Endeavor to Merge IMG ARENA into OpenBet

admin — Thu, 01 Feb 2024 18:28:48 +0000

Global sports and entertainment company Endeavor announced its intention to merge its global sports betting and data businesses, OpenBet and IMG ARENA. According to the announcement, IMG Arena will be integrated under the OpenBet banner.

As a part of OpenBet, IMG ARENA will continue to offer its sports data, integrity and fan engagement products.

The resulting entity, Endeavor said, would leverage both brands’ expertise. It will pair OpenBet’s industry-leading betting technology, content and services with IMG ARENA’s data rights and capabilities. As a result, the new OpenBet will be an end-to-end sports data, tech and content ecosystem for operators and rightsholders.

The new OpenBet will be led by Jordan Levin, OpenBet’s current chief executive officer. He will respond directly to Endeavor’s president and chief operating officer, Mark Shapiro. In the meantime, IMG Arena’s president, Freddie Longe, will serve as strategic advisor to OpenBet during the transition period.

Openbet, for reference, boasts some 25 years of experience in sports betting innovation, offering a modular range of tech, content and services. IMG Arena, on the other hand, supplies sports data and tech to the betting, media and performance sectors, delivering live streaming and data feeds for over 65,000 events.

The pairing of the two companies follows a string of business deals for both companies.

The Merger Has Always Been Endeavor’s Goal

Mark Shapiro, Endeavor’s president and COO, commented on the merger of the two companies, saying that his team had envisioned a holistic integration with IMG ARENA ever since it acquired OpenBet in 2022. He called the new announcement the “culmination of that ambition.”

Leveraging Endeavor’s complementary sports and entertainment capabilities, we will unlock meaningful value for the sports rights and IP of our owned and operated properties, and most importantly, for our partners.

Mark Shapiro, president & COO, Endeavor

In the meantime, Jordan Levin, OpenBet’s CEO, said that the resulting entity is “uniquely positioned as a leading, end-to-end, sports data, technology and content ecosystem for gambling companies, rightsholders and media.

Putting our customers and their players at the heart of our product and tech innovation remains the key to our ongoing success. As an integrated business, we are focused on providing a unique solution to leagues, federations, and sportsbooks worldwide.

Jordan Levin, CEO, OpenBet

Last year, OpenBet powered Sazka, the company behind Allwyn, with its Neccton technology.

The post Endeavor to Merge IMG ARENA into OpenBet appeared first on Keno Wizard.

OpenBet Welcomes Sam Depoortere as VP of Platform Products

admin — Fri, 08 Sep 2023 04:48:00 +0000

OpenBet, a leading provider of technology, content and services to the sports betting industry, has reinforced its product leadership. As announced, the company has appointed the experienced Sam Depoortere as its new vice president of platform products and will rely on him to drive innovation.

In his new position, Depoortere will leverage his years of experience in the gambling industry to bolster OpenBet’s platform solutions product strategy. He will be responsible for growing the company’s products and helping it innovate and set itself apart from its competitors.

As VP of platform products, the new hire will work directly under Nikos Konstakis, OpenBet’s chief product officer.

As mentioned Depoortere is an industry heavyweight with years of experience with various high-profile companies. Most recently, he served as business director for TOTO at Nederlandse Loterij, the largest Dutch operator. During his time with the Dutch gambling company, Depoortere was responsible for overseeing its casino, retail and sports betting arms.

Prior to that, Depoortere served as marketing & sportsbook manager at TOTO. He has also worked for a variety of other companies such as Betway and Media Odds.

Depoortere’s experience will help OpenBet grow and double down on its platform product strategy.

Depoortere Is Happy to Join a Prestigious Company

Depoortere expressed his thoughts on his new position, sharing his excitement about joining OpenBet. The appointee praised the company as an industry leader that is known for its innovation and strong partnerships and said that he is looking forward to helping it reach new heights.

Leveraging my experience and insights from the operator side, I am committed to steering OpenBet’s platform products to new heights and ensuring that we remain at the forefront of delivering safe and entertaining betting experiences for players worldwide.

Sam Depoortere, VP of platform products, OpenBet

In the meantime, Nikos Konstakis, OpenBet’s chief product officer, welcomed Depoortere to the OpenBet family. He praised the hire’s experience and said that the appointment of the experienced product expert as VP of platform products poses OpenBet for growth.

As we look to the future, we are confident that with Sam’s extensive experience and leadership qualities, OpenBet will continue to redefine the standards in sports betting entertainment.

Nikos Konstakis, CPO, OpenBet

In other news, in mid-July OpenBet added odds and lines for the Professional Bull Riders event. A week earlier, the company secured WLA’s Gold Contributor status.

The post OpenBet Welcomes Sam Depoortere as VP of Platform Products appeared first on Keno Wizard.

OpenBet Archives - Keno Wizard

Endeavor to Merge IMG ARENA into OpenBet

The Merger Has Always Been Endeavor’s Goal

OpenBet Welcomes Sam Depoortere as VP of Platform Products

Depoortere Is Happy to Join a Prestigious Company