Cryptocurrency

Investor files case against esports gambling startup Unikrn

Published

6 years ago

August 21, 2018

Esports Wagering at Unikrn, Already Booming, Accelerates as World Scrambles for Home Entertainment

Reading Time: 3 minutes

John Hastings, a resident of Las Vegas and one of the investors of Unikrn, a Seattle-based esports gambling startup, has sued the company for violations in securities law in connection with the sale of its cryptocurrency, UnikoinGold. The start-up has the backing of some big names like Ashton Kutcher and Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban.

Unikrn launched its cryptocurrency UnikoinGold, based on the Ethereum blockchain network, last September. It is marketed as the chosen currency to be used on the Unikrn gambling platform, which allows users to bet on esports titles such as League of Legends, Dota 2, Counter-Strike: Global Offensive and more. During that September offering, Las Vegas resident John Hastings purchased UnikoinGold tokens with 10 Ethereum, worth approximately $2800 at that time.

Hastings filed suit Monday in King County, Washington, against Unikrn, a Bermuda-registered subsidiary of the company and its founders, former Microsoft Ventures general manager Rahul Sood and Karl Flores. In the suit, Hastings is seeking class-action status for all purchases of UnikoinGold. In a statement to GeekWire, Sood acknowledged the lawsuit and said Unikrn has retained Seattle-based law firm Perkins Coie to “vigorously defend” the company.

Hastings argues that statements made by Sood and other Unikrn staff contradict the assertion that UnikoinGold was intended to be used as a method to participate in the Unikrn gambling platform. Hastings alleges that the continuous offering of these tokens to the public, the alleged intent for purchasers to resell them at a later date and a private presale to accredited investors before the coin was offered to the public constitute an investment and that the company thus violated Securities and Exchange Commission regulations.

“Defendants have crafted a flimsy facade that UKG Tokens are not securities by claiming they are utility tokens,” Hastings alleges in the complaint filing, which was obtained by ESPN. “In reality, the UnikoinGold ICO was an offer and sale of securities. Indeed, it is evident that investors were purchasing UKG Tokens with the expectation that those tokens would increase in value and become worth more than the virtual currencies invested.”

In the suit, Hastings also cites an SEC investigative report released in July that states the cryptocurrency DAO Tokens were subject to federal security laws. Hastings argues that the case made by the SEC in the ruling against DAO applies to Unikrn and UnikoinGold.

At the time of the September initial coin offering, Unikrn Bermuda Ltd. filed a notice of exempt offering of securities with the SEC, stating that it offered $20 million and as of Sept. 19 had sold $16.02 million of those shares. UnikoinGold was first listed at 30 cents per token when the initial coin offering launched in September; it now rests at just under a nickel.

In October, Unikrn announced it had raised 112,720 Ethereum, worth approximately $31 million at that time, in a two-phase UnikoinGold initial coin offering that spanned 112 countries. Among the participating buyers in the first phase, an exclusive presale, were Cuban and Ethereum co-founder Anthony Diiorio.

Unikrn launched in November 2014 as one of the first regulated esports gambling sites. In June 2015, Unikrn raised $10 million from Cuban, Kutcher, Binary Capital and a number of high-profile investors. In May, Cuban told ESPN that Unikrn would “benefit significantly” from the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision to allow states to legalise sports gambling.

Unikrn has continued to expand its presence across the world. In December, it signed a partnership deal with MGM Resorts International to run esports tournaments in Las Vegas. It also is a shareholder in Berlin International Gaming, a professional esports team with a large foothold in Counter-Strike: Global Offensive.

Source: espn.com

Cryptocurrency

Payhound empowers LSports with a seamless solution to receive payments

Published

3 days ago

April 22, 2024

George Miller

Payhound empowers LSports with a seamless solution to receive payments

Reading Time: < 1 minute

Fintech crypto company Payhound has been facilitating leading data provider LSports to accept payments from its clients.

As the premier data provider, LSports offers real-time sports data, providing operators with a competitive edge in the sports betting saturated market. By using Payhound’s solution, LSports can conveniently receive payments from its clients, significantly enhancing operational efficiency.

Established in 2018, Payhound’s mission is to enable businesses to handle cryptocurrencies with the same ease, security, and transparency as dealing with fiat currency. Through crypto, Payhound offers fast and efficient international payments, with security being a fundamental principle in all its operations.

Commenting on the partnership, a spokesperson for LSports stated: “Partnering with Payhound to optimize our payment solutions signifies a significant advancement in our global business strategy. This collaboration enables us to conduct transactions swiftly and securely, further bolstering our position as a premier data provider in the industry.”

Elton Dimech, Managing Director at Payhound, added: “We are delighted to service LSports.Through our platform, clients like LSports can easily receive payments, have such funds instantly converted into fiat, and as a result, greatly improve their operations and availability of funds. We look forward to continuing to be their reliable crypto partner in the future.”

Payhound is licensed by the Malta Financial Services Authority (MFSA) and is a holder of a Class 3 VFA License under the Virtual Financial Assets Act of 2018. The company has recently revealed its achievement of ISO 27001 certification for the second consecutive year.

Cryptocurrency

SOFTSWISS Named Crypto Company 2024

Published

3 months ago

February 7, 2024

George Miller

Reading Time: 2 minutes

Crypto Company of the Year was announced at the International Gaming Awards in London. SOFTSWISS, a leading technology company with 15+ years of experience in the industry, gets this title for the second year in a row.

Marking the beginning of ICE London, the awards ceremony has brought together top names in the iGaming industry to honour their achievements. The International Gaming Awards not only unites experts and gaming enthusiasts worldwide but also serves as the pinnacle charity event of the year.

The Crypto Company of the Year category recognises companies that create innovative experiences for clients in the gambling sector with a focus on crypto. The winner is determined by evidence showcasing the company’s standout performance in the crypto space compared to competitors. Reconfirming the previous year’s success, SOFTSWISS emerged as the Crypto Company of the Year for the second time in a row.

Securing the title of Crypto Company of the Year comes naturally to SOFTSWISS, the trailblazer in introducing crypto-friendly solutions for online gaming. Beginning with Bitcoin, SOFTSWISS has expanded its cryptocurrency offering to nearly 20 digital coins since 2013.

In its dedication to improving player experience, SOFTSWISS introduced the In-Game Currency Conversion feature. The innovation allowed players with crypto holdings to engage seamlessly in games originally tailored for fiat only. One year post-launch, 85% of all bets in crypto casinos powered by the SOFTSWISS Casino Platform were made via the feature.

As an expert in crypto-friendly solutions, the company shares its expertise through the quarterly State of Crypto reports and topical podcasts. This helps raise awareness among all stakeholders, offering essential insights for strategic decision-making.

Andrey Starovoitov, Co-CEO at SOFTSWISS, shares: “We are delighted to receive this award, and it signifies more than just recognition for our recent achievements. The title of Crypto Company of the Year holds deep meaning for those who led the way in integrating digital currencies into iGaming, actively advocate for crypto solutions, and generously share expertise in this field.”

About SOFTSWISS

SOFTSWISS is an international tech company supplying software solutions for managing iGaming projects. The expert team, which counts over 2,000 employees, is based in Malta, Poland, and Georgia. SOFTSWISS holds a number of gaming licences and provides one-stop-shop iGaming software solutions. The company has a vast product portfolio, including the Online Casino Platform, the Game Aggregator with thousands of casino games, the Affilka affiliate platform, the Sportsbook Platform and the Jackpot Aggregator. In 2013, SOFTSWISS was the first in the world to introduce a Bitcoin-optimised online casino solution.

Cryptocurrency

Casino Market Industry Forecast Reveals Surge to $165.72 Billion by 2028 with Digital Transformation and Cryptocurrency Integration

Published

3 months ago

January 24, 2024

Hunor Pal

Reading Time: 2 minutes

The “Casino Global Market Report 2024” report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets .com’s offering.

The latest report on the global casino market highlights significant growth, with expectations for the industry to swell from $131.42 billion in 2023 to an impressive $165.72 billion by 2028, at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 4.6%. The report offers a comprehensive analysis of current market dynamics, future trends, and potential opportunities, positioning it as an essential resource for stakeholders in the casino sector.

The casino industry, experiencing a renaissance through digitization and a shift towards online gambling, is witnessing the rising popularity of cryptocurrency casinos. Innovations, alongside a deepened focus on responsible gambling, are propelling market growth, drawing attention from both established players and new entrants.

Key Market Dynamics Influencing Growth

Online Gambling Expansion
Smartphone Proliferation
Innovative Casino Products
Strategic Industry Partnerships

The report underscores the growing dominance of the Asia-Pacific region in the global casino market, bolstered by evolving consumer behaviors and burgeoning tourism sectors. The detailed geographic assessment provides strategic insights into the vitality of various regions within the industry.
Gambling machines, gaming tables, and novel casino experiences are discussed in the report. The document leverages industry-specific metrics to provide a nuanced understanding of segment performance, addressing both offline and online modalities.

Industry Leaders Making Strategic Moves

With major corporations like 888 Holdings PLC and Caesars Entertainment Corporation, the casino market is rife with tactical mergers, acquisitions, and partnerships aiming to solidify market positioning and leverage collective strengths.

The global casino market research report presents in-depth market analysis, reflecting cutting-edge industry trends such as the integration of advanced gaming technologies. It also spotlights operational strategies and expansion plans of front-runners in the gambling domain.

This comprehensive research report is poised to be an indispensable tool for industry investors, strategists, and stakeholders planning to navigate the complex terrain of the casino industry with data-driven confidence.

The casino market research report is devised to serve a diversity of informational needs, offering a meticulous examination of the interplay between market forces, technological advancements, and consumer preferences shaping the future of gambling worldwide.

Please note, the market value detailed in the report represents the actualized revenues recognized by entities within the industry over the specified period and geography.

A selection of companies mentioned in this report includes