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YGAM win four national awards including prestigious PSHE Education Award

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The Young Gamers & Gamblers Education Trust (YGAM) team are celebrating after receiving national recognition for their education programmes on gaming and gambling harm.

During an evening of two virtual award ceremonies, the charity picked up wins across four categories. YGAM started the evening by winning the PSHE Education Award at the Children & Young People Now Awards (hosted by the famous voice of Strictly Come Dancing, Alan Dedicoat). The PSHE Education Award honours organisations that ‘provide outstanding resources to educators for PSHE education, delivering materials and lesson plans that align cohesively with current national curriculum requirements.’ YGAM were up against some highly commended finalists including Aik Saath, MCR Pathways, Ormiston Academies Trust and Peer Productions.

The specific praise for YGAM relates to its City & Guilds Assured training and resources provided to teachers and youth workers through the Young Peoples Gambling Harm Prevention Programme. The four-year national programme is being delivered in partnership with GamCare and supported by members of the Betting and Gaming Council.

The evening got even better for YGAM when they scooped three more awards at the Digital Impact Awards. Alongside their design agency Me&You Creative, they picked up Silver Awards for ‘Best Communications during Covid-19’ and ‘Best use of Digital for Education’ followed by a Bronze Award for ‘Best use of Digital for a Charity’. These awards were in recognition of the substantial digital transformation of the YGAM resources which has enabled the team to continue to deliver their programmes during successive lockdowns.

Reflecting on a memorable evening for the charity, YGAM Head of the National Programme Linda Scollins Smith said: “Our dedicated Education Team are absolutely delighted to receive this award in recognition of our PSHE Resources. We, as qualified teachers, wanted to ensure our resources were practical and easy to use for teaching staff and enjoyable for children and young people whilst addressing difficult topics such as mental health and addiction. As part of the Young People’s Gambling Harm Prevention Programme, we have been able to roll out these resources to teachers in England, Northern Ireland and Wales. We receive consistently positive feedback from teachers and PSHE leads who say our purposeful resources allow them to address these topics meaningfully with the children they work with.”

Amy Bussey, YGAM’s Education Manager for Yorkshire & Humber said: “We are so honoured to receive this award and hope that it gives us a platform to reach even more young people. It’s fantastic to get this acknowledgement and such a wonderful reward for the hard work that the team have put into our Education Programme. I hope we can continue to work with youth facing professionals to inform, educate and safeguard our young people on such important topics.”

The awards come just six years after YGAM founders Anne and Keith Evans set up with the charity with Chief Executive Lee Willows.

Both YGAM and GamCare have surpassed the first-year targets for their joint Young People’s Gambling Harm Prevention Programme, despite significant challenges imposed by the continuing COVID-19 pandemic. Figures released by YGAM show that the education charity trained 2,906 practitioners in 2020 (up from its original target of 2,592). With this training, those practitioners have reached an impressive 184,700 young people to provide vital educational sessions on the harms associated with gambling and gaming (up from a target of 170,300).

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Thunderkick’s portfolio makes Ontario debut through SkillOnNet brands

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Global entertainment brand SkillOnNet is deepening its existing partnership with Stockholm-based game studio Thunderkick to launch the developer’s unique, engaging slot titles in Ontario.

The Canadian province is one of the most exciting regulated markets in North America, and the Ontario players will now gain access to Thunderkick’s full portfolio of highly acclaimed games via SkillOnNet-powered online casino brands such as PlayOJO, SlotsMagic, and SpinGenie.

Thunderkick is known for its independent, boundary-pushing slot games like Pink Elephants, Esqueleto Explosivo, and Beat the Beast and has established a strong reputation for creativity and originality in the iGaming space. The deal allows the studio to further expand its global footprint while giving Ontario players the chance to enjoy a fresh wave of premium content.

Ontario’s regulated online gaming market, which officially opened in 2022, has quickly become a key market for the iGaming industry, and SkillOnNet was among the first brands to secure licensing in the province. The expansion reinforces SkillOnNet’s commitment to delivering top-tier entertainment in regulated markets globally.

Jani Kontturi at SkillOnNet said: “Thunderkick has been a key partner of ours in other markets, and we’re delighted to bring their outstanding content to Ontario. This region is fast becoming a vital part of our operations, and we’re confident players here will respond just as positively to Thunderkick’s games as they have elsewhere.”

Mariam Dodosh, Account Manager at Thunderkick said: “We’re thrilled to expand our relationship with SkillOnNet and enter the Ontario market together. Our games have a track record of strong performance, and we’re excited to see them go live in one of the most dynamic new regions in iGaming.”

The post Thunderkick’s portfolio makes Ontario debut through SkillOnNet brands appeared first on Gaming and Gambling Industry in the Americas.

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Southampton Football Club welcomes Midnite as its newest partner

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Southampton Football Club is pleased to announce that Midnite, the fast-growing UK sports betting and online casino operator, will become the club’s official training kit partner for the 2025/26 season.

The partnership will see Southampton FC become the first football club to partner with Midnite as part of their rapid brand growth.

The deal continues Midnite’s momentum of high-profile marketing activities, including sponsorship of the 2025 World Snooker Championship and 5’s coverage of the FIFA World Club Cup.

Founded in 2018 by Nick Wright and Daniel Qu, Midnite has been hailed as a new disruptor to the betting industry, challenging the status-quo of the UK’s online gambling market by delivering the best value for customers.

The Midnite branding will sit across training kits for both the Men’s and Women’s First Teams. Its logo will also feature on the back of the Men’s First Team shirt and shorts. Midnite’s branding will also appear around St Mary’s Stadium, including in the dugouts.

Connecting Saints fans like never before

The partnership will see Midnite and Southampton collaborate throughout the season to connect Saints supporters to their club like never before. A host of supporter and community activities will be launched to engage and involve the fanbase in the build-up to the season and throughout the 2025/26 campaign.

Southampton and Midnite will also collaborate to support Saints Foundation during the course of the season to support its fundraising ambitions and experiences for participants. Saints Foundation is the club’s charity, which works to provide life-changing opportunities to help people and communities in the city thrive.

Greg Baker, Chief Revenue Officer for Southampton Football Club, said: “We’re delighted to welcome Midnite as our latest club partner. Midnite is disrupting its sector and developing a dynamic challenger brand.

“As a club we pride ourselves on our ability to challenge the status quo and we see a clear alignment with Midnite’s innovative approach. We look forward to working with them throughout the 2025/26 season.”

Midnite Vice President of Growth Jonathan Shaw said: “We’re excited to partner with Southampton for our first-ever football club sponsorship. At Midnite, our mission is to bring our players closer to the games they love, and this high-profile partnership marks the latest step in our brand awareness journey as we continue to grow, with plenty more to come.

“As a fully licensed UK operator, we’re committed to ensuring our players enjoy a safe, responsible, and entertaining experience. We can’t wait to engage with Southampton fans and contribute to what promises to be an exciting and successful season ahead.”

The post Southampton Football Club welcomes Midnite as its newest partner appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

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SOFTSWISS and Eduardo Barrichello Take the Next Step in 2025 FIA WEC with 24 Hours of Le Mans Debut

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SOFTSWISS celebrates a major milestone in its collaboration with rising Brazilian driver Eduardo (Dudu) Barrichello. The talented motorsport star has successfully completed his debut at the legendary 24 Hours of Le Mans, a pivotal round in the ongoing 2025 FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC).

Held from 15 to 16 June at the historic Circuit de la Sarthe in Le Mans, France, the 24-hour endurance race is one of the most prestigious events in global motorsport. First run in 1923, it forms part of the coveted Triple Crown of Motorsport, alongside the Monaco Grand Prix and the Indianapolis 500. The race challenges every aspect of a driver’s performance, combining speed, consistency, and strategic depth – values that closely reflect the approach SOFTSWISS brings to its own operations in the highly competitive iGaming industry.

At just 23 years old, Eduardo Barrichello added this legendary event to his growing international racing résumé, competing with the Racing Spirit of Léman team in an Aston Martin Vantage AMR GT3 Evo. His performance at Le Mans represents not only a personal career achievement but also a proud moment for Brazilian motorsport and a significant chapter in his WEC journey.

“Le Mans isn’t just another race – it’s the kind of challenge you grow up dreaming about. Representing Brazil on this stage is a huge honour, and stepping onto that track for the first time is a defining moment in my career. Endurance racing pushes you beyond your limits – physically, mentally, and technically. Having SOFTSWISS as a partner for the entire WEC series this year means a lot,” Eduardo comments.

The collaboration between SOFTSWISS and Eduardo Barrichello builds upon the company’s long-term commitment to performance, innovation, and operational excellence. It extends a relationship with the Barrichello family, which began in 2024 when Rubens Barrichello, Formula 1 legend and Eduardo’s father, was appointed Non-Executive Director in Latin America at SOFTSWISS.

“In motorsport, milliseconds can define outcomes; in iGaming, it’s responsiveness, stability, and foresight that define leadership. At SOFTSWISS, we embrace this mindset – continuously optimising our solutions, anticipating market shifts, and pushing the boundaries of technology. Like a Le Mans team, we race through every 24 hours with unwavering resilience – only our race never ends. Our systems are built to deliver flawless performance, every day, hour after hour, without pause,” highlights Ivan Montik, Founder of SOFTSWISS.

As part of its presence at Le Mans, SOFTSWISS also welcomed a group of partners and guests to experience the race firsthand. The programme included VIP lounge access, helicopter flights over the circuit, access to exclusive camera-only track zones, paddock entry, and hot laps in a real race car. Guests also enjoyed conversations with Rubens and Eduardo Barrichello, creating a unique opportunity to connect motorsport, technology, and partnership in an unforgettable setting.

Earlier this year, SOFTSWISS announced its broad partnership with the rising motorsport talent for the 2025 FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC).

The post SOFTSWISS and Eduardo Barrichello Take the Next Step in 2025 FIA WEC with 24 Hours of Le Mans Debut appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

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