Skill gaming startup Hold Gaming has launched the first competitive skill-based casino games that can be played for cash prizes, combining social casino, iGaming and esports to create an entirely new gaming genre.
Targeted towards the next generation of gamers, Hold Gaming unlocks an untapped market for operators with gameplay possible in up to 40 US states and across more platforms including mobile, web browser and the App Store.
Hold Gaming founder and CEO Phillip Runyan said the seed-stage startup’s first game, Blackjack Fire, already available through the App store, had racked up more than 20,000 installs and handed out more than $10,000 USD 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,” Mr 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.
“We are built for the next generation of gamers. We have a highly competitive target market who have grown up in the digital world. It’s not enough to simply win anymore, players want the glory, they want their spot on the leaderboard for the world to see and they want to get paid.”
Mr Runyan said the company’s proprietary platform was designed with anti-money laundering (AML) and know-your-customer (KYC) 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 verify customers instead of adding these necessary checks and balances as an after-thought.” he said.
Hold Gaming is backed by industry innovators, drawing experience from Draft Kings, 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,” Mr Runyan said.
“Based on the success of Blackjack Fire, we are in the process of releasing the game across more platforms including web and mobile channels. We have several new game launches in the pipeline and are looking at enhancing gameplay through live events and tournaments.”
“We’re also looking to expand the offering into other markets such as Australia, Canada, New Zealand and Europe.”
With products already in-market, Hold Gaming is currently undertaking a Seed round fund raise. Blackjack Fire is available for download on the App Store. To find out more about Hold Gaming visit www.holdgaming.com
