eSports
Guild Esports Announce Entry into CS2 with Signing of Bad News Eagles Roster
Guild Esports has announced its newest entry into Counter-Strike esports with the unveiling of its new roster, the members of Bad News Eagles.
Genc ‘gxx-’ Kolgeci, Flatron ‘juanflatroo’ Halimi, Sener ‘SENER1’ Mahuti, Dionis ‘sinnopsyy’ Budeci and Rigon ‘rigoN’ Gashi surprised everyone when they became the first-ever team from the Albanian-Kosovar region to reach a Major qualifier (RMR) back in 2022, when they qualified for the PGL Antwerp Major. They’ve since competed at, and qualified for the Legends stage in, three Counter-Strike Majors in Antwerp, Rio and Paris – earning prize winnings worth $96,000 in 2023 alone.
What will now be known as the Guild Eagles team will be joined by a backroom staff of some of the most well-respected figures in the Counter-Strike community: head coach Jonatan ‘Devilwalk’ Lundberg (the only multi-Major winner as both a coach and a player), assistant coach Kevin ‘Krystal’ Amend, analyst Kieran ‘KayJay’ Playfair and with James ‘BanKs’ Banks (the team’s manager) joining Guild as a consultant to support the org.
From humble origins in Kosovan net cafes to Paris’ Hall de la Pinède, this roster has experienced an incredible trajectory over the past three years since their competitive debut in 2020. They’ve gained a cult following in both their home region and the wider world with a combined Twitter, Twitch, and Instagram followings of over 112,000, 297,000, and 137,000 respectively, and their path to success and international renown has become a success story of modern Counter-Strike.
With the backing of holistic coaching partner Ground+Air, Guild Esports will support this ascension even further, as Counter-Strike esports takes a step into the future with the launch of Counter-Strike 2 (CS2).
Ground+Air is a performance and wellbeing consultancy that will be delivering a specialist coaching and education programme to Guild Esports’ CS2 roster, designing a tailored state-of-the-art ‘Elite Performance Programme’. Ground+Air has experience inside and outside esports having built and delivered Oracle Red Bull Racing’s Performance Accelerator Programme for F1 Esports. Ground+Air brings years of experience and best practices in building programmes from other sectors; including elite professional football, motor racing, entertainment, banking and technology to build a programme designed to augment in-game performance with out-of-game wellbeing.
Guild Esports intends to deploy this programme to both established and developmental teams under the Guild Esports banner. The programme will consist of a blend of one-to-one coaching and team development workshops, delivered by performance experts from across the worlds of education, elite sports, business and esports.
Jasmine Skee, CEO of Guild Esports, said: “With the release of CS2, we realised that there was no better time for us to increase our presence in Counter-Strike. The trajectory of the Bad News Eagles roster has been inspirational, and embodies the attitude that we value here at Guild Esports – we can’t wait to support them on their journey in CS2 with the help of Ground+Air.”
Jonatan “Devilwalk” Lundberg, Head Coach for Guild Eagles, said: “We’re incredibly excited to represent Guild in CS2. Throughout our conversations with Guild it’s been abundantly clear that they share our vision, and truly want to help this roster succeed at the highest level of competitive Counter-Strike. We’ve had offers from multiple organisations during our time as an unsigned team, but ultimately we found that Guild were the most closely aligned with what we want to achieve in CS2, and were able to provide us the greatest level of holistic support to help us compete at our peak potential. With what we have already seen from meeting the staff and seeing the facilities, we have no doubt this is where we belong to reach the next level in competition.”
Oddin.gg is proud to announce that it has secured a full 3-year sports betting license in Ohio, further strengthening its standing as the esports betting solutions provider with the most licenses in North America. With this latest addition, Oddin.gg now holds four US licenses—New Jersey, Colorado, West Virginia, and Ohio—and a total of five across North America, including Ontario, Canada.
The Ohio license is a strategic milestone, as the state is set to become one of the most active betting markets in the American Midwest. According to projections from the Ohio Legislative Service Commission, the state’s sports gaming market is expected to reach approximately $3.35 billion annually as it matures. By securing this license, Oddin.gg is well-positioned to support operators in tapping into this significant potential.
Obtaining the Ohio license also demonstrates Oddin.gg’s ability to meet the state’s comprehensive regulatory standards, which include arduous assessments of financial stability, operational integrity, and adherence to state laws. This achievement reinforces Oddin.gg’s reputation for compliance and reliability, enhancing its capability to deliver full-service esports betting solutions tailored to a growing market.
Ohio’s sports betting legislation imposes a 10% tax on sports gaming receipts, contributing to public education and initiatives supporting veterans in the state. Oddin.gg’s entry into this regulated environment reinforces its role as a leader in shaping the future of esports betting in the US while offering operators a pathway to engage with a new generation of bettors in a secure and exciting way.
Vlastimil Venclík, CEO of Oddin.gg, shared his enthusiasm about the news: “Securing a license from the Ohio Casino Control Commission is a significant step in our North American journey. Ohio is poised to become one of the most dynamic betting markets in the US, and gaining this
approval aer meeting the state’s rigorous standards is a true reflection of our commitment to integrity and excellence both in Ohio and beyond. However, this license isn’t just about expanding our reach; it’s about ensuring our partners have access to market-leading esports betting solutions that fully align with all local regulatory requirements.”
He continued, “Ohio’s market is gearing up to be something special, and we’re excited to help operators tap into that potential. As esports betting continues to evolve, Oddin.gg is ready to provide the expertise, technology, and support to make sure our partners succeed.
Rivalry expands betting content portfolio with successful launch of SIS eBasketball & eSoccer products in global markets to engage next generation of bettors
SIS (Sports Information Services) Group, has launched its H2H Global Gaming League™ (H2HGGL) eBasketball & eSoccer games in multiple international markets through a partnership with Rivalry, the leading sportsbook and iGaming operator for Gen Z.
Rivalry will offer its customers over 150,000 H2HGGL short-form games annually, presented with low-latency video, game stats, player form and more than 50 pre-game and in-play markets. The SIS products are set to build on the operator’s market leadership among digitally native Millennials and Gen Z with content tailored for the next generation of players.
Built specifically for sportsbooks, SIS’ H2H Global Gaming League™ is currently adding as much as 10% in value to operators. Professional gamers take part in all eBasketball and eSoccer games which are produced entirely in-house from SIS’ secure studios in the UK.
Currently, H2HGGL is the only product available on the market to have been awarded the Esports Integrity Commission’s (ESIC) Gold Standards, which are the highest possible accreditation created to set unmatched levels of integrity and safety in the industry. Trained referees oversee every contest to ensure full trust in the content.
Jake Nowry, Sales and Business Development Manager at SIS Content Services, said: “We are thrilled to launch our complete esports portfolio with Rivalry and expand the reach of our sport sims solution. Partnering with a leading industry brand is another landmark deal for SIS as we showcase the versatility of our esports offering internationally.”
Michele Fischer, Vice President, SIS Content Services, said: “We are pleased to partner with Rivalry, whose platform appeals to a global, digitally native audience. Our short-form esports content, which has already proven to bridge the gap between live sports and its counterpart esports game, should enhance Rivalry’s current offering.”
Evan Van Luven, Director of Sportsbook Operations at Rivalry, said: “Our partnership with SIS expands Rivalry’s product offering with new, around-the-clock betting content for our customers. These products are a great bridge and cross-selling point between our audience of sports and esports bettors looking for more interactive content.”
The post SIS enhances global esports presence with Rivalry partnership appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
eSports
Max Verstappen to attend GAMERGY, the world’s largest esports, gaming and entertainment event
In an exciting announcement for motorsports and gaming fans alike, three-time Formula 1 World Champion Max Verstappen will be making a special appearance at the GAMERGY event for the exciting Heineken Player 0.0 Global Final in Madrid this December. This immersive entertainment and gaming Experience promises to bring together the worlds of motorsport and gaming, offering fans a unique experience.
GAMERGY, one of the largest global gaming and esports events, will take place in Madrid this December from the 13th-15th, 2024. The 10th edition of the event will host exhilarating activities featuring cutting-edge technology, live competitions, traditional sports activations and phygital interactive experiences that cater to a wide audience.
“In the past few years, we have seen how the traditional sports and gaming ecosystems have come closer together in innovative and immersive ways. At our most recent GAMERGY México edition, we saw our tennis, football, boxing, skateboarding and paddle activations being amongst the most popular gaming fair attractions. We are very excited to partner with Heineken in adding Player 0.0 to the digital fandom,” said Cristina Carranza, Global Head of Sales at GGTech.
Heineken® Player 0.0 Global Final featuring Max Verstappen
23 finalists from all around the world will be joining us in Madrid for a simulated racing competition with the aim of winning the title of Player 0.0 Global Champion. Expect a high-octane race where the finalists will demonstrate their skills, speed and agility. During the Player 0.0 Global Final, festival goers will also have the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to see Max Verstappen on stage. This unique experience is expected to draw immense crowds and therefore fans are encouraged to arrive early.
Exclusive Merchandise and Memorabilia
Fans attending the event will have the opportunity to purchase exclusive GAMERGY merchandise. Limited-edition collectibles will be available for purchase. Don’t miss the chance to take home a piece of history!
The post Max Verstappen to attend GAMERGY, the world’s largest esports, gaming and entertainment event appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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