Their LuckyFans and Contextual Promotions Media Network Technologies Generate High Value for Players, Casinos and Integrated Brands

(San Diego, CA) – January 24, 2023 – Play Globally and Context Networks proudly announce the installation of their respective gaming technologies into 21 major casinos across the United States.  Play Globally’s LuckyFans game and Context Networks’ Contextual Promotions Media Network (CPMN) leverage substantial value for integrated brands while delivering entertaining gaming content for casino patrons.

Utilizing Context Networks’ CPMN, players will enjoy a broad range of interactive games, including Play Globally’s LuckyFans game which converts live and recorded professional sports matches into an exciting real-time poker game.  Context Networks’ CPMN represents the gaming industry's first-ever cloud-based PaaS programmatic advertising ecosystem for safeguarding all players’ data and transactions as they earn valuable prizes from many of the world’s major brands.

“Play Globally is thrilled to be a part of the Context Networks ecosystem,” says Stephen Dunham, Play Globally’s President/CEO.  “From our inception, we knew Play Globally’s IP and team of creative artists and engineers could provide a truly unique gaming experience for sports and gaming fans.  The gaming experience we provide translates directly to a maximized value for fans, integrated brands, our partners and our shareholders.  Our inclusion in Context Networks’ rapidly growing customer base is a testament to that value.”

“Context Networks and Play Globally strive to provide gaming experiences that entertain players while generating substantial value for our customers and integrated brand partners,” says Matt Olden, Context Networks’ Chairman.  “Our CPMN system and partnership with Play Globally accelerates both companies toward this mutual goal and we look forward to expanding our capabilities globally in the coming years.”

Context Networks’ CPMN is a patent-pending cloud-based service built to use blockchain, machine learning, and artificial intelligence to deliver detailed and deeply insightful analytics for its customers. The CPMN uses digital tokens for all payments, exchanges, incentives, and fees in the ecosystem.  The CPMN is provided at no cost to the casino and enables operators to capitalize on prime real estate at slot machines and turn them into revenue-generating displays by selling targeted advertising to specific player demographics.  The CPMN converts a casino's mobile properties, sportsbooks, websites, digital signage network, hotel room IPTV system, hospitality TVs, table game TVs, bingo halls, and card rooms into an omnichannel marketing network that generates incremental non-gaming revenue through the sale of highly targeted and contextualized advertisements. 

About Play Globally, Inc.

Play Globally, Inc. is a developer of innovative free-to-play games that utilize live, real-time in-play sports and racing data to determine the results of a live poker game. The company’s LuckyFans product line has been prototyped and is scheduled for release in 2023, featuring professional sports and racing contests plus the opportunity for fans to win real money sweepstakes prizes.  LuckyFans is legal in all 50 states and most jurisdictions around the world.  For more information, please visit https://playglobally.com.

About Context Networks

Context Networks is a leading provider of full-stack advertising technology solutions for gaming operators.  Their Contextual Promotions Media Networks (CPMN) is the first programmatic advertising system that allows gaming operators to advertise without considering it prohibited content.  Context Networks is committed to helping operators increase customer engagement and improve their advertising efforts to maximize profits and enhance the customer experience.  They are a trusted partner for gaming operators.  For more information, please visit https://www.contextnetworks.net.

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Gaming Pioneer Joins Forces with Sports Betting Education Platform to Expand Reach and Value

Play Globally, Inc., a worldwide provider of free-to-play gaming innovations, today announced their new partnership with the Sharp App, creator of the Sharp Academy and numerous sports betting and fantasy sports educational programs designed to help fans make informed decisions in the sports betting space.

The agreement leverages the Sharp App’s extensive affiliate program which includes betting giants BetMGM, FanDuel, DraftKings and Caesars Entertainment, in conjunction with Play Globally’s upcoming LuckyFans app which utilizes contextual fan engagement and AI technology in a game relying on live sports action to determine the outcome of a fast-paced poker game.

The partnership merges two high value assets in the sports betting space to provide fans a new ability to learn the nuances of sports betting while simultaneously earning opportunities to win real money sweepstakes prizes in contests that are free-to-play.

“This agreement is exciting for Play Globally, the Sharp App, our brand partners and most importantly, our players, as we connect and align all the parties for a valuable user experience that also gives our players the ability to win big prizes,” says Stephen Dunham, Play Globally’s President/CEO. “Now Play Globally’s prize distribution can reach more fans of sports and gaming, particularly those who enjoy all the other educational benefits of the Sharp App ecosystem.”

"At the Sharp App we love partnering with innovators in the space and what better way to engage and educate new bettors than a free-to-play game like Play Globally’s upcoming LuckyFans," says Jason Mezrahi Co-Founder and COO of Sharp Ev Inc. As Play Globally generates new users we can now direct them to the Sharp App, engage them within our community and bring our entire suite of tools and content to their fingertips."

About Play Globally, Inc.

Play Globally, Inc. is a developer of innovative free-to-play games that utilize live, real-time in-play sports and racing data to determine the results of a live poker game. The company’s LuckyFans product line is scheduled for release in 2022 for a variety of professional sports and racing contests, providing users the opportunity to win real money sweepstakes prizes. LuckyFans is legal in all 50 states and most jurisdictions around the world. For more information, please visit https://playglobally.com.

About The Sharp App

Founded in 2020, by sports betting and fantasy experts and executives from Win Daily and DFS Army, Sharp is a first-of-its-kind sports betting app. Sharp provides an all-in-one platform experience of multimedia content, tools and solutions developed specifically to educate and empower sports bettors to make smarter decisions and manage their actions. For more information, please visit https://sharp.link. 

Free-to-Play Gaming Innovator Is Joining Forces with The US Gambler to Attract High-Value Sports Fans and Bettors

San Diego, CA --News Direct-- Play Globally

Play Globally, Inc., a worldwide provider of free-to-play gaming innovations, today announced a partnership with The US Gambler (USG www.theusgambler.com), a premier destination for premium sports content, betting picks and excellent bonus offers from leading sportsbooks and online casinos. The partnership serves as a creative avenue to support growth for both parties in the increasingly competitive US iGaming market, through cross-selling one fully aligned demographic between free-to-play gaming and sports betting content and insights.

Play Globally’s upcoming release of its LuckyFans line of free-to-play games drives live, in-play sports action to determine the outcome of a fast-paced poker game. LuckyFans adds affiliate revenue and drives new high-value sports bettors to USG and its partners. Additionally, USG users will be able to create their own LuckyFans Private Leagues to earn exclusive rewards, win high-value prizes and participate in the LuckyFans National Sweepstakes to win substantial prize money.

“The ability to work in tandem with an affiliate partner that has grown 300% MoM since its inception and whose audience is growing in both existing and emerging sports betting markets is a major step for our growth plans across the US,” said Play Globally President/CEO Stephen Dunham. “This partnership underscores the massive growth potential LuckyFans, and free-to-play gaming in general, offers the entire sports betting and iGaming industry. It’s exciting to see a brand like The US Gambler fully appreciate the value of what sophisticated contextual fan engagement through our LuckyFans platform provides.”

About Play Globally, Inc.

Play Globally, Inc. is a developer of innovative free-to-play games that utilize live, real-time in-play sports and racing data to determine the results of a live poker game. The company’s LuckyFans product line is scheduled for release in 2022 for a variety of professional sports and racing contests, providing users the opportunity to win real money sweepstakes prizes. LuckyFans is legal in all 50 states and most jurisdictions around the world.

About The US Gambler

The US Gambler is a site owned and operated by The Sportsbook Insider Inc (TSI); a Boston based organization newly formed in 2022. TheUSGambler.com is their first domain to go live offering premium sports content, betting picks and excellent bonus offers from leading sportsbooks and online casinos.

See Knup Sports Show Podcast Episode #160 HERE.

Sportsbooks & Free-to-Play (F2P) Games
How F2P Is Reshaping User Acquisition and Retention in Sports Betting

As individual sportsbooks continue to battle for market supremacy in the $150B American sports betting race, a new focus on efficient, economical, sustainable and strategic user acquisition and retention is emerging.  Free-to-play (F2P) games may not have the sex appeal of Vegas strip signage or $1,000 sportsbook bonus credits but when it comes to efficiencies and sustainability, F2P offers unique long term value for sportsbooks that are aligned with several key factors.

User Demographics Alignment

One of the key factors for sportsbooks to efficiently monetize F2P games is having true alignment of their F2P user demographics and the demographics of the sportsbook itself.  Free games such as chess, Spin-to-Win or sudoku do not necessarily support the root interests of sportsbooks.  Similarly, F2P games such as free video poker or free blackjack often offered by casinos may incentivize players to visit a property but do not necessarily capture the sports fan demographics.  How do F2P games secure the ideal value for sportsbooks?

There are three critical factors that drive maximum F2P value for sportsbooks.  The game must include wagering factors such as poker or slots, offer sports-oriented user interaction, and be inherently unique.  A truly unique F2P game, whether by branding, celebrity endorsement, or a patent, is important as the game itself provides product-led user retention.  Simply put, a user can’t find a particularly unique brand of F2P just anywhere.  Therefore, a truly unique F2P secures long and deep user relationships for both the F2P game and an aligned sportsbook.

When a F2P blends all three of these critical factors, it can capture and retain sportsbook demographics for a fraction of the cost sportsbooks might otherwise pay.  Industry experts have reported that a F2P user is commonly acquired for far less than $7.  When the demographic profile of the F2P users aligns ideally with sports and betting, and thus has a value of hundreds of dollars per user to a sportsbook, efficiencies are derived by leveraging the mirrored demographic.

F2P Advantages for Sportsbooks

F2P games are effectively a gateway strategy to recruit users who may have never considered betting on sports or racing.  But F2P isn’t alone.  In fact, there are a variety of creative new developments facilitating the transition of non-gamblers, or non-sportsbook gamblers, into the world of sports betting.

An example of such a segue creation was proudly displayed at the SBC Conference in New Jersey last year by one of the world’s top casino machine manufacturers.  The new console features a standard Jacks or Better poker game imbedded with live sports broadcasts and sports betting adjacent to the player’s video poker game.  Surely equipped with players card functionality, the new apparatus provides free-to-watch sports content and encourages sports betting while the casino guest plays poker.  Such innovations are specifically designed to help casinos efficiently grow and diversify their user base, particularly into the sports betting space.

Acquiring, understanding, and retaining new users is the lifeblood of every sportsbook.  It’s no wonder that the cost of user acquisition for sportsbooks is typically between $300 and $800.  As the frenzy to get new users intensifies, sportsbooks should naturally be searching for a more sustainable strategy.  F2P games offer several distinct advantages.

First, the cost of user acquisition is substantially lower.  When a sportsbook is willing to acquire 100 qualified users at a cost of $800 each, they will pay $80K for those 100 users, with questionable retention.  However, if a F2P game targeting the same demographics pays the same $80,000 but in the form of bigger prizes with no financial risk to the users, a $7 per user acquisition cost generates 11,428 qualified users for the same expenditure.  Such a strategy offers a distinct economic advantage for sportsbooks looking to maximize efficiency.

A second distinct advantage of a well-aligned F2P game is F2P’s ability to virally grow the user base with prizes that have a high intrinsic value to the players but little or no actual cost to the operator.  How is this possible?  A strong F2P game is able to incentivize large quantities of users through digitally synthesized intrinsically-rich electronic currency or prizes, similar to crypto, thereby generating incentives and value without substantial real money expense.  Further, such value may then be converted into real world value through merchandise marketplaces.

Asynchronous Play and Long-Term Strategy

Asynchronous play is another valuable strategy for acquiring and retaining new users in the off season or when no games or races are live.  Consider that the NFL plays 272 sixty-minute games during the regular season, or 272 hours of live play.  There are 8,760 hours in a year, 97% of which do not include live NFL play, leaving a massive majority of user interaction potential untapped throughout the year.  Leveraging F2P live and asynchronous games around the clock, and in the off season, to engage and retain sports & gaming fans improves all aspects of the sportsbook/user relationship.

Finally, low F2P operational costs and border-less user acquisition/retention for jurisdictional strategic planning provide sportsbooks an ability to economically invest in emerging sports betting markets.  Once sports betting is legalized in an emerging jurisdiction, the sportsbook’s investment in an aligned F2P game makes market entry into newly legalized markets virtually instantaneous.

Times Are Changing – Is It Time to Pivot?

It’s no secret that the major sportsbooks’ values in the United States have adjusted substantially in the last six months, some by as much as -72%.  With increasingly competitive market pressures, it could be crucial for sportsbooks to embrace a demographically-aligned F2P strategy to gain a strategic upper hand.

In January of this year, CNBC’s Jim Cramer stated, “Until we see fewer promotional deals and more M&A deals, these online sports gambling stocks… are very difficult to own.”  He continued, “there’s tons of competition for market share and little in the way of profits.  Too bad, because profits are what this market wants right now.  That’s why every single one of these stocks has been obliterated.”

Not that Mad Money’s host is the final word in stock value reasoning but surely in an increasingly competitive market like sports betting, sportsbooks must be looking for new ways to grow and retain their user base more economically.

Conclusion

The race is on for sportsbooks to adapt and pivot their strategies and time is of the essence now that 112 million Americans, over a third of the US population, can now legally bet on sports from the comfort of their home.  With an integrated F2P strategy, sportsbooks can begin acquiring aligned users more efficiently.  Further, they can acquire and retain those users in any jurisdiction at any time.  Now, sportsbooks can plan for emerging markets, efficiently building their database of prospective users as part of their long-term strategy.

Are F2P games the end-all-be-all for user acquisition and retention for all sportsbooks?  Of course not.  However, when considering the massive budgets for celebrities, billboards, sponsorships, and player incentives, sportsbooks have a new high-value, lower cost ally in their battle for user acquisition and retention.

Play Globally, Inc. Grows its World Class Advisory Board with Esteemed
Gaming Leaders Susan Hensel and Victor Pronk

(San Diego, CA) - Play Globally, Inc., a worldwide provider of free-to-play gaming innovations, recently announced two key appointments to its advisory board with the arrival of both Susan Hensel and Victor Pronk. The two bring a combined 30+ years of knowledge and experience across the gaming industry and will offer essential insight into both regulatory compliance and back-end user analytics and strategy.

Hensel, a former two-term President of the International Association of Gaming Regulators, has been named one of the 10 Most Influential Women in Gaming by iGaming Business and most recently recognized as one of 25 People to Watch earlier this year by Global Gaming Business Magazine. Prior to co-founding Hensel Grad P.C., she served as the first Director of Licensing for the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board in 2005, playing an instrumental role in building what would go on to become the second largest gaming market in the U.S.

Pronk, in addition to his technical and practical expertise in game infrastructure development, was a lead investor for Incentive Games, which has provided B2B gaming products to millions of end-users across the globe. In his current role as Chief Commercial Officer for Incentive Games, he has driven lower costs of acquisition, increased retention and maximized user lifetime value for customers.

“Susan has a stellar industry reputation through years of extensive regulatory experience. She’s overseen the licensing of over 100,000 gaming entities and individuals, as well as assisted in the development of many of the regulations, policies and gaming practices we see today,” said Play Globally President/CEO Stephen Dunham. “And, Victor brings the highest level of expertise in customer acquisition, user retention and monetization, and all necessary back-end infrastructure to succeed. We couldn’t be happier to have both of these industry leaders help play key roles in the growth of our company.”

“I am excited to join the Advisory Board of a truly innovative company that is reinventing the way people engage with sporting events,” says Ms. Hensel. “Not only is the company committed to developing a first-of-its-kind gaming experience, but they’re doing so with the highest levels of integrity. This company is one to watch.”

“Play Globally’s intellectual property portfolio is exciting and interesting,” added Pronk. “With the launch of their LuckyFans product line, I’m thrilled to be sharing my technical knowledge for the most efficient and profitable effort possible.”

About Play Globally, Inc.

Play Globally, Inc. is a developer of innovative free-to-play games that utilize live, real-time in-play sports and racing data to determine the results of a live poker game. The company’s LuckyFans product line is scheduled for release in 2022 for a variety of professional sports and racing contests, providing users the opportunity to win real money sweepstakes prizes. LuckyFans is legal in all 50 states and most jurisdictions around the world.

Media Contact
Alex Shapiro
[email protected]
(732) 770-9395

(San Diego, CA) Play Globally, Inc., a global provider of free-to-play gaming innovations is pleased to announce the appointment of Susan Hensel to the company’s advisory board.  Ms. Hensel, a founder and partner in Hensel Grad P.C.,  has more than 15 years experience in the regulatory space of the gaming industry and brings a unique breadth of business and regulatory knowledge to Play Globally.

Ms. Hensel was named one of the 10 Most Influential Women in Gaming in 2020 by iGaming Business and was recently recognized as one of 25 People to Watch in 2022 by Global Gaming Business Magazine.  She is a former two-term President of the International Association of Gaming Regulators and is a recognized authority and speaker on gaming law and regulation throughout the world.  Prior to co-founding Hensel Grad P.C., Ms. Hensel was named first Director of Licensing for the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board in 2005 and is credited with helping to build what became the second largest gaming market in the U.S.

“Susan’s sterling reputation in the gaming industry, combined with her vast regulatory experience, fits perfectly with Play Globally’s growth plans,” says Play Globally President/CEO Stephen Dunham.  “Having overseen the licensing of more than 100,000 gaming entities and individuals plus helping to develop many of the regulations, policies and gaming practices that exist today, Susan has played an important role in shaping the ever-expanding sports wagering and online gaming space.  Susan’s expertise and progressive ideology makes her an excellent addition to the Play Globally team.”

“I am excited to join the Advisory Board of a truly innovative company that is reinventing the way people engage with sporting events,” says Ms. Hensel.  “Not only is the company committed to developing a first-of-its-kind gaming experience, but they’re doing so with the highest levels of integrity.   This company is one to watch.”

Ms. Hensel is a member of the International Masters of Gaming Law and International Association of Gaming Advisors and served as an Assistant General Counsel in the Pennsylvania Governor’s Office of General Counsel.  She earned her J.D. from Widener University Commonwealth Law School where she graduated cum laude and was on the staff of the school’s law review.  She is an adjunct professor at Widener University Commonwealth Law School where she teaches Gaming Law and Regulation.  Hensel Grad P.C. is a gaming law and advisory firm.

About Play Globally, Inc.

Play Globally, Inc. is a developer of innovative free-to-play games that utilize live, real-time in-play sports and racing data to determine the results of a live poker game.  The company’s LuckyFans product line is scheduled for release in 2022 for a variety of professional sports and racing contests, providing users the opportunity to win real money sweepstakes prizes.  LuckyFans is legal in all 50 states and most jurisdictions around the world.

(San Diego, CA) Play Globally and Tunity proudly announce their new agreement for social sweepstakes games to leverage Play Globally’s LuckyFans technology with Tunity’s unique ability to recognize specific broadcasted sports and races on any TV.  The agreement pertains to live broadcast sporting events and particularly enhances the augmented reality capabilities of the LuckyFans App.

“We are excited to be working with such an exciting and innovative team at Tunity.  Their IP lends itself perfectly to Play Globally’s game technologies.  Where else can you see a live broadcasted race or sporting event, point your phone at it and instantly turn the match into a social game with big prize money,” says Stephen Dunham, Play Globally’s President/CEO.  “With Tunity, we look forward to delivering a truly unique social game experience for sports and racing fans everywhere.”

Play Globally’s LuckyFans app technology leverages the company’s intellectual property to transform virtually every play in sports, and every lap in racing, into a live card game.  The process is simple: cards are dealt to the user, remaining cards are assigned to the athletes, cards associated with the top five performing athletes of a match or any portion of a match plus the user’s cards make a seven card hand.  Users are paid out based on a standardized payout table with social coins.

“We know Tunity’s technology can power the Real-time games market, creating a unique and extremely engaging experience. LuckyFans represents an exciting opportunity for Tunity to delve into the social sports games market with Play Globally and their partners,” says Yaniv Davidson, Tunity’s President/CEO.  “Our technology is uniquely suited to substantially enhance the gamification of races and sports globally.  We’re glad to be a part of it.”

While Tunity’s technology can recognize and synchronize to a television broadcasts to identify races and professional sports in play, Play Globally also relies on key industry sports data providers for live in-play sports data and player performance.  By leveraging live in-play and in-race information, Play Globally uses their new IP for athlete performance rankings to interpret movements on the field or track to create a real-time athlete leaderboard.

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For inquiries:

Stephen Dunham
President/CEO
Play Globally, Inc.
[email protected] 

Nick Ferry
Sr. Marketing Associate
Tunity
[email protected]

(San Diego, CA) Play Globally proudly announces the beta release of their new QuickArena event app for both iPad and Android tablets.  The app is designed with greater stability and ease-of-use than previous versions and gives ranch rodeo producers the opportunity to draw teams, run events, and deliver final results quickly and accurately.  The app is available at no charge via Apple’s iTunes app store and the Google Play Store under Play Globally QuickArena.  All rides recorded on the QuickArena app qualify riders for the Poker Rodeo and RanchSort Highpoint at the Southpoint Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada April 22 -24, 2021.

QuickArena is the only event management software capable of processing team scores for the Poker Rodeo.  It instantly calculates team scores through an algorithm that contemplates the team’s speed of sorting a 5 card poker hand, from a herd of 28 card-marked cows, and the value of the team’s hand, such as a royal flush or a full house.  At any time during a Poker Sort competition, QuickArena provides real-time leaderboard information for the producer while giving him/her the option of running a top-ten with the simple click of a button.  Results are stored electronically in the cloud and may be quickly printed on-site using a Bluetooth thermal printer such as those used in cash registers.

In addition to Poker Sort calculations, QuickArena is also the first software to run standard ranch sorting competitions using an optional advanced algorithm to produce a single numerical score for each team that competes.  Through the algorithm, a team with more cows sorted, regardless of time, will always beat a team with fewer cows sorted.  However, if multiple teams have the same number of cows sorted, the fastest time on the ranch sorting herd wins.  In the case of a tie in both the number of cows and the team’s speed, the fastest first-cow-out speed will prevail.

“We are excited to release this new beta version of QuickArena for our Poker Rodeo and RanchSort friends around the world,” says Stephen Dunham, Play Globally’s President/CEO which owns and operates the Poker Rodeo.  “It has a lot of new upgrades over previous versions to deliver a faster, more efficient, and frankly more enjoyable event experience for our producers and riders.  And, given the many Covid-related challenges everyone has faced this year, we are glad to offer this software to producers and riders at no charge.”  As courtesy to those who ride in the Poker Rodeo and ranch sorting, Play Globally will charge no rider fees and no membership fees through December 31, 2020.

For more information on the Poker Rodeo and RanchSort, and to become a producer of these sports, visit PlayGlobally.com, call 760.205.2339 or email [email protected].

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(San Diego, CA) Play Globally, Inc., formerly the Poker Rodeo Association, has expanded its developmental efforts and addressable market to now include the $68.5B mobile device global games market by leveraging its Poker Rodeo intellectual property assets and new provisional patents to turn nearly every sports match and every race into a live, fast-paced virtual card game.

Founded in 2015 on the concept of attaching large playing cards to cattle for horseback riders to sort poker hands from the herd, the company hosted over 10,000 rides in its second year with competitions at the PBR BlueDEF Finals in Las Vegas and the first USA vs. Australia competition near Brisbane, Australia.  Play Globally is now embarking on the development of its LuckyFans app which effectively places electronic playing cards on professional racers, such as race horses.  Before a race, a user is dealt two cards.  As the race commences, cards associated with the athletes move based on their leaderboard performance.  At the end of a race, the fan’s two hole cards plus the cards associated with the top five finishers represent a seven card game. 

“With over 100,000 professional sports and racing events occurring annually, and the fact that numerous LuckyFan games may be played per event, the volume of play is tremendous,” says Stephen Dunham, Play Globally’s President/CEO.  “We are excited to be partnered with some of the most creative and talented experts in gaming, data processing, and other professional fields.  Together, we are creating an entirely new space to bring our fans new ways to enjoy sports and racing in a socially charged game context.”

Aware of its roots, Play Globally continues to strengthen their Poker Rodeo portfolio, signing a multi-year agreement with the Southpoint Hotel and Casino, offering numerous high-value sponsored prizes to competitors, and investing in new app technology for ranch rodeo and Poker Rodeo producers and riders.

For more information about Play Globally, the Poker Rodeo and LuckyFans, email [email protected], call 760.205.2339 or visit playglobally.com.

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