Dabble makes a play for the UK

The news: Australian social betting app Dabble has officially launched in the UK, its third international market entry behind the U.S. and Australia. The company is also opening a headquarters in Leeds to support local growth.

Zoom in: Dabble blends traditional sports betting with social media mechanics—like a community “banter channel” and one-click “copy bet” features—designed to make wagering feel more communal and engaging. Its UK debut was announced via a social campaign fronted by ex-cricketer Michael Vaughan (also a company shareholder and ambassador), as Dabble looks to position itself as a challenger brand to legacy bookmakers. 

Why it matters: The UK market is notoriously competitive—but also slow to evolve. Dabble’s UK launch is a litmus test for whether social-led betting models can gain traction in mature, heavily regulated markets. 

Random State scores UAE license as market gains steam

The news: Random State, a Sweden-headquartered iLottery supplier startup, has secured a gaming license in the United Arab Emirates—joining a small group of companies authorized to operate in the country’s newly regulated lottery market. 

Zoom out: The UAE formally established its gaming regulator (the GCGRA) in 2023, awarding its first lottery license shortly after. The country held its inaugural national lottery draw in December 2024, making this one of the newest regulated real-money gaming markets globally. 

Why it matters: The UAE is shaping up to be an appetizing market, and startups like Random State are moving quickly to lock in an early position in the region and lay their roots before incumbents. Cofounder Adam Fonsica says the UAE has “potential to become one of the world’s most dynamic digital-lottery markets.”

Why FantasySpin is positioning itself as a games company

The news: FantasySpin cofounders Sahil Patel and Steve Happas shared how they’re rethinking daily fantasy sports and positioning themselves as a “games company” during a recent podcast episode.

Context setting: The DFS app was born from a merger of two early-stage startups—FantasySpin and BettorFantasy. It’s an uncommon move in the space that gave the company a strong level of technical and marketing firepower out of the gate.

Zoom in: The company’s product centers on a slot machine-style drafting mechanic that replaces spreadsheet-like player selection with randomized spins—forcing fast decisions for a more fun, visual, and shareable experience. With a ‘game-first’ identity, FantasySpin is betting that more engaging UX can double as both a user retention engine and a performance marketing edge. FantasySpin is currently live in 25 states and gearing up for its second NFL season while selectively exploring funding.

Why it matters: As DFS operators continue to blur the line between gaming and gambling, FantasySpin is a case study in how differentiated UX can be a wedge into a crowded market. Meanwhile, positioning themselves as a games company signals a broader trend: one-dimensional interfaces are out, and in-app entertainment is in.

Listen to our full podcast with FantasySpin here. 

News, money, and alpha

• Sharp Alpha Advisors put out a call for founders building at the intersection of collectibles, fintech, and real-money gaming. 

• Peer-to-peer social prediction app 4Cᕽ shared a list of lessons after spending three months in the U.S. market. 

• ShotQuality has added baseball to its portfolio, complementing its existing basketball and football data products.

From the studio

Catch up on the latest episodes of The BettingStartups Podcast.

• Reduced juice for all w/ Gino Donati from BetOPENLY

• When a merger becomes a multiplier with FantasySpin

• SBC First Pitch recap w/ the 2025 finalists

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