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Most controversial VAR decisions revealed ahead of Premier League

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  • Kurt Zouma’s cancelled strike against Manchester United was named the most controversial VAR incident.
  • 30.92% of all English Premier League matches have seen a VAR intervention.
  • The data also shows a 23.96% year-on-year decrease in average VAR controversy.
  • The Premier League appears to be tracking UEFA’s roll out, with changes made just 0.62% more frequently in the English top flight.
  • PGMOL has announced a string of new rule changes.

The Premier League is hoping a string of new rule changes can inject new life into VAR technology when the 30th Premier League season gets underway on 13th August.

From thicker offside lines to new handball rules, the Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL) has set out its stall for the 2021-2022 domestic campaign which is almost upon us.

Accidental handballs in the build-up to goals will no longer be deemed an offence, while thicker offside lines will be used in order to eliminate situations where a goal is ruled out due to a toenail being offside.

And following a string of ‘armpit offsides’ last season, FIFA has also clarified that the bottom of a players’ armpit is to be classed as part of a players’ body.

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While the technology’s use in the English top-flight has courted more than its fair share of detractors, Credible or VAR-cical by William Hill, can reveal a good level of progress has already been made with average controversy dropping by 29.36% last season.

The controversy rating of an incident, of which there has been 235 in total over the last two seasons, now sits at 5.14 having been 6.76 during its turbulent debut season. That equates to a change made by VAR every 3.23 matches.

Across the 504 matches under UEFA’s jurisdiction, from February 2019 through to the 2021 Champions League Final, there were 157 changes made, or a change every 3.21 matches.

Kurt Zouma’s cancelled strike against Manchester United in February 2020, ruled out by VAR official Chris Kavanagh, is considered the most controversial VAR call in Premier League history, with a controversy score of 10.7.

William Hill’s Credible or VAR-cical analysis has been tracking Premier League VAR incidents ever since Gabriel Jesus was ruled offside by David Coote on August 10, 2019 (the first ever VAR review in EPL history – rated at 7.92).

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The data shows that in total, there have been a total of 235 incidents, or interventions, logged, with reactionary metrics such as Tweet volume, sentiment, articles generated and associated levels of engagement, culminating in a bespoke controversy rating being assigned to each.

Across the last two domestic campaigns, Wolverhampton (6.91) are the club which has been embroiled in the most controversial VAR incidents. Chelsea (6.5), Liverpool (6.34), Everton (6.25), Manchester United (6.19) make up the top five.

Brentford-based official Chris Kavanagh, who was promoted to the Select Group of referees in 2017, lands himself the unenviable title of ‘most controversial video assistant referee’, averaging 6.8.

David Coote (6.67), Kevin Friend (6.59), Lee Mason (6.51) and Andre Marriner (6.35) make up the rest of the top 5.

 

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Expanse Studios (GMGI) Launches Social Casino Versions of Rich Panda and Wild West

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Expanse Studios, the iGaming development division of Golden Matrix Group Inc., has introduced sweepstakes-friendly versions of two of its established titles—Rich Panda and Wild West—further expanding its content offering for the growing social casino sector.

These adaptations demonstrate the studio’s ability to deliver market-specific solutions, particularly for U.S.-based operators seeking high-quality, regulatory-compliant content. The launch comes as part of Expanse Studios’ broader strategy to solidify its position in the U.S. market, where it has already more than doubled its game portfolio since entering in late 2024.

Key Developments

  • New Social Casino Versions – Rich Panda and Wild West have been adapted for U.S. sweepstakes platforms and operators
  • Player engagement has increased 7x year-over-year, underscoring strong market adoption
  • Increased in-house development has reduced reliance on third-party providers.

By introducing social casino versions of its popular games, Expanse Studios enables operators to engage new player demographics while maintaining the immersive and high-quality gameplay that made these titles successful in traditional iGaming markets.

Expanse Studios continues to expand its portfolio with slots, crash games, table games, and gamified classics, blending innovative design with advanced technology. The company operates on a revenue-sharing model, earning a percentage of gross gaming revenue, ensuring sustainable growth while enhancing profitability for its partners.

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Portside Game Assembly: Studios behind Dead Cells, Dungeon Clawler, Dorfromantik, Blasphemous on board and ticket sales for brunch and party launched

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With Portside Game Assembly, Gamecity Hamburg is welcoming studio heads and directors from successful indie game studios on a conference ship and other extraordinary locations in Hamburg on June 27. Benjamin Laulan, Co-Founder of Evil Empire, (Dead Cells, The Rogue Prince of Persia) will give a keynote on the Triple-i Initiative started by the French studio. At the Triple-i Showcase 2024, over 30 “iii games” were announced in 45 minutes, and 150,000 views were achieved on YouTube alone. Further speaker on board is Philomena Schwab, Founder of Stray Fawn Studio (Dungeon Clawler, The Wandering Village).

Portside Game Assembly celebrates its premiere as B2B-conference for international indie game leaders on June 27. There will be no direct ticket sales for the conference; instead, a curated list of participants will ensure that only studio heads and decision makers attend the conference on board a ship sailing through the port of Hamburg.

At the same time, the Networking Brunch and the Games Industry Party are open as networking events for interested contacts from the games industry to bring platform holders, publishers, and game companies into contact with the international conference participants. Studio leads from Denmark, Sweden, Switzerland, the UK, France, Spain, Canada, the USA, and Germany are already on board for the conference.

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Portside Game Assembly is set to be a platform for decision makers and studio leads to exchange ideas, learn from each other, and face the challenges of the games industry through collaboration.

As the first announced talk of the conference, Benjamin Laulan (Co-Founder of Evil Empire) will present a keynote on the Triple-i Initiative and how to create your own announcement space and talk directly to your audience when you can’t really relate to other existing showcases. In addition, Philomena Schwab (Founder of Stray Fawn Studio & Publishing) will give a short talk about ways for game idea validation.

The program of the Portside Game Assembly will consist of keynotes, short talks, and roundtables.

 

Selection of already confirmed participants:

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  • Evil Empire (Dead Cells, The Rogue Prince of Persia) / France
  • Stray Fawn Studio (Dungeon Clawler, The Wandering Village) / Switzerland
  • The Game Kitchen (Blasphemous I & II) / Spain
  • Toukana Interactive (Dorfromantik)/ Germany
  • Ghostship Publishing (Deep Rock Galactic) / Denmark
  • Landfall Games (Content Warning, Totally Accurate Battle Simulator) / Sweden
  • Chasing Carrots (Halls of Torment) / Germany
  • Foulball Hangover (Hydroneer) / UK
  • Siege Camp (Foxhole) / Canada

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GR8 Tech Drives Client Success with New Chief Client Officer

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GR8 Tech is reinforcing its client-first strategy by promoting Kateryna Pozdnysheva to Chief Client Officer while she continues to lead the CRM Business Unit. Having been an integral part of GR8 Tech since its inception, Kateryna brings deep industry expertise, strong leadership, and a passion for client success to drive strategic growth and operational excellence.

A Holistic Approach to Client Success

Kateryna’s journey to Chief Client Officer started in CRM, where her team focused on developing solutions that enable operators to engage players more effectively. This foundation shaped her philosophy that client success isn’t just about tactics—it’s about creating a seamless ecosystem where product quality, service excellence, and user experience align to drive results.

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In this new role, I am focusing not only on retention strategies but also on driving the overall business growth of our clients. This requires deeper collaboration, a clear understanding of their challenges, and the ability to quickly adapt to market shifts. The key takeaway for me has been the importance of being proactive—anticipating client needs rather than just responding to them, and using cutting-edge technology to deliver tailored solutions,” Kateryna shared.

The biggest challenge is balancing short-term results with long-term strategic goals. The iGaming industry evolves rapidly, and our clients’ success depends on how quickly we can adapt and offer relevant solutions.

Data-Driven Personalization in Client Support

Technology plays a vital role in client support, but Kateryna emphasizes that automation alone isn’t enough. “The real value comes from combining automation with a personalized touch. Our goal is to ensure every client interaction is not just fast but also meaningful and relevant.

Key service metrics she prioritizes include:

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  • NPS (Net Promoter Score) – measuring how likely clients are to recommend GR8 Tech.
  • CSAT (Customer Satisfaction Score) – assessing satisfaction after specific interactions.

However, Kateryna believes that numbers don’t tell the full story. Direct client feedback through interviews, surveys, and one-on-one conversations provides valuable qualitative insights that drive continuous improvement and the building of stronger, trust-based relationships.

GR8 Tech’s mission is built on client support, keeping commitments, and delivering a personalized approach. With Kateryna Pozdnysheva leading the way, the company is strengthening its ability to solve client requests even more efficiently, deliver more tailored solutions, and uphold its commitments at every stage. With a sharp focus on innovation, efficiency, and sustained growth, the company is raising the bar in iGaming and empowering its clients to lead the industry.

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