to be ample opportunities for us to really sort of drive that forward…”
Gaming
Fourth Star Launches Immersive Media Streaming Platform
Fourth Star, the cutting-edge virtual reality immersive media streaming platform, is officially available to the public. This innovative platform transforms traditional entertainment by enabling users to seamlessly watch standard 2D, 180 and 360 immersive media content and movies. Fourth Star redefines how audiences engage with immersive storytelling, offering an unparalleled first-person centric perspective on entertainment.
“Fourth Star is more than just a platform – it’s a revolution in entertainment,” said Greg Simon, Co-Founder & CEO of Fourth Star. “We’ve created an immersive experience where users can not only consume content but also actively participate in it. Our vision is to transform how people experience media content and movies in a way that has never been done before.”
A New Era of Interactive Entertainment
The largest immersive media streaming platform available on Sidequest, users can explore nearly forty unique environments, interact with AI-driven crew, and experience entertainment in an entirely new way. Fourth Star offers a groundbreaking approach to digital engagement, whether socializing in the Cafe, customizing avatars in private Apartments or Ships, or stepping directly into a movie’s storyline.
“The combination of VR, AI, and blockchain in Fourth Star sets a new standard for immersive entertainment,” said Craig Wiltshire, CTO of Fourth Star. “Our vision is to seamlessly integrate all three technologies into the user experience. We are redefining the entertainment experience from passive observation to active creation.”
Built for Content Partners
Fourth Star is a self-serve platform designed for content partners of all sizes, from individual creators to blockbuster studios. Content partners can set up an account, create content channels, and begin monetizing their work immediately. No integration is required, allowing for seamless onboarding and instant access to a global audience. The Creator Portal empowers partners to distribute and profit from their immersive media with ease, making Fourth Star a truly open and accessible metaverse for digital entertainment.
Key Features of Fourth Star
- VR Streaming Platform – Users can access nearly forty environments and own their own luxury apartments and ships all equipped with an immersive media streaming entertainment hub.
- Social & Customization – Connect with others in dynamic social hubs, personalize your avatar, and invite your friends to your own luxury apartment and ship.
- Player Portal – Users can access the web-based marketplace to explore content, invite friends,
- Creator Portal – Set up an account, create content channels, and begin monetizing your work immediately. No integration is required, allowing for seamless onboarding and instant access to a global audience.
- Blockchain Integration – The FSTR token, built on the Polygon blockchain, powers the ecosystem, providing secure transactions and exclusive rewards.
- AI-Powered Companions – Coming soon
FSTR: The Utility Token Powering Fourth Star
FSTR serves as the primary ecosystem currency within the Fourth Star platform, enabling users to purchase Apartments, Ships, AI Companions, and exclusive content. Token holders benefit from:
- VIP Access – Exclusive events, early screenings, and red carpet experiences.
- Discounts – 25% savings on in-app purchases (IAPs) and entertainment content.
A New Paradigm in Entertainment
Fourth Star is designed to deliver the future of entertainment through merging cinematic storytelling with interactive gaming, offering:
- A seamless transition from passive to interactive experiences.
- A thriving community for players, creators, and investors.
- Advanced AI integration for interactive AI characters.
- Don’t just watch the star in the movie, become the star.
Availability and Access
Fourth Star is now live and available for users worldwide on Sidequest. Whether you’re an explorer, content creator large to small, storyteller, or entertainment enthusiast, Fourth Star provides an immersive space to experience digital entertainment like never before.
Latest News
Vibra Group Completes the Acquisition of TSA
Vibra Group, the ‘go-to’ content and platform developer for the LatAm region, has acquired TSA, a Brazil-based technology company and one of its longest standing development partners.
The acquisition will further strengthen the award-winning company and accelerate its growth plans with 55 specialist platform development experts based in Northern Brazil.
TSA and Vibra Group have been long-term partners with TSA contributing significantly to Vibra’s technological growth. TSA, which operates under the ServiceNet brand name, also has existing contracts with several Brazilian lotteries including Loteria do Tocantins, Loteria do Maranhao, Loteria de Sergipe and Loteria da Paraíba.
The integration of TSA’s expert teams will immediately enhance Vibra’s platform development roadmap with additional resources dedicated to the Vibra Solutions business unit and will consolidate the Vibra Group’s structure across the LatAm region. The LatAm-based team is focused on game studios, Remote Gaming Server (RGS), and Electronic Gaming Machines (EGM). The Brazil-based team specialising in Player Account Management (PAM) and sportsbook solutions.
Vibra’s product strategy is to service every client need delivering a complete solution on three core areas: sportsbook and casino platform with multiple levels of customization and flexibility; content aggregation platform including proprietary titles and third party games from the main brands in the industry; and a state-of-the-art EGM platform allowing operators to distribute products and content through VLT / retail terminals. The group’s 3 business divisions: Vibra Gaming, Vibra Solutions and Vibra VLT / Retail.
Ramiro Atucha, CEO, Vibra Group, said: “We’re delighted to close the acquisition of TSA and welcome the team to the Vibra family. TSA are one of our closest and most trusted partners with whom we’ve closely collaborated across several significant projects as well as ongoing development work, therefore joining forces makes perfect strategic sense.
“Our expansion and first M&A deal follows significant customer demand and growth across the LatAm region in the last 12 to 18 months so the timing is ideal. We’re very excited to have the TSA team join us as we continue our journey.”
Werter Luna, CEO, TSA, said: “We’re thrilled with the outcome of joining Ramiro and the Vibra team after having worked together for so long. The synergies were very clear and both companies know we are stronger together. The future is very bright and we’re ready to go on the ambitious plans we have to significantly grow our business.”
Conferences
BETBY TO SHOWCASE INNOVATIVE SPORTSBOOK SOLUTION IN BRAZIL TOUR DE FORCE
BETBY, the innovative sports betting supplier, has announced its participation in two of the most prominent industry events in Latin America: SBC Rio and SiGMA Americas. Both exhibitions are set to take place in Brazil, where BETBY will showcase its cutting-edge sportsbook solution and strengthen its presence in the region.
During both expos, which provide an exceptional opportunity to connect with local partners, global stakeholders, and prospective clients, BETBY will present its unique sportsbook technology and its extensive range of products. This includes the provider’s proprietary esports feed, BETBY Games, and its comprehensive suite of AI sportsbook tools, AI Labs. Among BETBY’s latest features is its industry-first AI-powered feed, enabling the creation of odds for entertainment markets. Further product launches are anticipated ahead of the events.
Chris Nikolopoulos, Chief Commercial Officer at BETBY, commented: “SBC Rio and SiGMA Americas represent two significant opportunities for us to showcase our unique sportsbook solution and engage with industry leaders from across Latin America. Brazil is a key region for us, and with exciting developments in our roadmap, we are eager to connect with partners, discuss innovations, and explore new collaborations.”
He further added: “These events are the perfect platform for BETBY to demonstrate our commitment to delivering forward-thinking, high-performance products to the market, and we look forward to the energy and networking opportunities they will bring.”
At SBC Rio, hosted in Rio de Janeiro from February 25th to 27th, BETBY’s team will welcome delegates at Stand B730 whilst in SiGMA Americas, held in São Paulo from April 7th to 10th, visitors can find the supplier’s team of sportsbook experts at Stand G140.
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