Simplebet launches Playbook, "first of its kind" free-to-play micro betting product

B2B provider of sports betting technology Simplebet is launching Playbook, a “first of its kind” direct-to-consumer free-to-play game experience for fans to win prizes, the company announced on Thursday.

The product, available both on iOS and Android, features live, in-play micro-betting technology to let sports fans predict outcomes for NFL, NBA, MLB and college football matchups, explains a press release.

Playbook users will have a chance to win cash prizes when engaging with the product. It is built on Simplebet’s proprietary micro-betting technology to offer live predictions on the outcomes of pitches and at-bats, field goals and kickoffs or plays and drives.

Fans will be able to use Playbook from home or in the stands to earn coins, win prizes and make predictions on every moment of every game. Simplebet’s micro-betting technology showcases the future of in-game betting, the company claims.

"What's been missing across the sports betting landscape is an easily accessible, in-game product, which gives sports fans around the country the ability to wager on individual moments in real time," said Chris Bevilacqua, Co-Founder and CEO of Simplebet.

According to the CEO, the launch of Playbook will fill that void in the sports betting market. “With the NFL playoffs approaching, the NBA season in full swing and college football bowl season about to kick off, we're thrilled to bring fans an innovative, mobile-first product that will be available everywhere at the peak of the sports calendar," he said.

We’re happy to announce the launch of Playbook! Playbook is a direct-to-consumer, free-to-play game that challenges fans to make predictions on NFL, NBA, MLB and college football games with a chance to win cash prizes.

Download now for iOS and Android! https://t.co/7FLl9dclsE https://t.co/mtD2F574Vv

— Simplebet (@SimplebetHQ) December 16, 2021

Playbook offers dozens of prediction types, which add up to “thousands of individual moments.” In football, these include play types, play yardage, drive outcomes, kickoff outcomes; while in basketball, predictions include possession results, player points, player 3s. For baseball, individual moments feature pitch results, at-bat results, and more.

Co-founded in 2018 by Chris Bevilacqua, Joey Levy and Scott Marshall, Simplebet describes itself as a technology business pioneering micro-betting and fan engagement in the US sports market. Micro-betting introduces “instant gratification” to the sports betting user experience by enabling moments within sporting events to become betting and engagement opportunities.

The company has developed a suite of micro-betting products both for real money and free-to-play experiences for the NFL, NBA, MLB and, most recently, college football. The solutions enable sports betting operators, media companies and technology firms to enhance their live sports offering with real-time experiences.

Last August, Simplebet announced the completion of a Series C financing round, bringing total funding raised to $80 million. The new capital came from investors including Anti Fund, led by media mogul and professional boxer Jake Paul and serial entrepreneur Geoffrey Woo, among other parties.

In a world where capital is increasingly becoming a commodity, it is important to us that our next capital partner accelerate the mainstream adoption of micro-betting. Pumped to be working closely with @jakepaul @geoffreywoo @antifundvc https://t.co/fKSYejSodA

— Joey Levy (@joeyslevy) August 26, 2021

The company’s investor group includes gaming giant Aristocrat and VC firm Florida Funders, as well as a roster of executives spanning business, sports, media, technology and entertainment.