Sports prediction games developer Network Gaming has received funding of £1.25 million from a raft of investors, including some major names in the betting and igaming industry.

Participants in the funding round include Betfair Co-Founder Andrew Black, Colossus Bets CEO David O’Reilly and TX Odds CEO Einar Knobel.

Additional investors include Sandford Loudon, a partner at financial consultancy firm Oakside Capital, and Los Angeles-based angel investor and Sutton United FC owner Garry Otto.

Black commented: “I’ve felt for a while now that the betting landscape is ripe for change and I’m delighted to be working with Network Gaming on a few fresh ideas.”

Network Gaming aims to use the funding to continue its development of “bespoke, socially responsible games”, targeting audiences specific requirements, featuring an in-play social experience in order to compliment the sport players are watching live. 

In particular, the firm intends to produce games relating to the upcoming 2022 FIFA World Cup, the National Football League (NFL), National Basketball Association (NBA) and Major League Baseball (MLB), expanding upon its current roster of titles for football, horse racing and golf.

Harry Collins, CEO at Network Gaming, said: “We give customers the experience of a game, not just a bet. Moving up or down a leaderboard right until the final seconds of an event offers a different type of excitement to betting, one where enjoyment comes from competing against friends or other sports fans in a rollercoaster ride.”

Network Gaming currently includes The Sun’s fantasy football Dream Team, talkSPORT and Fitzdares, with the latter having integrated the company’s Fantasy Masters game for The Masters golf tournament last year.

Commenting on Andrew Black’s involvement in the investment, Collins added: “We’re delighted to have an industry trailblazer like Andrew advising us on fresh ideas and to have the support of other experienced innovators for this step-change in Network Gaming’s evolution.”