This week in B2B news (12 December)
All the latest developments from the supplier side of the industry, including updates from FIRST, Continent 8, 155 and OpenBet
FIRST – Best in Sport unveils plans for growth in Brazil
FIRST – Best in Sport, which picked up the sportsbook supplier of the year gong at the EGR Latam Awards last month, this week revealed its plans for growth in Brazil in 2026.
The supplier said it would unveil updates to its personalisation engine, more modular innovations like GMFY (gamification) and expansion of its NEXLVL content layer – which it says it “already proving to be a game-changer in Gen Z engagement”.
FIRST CEO Tom Light said: “In Brazil, our goal is simple: remain the dominant sportsbook partner – not by volume alone, but by quality and longevity.
“We want to be the sportsbook behind the brands that define regulated sports betting in the country.”
Continent 8 appoints new head of client growth
Continent 8 Technologies has announced the appointment of Julia Weygandt as head of client growth and new business.
The IT solutions provider said Weygandt, who is based in Malta, would be spearheading growth strategy initiatives, working closely with sales teams and practice leads.
Nick Nally, chief revenue officer at Continent 8 remarked: “Julia’s appointment reflects our commitment to delivering exceptional value and growth opportunities for our customers.”
Weygandt added: “I’ve known the Continent 8 team for a long time; they are a trusted and respected partner to the world’s leading igaming operators and suppliers, and I am thrilled to join at such an exciting time.”
155.io drops new nautical title
155 has released a new game, Fish Tank.
The game, available through Hub88 or by direct integration, represents a combination of “real-world chaos, simple games and mobile-first entertainment”, according to the studio.
Sam Jones, CEO of 155.io, said: “I saw simple physical fish-tank prize games blow up on TikTok.
“We realised we could take that concept and build a fully live, mobile-first game for the online casino industry – rapid-fire gameplay inspired by real-world content.”
BetMakers Technology pens deal with Kiron Interactive
BetMakers has announced the launch of its partnership with Kiron Interactive, with Kiron’s full suite of virtual acing content now integrated on the operator’s platform.
Kiron products will now be made available via the BetMakers Core API.
Joey Carroll, director of business development and partnerships at BetMakers, said: “Kiron has built a reputation as a world-class provider of virtual racing content, and we’re excited to bring their high-quality, high-frequency products directly to our operator network.”
Steven Spartinos, co-CEO at Kiron Interactive, added: “Kiron’s focus has always been to give operators content that fits the way people play today. Virtual racing delivers fast, session-based entertainment that complements the live schedule and keeps audiences connected on their own terms.”
RubyPlay obtains ISO certification
RubyPlay has been awarded ISO/IEC 27001:2022 certification, which the provider says is a “leading global standard” for information security management.
The certification validates cybersecurity, data protection and risk-management practices, and is a requirement for entry into several jurisdictions.
Amanda Slonzon, vice-president of compliance and regulatory strategy at RubyPlay, explained: “Receiving ISO 27001 certification is a testament to the hard work of teams across RubyPlay, in particular the collective efforts of our compliance, operations and engineering teams, whose tireless work and dedication were instrumental in reaching this milestone.
“This achievement reinforces our unwavering commitment to maintaining best-in-class security and compliance standards as we scale globally.”
Stakelogic announces partnership in Colombia
Stakelogic has signed an agreement with Betplay in Colombia, further expanding the supplier’s presence in Latam.
Handled by Pariplay, the integration will see Stakelogic’s portfolio of slots made available to Betplay customers.
Neil Tanti, director of sales and client relations at Stakelogic, said: “Colombia is a key market for us in our Latin American expansion plans, so scoring a deal with the country’s number one operator, Betplay, is a serious statement of intent.”
Luis Geovanni Florez Diaz, director of operations at Betplay, added: “To maintain our position as the top operator in Colombia, it is important to work with the most creative developers on the market.”
Fanatics adopts OpenBet “Protect Suite”
OpenBet has signed a deal with Fanatics to provide the operator with its full ‘Protect Suite’.
The suite includes OpenBet Locator, the company’s geolocation and fraud prevention solution, and Neccton, OpenBet’s AI-enhanced responsible gaming and anti-money laundering platform.
Jordan Levin, CEO of OpenBet, said: “This dual integration sets a new industry standard for responsible gaming, AML detection and geolocation compliance.
“It demonstrates what’s possible when two technology-driven organisations align around a shared vision of trust, safety and player experience.”