Gaming Intelligence Launches Innovative Free-to-Play Sportsbook Contests for NCAA Tournament

On March 17, 2026, Gaming Intelligence announced an exciting new addition to fan competition—the introduction of free-to-play sportsbook contests designed to engage sports enthusiasts during the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament. This innovative format merges the authenticity of traditional sports betting with the social interaction commonly found in fantasy sports, aiming to captivate and maintain interest among participants throughout the tournament's duration.

The contests will allow fans to participate using real sportsbook odds, providing a realistic yet fun environment for users to emerge as competitors rather than mere spectators. Each contest participant starts with a virtual bankroll, facilitated by a user-friendly bet slip similar to actual sportsbook wagering. As matches progress, participants can place their selections which will influence their bankroll—mirroring the dynamics of real sports betting. Moreover, participants will receive additional virtual funds at the start of every new tournament round, fostering ongoing engagement and allowing contenders to remain active in the competition. Ultimately, the player who accumulates the largest bankroll by the contest's end will earn various cash prizes, assuredly incentivizing players to remain engaged throughout the unfolding tournament events.

Unlike traditional bracket pools that often truncate participation early on, the format introduced by Gaming Intelligence is designed to keep fans engaged in their prediction games across multiple rounds. Moreover, the contests come with an interactive social element, enabling fans to form leagues, invite friends, and monitor their standings on live leaderboards. Edward Kahl, the founder and CEO of Gaming Intelligence, remarked, "Contests for sports fans have remained largely unchanged for years, despite the evolution of how fans engage with sports content. Our new format merges real sportsbook lines with the competitive spirit of fantasy sports. It’s straightforward and intuitive, leaving participants to wonder why such a format didn't exist previously."

In conjunction with the contest launch, Gaming Intelligence has partnered with PLLAY Labs, a tech developer known for its expertise in creating skill-based gaming platforms. Shawn Gunn, CEO of PLLAY Labs, highlighted the significance of this partnership, emphasizing the goal of transforming the conventional passive viewing experience into a dynamic interactive entertainment model. He stated, "For years, the industry has recognized the drastic fall-off in fan engagement during major tournaments as an unavoidable issue. By leveraging PLLAY's strengths in skill competition alongside Gaming Intelligence’s predictive analytics capabilities, we are innovating a new interactive layer to live sports, ensuring fans are actively engaged from the tournament's start all the way to the championship game."

This cooperative initiative aims to redefine how fans interact with major sporting events by transforming simple bracketing into multifaceted engagements that sustain participation across several rounds. While the primary structure revolves around Gaming Intelligence's free-to-play sportsbook model, the partnership seeks to explore broader engagement strategies that incentivize continuous involvement rather than marginalizing fans after initial rounds. Following the rollout during the NCAA tournament, Gaming Intelligence and PLLAY Labs plan to extend the contest model to additional sports and significant events throughout the year. Fans who wish to learn more or participate in the contests can register at Gaming Intelligence's official website.

About Gaming Intelligence


Gaming Intelligence is a leader in sports analytics and technology, focusing on revolutionizing how fans interact with sports data and betting markets using artificial intelligence and advanced analytical tools. Their platform is designed to provide real-time insights and enhance fan engagement and decision-making capabilities.

About PLLAY Labs


PLLAY Labs specializes in creating tech-driven gaming platforms aimed at transforming the passive viewing experience into engaging interactive activities that promote competition among fans. They focus on developing technologies that facilitate participation in live sports events and content consumption. For any media inquiries or partnership opportunities, please contact Ralph Wagner at +1 702-761-6836 or via email.

Topics Sports)

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