Betr kicks off US push with free-to-play launch
Jake Paul-backed micro-betting operator makes app debut as licensing drive continues
Micro-betting start-up Betr has officially launched across the US as a free-to-play app.
The launch is the first step in the firm’s push into the US sports betting market, where it plans to utilize micro-betting as a key tool in breaking the dominance of heavyweights including FanDuel, DraftKings, and BetMGM.
The app is initially available nationwide as a free-to-play experience, with plans to transition to a real money betting environment as the start-up gains sports betting licenses in the US.
In the free-to-play experience, users can wager coins which can be redeemed for real prizes.
Betr was founded by former Simplebet CEO Joey Levy and social media star Jake Paul, with the operator concluding a $50m funding round last month.
Paul, who has more than 40 million followers combined across YouTube and Instagram, serves as Betr’s president while Levy serves as its CEO.
Investors in the oversubscribed funding round included American rapper Travis Scott, FinSight Ventures (co-owners of the San Francisco 49ers), Boston Celtics and Miami Marlins as well as NFL players Richard Sherman and DeSean Jackson.
Speaking about the launch, Levy cited the potential of the free-to-play game in recruiting early-stage customers and building brand awareness in the target market.
“We view this free-to-play experience as a registration and onboarding platform to begin acquiring users mixed with an interactive tutorial for the future of sports betting,” Levy said.
“While this is very much an initial version that will get considerably better over time, we believe the experience released today provides a glimpse into the future of sports betting in the US – an instant gratification focus to betting delivered in a simple, intuitive user experience that anyone can enjoy, even if they have not bet on sports before,” he added.
At present, Betr is working on several US market access deals, having recently concluded its first market access deal, a partnership with the Hall of Fame Village in Ohio, which will see the firm enter the Buckeye State market when it opens in January 2023.
Betr was also among those operators indicating interest in obtaining a sports betting license in Massachusetts, pending the state opening licensing, which is expected sometime next year.
The startu-p has also been on a recruitment drive, adding ex-FanDuel product director Alex Ursa as its new head of product and former Bleacher Report podcast host Mike Denevi in recent weeks.
Speaking about Betr, Ursa said: “The future of the sports betting industry is finally here.
“What we launched today is not a sportsbook – this is something new, different, and interesting – which is what this industry needs, given every other operator in the space is essentially offering the same commoditized legacy sportsbook product.
“Betr is also the first betting app where someone who has never bet on sports before can dive right in and enjoy the experience with no learning curve and we are excited to finally be able to share it with the world,” Ursa added.