TLDR
- BetHog closed a $10 million Series A round co-led by Will Ventures and RockawayX, bringing total funding to $16 million.
- The company launched Sentient Studios, a B2B platform that lets casino operators deploy AI-powered live dealers.
- CEO Nigel Eccles said BetHog’s AI dealer is 10 times more popular than traditional live dealers in early testing.
- The platform runs on a revenue-share model with no setup fees or minimum commitments for operators.
- BetHog plans to expand its AI dealers into baccarat and roulette later this year after launching its first AI blackjack dealer “Sunny” in October 2025.
BetHog, the crypto-native casino and sportsbook founded by FanDuel creators, has raised $10 million in a Series A funding round. The company also launched Sentient Studios, a new B2B platform designed to bring AI-powered live dealers to online casino operators worldwide.
Will Ventures and RockawayX co-led the round. Other participants included PCV, 6MV, Bullpen Capital, and Advancit Capital.
The raise brings BetHog’s total funding to $16 million since the company was founded in 2024.
CEO and co-founder Nigel Eccles said the company tested its AI dealer over the past six months and found strong results. He said the AI dealer is “10X more popular than its live dealer equivalent” and has driven better retention and player satisfaction.
How Sentient Studios Works
Sentient Studios is designed to give casino operators more control over their live dealer offerings. In the traditional model, operators typically rely on third-party providers for studio-based dealers, which can limit flexibility around capacity, localization, and product customization.
With the new platform, operators can scale table availability on demand and support multiple languages. They can also tailor dealer experiences in real time without needing to manage physical studios or staff.
The platform operates on a pure revenue-share model. There are no setup fees or fixed contracts, which lowers the cost for operators to test the product.
Eccles said AI dealers may also reduce friction for players who feel intimidated by live dealers. He said players report the AI experience as “more welcoming and less intimidating.”
He pointed to structural issues in the current human dealer model as part of the problem. According to Eccles, live dealers are often hired for minimum wage, work late nights, and speak in non-native languages.
He added that dealers are typically fined for making mistakes and are not rewarded for making streams engaging. Average tenure in the role is usually measured in months, he said.
“The result is that 95%+ of streams are dull with dealers speaking robotically and often incoherently,” Eccles said. “In this scenario, AI can actually deliver a more human experience than humans.”
Investor Backing and What’s Next
Will Ventures focuses on sports, entertainment, and consumer industries. RockawayX is a digital asset investment firm managing more than $2 billion across venture, credit, and infrastructure.
BetHog’s first AI dealer, a blackjack character named Sunny, launched in October 2025. Sunny is now available in 12 languages and has become one of the most played games on the platform.
The company said it plans to expand into baccarat and roulette later this year. BetHog currently accepts deposits in 10 cryptocurrencies and offers games in 14 languages.
BetHog said it will use the Series A proceeds to expand its AI dealer technology and accelerate adoption among global operators. At launch, Sentient Studios is only available on BetHog’s own platform, but Eccles told media outlets the company is already in discussions with other operators.
