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Riot Games and GRID Esports Partner to Create the Future of Data-Driven VALORANT Esports Ecosystem

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3 years ago

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Riot Games and GRID Esports, sign an exclusive two-year partnership to bring VALORANT data assets onto GRID’s Data platform making them accessible to data-reliant audiences.

The goal of the partnership is to leverage the potential of gaming data to create innovative experiences, drive fan engagement and empower interactive broadcast solutions to provide a robust VALORANT ecosystem and benchmark for the esports industry.

GRID Esports will be trusted with the distribution of all official VALORANT Esports data assets across the main global and regional tournaments – including Challengers, Masters, and Champions. Data assets include granular in-game statistics for players, teams, and matchups, that will be made available on the GRID Data Platform in the coming months.

“VALORANT is the esports scene disruptor. One of the youngest competitive gaming titles has already amassed an incredible number of fans, dedicated professional players and managed to establish a thriving, diverse esports scene. It would not be possible if not for the professionalism and direct involvement of the Publisher – Riot Games. Riot’s proven, holistic approach to growing their titles’ presence is a unique model we want to support with GRID’s technology.” says Moritz Maurer, CEO of GRID Esports,  “At GRID the alignment with our partners is our highest priority. In joining forces with Riot we aim to establish the GRID Data Platform as a firm foundation for VALORANT’s exceptional ecosystem sustainable, data-driven, growth.”’

GRID’s technology is designed to capitalize on the potential of esports data for storytelling and fan engagement. GRID’s approach is unique in the industry – the company exclusively handles official data assets and recognizes the IP of the game publishers at the core of its business model.

Riot Games introduced VALORANT in 2020 and the game has instantly become a globally-acclaimed competitive first person shooter (FPS) title, boasting an active player base of more than 15 million monthly players. For two consecutive years, VALORANT has been growing its audience and expanding esports presence with the latest addition of new regional leagues or extended support for third-party organizers.

“Riot Games endeavors to grow our sports and enable community engagement,” said John Knauss, Esports Competitive Data Programs Lead with Riot Games. “Our audience is the most engaged in the entire global esports ecosystem, and we want to continue to foster that engagement with ever-evolving ways of interacting with our sports. We are excited for the future of VALORANT, its growth, and opportunities to deepen fandom by enabling new products and experiences.”

“The potential of esports data assets exceeds traditional sports counterparts due to the digital nature of video games, and the ability to extract data through direct game integrations. These integrations lead to unparalleled levels of accuracy and granularity.” Moritz goes on to explain,

“The unlimited potential for innovation in the field of data-driven entertainment presents a unique opportunity for Publishers to capitalize on the extraordinary ecosystem for their game titles. The partnership with GRID’s Data Platform, which was created specifically for this industry, allows game publishers to unlock the potential of their data assets and game IP.”

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Northern Super League Partners with Stats Perform

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2 days ago

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April 17, 2025

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Stats Perform, the global leader in sports AI, data and technology, has announced an official data partnership with the Northern Super League (NSL). The partnership will allow world-leading Opta data to be collected live from every NSL league game for the next three years.

Beginning this month, the Northern Super League (NSL) establishes a new era in Canadian sport as the country’s first professional domestic women’s soccer league — an ambitious and transformative initiative co-founded by former Canadian international and Olympic medallist Diana Matheson. Its inaugural season kicks off on April 16 and will feature six teams who have assembled multinational player rosters with extensive club and international experience, including 100-cap Canadian internationals Desiree Scott and Quinn.

Once the action begins, detailed data from every on-ball event, including advanced AI-powered Opta Analytics metrics such as Expected Goals (xG) and Expected Assists (xA), will be captured and distributed via feeds and Stats Perform products, including OptaAI Studio. This will enable various broadcasters, publishers and rights holders to generate stories and insights throughout the NSL season and provide them straight to the league’s fans in real time.

As part of the agreement, the NSL’s League Office and every NSL club will also have access to Opta Search, part of OptaAI Studio. This will allow their content creators to leverage all Opta data collected during the NSL season in the creation of data-led stories on the stand-out performers, and will help them generate key talking points for publication on official league and club platforms. Opta Search will also empower the NSL’s media team to create a range of data visualizations, including player shot maps and touch maps, to visually illustrate the impact of different players’ on-field performances.

Christina Litz, NSL President, said: “We are thrilled to have Stats Perform on board as our official data partner. When we talk about detailed performance data in soccer, Opta is the gold standard, so we are delighted to have it powering each of our official digital channels. As the season progresses, we want to put the spotlight on all the on-field heroes who emerge and having access to world-class data will help us tell their stories and inspire a new generation of Canadian soccer fans.”

Steve Xeller, Chief Revenue Officer at Stats Perform, said: “Stats Perform has been a huge supporter of expansion leagues around the world, so we are very pleased to be partnering with NSL in the lead-up to their first domestic campaign. Seeing a fully professional women’s soccer league launch in Canada is an incredibly exciting development for the sport in North America and we see considerable potential in working proactively with the League’s Head Office to help the competition grow, using the power of AI and data-led storytelling to build fan communities across the continent.”

The post Northern Super League Partners with Stats Perform appeared first on Gaming and Gambling Industry in the Americas.

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INCENTIVE GAMES SIGNS EXCLUSIVE DISTRIBUTION DEAL FOR NORTH AMERICA, EUROPE, SOUTH AFRICA AND UK WITH LIGHT & WONDER

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4 days ago

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April 14, 2025

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Leading B2B games provider, Incentive Games, today announced its new agreement with premium gaming company and content provider Light & Wonder, Inc.

Through this agreement, Incentive Games will distribute its premium pay-to-play games – including new arcade-style titles – to key global regulated markets including the USA, Canada, South Africa, UK, and within Europe via Light & Wonder’s extensive operator network. Additionally, Incentive Games’ popular free-to-play content will be made available to a wider audience through Light & Wonder’s content marketplace.

The agreement brings together two industry leaders in iGaming and the strengths of both companies to deliver exceptional player experiences and elevate customer engagement.

Ahmed Baker, Chief Commercial Officer at Incentive Games said, “This agreement is a landmark moment in our company’s history. Previously, we’ve worked directly with major operators such as bet365, FanDuel, and Sky Bet. Now, we can distribute our games via Light & Wonder, an exceptional aggregator that we trust will handle our games with care.”

Steve Mayes, Senior Director of Partners at Light & Wonder, said: “We are excited to work with Incentive Games, a leader in gamification solutions. We look forward to leveraging their innovative platform and bringing their customisable crash and fast game content to all major regulated markets.”

The post INCENTIVE GAMES SIGNS EXCLUSIVE DISTRIBUTION DEAL FOR NORTH AMERICA, EUROPE, SOUTH AFRICA AND UK WITH LIGHT & WONDER appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

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Soft2Bet’s ToonieBet Partners with the Ottawa Senators as Official Online Casino Partner

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5 days ago

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April 14, 2025

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With the Ottawa Senators securing a playoff spot in the NHL, ToonieBet will be there every step of the way, engaging fans with exclusive giveaways, premium entertainment, and a casino experience that mirrors the team’s energy and excitement.

The Ottawa Senators and Tooniebet, an online casino for players across Ontario, announced a partnership that will make Tooniebet the NHL team’s Official Online Casino Partner.

Tooniebet, which launched in 2024 is part of Soft2Bet – one of the world’s fastest growing iGaming turnkey solutions providers with iGaming brands around the world with a portfolio of 19 global licenses, including Ontario.

Additional highlights of the Ottawa Senators and TonnieBet partnership will include:

  • In-Arena & Broadcast Branding: Digitally enhanced dashboards for home and away games
  • In-rink board signage for home games
  • Virtual slot signage for various games
  • Digital inventory throughout the Ottawa Senators site on NHL.com
  • Direct Fan Engagement: Social contests and promotions hosted on Senators’ digital platforms
  • Television Broadcast Branding: Digitally enhanced rink boards for home and away games
  • In-arena rink board signage for home games

Martin Ballard, VP Corporate Partnerships, Ottawa Senators stated: “We are thrilled to welcome ToonieBet as an official partner of the Ottawa Senators. Cooperating with a brand that shares our commitment to providing fans with an exceptional and trusted experience is incredibly exciting. Together, we look forward to delivering memorable moments and engaging our passionate fanbase in new and innovative ways.”

Oksana Tsyhankova, Chief Marketing Officer at Soft2Bet, commented: “Partnering Soft2Bet’s ToonieBet brand with the Ottawa Senators is a significant milestone that reinforces our strong brand presence in Ontario. In a short period, we have achieved impressive performance and retention results, with a primary focus on localised, engaging experiences for Canadian players, which makes ToonieBet truly set itself apart.”

By tapping into the Senators’ digital platforms and in-arena presence, ToonieBet will stay close to the action and connect with fans in real, engaging ways while continuing to offer a top-quality online casino experience.

ToonieBet offers a fast, localised online casino experience for players in Ottawa and across Ontario.  Through this partnership, fans will have the chance to win Senators merchandise and tickets while ToonieBet grows its presence in a competitive Ontario market. With in-arena branding, regional broadcast coverage, and digital promotions, ToonieBet will be highly visible to the team’s loyal supporters.

The post Soft2Bet’s ToonieBet Partners with the Ottawa Senators as Official Online Casino Partner appeared first on Gaming and Gambling Industry in the Americas.

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