| Gaming Innovation Group Inc. | |
| Former Name: | Donkr International Ltd. (2008-2012) |
| Type: | Public company |
| Traded As: | |
| Isin: | US4593781051 |
| Industry: | Online gambling, B2B, sports betting |
| Predecessors: | --> |
| Successors: | --> |
| Founder: | Robin Reed and Frode Fagerli |
| Hq Location Country: | Malta |
| Num Locations: | Malta, Marbella, Copenhagen |
| Area Served: | Worldwide |
| Key People: | Richard Brown Ben Clemes Nicola Fitton Jonas Warrer Justin Psaila Tore Formo Claudia Ginex Claudio Caruana Chris Armes |
| Products: | GiG Media GiG Core GiG Comply GiG Sports GiG Magic GiG Wand GiG Logic GiG Data |
| Revenue: | €44.1 million[1] |
| Revenue Year: | 2019 |
| Operating Income: | €24.1 million |
| Income Year: | 2019 |
| Net Income: | €64.7 million |
| Net Income Year: | 2019 |
| Assets: | €135.1 million |
| Assets Year: | 2019 |
| Equity: | €20.9 million |
| Equity Year: | 2017 |
| Owners: | --> |
| Num Employees: | 600 |
| Num Employees Year: | 2019 |
| Subsid: | Les Encheres Bidou Inc., Betit Group Ltd., GIG Media, iGamingCloud Ltd., Flamingo Intervest Ltd, Tempest Microsystems, Inc., Rebel Penguin ApS |
Gaming Innovation Group Inc. (usually styled GiG) is an iGaming company offering cloud-based product and platform services and performance marketing to its B2B partners. The company is listed on the Oslo Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol "GIG",[2] and on Nasdaq Stockholm under the ticker symbol "GIGSEK".[3]
GiG is a full-service iGaming software services provider and media partner for online gambling operators and has progressively expanded into most segments of the supplier value chain in iGaming: performance-based/affiliate marketing (GiG Media, formerly known as Innovation Labs Ltd.), software platform services (GiG Core), formerly known as iGaming Cloud, and sportsbook (GiG Sports and the recent acquisition of Sportnco).[4]
The company has previously operated several consumer brands, including Rizk.com and Guts.com, before divesting them to Betsson in April 2020.[5] The company's platform of services is licensed by the MGA,[6] UKGC and offered under a TW issued by the DGE in New Jersey.[7] [8] It is certified in Sweden,[9] Spain,[10] Iowa (USA),[11] Croatia and Latvia,[12] [13] and is also compliant with GLI33 and GLI16 platform standards and ISO27001 for GiG Core and GiG Data.[14]
Gaming Innovation Group Ltd. was initially incorporated in 2008 as Donkr International Ltd. in Malta.[15] [16]
In 2012, Guts Gaming Ltd. (now MT SecureTrade Limited) was incorporated as a fully owned Gaming Innovation Group Ltd subsidiary.[17] In May 2013, the company launched Guts.com, a website offering sports betting and casino games.[18]
In early 2015, iGamingCloud Ltd., a B2B platform service for the iGaming industry, was launched (GiG Core). The product went live in February 2015.[19] In the same month, Gaming Innovation Group and Nio Inc. signed iGaming Cloud and sportsbook (GiG Sports) supported by GiG's fully managed services.[20]
In May 2015, Optimizer Invest acquired 10% of iGaming Cloud Ltd for consideration of €1m.[21] In addition, there was a Share Exchange Agreement to exchange the entire issued share capital of Gaming Innovation Group PLC. for shares in Nio Inc.[22] Subsequently, Nio inc. adopted the name of Gaming Innovation Group Inc. and appointed Robin Reed as its new CEO.[23] The month after, Gaming Innovation Group was listed on the Oslo Stock Exchange.[24]
The company expanded into the affiliate industry in iGaming by a series of acquisitions. GiG subsidiary Innovation Labs (GiG Media) acquired affiliate network Spaseeba for 27m GiG shares.[25] GiG Media also acquired affiliate networks in respectively Finland and Estonia.[26] [27]
In January 2016 the company launched the B2C casino brand Rizk.com.[28] Later on in March, the company acquired the sports betting company OddsModel AS for consideration of 21.74 million new Shares.[29] In June 2016 Gaming Innovation Group acquired Betit Holdings adding the three iGaming operators Kaboo.com, SuperLenny.com, and Thrills.com to its portfolio of B2C focused brands (notably Rizk.com and Guts.com before the Betit acquisition). As part of the deal, Optimizer Invest increased its ownership of GiG shares.[30] The company also continued its expansion within the media business by acquiring Dutch affiliate network Delta Markets B.V.[31] as well as Swedish affiliate network Magenti Media.[32]
In 2017, GiG acquired the technology-driven performance marketing company Rebel Penguin ApS for a total amount of €13 million.[33] This acquisition concluded GiG Media being established as a multi-channel affiliate, operating both a publishing unit (organic rankings on search engines) as well as a paid marketing unit. A new B2C brand called Highroller was also launched.[34]
2018 was the signing of a deal with Hard Rock Casino, with an initial launch in Atlantic City, New Jersey.[35] The company also launched its marketing compliance tool targeted at the online gambling segment, GiG Comply.[36] An in-house sportsbook on Rizk.com was launched just ahead of the 2018 FIFA World Cup.[37] [38] During the year of 2018, GiG obtained a betting license in the German State Schleswig-Holstein which makes part of the DACH region, a key growth region for the organisation and its Rizk brand.[39] E-sports hub GLHF.GG was signed on GiG Core as well as Sia Mr. Green Latvia for the provision of platform license, online casino, sportsbook, and front end services.[40] [41]
In January 2019, GiG launched the Hard Rock omnichannel in New Jersey.[42] On 26 March 2019, the company began trading on the Nasdaq Stockholm under the ticker symbol 'GIGSEK'.[43] GiG Core also signed Metalcasino to its sportsbook offering.[44] An agreement to provide MegaLotto with GiG's technical platform and casino games were also signed.[45] In August 2019, Gaming Innovation Group sold its HighRoller brand to Ellmount Gaming,[46] stating that their core focus will be primarily on growing Rizk as a casino brand and Guts as a sports betting brand. The HighRoller brand was sold for approx. €7m (3.5 PV).[47]
During the year of 2019, Kindred Group was signed on the new GiG Comply product.[48] The company also partnered with Skycity, a market leader in New Zealand, for its online casino platform.[49] In September 2019, GiG launched its digital and retail sportsbook with Hard Rock Cafe International in Iowa.[50] [51]
In April 2020, Gaming Innovation Group divested its B2C operations to Betsson, for a total of €31m with a premium fee on the platform service. From this point onwards, the intention is to be a purely B2B company, focused on its platform services (GiG Core) as well as its media/affiliate services (GiG Media).[52]
In June 2020, GiG signed a long-term agreement with GS Technologies Limited for the provision of GiG's platform and front-end development to a new casino brand with its license from the Maltese Gaming Authority.[53] In the following month, the company signed an agreement with K.A.K. DOO Skopje, Hospitality, tourism, and services company (K.A.K.) for the provision of GiG's platform, front-end development, and managed media services to launch their digital operation in the regulated Macedonian market.[54] In the same month, GiG subsidiary iGaming Cloud Inc. was granted a permanent casino service industry enterprise license (CSIE) from the Division of Gaming Enforcement (DGE) in New Jersey, United States. The application was filed in June 2018 with GiG supporting Hard Rock International's casino operations in New Jersey under a so-called transactional waiver until the final approval was awarded.[55]
GiG signed a long-term agreement with a subsidiary of Casumo, Mill of Magic Ltd, for the provision of GiG's platform, data platform, and GiG Logic in July 2020. Mill of Magic will use GiG's products to power its new Pay N Play casino offering under its license from the Maltese Gaming Authority.[56]
In August 2020, GiG signed the head of terms agreement with Grupo Slots LOTBA S.E, Argentina's premier gaming and entertainment group.[57] [58] In September, GiG and Betgenius signed a deal to join forces in a global sportsbook platform deal.[59]
In February 2021, the company signed a long-term agreement with PlayStar Casino to enter New Jersey.[60] That year, GiG obtained ISO 27001:2021 certification for the Frontend development solution and content management system, covering development, network configuration, infrastructure and associated product operations for frontend, middleware and backend Gaming services hosted on GiG's infrastructure.[61] In May, the c million borrowing limit. The transaction was oversubscribed and received strong demand from investors across the Nordics, continental Europe, and the US, with participation in the placement from existing and new investors.[62] In June, PlayStar Casino agreement was extended to cover the burgeoning Pennsylvanian market.[63] In December, the company signed a long-term agreement to provide the Platform with Rank Holdings for their Marina888 brand.[64] A share purchase agreement was announced to purchase Sportnco, a specialist in online sports betting.[65]
In April 2020, GiG signed an agreement with Betway to provide Sportnco's sportsbook and player account management in Portugal.[66] The same month, Sportnco acquisition is completed in a €51.5 deal.[67] GiG Media won the iGB Affiliate award for Casino affiliate of the year at the 2022 event in London.[68] In May 2022, the company signed an agreement with Full Games SA to provide player management and sports betting services in Angola, a new regulated market.[69]
Gaming Innovation Group Inc. (GIG) is a publicly traded US corporation, incorporated in the state of Delaware with its registered offices at 10700 Stringfellow Rd. 10, Bokeelia, FL 33922, Florida, USA, where accounting is located. GiG has been registered in the Norwegian company registry as a “Norwegian Registered Foreign Entity”(NUF) with the organization number 988 015 849. It has also been registered as a branch in the Malta Business Registry, under Registration No: 2309086.[70]
GIG is a holding company, with all commercial activities being carried out by its subsidiaries. GIG has subsidiaries located in Malta, Denmark, Gibraltar and Spain. Some of the subsidiaries based in Malta hold remote operator licences in the UK, Malta and Sweden. Furthermore, the two main segments of the business (GIG Media and GIG Core) are operated as follows: GIG Media is operated through Innovation Labs Ltd (a Malta-based subsidiary) and iGamingCloud Inc. (a US based subsidiary), and GIG Core is mainly operated through iGamingCloud Limited (a Malta-based subsidiary).
Gaming Innovation Group operates two overall business units both focusing on the B2B Business-to-business market in iGaming. The platform division (GiG Core) develops digital products and offers managed services to online and land-based gaming companies. Focused on Casino and Sports, products include Player Account Management, Frontend, CMS, Data, Sports and Managed Services.[71] It is licensed in Malta, UK, New Jersey (USA), Spain and Sweden.[72]
The media division (GiG Media) focuses on generating leads to operators in iGaming. GiG Media operates several media websites and traffic generating channels engaging the end-user, turning users into leads to operators.[73] Notable websites that GiG Media operates are askgamblers.com, superlenny.com, casinotopsonline.com, and wsn.com.
Through its sports website, WSN.com, Gaming Innovation Group entered the regulated US sports betting market in January 2019. It was first granted a license to operate in New Jersey, followed by Indiana, Pennsylvania,[74] Colorado,[75] and West Virginia. In June 2020, WSN.com started an online gambling podcast with sports betting personality Bill Krackomberger.[76]
Bill is a high-profile gambling professional residing in Las Vegas and has been featured on television networks like ESPN,[77] CNN,[78] Fox Sports, podcasts, and radio shows across the US. He was featured on the Showtime documentary "Action" in 2019 and is a regular guest on the VSiN[79] (Vegas Stats & Information Network). In 2024, he joined the Online United States Casinos team as a content creator and gambling expert consultant.[80]
GiG acquired Casinotopsonline.com in March 2017 for the amount of €11.5 million, at the time it was deemed as one of Europe's largest online casino review portals. The site focuses on news and casino reviews operating on a worldwide scale.[81]
The website SuperLenny.com was part of the Betit Holdings acquisition performed by GiG in June 2016. SuperLenny.com started as a casino brand with a Scandinavian focus but was later changed into an affiliate focused website driving traffic and leads to operators.[82]
AskGamblers.com, another business unit of GiG, is a casino affiliate website that features online casino information and reviews, bonus listings, online gambling news, a complaint service, and an active gaming community. The company was founded by Igor Šalindrija in 2005 in Belgrade, Serbia.[83] [84] In 2009, AskGamblers launched AskGamblers Casino Complaint Service (sometimes abbreviated as AGCCS), a player complaint resolution service, with the aim of helping players file complaints against online casinos and retrieving unpaid funds.[85] By 2022, 82% of accepted complaints on AskGamblers Online Casino Complaint Service were resolved. Its largest disputed amount was $256,760.79.[86] In April 2016, the media company Catena Media acquired AskGamblers for €15 million. By that year, AskGamblers had 30 employees and its sales in the first quarter of 2016 amounted to approximately €810,000.[87] [88] In 2018, AskGamblers became one of the official sponsors of Red Star Belgrade, a Serbian professional football club based in Belgrade.[89] In April 2021, the company introduced the AskGamblers podcast available on platforms like Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and Transistor.fm.[90] In June 2022, AskGamblers added a Responsible Gambling tab to their casino reviews, highlighting the presence or lack of responsible gambling tools in online casinos.[91] [92] In January 2023, AskGamblers was acquired by Gaming Innovation Group for €45 million ($47.8 million).[93] [94] Each year, the company celebrates the AskGamblers Awards, which present awards in categories like Best Casino, Best Gaming Provider, Best New Casino and Best New Slot.[95] [96] The sixth edition of the awards was held in Belgrade in 2023.[97]
A day before the annual AskGamblers Awards, AskGamblers hosts a Charity Night auction during which funds are raised for charity causes. In 2022, €60,300 was raised and diverted to UNICEF for its efforts in helping the children of Ukraine.[98]
In April 2022, GiG announced the completion of a €51.5m acquisition of online sports betting provider Sportnco to complement both companies existing commercial profiles and offer significantly increased capacity for expansion into short- and long-term addressable markets.[99] [100]
Sportnco currently has around 40 partners working in 12 countries across Europe and Latin America and is currently being launched in new regions in North America. It has offices in Madrid, Toulouse and Barcelona, and currently employs around 130 people.
Sportnco started in 2008 in the world of online sports betting for regulated markets, starting in France and then coming to Spain. The company developed its own betting platform, covering more than 50 sports. It currently operates B2B betting networks in Spain and France, and is active in other European jurisdictions like Portugal, Belgium and Greece, as well as in South America and the United States. Since its launch, the company has developed a responsible gaming policy and is therefore only present in regulated markets.[101] [102]
| Jurisdiction | License/Certificate | Type and purpose | Regulatory Body | Refs | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UK | Combined Remote Operating License | A license to manufacture, supply, install or adapt gambling software; to operate a casino; to provide facilities for real event betting other than pool betting or betting on virtual events | UK Gambling Commission | [103] [104] | |
| Malta | Corporate Group Critical Gaming Supply Licence | A licence to provide a supply in a business-to-business capacity | Malta Gaming Authority | [105] | |
| Sweden | Licence for online gaming and betting | A licence to provide commercial online games | Swedish Gambling Authority | [106] | |
| Romania | Class II Affiliate Licence | Second Class Licence for carrying out the activity of affiliated persons | Romanian Government National Gambling Office | [107] [108] | |
| New Jersey, USA | Vendor Registration | Vendor Registration enabling affiliate marketing services in the state of New Jersey, USA | Division of Gaming Enforcement | [109] [110] [111] | |
| Casino ServiceIndustry Enterprise | A licence that enables the provision of an internet gaming and sports betting platform service | [112] | |||
| Colorado, USA | Vendor Minor Sports Betting Licence | A licence that enables affiliate marketing services in the state of Colorado, USA. | Colorado Limited Gaming Control Commission | [113] [114] | |
| Indiana, USA | Sports Wagering Registrant Certificate of Registration | Vendor Registration enabling affiliate marketing services in the state of Indiana, USA. | Indiana Gaming Commission | [115] | |
| Pennsylvania, USA | Gaming Service Provider Registration | Vendor Registration enabling affiliate marketing services in the state of Pennsylvania, USA. | Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board | [116] [117] | |
| West Virginia, USA | Sports Wagering Supplier - Interim Licence | A licence that enables affiliate marketing in the state of West Virginia, USA. | West Virginia Lottery Commission | [118] | |
| Tennessee, USA | Vendor Registration - Sports Gaming | Affiliate Vendor Registration enabling affiliate marketing services, in the state of Tennessee, USA. | Sports Wagering Committee of the Tennessee Education Lottery Corporation | [119] [120] | |
| Global | ISO27001 - Certificate of Registration | Certification of compliance with the requirements of ISO 27001:2013 | Issued by ACM-CCAS Limited (accredited by the United Kingdom Accreditation Services) | [121] [122] | |
| Sweden | GLI 16GLI 33 | GIG Core has been audited and certified by GLI Europe B.V., on the basis of GLI 16 and GLI 33 standards. | GLI Europe B.V. | [123] | |
| 2019 | 123 | 14.1 | [129] | ||
| 2018 | 151.4 | 16.1 | [130] | ||
| 2017 | 120.4 | 12.5 | [131] | ||
| 2016 | 53.6 | 5.8 | [132] | ||
| 2015 | 17.8 | style="text-align:center;" | -2.1 | [133] |