Gaming supplier Aspire Global has expanded into the Russian market with its BtoBet brand, through a platform and lottery agreement with Russian National Lottery’s operator Sports Lotteries LLC.
Through the new agreement, BtoBet will provide its player account management module platform, and provide access to lottery games on online and retail channels to the Russian state lottery operator, one of only two licensees in the jurisdiction.
The contract lasts for three years with an option for further extensions. It includes the provision of ten instant lotteries in the form of printed tickets for retail sales, and five draw-based lotteries for both online and retail sales channels.
Ratmir Ronami, project manager for Sports Lotteries LLC, said: “We are proud to embark on this multi-year strategic partnership with Aspire Global’s BtoBet, that will see us go from strength to strength by using the valuable insights and best practices that Aspire Global and BtoBet are renowned to employ.”
“I am positive that this partnership will result in the fruition of entertaining games that will be highly popular with the Russian players as well as taking the Russian lottery industry to a whole new level.”
Aspire Global’s chief executive Tsachi Maimon added: “Aspire Global and BtoBet are proud to have been chosen as the technological partner by Sports Lotteries LLC for the provision of multi-channel lottery games. We are committed and determined to support Sports Lotteries in becoming not only a leader in its field but also a point of reference for the Russian lottery industry.”
“The lottery vertical is highly popular in Russia resulting in sales which were around €1bn in 2019. We are confident that together with Sports Lotteries we will contribute in a significant way to the industry’s exponential growth.”
BtoBet was acquired by Aspire Global in October this year, for a total consideration of €20m, with €15m paid up-front in cash and a further €5m to be paid 12 months after the deal closed.
Aspire recently said the acquisition would provide the business with “endless opportunities”, after third quarter results saw gross revenue for Aspire grow 20.7% year-on-year. If BtoBet’s revenues had been included in the figures, total revenue would have been up 26.1% to €41.9m.
