Lucra Sports Partners With No Strings to Revolutionize Padel Experience Through Social Competition Technology

Lucra Sports, the leading social competition platform, has announced a strategic partnership with No Strings, Inc., a tech-enabled padel club concept, marking Lucra's first venture into the rapidly growing padel space. The collaboration embeds Lucra's white-label technology directly into No Strings' mobile ecosystem, in-venue kiosks, and on-court screens, enabling players to compete in various formats for cash prizes and sponsored products with real-time verification and settlement.

Michael Madding, Chief Operating Officer at Lucra Sports, emphasized the timing of this expansion into racket sports, stating that padel is experiencing explosive global growth while technology is just beginning to enhance the on-court experience. The partnership leverages No Strings' computer-vision scoring technology to transform every rally into trackable data and every friendly wager into friction-free settlements, eliminating the need for manual tracking or informal agreements. This integration represents a strategic expansion for Lucra into racket sports, where the company can leverage existing infrastructure to create new revenue streams while enhancing the overall player experience.

For No Strings CEO Dov Penzik, a successful multi-time founder in the competitive social entertainment industry, this partnership solidifies the company's position as an innovator in the padel space. The technology enables comprehensive competition programming, from neighborhood ladders and corporate tournaments to high-stakes invitational events, all finalized through the app before players even leave the court. Penzik highlighted that this collaboration demonstrates how the future of padel depends equally on software and hardware innovation, representing a significant advancement for the sport's development and accessibility.

The partnership offers several distinct advantages for venue operators and players alike. Facilities implementing Lucra contests typically experience increased guest frequency and longer average dwell times, driven by features such as replay capabilities, automated scoring generation, and live leaderboards that maintain player engagement. Operators gain flexibility through configurable prizing options, allowing them to switch between cash pools, venue credits, or sponsor-funded rewards, which typically drives higher per-customer spending. The system operates with minimal operational burden, as Lucra manages identity verification, geolocation, compliance, and risk management while integrating seamlessly with existing booking and point-of-sale systems within weeks.

For No Strings, this partnership represents a strategic investment in modern, behavior-driven customer engagement. By utilizing Lucra's technology platform, the company can reward players for participating in social experiences that foster loyalty and ongoing community connections. The technology enables what industry experts call "gamification" of physical activities, turning casual play into structured competition that keeps players returning and engaged with both the sport and the venue.

This expansion demonstrates the versatility of Lucra's technology across different verticals and industries. By meeting players in their preferred environments, Lucra continues to grow its addressable market while expanding brand recognition across both physical and digital spaces. The companies plan to launch their integrated offering in the coming months, aiming to deliver a premium social competition layer that emphasizes the enjoyment of competition while making every game more meaningful and rewarding for participants. No Strings has opened its Series A funding round to support the launch and expansion of new clubs across North America, signaling confidence in the growing padel market and the value of technology-enhanced play experiences.