Two former 888 heads have unveiled Sparley Interactive, a new studio focused on peer-to-peer games, after securing a pre-seed funding round earlier this year.
The venture emerged from stealth mode earlier this year and is the brainchild of co-founders Daniel Flesch and Elad Dvir.
The duo both worked together at 888 for more than a decade before the operator sold its B2B and B2C bingo assets to Broadway Gaming in 2022 for $45.25m.
Flesch and Dvir remained with Broadway until 2024. They then joined forces to form Sparley Interactive in Q4 2025.
The supplier has secured pre-seed funding from former Playnetic CEO and ex-Playtech vice-president Dan Phillips, as well as another undisclosed investor.
EGR understands that Sparley Interactive is open to “one or two further strategic investors” following the initial pre-seed round.
The supplier is aiming to have its games live with operators in the next three to six months, with an active commercial pipeline having been sourced.
The startup’s website shows it is working on various game types, including crash, card and arcade games.
In a statement regarding the funding, Flesch and Dvir said: “Closing the core of our pre-seed is a significant milestone – it validates both the concept and the team, and it gives us the runway to accelerate what’s already well underway.
“We’re further along than people might expect from a studio emerging from stealth. We already have a handful of games in full demo mode, playable by multiple players simultaneously, right now. The investment gets those titles through certification and onto operator platforms faster.”
On the thesis behind the games and the strength of the product, the pair added: “Our games are built around the idea that the most compelling opponent isn’t an algorithm – it’s another person. Or in many of our titles, dozens of other people.
“Think shared prize pools, real-time competition and mechanics where the decision another player makes directly affects your outcome. The tension that creates is something an RNG simply can’t replicate.
“We’re not reinventing gambling – we’re adding a layer that’s been missing. Interaction, rivalry, shared stakes. The kind of experience that makes players lean forward rather than zone out.
“We started Sparley Interactive because we genuinely believe the industry is ready for something different. The next year is about proving that.”
Speaking to EGR on his decision to invest in Sparley, Phillips said the titles being produced by the startup have “real potential to drive retention and advocacy”.
He added: “The founders’ reputations and track records made Sparley a compelling opportunity. I’ve known them for several years and have always found them to be highly credible, commercially astute and genuinely innovative.
“From the first time I saw the product suite, even at an early stage, it was clear there was something different about it. Rather than simply filling a gap, they are creating a new style of interactive gaming that combines engagement, player control and an element of risk and jeopardy.
“The early traction has been very encouraging, and I expect the business to continue building strong momentum and I will be there with them on the journey.”
The post Ex-888 heads reveal startup studio after successful pre-seed round first appeared on EGR Intel.
Daniel Flesch and Elad Dvir’s Sparley Interactive to focus on peer-to-peer games and plans operator launches by end of the year following investment
The post Ex-888 heads reveal startup studio after successful pre-seed round first appeared on EGR Intel.