Josh Andrews

Crypto and Sports Betting Apps Reaping the Benefits of Super Bowl Ads

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This year’s NFL Super Bowl went down in history as one of the most memorable ones. From outstanding performances to great games and a massive turnout, it is certainly going to linger in our minds for much longer. One of the other things that really stood out about the Super Bowl was the fact that crypto and sports betting ads appeared several times during the event.

Like previous events, the ad spots at the 2022 Super Bowl were pretty pricy. The crypto-focused businesses had to part with a pretty penny to push their marketing agenda to the huge audience at the Super Bowl. As it turns out, every second of ad time was worth it.

According to Sensor Tower, a company that specializes in data research, three of the top mobile brands that were advertised at the Super Bowl LVI were crypto apps. This is even though many of these apps were already being outspent by their traditional counterparts.

The Winners

The biggest winner turned out to be Coinbase Global Inc., one of the world’s most renowned crypto operators. Its ad was perhaps the most favorable of the bunch. That is because it was not only creative but also drove the message quite well. The response was so good that there was a massive influx of visitors who ended up crashing the company’s app. App installs have also increased significantly since.

Other crypto apps that also managed to get more followers after the Super Bowl included Etoro and FTX. Joining them were some of the most popular sports betting apps in the United States. The DraftKings sports betting app only came second to Coinbase when it comes to the number of new users it netted thanks to the Super Bowl ads. Caesars Entertainment Inc.’s sports betting offering was not far behind DraftKings.

Cause for Concern?

While these Super Bowl ads were successful, there have been a few concerns that have been aired. The issue of responsible advertising which has been a key conversation in the world of betting is also now beginning to take off in the crypto world.

Among the sentiments that were shared about the event was that it sold something other than the future that blockchain and crypto promised. These, of course, can be backed by some pretty solid points.

Still, it is worth acknowledging that crypto has indeed come a long way. Mainstream recognition like in the Super Bowl might just have opened doors to what the future of crypto and sports betting will look like.

Paysafe Enters New York’s Sports Betting Market

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Renowned specialized payments services provider Paysafe has recently announced its expansion into New York’s rapidly-growing sports-betting market. This is a big play for the company especially as it pursues its ambitious plans to become the leading brand in affiliate marketing and online gambling payments. Its target markets for this expansion are the United States and Canada.

As it stands, Paysafe has already begun processing betting payments for some popular mobile sportsbooks in New York. It is also now behind several affiliate programs that are meant to increase eminence in the lucrative market. The latter is particularly important as it is a vital component in marketing. Both customer conversion and the growth of various online gambling brands hang on this.

Paysafe’s CEO of North America iGaming, Zak Cutler has been at the forefront of these developments which he believes will be very important for the wider market.

“Payments and affiliate marketing play essential roles in customer conversion and the growth of iGaming brands and the wider market. We’re proud to have supported the ongoing expansion of the North American online gaming space in 2021 through 2022, with our recent entry into New York – a pivotal market that will hopefully galvanize broader US state and Canadian provincial regulation,” he noted.

New York is not the first state that Paysafe is making a big play for. The company already has a solid presence in several other states including Montana, Arizona, Connecticut, Virginia, Michigan and Wyoming among others.

Partnership With Binance

Something that will certainly get crypto enthusiasts in the Empire State very excited is the planned partnership with Binance, one of the world’s most popular crypto exchanges. One of the indications that this was a very exciting development was the broad-based gains for stocks. This eventually stabilized and fell back to the breakeven line at about $3.46.

For Binance, this partnership is going to bring some new developments in addition to reviving previous projects. For instance, the crypto exchange is reopening EUR transfers via SEPA channels.

This reopening of the SEPA channels was possible because Paysafe will be Binance’s fiat on-ramps partner in Europe. The payment service provider has already developed a specialized platform that leverages their experience and resources in the online payments space. While the initial plans seem to be focused on the European market, we are optimistic that it could be scaled across several markets soon. It will not be surprising if North America becomes one of the partnership’s target markets as well.

Some Crypto Trends to Watch Out For in 2022

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2021 was quite the year for the crypto sector. Many of the popular digital currencies as well as emerging tokens saw a surge in adoption. The industry’s market capitalization reached an all-time high thus further proving its potential. Now, as we embark on a new year, stakeholders and enthusiasts are also starting to think about what to expect.

If the previous year is anything to go by, 2022 is also set to be an action-packed year for crypto. With all the trends that have taken already taken off, there is a lot of optimism about what the future holds. A few of the things that will be worth paying attention to include:

More Mainstream Institutional Interest

Crypto and blockchain have certainly come a long way. The skepticism about the technology and its potential to revolutionize global finance has been fading away. This was largely accelerated by institutional involvement. That is, financial and corporate institutions have also gotten in on crypto.

Decentralized Finance, or DeFi, was one of the many revolutionary developments as financial service providers noticed how beneficial blockchain can be to transaction processing. Cross-border payments especially in developing regions began leveraging the technology and that should only get better in 2022.

More Regulation on the Way

It is not just corporates and the financial sector that are paying attention to crypto. Even government and various state authorities are baying for a seat at the table. One of the ways they will be contributing is through regulatory intervention. This not only intends to bring some sort of stability to the rather volatile market but also seal some loopholes that most skeptics have had concerns about.

We, of course, need to fully assess the impact of crypto and blockchain on the economy before any law comes into effect. 2022 seems to be the best year for that as we have had plenty of time over the past couple of years to see how impactful the sector can be.

NFTs and Web 3.0

Non-fungible tokens (NFTs) were all the buzz in 2021. While this was mostly because of the mind-boggling price tags that accompanied them, they carry more significance, especially for artists. It is a great way for them to finance their art and get compensated for the same. 2021 was a great year for NFTs. 2022 is likely to be an even better year.

One other thing that is growing just as fast as NFTs is Web 3.0, that is, the third version of the internet. It comes with a ton of amazing capabilities that will supercharge what we already have. For the crypto industry, Web 3.0 will have a positive impact as the two concepts are closely tied to each other.

New Report Reveals Surge in Crypto Use in Online Gambling

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Last Tuesday, BGaming, a notable figure in the world of crypto gambling released a publication detailing some of the key gambling trends of the third quarter of 2021. According to this report, online gambling recorded some of the most interesting developments.

In addition to the impressive demand for iGaming solutions, innovative additions to the sector have also been growing rapidly. For instance, gambling with crypto is now a very big deal. While crypto gambling is not an entirely new concept, it is still in the early stages in terms of mainstream adoption. The gambling sector is leading the pack in that regard with more interest in crypto-gaming solutions than ever. This sector’s popularity was where BGaming found the most growth.

Big Boost from Mobile Gambling

iGaming is generally on the rise in the United States as well as in other parts of the globe. One of the biggest contributors to that has been the increased accessibility of mobile devices. These devices are arguably the most vibrant markets for modern online gambling operations. Every operator has worked towards delivering amazing mobile casino offerings and crypto-friendly casinos have not been left behind.

Moreover, there is more ease of access to such things as crypto wallets and trading services are available for mobile users. That has made using crypto for real-money online casino games so much more accessible and convenient. It could even be said to be enjoyable in its current state.

Driven By a Growing Market

One other aspect that has been very important for the growth of crypto gambling has been the deep interest shown by the young adult population. This particular audience has grown by over 5 percent this year adding to what was already a very impressive number. Since they are more tech-savvy and open to innovative technologies, their interest in crypto gambling is not surprising.

“In the current climate, young adults are spending more and more time at home looking for new forms of entertainment. Following that trend, iGaming providers track the most popular demands of this new generation, creating and adapting new games and products to meet the needs of this growing market,” reads a statement from BGaming.

BGaming’s report is certainly something that other players would be interested in looking at. The company has already built a solid reputation for being the first operator to offer crypto-powered iGaming experiences. As it looks to expand the business and its network further, the company will leverage the finding on its report.

MasterCard Warms Up to Crypto Credit and Debit Cards

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The world of crypto is inching closer and closer to mainstream adoption as more of the world’s largest institutions continue to ramp up efforts to be part of the revolution. Mastercard, one of the world’s leading payment services providers, is the most recent organization that is making a big play for crypto.

Recently, the company has revealed its plans to make it easier for its users to use digital currencies. Both customers and merchants with Mastercards will have the opportunity to use debit and credit cards with crypto capabilities. In addition to that, the customers will also have the chance to buy, sell and hold some of the digital currencies. For this group of users, Mastercard is also preparing to launch branded crypto cards.

Partnership With Bakkt

Crypto markets around the globe have grown immensely over the years. While it is certainly not too later for new players to enter the market, success usually depends on having the right partners. Mastercard’s venture into the crypto market is happening via a recently-announced partnership with Bakkt, a digital asset platform popular among crypto users.

As per the terms of the agreement, Bakkt will be working behind the scenes as a provider of custodial service for those who sign for Mastercard’s crypto offering. The crypto firm’s custodial wallets are what will make it possible for users to trade and hold crypto.

“Together with Bakkt and grounded by our principled approach to innovation, we’ll not only empower our partners to offer a dynamic mix of digital assets options but also deliver differentiated and relevant consumer experiences.”
Sherri Haymond, executive vice president of digital partnerships at Mastercard.

In a sense, this is a major extension of a previous announcement Mastercard made regarding allowing crypto transactions via its network. That promise is shaping up quite nicely.

The Implications

Mastercard’s announcement represents a unique opportunity for cryptocurrency expansion in the United States as well as other parts of the world. To begin with, sectors such as online casinos and gaming that rely on crypto will likely have more ways of using digital currencies. Increased interest in crypto is also impacting the interested companies in rather unexpected ways.

For instance, MasterCard stock went up just 0.4% following the announcement. That is modest but it proves that there is interest in the crypto sector. Shares of Bakkt, on the other hand, skyrocketed more than 86% after the announcement. That lifted the company’s market capitalization to about a whopping $850 million.

Cashio Unveils Semi-Decentralized Blockchain Casino

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The world of crypto betting just got yet another boost thanks to a recent addition. Cashio, a new entrant into the sector, is making quite the debut by launching a semi-decentralized casino. This will not only offer customers a way of enjoying their favorite casino games but also give them the opportunity to profit via Cashio token.

A Revolutionary Gambling Offering

The gambling operator has recently detailed its plans for a revolutionary casino experience. As it stands, the company is developing some special decentralized games that will alter the casino as we know. Still, the target audience for this amazing product is mostly people who gamble crypto. That is already a pretty huge number.

According to the company, the goal is to integrate the gambling and NFT industries in a manner that allows investors to get a piece of the casino revenue. That is, of course, when the token price eventually rises to increased demand. Cashio has further committed to distributing the retained profits to the token holders. It will also be accumulating a massive amount into its Jackpot contract.

How It Works

Cashio’s Jackpot contract will gather BNB from the Casino earnings and from every buy/sell fees. It will then be deployed as a Lotto game. This Jackpot amount will then first be bought as Cashio Tokens thus boosting the price to the limits. As a result, the winner will receive their loot and the increase in the token’s value will reward Cashio Token holders in the process.

The operator will also be adding a 3-tier system where the rewards will be distributed to the token’s investors accordingly to their Holdings. This reward pool relies on Casino earnings and Cashio Token transactions. All the investors will not only be able to claim their rewards but also track all the useful information on the site’s Earnings Dashboard. More detail on this aspect is available on the operator’s whitepaper.

Is It Viable?

Well, the crypto and gambling spaces are always filled with new and interesting innovations. A good number of them are thriving or are at least headed there. Some do not make it due to several factors. As for Cashio, it is early on in its growth and it is hard to foreshadow where it will be a year or so from now.

Still, the casino operator has some solid ideas that could take off especially if crypto gamblers get on board. The innovative features will certainly make online gambling even more exciting than it already is.

BC.GAME Receives Gaming License from Curacao

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As the world of crypto and gambling continues to come together, several companies are beginning to reap the fruits of it. This is one of the fastest-growing sectors making it a key target for several businesses. Lots are succeeding. Recently, BC.GAME which is one of the fast-rising operators in the world of crypto-powered gaming has been all the buzz.

The company’s ambitious plans to extend its footprint are well on the course thanks to a recent development. It officially received a gaming license from the Curacao Interactive Licensing N.V. That makes it an officially regulated online casino and is a huge milestone for the company as it pursues full compliance.

This is a very big deal. The company has even gone as far as publishing its new license to the Interplanetary File System (IFPS). This platform allows for the storage of files securely in a blockchain in a manner that allows ownership to be easily proven through a private key. It also means that the file cannot be tampered with or even used for unintended purposes.

Speaking on the new development, BG.GAME COO Chris Butler noted the company’s new status as a regulated iGaming operator opens doors for opportunities. For instance, the operator will now be able to offer thousands of third-party games from leading game developers across the globe. In addition to that, the license also creates room for further ventures. A sportsbook and a live dealer casino offering seem to top the list.

Huge Win for Crypto Gambling

As much as crypto-powered online gambling has grown over the years, it still has a long way to go. The BG.GAME development acts as a beacon of sorts that will likely kick off more growth. It is very difficult for crypto-only casinos to obtain gambling licenses but this is changing. Now that the company has proven that it can be done, many more will probably follow.

BG.GAME currently supports deposits and withdrawals using over 50 different cryptocurrencies which is very impressive. Even the casino businesses that have been around for decades have not been able to pull that off. Understandably, the crypto gambling scene is still picking up pace. We just must appreciate the small wins and acknowledge their role in pushing the whole industry forward.

It is also worth noting that this goes well beyond gambling. A license essentially affirms the legitimacy of crypto use. This should also be a decent way of showing more people that many existing digital currencies are viable and ready for mainstream use.

There Are Now Over 221 Million Crypto Users

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According to a recent report published by Crypto.com, a renowned crypto and bitcoin publisher, the number of cryptocurrency users rose to a whopping 221 million in June 2021. In the ‘Measuring global crypto users: A study to measure market size using on-chain metrics, July 2021’ report, 2021 has been a very good year for the sector. January, February, and April particularly proved to be monumental to the growth. Bitcoin’s bear run had something to do with this but that is just a small piece of the puzzle.

“Bitcoin led growth from January to April, as heavyweight institutions like PayPal, Microstrategy, Visa, and Mastercard announced plans to support crypto. Similarly, Ethereum saw significant growth in May and June as institutional investors continued to favor the token,” reads a section of the report.

Crypto.com leveraged data from some of the world’s top crypto platforms for this study. These include popular names like Binance, Kraken, Bitfinex, BitMEX, Deribit, Liquid, BitFlyer, and even Crypto.com itself. Of the 221 million crypto users, about half were Bitcoin owners. Ethereum, another popular digital currency, also showed its might with about 10 percent of that market share.

While the number of crypto users is certainly very impressive now, even more growth is on the way. 2021 has been quite the year for crypto. The accelerated growth is set to be catalyzed by other developments such as some governments accepting crypto as legal tender.

Is It Time to Invest?

Lots of people have still held out on buying into crypto. The volatility of the space is still a big problem. 2021 has been kinder to cryptocurrencies than other years. There were of course a few low moments for the sector. For many of the hold-outs who missed out on the previous crypto investing frenzies, this might be a very tempting opportunity to go all in.

However, as good as things seem to be, there is no guarantee that we’ll see any more record-breaking highs. This is especially true for 2021. That said, if you are interested in crypto you might need to evaluate why exactly you are buying into it. Crypto is still a very risky investment and this should guide your decisions.

It is possible to find ways to minimize or limit your risk. Still, you need to understand what it is that you are getting yourself into. Ideally, investing in crypto should be more like a long-term investment. With that, it is possible to reap the full benefits of the sector once crypto succeeds.

Formula 1 Enlists Crypto.com as Sprint Series Sponsor

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On Tuesday, June 29, Formula made a grand announcement that it has enlisted Crypto.com to be its inaugural partner for the new Sprint series for 2021. This is not the first partnership between crypto businesses and non-crypto entities. However, it is a very big deal especially considering all the things that it promises with regards to the growth of digital currencies in the mainstream.

Already Crypto.com has amassed a customer base consisting of over 10 million users across the globe. This makes it a valuable partner for Formula 1 and the two can certainly learn and gain a lot from each other.

Fostering Performance and Innovation

As per the terms of the five-year partnership agreement which is projected to be worth over $100 million, Crypto.com will now enjoy brand presence across all F1 events. As mentioned earlier, this will begin with the Sprint qualifying format where Crypto.com will have trackside slots. The first of these will be the British Grand Prix that will go down at Silverstone on July 17.

Speaking on the new development, Formula 1 President and CEO Stefano Domenicali said that the partnership deal was part of the wider plans to “attract progressive global brands anchored in performance and innovation.” Fans can therefore not only look forward to an exciting new format but also new products. Crypto.com’s commitment to becoming carbon negative also aligns quite well with Formula 1’s sustainability goals which makes the partnership even more promising.

Bringing Cryptos and NFTs to Formula 1

It would be hard to talk about this partnership without mentioning what it means for the crypto industry. Formula 1 is already one of the most prestigious and most popular sporting series on the planet. This makes it a great way to push crypto to the mainstream even further.

In addition to being Formula 1’s Cryptocurrency Sponsor, Crypto.com will also be its official NFT partner. The goal is to democratize the world of crypto for Formula 1 fans through unmatched experiences and education.

“We look forward to many years of innovating together and will begin at the Belgian Grand Prix, where we will present a brand-new award. We are also excited to partner with F1 in the development of exclusive NFTs, connecting fans to the sport in new and innovative ways,” Kris Marszalek, co-founder, and CEO of Crypto.com commented.

It is an exciting time for the world of crypto thanks to all these developments. With more and more businesses beginning to take crypto seriously, we should expect to see even more partnerships and sponsorships in the future.

Renowned Crypto Casino Rollbit Launches Trading Features

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The evolution of the crypto ecosystem continues and now we are not just witnessing the entry of new players but also significant transitions and shifts made by existing members. Rollbit, a renowned crypto casino is one of the latest companies to extend its footprint in the world of crypto.

This move was long overdue as the company’s decisions were already hinting at the possibility of such a shift. It all began on May 10th, 2021 when the operator began to offer its users the opportunity to bet on the price of Bitcoin and Ethereum which are arguably two of the most important digital currencies right now. The platform later went on to add Litecoin and Dogecoin to the mix thus bringing together the most popular digital currencies in a manner that has barely been done before especially by a company of its kind.

By so doing, the operator has been able to establish itself as a leading platform in the crypto space. It is not stopping there though. Now, its next venture involved offering its users a way of enjoying trading digital currencies without having to deal with all of the complexities that are often associated with other crypto trading platforms.

“We’re very excited to offer crypto trading on Rollbit. Our goal was to eliminate the complex nature of trading on traditional crypto exchanges, and the team has certainly done an excellent job. With crypto being extremely popular right now, we couldn’t think of a better time to launch this. Not only are we the first crypto casino to offer crypto trading, but users can also be rewarded for trading on Rollbit as all profit and loss contributes to our lucrative rewards program,” Razer, Rollbit’s co-founder commented on the decision.

It seems this is just the beginning of a totally new segment in the world of crypto casinos.

Market-Leading Features

Rollbit came to the limelight with the launch of X-Roulette, an innovative and provably fair game that has been making waves since February 2020. Just like it did with the game, the platform has entered the crypto-trading space with just as many great and innovative features including:

Zero-Fee trading
Automatic cashout
Up to x1000 leverage
A focus on community
Additional benefits like cashbacks, bonuses, and rakebacks carried over from the casino

As if that is not enough, the platform’s management has promised that they have no intention to stop delivering innovative products and experiences to their growing customer bases. It only gets better from here and we cannot wait to see the direction that the entire crypto sector will take going forward.