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The adventure begins: Veloce Racing ready for action as Extreme E sparks into life in Saudi Arabia

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  • London-based squad ready to go wheel-to-wheel with some of the biggest names in global motorsport
  • Inaugural Extreme E season set to kick off with Desert X Prix this weekend 
  • ‘None of us quite know how things are going to play out’, says Jamie Chadwick
  • Stéphane Sarrazin predicts ‘really special’ week both on and off-course

Veloce Racing will embark upon its greatest adventure to-date this weekend (3/4 April), as the time has finally come to get the inaugural Extreme E season underway in the spectacular setting of AlUla, Saudi Arabia.

Having begun life as a sports management agency before transitioning into a hugely successful esports franchise, Veloce is the first organisation in history to bridge the gap between virtual and real-world motorsport in that order, with Veloce Racing launching in September, 2019.

It has been a long road from that moment to the point where the team now finds itself – ready to contest the maiden Extreme E race, the eagerly-anticipated Desert X Prix in Saudi Arabia. The conditions will be harsh and unforgiving, while the sporting format will be unlike anything our drivers, or indeed the rest of the paddock have experienced before.

As a sport for purpose, Extreme E exists to shine a spotlight on the effects of climate change and human interference in some of the most remote environments on the planet, with the objective of encouraging the watching world to take a stand and adopt steps to drive genuine change.

With that in mind, ahead of every race weekend, a Legacy Programme will aim to give something back to the local community, in which Veloce Racing drivers Jamie Chadwick and Stéphane Sarrazin will both play a leading role – before climbing into the cockpit of the team’s 400kW (550bhp) ODYSSEY-21 E-SUV for the competitive action. The pair will take it in turns in each race to tame this beast, which is capable of reaching 100km/h from a standing start in just 4.5 seconds and tackling gradients of up to 130 per cent.

Inaugural W Series Champion Chadwick is eager to hit the ground running on her competitive off-road debut. The 22-year-old Williams F1 Development Driver has partaken in an intensive pre-season training programme to get up-to-speed with an entirely new motorsport discipline and a challenge unlike any other she has previously faced.

Experienced French racer Sarrazin, meanwhile, brings with him the benefit of 28 years of experience across myriad racing disciplines – including Le Mans, Formula 1, Formula E and the FIA World Rally Championship – and track surfaces, making the 45-year-old perfectly-placed to venture into unknown territory in the desert.

The action will begin with the qualifying rounds from 09h30 local time (BST +2) on Saturday, 3 April, with the semi-finals and final taking place from 09h30 local time the following day.

With no spectators permitted on-site – in-keeping with Extreme E’s environmental ethos and commitment to minimise its carbon footprint – the racing will be broadcast all around the world on a variety of networks, including ITV, the BBC iPlayer and Red Button application, Sky Sports and BT Sport in the UK, plus the championship’s official website.

Following the Saudi Arabian curtain-raiser, the 2021 Extreme E season will travel to Dakar, Senegal (29-30 May), Kangerlussuaq, Greenland (28-29 August), Pará, Brazil (23-24 October) and finally  Tierra Del Fuego, Argentina (11-12 December).

Jamie Chadwick, Driver, Veloce Racing, commented: 

“I’m just so excited to start racing in AlUla. This is massively different to anything I’ve done before, but I’ve trained harder than ever and spent a lot of time trying to understand the unique challenges this series will throw at us.

“It gives me a lot of confidence that I’ll be alongside someone as experienced as Stéphane going into an innovative championship like Extreme E with such unprecedented rules and sporting formats.

“I’m hopeful of a strong result straight out-of-the-blocks, but I certainly don’t underestimate the level of competition in the field. I think ultimately, it’s going to come down to who can adapt the quickest and learn how the series works from the word ‘go’ – none of us quite know how things are going to play out!”

Stéphane Sarrazin, Driver, Veloce Racing, said: 

“What a journey it has been to get to this stage! I think the team are all in really good shape ahead of the first event. We have all done our best to prepare and given the current circumstances around the world, it’s been an amazing effort to get everything organised for this race.

“Jamie and I are both ready for the challenge and excited to go racing! There are so many big motorsport names involved that it’s going to be an extraordinary spectacle – particularly against such a breathtaking backdrop.

“It’s also going to be a really great experience to involve ourselves in the Extreme E Legacy Programmes and leave a lasting positive impact at each of the race locations. That is something that will be really special.”

Ian Davies, Team Manager, Veloce Racing, added: 

“Finally, it’s race week! We’ve waited a long time to say that in Extreme E, but now it’s here and the whole Veloce Racing team are so eager to get started, including myself!

“Jamie and Stéphane make a great partnership. Between them, they have a huge amount of experience and raw talent, so I’m very confident that we will be in the mix in such a high-calibre and star-studded field.

“AlUla is going to pose its own challenges, logistically and of course when it gets down to the racing. It’s certainly going to be very different to what anyone in Extreme E has done previously, and being such a leap into the unknown, I think everybody has an opportunity to bag a result here so it will be fascinating to watch.”

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SOFTSWISS Kids Camp: Award-Winning Initiative Putting Families First

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SOFTSWISS, an international iGaming software provider, hosted the second season of its award-winning Summer Kids Camp in August on the shores of Lake Jeziorsko, Poland. The initiative brought together over 100 children of SOFTSWISS employees from more than 11 countries, reaffirming the company’s commitment to a people-first culture that extends well beyond the workplace.

The 11-day camp combined sports, creativity, and early career exploration, with over 50 engaging activities amounting to nearly 350 hours of programming. Children took part in everything from tournaments and creative workshops to speaking clubs and hands-on masterclasses.

A standout feature of this year’s programme was the camp coin system – a playful, gamified experience that introduced children to basic economic thinking. Kids earned coins for being proactive or engaged in educational tasks, and then spent them on fun privileges like ice cream, song requests at the disco, or even “becoming a PE teacher” for an hour, which many cleverly used to cancel morning workouts.

“The coin system helped teach initiative, responsibility, and teamwork in a fun way – almost like running a small business,” said Hanna Sauchuk, Event Producer at SOFTSWISS. One of the most touching moments was when the kids pooled their savings to ‘buy’ a collective sunrise celebration on the final day. That kind of collaboration and emotional intelligence is exactly what we hoped to nurture.”

Last year’s event has earned external recognition, winning the Eventex Award 2025 in the Corporate Event category – placing SOFTSWISS’ initiative alongside brand-led experiences from Disney, Nike, and Netflix.

“For me, this is not just another corporate project –  it is one of the most meaningful things we do at SOFTSWISS. It brings our core value ‘We see people’ to life in the most tangible way. We don’t just see professionals at their desks; we see human beings with families, dreams, and passions. The Kids Camp is our way of saying: your family matters to us as much as your work does. It’s an investment in joy, in connection, and in kindness. Because when children are happy, their parents shine – and together, we create a stronger, more united community. This is rare in business, and that’s exactly why we are proud to make it happen at the highest quality,”  said Ivan Montik, Founder of SOFTSWISS.

 

About SOFTSWISS

SOFTSWISS is an international technology company with over 15 years of experience in developing innovative solutions for the iGaming industry. SOFTSWISS holds a number of gaming licences and provides comprehensive software for managing iGaming projects. The company’s product portfolio includes the Online Casino Platform, the Game Aggregator with over 35,000 casino games, Affilka Affiliate Platform, the Sportsbook Software and the Jackpot Aggregator. In 2013, SOFTSWISS revolutionised the industry by introducing the world’s first Bitcoin-optimised online casino solution. The expert team, based in Malta, Poland, and Georgia, counts over 2,000 employees.

The post SOFTSWISS Kids Camp: Award-Winning Initiative Putting Families First appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

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BETBY INTRODUCES HELP ARENA, RAISING THE STANDARD FOR CUSTOMER SUPPORT AND COLLABORATION

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BETBY, a leading provider of cutting-edge sportsbook solutions, has announced the launch of Help Arena, a comprehensive customer support platform designed to enhance operational efficiency and streamline communication with its partners.

Help Arena serves as a central hub where BETBY partners can access support, submit and manage tickets, and stay informed with tailored updates, all from one intuitive portal. The platform is built to simplify day-to-day operations by consolidating communication and support tools into a single, easy-to-use interface, whilst ensuring that all customer queries and requests are met in a short timeframe

Through Help Arena, partners can engage in real-time communication with BETBY’s support team via an integrated widget and dedicated email channel. The platform is ideated to also support communication through multiple popular messaging apps, reflecting BETBY’s commitment to accessible and responsive support.

The platform features an efficient ticketing system, enabling users to create, track, and manage support requests with ease. Alongside this, Help Arena includes a robust knowledge base and FAQ section covering key topics such as sportsbook features, risk management, Betby Games, and betting rules. Partners can also access release notes and technical maintenance notifications, ensuring they are always up to date with the latest developments.

“Help Arena was developed to provide our partners with a seamless, efficient, and transparent support experience,” said Kirill Zhgun, Head of Customer Support at BETBY. “We understand that convenience and clarity are key to productive partnerships, and Help Arena reflects our commitment to making support as streamlined and effective as possible.”

Looking ahead, BETBY plans to continue enhancing the platform with new features, including deeper analytics, improved reporting tools, and greater customization options. The team is also actively working on expanding the knowledge base and FAQ section to support five languages, making Help Arena even more accessible to a global audience. Help Arena represents not just a support tool, but a long-term investment in the success and satisfaction of BETBY’s partners.

The launch of Help Arena marks a significant milestone in BETBY’s mission to deliver world-class service and operational excellence across the iGaming industry. Partners are encouraged to explore the platform and discover how BETBY is redefining customer support.

To find out more about BETBY, visit: https://betby.com/

 

About Betby

Betby is a leading B2B provider of top-tier sports betting services, renowned for its groundbreaking technology and dedication to excellence. Betby’s team of industry veterans tap into their knowledge and expertise to deliver a premium, adaptable, and scalable sportsbook platform tailored to meet the varied demands of operators across the globe. From dynamic in-play betting options to robust risk management tools and ground-breaking AI tools, Betby is committed to propelling the success of its partners in the rapidly evolving landscape of online sports betting.

For more information visit betby.com

The post BETBY INTRODUCES HELP ARENA, RAISING THE STANDARD FOR CUSTOMER SUPPORT AND COLLABORATION appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

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MixRift Appoints Former Meta VP Ingrid Cotoros to Board of Advisors to Accelerate Mixed Reality Gaming Innovation

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Innovative mixed reality gaming developer strengthens leadership team with hardware technology veteran behind Quest 3, Ray-Ban Meta glasses, and Orion AR prototype
MixRift, an innovative mixed reality (MR) gaming developer, today announced the appointment of Dr. Ingrid Cotoros as a key member of its Board of Advisors.
Cotoros brings over 20 years of hardware engineering expertise from her leadership roles at Meta’s Reality Labs and GoPro, where she spearheaded the development of breakthrough technologies that powered the world’s most advanced VR, AR, and smart glasses products.
As the former VP of Technology Engineering for Devices at Meta’s Reality Labs, Cotoros founded and led a thousand-strong team of specialised technologists who delivered the hardware innovations behind Meta’s Quest Pro, Quest 3, Quest 3S VR headsets, Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses, and the cutting-edge Orion AR glasses prototype. Her technical contributions span depth perception systems, immersive audio experiences, and world-locked display technologies that have shaped the mixed reality landscape since 2020.
“The future of gaming lies in creating unique experiences that blend digital and physical worlds,” said Dr. Cotoros. “MixRift’s vision for mixed reality gaming represents the next evolution of how we interact with digital content, and I’m excited to help them bring truly immersive experiences to players.”
Cotoros’ appointment aligns perfectly with MixRift’s ambitious technology roadmap, and reflects MixRift’s commitment to staying at the forefront of technological innovation in gaming.
“Ingrid’s deep understanding of hardware capabilities and sensing technologies complements our founding team’s vision beautifully,” said Bobby Voicu, CEO of MixRift. “Her experience developing the technologies that power every major VR and AR device launched in recent years gives us invaluable insight into what’s possible today and what’s coming next. We’re basically talking about someone who’s been at the forefront of every breakthrough that’s made our industry possible.”
During her tenure at Meta, Cotoros championed the strategic sequencing of features to engage customers in AI-powered computing platforms. Prior to Meta, she led multiple first-to-market innovations at GoPro, including the development of the first consumer-grade high-definition spherical camera and professional-level panoramic stereo capture systems.
Cotoros will focus her advisory efforts on understanding the physical capabilities of emerging device platforms and how they can unlock new interaction modes and experiences for gamers. A physicist by training with a PhD in Condensed Matter Physics from UC Berkeley and a BS in Physics from Caltech, Cotoros holds 26 US patents in camera hardware and content processing. Her diverse technical background reflects the interdisciplinary approach needed to solve complex mixed reality challenges.
Before her consumer electronics career, Cotoros served as a rocket scientist and space systems engineer at Lockheed Martin, developing space applications and defense programs. She was twice selected for Romania’s national team at the International Physics Olympiad, demonstrating her early passion for pushing the boundaries of what’s technically possible.
Meta Connect 2025 Meeting Opportunities
MixRift CEO Bobby Voicu will be attending Meta Connect 2025 (September 17-18, Menlo Park) and is available for media briefings about MixRift’s mixed reality gaming roadmap and strategic vision. With the company’s recent advisory board expansion bringing deep hardware expertise from Meta’s Reality Labs, Bobby can discuss how MixRift is leveraging insider knowledge of upcoming device capabilities to build next-generation gaming experiences. He’ll be sharing exclusive previews of MixRift’s upcoming titles and discussing how the company is positioning itself at the intersection of advanced hardware and innovative game design.

The post MixRift Appoints Former Meta VP Ingrid Cotoros to Board of Advisors to Accelerate Mixed Reality Gaming Innovation appeared first on Gaming and Gambling Industry in the Americas.

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