Joe Farren

Optics, communication and execution are key areas for improvement for sports brands in Web3. On Episode 14 of the Sporting Crypto I was joined by Richard Ayers i 🗣️ 𝗜𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝟰𝟬-𝘀𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗱 𝘀𝗻𝗶𝗽𝗽𝗲𝘁 𝗮𝗹𝗼𝗻𝗲: • How painfully obvious bad optics were from poorly executed Web3 sports projects    • The lack of sharing in sports innovation, and the lack of reference points    • Rushed, throw s*** at the wall tactics      *** 📌 Listen to the full episode via the '𝘝𝘪𝘴𝘪𝘵 𝘔𝘺 𝘞𝘦𝘣𝘴𝘪𝘵𝘦' button at the top of this post!

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𝗠𝗟𝗦 𝗔𝗻𝗻𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗰𝗲 "𝗠𝗟𝗦 𝗤𝗨𝗘𝗦𝗧" - 𝗚𝗮𝗺𝗶𝗳𝗶𝗲𝗱 𝗗𝗶𝗴𝗶𝘁𝗮𝗹 𝗖𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗘𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 ⚽ The latest edition of Sporting Crypto is live! 𝗗𝗶𝘀𝗰𝘂𝘀𝘀𝗲𝗱 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗲𝗱𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻: 1. 𝗠𝗟𝗦 𝗤𝗨𝗘𝗦𝗧⚽️    a) Overview    b) Collectibles & Rewards 2. 𝗔𝗻𝗮𝗹𝘆𝘀𝗶𝘀 & 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗰𝗹𝘂𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗧𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘀 🧠    a) Video Highlights    b) Data Analysis    c) Should We Expect More Innovation? Major League Soccer has partnered with Sweet to introduce “MLS QUEST”, a “Gamified Digital Collection Experience”, which centres around the collection of in-game highlights. Fans can participate for free by visiting official “MLS Quest Pick Up Zones”, found online and in physical locations throughout North America. Participants can find ‘Medallions’ at these “Pick Up Zones”, which reveal a key play from a specific MLS match. After fans collect all four medallions from a match, they will have completed a quest that unlocks a reward. 𝗧𝗵𝗲𝘀𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗱𝘀 𝗶𝗻𝗰𝗹𝘂𝗱𝗲: 1. 𝗠𝗲𝗿𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗶𝘀𝗲: Jerseys, hoodies, scarves, gift cards and more 2. 𝗚𝗮𝗺𝗲 𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗸𝗲𝘁𝘀: All-Star, league games and the 2025 MLS Cup 3. 𝗘𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲𝘀: VIP Club Access, on-field experiences, meet and greets 4. 𝗖𝗿𝗲𝗱𝗶𝘁𝘀 & 𝗚𝗶𝗳𝘁 𝗖𝗮𝗿𝗱𝘀: Sweet credits and gift cards from MLS partners     📌 Read the latest newsletter via the '𝘝𝘪𝘴𝘪𝘵 𝘔𝘺 𝘯𝘦𝘸𝘴𝘭𝘦𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘳' button at the top of this post!

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The Resurgence of Esports: League of Legends World Championship Thrills Fans and Sets the Stage for Explosive Growth in 2025 As 2024 races to a close, the world of esports has never been more electrifying. The recent League of Legends World Championship Final, held at London’s iconic O2 Arena, wasn’t just a competition—it was a cultural phenomenon, marking a vibrant resurgence of esports and igniting new possibilities for 2025. For brands and marketers eager to tap into the thriving gaming community, the time has never been better! An Epic Showdown This past Saturday over 14,000 fans gathered in London to witness Korean legends T1 battle against Chinese titans Bilibili Gaming (BLG) in a best-of-five series that had hearts pounding across the globe. This final wasn’t just about gameplay—it was an emotional rollercoaster that showcased the talent, resilience, and unmatched drama that define esports. BLG struck first, pulling ahead with an impressive opening game. But T1 wasn’t going down without a fight. Led by the legendary player Lee “Faker” Sang-hyeok, T1 evened the score, with both teams trading victories until the series culminated in a decisive Game 5. T1 clinched the victory, claiming their fifth World Championship title and proving that they remain an unstoppable force in the League of Legends arena. A Record-Breaking Atmosphere The O2 Arena was alive with excitement, featuring cutting-edge interactive wristbands that lit up in sync with the game’s biggest moments, creating an immersive experience. From the epic opening ceremony to the energy of the crowd, the 2024 championship redefined the live esports experience, setting a new benchmark for fan engagement. Economic Driver Beyond the competition, the economic impact was excellent. London saw an estimated £12 million boost to its economy, illustrating the power of esports as a force for economic growth. This is a trend that will only accelerate as esports continue to evolve, drawing larger crowds, bigger sponsors, and global attention. Looking Toward 2025: A Golden Age for Esports Marketing As we look ahead to 2025, the opportunities for brands and marketers are surging. With millions of dedicated fans and a constantly expanding ecosystem, the esports landscape is primed for creative partnerships, unique content, and authentic engagement with a vibrant, loyal demographic. Whether through sponsorships, exclusive in-game items, or experiential marketing, there’s never been a better moment to connect with the gaming community. Ready to level up your brand’s connection with the gaming community? Connect below ⬇️ to learn how to craft impactful creator campaigns that resonate within the passionate world of esports!

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When we had Robby Yung from Animoca Brands on the Sporting Crypto podcast we talked a lot about how Blockchain can impact the sports fan experience. The biggest opportunity? Digital identity and direct-to-fan relationships. Sports teams and leagues are notoriously bad at 'knowing their fans' and blockchain could help shape digital innovations that solve this. 📌 Listen to the full episode via the '𝘝𝘪𝘴𝘪𝘵 𝘔𝘺 𝘞𝘦𝘣𝘴𝘪𝘵𝘦' button at the top of this post!

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DraftKings has just shut down Reignmakers, their NFT Marketplace and game. They cite recent legal developments as the reason for doing so. 🧠 𝗤𝘂𝗶𝗰𝗸 𝘁𝗮𝗸𝗲 (to be continued on Sporting Crypto on Monday) • DK have bigger fish to fry than Web3, with the gambling market in the US maturing and growing.    • This is the second big brand building on Polygon (after Starbucks) that is now ceasing operations.    • It's surprising to see DK cite legal developments now when it seems crypto regulation is in a much better place (in the US and globally) now Vs. 18 months ago    • The Reignmakers product has seen 𝟵𝟬𝟬𝟬-𝟭𝟯,𝟬𝟬𝟬 monthly unique buyers in 2024. Compare that to their ~ 𝟮.𝟯 𝗺𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗺𝗼𝗻th𝗹𝘆 unique payers in Q3 2023. That same quarter, their revenue was $𝟳𝟵𝟬𝗺.    • Reignmaker NFL, PGA and UFC games reportedly generated more than $𝟱𝟬𝗠 in revenue for the company in their first year.  These aren't insignificant numbers but the margins were probably a lot thinner than their mainstream products.

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Our super Data Team at SportsTechX is back with the monthly investment roundup for May 2024! 💰 All of this and some really cool features, filters and trends are available on our proprietary SportsTechDB with over 7,000 #SportsTech companies. DM me and we can set up a demo :) Also, look out for our Global SportsTech Ecosystem Report that has deep dives into all of the data. We’ll be launching soon 🚀 #Report #Data #Sports #Tech

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The History of UK Counter-Strike Esports ✍️ Reece Barrett pens a full in-depth article in the comments below - our most in-depth article on Esports News UK ever Content powered by #GGBET_UK #Ad #Esports #CounterStrike

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The latest Sporting Crypto Newsletter just dropped... 𝗔𝗱𝗶𝗱𝗮𝘀 & 𝗦𝗧𝗘𝗣𝗡 𝗽𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗻𝗲𝗿, 𝗖𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗖𝗼-𝗯𝗿𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗱 𝗡𝗙𝗧 𝗰𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 Discussed in this edition of Sporting Crypto: 1. 𝗦𝗧𝗘𝗣𝗡 𝘅 𝗔𝗱𝗶𝗱𝗮𝘀 👟    a) Overview of the partnership; Genesis Sneaker    b) STEPN’s Journey    c) Adidas’ Web3 Journey 2. 𝗔𝗻𝗮𝗹𝘆𝘀𝗶𝘀 & 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗰𝗹𝘂𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗧𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘀 🧠    a) STEPN’s sustainability    b) Web2 x Web3 partnerships    c) High price points    d) The difficulty of tokens    e) Adidas’ Web3 strategy going forward 𝗘𝘅𝗰𝗲𝗿𝗽𝘁 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗻𝗲𝘄𝘀𝗹𝗲𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿: "For Adidas, this feels like a low-risk activation. A partnership that is away from their native channels drives revenue from a world they want to be a part of (Web3). It does make me think about their longer-term plans and whether or not the focus on alts is as strong as it once was. We have already seen Nike for example, lay off some of their digital division which will no doubt have an impact on their Web3 platform .SWOOSH. In an era of generational corporate cost-cutting, innovation arms feel it. And I’d be shocked if this is not the case for Adidas as well who are yet to deliver chapter 3 of alts, which is what their Web3 strategy focuses on. For STEPN, this is fantastic. It is a huge name to be associated with and on top of ASICS, can now show investors, their community and the world that they are hopefully here to stay, and thrive." 📌 Read the latest newsletter via the '𝘝𝘪𝘴𝘪𝘵 𝘔𝘺 𝘞𝘦𝘣𝘴𝘪𝘵𝘦' button at the top of this post!

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Want to know who the top #esports organisations are in the UK, right now? Having lost several teams over the past year to the 'esports winter'/market downturn, in this article I list 14 of our most notable active esports team organisations, in no particular order, in an attempt to stay positive and celebrate what we still have. I've also included all my honest thoughts on the current state of these orgs, written straight from the heart. This list is purely my opinion, it's not based on size or revenues or tangible metrics like that. I'm keen to hear your thoughts on this, if you feel I've missed anyone or got anything wrong. Article link in the comments below | Content powered by #GGBET_UK #Ad

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🏀 The Future of British Basketball The sport of Basketball has continued to grow its fanbase outside of the US and the UK seems like a natural place for that. The British Basketball League (BBL) has existed as an exciting and underloved media property for a few years. Established in 1987, the BBL was essentially the British NBA. After receiving an investment from 777 Partners in December 2021, the league was poised for new growth. Unfortunately, things did not work out and financial crises at 777 has directly affected the fate of the BBL. This summer, the BBL was dissolved and a consortium has been formed to launch the new Super League Basketball (SLB). Owned by the basketball clubs themselves, the SLB aims to be a revamped and improved version of the BBL. Previous teams from the BBL have been acquired by new owners and recapitalized. The NFL is the arguably the best run sports league in the world and the governance structure between teams should be emulated by the SLB. The bull case is that a well-run UK Basketball League is a no-brainer for a sport that is proven to be popular and growing around the world. While there is more competition than ever in sports and entertainment, sufficient funding and a growth strategy that's truly linked to culture could help ensure success for the SLB. The new SLB should reach into certain communities across the UK and Europe and align itself with music, fashion, and other cultural verticals. That's truly the best way to become a sustainable league that's embedded within the culture. There's a lot of potential if the SLB is run well! #britishbasketball #nba #slb #bbl #sports #media #entertainment #culture #marketing #advertising

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FC Barcelona have scrapped thei𝗿 plans to SPAC Barca Media at a $𝟭𝗯𝗻 𝘃𝗮𝗹𝘂𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻. 👉 Barca Media are the Hold Co that controls the creation production and commercialization of FC Barcelona's audiovisual, digital and eSports outputs. 𝗧𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗶𝗻𝗰𝗹𝘂𝗱𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝘆𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗿𝗲𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝗪𝗲𝗯𝟯. When the SPAC plans were announced, I wrote on Sporting Crypto that this was unlikely to materialise. In fact, in the SEC filings for the SPAC, showed that there was still large amounts of debt owed to Barca Vision (the Web3 arm of Barca Media) from two parties; Orpheus Media and Socios. At the time of the SEC filings, there was still money outstanding from the deal done in August 2022 that saw Orpheus Media and Socios invest €𝟭𝟬𝟬𝗺 each in Barca Media via Studios. 📰 In April 2024 it was reported by SportBusiness that Barca Media were shelving plans to SPAC "𝘪𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘚𝘱𝘢𝘯𝘪𝘴𝘩 𝘤𝘭𝘶𝘣 𝘥𝘰𝘦𝘴 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘳𝘦𝘤𝘦𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 €40𝘮 ($42.5𝘮) 𝘪𝘵 𝘪𝘴 𝘰𝘸𝘦𝘥 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘴𝘶𝘤𝘩 𝘢 𝘥𝘦𝘢𝘭, 𝘧𝘰𝘭𝘭𝘰𝘸𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘧𝘶𝘳𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘳𝘦𝘯𝘦𝘨𝘰𝘵𝘪𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘢𝘨𝘳𝘦𝘦𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵." 🧠 𝗤𝘂𝗶𝗰𝗸 𝘁𝗮𝗸𝗲𝘀: • $132m for essentially 𝟮𝟵.𝟱% of Barcelona’s Web3 rights in perpetuity always seemed ridiculous    • There was a lose-lose scenario here for Barca Media from the outset:   - Their partners can’t pay back what they owe.   - Barca Vision is worth a lot of money eventually, and Barcelona is encumbered by it financially because they don’t own the whole pie.    • This always felt like lever too far by Barcelona. As I wrote at the time: 𝘍𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘢 𝘱𝘶𝘳𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘰𝘵𝘣𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘧𝘢𝘯 𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘱𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘷𝘦, 𝘐’𝘮 𝘲𝘶𝘪𝘵𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘤𝘦𝘳𝘯𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘉𝘢𝘳𝘤𝘦𝘭𝘰𝘯𝘢’𝘴 𝘧𝘶𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘦 𝘱𝘰𝘵𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺 𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘦𝘴 𝘰𝘯 𝘭𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘢𝘨𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘞𝘦𝘣3 𝘵𝘰 𝘮𝘢𝘬𝘦 𝘢 𝘭𝘰𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘮𝘰𝘯𝘦𝘺. 𝘈𝘯𝘥 𝘢𝘤𝘵𝘶𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺, 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘣𝘦 𝘩𝘶𝘨𝘦𝘭𝘺 𝘥𝘦𝘵𝘳𝘪𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘢𝘭 𝘵𝘢𝘪𝘭𝘸𝘪𝘯𝘥𝘴 𝘴𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘢𝘴𝘩 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘺’𝘳𝘦 𝘰𝘸𝘦𝘥 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘣𝘦 𝘳𝘦𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘯𝘦𝘥, 𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘣𝘦𝘤𝘢𝘶𝘴𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘢 𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺 𝘷𝘰𝘭𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘭𝘦 𝘯𝘢𝘴𝘤𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘮𝘢𝘳𝘬𝘦𝘵. 𝗜𝗻𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗰𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗹𝘆, 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘃𝗮𝗹𝘂𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗼𝗳 𝗕𝗮𝗿𝗰𝗮 𝗩𝗶𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝘀𝗲𝗲𝗺𝘀 𝗮𝗯𝘀𝘂𝗿𝗱 - I wrote when covering this prospective SPAC. Nothing has changed since, it seems.

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FIFA+ Collect has rebranded and announced a strategic integration with Modex. 𝗤𝘂𝗶𝗰𝗸 𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄: • FIFA+ Collect is FIFA's Web3 platform, they have used it to sell packs of NFTs to date • They initially launched with Algorand, but have more recently partnered with Polygon. • FIFA say they are at this point working with both chains. • They have partnered with Modex, a Web3 technology company 🧠 𝗦𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝗾𝘂𝗶𝗰𝗸 𝘁𝗮𝗸𝗲𝘀 🤔 FIFA's Web3 strategy is still focused on selling NFTs. Whether static or moving images, FIFA is still looking at this in a very '2021' approach to this technology. 🌐 The experiences so far are fragmented. Some of the NFT drops are on their owned platform, and some on NFT platform OpenSea. The user experience is not as good as it was when FIFA+ Collect first launched. Modex's roadmap also says they want to have other clubs and federations join the FIFA+ Collect platform, which doesn't make much sense to those entities. 💻  Modex themselves have a token. How that works compliantly considering their only client thus far is FIFA, will be interesting to see. The token itself is a 'utility' token, and doesn't govern a network, but is still tradable. So far, this feels like a tickbox exercise for FIFA, and they have looked at this purely through the lens of a licensor and licensee. This can create a difficult and fragmented user experience, which rarely works. It will be interesting to see how FIFA+ Collect develops. It started quite well for its time, but there has seemingly been very little development - rebrand or not. 📌 [For more insights on 𝗦𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝘀 & 𝗪𝗲𝗯𝟯 subscribe to my newsletter Sporting Crypto using the '𝘃𝗶𝘀𝗶𝘁 𝗺𝘆 𝘄𝗲𝗯𝘀𝗶𝘁𝗲' button at the top of this post!]

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Esports organization NIP Group have filed an initial public offering (IPO) to enter the Nasdaq stock market. While the group operates out of Europe and China, the aim of the IPO is to raise $5 million in the U.S. stock market. NIP Group is currently a merger between Ninjas in Pyjamas and ESV5 and the IPO sees groups like Deutsche Bank, CICC, US Tiger Securities, Inc., GF Securities, and others take part as underwriters. NIP Group lists a few risks to its business in its IPO prospectus, such as market perception and strength of brand, relatively limited operating history in Asia, past investments/acquisitions not yet yielding expected results, the current losses ($6.1 million net less for 2022), and more. The funds raised will be used to expand NIP Group’s esports teams, talent management, marketing, and acquisition/investment strategies moving forward. Other esports organizations like Enthusiast Gaming and GameSquare Holdings Inc. have gone public in the past, though Astralis voted to delist from the NASDAQ First North Growth Market Denmark in 2023. Follow #MoreMark for #Business content in #Gaming, #Esports, and #Creators!

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🌟What lies forward in the future of the everlasting adventure game Minecraft? 🎮With its unending excitement, toe-curling thrill, and bountiful emotions, Minecraft's future seems to be attracting newer audiences every day. ☀️As players turn to video games for community building, seeking a sense of socialisation from the comfort of their rooms, Minecraft's popularity is seen to be ever-growing, and the coming era for the video game looks as bright as the sun. ⛏️With the newer Part II of the Caves & Cliffs update, players look forward to exploring the game’s underground adventures. This keeps the Minecraft legacy alive and kicking, taking every tiny detail and polishing it until it shines like a diamond block! Minecraft never settles for less, always digging deeper to uncover new treasures of evolution and enhancement. And so are its players and watchers. 🌍What’s next for Minecraft apart from the latest update and the Education Edition? Getting outside the screen! The future of Minecraft takes the VR turn, too, just like Pokemon. Bringing more than just a building character into the game, one can experience the landscape in front of one's eyes and build the terrain IRL! 🏰So, with hearts full of adventure and eyes full of nostalgia, let’s keep playing the game, bringing back memories and experiencing the building world of Minecraft! Source: GTXGaming Game Hosting #minecraft #games #videogames #nostalgia #videogamenostalgia #gaming #gamingmarketing #marketing #videogame #videogamewatchers #tushaargarg

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https://lnkd.in/ejM4S4xY What happens when you pack a 14th Gen i9 CPU and an RTX 4090 into a slimline gaming laptop? You get unparalleled power, but it comes at a premium.

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PlayStar has announced a partnership with game software provider Play'n GO, aiming to expand its game selection by integrating Play'n Go titles into its existing library of over 600 games. This collaboration targets enhancing the gaming options for PlayStar’s players in New Jersey. As part of the agreement, PlayStar will incorporate a variety of Play'n Go games into its platform. These will include popular titles like Reactoonz, a sci-fi-themed grid slot game, and Rich Wilde and the Book of Dead, an adventure-themed slot featuring the character Rich Wilde. Other games to be added include Rise of Olympus, Raging Rex 2, and Legion Gold, offering a diverse range of themes from mythology to prehistoric and historical settings. This partnership is strategically beneficial for both companies within the regulated US market. For PlayStar, it means broadening its game portfolio and offering a wider variety of gaming experiences to its customers. For Play'n Go, it opens access to a new audience in New Jersey, allowing for wider distribution of its games within the state. Dan Alexander , commented: “Partnering with Play'n Go allows us to enhance our offerings in the Garden State by providing fan-favorite titles like Reactoonz and Rich Wilde and the Book of Dead. We are confident players will love exploring what the studio has to offer.” Magnus Olsson, Play'n Go CCO, added: “Our collection of over 360 premium titles includes some of the most-played games ever. We’re thrilled to bring the best of our line-up to PlayStar and eagerly await feedback from players.” #igaming #providers #gambling #gamblingnews #casino

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