ZK International Group (ZKIN) Announces Partnership with Nicki Minaj

ZK International Group Co., Ltd. (Nasdaq: ZKIN) is pleased to announce that Nicki Minaj, the most successful female rapper of all time, entrepreneur and media mogul is bringing her artistry and influence to the world of sports betting through a multi-year, global partnership with MaximBet, a ZKIN portfolio company.

ZKIN has invested US$25 million into MaximBet and currently owns 16% of the company. Mr. Huang, Chairman and CEO of ZKIN stated, "We remain committed to, and excited by, our investment in MaximBet. Competitors in the space have multi-billion-dollar market caps and we believe this investment holds tremendous upside for our shareholders that is not reflected in the current ZKIN share price".

Nicki Minaj is recognized for disrupting the male-dominated industry of rap music and is planning to do the same with sports betting. As a significant shareholder in MaximBet, Minaj brings her style and ethos to not only illustrate the lifestyle of our brand, but also to vastly broaden its audience. This includes inviting many more women to participate in sports betting. A lifelong sports fan, Minaj will work with MaximBet on branding, merchandise, creative activations, partnerships and fan experiences to bring together entertainment, sports, celebrities and betting.

MaximBet is currently live in the state of Colorado and is on track to launch in nine additional U.S. states and the Canadian province of Ontario, bringing MaximBet's total coverage to approximately 50% of the legal sports wagering market in North America. MaximBet is the only true lifestyle sports betting brand in the industry, rewarding players with real-life, "money can't buy" experiences. The ground-breaking partnership with Minaj allows the company to accentuate experiential sports betting even more by continuing to capitalize on the explosive growth of the sector. The total addressable market in the United States for online sports-betting and i-gaming is growing at 32% annually and is expected to reach US$58 billion by 2025 as confirmed by market research firm Eilers &Krejcik.

"I don't think I've ever been prouder of a collaboration," Minaj said. "Merging business savvy power moves with my natural, creative, sexy, fun, and fashion-forward expression is just so spot on as it relates to this partnership. I'm ready to fully step into my potential as a young, influential Queen and owner and open doors for others to dream big. Get ready for the sexy parties and remember: scared money don't make NO MONEY!!!! HA!!! Place your bets!!!! Let's GO!!!"

Minaj boasts 280 million social media followers and is the most followed rapper, seventh most followed musician, and 18th most followed person in the world on Instagram. Previous partnerships have been widely successful including her collaboration with Fendi which immediately sold out everywhere. Merging her art and fashion, she quickly succeeded in reigniting the brand's popularity for Fendi logo print items with just one lyric in her 2018 hit song "Chun-Li." Minaj has recently achieved a similar impact with the likes of Burberry, Louis Vuitton, Crocs, DSQUARED2, Marc Jacobs, and more to the point where if she wears an item on social media, it instantly sells out online.

"Nicki Minaj is one of the most iconic and influential entertainers in the world," said Daniel Graetzer, CEO, MaximBet. "The conversion of entertainment and sport is happening at warp speed, and we've built a brand that can appropriately stand at the center of that. Nicki's business experience and relationships open a wealth of opportunity for MaximBet and her involvement as an owner will allow us to work together on decisions in all parts of the business."

For the latest news on MaximBet, please follow the company on Twitter at @MaximBetUSA. For Maxim, follow @maximmag.

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