Monday, June 15, 2026

Micro Betting Company Simplebet Raises $30M

Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports/Design: Alex Brooks

Former UFC executive Nakisa Bidarian and Jake Paul’s Anti Fund are leading a $30 million financing round in micro betting company Simplebet.

The raise brings Simplebet’s total funding to $80 million. Previous investors include Australian gambling machine manufacturer Aristocrat and tennis star Andre Agassi.

Simplebet offers in-game wagers for the NFL, NBA, MLB, and college football — with plans to add more.

  • The company announced a multiyear deal with DraftKings on Tuesday.
  • It also named MGM Resorts International head Jim Murren to its board of directors this week. 

Anti Fund launched in March and uses AngelList’s Rolling Funds platform rather than a pool of capital. Paul says the venture plans to invest “around $10 million to $20 million a year.”

The Simplebet investment is Anti Fund’s biggest yet. Paul previously cofounded TGZ Capital, a small venture fund that participated in financing rounds for 15 startups.

On Sunday, Paul will look to improve on his 3-0 record — all knockouts — by fighting mixed-martial artist and former UFC welterweight champion Tyron Woodley.

Editor’s note: DraftKings is an FOS partner.

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Sign up for
The Memo Newsletter

Get the biggest stories and best analysis on the business of sports delivered to your inbox twice every weekday and twice on weekends.

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
Linkedin
Whatsapp
Copy Link
Link Copied
Link Copied

What to Read

Fernando Mendoza’s Rookie Edge With Raiders? Access to Tom Brady 

Fernando Mendoza’s relationship with Tom Brady is growing.

Can the Knicks Get Another Enormous Star Discount?

Karl-Anthony Towns is up next for an extension.
Jun 8, 2026; New York, New York, USA; Director Spike Lee watches courtside during game three of the 2026 NBA Finals between the New York Knicks and San Antonio Spurs at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-Imagn Images
Opinion

Knicks’ Championship Rings Should Be for Team—Not Celebrities

Some celebrities believe Spike Lee deserves a championship ring.
Dec 21, 2025; Denver, Colorado, USA; General view of a Fox Sports broadcast camera before the game between the Jacksonville Jaguars Denver Broncos at Empower Field at Mile High.

With Increased NFL Rights Fees Looming, Fox in Deal to Buy Roku

The significant outlay arrived as a renegotiation approaches for NFL rights.

Featured Today

Wisconsin Badgers forward Laila Edwards, left, and defender Caroline Harvey celebrate after Edwards scored against the Minnesota Gophers in the first period in a game Saturday, February 8, 2025, at LaBahn Arena in Madison, Wisconsin.

Two Rookies Are Rewriting Women’s Hockey Stardom

Their platforms are a mutual boon for the PWHL and its players.
Ai sports slop
June 5, 2026

How Sports Became Ground Zero for AI Slop

The category is the perfect breeding ground for AI content churn.
FILE PHOTO: Soccer Football - FIFA World Cup - UEFA Qualifiers - Group A - Germany v Luxembourg - Rhein-Neckar-Arena, Sinsheim, Germany - October 10, 2025 Germany coach Julian Nagelsmann
June 4, 2026

‘Weird Corners of the World’: How to Find a World Cup Coach

National associations look for a winning record—and also hope for serendipity.
June 3, 2026

The Elite High Schools Hosting World Cup Teams

Spain, Morocco, Croatia, and Switzerland chose schools as their tournament base camps.
In this photo illustration, a mobile device displays the Kalshi logo while a laptop displays the webpage of the prediction market platform in Copenhagen, Denmark, on February 10, 2026. (Photo by Kristian Tuxen Ladegaard Berg/NurPhoto)

CFTC’s Proposed Rules Won’t Quiet Prediction-Market Critics

Markets tied to physical altercations or referee decisions would be flagged.
Fanduel
June 8, 2026

FanDuel Is Latest Gambling Company to Cut Jobs

Sources tell FOS a few hundred people were laid off last week.
Courtesy: Jake Epstein
June 10, 2026

Knicks Run Is New Front in the Kalshi-Polymarket Marketing War

Prediction-market platforms have capitalized on the Knicks’ Finals run.
Sponsored

How Long Acre Tavern Is Built to Handle Soccer’s Biggest Moments

Learn how Spectrum Business helps keep Long Acre Tavern in Times Square connected and ready to serve soccer fans from around the world.
Reuters FILE PHOTO: Kalshi logo appears in this illustration created on April 22, 2026.
June 1, 2026

DraftKings Cofounder ‘Loves’ Prediction Markets Despite Attacks

Matt Kalish credits Kalshi with fighting legal and regulatory battles for the entire industry.
May 26, 2026

Trump Decries Prediction-Market Detractors As ‘Scum’

The president’s son is an investor in Polymarket and an advisor to Kalshi.
May 24, 2026

Sportradar Hit With Lawsuit Over Alleged Illegal Gambling Ties

The suit alleges investors were harmed by shady overseas business conduct.
Mark Cuban
May 20, 2026

Mark Cuban: ‘Betting Isn’t the Problem’

These wagers have been behind the recent MLB and NBA gambling scandals.