This week in B2B news (31 January) 

Soft2Bet secures Spanish licence 

Soft2Bet has acquired a Spanish gaming operator that boasts the relevant licence from Spain’s Directorate General for the Regulation of Gambling (DGOJ), enabling the supplier to provide online casino products in the region.

In turn, Soft2Bet is now able to shift its focus and deliver localised content that align with the player preferences of the local Spanish market.

David Yatom Hay, Soft2Bet general counsel, noted: “The acquisition of a gaming operator in Spain marks a significant step in our ongoing expansion and reinforces our commitment to compliance and responsible gaming.

“Our rapid growth and dedication to industry standards enable us to provide exceptional gaming experiences tailored to the needs of Spanish players and market alike.” 

This development marks Soft2Bet’s latest market expansion, with the company having bolstered its presence in Nigeria earlier this month. 

Blask unveils trio of new operator metrics 

Blask has introduced three new metrics operators can use to gain insight into performance levels, all via data taken from social media, search engines, affiliate links and content marketing. 

Designed to offer operators a greater understanding of respective strengths and weaknesses, the data includes a brand’s accumulated power (BAP), which documents real-time engagement as well as brand potential.

Acquisition power score (APS) calculates a company’s ability to convert market presence into clients, while the competitive earnings baseline is a measure that offers a “projection of the revenue a brand should realistically capture based on its market influence”.

Blask CEO Max Tesla explained: “Since we publicly launched Blask last year, our focus has been to provide the data in a way that allows businesses not just to measure success, but to actively shape it.  

“With these new metrics, we’ve changed the game completely. This is about offering a real-time, forward-looking view of brand performance that is rooted in data and designed for action.” 

EveryMatrix lands Norsk Tipping deal 

EveryMatrix will supply Norsk Tipping with a range of in-house titles and third-party online casino content in a new deal for its SlotMatrix division.

The two companies have been partners for just shy of a decade, with EveryMatrix’s CasinoEngine product powering Norsk Tipping’s casino vertical since 2016. 

Ebbe Groes, EveryMatrix CEO, said: “I’m delighted Norsk Tipping, one of our most valued partners, has chosen to continue to put their trust in us after almost 10 years of collaboration. We look forward to even more years working together.” 

Lars Martin Ottesen, Norsk Tipping casino product manager, added: “We are glad to extend our partnership with EveryMatrix to be able to source casino content that matches our ambitions for years to come.”

Superbru’s Six Nations offering

Plucky has penned a partnership with fantasy and predictor game platform Superbru that will allow Plucky players to battle for real cash prizes in both public and private leagues.

The two join forces in time for the start of the Six Nations, with Superbru’s players tasked with selecting the correct score for each of the 15 games over five matchdays.

The cash leagues will go live with Superbru’s UK and Ireland-based players to begin with, while plans are in place to bring the leagues to other tournaments, such as the NRL and AFL in Australia.

Sebastian Lewis, CEO & co-founder at Plucky, said: “For UK and Ireland rugby fans, there’s no doubt that the Six Nations is the pinnacle of the annual rugby calendar, with group chats lighting up with predictions from experts and armchair supporters alike.

“We’re now offering these communities on Superbru the chance to put their money where their mouth is and take on their mates or the general public for real cash prizes.” 

Fast Track introduces paid menstrual leave

Fast Track has introduced paid menstrual leave across its offices in Malta, Sweden, Spain and the US as part of the firm’s commitment to employee wellbeing. 

The policy aims to recognise menstrual and menopause-related health in the workplace, alongside another initiative in the form of a female mentorship pilot with Signe, an internal female-only ESG group. 

Jenny Arnell, Fast Track chief people officer, explained: “How we feel impacts us at work, influences our working environment and affects our colleagues.

“Therefore, it makes a lot of sense to me that employers should seek to spread awareness about, and normalise talking about how menstrual and menopause-related issues might affect us directly or indirectly, to ensure that the right support is in place and, when needed, appropriate workplace adjustments can be made.” 

Cherry Play goes live in the Netherlands with Hard Rock Casino 

Cherry Play has secured expansion into the Dutch market via a partnership with Hard Rock Casino NL, which will see the supplier’s first run of slots go live with the Netherlands-based operator. 

As per Cherry Play’s subscription-based commercial model, Hard Rock Casino will pay a licence fee instead of the industry-standard revenue share as it integrates the slots. 

Olga Bajela, Cherry Play CEO, remarked: “I’m thrilled to announce Hard Rock Casino NL as our first operator partner, marking our debut in the Netherlands.”

Cristiano Blanco, CEO at Hard Rock Casino NL, added: “We have become a leading online casino destination for players in the Netherlands because of our extensive game offering, and this deal with Cherry Play strengthens that with hugely entertaining classic slot titles.” 

Hub88 bolsters Belatra’s exposure 

Hub88 has joined forces with Belatra Games as part of a deal that will expand the global reach of the latter’s slot titles. 

Belatra Games’ slots, including Mummyland Treasures, Rise of Zeus and the recently launched Make it Gold, have already been made available to operators across multiple markets thanks to Hub88’s API integration platform. 

Ollie Castleman, Hub88 managing director, said: “We’re pleased to partner with Belatra, a slots provider renowned for delivering impeccable fiat and crypto slots that appeal to a wide spectrum of player tastes.” 

Misha Voinich, Belatra business development manager, added: “We’re delighted to have reached an agreement with Hub88, a powerful platform provider which delivers excellent results.”

ADvantage adds Dr Laila Mintas as venture partner

ADvantage has appointed Dr Laila Mintas as venture partner, a role that will see her tasked with identifying, evaluating and nurturing emerging startups in the sports tech industry. 

Dr Mintas brings plenty of experience to the role, having spent nearly two-and-a-half years as deputy president of Sportradar’s US-based operations.

Dr Mintas explained: “Joining ADvantage represents an exciting opportunity to leverage my experience in sports and gaming technology. 

“I am passionate about supporting innovative companies that are redefining the sports landscape globally. Together with the talented team at ADvantage, I look forward to fostering the next generation of sports tech entrepreneurs.”