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NFTs and the future of fan engagement: How NFTs can boost engagement with sports brands

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NFTs and the future of fan engagement: How NFTs can boost engagement with sports brands
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By: Evgeniy Babitsyn, Chief Marketing Officer, Bets.io

The sport industry finds itself amidst its own digital transformation journey with the introduction of new technologies, and at the forefront of this digital shift are NFTs – otherwise known as Non-Fungible Tokens.

NFTs can represent any kind of digital item, and in recent years have commonly been used for quirky collectibles and art work – but they now enter the sports arena in a unique way. The beauty of NFTs is the unique metadata and ownership information which is tracked via blockchain, making them a one-of-a-kind digital collectible that cannot be duplicated. As a result of their collectible nature, it’s only natural that NFTs caught the eyes of eager sports enthusiasts and die-hard fans.

In fact, according to Deloitte research, around 40% of Gen Z and millennial sports fans are at least somewhat familiar with the use of NFTs and fan tokens in sports.

But why is that? And how can they boost engagement?

NFTs are rapidly emerging as a powerful tool for sports brands in driving deeper fan engagement and unlocking new revenue streams. This is because sports fans are, by nature, competitive and eager to own exclusive content from their much loved players, teams and brands. They want to be part of the action.

By playing on this feeling, and reinforcing loyalty among fans in this way, sports brands have a huge opportunity to take their revenue streams to new heights and gain a competitive advantage over other brands.

Imagine an athlete releases a limited-edition NFT that represents the most iconic moment in their career, such as the winning shot or a record breaking performance. Fans who own that NFT can then access exclusive content related to that moment including behind-the-scenes footage or interviews.

There really is no limit to these tokens, and depending on the asset, they can be much sought after. As more and more sports fans embrace the digital tokens, sports brands are quickly learning that there is huge potential for fan engagement, if they continue to innovate with this technology.

 

Taking collectibles to the 21st Century

Sports memorabilia and collectibles have for centuries been a way for fans to feel more connected to their favourite teams and athletes. And now thanks to the advances of technology – more specifically, blockchain technology – fans can collect within the digital realm, gaining access to truly “own” unique digital items and experiences.

Beyond just digital art or collectibles, NFTs can also integrate the idea of gamification, exclusive content and experiences into their NFTs – allowing fans to engage more actively while unlocking new revenue opportunities.

The possibilities are endless, extending far beyond just digital collectibles. They can provide fans with access to exclusive digital or in-person experiences, events and merch as well. Think front row seats or the chance for a meet and greet post-game.

With this, NFTs provide an excellent way for brands to diversify their revenue streams by monetising their content and intellectual property strategically.

It really is win-win, fans can own a piece of their favourite team’s history while supporting their team financially. And sports brands can benefit from more loyal fans.

 

Transforming the fan experience

Engagement is everything to sports brands. After all, the fans are really the most important stakeholders in the end. And offering NFTs can be a powerful tool in fostering deeper engagement within fan communities. NFTs provide more innovative ways for fans to connect, prove their loyalty and gain recognition for their allegiance.

Let’s look at NBA Top Shot. NBA Top Shot is the perfect example of a blockchain-based platform that allows fans to own and collect officially licensed NBA collectibles digitally. The platform offers exclusive collectibles including videos of the biggest NBA moments and highlights.

And football teams are also following suit. Manchester City, PSG, FC Barcelona have all joined in on the NFT hype – offering their own NFT collections for keen supporters such as worn jerseys, trophies and more.

 

Sports Betting and NFTs

And when it comes to sports betting, NFTs take the iGaming experience to the next level. Fans can purchase NFTs that represent specific bets, such as the winner of a particular game or the performance of a specific player. These NFTs can then be traded or sold, just like other NFTs, providing a new level of flexibility and excitement for betting.

The use of NFTs in the sports industry is still in its early stages, but has already shown great potential. We can expect more applications to come in the world of sports – including at Bets.io. Watch this space.

Looking ahead, the future is incredibly promising for sports brands who leverage NFTs within their business operations. Those who embrace these new powerful ways to inspire fans and forge deeper relationships with their communities, will see their efforts translate into business value.

eSports

Akhil Sarin CMO at Easygo named as key note at ICE Esports Conference

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Clarion Gaming has confirmed that Akhil Sarin CMO at Easygo, the technology powerhouse behind the success of global brands Stake and Kick will headline the Esports & Games Conference (EGC) taking place on 21 January as part of the ICE Barcelona experience.

As a key member of the executive team, Akhil Sarin has been instrumental in securing the high-profile partnerships that have accelerated Stake’s growth, including the Stake F1 team, UFC, Drake, and Premier League Everton FC.

Through these strategic alliances he has amplified Stake’s brand presence at the same time as creating unique, immersive player experiences, in the process setting new industry benchmarks.

Announcing the high profile speaker Will Harding, Head of Esports at Clarion Gaming said: “Securing Akhil Sarin as EGC  key note at ICE Barcelona represents a remarkable opportunity for our attendees to gain invaluable insight into cutting-edge strategies in digital and influencer marketing .

“Akhil’s expertise with Stake and Kick.com embodies the forward-thinking, innovative approach that defines the digital marketing landscapes. His participation underscores the calibre of knowledge-sharing that we are  committed to delivering at ICE and he is sure to both inspire our attendees and elevate their strategic perspective.” 

Looking ahead to ICE Barcelona, Akhil Sarin stated:  “Collaborating with Clarion Gaming at ICE Barcelona is an exciting opportunity to showcase Stake’s journey and continued focus on bold partnerships and creative marketing strategies that resonate with audiences.”

He added “The EGC is a vital platform for exchanging transformative ideas and shaping the future of gaming and entertainment. I look forward to discussing Stake’s vision and collaborating with industry leaders to inspire growth and innovation across the sector.”

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Lucky Jane returns to explore ancient Egypt in 1spin4win’s Lucky Jane in Egypt Win Spins

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This game invites players to join the fearless explorer, Lucky Jane, as she guides them through the rich and mysterious world of ancient Egypt in search of big rewards.

In Lucky Jane in Egypt Win Spins, Lucky Jane, the highest-paying symbol in the game, leads players on a treasure-filled journey across the iconic symbols of Egyptian mythology, including the protective eye of Horus, a powerful scarab, the legendary pyramids, and golden Coins. Just three golden Coins are enough to trigger the Bonus Spins round, which is at the heart of the Win Spins mechanic.

During the Bonus Spins, players receive ten free spins where Coins with values ranging from x1 to x100 appear on the 5×3 reels, paying out on any position. The more Coins a player collects, the bigger the potential payout! Players can also uncover the Minipot Coin to win the x100 Minipot or gather 15 Coins to unlock the coveted x1,000 Megapot.

Olga Bogdanova, Art Director at 1spin4win, commented, “With Lucky Jane in Egypt Win Spins, we’ve combined the richness of Egyptian mythology with a new gameplay mechanic that allows players to gather rewards as they go. The Win Spins mechanic works hand in hand with the theme, ensuring that every spin brings players closer to unlocking larger payouts and deeper adventure.”

 

 

 

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From Entry-Level Candidates to Team Leads in a Year — How We Trained and Developed Affiliate Managers at Betmen Affiliates

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My name is Margarita, and I am the Director of the Betmen Affiliates program. We launched 1.5 years ago with just 10 active partners. Finding the perfect candidate for an affiliate manager role proved challenging—being such a specialised area, I reasoned that it was much better to train on the job. Therefore, after a short while running interviews, we hired two affiliate managers one of whom had no sales experience and the other who had no experience in traffic arbitrage. It was imperative to us that we hire driven, resourceful, hard-workers; it’s people like these who can launch a new brand almost from scratch and who easily understand that hitting targets sometimes means putting in more than the standard nine-to-six effort—sometimes working longer, sometimes harder.

 

How We Developed Two Entry-Level Affiliate Managers into Team Leads

How to Train Affiliate Managers: My Case Study

At first, both of my employees brought in very few partners, so I had to transfer some of my own over to them. At the same time, I demonstrated all the steps of partner contact. We began attending events together. Both Alex and Michael quickly took on all my recommendations, improved their skills, and eventually closed many successful deals.

An affiliate manager worth his or her salt must be able to sell the product and influence affiliates to promote it at our offered rate, promote our many payment options, and talk about conversions. 

 

From Affiliate Managers to Team Leads

By the time we needed a team lead, we had formed a close-knit team. Even though I interviewed several candidates for the position, hiring externally did not feel right. The ideal person for the role needed to have strong managerial skills as well as be able to connect with myself and my team. Michael and Alex both recommended each other for the role. I took both their recommendations on and promoted them both to the position. Both Alex and Michael had already proven themselves, were loyal, trust-worthy and hard-working, and always driven to meet their goals 

 

Conclusion: Why Should You Take a Chance on Newcomers?

I hired employees with almost no experience and I have no regrets. I now have a unique team that can deliver amazing results: in just a year and a half, we’ve increased the number of FTDs by 70 times and are steadily moving towards 80,000 monthly deposits. Here are the key takeaways from their stories:

→ A candidate’s enthusiasm is more important than relevant experience. You can teach anyone anything but you can’t spark passion in them. A future manager must be passionate about the work and strive for growth.  

→ An employee who grows within the company is highly loyal to their lead and the project. Having moved from a regular manager to a team lead, they are able to train new hires because they know the role inside out. The team will respect leaders who were once in their position.  

→ People who love their work drive the brand forward and achieve the best results. They focus not on working hours or weekdays but on the goals they need to accomplish.

I love my employees and am proud of them. I believe we are one of the strongest, most united, and professional teams in the industry.

To learn more about our organization and the remarkable growth of our team, we invite you to read the full article available here. It provides detailed insights into our journey, values, and achievements.

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