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{{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 [[Sports betting|betting]] and gaming
| url = en.fun88.com
| language = [[#Multilingual|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.<ref name="Gambling Commission">{{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 }}</ref>
==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.<ref name="Gaming Intelligence 2009-02-10">{{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 }}</ref> 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]].<ref name="Insider Sport 2019-06-25">{{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 }}</ref><ref name="Newcastle United 2017-05-15">{{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 }}</ref><ref name="Tottenham Hotspur 2021-11-15">{{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 }}</ref> FUN88's first major European sponsorship deal was with [[Premier League]] side [[Burnley FC]] between 2010 and 2012.<ref name="Lancashire Telegraph 2010-02-19">{{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 }}</ref> They were then announced as [[Tottenham Hotspur]]'s Asian Betting and Gaming Partner in 2014, a partnership that has lasted for almost a decade.<ref name="Tottenham Hotspur 2016-08-10">{{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 }}</ref> In 2017, [[Newcastle United]] unveiled FUN88 as their front-of-shirt sponsor in a long-term deal.<ref name="Newcastle United 2017-05-15">{{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 }}</ref> 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.<ref name="Sky Sports 2023-13-04">{{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 }}</ref> [[The Athletic]] reported that sleeve-sponsorship and perimeter advertising will still be prominent.<ref name="The Athletic - 2023-07-11">{{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 }}</ref> 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.<ref name="Newcastle United 2023-06-05">{{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 }}</ref><ref name="Sportcal 2023-06-06">{{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 }}</ref> 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.<ref name="The Independent 2023-06-09">{{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 }}</ref>
Fun88 India partnered with [[Dabang Delhi]] KC as Title sponsor.<ref>{{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}}</ref><ref>{{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}}</ref>
FUN88 brand ambassadors have included [[Iker Casillas]], [[Steve Nash]], [[Daren Sammy]], [[Dale Steyn]] and [[Tony Parker]].<ref name="Shields Gazette 2023-10-02">{{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 }}</ref><ref name="Inquirer 2016-07-06">{{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 }}</ref><ref name="SBC News 2021-07-08">{{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 }}</ref><ref>{{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}}</ref><ref name="SBC News 2023-10-27">{{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 }}</ref>
==References==
{{reflist}}
[[Category:Online gambling companies]]
[[Category:Gambling websites]]
[[Category:Internet properties established in 2009]]
[[Category:Chinese companies established in 2009]]
[[Category:Gambling companies of China]]
[[Category:Gambling companies established in 2009]]