Yaspa partners with The Big Leagues on UK open banking payment services

Yaspa has entered a new partnership with The Big Leagues to introduce open banking payments and automated player verification to the UK-based sports prize draw and fan engagement platform. Announced on 11 November 2026, the agreement will bring additional payment options to the platform, allowing users to make deposits and withdrawals through Pay by Bank technology.

The integration represents another development in Yaspa's efforts to expand its payment and identity solutions across businesses operating in digital entertainment and gaming-related markets. For The Big Leagues, the partnership is intended to simplify the user journey by combining bank transfers with account authentication within a more integrated payment experience.

The agreement also reflects the increasing attention that payment technology receives in sports entertainment platforms where transaction efficiency, verification procedures and customer confidence are important operational considerations.

Yaspa introduces Pay by Bank to The Big Leagues

Under the agreement, The Big Leagues has implemented Yaspa's Intelligent Payments product. The solution introduces Pay by Bank deposits and withdrawals alongside automated player verification, giving the platform access to an open banking-based payment infrastructure.

Pay by Bank allows customers to authorise transactions directly through their banking providers. Rather than relying exclusively on conventional card-based payment journeys, the technology provides an alternative route for transferring funds between bank accounts and participating businesses.

For The Big Leagues, adding this functionality is intended to create a more straightforward transaction process for its users. Deposits and withdrawals are important elements of the overall experience on digital platforms, particularly where customers regularly participate in competitions, prediction activities or prize draw services.

Yaspa's technology also incorporates account authentication into the payment process. This provides an additional verification component that can support onboarding procedures and help businesses establish greater confidence in the banking details associated with transactions.

The company describes Intelligent Payments as a solution combining real-time payment capabilities with customer verification and financial intelligence. Its implementation at The Big Leagues therefore brings together several functions that would otherwise require separate stages within a payment and onboarding journey.

Combining faster transactions with verification

One of the central objectives of the partnership is to reduce unnecessary steps during payments while maintaining appropriate verification procedures.

Traditional online payment processes can involve several stages, including entering payment details, confirming transactions and completing additional checks. Depending on the payment method and service provider, these requirements can introduce friction for customers and create additional administrative work for businesses.

Open banking offers an alternative approach by allowing customers to authorise payments through their existing bank accounts. The technology operates through secure connections and user consent, providing a framework for initiating payments without requiring conventional card processing for every transaction.

Yaspa says its Intelligent Payments product combines instant bank transfers with real-time account authentication. This allows participating businesses to integrate payment processing and verification into a connected workflow.

For The Big Leagues, the arrangement is intended to support both incoming and outgoing transactions. Deposits can be initiated through Pay by Bank while withdrawals benefit from the same underlying payment infrastructure.

The automated verification element is another important part of the integration. Establishing reliable payment and account information can help businesses manage onboarding procedures and identify inconsistencies during transactions.

However, the precise scope of verification and the checks required will depend on the implementation and applicable procedures. Open banking account authentication should not automatically be regarded as a substitute for every form of identity verification.

Yaspa is authorised by the UK Financial Conduct Authority to provide payment services, according to its published business terms. Its payment services authorisation is recorded under firm reference number 826720. This regulatory status concerns Yaspa's own services and does not establish the regulatory classification of The Big Leagues or its competitions.

Executives highlight the importance of trust and convenience

The leadership teams at both companies have presented the agreement as an opportunity to improve the payment experience while supporting the development of The Big Leagues platform.

James Neville, Chief Executive Officer of Yaspa, said: “The Big Leagues is building an exciting, forward-thinking brand for sports fans in the UK and we are thrilled to power their payments infrastructure. By integrating our open banking and Intelligent Payments solutions, The Big Leagues can provide their growing community with effortless, instant transactions while ensuring the highest levels of verification and trust behind the scenes.”

Neville's comments highlight the intended role of Yaspa's technology in the partnership. The integration is designed to make transactions more accessible while incorporating verification functionality into the underlying payment infrastructure.

Adam Shaw, Founder of The Big Leagues, also emphasised the importance of providing customers with a straightforward and reliable payment experience.

He said: “Trust, speed and simplicity are paramount to us and our players. Partnering with Yaspa allows us to remove the usual friction from the payments journey and give our players complete confidence with instant, secure open banking transactions. We are setting the highest standard in the sports prize draw sector and Yaspa is the perfect technology partner to help us deliver that.”

The comments reflect the companies' shared emphasis on convenience and confidence during financial transactions. While the commercial benefits will depend on how the technology performs in practice, integrating payments and verification represents a clear development in the platform's operational infrastructure.

Yaspa continues its international expansion

The partnership comes during a period of wider business development for Yaspa.

In July 2025, the company secured a USD 12 million investment round led by Discerning Capital. The investment was announced as part of its strategy to strengthen its position in the payments sector and support expansion into the United States.

The funding provided additional resources for the company's international development. Yaspa subsequently expanded its physical presence with an office in Atlanta and opened a technology hub in Leeds in August 2025.

These developments demonstrated the company's intention to build teams and operational capabilities across different markets. Establishing a presence in the United States also created opportunities to engage with businesses operating in a wider range of regulated digital entertainment and payment environments.

Yaspa's expansion has been supported by continued development of its technology portfolio. The company focuses on instant bank payments, payouts and identity-related services, with Intelligent Payments bringing several of these capabilities together.

Its work in this area reflects a broader industry interest in payment infrastructure that can address transaction efficiency while providing businesses with additional information to support customer verification and risk management.

The agreement with The Big Leagues adds another UK business relationship to this development. It also provides Yaspa with an opportunity to demonstrate how its open banking technology can be applied outside conventional retail payment environments.

2026 awards strengthen Yaspa's industry profile

Yaspa's commercial expansion has coincided with a notable series of industry awards during 2026.

The company received recognition at the European iGaming Awards, where it won Best Payment Solutions Provider. It also secured Payment Solution of the Year at the SBC Awards 2026.

Further recognition followed at the EGR B2B Awards 2026, where Yaspa received two awards: AI Solutions Provider and Safer Gambling Supplier.

These distinctions cover different aspects of the company's work. The payment-related awards recognise its position in the financial technology sector, while the EGR categories highlight its use of technology in areas associated with safer gambling and artificial intelligence.

Although industry awards do not independently establish the effectiveness of a particular implementation, they provide an indication of the recognition Yaspa has received from organisations within the wider gaming and payments industries.

The latest partnership adds a practical commercial development to this background. Rather than focusing exclusively on product development or industry recognition, the agreement demonstrates another application of Yaspa's payment technology through an operating platform.

What the partnership means for the sports prize draw sector

Payment infrastructure can influence several stages of the customer experience, from initial registration to deposits and eventual withdrawals. For digital platforms, the ability to provide convenient payment methods while maintaining appropriate account checks is an important operational consideration.

The Big Leagues' decision to integrate Yaspa's Intelligent Payments product introduces an open banking option to its existing platform. The combination of Pay by Bank transactions and automated verification is intended to simplify financial interactions for participating users.

For sports fans, the potential benefits include a more direct deposit process and an alternative method for receiving withdrawals. The actual experience will depend on the participating banks, transaction circumstances and the platform's implementation.

For businesses in the wider sports entertainment market, the partnership also illustrates the growing relevance of specialised financial technology. Payment providers are increasingly developing integrated products that combine transaction processing with account authentication and other information-based services.

Nevertheless, convenience must remain balanced with appropriate safeguards. Transparent payment terms, clear withdrawal conditions and proportionate verification procedures remain important considerations for businesses offering prize draws and other online entertainment services.

The Yaspa integration provides The Big Leagues with additional payment capabilities while allowing Yaspa to extend the use of its technology into another UK platform.

Conclusion

The partnership between Yaspa and The Big Leagues represents a further step in the development of open banking payment solutions for digital entertainment platforms. By introducing Pay by Bank deposits and withdrawals alongside automated player verification, the agreement aims to address several practical aspects of the customer payment journey within a single integrated solution.

For The Big Leagues, the arrangement provides access to additional payment infrastructure as it continues developing its sports prize draw and fan engagement offering. For Yaspa, it represents another commercial application of Intelligent Payments and supports its wider strategy of expanding across the UK and international markets.

The timing is also significant for Yaspa, which has progressed through investment, geographical expansion and industry recognition during the past two years. Its Atlanta and Leeds operations, together with its 2026 awards, provide a broader context for the company's continued business development.

Ultimately, the value of this partnership will be determined by the quality of its implementation and the experience it delivers to users. Faster payment options alone are not enough to establish a successful financial infrastructure. Reliability, transparent processes and appropriate verification remain equally important.

By bringing these elements together, Yaspa and The Big Leagues are seeking to develop a payment experience that responds to the practical needs of a growing digital sports entertainment platform. The agreement also highlights how open banking technology is continuing to find applications across different areas of the online services industry.

FAQs

What is the partnership between Yaspa and The Big Leagues about?
Yaspa has partnered with The Big Leagues to integrate open banking payments and automated player verification into the UK sports prize draw and fan engagement platform.

When was the Yaspa and The Big Leagues partnership announced?
The companies announced their partnership on 11 November 2026.

Which Yaspa product has The Big Leagues implemented?
The Big Leagues has implemented Yaspa's Intelligent Payments product, which combines payment functionality with account authentication and verification capabilities.

What payment methods does the integration introduce?
The integration introduces Pay by Bank deposits and withdrawals, allowing users to make transactions through participating banking providers.

Does Yaspa provide automated player verification?
Yes. Yaspa's Intelligent Payments product includes automated verification functionality alongside its open banking payment services.

Who is the CEO of Yaspa?
James Neville is Yaspa's Chief Executive Officer and co-founder.

Who founded The Big Leagues?
Adam Shaw is identified as the Founder of The Big Leagues in the partnership announcement.

How much investment did Yaspa secure in 2025?
Yaspa secured a USD 12 million investment round led by Discerning Capital in July 2025.

Which awards did Yaspa win in 2026?
Yaspa received Best Payment Solutions Provider at the European iGaming Awards, Payment Solution of the Year at the SBC Awards and two awards at the EGR B2B Awards: AI Solutions Provider and Safer Gambling Supplier.

Why is open banking important for online payment platforms?
Open banking allows customers to authorise payments through their bank accounts. It can support convenient transactions and account authentication while providing businesses with an alternative to conventional card-based payment processes.