Targeted towards the next generation of gamblers, Hold Gaming unlocks an untapped market for operators with play possible in up to 40 states and across various platforms, writes George Miller in European Gaming.
Hold Gaming founder and CEO Phillip Runyan said the seed-stage startup’s first game, Blackjack Fire, is already available through the App store, and has racked up more than 20,000 installs. The game handed out more than $10,000 in cash prizes since its launch just four months ago.
“We created the first viable platform where the end-to-end experience for the player is based on skill, rather than chance so there’s no more losing to the house,” Runyan said. “The format of the games means we’re increasing by tenfold the US states where iGaming is available and making them accessible on more platforms than ever before.
Runyan said the company’s proprietary platform was designed with anti-money laundering and know-your-customer compliance front of mind to ensure that only verified players could access game content.
“By building compliance into the platform from the ground up, we’re able to provide a smooth on-ramp to verification.”
Hold Gaming is backed by industry innovators, drawing experience from DraftKings, Double Down Interactive, EA Sports, International Game Technology and Blastworks.
“We’ve been operating largely in stealth mode to-date, refining our game play and making sure we have the absolute best experience for players,” Runyan said. “We have several new game launches in the pipeline and are looking at enhancing game play through live events and tournaments. We’re also looking to expand the offering into other markets such as Australia, Canada, New Zealand and Europe.”
