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Intel® Extreme Masters Sydney 2023: FaZe Clan crowned the first-ever Counter-Strike 2 Champions following an electrifying Grand Final
The Intel® Extreme Masters (IEM) Sydney 2023 Grand Finals have concluded today, with powerhouse FaZe Clan emerging victorious with a score of 2-1 against Complexity. The first international in-person tournament played on Counter-Strike 2 (CS2) saw a nail-biting final, with FaZe Clan claiming the victory after an exhilarating double overtime final set, in what will surely go down as an iconic IEM final.
IEM Sydney 2023 is both the fastest-selling and largest Australian esports tournament in history. Australian Counter-Strike fans returned in force to the first live IEM Sydney in over 4 years, with 20,000 fans in attendance throughout the Playoffs in the Aware Super Theatre.
Group Stage
The tournament commenced on October 16 with a Group Stage during which the teams were divided into two groups of eight. Group A saw MOUZ dominate the upper bracket, with BetBoom Team coming in a close second. Both teams made it through to the Playoffs, alongside FaZe Clan who fought through the lower bracket for their spot, knocking out Natus Vincere in the process.
In Group B, G2 Esports and ENCE secured the top two spots in the upper bracket, and Complexity beat out Monte in the lower bracket final to claim the final spot in the Playoffs.
Playoffs
The Playoffs kicked off on October 20 with the quarterfinals that saw MOUZ, FaZe Clan, G2 Esports, and Complexity make it to the top four.
FaZe Clan showed their strength early during the Playoffs with a 13-0 win over ENCE, the first time a team has 13-0’d a competitor in a live Counter-Strike 2 tournament. Complexity also started their playoffs run strong with a 2-0 against BetBoom Team.
In the semi-finals, FaZe Clan dominated MOUZ winning 2-0, taking the first set 13-4 on Nuke, before converting a closer win of 13-9 on Vertigo.
Complexity also scored a 2-0 semi-final victory, dispatching G2 Esports, storming home 13-8 on Anubis, before winning the second set more comfortably 13-3 on Ancient, with Ricky “floppy” Kemery posting some impressive stats.
Grand Final
FaZe Clan and Complexity both booked their places in the Grand Final with impressive performances during the Playoffs where neither team dropped a map.
The first set of the Grand Final was incredibly tight, with Complexity eventually edging out a 13-11 win in the final round of the set, following a brilliant comeback. FaZe Clan rallied for set 2, winning it 13-11 and bringing the match to the decisive third set.
The third set nearly saw one of the greatest comebacks of IEM history, with Complexity recovering from 9-3 down, to win six consecutive games to bring it back to 10-9. In a nail-biting final few rounds, Complexity continued their magical form to take the Grand Final to overtime, and then a second overtime. Despite Complexity’s resurgence, FaZe Clan were able to recover, dominating the second overtime to take home the trophy, with Robin ‘Ropz’ Kool taking the title of ESL Pro Tour DHL MVP.
“It feels amazing to be the first CS2 champions,” said Håvard “rain” Nygaard of FaZe Clan. “I want to say thank you to all our fans here and around the world. This was hands down the best crowd I’ve ever played in front of.”
“It feels great, we’ve spent so much time practicing CS2 together before this,” said Robin ‘ropz’ Kool. “The first loss against GamerLegion hurt, but we stuck with it and managed to come back. It’s been a turbulent year for us, but I’ve been playing as much as possible, and CS2 gave us the motivational boost to improve our performance and work harder for this IEM.”
IEM Sydney 2023 saw a peak viewership of more than 463,081* concurrent viewers, over 6.6 million hours watched and attracted more than 20,000 attendees.
THE CACHES IV Showmatch
Ahead of the Grand Final on October 22, THE CACHES IV Showmatch Powered by Intel® and Acer Predator took place, which saw Team Australia and Team UK face off once more following a 4-year hiatus. Chad “SPUNJ” Burchill, Joshua “INS” Potter, Christopher “dexter” Nong, Justin “jks” Savage, Declan “Vexite” Portelli, Chris “GoMeZ” Orfanellis (Coach) represented Australia, while Alex “Hawka” Hawkins, Guy “NertZ” Iluz, Sebastian “volt” Maloș, Vladislav “nafany” Gorshkov and Henry “HenryG” Greer lined up in the British corner.
The match started closely, with both teams taking a few rounds each. However, Team Australia eventually got into a winning rhythm and swept away Team UK 13-7, winning The Caches for the fourth consecutive time. The showmatch also marked the launch of the Intel® Core™ 14th Gen Desktop Processor.
The ESL Pro Tour (EPT) for Counter-Strike continues with the currently ongoing ESL Challenger League Season 46, which will conclude on December 3. The year will be closed off by ESL Challenger Jönköping on November 24-26 and ESL Challenger Atlanta on December 15-17, before kicking off 2024 with a bang with the EPT Championship IEM Katowice 2024 on January 31-February 11.

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G2 and Logitech G Team Up for Logitech G PLAY 2025: A Celebration of Breakthrough Moments and Women in Esports
G2 Esports and Logitech G join forces for Logitech G PLAY 2025, Logitech G’s annual flagship event, set to take place on September 17 at 18:45 CEST. This year’s event celebrates Breakthrough Moments in play, and highlights the importance of diversity, inclusion, and empowerment in esports and gaming.
The event kicks off with a Logitech G Keynote, broadcast on YouTube via @LogitechG, and sets the tone for the evening highlighting new products, new designs and innovations for gamers, and the future of esports.
Following the Keynote, G2 will host a panel featuring leading women in the industry, and will dive into the defining breakthrough moments that have shaped these women’s careers, as well as the broader challenges and opportunities for women in esports.
- Laure Valée – On-Air Talent
- Athena “Kitty” Jiang – Influencer and content creator
- Michaela “mimi” Lintrup – Professional VALORANT player and G2 Gozen captain
- Petra “Petra” Stoker – Professional VALORANT player for G2 Gozen
- Hosted by ChelseaBytes – G2 content creator and advocate for diversity in gaming
The panel will be broadcast from the G2 HQ in Berlin on mimi’s Twitch channel – mimimimichaela, and feature a Q&A from the live audience. If you’re local to Berlin and would like to attend, let us know and we can add you to the guestlist.
Event Details:
- Date: Wednesday 17 September
- Time: 18:45 CEST
- Location: Berlin @ G2 HQ, online mimimimichaela, and keynote via @LogitechG
- Agenda: Logitech G Keynote, G2 Panel
The post G2 and Logitech G Team Up for Logitech G PLAY 2025: A Celebration of Breakthrough Moments and Women in Esports appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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Gaming Americas Weekly Roundup – September 8-15
Welcome to our weekly roundup of American gambling news again! Here, we are going through the weekly highlights of the American gambling industry which include the latest news and new partnerships. Read on and get updated.
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IGT announced that its much-anticipated Wheel of Fortune Big Money Spin electronic table game (ETG) recently made its world debut at Downtown Grand Casino in Las Vegas, Nev. The vibrant standalone ETG game includes many of the attributes that have propelled the success of the Wheel of Fortune slots franchise for nearly three decades including word puzzles, wheel spins and exciting jackpot rewards. The game is accompanied by an attention-grabbing, 9-plus-feet upright video wheel that stands independent of the ETG terminals and entertains casino guests with the famous “WHEEL-OF-FORTUNE!” chant.
MGM Resorts International has announced that Corey Sanders, Chief Operating Officer, will retire from the company after more than 30 years of dedicated service and leadership. Sanders has agreed to remain COO through Dec. 31, 2025, and to serve as an advisor to the President and CEO through Dec. 31, 2026. The Company intends to name a new COO to serve as Sanders’ successor later this month. Sanders is currently MGM Resorts’ Chief Operating Officer, overseeing the company’s Las Vegas and regional properties as well as multiple corporate departments, including Hospitality, Gaming, Human Resources and Strategic Initiatives. Prior to that, he served as the company’s Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer.
Members of Kletsel Dehe Wintun Nation, the Sherwood Valley Rancheria of Pomo Indians, the Mechoopda Indian Tribe of Chico Rancheria and Big Lagoon Rancheria gathered outside the State Capitol in Sacramento to protest Assembly Bill 831 (AB 831). If passed, the bill would limit economic opportunities available to less wealthy tribes in the state by banning legitimate online social games using sweepstakes promotions. It would also eliminate more than $1 billion of existing economic activity generated by the industry in California, and close off a potential new revenue source for the state via sensible, modern regulation and taxation.
Partnerships
Genius Sports Limited has expanded its long-term partnership with Hard Rock Bet Sportsbook (Hard Rock Bet) to power the top-rated platform with its market-leading official data, trading and marketing solutions, as well as its ground-breaking BetVision product. Genius Sports has worked in partnership with the leading operator since 2021, providing the highest quality official data and pinpoint trading solutions across top tier leagues globally, including the Premier League, Serie A, European Leagues, Liga MX, NFL and more. Hard Rock Bet will be able to provide its customers with Genius Sports’ first-of-its-kind BetVision low latency streaming solution.
Quick Custom Intelligence (QCI), a leading provider of data-driven casino intelligence and player engagement platforms, has announced that Dania Beach Casino is continuing to benefit from its deployment of the QCI Nimble platform. While the property currently focuses on the QCI Host and QCI Marketing modules, it has expressed enthusiasm about the capabilities of the new AGI56 release and its impact on future customer engagement strategies. AGI56 represents the most ambitious release in QCI’s history, with the platform undergoing a full refresh of its technology stack, improved integration of advanced analytics, and the introduction of generative AI-driven tooling through Chatalytics.com. QCI’s platform is currently deployed in more than 350 casinos worldwide.
The post Gaming Americas Weekly Roundup – September 8-15 appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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🚀 Stellar Soft: From Africa’s Betting Shops to the Future of Global iGaming
The iGaming industry is one of the fastest-changing landscapes in the world. New technologies, shifting regulations, and evolving player expectations create both challenges and enormous opportunities. In this environment, only those who dare to innovate, adapt, and partner wisely are able to thrive.
One company that embodies this journey is Stellar Bets — an ambitious software provider that began in Africa and is now preparing to reshape the future of retail betting in Europe. Our story is not just about creating games. It’s about building a complete ecosystem for operators, affiliates, and entrepreneurs — and opening doors for long-term partnerships across continents.
🌍 Humble Beginnings, Bold Vision
When we entered the African market, the industry was already crowded with solutions. Many thought there was little room left for innovation. But we believed otherwise.
From the start, we knew the secret to success wasn’t just about building games — it was about designing ecosystems. Operators needed more than entertainment; they needed reliable tools, sustainable margins, and technology that would support them in real conditions — including low internet speeds, limited hardware, and highly competitive retail environments.
Our first big step was the launch of Stellar Rocket, a crash game that quickly captured the imagination of African players. With stunning visuals, a dynamic multiplier, and an innovative balance between player wins and operator profitability, it became much more than just a game — it became a movement.
Within months, betting shops from Nigeria to Kenya were reporting higher engagement, stronger retention, and more stable revenue. The success of Stellar Rocket proved that innovation could transform even the most traditional retail setups.
📈 Growth Backed by Numbers
Success stories are powerful, but in iGaming the numbers matter most.
- In 2024–2025, Stellar Bets expanded into more than 15 African countries.
- Successfully achieved the ideal balance between player satisfaction and operator profitability with our Next-Gen RTP System.
- Operators reported 30–45% revenue growth after integrating our solutions.
This growth wasn’t accidental. It came from a deep commitment to R&D, continuous improvement, and a philosophy that sees technology as a service to both operators and players.
And here’s the key: we didn’t just help operators earn more — we also made sure players enjoyed fairer, more exciting experiences. In a market where achieving both can be challenging, this balance clearly sets Stellar Bets apart.
🎮 Beyond Games: Building an Ecosystem
The heart of Stellar Bets has always been innovation, but we quickly realized that individual games are not enough. Operators need comprehensive solutions to scale their business.
That’s why we built an ecosystem:
- Stellar Box — a plug-and-play solution that allows operators to deploy instantly.
- Stellar Kiosk — an all-in-one machine with built-in computer and receipt printer.
- Cloud-based admin tools — for user management, analytics, and cashier control.
- Proprietary hardware — designed for stable operation even in areas with low bandwidth.
- AI-powered RTP engine — balancing fairness for players and profits for operators.
And perhaps the most groundbreaking innovation of all — HomePlay.
📱 HomePlay: Bridging Offline and Online
Retail betting shops are still the heartbeat of many markets. But until recently, their biggest limitation was the number of physical terminals. Only so many customers could play at the same time.
With HomePlay, we changed that forever.
This breakthrough technology transforms every smartphone inside a betting shop into a personal gaming station. Customers join live Stellar Rocket sessions using their own devices, while the cashier desk continues to handle all deposits and withdrawals.
✅ No waiting lines.
✅ No need for extra hardware.
✅ Every customer becomes an active participant.
✅ Revenue per square meter grows exponentially.
In essence, HomePlay gave new life to retail betting, transforming it from a simple place to play into a vibrant community where thousands of players share emotions and experiences — while providing operators with a scalable, compliant, and seamlessly integrated tool.
For many partners, this feature alone was a game-changer — and it’s one of the clearest examples of how Stellar Bets delivers innovation designed for real-world business impact.
💡 The Secret Behind Our Success
One question we often get is: how can a startup compete with legacy companies in the iGaming space?
The answer is simple — being a startup is our biggest advantage.
🔹 Agility over bureaucracy — We test, pivot, and bring innovations to market quickly, while larger companies get stuck in long decision-making cycles.
🔹 Innovation in our DNA — We don’t just rely on proven models. We experiment, take risks, and introduce features that others are too slow to try.
🔹 Closer to the player — Our teams listen, analyze, and adapt in real time, creating products that reflect what players actually want.
🔹 Growth mindset — Every market matters. Every operator matters. Every affiliate matters. For us, every partnership is a chance to grow together.
🔹 Constant rapid development — We continuously expand our product portfolio, scale operations, and evolve to meet the needs of new markets.
But above all, we recognize the importance of technological excellence — investing in R&D, proprietary hardware, and resilient software that deliver security, stability, and reliability for both operators and players. It’s this mindset that has powered Stellar Bets from a small startup into one of the most recognized software providers in Africa.
🤝 Reshaping the Future of iGaming Together
After building a strong foundation across Africa, we are now preparing for the next chapter — entering the European market. We see great potential in several EU countries where many operators still depend on outdated systems and solutions.
Our goal is not just to expand, but to bring real value: technology that has proven itself in highly competitive retail environments, tools that balance innovation with compliance, and products that boost both player satisfaction and operator revenue.
For us, Europe is an opportunity to share what we’ve learned, adapt to new contexts, and grow together with forward-looking partners who are ready for benefit from:
✅ A personal account manager.
✅ 24/7 technical support.
✅ Access to a constantly evolving ecosystem.
We know our success depends on the success of our partners. That’s why we treat every collaboration as a joint venture — where both sides grow together.
And here’s our invitation: if you are looking for an iGaming software partner who delivers not just games, but full-scale solutions designed for growth — Stellar Bets is ready to work with you. Let’s reshape the future of iGaming — together.
📩 Contact us: [email protected]
🌐 Visit: stellar-bets.com
💼 LinkedIn: Stellar Bets
The post 🚀 Stellar Soft: From Africa’s Betting Shops to the Future of Global iGaming appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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