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FUN88

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Fun88
Available inMultilingual
Founded2009
Area servedAsia Pacific region / Europe / South America
OwnerWelton Holdings Limited
IndustryOnline gambling
ServicesOnline betting and gaming
URLen.fun88.com

FUN88 is an online betting site. The company was founded in China and currently operates in Asia, Europe and South America. In the UK, FUN88 operates through a white-label partnership with TGP Europe and is regulated by the Gambling Commission in Great Britain.[1]

History

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FUN88 was founded in June, 2009. The company operated first in Asia before expanding to Europe in the same year, establishing a headquarters in the Isle of Man along with several other betting outifts.[2] FUN88 then gained exposure through a number of Premier League sponsorship deals, firstly with Burnley FC and then Tottenham Hotspur and Newcastle United.

Sponsorship

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FUN88 has partnered with athletes and clubs in recent years, most notably the late Kobe Bryant, Newcastle United and Tottenham Hotspur.[3][4][5] FUN88's first major European sponsorship deal was with Premier League side Burnley FC between 2010 and 2012.[6] They were then announced as Tottenham Hotspur's Asian Betting and Gaming Partner in 2014, a partnership that has lasted for almost a decade.[7] In 2017, Newcastle United unveiled FUN88 as their front-of-shirt sponsor in a long-term deal.[4] In April 2023, Premier League clubs agreed to phase out front-of-shirt betting sponsors with a deadline set at the beginning of 2026/27 season.[8] The Athletic reported that sleeve-sponsorship and perimeter advertising will still be prominent.[9] In June 2023, it was confirmed that FUN88 would no longer sponsor Newcastle United on the front-of-shirt and they entered into a long-term deal as Asian betting partner.[10][11] The deal was widely-reported to have been agreed in order for Newcastle to pursue a more lucrative sponsor. The club confirmed a record deal with Saudi Arabian events company, Sela, worth £25m per year shortly afterwards.[12]

Fun88 India partnered with Dabang Delhi KC as Title sponsor.[13][14]

FUN88 brand ambassadors have included Iker Casillas, Steve Nash, Daren Sammy, Dale Steyn and Tony Parker.[15][16][17][18][19]

References

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  1. ^ "TGP Europe Limited". Gambling Commission. Gambling Commission. 2023-04-01. Retrieved 2024-01-04.
  2. ^ "Fun88 Operations Launched from Isle of Man". Gaming Intelligence. Gaming Intelligence. 2009-02-10. Retrieved 2024-01-04.
  3. ^ Gallagher, Erin-Marie (2019-06-25). "Kobe Bryant named brand ambassador for Fun88". Insider Sport. Retrieved 2023-12-04.
  4. ^ a b "FUN88 becomes Newcastle United shirt sponsor". Newcastle United. 2017-05-15. Retrieved 2023-12-04.
  5. ^ "Club extends partnership with FUN88". Tottenham Hotspur. Tottenham Hotspur. 2021-11-15. Retrieved 2023-12-04.
  6. ^ "Burnley clinch multi-million-pound shirt deal". Lancashire Telegraph. Lancashire Telegraph. 2010-02-19. Retrieved 2023-12-04.
  7. ^ "FUN88 returns as Club's Asian and Latin American betting partner". Tottenham Hotspur. Tottenham Hotspur. 2016-08-10.
  8. ^ "Premier League clubs agree to withdraw gambling sponsorships on front of shirts". Sky Sports. Sky Sports. 2023-04-13. Retrieved 2024-01-04.
  9. ^ Buckingham, Philip (2023-07-11). "Premier League clubs struggle to resist one last payday from gambling firms". The Athletic. The Athletic. Retrieved 2024-01-04.
  10. ^ "FUN88 become official Asian betting partner". Newcastle United. Newcastle United. 2023-06-05. Retrieved 2024-01-04.
  11. ^ Cunningham, Euan (2023-06-06). "Fun88 dropped as Newcastle shirt sponsor but retains association with club". Sportcal. Sportcal. Retrieved 2024-01-04.
  12. ^ Matchett, Karl (2023-06-09). "Newcastle agree massive new shirt sponsor with Saudi-based firm". The Independent. Daily Mail. Retrieved 2024-01-04.
  13. ^ Bureau, Adgully (2023-12-02). "Dabang Delhi KC onboards Fun88News as strategic partner for Pro Kabaddi 10 - Adgully.com". www.adgully.com. Retrieved 2024-03-16. {{cite web}}: |last= has generic name (help)
  14. ^ Nambiar, Rahul (2023-12-06). "PKL 2023-24: Dabang Delhi KC onboard Fun88 News as title partner". SportsMint Media. Retrieved 2024-03-16.
  15. ^ Scurr, Dominic (2023-10-02). "Three-time Champions League winner spotted at St James' Park after £25m Newcastle United agreement". Shields Gazette. Shields Gazette. Retrieved 2023-12-04.
  16. ^ Giongno, Mark (2016-07-06). "2 years after retirement, Steve Nash misses the game". Inquirer. Inquirer. Retrieved 2023-12-04.
  17. ^ Orme-Claye, Ted (2021-07-08). "Fun88 links with Daren Sammy to strengthen sports marketing". SBC News. SBC News. Retrieved 2023-12-04.
  18. ^ www.ETBrandEquity.com. "Fun88 India celebrates third anniversary by onboarding Dale Steyn as ambassador - ET BrandEquity". ETBrandEquity.com. Retrieved 2024-03-16.
  19. ^ Sale, Jessica (2023-10-27). "FUN88 nets NBA's Tony Parker as brand ambassador". SBC News. SBC News.