FUN88
{{Short description|Online gambling company}}
{{Infobox dot-com company
| name = Fun88
| logo = Fun88-logo2.png
| industry = Online gambling
| foundation = 2009
| area_served = Asia Pacific region / Europe / South America
| owner = Welton Holdings Limited
| services = Online betting and gaming
| url = fun88easy.com
| language = Multilingual
}}
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.{{cite news |url=https://www.gamblingcommission.gov.uk/public-register/business/detail/domain-names/38898 |title=TGP Europe Limited |work=Gambling Commission |publisher=Gambling Commission |date=2023-04-01 |accessdate=2024-01-04 }}
History
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.{{cite news |url=https://www.gamingintelligence.com/uncategorised/2680-fun88-operations-launched-from-isle-of-man/ |title=Fun88 Operations Launched from Isle of Man |work=Gaming Intelligence |publisher=Gaming Intelligence |date=2009-02-10 |accessdate=2024-01-04 }} FUN88 then gained exposure through a number of Premier League sponsorship deals, firstly with Burnley FC and then Tottenham Hotspur and Newcastle United.
Sponsorship
FUN88 has partnered with athletes and clubs in recent years, most notably the late Kobe Bryant, Newcastle United and Tottenham Hotspur.{{cite news |last=Gallagher |first=Erin-Marie |url=https://insidersport.com/2019/06/25/kobe-bryant-named-brand-ambassador-for-fun88/ |title=Kobe Bryant named brand ambassador for Fun88 |work=Insider Sport |date=2019-06-25 |accessdate=2023-12-04 }}{{cite news |url=https://www.nufc.co.uk/news/latest-news/fun88-becomes-newcastle-united-shirt-sponsor/ |title=FUN88 becomes Newcastle United shirt sponsor |work=Newcastle United |date= 2017-05-15 |accessdate=2023-12-04 }}{{cite news |url=https://www.tottenhamhotspur.com/news/2021/november/club-extends-partnership-with-fun88/ |title=Club extends partnership with FUN88 |work=Tottenham Hotspur |publisher=Tottenham Hotspur |date=2021-11-15 |accessdate=2023-12-04 }} FUN88's first major European sponsorship deal was with Premier League side Burnley FC between 2010 and 2012.{{cite news |url=https://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/sport/5016203.burnley-clinch-multi-million-pound-shirt-deal/ |title=Burnley clinch multi-million-pound shirt deal |work=Lancashire Telegraph |publisher=Lancashire Telegraph |date=2010-02-19 |accessdate=2023-12-04 }} They were then announced as Tottenham Hotspur's Asian Betting and Gaming Partner in 2014, a partnership that has lasted for almost a decade.{{cite news |url=https://www.tottenhamhotspur.com/news-archive-1/fun88-returns-as-clubs-asian-and-latin-american-betting-partner/ |title=FUN88 returns as Club's Asian and Latin American betting partner |work=Tottenham Hotspur |publisher=Tottenham Hotspur |date=2016-08-10 }} In 2017, Newcastle United unveiled FUN88 as their front-of-shirt sponsor in a long-term deal.{{cite news |url=https://www.nufc.co.uk/news/latest-news/fun88-becomes-newcastle-united-shirt-sponsor/ |title=FUN88 becomes Newcastle United shirt sponsor |work=Newcastle United |date= 2017-05-15 |accessdate=2023-12-04 }} 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.{{cite news |url=https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11095/12856367/premier-league-clubs-agree-to-withdraw-gambling-sponsorships-on-front-of-shirts |title=Premier League clubs agree to withdraw gambling sponsorships on front of shirts |work=Sky Sports |publisher=Sky Sports |date=2023-04-13 |accessdate=2024-01-04 }} The Athletic reported that sleeve-sponsorship and perimeter advertising will still be prominent.{{cite news |last=Buckingham |first=Philip |url=https://theathletic.com/4679050/2023/07/11/premier-league-sponsorship-gambling/ |title=Premier League clubs struggle to resist one last payday from gambling firms |work=The Athletic |publisher=The Athletic |date=2023-07-11 |accessdate=2024-01-04 }} 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.{{cite news |url=https://www.nufc.co.uk/news/latest-news/fun88-become-official-asian-betting-partner/ |title=FUN88 become official Asian betting partner |work=Newcastle United |publisher=Newcastle United |date= 2023-06-05 |accessdate=2024-01-04 }}{{cite news |last=Cunningham |first=Euan |url=https://www.sportcal.com/sponsorship/fun88-dropped-as-newcastle-shirt-sponsor-but-retains-association-with-club/?cf-view |title=Fun88 dropped as Newcastle shirt sponsor but retains association with club |work=Sportcal |publisher=Sportcal |date=2023-06-06 |accessdate=2024-01-04 }} 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.{{cite news |last=Matchett |first=Karl |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/newcastle-new-sponsor-saudi-sela-pif-b2354655.html |title=Newcastle agree massive new shirt sponsor with Saudi-based firm |work=The Independent |publisher=Daily Mail |date=2023-06-09 |accessdate=2024-01-04 }}
Fun88 India partnered with Dabang Delhi KC as Title sponsor.{{Cite web |last=Bureau |first=Adgully |date=2023-12-02 |title=Dabang Delhi KC onboards Fun88News as strategic partner for Pro Kabaddi 10 - Adgully.com |url=https://www.adgully.com/dabang-delhi-kc-onboards-fun88news-as-strategic-partner-for-pro-kabaddi-10-139519.html |access-date=2024-03-16 |website=www.adgully.com |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Nambiar |first=Rahul |date=2023-12-06 |title=PKL 2023-24: Dabang Delhi KC onboard Fun88 News as title partner |url=https://sportsmintmedia.com/pkl-2023-24-dabang-delhi-kc-onboard-fun88-news-as-title-partner/ |access-date=2024-03-16 |website=SportsMint Media |language=en-US}}
FUN88 brand ambassadors have included Iker Casillas, Steve Nash, Daren Sammy, Dale Steyn and Tony Parker.{{cite news |last=Scurr |first=Dominic |url=https://www.shieldsgazette.com/sport/football/newcastle-united/iker-casillas-champions-league-winner-spotted-at-st-james-park-after-ps25m-newcastle-united-agreement-4354862 |title=Three-time Champions League winner spotted at St James' Park after £25m Newcastle United agreement |work=Shields Gazette |publisher=Shields Gazette |date=2023-10-02 |accessdate=2023-12-04 }}{{cite news |last=Giongno |first=Mark |url=https://sports.inquirer.net/215676/2-years-after-retirement-steve-nash-misses-the-game |title=2 years after retirement, Steve Nash misses the game |work=Inquirer |publisher=Inquirer |date=2016-07-06 |accessdate=2023-12-04 }}{{cite news |last=Orme-Claye |first=Ted |url=https://sbcnews.co.uk/marketing/2021/07/08/fun88-links-with-daren-sammy-to-strengthen-sports-marketing/ |title=Fun88 links with Daren Sammy to strengthen sports marketing |work=SBC News |publisher=SBC News |date=2021-07-08 |accessdate=2023-12-04 }}{{Cite web |last=www.ETBrandEquity.com |title=Fun88 India celebrates third anniversary by onboarding Dale Steyn as ambassador - ET BrandEquity |url=https://brandequity.economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/marketing/fun88-india-celebrates-third-anniversary-by-onboarding-dale-steyn-as-ambassador/102489710 |access-date=2024-03-16 |website=ETBrandEquity.com |language=en}}{{cite news |last=Sale |first=Jessica |url=https://sbcnews.co.uk/sportsbook/2023/10/27/fun88-tonyparker-ambassador/ |title=FUN88 nets NBA's Tony Parker as brand ambassador |work=SBC News |publisher=SBC News |date=2023-10-27 }}