Betano Owner Kaizen Gaming Purchases UK-based AI Platform GameplAI

Betano owner Kaizen Gaming has agreed to purchase UK-based sports trading and analytics provider GameplAI.

GameplAI offers AI-powered automated trading products for player props pricing, microbetting and risk management. Kaizen will integrate GameplAI’s features to enhance its proprietary capabilities across sports trading, player markets and performance analytics for Betano, which has been operating in the UK since 2024, and also operates in Europe, Africa and the Americas.

It won’t just be in-house

Kaizen’s plan is to accelerate automation and enhance risk management tools. Under the terms of the agreement, GameplAI will continue to operate its B2B business, meaning it will not purely serve as an in-house platform for Kaizen. GameplAI co-founders Graham Savage and Nikos Volakis will continue to play an active role in GameplAI’s activities to ensure continuity and support.

George Dalaskis, Co-Founder and CEO of Kaizen Gaming, posted on his LinkedIn profile:

“Why am I excited about this? Well, when talent, know how, hard work and ambition combine with a culture of continuous improvement and of evolving customer experience in the era of AI, one can only be optimistic about the future!”

GameplAI launched in 2021 and has secured backing from a number of angel investors. In 2024, GameplAI announced £1.5 million in funding had been raised from betting industry veterans including Marco Blume, former Trading Director at Pinnacle Sports. Reports suggest the sale to Kaizen is worth around €40 million (£34.5 million) to €60 million (£51.7 million).

Strong cultural alignment

Christos Tzalavras, Chief Product Officer at Kaizen Gaming, said:

“This acquisition reflects our long-term commitment to investing in technology and talent that enhances our core sportsbook capabilities.

GameplAI brings deep expertise in AI-driven trading and analytics, and we are excited to integrate their proprietary technology into our ecosystem. What stood out to us throughout this process was the strong cultural alignment between our teams.”

Graham Savage, Co-Founder of GameplAI, said:

“We are thrilled to become part of Kaizen Gaming, a company that truly understands the transformative potential of AI-driven trading. This partnership allows us to further elevate our technology, expand our impact, and continue delivering with the same commitment and agility that define GameplAI. Together, we look forward to accelerating the future of data driven sportsbook operations.”

Kaizen also operates Stoiximan in Greece and Cyprus. Last July, Allwyn International agreed to become its sole owner, purchasing the remaining 15.5% of shares for €191.6 million (£165.1 million) on a cash-free, debt-free basis, brokered through Allwyn’s OPAP subsidiary. While Kaizen does not own Stoiximan, it still powers the brand.

Kaizen was advised on the deal by Tekkorp Capital, which was co-founded by former NYX Gaming Group and SG Digital CEO Matt Davey and has invested in several igaming businesses. M&A activity in the sports trading sector has become a common theme in recent times.

A common trend

An example of this was PointsBet’s acquisition of specialist sports betting risk management provider Banach Technologies for $43 million (£32.1 million) in 2021. Meanwhile, Entain purchased sports modelling and data analytics firm Angstrom Sports for an initial £122 million in 2023, and DraftKings bought AI supplier Sports IQ Analytics in 2024 for an undisclosed sum.

These acquisitions are in part a sign of the influence that AI is beginning to have on the sports betting sector, and indicates a preference for some operators to bring third-party providers of AI in-house as opposed to developing these tools themselves.