

Press Releases
Entain reveals global surge in NFL wagers, as “Big Game” fever hits Las Vegas
- Entain’s UK and European data highlights a 12% increase in the number of bets for the 11 February fixture compared to 2023.(Digital sportsbooks only)
- Entain’s UK data shows a 217% increase in the quantity of females betting on the Big Game compared to 2020.
- Data from Entain and its joint venture, BetMGM, shows a record number of bets placed on this year’s Big Game, over 30% higher than last year’s event, with a 72% year over year increase in new customers. (Digital and retail sportsbook)
Kansas City and San Francisco’s NFL teams faced each other in another hotly anticipated season finale at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas on Sunday 11th February. Today, Entain, one of the leading global sports betting and gaming companies, can reveal that the NFL’s Big Game has become a truly global spectacle, with a surge in the number of bets placed on this year’s game.
Entain also highlights the NFL’s growing international fanbase, as well as the league’s increasing growth and popularity as a global sport:
Data from Entain’s Coral, Ladbrokes and bwin brands show there was a 12% increase in UK and European bets placed when compared to last year;
In 2024, Ladbrokes and Coral saw a 74% increase in the quantity of UK bets placed on the Big Game compared to 2020;
UK data also saw steep rise of 217% in the quantity of female bettors, with an 86% increase in share of female betters since the 2020 game, highlighting the sport’s success in diversifying its fanbase in recent years.
As the US’s flagship sporting event took over Las Vegas, the latest data from Entain and BetMGM reveals increased excitement from fans around the Big Game, showing 30% year over year uplift in total number of bets across the US, and a 51% increase in female bettors from last year.
Sameer Deen, Chief Commercial Officer at Entain, comments: “Las Vegas is the epicentre of entertainment and last Sunday’s Big Game was evidence that the city is drawing in global crowds for these types of sporting events. It was an opportunity for us to innovate our sportsbook offer, enabling us to provide our UK & European customers with an even greater variety of sporting events, as well as being part of a global fanbase.”
BetMGM launched its new Nevada app ahead of the iconic event taking place in Las Vegas this year, giving NFL fans in Nevada the best possible BetMGM experience. The company also aired their first Big Game television commercial (complete with a memorable three-part teaser campaign) featuring sports legends Tom Brady and Wayne Gretzky, along with actor Vince Vaughn. BetMGM also signed a strategic partnership with X, becoming the social media platform’s exclusive Live Odds Sports Betting partner in time for the Big Game.
Compliance Updates
GeoLocs and Shufti Join Forces to Streamline Player Onboarding and Compliance

GeoLocs, the specialist geolocation platform for the iGaming, Sports Betting and iLottery industries, has partnered with identity verification provider Shufti to deliver a seamless and secure user experience for both operators and players in regulated markets worldwide.
The integration of GeoLocs’ precise geolocation technology with Shufti’s robust identity verification solutions allows operators to onboard players faster while maintaining full compliance with local regulations. The partnership reduces friction in the registration and verification process, enabling a smoother journey from sign-up to gameplay.
Will Whitehead, Commercial Director at GeoLocs, commented: “We’re excited to be working with Shufti to bring a more seamless, secure experience to clients and players alike. Both of our technologies have been built with compliance and UX at their core, and this partnership allows us to combine strengths—making onboarding and verification faster, smoother, and more robust for operators in regulated markets.”
With regulatory frameworks tightening in both emerging and established jurisdictions, the collaboration ensures that operators have access to integrated tools that deliver high standards of security, compliance, and user experience.
Roger Redfearn-Tyrzyk, SVP of Sales at Shufti, added: “We’re proud to be teaming up with GeoLocs to support operators in delivering frictionless onboarding and a high level of regulatory compliance. Our joint capabilities mean operators can verify users quickly and accurately while GeoLocs ensures they are playing from permitted locations—creating an end-to-end experience that puts both security and user satisfaction first.”
This partnership underscores both companies’ commitment to innovation and player-centric technology in the fast-evolving iGaming space.
The post GeoLocs and Shufti Join Forces to Streamline Player Onboarding and Compliance appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
Latest News
Gavin Hamilton Joins Sports & Wellbeing Analytics as Chairman to Accelerate Global Expansion

Sports & Wellbeing Analytics (“SWA”), a fast-scaling innovator in AI-powered sports data and betting models, today announced the appointment of Gavin Hamilton as Chairman of the Board.
Hamilton is a widely respected leader in the gambling and gaming industry, known for scaling high-growth companies and driving innovation in regulated markets. His previous roles include CEO of Red Tiger Gaming – where he led the company through explosive global growth and its acquisition by Netent AB – as well as senior leadership positions at NetEnt AB, Flutter, and Evolution.
Speaking about his appointment, Gavin Hamilton said “SWA is sitting on transformative IP that could reshape how the industry thinks about live betting, integrity, and athlete data,” said Gavin Hamilton. “The team has built something genuinely unique at the intersection of sport and real-time analytics, and I’m excited to help steer the next phase of global expansion.”
Caspar Hobbs, CEO of SWA, welcomed the appointment: “Gavin’s arrival is a major endorsement of our strategy and ambition. He brings not just deep sector knowledge, but also the credibility and leadership needed to help SWA scale in key markets and take advantage of the incredible demand for smarter, faster, and fairer sports data.”
The post Gavin Hamilton Joins Sports & Wellbeing Analytics as Chairman to Accelerate Global Expansion appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
eSports
Football Legends Ronaldo and Kaká to Face Off in EA FC for Esports World Cup 2025 Showmatch

The Esports World Cup Foundation (EWCF) announced that football icons Ronaldo Nazário and Kaká will go head-to-head in the Esports World Cup 2025 Showmatch on August 9, 2025. Taking place during the EWC 2025 EA FC game week, live on stage in the STC Arena of the EWC Festival in Riyadh, the Showmatch blends elite football legacy with competitive gaming in a crossover moment that celebrates the rise of esports as a global sport.
The 2025 edition builds on the success of last year’s Showmatch debut ft. Neymar Jr. and Team Falcons’ Mossad “Msdossary” Al-Dossary. That foundation now returns on a bigger scale, as the Esports World Cup 2025 continues to blur the lines between sporting legacy and digital competition. The format is being elevated into a best-of-three digital derby featuring EA SPORTS FC 25 competition. With Cristiano Ronaldo recently named Global Ambassador of the EWC 2025, the Showmatch embodies the tournament’s commitment to bridging traditional sport and esports on a global stage.
“Ronaldo and Kaká embody competitive excellence and legacy, drawing passionate support from fans around the world – everything great sport aspires to achieve,” said Mike McCabe, COO of the Esports World Cup Foundation. “Their presence at the Esports World Cup reflects values that connect traditional sport and gaming, showing how those worlds are coming together in ways that truly resonate with fans. Bringing together legends who inspire multiple generations and communities is what makes this Showmatch truly special. We’re honoured to have them with us on this stage, especially during football week.”
Adding to the spectacle, Ronaldo and Kaká are also scheduled to appear on EWC Spotlight, the tournament’s premium broadcast series, offering insight into their role in the future of global sport and entertainment.
The match will feature a bespoke creative set-up inspired by Brazilian street football, old-school collectible cards, and graffiti art, incorporating EWC 2025 elements in a nostalgic yet modern expression of sport, elite esports competition, and fandom. Dedicated cheering sections, post-match Q&As, and exclusive fan rewards will ensure that attendees and viewers are fully immersed in the experience.
Celebrating football week at EWC 2025, the Showmatch and EA SPORTS FC Pro World Championship are joined by the Kings League MENA Presentation on August 10th, marking the competition’s regional debut. Founded by Gerard Piqué, the fast-paced, seven-a-side competition, which blends football with fan-led rules and digital interactivity, kicks off its MENA expansion at EWC 2025. At the event, Piqué will unveil team names, logos, and club presidents, including top regional creators.
The EWC Showmatch 2025 and Kings League MENA Presentation are some of the headline entertainment experiences of this summer’s EWC, the world’s largest esports event, hosted in Riyadh through to August 24, 2025. The tournament’s unique cross-game format brings together over 2,000 elite players and 200 Clubs, competing across 25 tournaments in 24 games for a life-changing $70m+ prize pool.
This year, icons Magnus Carlsen and Cristiano Ronaldo join the Esports World Cup as Global Ambassadors, bringing their competitive legacy and global reach to the world’s biggest esports stage. Carlsen, the reigning chess champion, also competes in the inaugural EWC Chess Tournament (July 29–31).
The post Football Legends Ronaldo and Kaká to Face Off in EA FC for Esports World Cup 2025 Showmatch appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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