(PRESS RELEASE) -- Discerning Capital proudly announces the launch of BettorWatch, Inc., a newly established venture focused on providing technology solutions to responsible gaming that has been in development for over a year. BettorWatch is a technology provider dedicated to working collaboratively with leaders in the U.S. gaming industry to identify and develop solutions to assist with potentially problematic gaming behavior.
As part of the launch, BettorWatch has also entered into an agreement to acquire iProtekt, Inc. (“iProtekt”) to extend its technological capabilities and support its mission. The acquisition, expected to close early in the first quarter of 2025 (the “Transaction”), underscores BettorWatch’s commitment to leveraging advanced technology to make the gaming industry safer and more sustainable. iProtekt’s suite of tools will further enhance BettorWatch’s ability to address responsible gaming with cutting-edge solutions. BettorWatch is set to introduce features such as self-exclusion, including sharing exclusion lists across geographies, partner and regulator reporting, and real-time analysis of player behavior to detect evolving markers of harm. Long-term, the company seeks to develop solutions that provide a holistic view of player behavior to identify riskier behavior in the hopes of preventing the development of problem gaming. BettorWatch will continue to evolve its flexible solution over time as it introduces new partnerships.
On why the investment firm launched BettorWatch, Discerning Capital Managing Partner Davis Catlin said, “We have been quietly evaluating responsible gaming in this industry for over five years and saw significant gaps in the market. We identified the need for an independent service provider focusing on creating long-term sustainability for the wagering industry. As investors in this industry, we maintain healthy relationships with all parts of the gaming ecosystem and we benefit if the industry is sustainable long-term. We believe BettorWatch’s partnership-driven strategy will help advance responsible gaming initiatives in the United States.”
Upon the successful completion of the Transaction, Bryan Price, Founder and CEO of iProtekt, will be joining BettorWatch as its CEO. Davis Catlin, Managing Partner of Discerning Capital, will serve as the Executive Chairman of the Board, and David Williams, Partner of Discerning Capital, will hold the roles of Board Member and Chief Financial Officer at BettorWatch.
"We are thrilled to be a part of BettorWatch and further our shared mission of creating a safer and more sustainable gaming industry," said Bryan Price, CEO of BettorWatch. "By combining iProtekt's best-in-class responsible gaming tools with BettorWatch's strategic vision and industry expertise, we are poised to make a significant impact on how the industry approaches problem gaming prevention and intervention.”
To complement its experienced Leadership Team, BettorWatch is pleased to confirm the appointment of its initial Board of Advisors comprised of multiple other veterans of the gaming industry with significant experience in the problem gaming field. These include Jonathan Michaels, formerly of Sightline Payments and the American Gaming Association and current CEO at Michaels Strategies, Sheila Bangalore, a long-time gaming industry leader, Board Member, and advisor to various gaming companies, and Dr. Scott Hoover, professor at Washington & Lee University who has a history of utilizing data to identify social impacts and corrective actions.