Industry News
Nifty Games™, a New Name in Interactive Entertainment Specializing in Sports Video Games, Receives $3 Million in Seed Round
Founding Investors Include aXiomatic® Gaming and March Capital Partners®
Nifty GamesTM, a brand-new video game publisher announced its initial capital raise today. Founded by gaming industry veterans Jon Middleton and Pete Wanat, Nifty Games has been formed to deliver high quality sports games on mobile and digital platforms for a large global audience, targeting passionate sports fans.
The founding investors include many notable names from the investment, professional sports and gaming communities, including: esports and video game investment leader aXiomatic Gaming and venture capital firms March Capital Partners and Defy.vc.
Nifty Games will focus on head-to-head free to play mobile and digital experiences, presenting a uniquely different gaming experience for sports fans.
Commenting on the formation of Nifty Games, Jon Middleton, Founder & CEO said, “We’ve built Nifty Games to create innovative sports games for today’s sports fans. The talent and experience on the team is second to none, and we believe our unique product direction and focus on quality will deliver a step change in mobile gaming to sports fans worldwide. It’s a great vote of confidence to have the support of such highly regarded investors in our initial equity financing. With investment from team owners from all five major North American pro sports leagues, as well as successful game industry leaders and institutional tech investors, we’re off to a great start.”
“We’re excited about Nifty Games’ vision for delivering high-quality, sports-based mobile games,” said Bruce Stein, Co-Founder and CEO of aXiomatic. “This strategic partnership will combine the Nifty Games team’s extensive experience in gaming with our group’s expertise in traditional sports, esports and entertainment.”
“We’re thrilled to invest in Nifty Games as they aim to capture the attention of traditional sports fans who have become disengaged and frustrated with the current state of sports simulations in video games,” said Gregory Milken, Managing Director, March Capital Partners. “We see the tremendous value in offering an engaging mobile gaming experience that features short session arcade play along with the sports that players love.”
The management team has delivered hugely successful AAA original IP and licensed properties to market, delivering over $1B in revenue.
Additional information is available at: www.nifty.games
About Nifty Games
Nifty Games was founded in 2018 by Jon Middleton and Pete Wanat to produce the best head to head quick play sports games. Nifty is a game producer and live ops publisher devoted to delivering ground breaking sports games on mobile and digital gaming platforms.
About aXiomatic
aXiomatic powers unforgettable esports experiences through sports and entertainment expertise. The company began operations in November 2015 with a mission to build a portfolio of dynamic company holdings in the esports and video gaming industry. aXiomatic leadership includes Co-Executive Chairmen Peter Guber, Ted Leonsis, Jeff Vinik and Bruce Karsh who together represent an unparalleled team of sports, technology, entertainment and investment industry titans. Through strategic partnerships, investments and acquisitions, the team connects esports groups with valuable resources including venues, technologies, media content, distribution partners and investment capital. In September 2016, aXiomatic acquired controlling interest in one of the world’s premier esports brands, Team Liquid. Working with this world championship team has given aXiomatic an authentic perspective into the rapidly-evolving esports audience and industry. In addition to Team Liquid, aXiomatic has made several strategic investments into esports and gaming-related businesses — from analytics and coaching to new gaming experiences. As esports continues its meteoric journey, aXiomatic’s goal is to use all of its resources to help create new and rich experiences for audiences and athletes alike. Please see www.axiomaticgaming.com.
About March Capital Partners
March Capital Partners is a Santa Monica-based venture capital firm with one of the largest global funds in Southern California. Founded by industry veterans with over 50 years of investing experience, March Capital is unique in the Southern California market with its active investments in both early and late-stage companies in mobile, enterprise, infrastructure, gaming and other growth industries. The majority of March Capital’s investments are with Southern California companies, with targeted positions in innovative global organizations.
About Defy.vc
Founded in 2016, Defy is a new venture firm exclusively focused on early Series A, an underserved part of the venture landscape. The firm launched in 2017 after closing its first fund of $151 million. Defy was co-founded by long-term venture capitalists Neil Sequeira and Trae Vassallo, with a goal to invest in entrepreneurs and companies looking to solve complex problems. Defy’s focus is to help companies, after seed funding, mature and scale into companies ready for growth capital. The firm’s founding team has more than 40 years experience in helping successful entrepreneurs grow companies like The Honest Company, Nest, Elemental, Dropcam and more.
Source: Nifty Games
Industry News
Industry Investments in Responsible Gaming Reach New High of $472 Million Annually, AGA Study Shows
Research Reflects Heightened Responsibility Commitments as Industry Grow.
New research from the American Gaming Association (AGA), reveals a significant increase in responsible gaming (RG) investments from gaming industry companies, with total spending reaching $471.8 million annually—up from approximately $275 million (+72%) in 2017.
Conducted by a major international accounting firm, the research demonstrates a surge in industry-wide RG spending that has grown at a faster rate than gaming revenue over the past seven years. Several key program areas are seeing significant spending commitments as the industry expands, including:
- Customer Service Interactions: $135.4 million.
- Developing and Maintaining Responsible Gaming Programs: $122.4 million.
- Consumer-Facing Responsible Gaming Education: $107.7 million.
- Responsible Gaming Research and Other Non-Profit RG Organizations: $31.8 million.
- Problem Gambling Supportive Services: $26.1 million.
“This impactful rise in RG spending demonstrates the legal industry’s dedication to fostering a safe and informed gaming environment,” said Joe Maloney, AGA Senior Vice President, Strategic Communications. “Beyond the considerable taxes gaming companies contribute to fund responsible gaming and problem gambling resources, the industry also proactively invests hundreds of millions of dollars more to ensure our customers have the tools, knowledge and safeguards to play responsibly.”
The new AGA research comes during Responsible Gaming Education Month (RGEM) 2024, during which industry stakeholders have demonstrated their commitments to responsible gaming through an array of activations and announcements. Earlier this September, the AGA released a first-of-its-kind Responsible Gaming Intervention Effectiveness Scale to provide academics, industry members and more with a research-based tool to evaluate responsible gaming messages.
“Our industry’s commitment to responsibility once again made RGEM a resounding success,” continued Maloney. “We look forward to seeing the work done throughout this past month provide a springboard for continued advancements in responsible gaming in the months and years to come.”
Industry News
Andrew Cardno, Dr. Ralph Thomas and Dr. A.K. Singh Release Their 11th Book: “The Math That Gaming Made, Compendium”
Acclaimed gaming and analytics experts Andrew Cardno and Dr. Ralph Thomas of QCI have proudly released their 11th book, “The Math That Gaming Made, Compendium,” a definitive exploration of the mathematical frameworks and strategies that have shaped the modern gaming industry.
The book, which serves as a comprehensive guide to the intersection of mathematics and gaming, is a deep dive into how advanced analytics, mathematical modeling, and data science have revolutionized the gaming landscape. Covering decades of research and insights, “The Math That Gaming Made, Compendium” provides a wealth of knowledge for industry professionals, data enthusiasts, and anyone passionate about the intricacies of gaming mathematics.
A Legacy of Expertise
Andrew Cardno, a recognized authority in gaming analytics, and Dr. Ralph Thomas, a pioneer in gaming data science, bring together their years of experience and research in this book. Together, they offer readers an unparalleled understanding of how math is used to optimize everything from player experiences to casino operations.
“This book is a culmination of over 20 years of innovation in the gaming industry,” said Andrew Cardno. “It not only highlights how data and analytics have evolved but also provides the tools and knowledge for others to apply these concepts in real-world gaming environments.”
A Must-Read for Industry Professionals
Industry expert Buddy Frank shared his praise for the book: “If there’s one thing the casino gaming industry does not do well, it is sharing. This book breaks that mold as the authors dish some of the best advice on improving your slot mix, gaining market share, understanding databases, and a lot more. They even translate all our obscure acronyms. This new volume is several inches thick, but you’ll find gems on every page. Better yet, follow their advice and your profitability will improve.”
“The Math That Gaming Made, Compendium” is available now through Amazon.
Industry News
EvenBet Gaming to Showcase Pioneering Poker Products at SBC Summit 2024
EvenBet Gaming, a leading developer of online gaming software and solutions, is set to unveil its latest industry-leading poker platform update and exhibit its brand-new In-Store feature at the upcoming SBC Summit in Lisbon.
Launched at the beginning of September, the In-Store platform feature provides players with unprecedented access to perks directly from the lobby or poker table. Available benefits include Time Bank packages, Insurance Buying and Opponent Game Statistics, with each perk designed to enhance the player experience and drive revenue for EvenBet’s partners.
The EvenBet team will be located at Stand B820 and will outline the key aspects of the In-Store feature, as well as demonstrate the advantages of third-party casino game integration, revealing how operators can diversify their revenue streams.
The provider is also set to announce a major update to its Poker Clubs platform in October, which will improve software flexibility and player engagement options.
EvenBet will kick off the summit by hosting an exclusive poker tournament on Tuesday 24 September, an invite-only event featuring C-suite executives from across the industry.
Dmitry Starostenkov, CEO at EvenBet Gaming, said: “The SBC Summit is one of the biggest events on the calendar for us, and this year it will be even better. We are heading to Lisbon with an even better team, and they are ready to explore an even better poker platform with our valued partners and prospective clients.
“We are also hosting a C-level poker tournament on the first day, which should be a lot of fun and give us an indication of who the best players are in our industry.”
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