Plucky, a platform specializing in monetizing free-to-play games and modernizing pool betting, has been awarded the Innovator of the Year accolade at the EGR Operator Awards 2024. In a highly competitive category that included brands such as Entain, Kaizen Gaming, and PokerStars, Plucky’s approach to generating new revenue for free-to-play and fantasy games providers distinguished it as the standout innovator.
The UKGC-licensed operator received recognition for its creative monetization strategies, particularly through its collaboration with Genius Sports. One of the highlights of this partnership includes integrating paid leagues into The Telegraph Fantasy Football game, a significant achievement during the judging period.
This award comes on the heels of a successful funding round that closed earlier this October, securing over £500,000. The funds are set to drive Plucky’s next growth phase, expanding both its B2B and B2C segments. Key areas for this investment include enhancing its free-to-play monetization capabilities and increasing the reach of its pool betting product, which allows users to set up randomized cash pools for sporting events like the Grand National and Euro 2024.
Plucky’s ambitions extend beyond online platforms; the operator is exploring entry into live competitive socializing venues and has plans to expand into additional regulated markets. The recent funding round attracted prominent investors, indicating strong confidence in Plucky’s scalable model, which leverages partner audiences, as well as the expertise of its leadership team, led by serial entrepreneur Sebastian Lewis and fantasy sports veteran Matthew Steer.
With these developments, Plucky appears positioned for notable growth in the igaming sector, targeting a diverse range of opportunities to further monetize the free-to-play gaming experience.
Sebastian Lewis, CEO & co-founder at Plucky, said: “The Plucky model has been refined over the past couple of years to ensure it can fully meet the vast demand that we know is there for more engaging free-to-play games and pool betting opportunities. To have this validated with the Innovator of the Year award is testament to the concept and rare capacity to bring new revenue streams and retention opportunities to such a competitive igaming sector.”
“This latest funding round comes at a great time, having demonstrated what Plucky is all about with our partnership with Genius Sports. We’ve shown the appeal that paid leagues and app-first pool betting opportunities have for the end user, and the monetisation opportunities these bring to free-to-play and media partners is vast.”
