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The boom of virtual gaming tournaments

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The global gaming industry is undergoing rapid change and is seeing significant growth year on year. It is currently worth around £116 billion, and it is expected to grow by a Compound Annual Growth Rate percentage of 12.9% between now and the year 2027.

There are a number of key factors that are driving this, including the availability and advancement of technology. Both the hardware and software of games consoles, computers and gaming accessories are improving greatly in terms of efficiency, innovation and usability.

Increased access to internet services with decent connection and speed has also influenced this, as well as the relatively new development of influencer marketing through streaming platforms. Of course, it is also undeniable that recent global events have meant that people have had to spend more time at home social distancing and have found themselves playing more games. Gaming has provided entertainment and social engagement to people who may have been too busy to play regularly before. There are game types to suit everybody, from action and adventure games to strategy and puzzle games. All gaming sectors have seen an increase of gameplay during this period and one in particular is the casino industry. In the last several months, many people have signed up to one of many casino sites to play their favourite games like blackjack and poker. The increase of players has been forced by the closure of land-based casinos meaning people had to move online to access casino games. And it was not just normal casino games that had to take place online, many large gambling events like the World Series of Poker tournament also had to move online due to the recent pandemic. Many events and competitions were already taking place virtually, however this year has seen more events than ever make the transition online, is this phenomenon going to stay?

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Virtual Competitions

There has also been a boom in virtual gaming tournaments, or esports tournaments, during this time. The number of tournaments has skyrocketed in comparison to previous years, so too has the audience numbers on streaming sites such as Twitch and YouTube. As conventional tournaments across the sports and entertainment industries have faced cancellations or postponements, virtual competitions have acted as their replacements.

There are three main types of esports that are run as virtual gaming competitions. One is first person shooters (FPSs), these can be player v player or team games, with popular examples including Call of Duty, Doom and Counter-Strike. There are also fighter gaming competitions, such as those held for Super Smash Bros or Street Fighter. However, some of the most anticipated tournaments are those in the Multiplayer online battle arena (MOBA) category, with League of Legends and DOTA 2 being the big names in this area.

Many players participate in these events due to their financial incentives. Large corporations sponsoring these events draw in professional players with the promise of huge cash prizes. Pros train for these events all year round, gaming to them is a career choice as they fund their passion through prize winning and sponsorship deals scored through their streaming channels. DOTA 2 is by far one of the biggest tournaments in terms of the amount of prize money it gives out. Since the game was released in 2013, there have been 54 tournaments and the average prize has been a hefty sum of $111,111 US dollars. This year’s prize money hase totalled $6 million.

Replacing Sporting Events

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Virtual gaming tournaments this year have acted as a good replacement for some of the major sporting events.

After F1 was forced to postpone earlier this year, Torque Esports’ All-Star Esport Battle took over in March. Racers from a variety of motorsports joined in on the action, including the legendary Max Verstappen. Verstappen found victory at the Redline’s Real Racers Never Quit competition series when he won the first qualifier, however the final saw Rudy Van Buren take home the top prize after he dropped out. Van Buren actually holds the title of ‘World’s Fastest Gamer’ in 2017.

There was also the virtual Formula One Grand Prix which attracted both pro gamers and champion F1 stars. This was the second time the event ran and this year it was based on Albert Park circuit in Melbourne. Competitors included Ben Stokes, an England cricketer, and racing driver Alex Albon. The trophy was won by two time Grand Prix winner Charles Leclerc.

Another high-profile esports tournament was the Fortnite World Cup. In the summer of 2019, the Fortnite finals were streamed across Twitch, Youtube, Twitter, Facebook and within the game itself. Weekly online tournaments started in April, with players from each region competing to qualify for the finals and be in for a chance of winning a cut of the $1,000,000 prize pool. The overall winner was 16 year old Kyle “Bugha” Giersdorf, who lifted the trophy at Arthur Ashe Stadium in New York. This year however, Epic Games have had to put a stop to the World Cup this year due to the cross-region nature of the event. They instead moved all over competitions exclusively online this year, including the Fortnite Champion Series and the Fortnite Cash Cups.

Virtual Gaming Industry is Growing

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At the rate that the virtual gaming industry is growing, in the future we may see the same kind of media coverage and attention for these tournaments as we do some of the major traditional sports competitions. Huge audiences already enjoy watching these events via live streams, and many also place bets too. As stadium events around the world continue to be cancelled and postponed, virtual gaming tournaments are continuing to become a more mainstream form of entertainment for fans of competitive sports.

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Week 8/2025 slot games releases

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Here are this weeks latest slots releases compiled by European Gaming

Tom Horn Gaming is thrilled to announce the launch of its latest Hold & Win slot game, Majestic Coins. ​ This high-volatility 3×3 slot takes players on a winning quest, where shimmering coins, respins, and grand jackpots lead to massive wins. Set against a sleek black 3×3 reel grid with 5 win lines, Majestic Coins offers classic slot excitement with a modern twist.

Hold, Win, and Grab Jackpots in Tom Horn’s Majestic Coins Slot

Candy Links Bonanza 2 is the newest slot game from Stakelogic, inviting you to wander through magical realms filled with delightfully sweet treats. Amidst this charming backdrop, two 5×5 grids are placed side by side. The grid on the right is where all the gameplay unfolds, while the other grid collects coins. Forming lines of coins wins their values and activates the powerful Wheels of Fortune!

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You are in for a sweet treat with Candy Links Bonanza 2, the latest release by Stakelogic

Step into a world where opulence meets nature in Zillion’s latest release, Royal Crown Fruits – a dazzling slot experience filled with vibrant fruit symbols, golden crowns, and thrilling rewards. With 20 winning lines, the game blends classic charm with modern excitement, offering players a chance to strike royal-sized wins.

 

Big Time Gaming is back with its most exhilarating instalment yet. Max Megaways III invites players to gear up and embark on a high-stakes Arctic mission that’s shaken, stirred, and loaded with epic rewards. In this 6-reel Megaways™ slot, players get up to 117,649 ways to win, and that’s just the start of the action. Armed with MegaDozer™ mechanics, Free Spins, and a treasure trove of bonuses, Max Megaways III is set to deliver edge-of-your-seat excitement like never before.

Play’n GO delves into the mysteries of ancient Egypt with the release of Myth of Dead, a visually stunning slot that combines engaging gameplay with the allure of legendary treasures. This 5-reel, 3-row game with 10 paylines offers a captivating journey into a world ruled by powerful deities and golden riches.

Unearth Ancient Riches in Myth of Dead

 

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Belatra Games, the specialist online slots developer, has released Blast the Bass, a brand new title that immerses players into an adventure on the open seas. Set out in the deep ocean, Blast the Bass brings together engaging mechanics, big bonus features and fun graphics that entertain players on every spin. A salty old skipper acts as the Wild symbol and will substitute for all regular symbols to combine for winning lines.

Belatra’s Blast the Bass explodes onto the market

Push Gaming has launched Mad Blasta volatile, multiplier-focused, pay-anywhere game that builds crazy robots along with wild winnings. Set in the workshop of the Mad Tinkerer, quirky, colourful bomb symbols populate the reels, with eight or more required to award a win. Winning symbols are removed from play, and the cascade of replacement icons allows subsequent wins to be formed.

Push Gaming lights the fuse for explosive multiplier play in Mad Blast

Relax Gaming has revealed Glyph of Gods, an Egyptian-themed slot where hieroglyphs hold the key to wins. Bringing a fresh take on the much-loved Egyptian theme, this game features Glyph Positions which allow for Wild, Bonus, and Glyph symbols to land in dedicated spots, opening up multiple opportunities for big winning moments.

Relax Gaming transports players to an alternative Egypt in Glyph of Gods

Blueprint Gaming returns in style with Big Catch Even Bigger Bass, offering a plethora of modifiers to maximise players’ winning potential. After years of success with its iconic Fishin’ Frenzy™ series, Blueprint has moved from the ocean to a picturesque lake where a bait box of aquatic symbols take their place on the 6×4, 4,096 win matrix, nestled in a mountainous landscape.

Bigger Bass, Bigger Wins: Blueprint's latest catch

Amusnet announces the exclusive launch of 20 Wild Goals at Betano in Romania from February 20th to March 24th, 2025. 20 Wild Goals is a 5-reel video slot set in a stadium environment, offering 20 paylines. The Wild symbol, represented by a ball, expands to cover the entire reel, boosting the potential for higher wins. The tumbling reel feature adds a layer of excitement by removing winning combinations and increasing multipliers with each subsequent spin.

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Amusnet Deepens Collaboration with Betano for Exclusive Launch of 20 Wild Goals

 

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IGT Achieves Improved ESG Score from FTSE Russell

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International Game Technology PLC announced that it has achieved an environmental, social and governance (ESG) Score of 4.3 out of 5.0 from FTSE Russell, positioning IGT in the 97th percentile within the Travel and Leisure sector of FTSE Russell’s ESG Scores. This was an improvement from IGT’s previous ESG Score of 4.2 out of 5.0 in 2023, demonstrating its ongoing commitment to enhancing ESG performance.

“As a company committed to continually elevating our sustainability practices and leadership, IGT is proud to once again achieve an improved ESG score from FTSE Russell. Through our global Sustainable Play program, we execute sustainable practices and policies throughout our company and this improved score validates our ongoing efforts,” Wendy Montgomery, SVP of Marketing, Communications and Sustainability at IGT, said.

FTSE Russell’s ESG Scores and data model allows investors to understand a company’s exposure to, and management of, ESG issues in multiple dimensions. The ESG Scores are comprises an overall rating that breaks down into underlying pillar and theme exposures. Scores built on over 300 individual indicator assessments are applied to each company’s unique circumstances. The ESG Scores align with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), all of which are reflected in FTSE Russell’s ESG framework.

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Playtech’s Bingo Technology Powers Buzz Bingo’s Launch of Innovative Omni-channel Experience

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Playtech announced the launch of Buzz Bingo’s groundbreaking omni-channel bingo game, Big Money Live.

Big Money Live sets a new standard in the bingo proposition by seamlessly combining online and land-based players across all Buzz Bingo clubs into a shared and exciting experience, powered by a low latency video stream with an engaging live presenter.

Officially launched at the end of 2024, Big Money Live debuted with a record-breaking £100,000 prize pool, the largest omni-channel bingo prize in the UK. Players nationwide participated in the exciting new chapter of bingo history, enjoying the game from both the vibrant atmosphere of bingo halls and the comfort of their own homes, showcasing the flexibility of this bingo offering.

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Big Money Live is broadcasted from Buzz Bingo’s state-of-the-art studio in Derby and streamed live twice daily, seven days a week. Playtech, in collaboration with its ECM Systems platform, has worked closely with Buzz Bingo to develop a cutting-edge offering that caters to both digital and retail bingo enthusiasts. The seamless delivery of bingo games alongside live video enables entertaining and engaging features to be created around the core games, creating opportunities to attract new and younger audiences to play bingo together online and in-venue.

Marat Koss, VP of Interactive Gaming at Playtech, said: “We are incredibly proud to partner with Buzz Bingo on this project. Big Money Live represents a significant milestone in our ongoing commitment to innovation and excellence in the gaming industry. This collaboration showcases our ability to deliver top-tier technology solutions, such as the ECM handheld machines, that enhance player experiences across multiple channels, including online and retail. We’ve already received great feedback from the industry over this offering and functionality.”

Dave Evans, Chief Product Officer at Buzz Bingo, said: “The launch of Big Money Live marks an exciting new phase for bingo in the UK. Our partnership with Playtech has been instrumental in bringing this vision to life, and we are confident that this game will attract more players and offer bigger prizes than ever before.”

Richard Kearns, Head of Bingo at Buzz Bingo, said: “This new concept is a testament to the hard work and collaboration between our teams and Playtech. We are dedicated to providing innovative and engaging bingo experiences, and Big Money Live is a perfect example of this commitment.”

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