Playtertainment is on a mission to establish the largest live skill-based gaming platform globally. The company specializes in connected reality solutions and has debuted its flagship app, Winner Winner, which allows users to engage with real claw machines and arcade games through live video streaming from its Las Vegas studio.
Since its launch in 2020, Winner Winner has gained popularity in the US and UK, amassing 1.2 million downloads. Users have engaged with nearly seven million games and claimed over 20,000 prizes each month.
Jon Davidman, the founder of Playtertainment, previously led the marketing agency EarthQuake Media and held a stake in Caesars Interactive. Alongside co-founder Cody Flaherty, he launched the business in 2019.
Recently, Playtertainment secured $5 million through a funding round facilitated by SDV Holdings, with contributions from notable investors such as Mitch Garber, former chief executive of Caesars Interactive and PartyGaming, and Noel Hayden, founder of Gamesys. Additionally, Playtech co-founder Elad Cohen and DraftKings founders Jason Robbins, Paul Liberman, and Matt Kalish participated in the round, along with Astralis Capital and Sharp Alpha Advisors. With this latest funding, the total investment raised by Playtertainment has reached $8 million, following an earlier $3 million seed capital round.
Davidman expressed enthusiasm about the future, stating, "What we’re working on has never existed on a large scale, and we truly believe what we are building will change the way we think about physical games and competition. Through technology, we’re able to create a highly interactive, connected gaming experience that allows players to compete with real, physical games and get rewarded when they win those contests."
Lloyd Danzig, managing partner at Sharp Alpha Advisors, noted Playtertainment's strategic positioning to merge digital and physical experiences, which he believes is essential for the future of competitive entertainment. He remarked, "As compelling as the current game offerings are, we are even more excited about the underlying infrastructure that can support a robust content library, as well as skill-based, head-to-head competitions and social tournaments."
